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Li C, Lin J, Jiang Q, Yang T, Xiao Y, Huang J, Hou Y, Wei Q, Cui Y, Wang S, Zheng X, Ou R, Liu K, Chen X, Song W, Zhao B, Shang H. Genetic Modifiers of Age at Onset for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A Genome-Wide Association Study. Ann Neurol 2023; 94:933-941. [PMID: 37528491 DOI: 10.1002/ana.26752] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2023] [Revised: 07/03/2023] [Accepted: 07/12/2023] [Indexed: 08/03/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Age at onset (AAO) is an essential clinical feature associated with disease progression and mortality in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Identification of genetic variants and environmental risk factors influencing AAO of ALS could help better understand the disease's biological mechanism and provide clinical guidance. However, most genetic studies focused on the risk of ALS, while the genetic background of AAO is less explored. This study aimed to identify genetic and environmental determinants for AAO of ALS. METHODS We performed a genome-wide association analysis using a Cox proportional hazards model on AAO of ALS in 10,068 patients. We further conducted colocalization analysis and in-vitro functional exploration for the target variants, as well as Mendelian randomization analysis to identify risk factors influencing AAO of ALS. RESULTS The total heritability of AAO of ALS was ~0.16 (standard error [SE] = 0.03). One novel locus rs2046243 (CTIF) was significantly associated with earlier AAO by ~1.29 years (p = 1.68E-08, beta = 0.10, SE = 0.02). Functional exploration suggested this variant was associated with increased expression of CTIF in multiple tissues including the brain. Colocalization analysis detected a colocalization signal at the locus between AAO of ALS and expression of CTIF. Causal inference indicated higher education level was associated with later AAO. INTERPRETATION These findings improve the current knowledge of the genetic and environmental etiology of AAO of ALS, and provide a novel target CTIF for further research on ALS pathogenesis and potential therapeutic options to delay the disease onset. ANN NEUROL 2023;94:933-941.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunyu Li
- Department of Neurology, Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Junyu Lin
- Department of Neurology, Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Qirui Jiang
- Department of Neurology, Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Tianmi Yang
- Department of Neurology, Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yi Xiao
- Department of Neurology, Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Jingxuan Huang
- Department of Neurology, Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yanbing Hou
- Department of Neurology, Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Qianqian Wei
- Department of Neurology, Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yiyuan Cui
- Department of Neurology, Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Shichan Wang
- Department of Neurology, Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Xiaoting Zheng
- Department of Neurology, Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Ruwei Ou
- Department of Neurology, Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Kuncheng Liu
- Department of Neurology, Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Xueping Chen
- Department of Neurology, Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Wei Song
- Department of Neurology, Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Bi Zhao
- Department of Neurology, Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Huifang Shang
- Department of Neurology, Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
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Li C, Wei Q, Hou Y, Lin J, Ou R, Zhang L, Jiang Q, Xiao Y, Liu K, Chen X, Yang T, Song W, Zhao B, Wu Y, Shang H. Genome-wide analyses identify NEAT1 as genetic modifier of age at onset of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Mol Neurodegener 2023; 18:77. [PMID: 37872557 PMCID: PMC10594666 DOI: 10.1186/s13024-023-00669-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 10/25/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) demonstrate great heterogeneity in the age at onset (AAO), which is closely related to the course of disease. However, most genetic studies focused on the risk of ALS, while the genetic background underlying AAO of ALS is still unknown. METHODS To identify genetic determinants influencing AAO of ALS, we performed genome-wide association analysis using a Cox proportional hazards model in 2,841 patients with ALS (Ndiscovery = 2,272, Nreplication = 569) in the Chinese population. We further conducted colocalization analysis using public cis-eQTL dataset, and Mendelian randomization analysis to identify risk factors for AAO of ALS. Finally, functional experiments including dual-luciferase reporter assay and RT-qPCR were performed to explore the regulatory effect of the target variant. RESULTS The total heritability of AAO of ALS was ~ 0.24. One novel locus rs10128627 (FRMD8) was significantly associated with earlier AAO by ~ 3.15 years (P = 1.54E-08, beta = 0.31, SE = 0.05). This locus was cis-eQTL of NEAT1 in multiple brain tissues and blood. Colocalization analysis detected association signals at this locus between AAO of ALS and expression of NEAT1. Furthermore, functional exploration supported the variant rs10128627 was associated with upregulated expression of NEAT1 in cell models and patients with ALS. Causal inference suggested higher total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, and eosinophil were nominally associated with earlier AAO of ALS, while monocyte might delay the AAO. CONCLUSIONS Collective evidence from genetic, bioinformatic, and functional results suggested NEAT1 as a key player in the disease progression of ALS. These findings improve the current understanding of the genetic role in AAO of ALS, and provide a novel target for further research on the pathogenesis and therapeutic options to delay the disease onset.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunyu Li
- Department of Neurology, Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Disorders, West China Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Qianqian Wei
- Department of Neurology, Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Disorders, West China Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yanbing Hou
- Department of Neurology, Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Disorders, West China Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Junyu Lin
- Department of Neurology, Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Disorders, West China Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Ruwei Ou
- Department of Neurology, Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Disorders, West China Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Lingyu Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Disorders, West China Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Qirui Jiang
- Department of Neurology, Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Disorders, West China Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yi Xiao
- Department of Neurology, Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Disorders, West China Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Kuncheng Liu
- Department of Neurology, Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Disorders, West China Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Xueping Chen
- Department of Neurology, Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Disorders, West China Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - TianMi Yang
- Department of Neurology, Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Disorders, West China Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Wei Song
- Department of Neurology, Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Disorders, West China Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Bi Zhao
- Department of Neurology, Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Disorders, West China Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Ying Wu
- Department of Neurology, Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Disorders, West China Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Huifang Shang
- Department of Neurology, Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Disorders, West China Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
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Manini A, Casiraghi V, Brusati A, Maranzano A, Gentile F, Colombo E, Bonetti R, Peverelli S, Invernizzi S, Gentilini D, Messina S, Verde F, Poletti B, Fogh I, Morelli C, Silani V, Ratti A, Ticozzi N. Association of the risk factor UNC13A with survival and upper motor neuron involvement in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Front Aging Neurosci 2023; 15:1067954. [PMID: 36819716 PMCID: PMC9931189 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2023.1067954] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2022] [Accepted: 01/03/2023] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The UNC13A gene is an established susceptibility locus for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and a determinant of shorter survival after disease onset, with up to 33.0 months difference in life expectancy for carriers of the rs12608932 risk genotype. However, its overall effect on other clinical features and ALS phenotypic variability is controversial. Methods Genotype data of the UNC13A rs12608932 SNP (A-major allele; C-minor allele) was obtained from a cohort of 972 ALS patients. Demographic and clinical variables were collected, including cognitive and behavioral profiles, evaluated through the Edinburgh Cognitive and Behavioral ALS Screen (ECAS) - Italian version and the Frontal Behavioral Inventory (FBI); upper and lower motor neuron involvement, assessed by the Penn Upper Motor Neuron Score (PUMNS) and the Lower Motor Neuron Score (LMNS)/Medical Research Council (MRC) scores, respectively; the ALS Functional Rating Scale Revised (ALSFRS-R) score at evaluation and progression rate; age and site of onset; survival. The comparison between the three rs12608932 genotypes (AA, AC, and CC) was performed using the additive, dominant, and recessive genetic models. Results The rs12608932 minor allele frequency was 0.31 in our ALS cohort, in comparison to 0.33-0.41 reported in other Caucasian ALS populations. Carriers of at least one minor C allele (AC + CC genotypes) had a shorter median survival than patients with the wild-type AA genotype (-11.7 months, p = 0.013), even after adjusting for age and site of onset, C9orf72 mutational status and gender. Patients harboring at least one major A allele (AA + AC genotypes) and particularly those with the wild-type AA genotype showed a significantly higher PUMNS compared to CC carriers (p = 0.015 and padj = 0.037, respectively), thus indicating a more severe upper motor neuron involvement. Our analysis did not detect significant associations with all the other clinical parameters considered. Conclusion Overall, our findings confirm the role of UNC13A as a determinant of survival in ALS patients and show the association of this locus also with upper motor neuron involvement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arianna Manini
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy,Neurology Residency Program, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Valeria Casiraghi
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy,Department of Medical Biotechnology and Molecular Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Alberto Brusati
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy,Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, Università degli Studi di Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Alessio Maranzano
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy,Neurology Residency Program, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Francesco Gentile
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy,Neurology Residency Program, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Eleonora Colombo
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy
| | - Ruggero Bonetti
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy,Neurology Residency Program, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Silvia Peverelli
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy
| | - Sabrina Invernizzi
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy
| | - Davide Gentilini
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, Università degli Studi di Pavia, Pavia, Italy,Bioinformatics and Statistical Genomics Unit, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy
| | - Stefano Messina
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy
| | - Federico Verde
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy,Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, 'Dino Ferrari' Center, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Barbara Poletti
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy
| | - Isabella Fogh
- Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College, London, United Kingdom
| | - Claudia Morelli
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Silani
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy,Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, 'Dino Ferrari' Center, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Antonia Ratti
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy,Department of Medical Biotechnology and Molecular Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Nicola Ticozzi
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy,Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, 'Dino Ferrari' Center, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy,*Correspondence: Nicola Ticozzi, ✉
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Sturmey E, Malaspina A. Blood biomarkers in ALS: challenges, applications and novel frontiers. Acta Neurol Scand 2022; 146:375-388. [PMID: 36156207 PMCID: PMC9828487 DOI: 10.1111/ane.13698] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2022] [Revised: 08/15/2022] [Accepted: 08/19/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is the most common motor neuron disease among adults. With diagnosis reached relatively late into the disease process, extensive motor cell loss narrows the window for therapeutic opportunities. Clinical heterogeneity in ALS and the lack of disease-specific biomarkers have so far led to large-sized clinical trials with long follow-up needed to define clinical outcomes. In advanced ALS patients, there is presently limited scope to use imaging or invasive cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) collection as a source of disease biomarkers. The development of more patient-friendly and accessible blood biomarker assays is hampered by analytical hurdles like the matrix effect of blood components. However, blood also provides the opportunity to identify disease-specific adaptive changes of the stoichiometry and conformation of target proteins and the endogenous immunological response to low-abundance brain peptides, such as neurofilaments (Nf). Among those biomarkers under investigation in ALS, the change in concentration before or after diagnosis of Nf has been shown to aid prognostication and to allow the a priori stratification of ALS patients into smaller sized and clinically more homogeneous cohorts, supporting more affordable clinical trials. Here, we discuss the technical hurdles affecting reproducible and sensitive biomarker measurement in blood. We also summarize the state of the art of non-CSF biomarkers in the study of prognosis, disease progression, and treatment response. We will then address the potential as disease-specific biomarkers of the newly discovered cryptic peptides which are formed down-stream of TDP-43 loss of function, the hallmark of ALS pathobiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ellie Sturmey
- Centre of Neuroscience, Surgery and Trauma, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Andrea Malaspina
- Centre of Neuroscience, Surgery and Trauma, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK.,Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK
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Ruffini N, Klingenberg S, Heese R, Schweiger S, Gerber S. The Big Picture of Neurodegeneration: A Meta Study to Extract the Essential Evidence on Neurodegenerative Diseases in a Network-Based Approach. Front Aging Neurosci 2022; 14:866886. [PMID: 35832065 PMCID: PMC9271745 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2022.866886] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2022] [Accepted: 05/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The common features of all neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), and Huntington's disease, are the accumulation of aggregated and misfolded proteins and the progressive loss of neurons, leading to cognitive decline and locomotive dysfunction. Still, they differ in their ultimate manifestation, the affected brain region, and the kind of proteinopathy. In the last decades, a vast number of processes have been described as associated with neurodegenerative diseases, making it increasingly harder to keep an overview of the big picture forming from all those data. In this meta-study, we analyzed genomic, transcriptomic, proteomic, and epigenomic data of the aforementioned diseases using the data of 234 studies in a network-based approach to study significant general coherences but also specific processes in individual diseases or omics levels. In the analysis part, we focus on only some of the emerging findings, but trust that the meta-study provided here will be a valuable resource for various other researchers focusing on specific processes or genes contributing to the development of neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolas Ruffini
- Institute of Human Genetics, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany
- Leibniz Institute for Resilience Research, Leibniz Association, Mainz, Germany
| | - Susanne Klingenberg
- Institute of Human Genetics, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany
| | - Raoul Heese
- Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Mathematics (ITWM), Kaiserslautern, Germany
| | - Susann Schweiger
- Institute of Human Genetics, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany
| | - Susanne Gerber
- Institute of Human Genetics, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany
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Pan S, Liu X, Liu T, Zhao Z, Dai Y, Wang YY, Jia P, Liu F. Causal Inference of Genetic Variants and Genes in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Front Genet 2022; 13:917142. [PMID: 35812739 PMCID: PMC9257137 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.917142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2022] [Accepted: 05/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal progressive multisystem disorder with limited therapeutic options. Although genome-wide association studies (GWASs) have revealed multiple ALS susceptibility loci, the exact identities of causal variants, genes, cell types, tissues, and their functional roles in the development of ALS remain largely unknown. Here, we reported a comprehensive post-GWAS analysis of the recent large ALS GWAS (n = 80,610), including functional mapping and annotation (FUMA), transcriptome-wide association study (TWAS), colocalization (COLOC), and summary data-based Mendelian randomization analyses (SMR) in extensive multi-omics datasets. Gene property analysis highlighted inhibitory neuron 6, oligodendrocytes, and GABAergic neurons (Gad1/Gad2) as functional cell types of ALS and confirmed cerebellum and cerebellar hemisphere as functional tissues of ALS. Functional annotation detected the presence of multiple deleterious variants at three loci (9p21.2, 12q13.3, and 12q14.2) and highlighted a list of SNPs that are potentially functional. TWAS, COLOC, and SMR identified 43 genes at 24 loci, including 23 novel genes and 10 novel loci, showing significant evidence of causality. Integrating multiple lines of evidence, we further proposed that rs2453555 at 9p21.2 and rs229243 at 14q12 functionally contribute to the development of ALS by regulating the expression of C9orf72 in pituitary and SCFD1 in skeletal muscle, respectively. Together, these results advance our understanding of the biological etiology of ALS, feed into new therapies, and provide a guide for subsequent functional experiments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siyu Pan
- CAS Key Laboratory of Genomic and Precision Medicine, Beijing Institute of Genomics, Chinese Academy of Sciences and China National Center for Bioinformation, Beijing, China
- College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xinxuan Liu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Genomic and Precision Medicine, Beijing Institute of Genomics, Chinese Academy of Sciences and China National Center for Bioinformation, Beijing, China
- School of Future Technology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Tianzi Liu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Genomic and Precision Medicine, Beijing Institute of Genomics, Chinese Academy of Sciences and China National Center for Bioinformation, Beijing, China
| | - Zhongming Zhao
- Center for Precision Health, School of Biomedical Informatics, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Yulin Dai
- Center for Precision Health, School of Biomedical Informatics, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Yin-Ying Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Genomic and Precision Medicine, Beijing Institute of Genomics, Chinese Academy of Sciences and China National Center for Bioinformation, Beijing, China
| | - Peilin Jia
- CAS Key Laboratory of Genomic and Precision Medicine, Beijing Institute of Genomics, Chinese Academy of Sciences and China National Center for Bioinformation, Beijing, China
- *Correspondence: Fan Liu, ; Peilin Jia,
| | - Fan Liu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Genomic and Precision Medicine, Beijing Institute of Genomics, Chinese Academy of Sciences and China National Center for Bioinformation, Beijing, China
- School of Future Technology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- *Correspondence: Fan Liu, ; Peilin Jia,
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Levy G, Levin B. An Evolution-Based Model of Causation for Aging-Related Diseases and Intrinsic Mortality: Explanatory Properties and Implications for Healthy Aging. Front Public Health 2022; 10:774668. [PMID: 35252084 PMCID: PMC8894190 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.774668] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2021] [Accepted: 01/10/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Aging-related diseases are the most prevalent diseases in advanced countries nowadays, accounting for a substantial proportion of mortality. We describe the explanatory properties of an evolution-based model of causation (EBMC) applicable to aging-related diseases and intrinsic mortality. The EBMC takes the sufficient and component causes model of causation as a starting point and develops it using evolutionary and statistical theories. Genetic component causes are classified as “early-onset” or “late-onset” and environmental component causes as “evolutionarily conserved” or “evolutionarily recent.” Genetic and environmental component causes are considered to occur as random events following time-to-event distributions, and sufficient causes are classified according to whether or not their time-to-event distributions are “molded” by the declining force of natural selection with increasing age. We obtain for each of these two groups different time-to-event distributions for disease incidence or intrinsic mortality asymptotically (i.e., for a large number of sufficient causes). The EBMC provides explanations for observations about aging-related diseases concerning the penetrance of genetic risk variants, the age of onset of monogenic vs. sporadic forms, the meaning of “age as a risk factor,” the relation between frequency and age of onset, and the emergence of diseases associated with the modern Western lifestyle. The EBMC also provides an explanation of the Gompertz mortality model at the fundamental level of genetic causes and involving evolutionary biology. Implications for healthy aging are examined under the scenarios of health promotion and postponed aging. Most importantly from a public health standpoint, the EBMC implies that primary prevention through changes in lifestyle and reduction of environmental exposures is paramount in promoting healthy aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gilberto Levy
- Independent Researcher, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- *Correspondence: Gilberto Levy
| | - Bruce Levin
- Department of Biostatistics, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
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8
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Chen QY, Wen T, Wu P, Jia R, Zhang R, Dang J. Exosomal Proteins and miRNAs as Mediators of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:718803. [PMID: 34568332 PMCID: PMC8461026 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.718803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2021] [Accepted: 08/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent advances in the neurobiology and neurogenerative diseases have attracted growing interest in exosomes and their ability to carry and propagate active biomolecules as a means to reprogram recipient cells. Alterations in exosomal protein content and nucleic acid profiles found in human biological fluids have been correlated with various diseases including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). In ALS pathogenesis, these lipid-bound nanoscale vesicles have emerged as valuable candidates for diagnostic biomarkers. Moreover, their capacity to spread misfolded proteins and functional non-coding RNAs to interconnected neuronal cells make them putative mediators for the progressive motor degeneration found remarkably apparent in ALS. This review outlines current knowledge concerning the biogenesis, heterogeneity, and function of exosomes in the brain as well as a comprehensive probe of currently available literature on ALS-related exosomal proteins and microRNAs. Lastly, with the rapid development of employing nanoparticles for drug delivery, we explore the therapeutic potentials of exosomes as well as underlying limitations in current isolation and detection methodologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiao Yi Chen
- Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Ting Wen
- Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Peng Wu
- Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Rui Jia
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Ronghua Zhang
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Jingxia Dang
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
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9
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Oliveira D, Morales-Vicente DA, Amaral MS, Luz L, Sertié AL, Leite FS, Navarro C, Kaid C, Esposito J, Goulart E, Caires L, Alves LM, Melo US, Figueiredo T, Mitne-Neto M, Okamoto OK, Verjovski-Almeida S, Zatz M. Different gene expression profiles in iPSC-derived motor neurons from ALS8 patients with variable clinical courses suggest mitigating pathways for neurodegeneration. Hum Mol Genet 2021; 29:1465-1475. [PMID: 32280986 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddaa069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2019] [Revised: 04/04/2020] [Accepted: 04/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis type 8 (ALS8) is an autosomal dominant form of ALS, which is caused by pathogenic variants in the VAPB gene. Here we investigated five ALS8 patients, classified as 'severe' and 'mild' from a gigantic Brazilian kindred, carrying the same VAPB mutation but displaying different clinical courses. Copy number variation and whole exome sequencing analyses in such individuals ruled out previously described genetic modifiers of pathogenicity. After deriving induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) for each patient (N = 5) and controls (N = 3), motor neurons were differentiated, and high-throughput RNA-Seq gene expression measurements were performed. Functional cell death and oxidative metabolism assays were also carried out in patients' iPSC-derived motor neurons. The degree of cell death and mitochondrial oxidative metabolism were similar in iPSC-derived motor neurons from mild patients and controls and were distinct from those of severe patients. Similar findings were obtained when RNA-Seq from such cells was performed. Overall, 43 genes were upregulated and 66 downregulated in the two mild ALS8 patients when compared with severe ALS8 individuals and controls. Interestingly, significantly enriched pathways found among differentially expressed genes, such as protein translation and protein targeting to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), are known to be associated with neurodegenerative processes. Taken together, the mitigating mechanisms here presented appear to maintain motor neuron survival by keeping translational activity and protein targeting to the ER in such cells. As ALS8 physiopathology has been associated with proteostasis mechanisms in ER-mitochondria contact sites, such differentially expressed genes appear to relate to the bypass of VAPB deficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danyllo Oliveira
- Department of Genetics and Evolutionary Biology, Human Genome and Stem Cell Research Center, Institute of Biosciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-090, Brazil
| | - David A Morales-Vicente
- Laboratory of Gene Expression in Eukaryotes, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo 05503-900, Brazil.,Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Chemistry, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-000, Brazil
| | - Murilo S Amaral
- Laboratory of Gene Expression in Eukaryotes, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo 05503-900, Brazil
| | - Livia Luz
- Laboratory of DNA Repair, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-000, Brazil
| | | | - Felipe S Leite
- Department of Genetics and Evolutionary Biology, Human Genome and Stem Cell Research Center, Institute of Biosciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-090, Brazil
| | - Claudia Navarro
- Department of Clinical Pathology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Campinas, Campinas 13083-887, Brazil
| | - Carolini Kaid
- Department of Genetics and Evolutionary Biology, Human Genome and Stem Cell Research Center, Institute of Biosciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-090, Brazil
| | - Joyce Esposito
- Department of Genetics and Evolutionary Biology, Human Genome and Stem Cell Research Center, Institute of Biosciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-090, Brazil
| | - Ernesto Goulart
- Department of Genetics and Evolutionary Biology, Human Genome and Stem Cell Research Center, Institute of Biosciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-090, Brazil
| | - Luiz Caires
- Department of Genetics and Evolutionary Biology, Human Genome and Stem Cell Research Center, Institute of Biosciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-090, Brazil
| | - Luciana M Alves
- Department of Genetics and Evolutionary Biology, Human Genome and Stem Cell Research Center, Institute of Biosciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-090, Brazil
| | - Uirá S Melo
- Department of Genetics and Evolutionary Biology, Human Genome and Stem Cell Research Center, Institute of Biosciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-090, Brazil
| | - Thalita Figueiredo
- Department of Genetics and Evolutionary Biology, Human Genome and Stem Cell Research Center, Institute of Biosciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-090, Brazil.,Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Alagoas, Maceió 57972-900, Brazil
| | - Miguel Mitne-Neto
- Fleury Group, Research and Development. São Paulo, São Paulo 04344-070, Brazil
| | - Oswaldo K Okamoto
- Department of Genetics and Evolutionary Biology, Human Genome and Stem Cell Research Center, Institute of Biosciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-090, Brazil
| | - Sergio Verjovski-Almeida
- Laboratory of Gene Expression in Eukaryotes, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo 05503-900, Brazil.,Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Chemistry, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-000, Brazil
| | - Mayana Zatz
- Department of Genetics and Evolutionary Biology, Human Genome and Stem Cell Research Center, Institute of Biosciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-090, Brazil
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10
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Theunissen F, Anderton RS, Mastaglia FL, Flynn LL, Winter SJ, James I, Bedlack R, Hodgetts S, Fletcher S, Wilton SD, Laing NG, MacShane M, Needham M, Saunders A, Mackay-Sim A, Melamed Z, Ravits J, Cleveland DW, Akkari PA. Novel STMN2 Variant Linked to Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Risk and Clinical Phenotype. Front Aging Neurosci 2021; 13:658226. [PMID: 33841129 PMCID: PMC8033025 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2021.658226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2021] [Accepted: 03/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective There is a critical need to establish genetic markers that explain the complex phenotypes and pathogenicity of ALS. This study identified a polymorphism in the Stathmin-2 gene and investigated its association with sporadic ALS (sALS) disease risk, age-of onset and survival duration. Methods The candidate CA repeat was systematically analyzed using PCR, Sanger sequencing and high throughput capillary separation for genotyping. Stathmin-2 expression was investigated using RT-PCR in patient olfactory neurosphere-derived (ONS) cells and RNA sequencing in laser-captured spinal motor neurons. Results In a case-control analysis of a combined North American sALS cohort (n = 321) and population control group (n = 332), long/long CA genotypes were significantly associated with disease risk (p = 0.042), and most strongly when one allele was a 24 CA repeat (p = 0.0023). In addition, longer CA allele length was associated with earlier age-of-onset (p = 0.039), and shorter survival duration in bulbar-onset cases (p = 0.006). In an Australian longitudinal sALS cohort (n = 67), ALS functional rating scale scores were significantly lower in carriers of the long/long genotype (p = 0.034). Stathmin-2 mRNA expression was reduced in sporadic patient ONS cells. Additionally, sALS patients and controls exhibited variable expression of Stathmin-2 mRNA according to CA genotype in laser-captured spinal motor neurons. Conclusions We report a novel non-coding CA repeat in Stathmin-2 which is associated with sALS disease risk and has disease modifying effects. The potential value of this variant as a disease marker and tool for cohort enrichment in clinical trials warrants further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frances Theunissen
- Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational Science, Nedlands, WA, Australia.,Centre for Molecular Medicine and Innovative Therapeutics, Murdoch University, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Ryan S Anderton
- Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational Science, Nedlands, WA, Australia.,Centre for Neuromuscular and Neurological Disorders, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA, Australia.,School of Health Sciences, Institute for Health Research, The University of Notre Dame Australia, Fremantle, WA, Australia
| | - Frank L Mastaglia
- Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational Science, Nedlands, WA, Australia.,Centre for Neuromuscular and Neurological Disorders, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA, Australia
| | - Loren L Flynn
- Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational Science, Nedlands, WA, Australia.,Centre for Molecular Medicine and Innovative Therapeutics, Murdoch University, Perth, WA, Australia.,Centre for Neuromuscular and Neurological Disorders, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA, Australia
| | - Samantha J Winter
- Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational Science, Nedlands, WA, Australia.,School of Health Sciences, Institute for Health Research, The University of Notre Dame Australia, Fremantle, WA, Australia
| | - Ian James
- Institute for Immunology and Infectious Disease, Murdoch University, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Richard Bedlack
- Department of Neurology, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Stuart Hodgetts
- Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational Science, Nedlands, WA, Australia.,School of Human Sciences, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA, Australia
| | - Sue Fletcher
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Innovative Therapeutics, Murdoch University, Perth, WA, Australia.,Centre for Neuromuscular and Neurological Disorders, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA, Australia
| | - Steve D Wilton
- Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational Science, Nedlands, WA, Australia.,Centre for Molecular Medicine and Innovative Therapeutics, Murdoch University, Perth, WA, Australia.,Centre for Neuromuscular and Neurological Disorders, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA, Australia
| | - Nigel G Laing
- Centre for Medical Research, Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Mandi MacShane
- Centre for Medical Research, Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Merrilee Needham
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Innovative Therapeutics, Murdoch University, Perth, WA, Australia.,Faculty of Medicine, The University of Notre Dame Australia, Fremantle, WA, Australia.,Department of Neurology, Fiona Stanley Hospital, Murdoch, WA, Australia
| | - Ann Saunders
- Zinfandel Pharmaceuticals, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - Alan Mackay-Sim
- Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational Science, Nedlands, WA, Australia.,Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery, Griffith University, Nathan, QLD, Australia
| | - Ze'ev Melamed
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States.,Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - John Ravits
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Don W Cleveland
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States.,Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States.,Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - P Anthony Akkari
- Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational Science, Nedlands, WA, Australia.,Centre for Molecular Medicine and Innovative Therapeutics, Murdoch University, Perth, WA, Australia.,Centre for Neuromuscular and Neurological Disorders, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA, Australia.,Department of Neurology, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States
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11
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Ma P, Li Y, Wang H, Mao B. Haploinsufficiency of the TDP43 ubiquitin E3 ligase RNF220 leads to ALS-like motor neuron defects in the mouse. J Mol Cell Biol 2021; 13:374-382. [PMID: 33386850 PMCID: PMC8373269 DOI: 10.1093/jmcb/mjaa072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2020] [Revised: 09/16/2020] [Accepted: 10/04/2020] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
TDP43 pathology is seen in a large majority of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) cases, suggesting a central pathogenic role of this regulatory protein. Clarifying the molecular mechanism controlling TDP43 stability and subcellular location might provide important insights into ALS therapy. The ubiquitin E3 ligase RNF220 is involved in different neural developmental processes through various molecular targets in the mouse. Here, we report that the RNF220+/− mice showed progressively decreasing mobility to different extents, some of which developed typical ALS pathological characteristics in spinal motor neurons, including TDP43 cytoplasmic accumulation, atrocytosis, muscle denervation, and atrophy. Mechanistically, RNF220 interacts with TDP43 in vitro and in vivo and promotes its polyubiquitination and proteasomal degradation. In conclusion, we propose that RNF220 might be a modifier of TDP43 function in vivo and contribute to TDP43 pathology in neurodegenerative disease like ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pengcheng Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
| | - Yuwei Li
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China.,Kunming College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
| | - Huishan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China.,Kunming College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
| | - Bingyu Mao
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China.,Center for Excellence in Animal Evolution and Genetics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
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12
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Ruffini N, Klingenberg S, Schweiger S, Gerber S. Common Factors in Neurodegeneration: A Meta-Study Revealing Shared Patterns on a Multi-Omics Scale. Cells 2020; 9:E2642. [PMID: 33302607 PMCID: PMC7764447 DOI: 10.3390/cells9122642] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2020] [Revised: 11/24/2020] [Accepted: 12/04/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), Huntington's disease (HD), and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) are heterogeneous, progressive diseases with frequently overlapping symptoms characterized by a loss of neurons. Studies have suggested relations between neurodegenerative diseases for many years (e.g., regarding the aggregation of toxic proteins or triggering endogenous cell death pathways). We gathered publicly available genomic, transcriptomic, and proteomic data from 177 studies and more than one million patients to detect shared genetic patterns between the neurodegenerative diseases on three analyzed omics-layers. The results show a remarkably high number of shared differentially expressed genes between the transcriptomic and proteomic levels for all conditions, while showing a significant relation between genomic and proteomic data between AD and PD and AD and ALS. We identified a set of 139 genes being differentially expressed in several transcriptomic experiments of all four diseases. These 139 genes showed overrepresented gene ontology (GO) Terms involved in the development of neurodegeneration, such as response to heat and hypoxia, positive regulation of cytokines and angiogenesis, and RNA catabolic process. Furthermore, the four analyzed neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs) were clustered by their mean direction of regulation throughout all transcriptomic studies for this set of 139 genes, with the closest relation regarding this common gene set seen between AD and HD. GO-Term and pathway analysis of the proteomic overlap led to biological processes (BPs), related to protein folding and humoral immune response. Taken together, we could confirm the existence of many relations between Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis on transcriptomic and proteomic levels by analyzing the pathways and GO-Terms arising in these intersections. The significance of the connection and the striking relation of the results to processes leading to neurodegeneration between the transcriptomic and proteomic data for all four analyzed neurodegenerative diseases showed that exploring many studies simultaneously, including multiple omics-layers of different neurodegenerative diseases simultaneously, holds new relevant insights that do not emerge from analyzing these data separately. Furthermore, the results shed light on processes like the humoral immune response that have previously been described only for certain diseases. Our data therefore suggest human patients with neurodegenerative diseases should be addressed as complex biological systems by integrating multiple underlying data sources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolas Ruffini
- Institute for Human Genetics, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg University, 55131 Mainz, Germany; (N.R.); (S.K.); (S.S.)
- Leibniz Institute for Resilience Research, Leibniz Association, Wallstraße 7, 55122 Mainz, Germany
| | - Susanne Klingenberg
- Institute for Human Genetics, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg University, 55131 Mainz, Germany; (N.R.); (S.K.); (S.S.)
| | - Susann Schweiger
- Institute for Human Genetics, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg University, 55131 Mainz, Germany; (N.R.); (S.K.); (S.S.)
| | - Susanne Gerber
- Institute for Human Genetics, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg University, 55131 Mainz, Germany; (N.R.); (S.K.); (S.S.)
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13
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Xiao L, Yuan Z, Jin S, Wang T, Huang S, Zeng P. Multiple-Tissue Integrative Transcriptome-Wide Association Studies Discovered New Genes Associated With Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Front Genet 2020; 11:587243. [PMID: 33329728 PMCID: PMC7714931 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2020.587243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2020] [Accepted: 10/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified multiple causal genes associated with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS); however, the genetic architecture of ALS remains completely unknown and a large number of causal genes have yet been discovered. To full such gap in part, we implemented an integrative analysis of transcriptome-wide association study (TWAS) for ALS to prioritize causal genes with summary statistics from 80,610 European individuals and employed 13 GTEx brain tissues as reference transcriptome panels. The summary-level TWAS analysis with single brain tissue was first undertaken and then a flexible p-value combination strategy, called summary data-based Cauchy Aggregation TWAS (SCAT), was proposed to pool association signals from single-tissue TWAS analysis while protecting against highly positive correlation among tests. Extensive simulations demonstrated SCAT can produce well-calibrated p-value for the control of type I error and was often much more powerful to identify association signals across various scenarios compared with single-tissue TWAS analysis. Using SCAT, we replicated three ALS-associated genes (i.e., ATXN3, SCFD1, and C9orf72) identified in previous GWASs and discovered additional five genes (i.e., SLC9A8, FAM66D, TRIP11, JUP, and RP11-529H20.6) which were not reported before. Furthermore, we discovered the five associations were largely driven by genes themselves and thus might be new genes which were likely related to the risk of ALS. However, further investigations are warranted to verify these results and untangle the pathophysiological function of the genes in developing ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lishun Xiao
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China
| | - Zhongshang Yuan
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Siyi Jin
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China
| | - Ting Wang
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China
| | - Shuiping Huang
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China.,Center for Medical Statistics and Data Analysis, School of Public Health, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China
| | - Ping Zeng
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China.,Center for Medical Statistics and Data Analysis, School of Public Health, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China
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14
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Krahn AI, Wells C, Drewry DH, Beitel LK, Durcan TM, Axtman AD. Defining the Neural Kinome: Strategies and Opportunities for Small Molecule Drug Discovery to Target Neurodegenerative Diseases. ACS Chem Neurosci 2020; 11:1871-1886. [PMID: 32464049 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.0c00176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Kinases are highly tractable drug targets that have reached unparalleled success in fields such as cancer but whose potential has not yet been realized in neuroscience. There are currently 55 approved small molecule kinase-targeting drugs, 48 of which have an anticancer indication. The intrinsic complexity linked to central nervous system (CNS) drug development and a lack of validated targets has hindered progress in developing kinase inhibitors for CNS disorders when compared to other therapeutic areas such as oncology. Identification and/or characterization of new kinases as potential drug targets for neurodegenerative diseases will create opportunities for the development of CNS drugs in the future. The track record of kinase inhibitors in other disease indications supports the idea that with the best targets identified small molecule kinase modulators will become impactful therapeutics for neurodegenerative diseases. This Review highlights the imminent need for new therapeutics to treat the most prevalent neurodegenerative diseases as well as the promise of kinase inhibitors to address this need. With a focus on kinases that remain largely unexplored after decades of dedicated research in the kinase field, we offer specific examples of understudied kinases that are supported by patient-derived data as linked to Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and/or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Finally, we show literature-reported high-quality inhibitors for several understudied kinases and suggest other kinases that merit additional medicinal chemistry efforts to elucidate their therapeutic potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea I. Krahn
- Early Drug Discovery Unit, Montreal Neurological Institute-Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada H3A 2B4
| | - Carrow Wells
- Structural Genomics Consortium, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
- Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
| | - David H. Drewry
- Structural Genomics Consortium, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
- Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
| | - Lenore K. Beitel
- Early Drug Discovery Unit, Montreal Neurological Institute-Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada H3A 2B4
| | - Thomas M. Durcan
- Early Drug Discovery Unit, Montreal Neurological Institute-Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada H3A 2B4
| | - Alison D. Axtman
- Structural Genomics Consortium, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
- Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
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15
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Insights into malaria susceptibility using genome-wide data on 17,000 individuals from Africa, Asia and Oceania. Nat Commun 2019; 10:5732. [PMID: 31844061 PMCID: PMC6914791 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-13480-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2019] [Accepted: 11/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The human genetic factors that affect resistance to infectious disease are poorly understood. Here we report a genome-wide association study in 17,000 severe malaria cases and population controls from 11 countries, informed by sequencing of family trios and by direct typing of candidate loci in an additional 15,000 samples. We identify five replicable associations with genome-wide levels of evidence including a newly implicated variant on chromosome 6. Jointly, these variants account for around one-tenth of the heritability of severe malaria, which we estimate as ~23% using genome-wide genotypes. We interrogate available functional data and discover an erythroid-specific transcription start site underlying the known association in ATP2B4, but are unable to identify a likely causal mechanism at the chromosome 6 locus. Previously reported HLA associations do not replicate in these samples. This large dataset will provide a foundation for further research on the genetic determinants of malaria resistance in diverse populations. Four genome-wide associated loci are currently known for malaria susceptibility. Here, the authors expand on earlier work by combining data from 11 malaria-endemic countries and additional population sequencing informing an African-enriched imputation reference panel, with findings including a previously unreported association on chromosome 6.
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16
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Pozzilli V, Giona F, Ceccanti M, Cambieri C, Frasca V, Onesti E, Libonati L, Di Bari S, Fiorini I, Cardarelli L, Santopietro M, Inghilleri M. A case of motor neuron involvement in Gaucher disease. Mol Genet Metab Rep 2019; 21:100540. [PMID: 31844629 PMCID: PMC6895677 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymgmr.2019.100540] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2019] [Revised: 11/01/2019] [Accepted: 11/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Gaucher disease (GD) is a genetic disorder characterized by an accumulation of glucosylceramide in cells in the monocyte-macrophage system. We describe a case of a 33-year-old man with a previous diagnosis of type 3 GD who displayed a progressive weakening of the limbs followed by upper motor neuron involvement. A diagnosis of definite Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis was made. This is the first reported case of concurrent Gaucher disease and the ALS phenotype in the same patient.
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Affiliation(s)
- V Pozzilli
- Rare Neuromuscular Diseases Centre, Department of Human Neurosciences, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - F Giona
- Haematology, Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - M Ceccanti
- Rare Neuromuscular Diseases Centre, Department of Human Neurosciences, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - C Cambieri
- Rare Neuromuscular Diseases Centre, Department of Human Neurosciences, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - V Frasca
- Rare Neuromuscular Diseases Centre, Department of Human Neurosciences, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - E Onesti
- Rare Neuromuscular Diseases Centre, Department of Human Neurosciences, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - L Libonati
- Rare Neuromuscular Diseases Centre, Department of Human Neurosciences, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - S Di Bari
- Rare Neuromuscular Diseases Centre, Department of Human Neurosciences, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - I Fiorini
- Rare Neuromuscular Diseases Centre, Department of Human Neurosciences, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - L Cardarelli
- Haematology, Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - M Santopietro
- Haematology, Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - M Inghilleri
- Rare Neuromuscular Diseases Centre, Department of Human Neurosciences, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
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17
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Yang B, Jiang H, Wang F, Li S, Wu C, Bao J, Zhu Y, Xu Z, Liu B, Ren H, Yang X. UNC13A variant rs12608932 is associated with increased risk of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and reduced patient survival: a meta-analysis. Neurol Sci 2019; 40:2293-2302. [PMID: 31201598 DOI: 10.1007/s10072-019-03951-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2019] [Accepted: 05/24/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease associated with both genetic and environmental risk factors. Previous studies trying to find an association between ALS and unc-13 homolog A (UNC13A) gene variants have shown inconsistent results. This study aimed to conduct a meta-analysis of the association between the C allele of rs12608932, a single-nucleotide polymorphism located in an intron of UNC13A, and risk of ALS and patient survival. METHODS PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang, and SinoMed databases were systematically searched for genome-wide association studies or case-control studies published up to January 2019 on the association between this variant in UNC13A and risk and/or prognosis of ALS. Data from eligible studies were extracted and analyzed. RESULTS The pooled data (28,072 patients with sporadic ALS and 56,545 controls) showed that rs12608932(C) was associated with an increased risk of ALS (OR = 1.13, 95%CI 1.07-1.20). Subgroup analysis revealed that rs12608932(C) increased the risk of sporadic ALS in non-Asian individuals, including those from the USA and Europe (OR 1.17, 95%CI 1.10-1.25, P < 0.000), but not in Japanese or Chinese subjects (OR 1.01, 95%CI 0.92-1.10, P = 0.85). The available data demonstrated that the CC genotype decreased the survival time of patients with ALS (OR 1.33, 95%CI 1.19-1.49, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION The present meta-analysis suggests that rs12608932(C) is associated with increased ALS susceptibility, especially in Caucasian and European subjects, and that the CC genotype of rs12608932 is associated with reduced ALS patient survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Baiyuan Yang
- Department of Neurology, Seventh People's Hospital of Chengdu, Chengdu, 690041, Sichuan Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Haixia Jiang
- Department of Anesthesia, First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, 650032, Yunnan Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Fang Wang
- Department of Geriatric Neurology, First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, 650032, Yunnan Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Shimei Li
- Department of Anesthesia, Kunming Xishan District People's Hospital, Kunming, 650100, Yunnan Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Chongmin Wu
- Department of Geriatric Neurology, First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, 650032, Yunnan Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Jianjian Bao
- Department of Geriatric Neurology, First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, 650032, Yunnan Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Yongyun Zhu
- Department of Geriatric Neurology, First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, 650032, Yunnan Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhong Xu
- Department of Geriatric Neurology, First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, 650032, Yunnan Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Bin Liu
- Department of Geriatric Neurology, First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, 650032, Yunnan Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Hui Ren
- Department of Geriatric Neurology, First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, 650032, Yunnan Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Xinglong Yang
- Department of Geriatric Neurology, First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, 650032, Yunnan Province, People's Republic of China.
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18
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Younis RM, Taylor RM, Beardsley PM, McClay JL. The ANKS1B gene and its associated phenotypes: focus on CNS drug response. Pharmacogenomics 2019; 20:669-684. [PMID: 31250731 PMCID: PMC6912848 DOI: 10.2217/pgs-2019-0015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2019] [Accepted: 04/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The ANKS1B gene was a top finding in genome-wide association studies (GWAS) of antipsychotic drug response. Subsequent GWAS findings for ANKS1B include cognitive ability, educational attainment, body mass index, response to corticosteroids and drug dependence. We review current human association evidence for ANKS1B, in addition to functional studies that include two published mouse knockouts. The several GWAS findings in humans indicate that phenotypically relevant variation is segregating at the ANKS1B locus. ANKS1B shows strong plausibility for involvement in CNS drug response because it encodes a postsynaptic effector protein that mediates long-term changes to neuronal biology. Forthcoming data from large biobanks should further delineate the role of ANKS1B in CNS drug response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rabha M Younis
- Department of Pharmacotherapy & Outcomes Science, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Pharmacy, Richmond, VA 23298, USA
| | - Rachel M Taylor
- Center for Military Psychiatry & Neuroscience, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MA 20910, USA
| | - Patrick M Beardsley
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA 23298, USA
- Center for Biomarker Research & Personalized Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298, USA
| | - Joseph L McClay
- Department of Pharmacotherapy & Outcomes Science, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Pharmacy, Richmond, VA 23298, USA
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19
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Iacoangeli A, Al Khleifat A, Sproviero W, Shatunov A, Jones AR, Opie-Martin S, Naselli E, Topp SD, Fogh I, Hodges A, Dobson RJ, Newhouse SJ, Al-Chalabi A. ALSgeneScanner: a pipeline for the analysis and interpretation of DNA sequencing data of ALS patients. Amyotroph Lateral Scler Frontotemporal Degener 2019; 20:207-215. [PMID: 30835568 PMCID: PMC6567555 DOI: 10.1080/21678421.2018.1562553] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2018] [Revised: 11/13/2018] [Accepted: 11/27/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, MND) is a neurodegenerative disease of upper and lower motor neurons resulting in death from neuromuscular respiratory failure, typically within two years of first symptoms. Genetic factors are an important cause of ALS, with variants in more than 25 genes having strong evidence, and weaker evidence available for variants in more than 120 genes. With the increasing availability of next-generation sequencing data, non-specialists, including health care professionals and patients, are obtaining their genomic information without a corresponding ability to analyze and interpret it. Furthermore, the relevance of novel or existing variants in ALS genes is not always apparent. Here we present ALSgeneScanner, a tool that is easy to install and use, able to provide an automatic, detailed, annotated report, on a list of ALS genes from whole-genome sequencing (WGS) data in a few hours and whole exome sequence data in about 1 h on a readily available mid-range computer. This will be of value to non-specialists and aid in the interpretation of the relevance of novel and existing variants identified in DNA sequencing data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alfredo Iacoangeli
- Department of Biostatistics and Health Informatics, Institute of Psychiatry Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, UK
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, King’s College London, London, UK
| | - Ahmad Al Khleifat
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, King’s College London, London, UK
| | - William Sproviero
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, King’s College London, London, UK
| | - Aleksey Shatunov
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, King’s College London, London, UK
| | - Ashley R. Jones
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, King’s College London, London, UK
| | - Sarah Opie-Martin
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, King’s College London, London, UK
| | - Ersilia Naselli
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, King’s College London, London, UK
| | - Simon D. Topp
- UK Dementia Research Institute, King’s College London, London, UK
| | - Isabella Fogh
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, King’s College London, London, UK
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico, Milan, Italy
| | - Angela Hodges
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, King’s College London, London, UK
| | - Richard J. Dobson
- Department of Biostatistics and Health Informatics, Institute of Psychiatry Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, UK
- Farr Institute of Health Informatics Research, UCL Institute of Health Informatics, University College London, London, UK
- National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Biomedical Research Centre and Dementia Unit at South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, King’s College London, London, UK
| | - Stephen J. Newhouse
- Department of Biostatistics and Health Informatics, Institute of Psychiatry Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, UK
- Farr Institute of Health Informatics Research, UCL Institute of Health Informatics, University College London, London, UK
- National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Biomedical Research Centre and Dementia Unit at South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, King’s College London, London, UK
| | - Ammar Al-Chalabi
- UK Dementia Research Institute, King’s College London, London, UK
- Department of Neurology, King’s College Hospital, London, UK
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20
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Walters R, Manion J, Neely GG. Dissecting Motor Neuron Disease With Drosophila melanogaster. Front Neurosci 2019; 13:331. [PMID: 31031583 PMCID: PMC6473072 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2019.00331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2018] [Accepted: 03/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Motor Neuron Disease (MND) typically affects patients during the later stages of life, and thus, MND is having an increasingly devastating impact on diagnosed individuals, their families and society. The umbrella term MND refers to diseases which cause the progressive loss of upper and/or lower motor neurons and a subsequent decrease in motor ability such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). The study of these diseases is complex and has recently involved the use of genome-wide association studies (GWAS). However, in the case of MND, it has been difficult to identify the complex genetics involved in subtypes, and functional investigation of new candidate disease genes is warranted. Drosophila is a powerful model for addressing these complex diseases. The UAS/Gal4/Gal80 system allows for the upregulation of Drosophila genes, the “knockdown” of genes and the ectopic expression of human genes or mutations in a tissue-specific manner; often resulting in Drosophila models which exhibit typical MND disease pathologies. These can then be further interrogated to identify disease-modifying genes or mutations and disease pathways. This review will discuss two common MNDs and the current Drosophila models which are being used to research their genetic basis and the different pathologies of MND.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel Walters
- Dr. John and Anne Chong Lab for Functional Genomics, Charles Perkins Centre, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - John Manion
- Dr. John and Anne Chong Lab for Functional Genomics, Charles Perkins Centre, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - G Gregory Neely
- Dr. John and Anne Chong Lab for Functional Genomics, Charles Perkins Centre, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
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21
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Mehta PR, Jones AR, Opie-Martin S, Shatunov A, Iacoangeli A, Al Khleifat A, Smith BN, Topp S, Morrison KE, Shaw PJ, Shaw CE, Morgan S, Pittman A, Al-Chalabi A. Younger age of onset in familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is a result of pathogenic gene variants, rather than ascertainment bias. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2019; 90:268-271. [PMID: 30270202 PMCID: PMC6518463 DOI: 10.1136/jnnp-2018-319089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2018] [Revised: 07/31/2018] [Accepted: 08/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a rapidly progressive neurodegenerative disease of motor neurons with a median survival of 2 years. Familial ALS has a younger age of onset than apparently sporadic ALS. We sought to determine whether this younger age of onset is a result of ascertainment bias or has a genetic basis. METHODS Samples from people with ALS were sequenced for 13 ALS genes. To determine the effect of genetic variation, age of onset was compared in people with sporadic ALS carrying a pathogenic gene variant and those who do not; to determine the effect of family history, we compared those with genetic sporadic ALS and familial ALS. RESULTS There were 941 people with a diagnosis of ALS, 100 with familial ALS. Of 841 with apparently sporadic ALS, 95 carried a pathogenic gene variant. The mean age of onset in familial ALS was 5.3 years younger than for apparently sporadic ALS (p=6.0×10-5, 95% CI 2.8 to 7.8 years). The mean age of onset of genetic sporadic ALS was 2.9 years younger than non-genetic sporadic ALS (p=0.011, 95% CI 0.7 to 5.2 years). There was no difference between the mean age of onset in genetic sporadic ALS and familial ALS (p=0.097). CONCLUSIONS People with familial ALS have an age of onset about 5 years younger than those with apparently sporadic ALS, and we have shown that this is a result of Mendelian gene variants lowering the age of onset, rather than ascertainment bias.
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Affiliation(s)
- Puja R Mehta
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, King's College London, London, UK
- Department of Neurology, King's College Hospital, Denmark Hill, London, UK
| | - Ashley R Jones
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Sarah Opie-Martin
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Aleksey Shatunov
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Alfredo Iacoangeli
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, King's College London, London, UK
- Department of Biostatistics and Health Informatics, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Ahmad Al Khleifat
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Bradley N Smith
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Simon Topp
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Karen E Morrison
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton, UK
| | - Pamela J Shaw
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN), University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Christopher E Shaw
- Department of Neurology, King's College Hospital, Denmark Hill, London, UK
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, UK Dementia Research Institute, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Sarah Morgan
- Department of Molecular Neuroscience, Institute of Neurology, UCL, Queen Square, London, UK
| | - Alan Pittman
- Department of Molecular Neuroscience, Institute of Neurology, UCL, Queen Square, London, UK
| | - Ammar Al-Chalabi
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, King's College London, London, UK
- Department of Neurology, King's College Hospital, Denmark Hill, London, UK
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22
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Filosto M, Piccinelli SC, Palmieri I, Necchini N, Valente M, Zanella I, Biasiotto G, Lorenzo DD, Cereda C, Padovani A. A Novel Mutation in the Stalk Domain of KIF5A Causes a Slowly Progressive Atypical Motor Syndrome. J Clin Med 2018; 8:jcm8010017. [PMID: 30583522 PMCID: PMC6352268 DOI: 10.3390/jcm8010017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2018] [Revised: 12/19/2018] [Accepted: 12/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
KIF5A encodes the heavy chain A of kinesin; A motor protein involved in motility functions within neuron. Mutations in the KIF5A N-terminal motor domain are known to cause SPG10; An autosomal dominant hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP), as well as rare Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease 2 (CMT2) cases. Recently C-terminal cargo-binding tail domain mutations have been associated with an amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) phenotype. Here we describe a subject presenting with an atypical slowly progressive motor syndrome evolving over a period of 4 years; Characterized by walking difficulties; Muscle hypotrophy mainly involving upper limbs and pyramidal signs confined to the lower limbs. Electromyography demonstrated chronic neurogenic damage and active denervation while electroneurography showed slowly worsening axonal damage. We identified the novel heterozygote variant c.2341A>G in the exon 21 of the KIF5A gene resulting in the amino acid change p.Lys781Glu. The residue Lys781 is located within the terminal region of the stalk domain and is highly evolutionary conserved. Our findings confirm that mutations in KIF5A cause ALS-like phenotypes. However, the stalk domain mutation described here appears to result in an “intermediate” slowly progressive phenotype having aspects resembling ALS as well as HSP and axonal neuropathy. We suggest that KIF5A gene should be considered as a candidate gene in all atypical progressive motor syndromes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Massimiliano Filosto
- Center for Neuromuscular Diseases, Unit of Neurology, ASST Spedali Civili and University of Brescia, 25100 Brescia, Italy.
| | - Stefano Cotti Piccinelli
- Center for Neuromuscular Diseases, Unit of Neurology, ASST Spedali Civili and University of Brescia, 25100 Brescia, Italy.
| | - Ilaria Palmieri
- Genomic and Post-Genomic Center, IRCCS Mondino Fundation, 27100 Pavia, Italy.
| | - Nicola Necchini
- Center for Neuromuscular Diseases, Unit of Neurology, ASST Spedali Civili and University of Brescia, 25100 Brescia, Italy.
| | - Marialuisa Valente
- Genomic and Post-Genomic Center, IRCCS Mondino Fundation, 27100 Pavia, Italy.
| | - Isabella Zanella
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25100 Brescia, Italy.
- Clinical Chemistry Laboratory, Diagnostic Department, ASST Spedali Civili di Brescia, 25100 Brescia, Italy.
| | - Giorgio Biasiotto
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25100 Brescia, Italy.
- Clinical Chemistry Laboratory, Diagnostic Department, ASST Spedali Civili di Brescia, 25100 Brescia, Italy.
| | - Diego Di Lorenzo
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25100 Brescia, Italy.
- Clinical Chemistry Laboratory, Diagnostic Department, ASST Spedali Civili di Brescia, 25100 Brescia, Italy.
| | - Cristina Cereda
- Genomic and Post-Genomic Center, IRCCS Mondino Fundation, 27100 Pavia, Italy.
| | - Alessandro Padovani
- Center for Neuromuscular Diseases, Unit of Neurology, ASST Spedali Civili and University of Brescia, 25100 Brescia, Italy.
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23
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Kumar S, Yadav N, Pandey S, Thelma BK. Advances in the discovery of genetic risk factors for complex forms of neurodegenerative disorders: contemporary approaches, success, challenges and prospects. J Genet 2018; 97:625-648. [PMID: 30027900] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases constitute a large proportion of disorders in elderly, majority being sporadic in occurrence with ∼5-10% familial. A strong genetic component underlies the Mendelian forms but nongenetic factors together with genetic vulnerability contributes to the complex sporadic forms. Several gene discoveries in the familial forms have provided novel insights into the pathogenesis of neurodegeneration with implications for treatment. Conversely, findings from genetic dissection of the sporadic forms, despite large genomewide association studies and more recently whole exome and whole genome sequencing, have been limited. This review provides a concise account of the genetics that we know, the pathways that they implicate, the challenges that are faced and the prospects that are envisaged for the sporadic, complex forms of neurodegenerative diseases, taking four most common conditions, namely Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and Huntington disease as examples. Poor replication across studies, inability to establish genotype-phenotype correlations and the overall failure to predict risk and/or prevent disease in this group poses a continuing challenge. Among others, clinical heterogeneity emerges as the most important impediment warranting newer approaches. Advanced computational and system biology tools to analyse the big data are being generated and the alternate strategy such as subgrouping of case-control cohorts based on deep phenotyping using the principles of Ayurveda to overcome current limitation of phenotype heterogeneity seem to hold promise. However, at this point, with advances in discovery genomics and functional analysis of putative determinants with translation potential for the complex forms being minimal, stem cell therapies are being attempted as potential interventions. In this context, the possibility to generate patient derived induced pluripotent stem cells, mutant/gene/genome correction through CRISPR/Cas9 technology and repopulating the specific brain regions with corrected neurons, which may fulfil the dream of personalized medicine have been mentioned briefly. Understanding disease pathways/biology using this technology, with implications for development of novel therapeutics are optimistic expectations in the near future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sumeet Kumar
- Department of Genetics, University of Delhi South Campus, New Delhi 110 021, India.
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24
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Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a devastating, uniformly lethal degenerative disorder of motor neurons that overlaps clinically with frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Investigations of the 10% of ALS cases that are transmitted as dominant traits have revealed numerous gene mutations and variants that either cause these disorders or influence their clinical phenotype. The evolving understanding of the genetic architecture of ALS has illuminated broad themes in the molecular pathophysiology of both familial and sporadic ALS and FTD. These central themes encompass disturbances of protein homeostasis, alterations in the biology of RNA binding proteins, and defects in cytoskeletal dynamics, as well as numerous downstream pathophysiological events. Together, these findings from ALS genetics provide new insight into therapies that target genetically distinct subsets of ALS and FTD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mehdi Ghasemi
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts 01655
| | - Robert H Brown
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts 01655
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25
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Logroscino G, Marin B, Piccininni M, Arcuti S, Chiò A, Hardiman O, Rooney J, Zoccolella S, Couratier P, Preux PM, Beghi E. Referral bias in ALS epidemiological studies. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0195821. [PMID: 29659621 PMCID: PMC5901916 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0195821] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2017] [Accepted: 03/31/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Despite concerns about the representativeness of patients from ALS tertiary centers as compared to the ALS general population, the extent of referral bias in clinical studies remains largely unknown. Using data from EURALS consortium we aimed to assess nature, extent and impact of referral bias. Methods Four European ALS population-based registries located in Ireland, Piedmont, Puglia, Italy, and Limousin, France, covering 50 million person-years, participated. Demographic and clinic characteristics of ALS patients diagnosed in tertiary referral centers were contrasted with the whole ALS populations enrolled in registries in the same geographical areas. Results Patients referred to ALS centers were younger (with difference ranging from 1.1 years to 2.4 years), less likely to present a bulbar onset, with a higher proportion of familial antecedents and a longer survival (ranging from 11% to 15%) when compared to the entire ALS population in the same geographic area. Conclusions A trend for referral bias is present in cohorts drawn from ALS referral centers. The magnitude of the possible referral bias in a particular tertiary center can be estimated through a comparison with ALS patients drawn from registry in the same geographic area. Studies based on clinical cohorts should be cautiously interpreted. The presence of a registry in the same area may improve the complete ascertainment in the referral center.
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Grants
- Health Research Programme Clinical Fellowship Programme
- Health Research Board Clinician Scientist Programme
- Novarits, Biogen Idec, Sanofi Aventis, Merck-Serono, Allergen, Ono Pharmaceuticals, Novartis, Cytokinetics, Sanofi Aventis
- Euro-MOTOR FP7/2007-2013
- Motor Neurone Disease Association, ALS Association, National Institute for Health Research, European Commission, Medical Research Council and Economic and Social Research Council, Italian Ministry of Health (Ricerca Finalizzata), University of Turin, and Fondazione Vialli e Mauro onlus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giancarlo Logroscino
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neuroscience and Sense Organs, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, Bari, Italy
- Unit of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Department of Clinical Research in Neurology, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, at “Pia Fondazione Cardinale G. Panico“, Tricase, Lecce, Italy
- * E-mail:
| | - Benoit Marin
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neuroscience and Sense Organs, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, Bari, Italy
- Unit of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Department of Clinical Research in Neurology, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, at “Pia Fondazione Cardinale G. Panico“, Tricase, Lecce, Italy
- INSERM UMR1094, Tropical Neuroepidemiology, Limoges, France
- University of Limoges, School of Medicine, Institute of Neuroepidemiology and Tropical Neurology, CNRS FR 3503 GEIST, Limoges, France
- CHU Limoges, Centre d’Epidémiologie de Biostatistique et de Méthodologie de la Recherche, Limoges, France
- Laboratorio di Malattie Neurologiche, Dipartimento di Neuroscienze, IRCCS Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri, Milano, Italy
| | - Marco Piccininni
- Unit of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Department of Clinical Research in Neurology, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, at “Pia Fondazione Cardinale G. Panico“, Tricase, Lecce, Italy
| | - Simona Arcuti
- Unit of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Department of Clinical Research in Neurology, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, at “Pia Fondazione Cardinale G. Panico“, Tricase, Lecce, Italy
| | - Adriano Chiò
- ALS Center, Department of Neuroscience, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
- Neuroscience Institute of Turin (NIT), Turin, Italy
- Institute of Cognitive Sciences and Technologies, C.N.R., Rome, Italy
| | - Orla Hardiman
- Academic Unit of Neurology Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - James Rooney
- Academic Unit of Neurology Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Stefano Zoccolella
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neuroscience and Sense Organs, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, Bari, Italy
| | - Philippe Couratier
- INSERM UMR1094, Tropical Neuroepidemiology, Limoges, France
- University of Limoges, School of Medicine, Institute of Neuroepidemiology and Tropical Neurology, CNRS FR 3503 GEIST, Limoges, France
- CHU Limoges, Service de Neurologie, Centre expert SLA, Limoges, France
| | - Pierre-Marie Preux
- Unit of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Department of Clinical Research in Neurology, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, at “Pia Fondazione Cardinale G. Panico“, Tricase, Lecce, Italy
- INSERM UMR1094, Tropical Neuroepidemiology, Limoges, France
- University of Limoges, School of Medicine, Institute of Neuroepidemiology and Tropical Neurology, CNRS FR 3503 GEIST, Limoges, France
| | - Ettore Beghi
- Laboratorio di Malattie Neurologiche, Dipartimento di Neuroscienze, IRCCS Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri, Milano, Italy
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26
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Ahmadzai P, Kab S, Vlaar T, Artaud F, Carcaillon-Bentata L, Canonico M, Moisan F, Elbaz A. Age-dependent sex ratios of motor neuron disease: French nationwide study and meta-analysis. Neurology 2018; 90:e1588-e1595. [PMID: 29602909 DOI: 10.1212/wnl.0000000000005459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2017] [Accepted: 02/02/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To examine the relation of age with male-to-female (M/F) ratios and incidence rates of motor neuron disease (MND) in a French nationwide study and meta-analysis of incidence studies. METHODS We used data from the French National Health Insurance databases. Patients with incident MND (2010-2014) were identified based on drug claims (riluzole), hospitalization records, death records, and long-term chronic disease benefits. We estimated age-specific M/F incidence ratios using Poisson regression. Poisson, Gompertz, and multistep models were used to model the relation between age and incidence. We performed a meta-analysis (n = 28 studies) and used meta-regression to examine the relation of age with incidence rates and ratios. RESULTS In France, we identified 10,848 patients with incident MND (6,021 men, 4,827 women). Incidence was higher in men than in women in all age groups. M/F ratios were significantly different across age groups and followed a quadratic trend (p < 0.001). Between 20 and 49 years, the average M/F ratio was 2.26 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.96-2.62); it was 1.41 (95% CI = 1.35-1.47) between 50 and 84 years, and 1.88 (95% CI = 1.64-2.17) after 85 years. Incidence was lower in women than men at younger ages, but increased more steeply in women than men. Similar patterns were observed in the meta-analysis of incidence studies, especially in 19 higher-quality studies. CONCLUSION The relation between age and M/F incidence ratios of MND follows a quadratic U-shaped pattern with an abrupt drop after the fifth decade. The change in M/F ratios before and after menopause suggests that reproductive/hormonal protective factors have a role in women and should prompt further studies to explore this hypothesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pasarlai Ahmadzai
- From the Université Paris-Saclay (P.A., S.K., T.V., F.A., M.C., A.E.), Univ. Paris-Sud, UVSQ, CESP, INSERM, Villejuif; and Santé publique France (S.K., T.V., L.C.-B., F.M., A.E.), Saint-Maurice, France
| | - Sofiane Kab
- From the Université Paris-Saclay (P.A., S.K., T.V., F.A., M.C., A.E.), Univ. Paris-Sud, UVSQ, CESP, INSERM, Villejuif; and Santé publique France (S.K., T.V., L.C.-B., F.M., A.E.), Saint-Maurice, France
| | - Tim Vlaar
- From the Université Paris-Saclay (P.A., S.K., T.V., F.A., M.C., A.E.), Univ. Paris-Sud, UVSQ, CESP, INSERM, Villejuif; and Santé publique France (S.K., T.V., L.C.-B., F.M., A.E.), Saint-Maurice, France
| | - Fanny Artaud
- From the Université Paris-Saclay (P.A., S.K., T.V., F.A., M.C., A.E.), Univ. Paris-Sud, UVSQ, CESP, INSERM, Villejuif; and Santé publique France (S.K., T.V., L.C.-B., F.M., A.E.), Saint-Maurice, France
| | - Laure Carcaillon-Bentata
- From the Université Paris-Saclay (P.A., S.K., T.V., F.A., M.C., A.E.), Univ. Paris-Sud, UVSQ, CESP, INSERM, Villejuif; and Santé publique France (S.K., T.V., L.C.-B., F.M., A.E.), Saint-Maurice, France
| | - Marianne Canonico
- From the Université Paris-Saclay (P.A., S.K., T.V., F.A., M.C., A.E.), Univ. Paris-Sud, UVSQ, CESP, INSERM, Villejuif; and Santé publique France (S.K., T.V., L.C.-B., F.M., A.E.), Saint-Maurice, France
| | - Frédéric Moisan
- From the Université Paris-Saclay (P.A., S.K., T.V., F.A., M.C., A.E.), Univ. Paris-Sud, UVSQ, CESP, INSERM, Villejuif; and Santé publique France (S.K., T.V., L.C.-B., F.M., A.E.), Saint-Maurice, France
| | - Alexis Elbaz
- From the Université Paris-Saclay (P.A., S.K., T.V., F.A., M.C., A.E.), Univ. Paris-Sud, UVSQ, CESP, INSERM, Villejuif; and Santé publique France (S.K., T.V., L.C.-B., F.M., A.E.), Saint-Maurice, France.
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Nicolas A, Kenna KP, Renton AE, Ticozzi N, Faghri F, Chia R, Dominov JA, Kenna BJ, Nalls MA, Keagle P, Rivera AM, van Rheenen W, Murphy NA, van Vugt JJFA, Geiger JT, Van der Spek RA, Pliner HA, Shankaracharya, Smith BN, Marangi G, Topp SD, Abramzon Y, Gkazi AS, Eicher JD, Kenna A, Mora G, Calvo A, Mazzini L, Riva N, Mandrioli J, Caponnetto C, Battistini S, Volanti P, La Bella V, Conforti FL, Borghero G, Messina S, Simone IL, Trojsi F, Salvi F, Logullo FO, D'Alfonso S, Corrado L, Capasso M, Ferrucci L, Moreno CDAM, Kamalakaran S, Goldstein DB, Gitler AD, Harris T, Myers RM, Phatnani H, Musunuri RL, Evani US, Abhyankar A, Zody MC, Kaye J, Finkbeiner S, Wyman SK, LeNail A, Lima L, Fraenkel E, Svendsen CN, Thompson LM, Van Eyk JE, Berry JD, Miller TM, Kolb SJ, Cudkowicz M, Baxi E, Benatar M, Taylor JP, Rampersaud E, Wu G, Wuu J, Lauria G, Verde F, Fogh I, Tiloca C, Comi GP, Sorarù G, Cereda C, Corcia P, Laaksovirta H, Myllykangas L, Jansson L, Valori M, Ealing J, Hamdalla H, Rollinson S, Pickering-Brown S, Orrell RW, Sidle KC, Malaspina A, Hardy J, Singleton AB, Johnson JO, Arepalli S, Sapp PC, McKenna-Yasek D, Polak M, Asress S, Al-Sarraj S, King A, Troakes C, Vance C, de Belleroche J, Baas F, Ten Asbroek ALMA, Muñoz-Blanco JL, Hernandez DG, Ding J, Gibbs JR, Scholz SW, Floeter MK, Campbell RH, Landi F, Bowser R, Pulst SM, Ravits JM, MacGowan DJL, Kirby J, Pioro EP, Pamphlett R, Broach J, Gerhard G, Dunckley TL, Brady CB, Kowall NW, Troncoso JC, Le Ber I, Mouzat K, Lumbroso S, Heiman-Patterson TD, Kamel F, Van Den Bosch L, Baloh RH, Strom TM, Meitinger T, Shatunov A, Van Eijk KR, de Carvalho M, Kooyman M, Middelkoop B, Moisse M, McLaughlin RL, Van Es MA, Weber M, Boylan KB, Van Blitterswijk M, Rademakers R, Morrison KE, Basak AN, Mora JS, Drory VE, Shaw PJ, Turner MR, Talbot K, Hardiman O, Williams KL, Fifita JA, Nicholson GA, Blair IP, Rouleau GA, Esteban-Pérez J, García-Redondo A, Al-Chalabi A, Rogaeva E, Zinman L, Ostrow LW, Maragakis NJ, Rothstein JD, Simmons Z, Cooper-Knock J, Brice A, Goutman SA, Feldman EL, Gibson SB, Taroni F, Ratti A, Gellera C, Van Damme P, Robberecht W, Fratta P, Sabatelli M, Lunetta C, Ludolph AC, Andersen PM, Weishaupt JH, Camu W, Trojanowski JQ, Van Deerlin VM, Brown RH, van den Berg LH, Veldink JH, Harms MB, Glass JD, Stone DJ, Tienari P, Silani V, Chiò A, Shaw CE, Traynor BJ, Landers JE. Genome-wide Analyses Identify KIF5A as a Novel ALS Gene. Neuron 2018; 97:1267-1288. [PMID: 29566793 PMCID: PMC5867896 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2018.02.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 428] [Impact Index Per Article: 71.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2017] [Revised: 01/21/2018] [Accepted: 02/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
To identify novel genes associated with ALS, we undertook two lines of investigation. We carried out a genome-wide association study comparing 20,806 ALS cases and 59,804 controls. Independently, we performed a rare variant burden analysis comparing 1,138 index familial ALS cases and 19,494 controls. Through both approaches, we identified kinesin family member 5A (KIF5A) as a novel gene associated with ALS. Interestingly, mutations predominantly in the N-terminal motor domain of KIF5A are causative for two neurodegenerative diseases: hereditary spastic paraplegia (SPG10) and Charcot-Marie-Tooth type 2 (CMT2). In contrast, ALS-associated mutations are primarily located at the C-terminal cargo-binding tail domain and patients harboring loss-of-function mutations displayed an extended survival relative to typical ALS cases. Taken together, these results broaden the phenotype spectrum resulting from mutations in KIF5A and strengthen the role of cytoskeletal defects in the pathogenesis of ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aude Nicolas
- Neuromuscular Diseases Research Section, Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute on Aging, NIH, Porter Neuroscience Research Center, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Kevin P Kenna
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Alan E Renton
- Neuromuscular Diseases Research Section, Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute on Aging, NIH, Porter Neuroscience Research Center, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA; Ronald M. Loeb Center for Alzheimer's Disease, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Nicola Ticozzi
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy; Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, "Dino Ferrari" Center - Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan 20122, Italy
| | - Faraz Faghri
- Molecular Genetics Section, Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute on Aging, NIH, Porter Neuroscience Research Center, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; Department of Computer Science, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Ruth Chia
- Neuromuscular Diseases Research Section, Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute on Aging, NIH, Porter Neuroscience Research Center, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Janice A Dominov
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Brendan J Kenna
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Mike A Nalls
- Molecular Genetics Section, Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute on Aging, NIH, Porter Neuroscience Research Center, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; Data Tecnica International, Glen Echo, MD, USA
| | - Pamela Keagle
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Alberto M Rivera
- Neuromuscular Diseases Research Section, Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute on Aging, NIH, Porter Neuroscience Research Center, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Wouter van Rheenen
- Department of Neurology, Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Natalie A Murphy
- Neuromuscular Diseases Research Section, Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute on Aging, NIH, Porter Neuroscience Research Center, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Joke J F A van Vugt
- Department of Neurology, Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Joshua T Geiger
- Neurodegenerative Diseases Research Unit, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Rick A Van der Spek
- Department of Neurology, Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Hannah A Pliner
- Neuromuscular Diseases Research Section, Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute on Aging, NIH, Porter Neuroscience Research Center, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Shankaracharya
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Bradley N Smith
- Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE5 9RS, UK
| | - Giuseppe Marangi
- Neuromuscular Diseases Research Section, Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute on Aging, NIH, Porter Neuroscience Research Center, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; Institute of Genomic Medicine, Catholic University, Roma, Italy
| | - Simon D Topp
- Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE5 9RS, UK
| | - Yevgeniya Abramzon
- Neuromuscular Diseases Research Section, Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute on Aging, NIH, Porter Neuroscience Research Center, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; Sobell Department of Motor Neuroscience and Movement Disorders, University College London, Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | - Athina Soragia Gkazi
- Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE5 9RS, UK
| | - John D Eicher
- Genetics and Pharmacogenomics, MRL, Merck & Co., Inc., Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Aoife Kenna
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Gabriele Mora
- ALS Center, Salvatore Maugeri Foundation, IRCCS, Mistretta, Messina, Italy
| | - Andrea Calvo
- "Rita Levi Montalcini" Department of Neuroscience, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | | | - Nilo Riva
- Department of Neurology, Institute of Experimental Neurology, Division of Neuroscience, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Jessica Mandrioli
- Department of Neuroscience, St. Agostino Estense Hospital, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria di Modena, Modena, Italy
| | - Claudia Caponnetto
- Department of Neurosciences, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Rehabilitation, Maternal and Child Health, Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy
| | - Stefania Battistini
- Department of Medical, Surgical and Neurological Sciences, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Paolo Volanti
- ALS Center, Salvatore Maugeri Foundation, IRCCS, Mistretta, Messina, Italy
| | | | - Francesca L Conforti
- Institute of Neurological Sciences, National Research Council, Mangone, Cosenza, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Borghero
- Department of Neurology, Azienda Universitario Ospedaliera di Cagliari and University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Sonia Messina
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina and Nemo Sud Clinical Center for Neuromuscular Diseases, Aurora Foundation, Messina, Italy
| | - Isabella L Simone
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neurosciences and Sense Organs, University of Bari, Bari, Italy
| | - Francesca Trojsi
- Department of Medical, Surgical, Neurological, Metabolic and Aging Sciences, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli," Naples, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Salvi
- "Il Bene" Center for Immunological and Rare Neurological Diseases at Bellaria Hospital, IRCCS, Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche, Bologna, Italy
| | | | - Sandra D'Alfonso
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Piedmont, Novara, Italy
| | - Lucia Corrado
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Piedmont, Novara, Italy
| | | | - Luigi Ferrucci
- Longitudinal Studies Section, Clinical Research Branch, National Institute on Aging, NIH, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
| | | | | | - David B Goldstein
- Institute for Genomic Medicine, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Aaron D Gitler
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Tim Harris
- Bioverativ, 225 2nd Avenue, Waltham, MA 02145, USA
| | - Richard M Myers
- HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, Huntsville, AL 35806, USA
| | - Hemali Phatnani
- Center for Genomics of Neurodegenerative Diseases (CGND), New York Genome Center, New York, NY, USA
| | | | | | | | - Michael C Zody
- Computational Biology, New York Genome Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Julia Kaye
- Gladstone Institute of Neurological Disease, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Steven Finkbeiner
- Gladstone Institute of Neurological Disease, San Francisco, CA, USA; Departments of Neurology and Physiology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Stacia K Wyman
- Gladstone Institute of Neurological Disease, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Alex LeNail
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Leandro Lima
- Gladstone Institute of Neurological Disease, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Ernest Fraenkel
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Broad Institute, 415 Main Street, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Clive N Svendsen
- Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA; Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - Leslie M Thompson
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Institute of Memory Impairment and Neurological Disorders, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Institute of Memory Impairment and Neurological Disorders, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Jennifer E Van Eyk
- The Heart Institute and Department of Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - James D Berry
- Harvard Medical School, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), Boston, MA, USA; Neurological Clinical Research Institute (NCRI), Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Timothy M Miller
- Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Stephen J Kolb
- Department of Neurology, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Merit Cudkowicz
- Harvard Medical School, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), Boston, MA, USA; Neurological Clinical Research Institute (NCRI), Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Emily Baxi
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Michael Benatar
- Department of Neurology, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - J Paul Taylor
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD 20815, USA; Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Evadnie Rampersaud
- Department of Computational Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Gang Wu
- Department of Computational Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Joanne Wuu
- Department of Neurology, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Giuseppe Lauria
- 3rd Neurology Unit, Motor Neuron Diseases Center, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico "Carlo Besta," and Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences "Luigi Sacco," University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Federico Verde
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy
| | - Isabella Fogh
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy; Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE5 9RS, UK
| | - Cinzia Tiloca
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy
| | - Giacomo P Comi
- Neurology Unit, IRCCS Foundation Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Gianni Sorarù
- Department of Neurosciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Cristina Cereda
- Genomic and Post-Genomic Center, IRCCS Mondino Foundation, Pavia, Italy
| | | | - Hannu Laaksovirta
- Department of Neurology, Helsinki University Hospital and Molecular Neurology Programme, Biomedicum, University of Helsinki, Helsinki FIN-02900, Finland
| | - Liisa Myllykangas
- Department of Pathology, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Lilja Jansson
- Department of Neurology, Helsinki University Hospital and Molecular Neurology Programme, Biomedicum, University of Helsinki, Helsinki FIN-02900, Finland
| | - Miko Valori
- Department of Neurology, Helsinki University Hospital and Molecular Neurology Programme, Biomedicum, University of Helsinki, Helsinki FIN-02900, Finland
| | - John Ealing
- Greater Manchester Neurosciences Centre, Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust, Salford M6 8HD, UK
| | - Hisham Hamdalla
- Greater Manchester Neurosciences Centre, Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust, Salford M6 8HD, UK
| | - Sara Rollinson
- Faculty of Human and Medical Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT, UK
| | | | - Richard W Orrell
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Neurology, University College London, London NW3 2PG, UK
| | - Katie C Sidle
- Department of Molecular Neuroscience and Reta Lila Weston Laboratories, Institute of Neurology, University College London, Queen Square House, London WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Andrea Malaspina
- Centre for Neuroscience and Trauma, Blizard Institute, Queen Mary University of London, NorthEast London and Essex Regional Motor Neuron Disease Care Centre, London E1 2AT, UK
| | - John Hardy
- Department of Molecular Neuroscience and Reta Lila Weston Laboratories, Institute of Neurology, University College London, Queen Square House, London WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Andrew B Singleton
- Molecular Genetics Section, Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute on Aging, NIH, Porter Neuroscience Research Center, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Janel O Johnson
- Neuromuscular Diseases Research Section, Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute on Aging, NIH, Porter Neuroscience Research Center, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Sampath Arepalli
- Genomics Technology Group, Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute on Aging, NIH, Porter Neuroscience Research Center, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Peter C Sapp
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Diane McKenna-Yasek
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Meraida Polak
- Department of Neurology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Seneshaw Asress
- Department of Neurology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Safa Al-Sarraj
- Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE5 9RS, UK
| | - Andrew King
- Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE5 9RS, UK
| | - Claire Troakes
- Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE5 9RS, UK
| | - Caroline Vance
- Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE5 9RS, UK
| | | | - Frank Baas
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | | | - José Luis Muñoz-Blanco
- ALS-Neuromuscular Unit, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, IISGM, Madrid, Spain
| | - Dena G Hernandez
- Genomics Technology Group, Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute on Aging, NIH, Porter Neuroscience Research Center, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Jinhui Ding
- Computational Biology Group, Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute on Aging, NIH, Porter Neuroscience Research Center, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - J Raphael Gibbs
- Computational Biology Group, Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute on Aging, NIH, Porter Neuroscience Research Center, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Sonja W Scholz
- Neurodegenerative Diseases Research Unit, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Mary Kay Floeter
- Motor Neuron Disorders Unit, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Roy H Campbell
- Department of Computer Science, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Francesco Landi
- Center for Geriatric Medicine, Department of Geriatrics, Neurosciences and Orthopedics, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Rome 00168, Italy
| | - Robert Bowser
- Division of Neurology, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ, USA
| | - Stefan M Pulst
- Department of Neurology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - John M Ravits
- Department of Neuroscience, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Daniel J L MacGowan
- Mount Sinai Beth Israel Hospital, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Janine Kirby
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN), University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Erik P Pioro
- Department of Neurology, Neuromuscular Center, Neurological Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Roger Pamphlett
- Discipline of Pathology, Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, 94 Mallett Street, Camperdown, NSW 2050, Australia
| | - James Broach
- Department of Biochemistry, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA
| | - Glenn Gerhard
- Department of Pathology, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA
| | - Travis L Dunckley
- Neurogenomics Division, Translational Genomics Research Institute, Phoenix, AZ, USA
| | - Christopher B Brady
- Research and Development Service, Veterans Affairs Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Neurology, Program in Behavioral Neuroscience, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Neil W Kowall
- Neurology Service, VA Boston Healthcare System and Boston University Alzheimer's Disease Center, Boston, MA 02130, USA
| | - Juan C Troncoso
- Departments of Pathology and Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Isabelle Le Ber
- Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06, Inserm, CNRS, Institut du Cerveau et la Moelle (ICM), Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP) - Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France
| | - Kevin Mouzat
- INM, University Montpellier, Montpellier, France; Department of Biochemistry, CHU Nîmes, Nîmes, France
| | - Serge Lumbroso
- INM, University Montpellier, Montpellier, France; Department of Biochemistry, CHU Nîmes, Nîmes, France
| | - Terry D Heiman-Patterson
- Department of Neurology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Department of Neurology, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Freya Kamel
- Epidemiology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Durham, NC 27709, USA
| | - Ludo Van Den Bosch
- KU Leuven - University of Leuven, Department of Neurosciences, Experimental Neurology and Leuven Research Institute for Neuroscience and Disease (LIND), B-3000 Leuven, Belgium; VIB, Center for Brain and Disease Research, Laboratory of Neurobiology, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Robert H Baloh
- Department of Neurology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Tim M Strom
- Institute of Human Genetics, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany; Institute of Human Genetics, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Thomas Meitinger
- Institute of Human Genetics, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany; Institute of Human Genetics, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany; Munich Cluster for Systems Neurology (SyNergy), Munich, Germany
| | - Aleksey Shatunov
- Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE5 9RS, UK
| | - Kristel R Van Eijk
- Department of Neurology, Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Mamede de Carvalho
- Institute of Physiology, Institute of Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal; Department of Neurosciences, Hospital de Santa Maria-CHLN, Lisbon, Portugal
| | | | - Bas Middelkoop
- Department of Neurology, Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Matthieu Moisse
- KU Leuven - University of Leuven, Department of Neurosciences, Experimental Neurology and Leuven Research Institute for Neuroscience and Disease (LIND), B-3000 Leuven, Belgium; VIB, Center for Brain and Disease Research, Laboratory of Neurobiology, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Russell L McLaughlin
- Population Genetics Laboratory, Smurfit Institute of Genetics, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Republic of Ireland
| | - Michael A Van Es
- Department of Neurology, Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Markus Weber
- Neuromuscular Diseases Center/ALS Clinic, Kantonsspital St. Gallen, St. Gallen, Switzerland
| | - Kevin B Boylan
- Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic Florida, Jacksonville, FL 32224, USA
| | | | - Rosa Rademakers
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, USA
| | | | - A Nazli Basak
- Suna and Inan Kırac Foundation, Neurodegeneration Research Laboratory, Bogazici University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Jesús S Mora
- ALS Unit/Neurology, Hospital San Rafael, Madrid, Spain
| | - Vivian E Drory
- Department of Neurology, Tel-Aviv Sourasky Medical Centre, Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | - Pamela J Shaw
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN), University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Martin R Turner
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Kevin Talbot
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Orla Hardiman
- Academic Unit of Neurology, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Republic of Ireland
| | - Kelly L Williams
- Centre for MND Research, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia
| | - Jennifer A Fifita
- Centre for MND Research, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia
| | - Garth A Nicholson
- Centre for MND Research, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia; ANZAC Research Institute, Concord Hospital, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2139, Australia
| | - Ian P Blair
- Centre for MND Research, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia
| | - Guy A Rouleau
- Montreal Neurological Institute, Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Jesús Esteban-Pérez
- Unidad de ELA, Instituto de Investigación Hospital 12 de Octubre de Madrid, SERMAS, and Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER U-723), Madrid, Spain
| | - Alberto García-Redondo
- Unidad de ELA, Instituto de Investigación Hospital 12 de Octubre de Madrid, SERMAS, and Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER U-723), Madrid, Spain
| | - Ammar Al-Chalabi
- Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE5 9RS, UK
| | - Ekaterina Rogaeva
- Tanz Centre for Research of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3H2, Canada
| | - Lorne Zinman
- Division of Neurology, Department of Internal Medicine, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M4N 3M5, Canada
| | - Lyle W Ostrow
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | | | | | - Zachary Simmons
- Department of Neurology, Penn State Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, PA, USA
| | - Johnathan Cooper-Knock
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN), University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Alexis Brice
- Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06, Inserm, CNRS, Institut du Cerveau et la Moelle (ICM), Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP) - Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France
| | | | - Eva L Feldman
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Summer B Gibson
- Department of Neurology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Franco Taroni
- Unit of Genetics of Neurodegenerative and Metabolic Diseases, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico "Carlo Besta," Milan 20133, Italy
| | - Antonia Ratti
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy; Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, "Dino Ferrari" Center - Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan 20122, Italy
| | - Cinzia Gellera
- Unit of Genetics of Neurodegenerative and Metabolic Diseases, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico "Carlo Besta," Milan 20133, Italy
| | - Philip Van Damme
- KU Leuven - University of Leuven, Department of Neurosciences, Experimental Neurology and Leuven Research Institute for Neuroscience and Disease (LIND), B-3000 Leuven, Belgium; VIB, Center for Brain and Disease Research, Laboratory of Neurobiology, Leuven, Belgium; University Hospitals Leuven, Department of Neurology, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Wim Robberecht
- KU Leuven - University of Leuven, Department of Neurosciences, Experimental Neurology and Leuven Research Institute for Neuroscience and Disease (LIND), B-3000 Leuven, Belgium; VIB, Center for Brain and Disease Research, Laboratory of Neurobiology, Leuven, Belgium; University Hospitals Leuven, Department of Neurology, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Pietro Fratta
- Sobell Department of Motor Neuroscience and Movement Disorders, University College London, Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | - Mario Sabatelli
- Centro Clinico NeMO, Institute of Neurology, Catholic University, Largo F. Vito 1, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Christian Lunetta
- NEuroMuscular Omnicenter (NEMO), Serena Onlus Foundation, Milan, Italy
| | - Albert C Ludolph
- Neurology Department, Ulm University, Albert-Einstein-Allee 11, 89081 Ulm, Germany
| | - Peter M Andersen
- Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Neuroscience, Umeå University, Umeå SE-90185, Sweden
| | - Jochen H Weishaupt
- Neurology Department, Ulm University, Albert-Einstein-Allee 11, 89081 Ulm, Germany
| | - William Camu
- ALS Center, CHU Gui de Chauliac, University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - John Q Trojanowski
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Vivianna M Van Deerlin
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Robert H Brown
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Leonard H van den Berg
- Department of Neurology, Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Jan H Veldink
- Department of Neurology, Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Matthew B Harms
- Department of Neurology, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Jonathan D Glass
- Department of Neurology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - David J Stone
- Genetics and Pharmacogenomics, MRL, Merck & Co., Inc., West Point, PA 19486, USA
| | - Pentti Tienari
- Department of Neurology, Helsinki University Hospital and Molecular Neurology Programme, Biomedicum, University of Helsinki, Helsinki FIN-02900, Finland
| | - Vincenzo Silani
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy; Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, "Dino Ferrari" Center - Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan 20122, Italy
| | - Adriano Chiò
- "Rita Levi Montalcini" Department of Neuroscience, University of Turin, Turin, Italy; Neuroscience Institute of Torino, Turin 10124, Italy
| | - Christopher E Shaw
- Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE5 9RS, UK
| | - Bryan J Traynor
- Neuromuscular Diseases Research Section, Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute on Aging, NIH, Porter Neuroscience Research Center, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA.
| | - John E Landers
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert H Brown
- From the Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester (R.H.B.); and the Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, King's College London, London (A.A.-C.)
| | - Ammar Al-Chalabi
- From the Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester (R.H.B.); and the Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, King's College London, London (A.A.-C.)
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Calvo A, Moglia C, Canosa A, Cammarosano S, Ilardi A, Bertuzzo D, Traynor BJ, Brunetti M, Barberis M, Mora G, Casale F, Chiò A. Common polymorphisms of chemokine (C-X3-C motif) receptor 1 gene modify amyotrophic lateral sclerosis outcome: A population-based study. Muscle Nerve 2017; 57:212-216. [PMID: 28342179 DOI: 10.1002/mus.25653] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2016] [Revised: 03/05/2017] [Accepted: 03/20/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION In the brain, the chemokine (C-X3-C motif) receptor 1 (1CX3CR1) gene is expressed only by microglia, where it acts as a key mediator of the neuron-microglia interactions. We assessed whether the 2 common polymorphisms of the CX3CR1 gene (V249I and T280M) modify amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) phenotype. METHODS The study included 755 ALS patients diagnosed in Piemonte between 2007 and 2012 and 369 age-matched and sex-matched controls, all genotyped with the same chips. RESULTS Neither of the variants was associated with an increased risk of ALS. Patients with the V249I V/V genotype had a 6-month-shorter survival than those with I/I or V/I genotypes (dominant model, P = 0.018). The T280M genotype showed a significant difference among the 3 genotypes (additive model, P = 0.036). Cox multivariable analysis confirmed these findings. DISCUSSION We found that common variants of the CX3CR1 gene influence ALS survival. Our data provide further evidence for the role of neuroinflammation in ALS. Muscle Nerve 57: 212-216, 2018.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Calvo
- "Rita Levi Montalcini" Department of Neuroscience, Neurology II, ALS Center, University of Torino, Via Cherasco 15, I-10126, Torino, Italy.,Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Città della Salute e della Scienza, Torino, Italy
| | - Cristina Moglia
- "Rita Levi Montalcini" Department of Neuroscience, Neurology II, ALS Center, University of Torino, Via Cherasco 15, I-10126, Torino, Italy.,Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Città della Salute e della Scienza, Torino, Italy
| | - Antonio Canosa
- "Rita Levi Montalcini" Department of Neuroscience, Neurology II, ALS Center, University of Torino, Via Cherasco 15, I-10126, Torino, Italy
| | - Stefania Cammarosano
- "Rita Levi Montalcini" Department of Neuroscience, Neurology II, ALS Center, University of Torino, Via Cherasco 15, I-10126, Torino, Italy
| | - Antonio Ilardi
- "Rita Levi Montalcini" Department of Neuroscience, Neurology II, ALS Center, University of Torino, Via Cherasco 15, I-10126, Torino, Italy
| | - Davide Bertuzzo
- "Rita Levi Montalcini" Department of Neuroscience, Neurology II, ALS Center, University of Torino, Via Cherasco 15, I-10126, Torino, Italy
| | - Bryan J Traynor
- Neuromuscular Diseases Research Section, Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute on Aging, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Maura Brunetti
- "Rita Levi Montalcini" Department of Neuroscience, Neurology II, ALS Center, University of Torino, Via Cherasco 15, I-10126, Torino, Italy
| | - Marco Barberis
- "Rita Levi Montalcini" Department of Neuroscience, Neurology II, ALS Center, University of Torino, Via Cherasco 15, I-10126, Torino, Italy
| | - Gabriele Mora
- Salvatore Maugeri Foundation, IRCSS, Scientific Institute of Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Federico Casale
- "Rita Levi Montalcini" Department of Neuroscience, Neurology II, ALS Center, University of Torino, Via Cherasco 15, I-10126, Torino, Italy
| | - Adriano Chiò
- "Rita Levi Montalcini" Department of Neuroscience, Neurology II, ALS Center, University of Torino, Via Cherasco 15, I-10126, Torino, Italy.,Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Città della Salute e della Scienza, Torino, Italy.,Institute of Cognitive Sciences and Technologies, National Council of Researches, Rome, Italy
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Voineskos AN, Felsky D, Wheeler AL, Rotenberg DJ, Levesque M, Patel S, Szeszko PR, Kennedy JL, Lencz T, Malhotra AK. Limited Evidence for Association of Genome-Wide Schizophrenia Risk Variants on Cortical Neuroimaging Phenotypes. Schizophr Bull 2016; 42:1027-36. [PMID: 26712857 PMCID: PMC4903045 DOI: 10.1093/schbul/sbv180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND There are now over 100 established genetic risk variants for schizophrenia; however, their influence on brain structure and circuitry across the human lifespan are not known. METHODS We examined healthy individuals 8-86 years of age, from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, the Zucker Hillside Hospital, and the Philadelphia Neurodevelopmental Cohort. Following thorough quality control procedures, we investigated associations of established genetic risk variants with heritable neuroimaging phenotypes relevant to schizophrenia, namely thickness of frontal and temporal cortical regions (n = 565) and frontotemporal and interhemispheric white matter tract fractional anisotropy (FA) (n = 530). RESULTS There was little evidence for association of risk variants with imaging phenotypes. No association with cortical thickness of any region was present. Only rs12148337, near a long noncoding RNA region, was associated with white matter FA (splenium of corpus callosum) following multiple comparison correction (corrected p = .012); this single nucleotide polymorphism was also associated with genu FA and superior longitudinal fasciculus FA at p <.005 (uncorrected). There was no association of polygenic risk score with white matter FA or cortical thickness. CONCLUSIONS In sum, our findings provide limited evidence for association of schizophrenia risk variants with cortical thickness or diffusion imaging white matter phenotypes. When taken with recent lack of association of these variants with subcortical brain volumes, our results either suggest that structural neuroimaging approaches at current resolution are not sufficiently sensitive to detect effects of these risk variants or that multiple comparison correction in correlated phenotypes is too stringent, potentially "eliminating" biologically important signals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aristotle N. Voineskos
- Campbell Family Mental Health Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada;,Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada;,These authors contributed equally to the article.,*To whom correspondence should be addressed; Kimel Family Translational Imaging-Genetics Laboratory, Research Imaging Centre, Campbell Family Mental Health Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), 250 College Street, Toronto, Ontario M5R 1T8, Canada; tel: 416-535-8501 x33977, fax: 416-260-4162, e-mail:
| | - Daniel Felsky
- Campbell Family Mental Health Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada;,Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada;,These authors contributed equally to the article
| | - Anne L. Wheeler
- Campbell Family Mental Health Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada;,Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - David J. Rotenberg
- Campbell Family Mental Health Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Melissa Levesque
- Campbell Family Mental Health Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Sejal Patel
- Campbell Family Mental Health Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada;,Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Philip R. Szeszko
- Zucker Hillside Hospital, Glen Oaks, NY;,Center for Psychiatric Neuroscience, Feinstein Institute, Manhasset, NY
| | - James L. Kennedy
- Campbell Family Mental Health Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada;,Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Todd Lencz
- Zucker Hillside Hospital, Glen Oaks, NY;,Center for Psychiatric Neuroscience, Feinstein Institute, Manhasset, NY
| | - Anil K. Malhotra
- Zucker Hillside Hospital, Glen Oaks, NY;,Center for Psychiatric Neuroscience, Feinstein Institute, Manhasset, NY
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Variants within the SP110 nuclear body protein modify risk of canine degenerative myelopathy. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2016; 113:E3091-100. [PMID: 27185954 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1600084113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Canine degenerative myelopathy (DM) is a naturally occurring neurodegenerative disease with similarities to some forms of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Most dogs that develop DM are homozygous for a common superoxide dismutase 1 gene (SOD1) mutation. However, not all dogs homozygous for this mutation develop disease. We performed a genome-wide association analysis in the Pembroke Welsh Corgi (PWC) breed comparing DM-affected and -unaffected dogs homozygous for the SOD1 mutation. The analysis revealed a modifier locus on canine chromosome 25. A haplotype within the SP110 nuclear body protein (SP110) was present in 40% of affected compared with 4% of unaffected dogs (P = 1.5 × 10(-5)), and was associated with increased probability of developing DM (P = 4.8 × 10(-6)) and earlier onset of disease (P = 1.7 × 10(-5)). SP110 is a nuclear body protein involved in the regulation of gene transcription. Our findings suggest that variations in SP110-mediated gene transcription may underlie, at least in part, the variability in risk for developing DM among PWCs that are homozygous for the disease-related SOD1 mutation. Further studies are warranted to clarify the effect of this modifier across dog breeds.
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32
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Deng L, Hou L, Zhang J, Tang X, Cheng Z, Li G, Fang X, Xu J, Zhang X, Xu R. Polymorphism of rs3737597 in DISC1 Gene on Chromosome 1q42.2 in sALS Patients: a Chinese Han Population Case-Control Study. Mol Neurobiol 2016; 54:3162-3179. [DOI: 10.1007/s12035-016-9869-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2016] [Accepted: 03/17/2016] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
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Zou ZY, Liu CY, Che CH, Huang HP. Toward precision medicine in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. ANNALS OF TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE 2016; 4:27. [PMID: 26889480 PMCID: PMC4731596 DOI: 10.3978/j.issn.2305-5839.2016.01.16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2015] [Accepted: 01/11/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Precision medicine is an innovative approach that uses emerging biomedical technologies to deliver optimally targeted and timed interventions, customized to the molecular drivers of an individual's disease. This approach is only just beginning to be considered for treating amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The clinical and biological complexities of ALS have hindered development of effective therapeutic strategies. In this review we consider applying the key elements of precision medicine to ALS: phenotypic classification, comprehensive risk assessment, presymptomatic period detection, potential molecular pathways, disease model development, biomarker discovery and molecularly tailored interventions. Together, these would embody a precision medicine approach, which may provide strategies for optimal targeting and timing of efforts to prevent, stop or slow progression of ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhang-Yu Zou
- Department of Neurology, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou 350001, China
| | - Chang-Yun Liu
- Department of Neurology, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou 350001, China
| | - Chun-Hui Che
- Department of Neurology, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou 350001, China
| | - Hua-Pin Huang
- Department of Neurology, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou 350001, China
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Gao F, Chang D, Biddanda A, Ma L, Guo Y, Zhou Z, Keinan A. XWAS: A Software Toolset for Genetic Data Analysis and Association Studies of the X Chromosome. J Hered 2015; 106:666-71. [PMID: 26268243 PMCID: PMC4567842 DOI: 10.1093/jhered/esv059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2015] [Accepted: 07/20/2015] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
XWAS is a new software suite for the analysis of the X chromosome in association studies and similar genetic studies. The X chromosome plays an important role in human disease and traits of many species, especially those with sexually dimorphic characteristics. Special attention needs to be given to its analysis due to the unique inheritance pattern, which leads to analytical complications that have resulted in the majority of genome-wide association studies (GWAS) either not considering X or mishandling it with toolsets that had been designed for non-sex chromosomes. We hence developed XWAS to fill the need for tools that are specially designed for analysis of X. Following extensive, stringent, and X-specific quality control, XWAS offers an array of statistical tests of association, including: 1) the standard test between a SNP (single nucleotide polymorphism) and disease risk, including after first stratifying individuals by sex, 2) a test for a differential effect of a SNP on disease between males and females, 3) motivated by X-inactivation, a test for higher variance of a trait in heterozygous females as compared with homozygous females, and 4) for all tests, a version that allows for combining evidence from all SNPs across a gene. We applied the toolset analysis pipeline to 16 GWAS datasets of immune-related disorders and 7 risk factors of coronary artery disease, and discovered several new X-linked genetic associations. XWAS will provide the tools and incentive for others to incorporate the X chromosome into GWAS and similar studies in any species with an XX/XY system, hence enabling discoveries of novel loci implicated in many diseases and in their sexual dimorphism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feng Gao
- From the Department of Biological Statistics and Computational Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853 (Gao, Chang, Biddanda, Ma, Guo, Zhou, and Keinan); Program in Computational Biology and Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853 (Chang and Keinan); Department of Animal and Avian Sciences, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20740 (Ma); and School of Computer Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150001, China (Guo)
| | - Diana Chang
- From the Department of Biological Statistics and Computational Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853 (Gao, Chang, Biddanda, Ma, Guo, Zhou, and Keinan); Program in Computational Biology and Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853 (Chang and Keinan); Department of Animal and Avian Sciences, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20740 (Ma); and School of Computer Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150001, China (Guo)
| | - Arjun Biddanda
- From the Department of Biological Statistics and Computational Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853 (Gao, Chang, Biddanda, Ma, Guo, Zhou, and Keinan); Program in Computational Biology and Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853 (Chang and Keinan); Department of Animal and Avian Sciences, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20740 (Ma); and School of Computer Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150001, China (Guo)
| | - Li Ma
- From the Department of Biological Statistics and Computational Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853 (Gao, Chang, Biddanda, Ma, Guo, Zhou, and Keinan); Program in Computational Biology and Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853 (Chang and Keinan); Department of Animal and Avian Sciences, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20740 (Ma); and School of Computer Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150001, China (Guo)
| | - Yingjie Guo
- From the Department of Biological Statistics and Computational Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853 (Gao, Chang, Biddanda, Ma, Guo, Zhou, and Keinan); Program in Computational Biology and Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853 (Chang and Keinan); Department of Animal and Avian Sciences, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20740 (Ma); and School of Computer Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150001, China (Guo)
| | - Zilu Zhou
- From the Department of Biological Statistics and Computational Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853 (Gao, Chang, Biddanda, Ma, Guo, Zhou, and Keinan); Program in Computational Biology and Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853 (Chang and Keinan); Department of Animal and Avian Sciences, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20740 (Ma); and School of Computer Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150001, China (Guo)
| | - Alon Keinan
- From the Department of Biological Statistics and Computational Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853 (Gao, Chang, Biddanda, Ma, Guo, Zhou, and Keinan); Program in Computational Biology and Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853 (Chang and Keinan); Department of Animal and Avian Sciences, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20740 (Ma); and School of Computer Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150001, China (Guo).
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Banerji J. Asparaginase treatment side-effects may be due to genes with homopolymeric Asn codons (Review-Hypothesis). Int J Mol Med 2015; 36:607-26. [PMID: 26178806 PMCID: PMC4533780 DOI: 10.3892/ijmm.2015.2285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2015] [Accepted: 07/15/2015] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The present treatment of childhood T-cell leukemias involves the systemic administration of prokary-otic L-asparaginase (ASNase), which depletes plasma Asparagine (Asn) and inhibits protein synthesis. The mechanism of therapeutic action of ASNase is poorly understood, as are the etiologies of the side-effects incurred by treatment. Protein expression from genes bearing Asn homopolymeric coding regions (N-hCR) may be particularly susceptible to Asn level fluctuation. In mammals, N-hCR are rare, short and conserved. In humans, misfunctions of genes encoding N-hCR are associated with a cluster of disorders that mimic ASNase therapy side-effects which include impaired glycemic control, dislipidemia, pancreatitis, compromised vascular integrity, and neurological dysfunction. This paper proposes that dysregulation of Asn homeostasis, potentially even by ASNase produced by the microbiome, may contribute to several clinically important syndromes by altering expression of N-hCR bearing genes. By altering amino acid abundance and modulating ribosome translocation rates at codon repeats, the microbiomic environment may contribute to genome decoding and to shaping the proteome. We suggest that impaired translation at poly Asn codons elevates diabetes risk and severity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julian Banerji
- Center for Computational and Integrative Biology, MGH, Simches Research Center, Boston, MA 02114, USA
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36
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Vidal-Taboada JM, Lopez-Lopez A, Salvado M, Lorenzo L, Garcia C, Mahy N, Rodríguez MJ, Gamez J. UNC13A confers risk for sporadic ALS and influences survival in a Spanish cohort. J Neurol 2015; 262:2285-92. [PMID: 26162714 DOI: 10.1007/s00415-015-7843-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2015] [Revised: 06/29/2015] [Accepted: 06/30/2015] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
To investigate the association of functional variants of the human UNC13A gene with the risk of ALS, survival and the disease progression rate in a Spanish ALS cohort. 136 sporadic ALS (sALS) patients and 487 healthy controls were genotyped for the UNC13A rs12608932 variant. Clinical characterization of ALS patients included gender, age at first symptom, initial topography, disease progression rate, and survival. Genetic association was analyzed under five inheritance models. The sALS patients with the rs12608932(CC) genotype had an increased risk of ALS under a recessive genetic model [OR 2.16; 95 % CI (1.23, 3.8), p = 0.009; corrected p = 0.028]. Genotypes with a C allele are also associated with increased risk [OR 1.47; 95 % CI (1.11, 1.95); p = 0.008; corrected p = 0.023] under an additive model. sALS patients with a C/C genotype had a shorter survival than patients with A/A and A/C genotypes [HR 1.44; 95 % CI (1.11, 1.873); p = 0.007] under a recessive model. In an overdominant model, heterozygous patients had a longer survival than homozygous patients [HR 0.36; 95 % CI (0.22, 0.59); p = 0.001]. The rs12608932 genotypes modify the progression of symptoms measured using the ALSFRS-R. No association with age of onset, initial topography or rate of decline in FVC was found. Our results show that rs12608932 is a risk factor for ALS in the Spanish population and replicate the findings described in other populations. The rs12608932 is a modifying factor for survival and disease progression rate in our series. Our results also corroborated that it did not influence the age of onset.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jose Manuel Vidal-Taboada
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Unit, Department of Physiological Sciences I, Faculty of Medicine, IDIBAPS, Universitat de Barcelona, Casanova 143, 08036, Barcelona, Spain. .,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED, ISCIII), Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Alan Lopez-Lopez
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Unit, Department of Physiological Sciences I, Faculty of Medicine, IDIBAPS, Universitat de Barcelona, Casanova 143, 08036, Barcelona, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED, ISCIII), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Maria Salvado
- ALS Unit, Neurology Department, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, VHIR, Medicine Department, Autonomous University of Barcelona, FEDER, Passeig Vall d'Hebron 119, 08035, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Laura Lorenzo
- ALS Unit, Neurology Department, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, VHIR, Medicine Department, Autonomous University of Barcelona, FEDER, Passeig Vall d'Hebron 119, 08035, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Cecilia Garcia
- ALS Unit, Neurology Department, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, VHIR, Medicine Department, Autonomous University of Barcelona, FEDER, Passeig Vall d'Hebron 119, 08035, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Nicole Mahy
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Unit, Department of Physiological Sciences I, Faculty of Medicine, IDIBAPS, Universitat de Barcelona, Casanova 143, 08036, Barcelona, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED, ISCIII), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Manuel J Rodríguez
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Unit, Department of Physiological Sciences I, Faculty of Medicine, IDIBAPS, Universitat de Barcelona, Casanova 143, 08036, Barcelona, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED, ISCIII), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Josep Gamez
- ALS Unit, Neurology Department, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, VHIR, Medicine Department, Autonomous University of Barcelona, FEDER, Passeig Vall d'Hebron 119, 08035, Barcelona, Spain.
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Chiò A, Mora G, Sabatelli M, Caponnetto C, Lunetta C, Traynor BJ, Johnson JO, Nalls MA, Calvo A, Moglia C, Borghero G, Monsurrò MR, La Bella V, Volanti P, Simone I, Salvi F, Logullo FO, Nilo R, Giannini F, Mandrioli J, Tanel R, Murru MR, Mandich P, Zollino M, Conforti FL, Penco S, Brunetti M, Barberis M, Restagno G. HFE p.H63D polymorphism does not influence ALS phenotype and survival. Neurobiol Aging 2015; 36:2906.e7-11. [PMID: 26174855 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2015.06.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2015] [Revised: 06/09/2015] [Accepted: 06/10/2015] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
It has been recently reported that the p.His63Asp polymorphism of the HFE gene accelerates disease progression both in the SOD1 transgenic mouse and in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients. We have evaluated the effect of HFE p.His63Asp polymorphism on the phenotype in 1351 Italian ALS patients (232 of Sardinian ancestry). Patients were genotyped for the HFE p.His63Asp polymorphism (CC, GC, and GG). All patients were also assessed for C9ORF72, TARDBP, SOD1, and FUS mutations. Of the 1351 ALS patients, 363 (29.2%) were heterozygous (GC) for the p.His63Asp polymorphism and 30 (2.2%) were homozygous for the minor allele (GG). Patients with CC, GC, and GG polymorphisms did not significantly differ by age at onset, site of onset of symptoms, and survival; however, in SOD1 patients with CG or GG polymorphism had a significantly longer survival than those with a CC polymorphism. Differently from what observed in the mouse model of ALS, the HFE p.His63Asp polymorphism has no effect on ALS phenotype in this large series of Italian ALS patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adriano Chiò
- ALS Center, "Rita Levi Montalcini" Department of Neuroscience, Neurology II, University of Torino, Torino, Italy; Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Città della Salute e della Scienza, Torino, Italy.
| | - Gabriele Mora
- Department of Neurological Rehabilitation, Fondazione Salvatore Maugeri, IRCCS, Istituto Scientifico di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Mario Sabatelli
- Neurological Institute, Catholic University and I.C.O.M.M. Association for ALS Research, Rome, Italy
| | - Claudia Caponnetto
- Department of Neurosciences, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Rehabilitation and Child Health, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria San Martino IST, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | | | - Bryan J Traynor
- Neuromuscular Diseases Research Unit, Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Janel O Johnson
- Neuromuscular Diseases Research Unit, Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA; Department of Neurology, Neurological Institute, Neuromuscular Center, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Mike A Nalls
- Molecular Genetics Section, Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Andrea Calvo
- ALS Center, "Rita Levi Montalcini" Department of Neuroscience, Neurology II, University of Torino, Torino, Italy; Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Città della Salute e della Scienza, Torino, Italy
| | - Cristina Moglia
- ALS Center, "Rita Levi Montalcini" Department of Neuroscience, Neurology II, University of Torino, Torino, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Borghero
- Department of Neurology, Azienda Universitario Ospedaliera di Cagliari and University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | | | - Vincenzo La Bella
- ALS Clinical Research Center, Department of Experimental Biomedicine and Clinical Neuroscience, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Paolo Volanti
- Neurorehabilitation Unit/ALS Center, Salvatore Maugeri Foundation, IRCCS, Scientific Institute of Mistretta, Mistretta, Italy
| | - Isabella Simone
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neurosciences and Sense Organs, University of Bari, Bari, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Salvi
- Center for Diagnosis and Cure of Rare Diseases, Department of Neurology, IRCCS Institute of Neurological Sciences, Bologna, Italy
| | | | - Riva Nilo
- Department of Neurology and Institute of Experimental Neurology (INSPE), IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Fabio Giannini
- Department of Medical, Surgical and Neurological Sciences, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Jessica Mandrioli
- Department of Neuroscience, S. Agostino- Estense Hospital, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Raffaella Tanel
- Department of Neurology, Santa Chiara Hospital, Trento, Italy
| | - Maria Rita Murru
- Multiple Sclerosis Centre, ASL 8, Cagliari/Department of Public Health, Clinical and Molecular Medicine, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Paola Mandich
- Department of Neurosciences, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Rehabilitation and Child Health, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria San Martino IST, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Marcella Zollino
- Institute of Medical Genetics, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca L Conforti
- Institute of Neurological Sciences, National Research Council, Mangone, Cosenza, Italy
| | - Silvana Penco
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Medical Genetics, Niguarda Ca' Granda Hospital, Milan, Italy
| | | | | | - Maura Brunetti
- ALS Center, "Rita Levi Montalcini" Department of Neuroscience, Neurology II, University of Torino, Torino, Italy; Laboratory of Molecular Genetics, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Città della Salute e della Scienza, Torino, Italy
| | - Marco Barberis
- ALS Center, "Rita Levi Montalcini" Department of Neuroscience, Neurology II, University of Torino, Torino, Italy; Laboratory of Molecular Genetics, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Città della Salute e della Scienza, Torino, Italy
| | - Gabriella Restagno
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Città della Salute e della Scienza, Torino, Italy
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Marangi G, Traynor BJ. Genetic causes of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: new genetic analysis methodologies entailing new opportunities and challenges. Brain Res 2015; 1607:75-93. [PMID: 25316630 PMCID: PMC5916786 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2014.10.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 108] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2014] [Revised: 10/03/2014] [Accepted: 10/05/2014] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The genetic architecture of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is being increasingly understood. In this far-reaching review, we examine what is currently known about ALS genetics and how these genes were initially identified. We also discuss the various types of mutations that might underlie this fatal neurodegenerative condition and outline some of the strategies that might be useful in untangling them. These include expansions of short repeat sequences, common and low-frequency genetic variations, de novo mutations, epigenetic changes, somatic mutations, epistasis, oligogenic and polygenic hypotheses. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled ALS complex pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppe Marangi
- Neuromuscular Diseases Research Section, Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute on Aging, Bethesda, MD, USA; Institute of Medical Genetics, Catholic University, Roma, Italy.
| | - Bryan J Traynor
- Neuromuscular Diseases Research Section, Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute on Aging, Bethesda, MD, USA; Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
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Rosenfeld J, Strong MJ. Challenges in the Understanding and Treatment of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis/Motor Neuron Disease. Neurotherapeutics 2015; 12:317-25. [PMID: 25572957 PMCID: PMC4404444 DOI: 10.1007/s13311-014-0332-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022] Open
Abstract
With the acceleration in our understanding of ALS and the related motor neuron disease has come even greater challenges in reconciling all of the proposed pathogenic mechanisms and how this will translate into impactful treatments. Fundamental issues such as diagnostic definition(s) of the disease spectrum, relevant biomarkers, the impact of multiple novel genetic mutations and the significant effect of symptomatic treatments on disease progression are all areas of active investigation. In this review, we will focus on these key issues and highlight the challenges that confront both clinicians and basic science researchers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey Rosenfeld
- Central California Neuroscience Institute, UCSF Fresno, Division of Neurology, Fresno, CA, USA,
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40
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Heiman-Patterson TD, Blankenhorn EP, Sher RB, Jiang J, Welsh P, Dixon MC, Jeffrey JI, Wong P, Cox GA, Alexander GM. Genetic background effects on disease onset and lifespan of the mutant dynactin p150Glued mouse model of motor neuron disease. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0117848. [PMID: 25763819 PMCID: PMC4357475 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0117848] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2014] [Accepted: 01/02/2015] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease primarily affecting motor neurons in the central nervous system. Although most cases of ALS are sporadic, about 5–10% of cases are familial (FALS) with approximately 20% of FALS caused by mutations in the Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD1) gene. We have reported that hSOD1-G93A transgenic mice modeling this disease show a more severe phenotype when the transgene is bred on a pure SJL background and a milder phenotype when bred on a pure B6 background and that these phenotype differences link to a region on mouse Chromosome 17.To examine whether other models of motor neuron degeneration are affected by genetic background, we bred the mutant human dynactin p150Glued (G59S-hDCTN1) transgene onto inbred SJL and B6 congenic lines. This model is based on an autosomal dominant lower motor neuron disease in humans linked to a mutation in the p150Glued subunit of the dynactin complex. As seen in hSOD1-G93A mice, we observed a more severe phenotype with earlier disease onset (p<0.001) and decreased survival (p<0.00001) when the G59S-hDCTN1 transgene was bred onto the SJL background and delayed onset (p<0.0001) with increased survival (p<0.00001) when bred onto the B6 background. Furthermore, B6 mice with an SJL derived chromosome 17 interval previously shown to delay disease onset in hSOD1-G93A mice also showed delays onset in G59S-hDCTN1 mice suggesting that at least some genetic modifiers are shared. We have shown that genetic background influences phenotype in G59S-hDCTN1 mice, in part through a region of chromosome 17 similar to the G93-hSOD1 ALS mouse model. These results support the presence of genetic modifiers in both these models some of which may be shared. Identification of these modifiers will highlight intracellular pathways involved in motor neuron disease and provide new therapeutic targets that may be applicable to motor neuron degeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Terry D Heiman-Patterson
- Department of Neurology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Elizabeth P Blankenhorn
- Department of Microbiology Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Roger B Sher
- Department of Molecular and Biomedical Sciences, University of Maine, Orono, Maine, United States of America
| | - Juliann Jiang
- Department of Neurology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Priscilla Welsh
- Department of Neurology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Meredith C Dixon
- Department of Neurology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Jeremy I Jeffrey
- Department of Neurology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Philip Wong
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Gregory A Cox
- The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbour, Maine, United States of America
| | - Guillermo M Alexander
- Department of Neurology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
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Nalls MA, Bras J, Hernandez DG, Keller MF, Majounie E, Renton AE, Saad M, Jansen I, Guerreiro R, Lubbe S, Plagnol V, Gibbs JR, Schulte C, Pankratz N, Sutherland M, Bertram L, Lill CM, DeStefano AL, Faroud T, Eriksson N, Tung JY, Edsall C, Nichols N, Brooks J, Arepalli S, Pliner H, Letson C, Heutink P, Martinez M, Gasser T, Traynor BJ, Wood N, Hardy J, Singleton AB. NeuroX, a fast and efficient genotyping platform for investigation of neurodegenerative diseases. Neurobiol Aging 2015; 36:1605.e7-12. [PMID: 25444595 PMCID: PMC4317375 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2014.07.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2014] [Revised: 07/22/2014] [Accepted: 07/23/2014] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Our objective was to design a genotyping platform that would allow rapid genetic characterization of samples in the context of genetic mutations and risk factors associated with common neurodegenerative diseases. The platform needed to be relatively affordable, rapid to deploy, and use a common and accessible technology. Central to this project, we wanted to make the content of the platform open to any investigator without restriction. In designing this array we prioritized a number of types of genetic variability for inclusion, such as known risk alleles, disease-causing mutations, putative risk alleles, and other functionally important variants. The array was primarily designed to allow rapid screening of samples for disease-causing mutations and large population studies of risk factors. Notably, an explicit aim was to make this array widely available to facilitate data sharing across and within diseases. The resulting array, NeuroX, is a remarkably cost and time effective solution for high-quality genotyping. NeuroX comprises a backbone of standard Illumina exome content of approximately 240,000 variants, and over 24,000 custom content variants focusing on neurologic diseases. Data are generated at approximately $50-$60 per sample using a 12-sample format chip and regular Infinium infrastructure; thus, genotyping is rapid and accessible to many investigators. Here, we describe the design of NeuroX, discuss the utility of NeuroX in the analyses of rare and common risk variants, and present quality control metrics and a brief primer for the analysis of NeuroX derived data.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Andrew B. Singleton
- Corresponding author at: Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute on Aging, 35 Lincoln Drive, Bethesda, MD, USA. Tel.: +301 451 6079; fax: +301 451 5466. (A.B. Singleton)
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Chang D, Gao F, Slavney A, Ma L, Waldman YY, Sams AJ, Billing-Ross P, Madar A, Spritz R, Keinan A. Accounting for eXentricities: analysis of the X chromosome in GWAS reveals X-linked genes implicated in autoimmune diseases. PLoS One 2014; 9:e113684. [PMID: 25479423 PMCID: PMC4257614 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0113684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2014] [Accepted: 10/30/2014] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Many complex human diseases are highly sexually dimorphic, suggesting a potential contribution of the X chromosome to disease risk. However, the X chromosome has been neglected or incorrectly analyzed in most genome-wide association studies (GWAS). We present tailored analytical methods and software that facilitate X-wide association studies (XWAS), which we further applied to reanalyze data from 16 GWAS of different autoimmune and related diseases (AID). We associated several X-linked genes with disease risk, among which (1) ARHGEF6 is associated with Crohn's disease and replicated in a study of ulcerative colitis, another inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Indeed, ARHGEF6 interacts with a gastric bacterium that has been implicated in IBD. (2) CENPI is associated with three different AID, which is compelling in light of known associations with AID of autosomal genes encoding centromere proteins, as well as established autosomal evidence of pleiotropy between autoimmune diseases. (3) We replicated a previous association of FOXP3, a transcription factor that regulates T-cell development and function, with vitiligo; and (4) we discovered that C1GALT1C1 exhibits sex-specific effect on disease risk in both IBDs. These and other X-linked genes that we associated with AID tend to be highly expressed in tissues related to immune response, participate in major immune pathways, and display differential gene expression between males and females. Combined, the results demonstrate the importance of the X chromosome in autoimmunity, reveal the potential of extensive XWAS, even based on existing data, and provide the tools and incentive to properly include the X chromosome in future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana Chang
- Department of Biological Statistics and Computational Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, United States of America
- Program in Computational Biology and Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, United States of America
| | - Feng Gao
- Department of Biological Statistics and Computational Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, United States of America
| | - Andrea Slavney
- Department of Biological Statistics and Computational Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, United States of America
- Graduate Field of Genetics, Genomics and Development, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, United States of America
| | - Li Ma
- Department of Biological Statistics and Computational Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, United States of America
- Department of Animal and Avian Sciences, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Yedael Y. Waldman
- Department of Biological Statistics and Computational Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, United States of America
| | - Aaron J. Sams
- Department of Biological Statistics and Computational Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, United States of America
| | - Paul Billing-Ross
- Department of Biological Statistics and Computational Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, United States of America
- Graduate Field of Genetics, Genomics and Development, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, United States of America
| | - Aviv Madar
- Department of Biological Statistics and Computational Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, United States of America
| | - Richard Spritz
- Human Medical Genetics and Genomics Program, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, United States of America
| | - Alon Keinan
- Department of Biological Statistics and Computational Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, United States of America
- Program in Computational Biology and Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, United States of America
- Graduate Field of Genetics, Genomics and Development, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, United States of America
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43
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Roses AD, Lutz MW, Saunders AM, Goldgaber D, Saul R, Sundseth SS, Akkari PA, Roses SM, Gottschalk WK, Whitfield KE, Vostrov AA, Hauser MA, Allingham RR, Burns DK, Chiba-Falek O, Welsh-Bohmer KA. African-American TOMM40'523-APOE haplotypes are admixture of West African and Caucasian alleles. Alzheimers Dement 2014; 10:592-601.e2. [PMID: 25260913 DOI: 10.1016/j.jalz.2014.06.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2014] [Revised: 06/05/2014] [Accepted: 06/16/2014] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Several studies have demonstrated a lower apolipoprotein E4 (APOE ε4) allele frequency in African-Americans, but yet an increased age-related prevalence of AD. An algorithm for prevention clinical trials incorporating TOMM40'523 (Translocase of Outer Mitochondria Membrane) and APOE depends on accurate TOMM40'523-APOE haplotypes. METHODS We have compared the APOE and TOMM40'523 phased haplotype frequencies of a 9.5 kb TOMM40/APOE genomic region in West African, Caucasian, and African-American cohorts. RESULTS African-American haplotype frequency scans of poly-T lengths connected in phase with either APOE ε4 or APOE ε3 differ from both West Africans and Caucasians and represent admixture of several distinct West African and Caucasian haplotypes. A new West African TOMM40'523 haplotype, with APOE ε4 connected to a short TOMM40'523 allele, is observed in African-Americans but not Caucasians. CONCLUSION These data have therapeutic implications for the age of onset risk algorithm estimates and the design of a prevention trial for African-Americans or other mixed ethnic populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allen D Roses
- Duke University Bryan Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA; Zinfandel Pharmaceuticals Inc, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Cabernet Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
| | - Michael W Lutz
- Duke University Bryan Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Ann M Saunders
- Duke University Bryan Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Dmitry Goldgaber
- Department of Psychiatry, State University of New York, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - Robert Saul
- Polymorphic DNA Technologies, Alameda, CA, USA
| | | | | | - Stephanie M Roses
- Duke University Bryan Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - W Kirby Gottschalk
- Duke University Bryan Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | | | - Alexander A Vostrov
- Department of Psychiatry, State University of New York, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | | | | | | | - Ornit Chiba-Falek
- Duke University Bryan Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
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44
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McLaughlin RL, Kenna KP, Vajda A, Bede P, Elamin M, Cronin S, Donaghy CG, Bradley DG, Hardiman O. Second-generation Irish genome-wide association study for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Neurobiol Aging 2014; 36:1221.e7-13. [PMID: 25442119 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2014.08.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2014] [Revised: 08/22/2014] [Accepted: 08/28/2014] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a heritable neurological disease for which the underlying genetic etiology is only partially understood. In Ireland, 83%-90% of cases are currently unexplained. Through large international collaborations, genome-wide association studies (GWASs) have succeeded in identifying a number of genomic loci that contribute toward ALS risk and age at onset. However, for the large proportion of risk that remains unexplained, population specificity of pathogenic variants could interfere with the detection of disease-associated loci. Single-population studies are therefore an important complement to larger international collaborations. In this study, we conduct a GWAS for ALS risk and age at onset in a large Irish ALS case-control cohort, using genome-wide imputation to increase marker density. Despite being adequately powered to detect associations of modest effect size, the study did not identify any locus associated with ALS risk or age at onset above the genome-wide significance threshold. Several speculative associations were, however, identified at loci that have been previously implicated in ALS. The lack of any clear association supports the conclusion that ALS is likely to be caused by multiple rare genetic risk factors. The findings of the present study highlight the importance of ongoing genetic research into the cause of ALS and its likely future challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Russell L McLaughlin
- Population Genetics Laboratory, Smurfit Institute of Genetics, Trinity College Dublin, College Green, Dublin, Republic of Ireland.
| | - Kevin P Kenna
- Population Genetics Laboratory, Smurfit Institute of Genetics, Trinity College Dublin, College Green, Dublin, Republic of Ireland
| | - Alice Vajda
- Academic Unit of Neurology, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Republic of Ireland
| | - Peter Bede
- Academic Unit of Neurology, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Republic of Ireland
| | - Marwa Elamin
- Academic Unit of Neurology, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Republic of Ireland
| | - Simon Cronin
- Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Republic of Ireland; Cork University Hospital, Cork, Republic of Ireland
| | - Colette G Donaghy
- Department of Neurology, Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast, Northern Ireland
| | - Daniel G Bradley
- Population Genetics Laboratory, Smurfit Institute of Genetics, Trinity College Dublin, College Green, Dublin, Republic of Ireland
| | - Orla Hardiman
- Academic Unit of Neurology, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Republic of Ireland
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Meyer MA. Identification of 17 Highly Expressed Genes within Mouse Lumbar Spinal Cord Anterior Horn Region from an In-Situ Hybridization Atlas of 3430 Genes: Implications for Motor Neuron Disease. Neurol Int 2014; 6:5367. [PMID: 24987504 PMCID: PMC4077210 DOI: 10.4081/ni.2014.5367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2014] [Accepted: 04/07/2014] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In an effort to find possible new gene candidates involved in the causation of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a prior version of the on-line brain gene expression atlas GENSAT was extensively searched for selectively intense expression within spinal motor neurons. Using autoradiographic data of in-situ hybridization from 3430 genes, a search for selectively intense activity was made for the anterior horn region of murine lumbar spinal cord sectioned in the axial plane. Of 3430 genes, a group of 17 genes was found to be highly expressed within the anterior horn suggesting localization to its primary cellular constituent, the alpha spinal motor neuron. For some genes, an inter-relationship to ALS was already known, such as for heavy, medium, and light neurofilaments, and peripherin. Other genes identified include: Gamma Synuclein, GDNF, SEMA3A, Extended Synaptotagmin-like protein 1, LYNX1, HSPA12a, Cadherin 22, PRKACA, TPPP3 as well as Choline Acetyltransferase, Janus Kinase 1, and the Motor Neuron and Pancreas Homeobox 1. Based on this study, Fibroblast Growth Factor 1 was found to have a particularly selective and intense localization pattern to the ventral horn and may be a good target for development of motor neuron disease therapies; further research is needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael A Meyer
- Department of Neurology, Sisters Hospital , Buffalo, NY, USA
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46
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Lopez-Lopez A, Gamez J, Syriani E, Morales M, Salvado M, Rodríguez MJ, Mahy N, Vidal-Taboada JM. CX3CR1 is a modifying gene of survival and progression in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. PLoS One 2014; 9:e96528. [PMID: 24806473 PMCID: PMC4013026 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0096528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2013] [Accepted: 04/09/2014] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The objective of this study was to investigate the association of functional variants of the human CX3CR1 gene (Fractalkine receptor) with the risk of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), the survival and the progression rate of the disease symptoms in a Spanish ALS cohort. 187 ALS patients (142 sporadic [sALS] and 45 familial) and 378 controls were recruited. We investigated CX3CR1 V249I (rs3732379) and T280M (rs3732378) genotypes and their haplotypes as predictors of survival, the progression rate of the symptoms (as measured by ALSFRS-R and FVC decline) and the risk of suffering ALS disease. The results indicated that sALS patients with CX3CR1 249I/I or 249V/I genotypes presented a shorter survival time (42.27±4.90) than patients with 249V/V genotype (67.65±7.42; diff −25.49 months 95%CI [−42.79,−8.18]; p = 0.004; adj-p = 0.018). The survival time was shorter in sALS patients with spinal topography and CX3CR1 249I alleles (diff = −29.78 months; 95%CI [−49.42,−10.14]; p = 0.003). The same effects were also observed in the spinal sALS patients with 249I–280M haplotype (diff = −27.02 months; 95%CI [−49.57, −4.48]; p = 0.019). In the sALS group, the CX3CR1 249I variant was associated with a faster progression of the disease symptoms (OR = 2.58; 95IC% [1.32, 5.07]; p = 0.006; adj-p = 0.027). There was no evidence for association of these two CX3CR1 variants with ALS disease risk. The association evidenced herein is clinically relevant and indicates that CX3CR1 could be a disease-modifying gene in sALS. The progression rate of the disease's symptoms and the survival time is affected in patients with one or two copies of the CX3CR1 249I allele. The CX3CR1 is the most potent ALS survival genetic factor reported to date. These results reinforce the role of the immune system in ALS pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alan Lopez-Lopez
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Unit, Department of Physiological Sciences I, Faculty of Medicine - IDIBAPS, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED, ISCIII), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Josep Gamez
- ALS Unit, Neurology Department, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron - VHIR. Autonomous University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- * E-mail: (JG); (JMVT)
| | - Emilio Syriani
- ALS Unit, Neurology Department, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron - VHIR. Autonomous University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Synaptic Structural Plasticity Lab, CIBIR, Logroño, Spain
| | - Miguel Morales
- Synaptic Structural Plasticity Lab, CIBIR, Logroño, Spain
| | - Maria Salvado
- ALS Unit, Neurology Department, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron - VHIR. Autonomous University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Manuel J. Rodríguez
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Unit, Department of Physiological Sciences I, Faculty of Medicine - IDIBAPS, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED, ISCIII), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Nicole Mahy
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Unit, Department of Physiological Sciences I, Faculty of Medicine - IDIBAPS, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED, ISCIII), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jose M. Vidal-Taboada
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Unit, Department of Physiological Sciences I, Faculty of Medicine - IDIBAPS, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED, ISCIII), Barcelona, Spain
- * E-mail: (JG); (JMVT)
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47
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Chen X, Huang R, Chen Y, Zheng Z, Chen K, Song W, Zhao B, Yang Y, Yuan L, Shang H. Association analysis of four candidate genetic variants with sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in a Chinese population. Neurol Sci 2014; 35:1089-95. [PMID: 24493373 DOI: 10.1007/s10072-014-1656-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2013] [Accepted: 01/23/2014] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Recently, four single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), including rs2814707 in the 9p21, rs12608932 in the UNC13A gene, rs13048019 in the TIMA1 gene, and rs2228576 in the SCNN1A gene have been reported to be associated with the risk for developing amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in Caucasian population. However, this association is not consistent among different studies and yet to be tested in ALS patients in Mainland China. This study included 397 sporadic ALS (SALS) patients and 287 unrelated Chinese healthy controls from Southwest China. Four SNPs listed above were genotyped by using Sequenom's iPLEX assay. No significant differences in the genotype distributions or minor allele frequencies in all SNPs were found between ALS group and control group, between the spinal-onset group and bulbar-onset group, and between the early-onset group and the late-onset group. Our results suggest that these SNPs are unlikely to be common cause of SALS in Chinese population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xueping Chen
- Department of Neurology and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, SiChuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, China
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48
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Turpeinen H, Ortutay Z, Pesu M. Genetics of the first seven proprotein convertase enzymes in health and disease. Curr Genomics 2014; 14:453-67. [PMID: 24396277 PMCID: PMC3867721 DOI: 10.2174/1389202911314050010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2013] [Revised: 09/13/2013] [Accepted: 09/14/2013] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Members of the substilisin/kexin like proprotein convertase (PCSK) protease family cleave and convert immature pro-proteins into their biologically active forms. By cleaving for example prohormones, cytokines and cell membrane proteins, PCSKs participate in maintaining the homeostasis in a healthy human body. Conversely, erratic enzymatic function is thought to contribute to the pathogenesis of a wide variety of diseases, including obesity and hypercholestrolemia. The first characterized seven PCSK enzymes (PCSK1-2, FURIN, PCSK4-7) process their substrates at a motif made up of paired basic amino acid residues. This feature results in a variable degree of biochemical redundancy in vitro, and consequently, shared substrate molecules between the different PCSK enzymes. This redundancy has confounded our understanding of the specific biological functions of PCSKs. The physiological roles of these enzymes have been best illustrated by the phenotypes of genetically engineered mice and patients that carry mutations in the PCSK genes. Recent developments in genome-wide methodology have generated a large amount of novel information on the genetics of the first seven proprotein convertases. In this review we summarize the reported genetic alterations and their associated phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannu Turpeinen
- Immunoregulation, Institute of Biomedical Technology, University of Tampere, and BioMediTech, Tampere, Finland
| | - Zsuzsanna Ortutay
- Immunoregulation, Institute of Biomedical Technology, University of Tampere, and BioMediTech, Tampere, Finland
| | - Marko Pesu
- Immunoregulation, Institute of Biomedical Technology, University of Tampere, and BioMediTech, Tampere, Finland; ; Fimlab laboratories, Pirkanmaa Hospital District, Finland
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49
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Renton AE, Chiò A, Traynor BJ. State of play in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis genetics. Nat Neurosci 2014; 17:17-23. [PMID: 24369373 PMCID: PMC4544832 DOI: 10.1038/nn.3584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1109] [Impact Index Per Article: 110.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2013] [Accepted: 10/22/2013] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Considerable progress has been made in unraveling the genetic etiology of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), the most common form of adult-onset motor neuron disease and the third most common neurodegenerative disease overall. Here we review genes implicated in the pathogenesis of motor neuron degeneration and how this new information is changing the way we think about this fatal disorder. Specifically, we summarize current literature of the major genes underlying ALS, SOD1, TARDBP, FUS, OPTN, VCP, UBQLN2, C9ORF72 and PFN1, and evaluate the information being gleaned from genome-wide association studies. We also outline emerging themes in ALS research, such as next-generation sequencing approaches to identify de novo mutations, the genetic convergence of familial and sporadic ALS, the proposed oligogenic basis for the disease, and how each new genetic discovery is broadening the phenotype associated with the clinical entity we know as ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alan E Renton
- Neuromuscular Diseases Research Unit, Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Adriano Chiò
- Rita Levi Montalcini Department of Neuroscience, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Bryan J Traynor
- 1] Neuromuscular Diseases Research Unit, Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA. [2] Department of Neurology, Brain Sciences Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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50
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Sreedharan J, Brown RH. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: Problems and prospects. Ann Neurol 2013; 74:309-16. [PMID: 24038380 DOI: 10.1002/ana.24012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 94] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2013] [Revised: 08/05/2013] [Accepted: 08/05/2013] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a lethal degenerative disorder of motoneurons, which may occur concurrently with frontotemporal dementia. Genetic analyses of the ∼10% of ALS cases that are dominantly inherited provide insight into ALS pathobiology. Two broad themes are evident. One, prompted by investigations of the SOD1 gene, is that conformational instability of proteins triggers downstream neurotoxic processes. The second, from studies of the TDP43, FUS, and C9orf72 genes, is that perturbations of RNA processing can be highly adverse in motoneurons. Several investigations support the concept that non-neuronal cells (microglia, astroglia, oligodendroglia) participate in the degenerative process in ALS. Recent data also emphasize the importance of molecular events in the axon and distal motoneuron terminals. Only 1 compound, riluzole, is approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for ALS; several therapies are in clinical trials, including 2 mesenchymal stem cell trials. The challenges and unmet needs in ALS emphasize the importance of new research directions: high-throughput sequencing of large DNA sets of familial and sporadic ALS, which will define scores of candidate ALS genes and pathways and facilitate studies of epistasis and epigenetics; infrastructures for candidate gene validation, including in vitro and in vivo modeling; valid biomarkers that elucidate causative molecular events and accelerate clinical trials; and in the long term, methods to identify environmental toxins. The unprecedented intensity of research in ALS and the advent of extraordinary technologies (rapid, inexpensive DNA sequencing; stem cell production from skin-derived fibroblasts; silencing of miscreant mutant genes) bode well for discovery of innovative ALS therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jemeen Sreedharan
- Babraham Institute, Cambridge, United Kingdom; Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA; Department of Neurobiology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA
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