1
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Tandon S, Aggarwal P, Sarkar S. Polyglutamine disorders: Pathogenesis and potential drug interventions. Life Sci 2024; 344:122562. [PMID: 38492921 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2024.122562] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2023] [Revised: 02/27/2024] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024]
Abstract
Polyglutamine/poly(Q) diseases are a group nine hereditary neurodegenerative disorders caused due to abnormally expanded stretches of CAG trinucleotide in functionally distinct genes. All human poly(Q) diseases are characterized by the formation of microscopically discernable poly(Q) positive aggregates, the inclusion bodies. These toxic inclusion bodies are responsible for the impairment of several cellular pathways such as autophagy, transcription, cell death, etc., that culminate in disease manifestation. Although, these diseases remain largely without treatment, extensive research has generated mounting evidences that various events of poly(Q) pathogenesis can be developed as potential drug targets. The present review article briefly discusses the key events of disease pathogenesis, model system-based investigations that support the development of effective therapeutic interventions against pathogenesis of human poly(Q) disorders, and a comprehensive list of pharmacological and bioactive compounds that have been experimentally shown to alleviate poly(Q)-mediated neurotoxicity. Interestingly, due to the common cause of pathogenesis, all poly(Q) diseases share etiology, thus, findings from one disease can be potentially extrapolated to other poly(Q) diseases as well.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shweta Tandon
- Department of Genetics, University of Delhi South Campus, Benito Juarez Road, New Delhi 110021, India
| | - Prerna Aggarwal
- Department of Genetics, University of Delhi South Campus, Benito Juarez Road, New Delhi 110021, India
| | - Surajit Sarkar
- Department of Genetics, University of Delhi South Campus, Benito Juarez Road, New Delhi 110021, India.
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2
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Potapenko A, Davidson JM, Lee A, Laird AS. The deubiquitinase function of ataxin-3 and its role in the pathogenesis of Machado-Joseph disease and other diseases. Biochem J 2024; 481:461-480. [PMID: 38497605 PMCID: PMC11088879 DOI: 10.1042/bcj20240017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2024] [Revised: 03/04/2024] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024]
Abstract
Machado-Joseph disease (MJD) is a devastating and incurable neurodegenerative disease characterised by progressive ataxia, difficulty speaking and swallowing. Consequently, affected individuals ultimately become wheelchair dependent, require constant care, and face a shortened life expectancy. The monogenic cause of MJD is expansion of a trinucleotide (CAG) repeat region within the ATXN3 gene, which results in polyglutamine (polyQ) expansion within the resultant ataxin-3 protein. While it is well established that the ataxin-3 protein functions as a deubiquitinating (DUB) enzyme and is therefore critically involved in proteostasis, several unanswered questions remain regarding the impact of polyQ expansion in ataxin-3 on its DUB function. Here we review the current literature surrounding ataxin-3's DUB function, its DUB targets, and what is known regarding the impact of polyQ expansion on ataxin-3's DUB function. We also consider the potential neuroprotective effects of ataxin-3's DUB function, and the intersection of ataxin-3's role as a DUB enzyme and regulator of gene transcription. Ataxin-3 is the principal pathogenic protein in MJD and also appears to be involved in cancer. As aberrant deubiquitination has been linked to both neurodegeneration and cancer, a comprehensive understanding of ataxin-3's DUB function is important for elucidating potential therapeutic targets in these complex conditions. In this review, we aim to consolidate knowledge of ataxin-3 as a DUB and unveil areas for future research to aid therapeutic targeting of ataxin-3's DUB function for the treatment of MJD and other diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anastasiya Potapenko
- Motor Neuron Disease Research Centre, Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia
| | - Jennilee M. Davidson
- Motor Neuron Disease Research Centre, Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia
| | - Albert Lee
- Motor Neuron Disease Research Centre, Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia
| | - Angela S. Laird
- Motor Neuron Disease Research Centre, Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia
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3
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Schuster KH, DiFranco DM, Putka AF, Mato JP, Jarrah SI, Stec NR, Sundararajan VO, McLoughlin HS. Disease-associated oligodendrocyte signatures are spatiotemporally dysregulated in spinocerebellar ataxia type 3. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1118429. [PMID: 36875652 PMCID: PMC9975394 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1118429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 01/26/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (SCA3) is a neurodegenerative disease caused by a CAG repeat expansion in the ATXN3 gene. Though the ATXN3 protein is expressed ubiquitously throughout the CNS, regional pathology in SCA3 patients is observed within select neuronal populations and more recently within oligodendrocyte-rich white matter tracts. We have previously recapitulated these white matter abnormalities in an overexpression mouse model of SCA3 and demonstrated that oligodendrocyte maturation impairments are one of the earliest and most progressive changes in SCA3 pathogenesis. Disease-associated oligodendrocyte signatures have recently emerged as significant contributors to several other neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease, Huntington's disease, and Parkinson's disease, but their role in regional vulnerability and disease progression remains unexplored. Here, we are the first to comparatively assess myelination in human tissue in a region-dependent manner. Translating these findings to SCA3 mouse models of disease, we confirmed endogenous expression of mutant Atxn3 leads to regional transcriptional dysregulation of oligodendrocyte maturation markers in Knock-In models of SCA3. We then investigated the spatiotemporal progression of mature oligodendrocyte transcriptional dysregulation in an overexpression SCA3 mouse model and how it relates to the onset of motor impairment. We further determined that regional reduction in mature oligodendrocyte cell counts in SCA3 mice over time parallels the onset and progression of brain atrophy in SCA3 patients. This work emphasizes the prospective contributions of disease-associated oligodendrocyte signatures to regional vulnerability and could inform timepoints and target regions imperative for biomarker assessment and therapeutic intervention in several neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristen H Schuster
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Danielle M DiFranco
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Alexandra F Putka
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States.,Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Juan P Mato
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States.,Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Sabrina I Jarrah
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Nicholas R Stec
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | | | - Hayley S McLoughlin
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
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4
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Raposo M, Bettencourt C, Melo ARV, Ferreira AF, Alonso I, Silva P, Vasconcelos J, Kay T, Saraiva-Pereira ML, Costa MD, Vilasboas-Campos D, Bettencourt BF, Bruges-Armas J, Houlden H, Heutink P, Jardim LB, Sequeiros J, Maciel P, Lima M. Novel Machado-Joseph disease-modifying genes and pathways identified by whole-exome sequencing. Neurobiol Dis 2021; 162:105578. [PMID: 34871736 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2021.105578] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2021] [Revised: 11/08/2021] [Accepted: 12/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Machado-Joseph disease (MJD/SCA3) is a neurodegenerative polyglutamine disorder exhibiting a wide spectrum of phenotypes. The abnormal size of the (CAG)n at ATXN3 explains ~55% of the age at onset variance, suggesting the involvement of other factors, namely genetic modifiers, whose identification remains limited. Our aim was to find novel genetic modifiers, analyse their epistatic effects and identify disease-modifying pathways contributing to MJD variable expressivity. We performed whole-exome sequencing in a discovery sample of four age at onset concordant and four discordant first-degree relative pairs of Azorean patients, to identify candidate variants which genotypes differed for each discordant pair but were shared in each concordant pair. Variants identified by this approach were then tested in an independent multi-origin cohort of 282 MJD patients. Whole-exome sequencing identified 233 candidate variants, from which 82 variants in 53 genes were prioritized for downstream analysis. Eighteen disease-modifying pathways were identified; two of the most enriched pathways were relevant for the nervous system, namely the neuregulin signaling and the agrin interactions at neuromuscular junction. Variants at PARD3, NFKB1, CHD5, ACTG1, CFAP57, DLGAP2, ITGB1, DIDO1 and CERS4 modulate age at onset in MJD, with those identified in CFAP57, ACTG1 and DIDO1 showing consistent effects across cohorts of different geographical origins. Network analyses of the nine novel MJD modifiers highlighted several important molecular interactions, including genes/proteins previously related with MJD pathogenesis, namely between ACTG1/APOE and VCP/ITGB1. We describe novel pathways, modifiers, and their interaction partners, providing a broad molecular portrait of age at onset modulation to be further exploited as new disease-modifying targets for MJD and related diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mafalda Raposo
- Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular (IBMC), Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (i3S), Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal; Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade dos Açores, Ponta Delgada, Portugal.
| | - Conceição Bettencourt
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease and Queen Square Brain Bank for Neurological Disorders, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK.
| | - Ana Rosa Vieira Melo
- Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular (IBMC), Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (i3S), Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal; Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade dos Açores, Ponta Delgada, Portugal
| | - Ana F Ferreira
- Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular (IBMC), Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (i3S), Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal; Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade dos Açores, Ponta Delgada, Portugal.
| | - Isabel Alonso
- Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular (IBMC), Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (i3S), Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Paulo Silva
- Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular (IBMC), Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (i3S), Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.
| | - João Vasconcelos
- Departamento de Neurologia, Hospital do Divino Espírito Santo, Ponta Delgada, Portugal
| | - Teresa Kay
- Departamento de Genética Clínica, Hospital D. Estefânia, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Maria Luiza Saraiva-Pereira
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil; Serviço de Genética Médica/Centro de Pesquisa Clínica e Experimental, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
| | - Marta D Costa
- Instituto de Investigação em Ciências da Vida e Saúde (ICVS), Escola de Medicina, Universidade do Minho, Braga, Portugal; ICVS/3B's - Laboratório Associado, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal.
| | - Daniela Vilasboas-Campos
- Instituto de Investigação em Ciências da Vida e Saúde (ICVS), Escola de Medicina, Universidade do Minho, Braga, Portugal; ICVS/3B's - Laboratório Associado, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Bruno Filipe Bettencourt
- Serviço Especializado de Epidemiologia e Biologia Molecular (SEEBMO), Hospital de Santo Espírito da Ilha Terceira (HSEIT), Angra do Heroísmo, Azores, Portugal
| | - Jácome Bruges-Armas
- Serviço Especializado de Epidemiologia e Biologia Molecular (SEEBMO), Hospital de Santo Espírito da Ilha Terceira (HSEIT), Angra do Heroísmo, Azores, Portugal; CHRC - Comprehensive Health Research Centre, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas & CEDOC - Chronic Diseases Research Center, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Henry Houlden
- Department of Molecular Neuroscience, Institute of Neurology, University College London and Neurogenetics Unit, National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, University College London Hospitals, London, United Kingdom, London.
| | - Peter Heutink
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Tübingen, Germany.
| | - Laura Bannach Jardim
- Departamento de Medicina Interna, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil; Serviço de Genética Médica/Centro de Pesquisa Clínica e Experimental, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
| | - Jorge Sequeiros
- Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular (IBMC), Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (i3S), Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.
| | - Patrícia Maciel
- Instituto de Investigação em Ciências da Vida e Saúde (ICVS), Escola de Medicina, Universidade do Minho, Braga, Portugal; ICVS/3B's - Laboratório Associado, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal.
| | - Manuela Lima
- Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular (IBMC), Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (i3S), Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal; Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade dos Açores, Ponta Delgada, Portugal.
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5
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Nobre RJ, Lobo DD, Henriques C, Duarte SP, Lopes SM, Silva AC, Lopes MM, Mariet F, Schwarz LK, Baatje MS, Ferreira V, Vallès A, Pereira de Almeida L, Evers MM, Toonen LJA. MiRNA-Mediated Knockdown of ATXN3 Alleviates Molecular Disease Hallmarks in a Mouse Model for Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 3. Nucleic Acid Ther 2021; 32:194-205. [PMID: 34878314 PMCID: PMC9221165 DOI: 10.1089/nat.2021.0020] [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] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (SCA3) is a neurodegenerative disorder caused by the expansion of a CAG repeat in the ATXN3 gene. This mutation leads to a toxic gain of function of the ataxin-3 protein, resulting in neuronal dysfunction and atrophy of specific brain regions over time. As ataxin-3 is a dispensable protein in rodents, ataxin-3 knockdown by gene therapy may be a powerful approach for the treatment of SCA3. In this study, we tested the feasibility of an adeno-associated viral (AAV) vector carrying a previously described artificial microRNA against ATXN3 in a striatal mouse model of SCA3. Striatal injection of the AAV resulted in good distribution throughout the striatum, with strong dose-dependent ataxin-3 knockdown. The hallmark intracellular ataxin-3 inclusions were almost completely alleviated by the microRNA-induced ATXN3 knockdown. In addition, the striatal lesion of dopamine- and cAMP-regulated neuronal phosphoprotein (DARPP-32) in the SCA3 mice was rescued by ATXN3 knockdown, indicating functional rescue of neuronal signaling and health upon AAV treatment. Together, these data suggest that microRNA-induced ataxin-3 knockdown is a promising therapeutic strategy in the treatment of SCA3.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Jorge Nobre
- Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology (CNC), Molecular Therapy of Brain Disorders Group, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology (CIBB), Vectors, Gene and Cell Therapy Group, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,ViraVector-Viral Vector for Gene Transfer Core Facility and University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,Institute for Interdisciplinary Research (III), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Diana D Lobo
- Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology (CNC), Molecular Therapy of Brain Disorders Group, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology (CIBB), Vectors, Gene and Cell Therapy Group, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,Institute for Interdisciplinary Research (III), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Carina Henriques
- Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology (CNC), Molecular Therapy of Brain Disorders Group, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology (CIBB), Vectors, Gene and Cell Therapy Group, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,ViraVector-Viral Vector for Gene Transfer Core Facility and University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Sonia P Duarte
- Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology (CNC), Molecular Therapy of Brain Disorders Group, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology (CIBB), Vectors, Gene and Cell Therapy Group, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,Institute for Interdisciplinary Research (III), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Sara M Lopes
- Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology (CNC), Molecular Therapy of Brain Disorders Group, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology (CIBB), Vectors, Gene and Cell Therapy Group, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,Institute for Interdisciplinary Research (III), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Ana C Silva
- Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology (CNC), Molecular Therapy of Brain Disorders Group, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology (CIBB), Vectors, Gene and Cell Therapy Group, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,Institute for Interdisciplinary Research (III), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Miguel M Lopes
- Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology (CNC), Molecular Therapy of Brain Disorders Group, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology (CIBB), Vectors, Gene and Cell Therapy Group, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,Institute for Interdisciplinary Research (III), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Fanny Mariet
- uniQure Biopharma b.v., Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | | | - M S Baatje
- uniQure Biopharma b.v., Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | | | | | - Luis Pereira de Almeida
- Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology (CNC), Molecular Therapy of Brain Disorders Group, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology (CIBB), Vectors, Gene and Cell Therapy Group, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,ViraVector-Viral Vector for Gene Transfer Core Facility and University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
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6
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Chen Y, Li D, Wei M, Zhou M, Zhang L, Yu J, Qiu M, Jin Y, Lu X. Homozygous spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 in China: a case report. J Int Med Res 2021; 49:3000605211021370. [PMID: 34167352 PMCID: PMC8236800 DOI: 10.1177/03000605211021370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (SCA3) is a neurodegenerative disease caused by a heterozygous CAG repeat expansion in the ataxin 3 gene (ATXN3). However, patients with homozygous SCA3 carrying expanded CAG repeats in both alleles of ATXN3 are extremely rare. Herein, we present a case of a 50-year-old female who had homozygous SCA3 with expansion of 62/62 repeats. Segregation analysis of the patient’s family showed both a contraction pattern of CAG repeat length and stable transmission. The present case demonstrated an earlier onset and more severe clinical phenotype than that seen in heterozygous individuals, suggesting that the gene dosage enhances disease severity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuchao Chen
- Department of Neurology, The Affiliated Hospital of Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, China.,Translational Medicine Center, The Affiliated Hospital of Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Dan Li
- Department of Neurology, The Affiliated Hospital of Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, China.,Translational Medicine Center, The Affiliated Hospital of Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Minger Wei
- Department of Neurology, The Affiliated Hospital of Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Menglu Zhou
- Department of Neurology, The Affiliated Hospital of Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Linan Zhang
- Department of Intensive Care Unit, The Affiliated Hospital of Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jiaoyang Yu
- Department of Intensive Care Unit, The Affiliated Hospital of Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Mengqiu Qiu
- Department of Neurology, The Affiliated Hospital of Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yi Jin
- Department of Neurology, The Affiliated Hospital of Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xiaodong Lu
- Department of Neurology, The Affiliated Hospital of Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, China
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7
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Machado-Joseph disease (MJD), also known as spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (SCA3), is a fatal, dominantly inherited, neurodegenerative disease caused by expansion of a CAG repeat in the coding region of the ATXN3 gene. No disease-modifying treatment is yet available for MJD/SCA3. This review discusses recently developed therapeutic strategies that hold promise as future effective treatments for this incurable disease. RECENT FINDINGS As a result of the exploration of multiple therapeutic approaches over the last decade, the MJD/SCA3 field is finally starting to see options for disease-modifying treatments for this disease come into view on the horizon. Recently developed strategies include DNA-targeted and RNA-targeted therapies, and approaches targeting protein quality control pathways and cellular homeostasis. SUMMARY While still in preclinical testing stages, antisense oligonucleotides, short hairpin RNAs and citalopram all show promise to reaching testing in clinical trials for MJD/SCA3. Two pharmacological approaches in early stages of development, the slipped-CAG DNA binding compound naphthyridine-azaquinolone and autophagosome-tethering compounds, also show potential therapeutic capacity for MJD/SCA3. Overall, a handful of therapeutic options are currently showing potential as future successful treatments for fatal MJD/SCA3.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria do Carmo Costa
- Department of Neurology, Michigan Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
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8
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Li QF, Cheng H, Yang L, Ma Y, Zhao J, Dong Y, Wu Z. Clinical features and genetic characteristics of homozygous spinocerebellar ataxia type 3. Mol Genet Genomic Med 2020; 8:e1314. [PMID: 32643267 PMCID: PMC7507100 DOI: 10.1002/mgg3.1314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2020] [Revised: 04/26/2020] [Accepted: 04/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Homozygous spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (SCA3) patients, which have an expanded cytosine‐adenine‐guanine (CAG) repeat mutation in both alleles of ATXN3, are extremely rare. Clinical features and genetic characteristics of them were seldom studied. Methods We analyzed seven newly homozygous SCA3 patients from five families and 14 homozygotes reported previously. An additional cohort of 30 heterozygous SCA3 patients were analyzed to compare age at onset (AAO). Results Two out of seven SCA3 homozygotes had the minimum CAG repeats reported so far (55/56 and 56/58). Five patients appeared peripheral neuropathy and two had mild cognitive impairment. The AAO was significantly inversely correlated with both the large and small expanded CAG repeats (r = −.7682, p < .0001). The AAO was significantly earlier in homozygous SCA3 than heterozygous ones (32.81 ± 11.86 versus. 49.90 ± 9.73, p < .0001). In addition, the AAO of our seven homozygotes is elder compared to those reported previously (41.29 years vs. 28.57 years), which may be related to the fewer CAG repeats in our seven patients. Conclusion Gene dosage effect may play an important role in the AAO and severity of disease, and homozygosity for ATXN3 enhances phenotypic severity. Our findings expand clinical features and genetic characteristics of homozygous SCA3 patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Quan-Fu Li
- Department of Neurology and Research Center of Neurology in Second Affiliated Hospital, and Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology of Zhejiang ProvinceZhejiang University School of MedicineHangzhouChina
| | - Hao‐Ling Cheng
- Department of Neurology and Institute of NeurologyFirst Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical UniversityFuzhouChina
| | - Lu Yang
- Department of Neurology and Research Center of Neurology in Second Affiliated Hospital, and Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology of Zhejiang ProvinceZhejiang University School of MedicineHangzhouChina
| | - Yin Ma
- Department of Neurology and Research Center of Neurology in Second Affiliated Hospital, and Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology of Zhejiang ProvinceZhejiang University School of MedicineHangzhouChina
| | - Jing‐Jing Zhao
- Department of Neurology and Research Center of Neurology in Second Affiliated Hospital, and Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology of Zhejiang ProvinceZhejiang University School of MedicineHangzhouChina
| | - Yi Dong
- Department of Neurology and Research Center of Neurology in Second Affiliated Hospital, and Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology of Zhejiang ProvinceZhejiang University School of MedicineHangzhouChina
| | - Zhi‐Ying Wu
- Department of Neurology and Research Center of Neurology in Second Affiliated Hospital, and Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology of Zhejiang ProvinceZhejiang University School of MedicineHangzhouChina
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9
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Protocol for the Characterization of the Cytosine-Adenine-Guanine Tract and Flanking Polymorphisms in Machado-Joseph Disease: Impact on Diagnosis and Development of Gene-Based Therapies. J Mol Diagn 2020; 22:782-793. [PMID: 32205289 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmoldx.2020.03.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2018] [Revised: 02/15/2020] [Accepted: 03/04/2020] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Polyglutamine spinocerebellar ataxias (SCAs) constitute a group of autosomal dominantly inherited neurodegenerative disorders with considerable phenotypic overlap. Definitive diagnoses rely on the detection of a mutation in each associated locus, comprising the abnormal expansion of the trinucleotide cytosine-adenine-guanine (CAG) in coding exons. Assessment of single nucleotide polymorphisms associated with the CAG expansion in the context of SCAs is also relevant for improving molecular diagnosis and for generating novel therapeutic strategies. The current study is focused on Machado-Joseph disease/SCA type 3, with the aim of developing a protocol for the accurate determination of the CAG length in exon 10 of the human ATXN3 gene and to characterize flanking polymorphisms. A single pair of primers was designed and validated, and two complementary PCR-based methods were established. In method I, PCR amplicons were cloned and sequenced, allowing the assessment of three single nucleotide polymorphisms in the vicinity of the CAG repeat (C987GG/G987GG, TAA1118/TAC1118, and C1178/A1178), which can constitute potential targets for personalized gene-based therapies. Method II combines PCR, capillary electrophoresis, and a size correction formula, enabling a time and cost-effective determination of the number of CAGs. The established protocol paves the way to overcome technical difficulties related to the molecular characterization of the CAG motif and intragenic polymorphisms in the context of Machado-Joseph disease/SCA type 3 and may prove useful when applied to other polyglutamine SCAs.
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10
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McLoughlin HS, Moore LR, Paulson HL. Pathogenesis of SCA3 and implications for other polyglutamine diseases. Neurobiol Dis 2019; 134:104635. [PMID: 31669734 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2019.104635] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2019] [Revised: 09/30/2019] [Accepted: 10/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Tandem repeat diseases include the neurodegenerative disorders known as polyglutamine (polyQ) diseases, caused by CAG repeat expansions in the coding regions of the respective disease genes. The nine known polyQ disease include Huntington's disease (HD), dentatorubral-pallidoluysian atrophy (DRPLA), spinal bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA), and six spinocerebellar ataxias (SCA1, SCA2, SCA3, SCA6, SCA7, and SCA17). The underlying disease mechanism in the polyQ diseases is thought principally to reflect dominant toxic properties of the disease proteins which, when harboring a polyQ expansion, differentially interact with protein partners and are prone to aggregate. Among the polyQ diseases, SCA3 is the most common SCA, and second to HD in prevalence worldwide. Here we summarize current understanding of SCA3 disease mechanisms within the broader context of the broader polyQ disease field. We emphasize properties of the disease protein, ATXN3, and new discoveries regarding three potential pathogenic mechanisms: 1) altered protein homeostasis; 2) DNA damage and dysfunctional DNA repair; and 3) nonneuronal contributions to disease. We conclude with an overview of the therapeutic implications of recent mechanistic insights.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Lauren R Moore
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Henry L Paulson
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
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Mitchell N, LaTouche GA, Nelson B, Figueroa KP, Walker RH, Sobering AK. Childhood-Onset Spinocerebellar Ataxia 3: Tongue Dystonia as an Early Manifestation. TREMOR AND OTHER HYPERKINETIC MOVEMENTS (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2019; 9:tre-09-704. [PMID: 31565539 PMCID: PMC6744815 DOI: 10.7916/tohm.v0.704] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2019] [Accepted: 08/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Background Dystonia is a relatively common feature of spinocerebellar ataxia 3 (SCA3). Childhood onset of SCA3 is rare and typically associated with either relatively large, or homozygous, CAG repeat expansions. Case report We describe a 10-year-old girl with SCA3, who presented with tongue dystonia in addition to limb dystonia and gait ataxia due to a heterozygous expansion of 84 repeats in ATXN3. Discussion Diagnosis of the SCAs can be challenging, and even more so in children. Tongue dystonia has not previously been documented in SCA3.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nester Mitchell
- Department of Internal Medicine, Grenada General Hospital, St. George's, GD
| | - Gaynel A LaTouche
- Department of Internal Medicine, Grenada General Hospital, St. George's, GD
| | - Beverly Nelson
- Department of Internal Medicine, Grenada General Hospital, St. George's, GD
| | - Karla P Figueroa
- Department of Pediatrics, Grenada General Hospital, St. George's, GD
| | - Ruth H Walker
- Department of Neurology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.,Department of Neurology, James J. Peters Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Andrew K Sobering
- Department of Neurology, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York City, NY, USA
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12
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Shang XJ, Xu HL, Yang JS, Chen PP, Lin MT, Qian MZ, Lin HX, Chen XP, Chen YC, Jiang B, Chen YJ, Chen WJ, Wang N, Zhou ZM, Gan SR. Homozygote of spinocerebellar Ataxia type 3 correlating with severe phenotype based on analyses of clinical features. J Neurol Sci 2018; 390:111-114. [PMID: 29801869 DOI: 10.1016/j.jns.2018.04.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2018] [Revised: 03/22/2018] [Accepted: 04/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (SCA3) is the most common subtype of SCAs worldwide. SCA3 homozygote is defined as expanded CAG repeats in both alleles that might exhibit severe phenotype due to gene dosage effect. However, a study on the systematic comparison of clinical phenotypes between homozygotes and heterozygotes to indicate these verity of phenotypes of homozygotes is still lacking. METHODS A total of 14 SCA3 homozygotes (3 Chinese participants and 11 participants from various ethnicity in different published studies) and 143 Chinese heterozygotes of SCA3 were recruited for this study. The 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of age at onset and disease severity expected from heterozygous patients were analyzed to detect the phenotypic differences between homozygotes and heterozygotes. RESULTS Almost all the homozygotes (13 of 14) were found to present a significant earlier age at onset compared with heterozygotes, because age at onset of most homozygotes was lower than the 95% CIs of age at onset of heterozygotes. Also, the clinical severity in most of the homozygotes (3 of 4) with identified clinical phenotypes was higher than the 95% CIs of severity in heterozygotes, indicating more severe clinical phenotypes in SCA3 homozygotes. CONCLUSIONS The homozygosity for SCA3 could lead to an earlier age of onset and putative severe clinical features. The findings of the present study suggested an influence of gene dosage on SCA3 phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xian-Jin Shang
- Department of Neurology, Yijishan Hospital of Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, China
| | - Hao-Ling Xu
- Department of Neurology and Institute of Neurology, First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fujian Key Laboratory of Molecular Neurology, Fuzhou, China
| | - Jin-Shan Yang
- Department of Neurology and Institute of Neurology, First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fujian Key Laboratory of Molecular Neurology, Fuzhou, China
| | - Ping-Ping Chen
- Department of Neurology and Institute of Neurology, First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fujian Key Laboratory of Molecular Neurology, Fuzhou, China
| | - Min-Ting Lin
- Department of Neurology and Institute of Neurology, First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fujian Key Laboratory of Molecular Neurology, Fuzhou, China
| | - Mei-Zhen Qian
- Department of Neurology and Institute of Neurology, First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fujian Key Laboratory of Molecular Neurology, Fuzhou, China; Interdisciplinary Institute of Neuroscience and Technology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Hui-Xia Lin
- Department of Neurology and Institute of Neurology, First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fujian Key Laboratory of Molecular Neurology, Fuzhou, China
| | - Xiao-Ping Chen
- School of Mathematics and Computer Science & FJKLMAA, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Yu-Chao Chen
- Department of Neurology and Institute of Neurology, First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fujian Key Laboratory of Molecular Neurology, Fuzhou, China
| | - Bin Jiang
- Department of Neurology and Institute of Neurology, First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fujian Key Laboratory of Molecular Neurology, Fuzhou, China; Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Yi-Jun Chen
- Department of Neurology and Institute of Neurology, First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fujian Key Laboratory of Molecular Neurology, Fuzhou, China
| | - Wan-Jin Chen
- Department of Neurology and Institute of Neurology, First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fujian Key Laboratory of Molecular Neurology, Fuzhou, China
| | - Ning Wang
- Department of Neurology and Institute of Neurology, First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fujian Key Laboratory of Molecular Neurology, Fuzhou, China
| | - Zhi-Ming Zhou
- Department of Neurology, Yijishan Hospital of Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, China.
| | - Shi-Rui Gan
- Department of Neurology and Institute of Neurology, First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fujian Key Laboratory of Molecular Neurology, Fuzhou, China.
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Molecular Mechanisms and Cellular Pathways Implicated in Machado-Joseph Disease Pathogenesis. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2018; 1049:349-367. [PMID: 29427113 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-71779-1_18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Machado-Joseph disease (MJD) is a dominantly inherited disorder originally described in people of Portuguese descent, and associated with the expansion of a CAG tract in the coding region of the causative gene MJD1/ATX3. The CAG repeats range from 10 to 51 in the normal population and from 55 to 87 in SCA3/MJD patients. MJD1 encodes ataxin-3, a protein whose physiological function has been linked to ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis. Despite the identification of the causative mutation, the pathogenic process leading to the neurodegeneration observed in the disease is not yet completely understood. In the past years, several studies identified different molecular mechanisms and cellular pathways as being impaired or deregulated in MJD. Autophagy, proteolysis or post-translational modifications, among other processes, were implicated in MJD pathogenesis. From these studies it was possible to identify new targets for therapeutic intervention, which in some cases proved successful in models of disease.
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Abstract
Machado-Joseph disease (MJD) also known as Spinocerebellar ataxia type 3, is a hereditary neurodegenerative disease associated with severe clinical manifestations and premature death. Although rare, it is the most common autosomal dominant spinocerebellar ataxia worldwide and has a distinct geographic distribution, reaching peak prevalence in certain regions of Brazil, Portugal and China. Due to its clinical heterogeneity, it was initially described as several different entities and as had many designations over the last decades. An accurate diagnosis become possible in 1994, after the identification of the MJD1 gene. Among its wide clinical spectrum, progressive cerebellar ataxia is normally present. Other symptoms include pyramidal syndrome, peripheral neuropathy, oculomotor abnormalities, extrapyramidal signs and sleep disorders. On the basis of the presence/absence of important extra-pyramidal signs, and the presence/absence of peripheral signs, five clinical types have been defined. Neuroimaging studies like MRI, DTI and MRS, can be useful as they can characterize structural and functional differences in specific subgroups of patients with MJD. There is no effective treatment for MJD. Symptomatic therapies are used to relieve some of the clinical symptoms and physiotherapy is also helpful in improving quality of live. Several clinical trials have been carried out using different molecules like sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim, varenicline and lithium carbonate, but the results of these trials were negative or showed little benefit. Future studies sufficiently powered and adequately designed are warranted.
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Transgenic Monkey Model of the Polyglutamine Diseases Recapitulating Progressive Neurological Symptoms. eNeuro 2017; 4:eN-NWR-0250-16. [PMID: 28374014 PMCID: PMC5368386 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0250-16.2017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2016] [Revised: 03/06/2017] [Accepted: 03/07/2017] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Age-associated neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and the polyglutamine (polyQ) diseases, are becoming prevalent as a consequence of elongation of the human lifespan. Although various rodent models have been developed to study and overcome these diseases, they have limitations in their translational research utility owing to differences from humans in brain structure and function and in drug metabolism. Here, we generated a transgenic marmoset model of the polyQ diseases, showing progressive neurological symptoms including motor impairment. Seven transgenic marmosets were produced by lentiviral introduction of the human ataxin 3 gene with 120 CAG repeats encoding an expanded polyQ stretch. Although all offspring showed no neurological symptoms at birth, three marmosets with higher transgene expression developed neurological symptoms of varying degrees at 3-4 months after birth, followed by gradual decreases in body weight gain, spontaneous activity, and grip strength, indicating time-dependent disease progression. Pathological examinations revealed neurodegeneration and intranuclear polyQ protein inclusions accompanied by gliosis, which recapitulate the neuropathological features of polyQ disease patients. Consistent with neuronal loss in the cerebellum, brain MRI analyses in one living symptomatic marmoset detected enlargement of the fourth ventricle, which suggests cerebellar atrophy. Notably, successful germline transgene transmission was confirmed in the second-generation offspring derived from the symptomatic transgenic marmoset gamete. Because the accumulation of abnormal proteins is a shared pathomechanism among various neurodegenerative diseases, we suggest that this new marmoset model will contribute toward elucidating the pathomechanisms of and developing clinically applicable therapies for neurodegenerative diseases.
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Takahashi Y, Kanai M, Taminato T, Watanabe S, Matsumoto C, Araki T, Okamoto T, Ogawa M, Murata M. Compound heterozygous intermediate MJD alleles cause cerebellar ataxia with sensory neuropathy. NEUROLOGY-GENETICS 2016; 3:e123. [PMID: 27896316 PMCID: PMC5118846 DOI: 10.1212/nxg.0000000000000123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2016] [Accepted: 10/24/2016] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Spinocerebellar degeneration (SCD) is a group of disorders characterized by progressive ataxia caused by dysfunction and atrophy of the cerebellum or its projections. Approximately one-third of SCD cases are familial SCD, the majority of which are attributed to CAG triplet repeat expansions including spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA)1, SCA2, Machado-Joseph disease (MJD)/SCA3, SCA6, SCA8, SCA12, SCA17, and dentate-rubro-pallido-luysian atrophy (DRPLA). The triplet repeat number of the alleles representing complete penetrance varies among diseases. Generally, there is a gap between the normal alleles and the complete penetrance alleles. Rarely, intermediate alleles with the repeat numbers between the abnormal and normal ranges are observed, although the implications of these intermediate alleles remain ambiguous.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuji Takahashi
- Department of Neurology (Y.T., M.K., T.T., S.W., T.O., M.M.), National Center Hospital, and Department of Peripheral Nervous System Research (C.M., T.A.), National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo; and Department of Neurology (M.O.), Nagahama City Hospital, Japan
| | - Masahiro Kanai
- Department of Neurology (Y.T., M.K., T.T., S.W., T.O., M.M.), National Center Hospital, and Department of Peripheral Nervous System Research (C.M., T.A.), National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo; and Department of Neurology (M.O.), Nagahama City Hospital, Japan
| | - Tomoya Taminato
- Department of Neurology (Y.T., M.K., T.T., S.W., T.O., M.M.), National Center Hospital, and Department of Peripheral Nervous System Research (C.M., T.A.), National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo; and Department of Neurology (M.O.), Nagahama City Hospital, Japan
| | - Shoko Watanabe
- Department of Neurology (Y.T., M.K., T.T., S.W., T.O., M.M.), National Center Hospital, and Department of Peripheral Nervous System Research (C.M., T.A.), National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo; and Department of Neurology (M.O.), Nagahama City Hospital, Japan
| | - Chihiro Matsumoto
- Department of Neurology (Y.T., M.K., T.T., S.W., T.O., M.M.), National Center Hospital, and Department of Peripheral Nervous System Research (C.M., T.A.), National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo; and Department of Neurology (M.O.), Nagahama City Hospital, Japan
| | - Toshiyuki Araki
- Department of Neurology (Y.T., M.K., T.T., S.W., T.O., M.M.), National Center Hospital, and Department of Peripheral Nervous System Research (C.M., T.A.), National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo; and Department of Neurology (M.O.), Nagahama City Hospital, Japan
| | - Tomoko Okamoto
- Department of Neurology (Y.T., M.K., T.T., S.W., T.O., M.M.), National Center Hospital, and Department of Peripheral Nervous System Research (C.M., T.A.), National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo; and Department of Neurology (M.O.), Nagahama City Hospital, Japan
| | - Masafumi Ogawa
- Department of Neurology (Y.T., M.K., T.T., S.W., T.O., M.M.), National Center Hospital, and Department of Peripheral Nervous System Research (C.M., T.A.), National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo; and Department of Neurology (M.O.), Nagahama City Hospital, Japan
| | - Miho Murata
- Department of Neurology (Y.T., M.K., T.T., S.W., T.O., M.M.), National Center Hospital, and Department of Peripheral Nervous System Research (C.M., T.A.), National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo; and Department of Neurology (M.O.), Nagahama City Hospital, Japan
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Donis KC, Saute JAM, Krum-Santos AC, Furtado GV, Mattos EP, Saraiva-Pereira ML, Torman VL, Jardim LB. Spinocerebellar ataxia type 3/Machado-Joseph disease starting before adolescence. Neurogenetics 2016; 17:107-13. [PMID: 26780339 DOI: 10.1007/s10048-016-0473-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2015] [Accepted: 01/03/2016] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Onset of Machado-Joseph disease (SCA3/MJD) before adolescence has been rarely reported. This study aims to describe a cohort of SCA3/MJD with onset before 12 years of age, comparing their disease progression with the progression observed in patients with usual disease onset. We identified all cases from our cohort whose onset was before adolescence. After consent, patients were examined with clinical scales Scale for the Assessment and Rating of Ataxia (SARA) and Neurological Examination Score for Spinocerebellar Ataxia (NESSCA). Gender, age, age at onset, disease duration, CAG expanded repeats, transmitting parent, and anticipation of cases with infantile and adult onset were studied. Progression of NESSCA and SARA scores was estimated through a mixed model, and was compared with a historical group with onset after adolescence. Between 2000 and 2014, 461 symptomatic individuals from our region were diagnosed as SCA3/MJD. Onset of eight cases (2.2%), all heterozygotes, was before adolescence: seven were females (p = 0.054). CAG expanded repeats--75 ± 3 versus 84 ± 4--and anticipations--7 ± 9.7 versus 14.4 ± 7.2 years--were different between early childhood and adult onset groups (p < 0.03). The median survival of early childhood onset group was 23 years of age. The annual progression of SARA--2.3 and 0.6 points/year (p = 0.001)--and NESSCA--2.04 and 0.88 points/year (p = 0.043)--was faster in childhood than in adult onset group. Onset of SCA3/MJD before adolescence was related to larger expanded CAG repeats in heterozygosis; females seemed to be at higher risk. Disease progression was faster than in SCA3/MJD starting after 12 years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karina Carvalho Donis
- Programa de Pós-Graduação na Saúde da Criança e do Adolescente, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.,Serviço de Genética Médica, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Rua Ramiro Barcelos 2350, 90.035-903, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Jonas Alex Morales Saute
- Serviço de Genética Médica, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Rua Ramiro Barcelos 2350, 90.035-903, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | | | - Gabriel Vasata Furtado
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Genética e Biologia Molecular, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.,Laboratório de Identificação Genética, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Eduardo Preusser Mattos
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Genética e Biologia Molecular, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.,Laboratório de Identificação Genética, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Maria Luiza Saraiva-Pereira
- Serviço de Genética Médica, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Rua Ramiro Barcelos 2350, 90.035-903, Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Programa de Pós-Graduação em Genética e Biologia Molecular, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.,Laboratório de Identificação Genética, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Departamento de Bioquímica, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.,Instituto de Genética Médica Populacional (INAGEMP), Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Vanessa Leotti Torman
- Departamento de Estatística, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Laura Bannach Jardim
- Programa de Pós-Graduação na Saúde da Criança e do Adolescente, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. .,Serviço de Genética Médica, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Rua Ramiro Barcelos 2350, 90.035-903, Porto Alegre, Brazil. .,Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. .,Programa de Pós-Graduação em Genética e Biologia Molecular, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. .,Laboratório de Identificação Genética, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil. .,Departamento de Medicina Interna, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. .,Instituto de Genética Médica Populacional (INAGEMP), Porto Alegre, Brazil.
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Leite Â, Dinis MAP, Sequeiros J, Paúl C. Subjects At-Risk for Genetic Diseases in Portugal: Illness Representations. J Genet Couns 2015; 25:79-89. [PMID: 25986962 DOI: 10.1007/s10897-015-9846-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2014] [Accepted: 04/29/2015] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
This study investigates illness representations of subjects at-risk for 3 autosomal dominant late-onset disorders: Familial Amyloid Polyneuropathy (FAP) TTR V30M, Huntington's disease (HD) and Machado-Joseph disease (MJD), comparing them with the illness representations of subjects at-risk for Hemochromatosis (HH). The present study included a clinical group that consisted of 213 subjects at genetic risk (FAP, HD and MJD), comprising 174 subjects at-risk for FAP, 34 subjects at-risk for HD and only 5 subjects at-risk for MJD; and the control group consisting of 31 subjects at genetic risk for HH. All subjects at-risk were undergoing the process of genetic counseling to learn their genetic status (carrier or non-carrier). Subjects were assessed through a semi-structured single interview, in order to obtain sociodemographic data and the answer to an open-ended question relating to the illness representation issue: "What does this illness mean to you?/ What is this disease to you?" It was in the subjects' metaphors that subjects best expressed what they felt regarding the disease and the situation of being at-risk for this disease. Family is their mirror and their source of learning and, therefore, it is inevitable that family is related to the meaning of the disease itself.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ângela Leite
- Faculty of Psychology (ULP), Lusophone University of Oporto, Rua Augusto Rosa n° 24, 4000-098, Porto, Portugal.
- Center for Predictive and Preventive Genetics (CGPP), Institute for Molecular and Cell Biology (IBMC), Porto, Portugal.
| | - Maria Alzira P Dinis
- Faculty of Science and Technology (FCT-UFP), University of Fernando Pessoa, Porto, Portugal
| | - Jorge Sequeiros
- Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Salazar (ICBAS), Porto, Portugal
- Center for Predictive and Preventive Genetics (CGPP), Institute for Molecular and Cell Biology (IBMC), Porto, Portugal
- I3S-Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, University Porto, Oporto, Portugal
| | - Constança Paúl
- Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Salazar (ICBAS), Porto, Portugal
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Two novel SNPs in ATXN3 3' UTR may decrease age at onset of SCA3/MJD in Chinese patients. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0117488. [PMID: 25689313 PMCID: PMC4331546 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0117488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2014] [Accepted: 12/24/2014] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (SCA3), or Machado—Joseph disease (MJD), is an autosomal dominantly-inherited disease that produces progressive problems with movement. It is caused by the expansion of an area of CAG repeats in a coding region of ATXN3. The number of repeats is inversely associated with age at disease onset (AO) and is significantly associated with disease severity; however, the degree of CAG expansion only explains 50 to 70% of variance in AO. We tested two SNPs, rs709930 and rs910369, in the 3’ UTR of ATXN3 gene for association with SCA3/MJD risk and with SCA3/MJD AO in an independent cohort of 170 patients with SCA3/MJD and 200 healthy controls from mainland China. rs709930 genotype frequencies were statistically significantly different between patients and controls (p = 0.001, α = 0.05). SCA3/MJD patients carrying the rs709930 A allele and rs910369 T allele experienced an earlier onset, with a decrease in AO of approximately 2 to 4 years. The two novel SNPs found in this study might be genetic modifiers for AO in SCA3/MJD.
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22
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Zeng S, Zeng J, He M, Zeng X, Zhou Y, Liu Z, Jiang H, Tang B, Wang J. Chinese homozygous Machado-Joseph disease (MJD)/SCA3: a case report. J Hum Genet 2015; 60:157-60. [PMID: 25566755 DOI: 10.1038/jhg.2014.117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2014] [Revised: 11/29/2014] [Accepted: 12/09/2014] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
A young Chinese male patient was identified as homozygous for Machado-Joseph disease (MJD)/spinocerebellar ataxia type 3. This patient had a 4-year medical history mainly presenting severe ataxia, abnormal eye movement and pyramidal signs. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain and cervical spinal cord revealed no obvious abnormality despite the severe symptoms and the findings of an electromyogram. However, brainstem auditory evoked potential indicated peripheral impairment and visual evoked potential indicated central impairment of his visual pathways. Molecular diagnosis revealed the pattern of CAG repeat units of this patient was 71/71. This case demonstrates that homozygosity for MJD enhances the clinical severity of the disease, which suggests that genetic education is of great importance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheng Zeng
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, P.R. China
| | - Junsheng Zeng
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, P.R. China
| | - Miao He
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, P.R. China
| | - Xianfeng Zeng
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, P.R. China
| | - Yao Zhou
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, P.R. China
| | - Zhen Liu
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, P.R. China
| | - Hong Jiang
- 1] Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, P.R. China [2] Key Laboratory of Hunan Province in Neurodegenerative Disorders, Changsha, Hunan, P.R. China [3] State Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, Changsha, Hunan, P.R. China
| | - Beisha Tang
- 1] Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, P.R. China [2] Key Laboratory of Hunan Province in Neurodegenerative Disorders, Changsha, Hunan, P.R. China [3] State Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, Changsha, Hunan, P.R. China
| | - Junling Wang
- 1] Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, P.R. China [2] Key Laboratory of Hunan Province in Neurodegenerative Disorders, Changsha, Hunan, P.R. China [3] State Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, Changsha, Hunan, P.R. China
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Abstract
Heredoataxias are a group of genetic disorders with a cerebellar syndrome as the leading clinical manifestation. The current classification distinguishes heredoataxias according to the trait of inheritance into autosomal dominant, autosomal recessive, X-linked, and maternally inherited heredoataxias. The autosomal dominant heredoataxias are separated into spinocerebellar ataxias (SCA1-8, 10-15, 17-23, 25-30, and dentato-rubro-pallido-luysian atrophy), episodic ataxias (EA1-7), and autosomal dominant mitochondrial heredoataxias (Leigh syndrome, MIRAS, ADOAD, and AD-CPEO). The autosomal recessive ataxias are separated into Friedreich ataxia, ataxia due to vitamin E deficiency, ataxia due to Abeta-lipoproteinemia, Refsum disease, late-onset Tay-Sachs disease, cerebrotendineous xanthomatosis, spinocerebellar ataxia with axonal neuropathy, ataxia telangiectasia, ataxia telangiectasia-like disorder, ataxia with oculomotor apraxia 1 and 2, spastic ataxia of Charlevoix-Saguenay, Cayman ataxia, Marinesco-Sjögren syndrome, and autosomal recessive mitochondrial ataxias (AR-CPEO, SANDO, SCAE, AHS, IOSCA, MEMSA, LBSL CoQ-deficiency, PDC-deficiency). Only two of the heredoataxias, fragile X/tremor/ataxia syndrome, and XLSA/A are transmitted via an X-linked trait. Maternally inherited heredoataxias are due to point mutations in genes encoding for tRNAs, rRNAs, respiratory chain subunits or single large scale deletions/duplications of the mitochondrial DNA and include MELAS, MERRF, KSS, PS, MILS, NARP, and non-syndromic mitochondrial disorders. Treatment of heredoataxias is symptomatic and supportive and may have a beneficial effect in single patients.**Please see page 424 for abbreviation list.
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Modifiers of (CAG)n instability in Machado–Joseph disease (MJD/SCA3) transmissions: an association study with DNA replication, repair and recombination genes. Hum Genet 2014; 133:1311-8. [DOI: 10.1007/s00439-014-1467-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2014] [Accepted: 07/03/2014] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
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Evers MM, Toonen LJA, van Roon-Mom WMC. Ataxin-3 protein and RNA toxicity in spinocerebellar ataxia type 3: current insights and emerging therapeutic strategies. Mol Neurobiol 2014; 49:1513-31. [PMID: 24293103 PMCID: PMC4012159 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-013-8596-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2013] [Accepted: 11/14/2013] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Ataxin-3 is a ubiquitously expressed deubiqutinating enzyme with important functions in the proteasomal protein degradation pathway and regulation of transcription. The C-terminus of the ataxin-3 protein contains a polyglutamine (PolyQ) region that, when mutationally expanded to over 52 glutamines, causes the neurodegenerative disease spinocerebellar ataxia 3 (SCA3). In spite of extensive research, the molecular mechanisms underlying the cellular toxicity resulting from mutant ataxin-3 remain elusive and no preventive treatment is currently available. It has become clear over the last decade that the hallmark intracellular ataxin-3 aggregates are likely not the main toxic entity in SCA3. Instead, the soluble PolyQ containing fragments arising from proteolytic cleavage of ataxin-3 by caspases and calpains are now regarded to be of greater influence in pathogenesis. In addition, recent evidence suggests potential involvement of a RNA toxicity component in SCA3 and other PolyQ expansion disorders, increasing the pathogenic complexity. Herein, we review the functioning of ataxin-3 and the involvement of known protein and RNA toxicity mechanisms of mutant ataxin-3 that have been discovered, as well as future opportunities for therapeutic intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melvin M. Evers
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333ZA Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Lodewijk J. A. Toonen
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333ZA Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Willeke M. C. van Roon-Mom
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333ZA Leiden, The Netherlands
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Peng H, Wang C, Chen Z, Sun Z, Jiao B, Li K, Huang F, Hou X, Wang J, Shen L, Xia K, Tang B, Jiang H. APOE ε2 allele may decrease the age at onset in patients with spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 or Machado-Joseph disease from the Chinese Han population. Neurobiol Aging 2014; 35:2179.e15-8. [PMID: 24746364 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2014.03.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2013] [Revised: 02/16/2014] [Accepted: 03/14/2014] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Polymorphism of the apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene has been defined as a modifying factor for age at onset (AO) in neurodegenerative disorders. The AO of spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 or Machado-Joseph disease (SCA3 or MJD) is inversely correlated with expanded CAG repeat lengths in the ATXN3 gene; however, AO is only partially explained by the expanded CAG repeats. We performed a case-control study to explore whether APOE genotypes play a role in AO of SCA3 or MJD from the Chinese Han population. The APOE genotypes were analyzed in an independent cohort of 155 patients with SCA3 or MJD and 191 controls both from Mainland China. Our study demonstrated that SCA3 or MJD patients experienced an earlier onset if they were carriers of APOE ε2 allele, which decreased the AO by nearly 4 years. This study may also reconfirm the effect of the APOE gene on SCA3 or MJD patients from different races and indicated that certain APOE alleles might be genetic modifiers for AO in SCA3 or MJD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huirong Peng
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, P. R. China
| | - Chunrong Wang
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, P. R. China
| | - Zhao Chen
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, P. R. China
| | - Zhanfang Sun
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, P. R. China
| | - Bin Jiao
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, P. R. China
| | - Kai Li
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, P. R. China
| | - Fengzhen Huang
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, P. R. China
| | - Xuan Hou
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, P. R. China
| | - Junling Wang
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, P. R. China; Key Laboratory of Hunan Province in Neurodegenerative Disorders, Central South University, Changsha, P. R. China
| | - Lu Shen
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, P. R. China; Key Laboratory of Hunan Province in Neurodegenerative Disorders, Central South University, Changsha, P. R. China; State Key Lab of Medical Genetics, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, P. R. China
| | - Kun Xia
- State Key Lab of Medical Genetics, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, P. R. China
| | - Beisha Tang
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, P. R. China; Key Laboratory of Hunan Province in Neurodegenerative Disorders, Central South University, Changsha, P. R. China; State Key Lab of Medical Genetics, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, P. R. China
| | - Hong Jiang
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, P. R. China; Key Laboratory of Hunan Province in Neurodegenerative Disorders, Central South University, Changsha, P. R. China; State Key Lab of Medical Genetics, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, P. R. China.
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Bettencourt C, Raposo M, Kazachkova N, Santos C, Kay T, Vasconcelos J, Maciel P, Donis KC, Saraiva-Pereira ML, Jardim LB, Sequeiros J, Bruges-Armas J, Lima M. Sequence analysis of 5' regulatory regions of the Machado-Joseph disease gene (ATXN3). THE CEREBELLUM 2013; 11:1045-50. [PMID: 22422287 DOI: 10.1007/s12311-012-0373-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Machado-Joseph disease (MJD) is a late-onset autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disorder, which is caused by a coding (CAG)(n) expansion in the ATXN3 gene (14q32.1). The number of CAG repeats in the expanded alleles accounts only for 50 to 75 % of onset variance, the remaining variation being dependent on other factors. Differential allelic expression of ATXN3 could contribute to the explanation of different ages at onset in patients displaying similar CAG repeat sizes. Variation in 5' regulatory regions of the ATXN3 gene may have the potential to influence expression levels and, ultimately, modulate the MJD phenotype. The main goal of this work was to analyze the extent of sequence variation upstream of the ATXN3 start codon. A fragment containing the core promoter and the 5' untranslated region (UTR) was sequenced and analyzed in 186 patients and 59 controls (490 chromosomes). In the core promoter, no polymorphisms were observed. In the 5' UTR, only one SNP (rs3814834) was found, but no improvements on the explanation of onset variance were observed, when adding its allelic state in a linear model. Accordingly, in silico analysis predicted that this SNP lays in a nonconserved position for CMYB binding. Therefore, no functional effect could be predicted for this variant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Conceição Bettencourt
- Institute for Molecular and Cell Biology (IBMC), University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.
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Liu ZJ, Sun YM, Ni W, Dong Y, Shi SS, Wu ZY. Clinical features of Chinese patients with Huntington's disease carrying CAG repeats beyond 60 within HTT gene. Clin Genet 2013; 85:189-93. [PMID: 23398026 DOI: 10.1111/cge.12120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2012] [Revised: 02/05/2013] [Accepted: 02/05/2013] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Patients with Huntington's disease (HD) carrying CAG repeats beyond 60 are less frequently seen and clinical features of them have been rarely reported. We identified four unrelated patients carrying CAG repeats beyond 60 (84.0 ± 13.76, ranging from 74 to 104) from 119 Chinese HD patients via direct sequencing. These four were all early onset with a mean age at presenting symptom of 9.8 ± 1.71 years. Paternal transmission was found in three of them and the fourth was apparently sporadic. In addition, they had atypical onset symptoms including epilepsy, intellectual decline, tics and walking instability, which might lead the clinicians to make the wrong diagnosis in the early stage of disease. Our work explores clinical features of Chinese HD patients with an expanded CAG repeat over 60 and may help the clinicians make a correct diagnosis in the early stage of disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Z-J Liu
- Department of Neurology and Institute of Neurology, Huashan Hospital, Institutes of Brain Science and State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China ; Department of Neurology and Institute of Neurology, First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
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Kazachkova N, Raposo M, Montiel R, Cymbron T, Bettencourt C, Silva-Fernandes A, Silva S, Maciel P, Lima M. Patterns of mitochondrial DNA damage in blood and brain tissues of a transgenic mouse model of Machado-Joseph disease. NEURODEGENER DIS 2012; 11:206-14. [PMID: 22832131 DOI: 10.1159/000339207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2011] [Accepted: 05/03/2012] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Machado-Joseph disease (MJD) is an autosomal dominant spinocerebellar ataxia caused by a CAG tract expansions in the ATXN3 gene. Patterns of mitochondrial damage associated with pathological findings of brain tissues could provide molecular biomarkers of this disorder. OBJECTIVE The potential of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) damage as a biomarker of MJD progression was investigated using a transgenic mouse model. METHODS DNA was obtained from affected (pontine nuclei) and nonaffected tissues (hippocampus and blood) of transgenic animals of three distinct age groups: 8 weeks, before onset of the phenotype; 16 weeks, at onset, and 24 weeks, at well-established phenotype. Wild-type littermate mice, serving as controls, were analyzed for the same tissues and age groups. mtDNA damage was studied by fluorescence-based quantitative PCR in 84 transgenic and 93 wild-type samples. RESULTS A clear pattern of decrease in mtDNA copy number with age and accumulation of 3,867-bp deletions at the initial stages (both being more pronounced in transgenic mice) was observed. Pontine nuclei, the affected tissue in transgenic mice, displayed 1.5 times less copies of mtDNA than nonaffected brain tissue hippocampus (odds ratio = 1.21). Pontine nuclei displayed the highest percentage of mtDNA deletions (6.05% more in transgenic mice). CONCLUSION These results suggest that mtDNA damage is related to the initiation of the phenotype in transgenic mice; mtDNA 3,867-bp deletions may be a biomarker of the initial stages of the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadiya Kazachkova
- Center of Research in Natural Resources (CIRN), University of the Azores, Ponta Delgada, Portugal.
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Costa MDC, Paulson HL. Toward understanding Machado-Joseph disease. Prog Neurobiol 2011; 97:239-57. [PMID: 22133674 DOI: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2011.11.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 198] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2011] [Revised: 11/10/2011] [Accepted: 11/14/2011] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Machado-Joseph disease (MJD), also known as spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (SCA3), is the most common inherited spinocerebellar ataxia and one of many polyglutamine neurodegenerative diseases. In MJD, a CAG repeat expansion encodes an abnormally long polyglutamine (polyQ) tract in the disease protein, ATXN3. Here we review MJD, focusing primarily on the function and dysfunction of ATXN3 and on advances toward potential therapies. ATXN3 is a deubiquitinating enzyme (DUB) whose highly specialized properties suggest that it participates in ubiquitin-dependent proteostasis. By virtue of its interactions with VCP, various ubiquitin ligases and other ubiquitin-linked proteins, ATXN3 may help regulate the stability or activity of many proteins in diverse cellular pathways implicated in proteotoxic stress response, aging, and cell differentiation. Expansion of the polyQ tract in ATXN3 is thought to promote an altered conformation in the protein, leading to changes in interactions with native partners and to the formation of insoluble aggregates. The development of a wide range of cellular and animal models of MJD has been crucial to the emerging understanding of ATXN3 dysfunction upon polyQ expansion. Despite many advances, however, the principal molecular mechanisms by which mutant ATXN3 elicits neurotoxicity remain elusive. In a chronic degenerative disease like MJD, it is conceivable that mutant ATXN3 triggers multiple, interconnected pathogenic cascades that precipitate cellular dysfunction and eventual cell death. A better understanding of these complex molecular mechanisms will be important as scientists and clinicians begin to focus on developing effective therapies for this incurable, fatal disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria do Carmo Costa
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, A. Alfred Taubman Biomedical Sciences Research Building-BSRB, 109 Zina Pitcher Place, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2200, USA.
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Bettencourt C, Lima M. Machado-Joseph Disease: from first descriptions to new perspectives. Orphanet J Rare Dis 2011; 6:35. [PMID: 21635785 PMCID: PMC3123549 DOI: 10.1186/1750-1172-6-35] [Citation(s) in RCA: 112] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2010] [Accepted: 06/02/2011] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Machado-Joseph Disease (MJD), also known as spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (SCA3), represents the most common form of SCA worldwide. MJD is an autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disorder of late onset, involving predominantly the cerebellar, pyramidal, extrapyramidal, motor neuron and oculomotor systems; although sharing features with other SCAs, the identification of minor, but more specific signs, facilitates its differential diagnosis. MJD presents strong phenotypic heterogeneity, which has justified the classification of patients into three main clinical types. Main pathological lesions are observed in the spinocerebellar system, as well as in the cerebellar dentate nucleus. MJD's causative mutation consists in an expansion of an unstable CAG tract in exon 10 of the ATXN3 gene, located at 14q32.1. Haplotype-based studies have suggested that two main founder mutations may explain the present global distribution of the disease; the ancestral haplotype is of Asian origin, and has an estimated age of around 5,800 years, while the second mutational event has occurred about 1,400 years ago. The ATXN3 gene encodes for ataxin-3, which is ubiquitously expressed in neuronal and non-neuronal tissues, and, among other functions, is thought to participate in cellular protein quality control pathways. Mutated ATXN3 alleles consensually present about 61 to 87 CAG repeats, resulting in an expanded polyglutamine tract in ataxin-3. This altered protein gains a neurotoxic function, through yet unclear mechanisms. Clinical variability of MJD is only partially explained by the size of the CAG tract, which leaves a residual variance that should be explained by still unknown additional factors. Several genetic tests are available for MJD, and Genetic Counseling Programs have been created to better assist the affected families, namely on what concerns the possibility of pre-symptomatic testing. The main goal of this review was to bring together updated knowledge on MJD, covering several aspects from its initial descriptions and clinical presentation, through the discovery of the causative mutation, its origin and dispersion, as well as molecular genetics aspects considered essential for a better understanding of its neuropathology. Issues related with molecular testing and Genetic Counseling, as well as recent progresses and perspectives on genetic therapy, are also addressed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Conceição Bettencourt
- Center of Research in Natural Resources (CIRN) and Department of Biology, University of the Azores, Ponta Delgada, Portugal
- Institute for Molecular and Cellular Biology (IBMC), University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Laboratorio de Biología Molecular, Instituto de Enfermedades Neurológicas de Guadalajara, Fundación Socio-Sanitaria de Castilla-La Mancha, Guadalajara, Spain
| | - Manuela Lima
- Center of Research in Natural Resources (CIRN) and Department of Biology, University of the Azores, Ponta Delgada, Portugal
- Institute for Molecular and Cellular Biology (IBMC), University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
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Hübener J, Riess O. Polyglutamine-induced neurodegeneration in SCA3 is not mitigated by non-expanded ataxin-3: conclusions from double-transgenic mouse models. Neurobiol Dis 2010; 38:116-24. [PMID: 20079840 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2010.01.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2009] [Revised: 01/04/2010] [Accepted: 01/07/2010] [Indexed: 10/19/2022] Open
Abstract
A crucial question in polyQ-induced neurodegeneration is the influence of wild type protein on the formation of aggregates and toxicity. Recently it was shown that non-expanded ataxin-3 protein mitigated neurodegeneration in a Drosophila and mouse model of SCA3. We now explored the effects of overexpressing non-expanded ataxin-3 with 15Q in a SCA3 transgenic mouse model with 70 polyglutamine repeats. These double-transgenic mice (dt) developed neurological symptoms with premature death at the age of 6 months comparable to the single-transgenic (st) SCA3 disease model. Furthermore, immunohistochemistry revealed similar localization and distribution of nuclear aggregates in dt- and st-mutant SCA3 mice. In a second dt-mutant mouse model, coexpression of ataxin-3 with 148Q attached to a nuclear export signal, which usually diminishes the phenotype, did even reinforce toxic effects of mutant expanded ataxin-3. We therefore conclude that overexpressing wild type ataxin-3 or mutant ataxin-3 with NES are not striking suppressors of polyglutamine-induced neurodegeneration and have thus no potential for future gene therapeutic interventions in SCA3.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeannette Hübener
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of Tuebingen, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany.
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Menzies FM, Huebener J, Renna M, Bonin M, Riess O, Rubinsztein DC. Autophagy induction reduces mutant ataxin-3 levels and toxicity in a mouse model of spinocerebellar ataxia type 3. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2009; 133:93-104. [PMID: 20007218 PMCID: PMC2801325 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awp292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 208] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 is a neurodegenerative disorder caused by the expansion of the polyglutamine repeat region within the ataxin-3 protein. The mutant protein forms intracellular aggregates in the brain. However, the cellular mechanisms causing toxicity are still poorly understood and there are currently no effective treatments. In this study we show that administration of a rapamycin ester (cell cycle inhibitor-779, temsirolimus) improves motor performance in a transgenic mouse model of spinocerebellar ataxia type 3. Temsirolimus inhibits mammalian target of rapamycin and hence upregulates protein degradation by autophagy. Temsirolimus reduces the number of aggregates seen in the brains of transgenic mice and decreases levels of cytosolic soluble mutant ataxin-3, while endogenous wild-type protein levels remain unaffected. Temsirolimus is designed for long-term use in patients and therefore represents a possible therapeutic strategy for the treatment of spinocerebellar ataxia type 3. Using this disease model and treatment paradigm, we employed a microarray approach to investigate transcriptional changes that might be important in the pathogenesis of spinocerebellar ataxia type 3. This identified ubiquitin specific peptidase-15, which showed expression changes at both the messenger ribonucleic acid and protein level. Ubiquitin specific peptidase-15 levels were also changed in mice expressing another mutant polyglutamine protein, huntingtin. In total we identified 16 transcripts that were decreased in transgenic ataxin-3 mice that were normalized following temsirolimus treatment. In this mouse model with relatively mild disease progression, the number of transcripts changed was low and the magnitude of these changes was small. However, the importance of these transcriptional alterations in the pathogenesis of spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 remains unclear.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fiona M Menzies
- Department of Medical Genetics, Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, University of Cambridge, Addenbrookes Hospital, Hills Road, Cambridge, UK
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D'Abreu A, França MC, Paulson HL, Lopes-Cendes I. Caring for Machado-Joseph disease: current understanding and how to help patients. Parkinsonism Relat Disord 2009; 16:2-7. [PMID: 19811945 DOI: 10.1016/j.parkreldis.2009.08.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2009] [Revised: 07/27/2009] [Accepted: 08/04/2009] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Machado-Joseph disease or spinocerebellar ataxia 3 (MJD/SCA3) is a clinically heterogeneous, neurodegenerative disorder characterized by varying degrees of ataxia, ophthalmoplegia, peripheral neuropathy, pyramidal dysfunction and movement disorder. MJD/SCA3 is caused by a CAG repeat expansion mutation in the protein coding region of the ATXN3 gene located at chromosome 14q32.1. Current hypotheses regarding pathogenesis favor the view that mutated ataxin-3, with its polyglutamine expansion, is prone to adopt an abnormal conformation, engage in altered protein-protein interactions and aggregate. Expanded CAG repeat length correlates with the range and severity of the clinical manifestations and inversely correlates with age of disease onset. Though MJD/SCA3 is classically described as affecting the cerebellum, brainstem and basal ganglia, recent neuropathology and neuroimaging series demonstrate involvement of other areas such as the thalamus and cerebral cortex. Clinically, much emphasis has been placed in the description and recognition of the non-motor symptoms observed in these patients, such as pain, cramps, fatigue and depression. Currently, no disease modifying treatment exists for MJD/SCA3. Standard of care includes genetic counseling, exercise/physical therapy programs, and speech and swallow evaluation. Symptomatic treatment for clinical findings such as depression, sleep disorders, parkinsonism, dystonia, cramps, and pain is important to improve the quality of life for those with MJD/SCA3.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anelyssa D'Abreu
- Department of Neurology, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
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