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Carvalho E, Dias A, Coelho T, Sousa A, Alves-Ferreira M, Santos M, Lemos C. Hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis: a myriad of factors that influence phenotypic variability. J Neurol 2024:10.1007/s00415-024-12509-8. [PMID: 38907862 DOI: 10.1007/s00415-024-12509-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2024] [Revised: 06/02/2024] [Accepted: 06/07/2024] [Indexed: 06/24/2024]
Abstract
Hereditary transthyretin-related amyloidosis (ATTRv amyloidosis) is a rare and progressively debilitating disease characterized by the deposition of transthyretin (TTR) amyloid fibrils in various organs and tissues, most commonly in the heart and peripheral nerves. This pathological deposition can lead to significant organ dysfunction and, ultimately, organ failure. ATTRv amyloidosis exhibits a broad range of clinical presentations, from purely neurological symptoms to purely cardiac manifestations, as well as mixed phenotypes which result from both neurological and cardiac implications. This wide phenotypical spectrum realistically challenges disease diagnosis and prognosis, especially in individuals without or with an unknown family history. Multiple factors are thought to contribute to this variability, including genetic, epigenetic, and even environmental influences. Understanding these factors is crucial, as they can significantly affect disease expression and progression. This review aims to summarize each of these contributing factors, to help elucidate the current knowledge on the phenotypical variability of ATTRv amyloidosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Estefânia Carvalho
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação Em Saúde (i3S), University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar (ICBAS), University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Andreia Dias
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação Em Saúde (i3S), University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar (ICBAS), University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Teresa Coelho
- Unidade Corino de Andrade (UCA), Centro Hospitalar Universitário de Santo António (CHUdSA), Porto, Portugal
| | - Alda Sousa
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação Em Saúde (i3S), University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar (ICBAS), University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Miguel Alves-Ferreira
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação Em Saúde (i3S), University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar (ICBAS), University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Center for Preditive and Preventive Genetics (CGPP), Institute for Molecular and Cell Biology (IBMC), Instituto de Investigação e Inovação Em Saúde (i3S), University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Mariana Santos
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação Em Saúde (i3S), University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar (ICBAS), University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Institute for Molecular and Cell Biology (IBMC), Instituto de Investigação e Inovação Em Saúde (i3S), University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Carolina Lemos
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação Em Saúde (i3S), University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.
- Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar (ICBAS), University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.
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Kan HW, Chiang H, Lin WM, Yu IS, Lin SW, Hsieh ST. Sensory nerve degeneration in a mouse model mimicking early manifestations of familial amyloid polyneuropathy due to transthyretin Ala97Ser. Neuropathol Appl Neurobiol 2018; 44:673-686. [PMID: 29423915 DOI: 10.1111/nan.12477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2017] [Accepted: 01/31/2018] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
AIMS Sensory nerve degeneration and consequent abnormal sensations are the earliest and most prevalent manifestations of familial amyloid polyneuropathy (FAP) due to amyloidogenic transthyretin (TTR). FAP is a relentlessly progressive degenerative disease of the peripheral nervous system. However, there is a lack of mouse models to replicate the early neuropathic manifestations of FAP. METHODS We established human TTR knock-in mice by replacing one allele of the mouse Ttr locus with human wild-type TTR (hTTRwt ) or human TTR with the A97S mutation (hTTRA97S ). Given the late onset of neuropathic manifestations in A97S-FAP, we investigated nerve pathology, physiology, and behavioural tests in these mice at two age points: the adult group (8 - 56 weeks) and the ageing group (> 104 weeks). RESULTS In the adult group, nerve profiles, neurophysiology and behaviour were similar between hTTRwt and hTTRA97S mice. By contrast, ageing hTTRA97S mice showed small fibre neuropathy with decreased intraepidermal nerve fibre density and behavioural signs of mechanical allodynia. Furthermore, significant reductions in sural nerve myelinated nerve fibre density and sensory nerve action potential amplitudes in these mice indicated degeneration of large sensory fibres. The unaffected motor nerve physiology replicated the early symptoms of FAP patients, that is, sensory nerves were more vulnerable to mutant TTR than motor nerves. CONCLUSIONS These results demonstrate that the hTTRA97S mouse model develops sensory nerve pathology and corresponding physiology mimicking A97S-FAP and provides a platform to develop new therapies for the early stage of A97S-FAP.
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Affiliation(s)
- H-W Kan
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - H Chiang
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - W-M Lin
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - I-S Yu
- Laboratory Animal Center, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - S-W Lin
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences and Medical Biotechnology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - S-T Hsieh
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Graduate Institute of Brain and Mind Sciences, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Department of Neurology, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
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A mouse model of a novel missense mutation (Gly83Arg) in a Chinese kindred manifesting vitreous amyloidosis only. Exp Eye Res 2018; 169:13-19. [PMID: 29360446 DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2018.01.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2017] [Revised: 01/18/2018] [Accepted: 01/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
The purpose of this study is to establish a mouse model of transthyretin (TTR) Gly83Arg gene mutation by the technique of gene targeting for research on hereditary vitreous amyloidosis (HVA) and to confirm whether this point mutation is a genetic feature of HVA. A vector (pBR322-MK-TTR) was constructed to target ES cells. The successfully transfected ES cells were used for blastocyst injection, thus generating F0. F0 and Flp mice were mated to generate F1 (TTR+/-, Flp +/-) mice that lacked the neo gene but carried the Flp gene. F1 mice were mated with C57BL/6N wild type mice to generate F2 (TTR+/-) mice. F3 homozygous and heterozygous mice were generated by mating F2 mice with each other. PCR and sequencing were performed for F3 mice. Amyloid was detected using Congo red stain and polarized light. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of TTR in the tissues. Quantitative fluorescent PCR and Western blotting were used to detect the expression of TTR mRNA and TTR protein, respectively. Two F0-generation, 2 F1-generation and 15 F3-generation mice were obtained. The gene sequencing of F3 mice showed TTR Gly83Arg mutation. When examined with Congo red and polarized light, the vitreous of TTR Gly83Arg mutant mice tested positive for amyloid. The hearts, livers, brains and kidneys of the experimental group and control group were all negative by Congo red staining. Immunohistochemical staining showed that the vitreous of TTR Gly83Arg mutant mice and the livers of the control mice were positive, but the kidneys, hearts and brains of both groups were negative. Quantitative fluorescent PCR showed that the mRNA expression of mutant mice was significantly lower than that of wild-type mice (F = 0.295, P = 0.023). Western blotting showed that the expression of TTR protein was significantly lower in the model mice than in the wild-type mice (t = 3.224, P = 0.018). TTR gene mutation is indeed a molecular characteristic of HVA and manifest in the eye disease only. A C57BL/6 mouse line carrying the TTR Gly83Arg gene mutation was successfully established. This strain of mice can be used for the study of HVA.
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Misumi Y, Ando Y, Gonçalves NP, Saraiva MJ. Fibroblasts endocytose and degrade transthyretin aggregates in transthyretin-related amyloidosis. J Transl Med 2013; 93:911-20. [PMID: 23817086 DOI: 10.1038/labinvest.2013.83] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2013] [Revised: 05/24/2013] [Accepted: 06/03/2013] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Transthyretin (TTR)-related amyloidosis is a fatal disorder characterized by systemic extracellular deposition of TTR amyloid fibrils. Mutations in the TTR gene cause an autosomal dominant form of the disease-familial amyloidotic polyneuropathy (FAP). Wild-type (WT) TTR can also form amyloid fibrils in elderly patients with senile systemic amyloidosis. Regression of amyloid deposits in FAP patients who undergo liver transplantation to remove the main source of mutant TTR suggests the existence of mechanisms for the clearance of TTR deposits from the extracellular matrix (ECM), but the precise mechanisms are largely unknown. Because fibroblasts are abundant, playing a central role in the maintenance of the ECM and because the skin is one of the major sites of soluble TTR catabolism, in the present study, we analyzed their role in clearance of TTR aggregates. In vitro studies with a fibroblast cell line revealed that fibroblasts endocytosed and degraded aggregated TTR. Subcutaneous injection of soluble and aggregated TTR into WT mice showed internalization and clearance over time by both fibroblasts and macrophages. Immunohistochemical studies of skin biopsies from V30M patients, asymptomatic carriers, recipients of domino FAP livers as well as transgenic mice for human V30M showed intracellular TTR immunoreactivity in fibroblasts and macrophages that increased with clinical status and with age in transgenic mice. Overall, the present in vitro and in vivo data show that fibroblasts endocytose and degrade TTR aggregates. The function or dysfunction of TTR clearance by fibroblasts may have important implications for the development, progression, and regression of TTR deposition in the ECM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yohei Misumi
- Molecular Neurobiology, IBMC-Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Porto, Portugal
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