1
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Bisello G, Franchini R, Carmona CAC, Bertoldi M. Mild/moderate phenotypes in AADC deficiency: Focus on the aromatic amino acid decarboxylase protein. J Inherit Metab Dis 2024. [PMID: 39166734 DOI: 10.1002/jimd.12791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2024] [Revised: 08/06/2024] [Accepted: 08/07/2024] [Indexed: 08/23/2024]
Abstract
AADC deficiency is a severe neurometabolic inherited rare disorder due to the absence or decrease of dopamine and serotonin levels, causing deep motor and neurodevelopmental impairments. The disease is often fatal in the first decade of life, and pharmacological treatments (dopamine agonists, pyridoxine, and monoamine oxidase inhibitors as the first-line choices) can only alleviate the symptoms. Gene therapy surgery is now available for severe patients in the European Union and the United Kingdom, and follow-up data witness encouraging improvements. In the past few years, mostly due to the increased awareness and knowledge of AADC deficiency, together with newborn screening programs and advancements in methods for genetic diagnosis, the number of mild/moderate phenotypes of AADC deficiency patients has increased to 12% of the total. A review of the genotypes (homozygous/compound heterozygous) of AADC deficiency mild/moderate patients is presented here. The pathogenicity classification of each genetic variant is discussed. Then, we focused on the type of AADC protein possessed by patients and on the predictable structural score of the homodimeric/heterodimeric species of each protein variant. Since the terminology used for genetic and protein variants is the same, we highlighted how it could be misleading. We analyzed the loss-of-function as a fold-change decrease of activity of the recombinant purified AADC enzyme(s) theoretically synthesized by mild/moderate patients. A minimal residual kcat of 8% and/or kcat/Km of 1% seems necessary to avoid a severe disease manifestation. Overall, this cluster of mild/moderate patients needs consideration for a more appropriate and aimed therapeutic approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Bisello
- Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Rossella Franchini
- Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | | | - Mariarita Bertoldi
- Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
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2
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Cursio I, Siliquini S, Carducci C, Bisello G, Mastrangelo M, Leuzzi V, Bertoldi M, Marini C. Case report: Childhood epilepsy and borderline intellectual functioning hiding an AADC deficiency disorder associated with compound heterozygous DDC gene pathogenic variants. Front Neurol 2023; 14:1284339. [PMID: 38116105 PMCID: PMC10729769 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2023.1284339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase (AADC) deficiency is a rare autosomal recessive neurometabolic disorder leading to severe combined serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine, and epinephrine deficiency. We report on a female patient with borderline functioning and sporadic clear-cut focal to bilateral seizures from age 10 years. A neuropsychological assessment highlighted a mild impairment in executive functions, affecting attention span and visual-spatial abilities. Following the diagnosis of epilepsy with a presumed genetic etiology, we applied a diagnostic approach inclusive of a next-generation sequencing (NGS) gene panel, which uncovered two variants in trans in the DOPA decarboxylase (DDC) gene underlying an AADC deficiency. This compound heterozygous genotype was associated with a mild reduction of homovanillic acid, a low level of the norepinephrine catabolite, and a significant reduction of 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid in cerebrospinal fluid. Remarkably, 3-O-methyldopa (3-OMD) and 5-hydroxytryptophan were instead increased. During the genetically guided re-evaluation process, some mild signs of dysautonomic dysfunction (nasal congestion, abnormal sweating, hypotension and fainting, excessive sleepiness, small hands and feet, and increased levels of prolactin, tiredness, and fatigue), more typical of AADC deficiency, were evaluated with new insight. Of the two AADC variants, the R347Q has already been characterized as a loss-of-function with severe catalytic impairments, while the novel L391P variant has been predicted to have a less severe impact. Bioinformatic analyses suggest that the amino acid substitution may affect affinity for the PLP coenzyme. Thus, the genotype corresponds to a phenotype with mild and late-onset symptoms, of which seizures were the clinical sign, leading to medical attention. This case report expands the spectrum of AADC deficiency phenotypes to encompass a less-disabling clinical condition including borderline cognitive functioning, drug-responsive epilepsy, and mild autonomic dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ida Cursio
- Child Neurology and Psychiatric Unit, Pediatric Hospital G. Salesi, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria delle Marche, Ancona, Italy
| | - Sabrina Siliquini
- Child Neurology and Psychiatric Unit, Pediatric Hospital G. Salesi, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria delle Marche, Ancona, Italy
| | - Claudia Carducci
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza - Università di Roma, Rome, Italy
| | - Giovanni Bisello
- Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Mario Mastrangelo
- Department of Women/Child Health and Urological Science, Sapienza - Università di Roma, Rome, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Leuzzi
- Department of Human Neuroscience, Sapienza - Università di Roma, Rome, Italy
| | - Mariarita Bertoldi
- Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Carla Marini
- Child Neurology and Psychiatric Unit, Pediatric Hospital G. Salesi, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria delle Marche, Ancona, Italy
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3
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Himmelreich N, Bertoldi M, Alfadhel M, Alghamdi MA, Anikster Y, Bao X, Bashiri FA, Zeev BB, Bisello G, Ceylan AC, Chien YH, Choy YS, Elsea SH, Flint L, García-Cazorla À, Gijavanekar C, Gümüş EY, Hamad MH, Hişmi B, Honzik T, Kuseyri Hübschmann O, Hwu WL, Ibáñez-Micó S, Jeltsch K, Juliá-Palacios N, Kasapkara ÇS, Kurian MA, Kusmierska K, Liu N, Ngu LH, Odom JD, Ong WP, Opladen T, Oppeboen M, Pearl PL, Pérez B, Pons R, Rygiel AM, Shien TE, Spaull R, Sykut-Cegielska J, Tabarki B, Tangeraas T, Thöny B, Wassenberg T, Wen Y, Yakob Y, Yin JGC, Zeman J, Blau N. Corrigendum to: Prevalence of DDC genotypes in patients with aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase (AADC) deficiency and in silico prediction of structural protein changes. Mol Genet Metab 2023; 139:107647. [PMID: 37453860 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymgme.2023.107647] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Nastassja Himmelreich
- Dietmar-Hopp Metabolic Center and Centre for Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, University Children's Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Mariarita Bertoldi
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Majid Alfadhel
- Medical Genomic Research Department, King Abdullah International Medical Research Center (KAIMRC), King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Genetics and Precision Medicine Department, King Abdullah Specialized Children's Hospital, King Abdulaziz Medical City, Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Malak Ali Alghamdi
- Medical Genetic Division, Pediatric Department, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, SA, Saudi Arabia
| | - Yair Anikster
- Metabolic Disease Unit, The Edmond and Lily Safra Childrens Hospital, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Israel
| | - Xinhua Bao
- Department of Pediatrics, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Fahad A Bashiri
- Division of Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Bruria Ben Zeev
- Pediatric Neurology, Safra Pediatric Hospital, Sheba Medical Center, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Giovanni Bisello
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Ahmet Cevdet Ceylan
- Ankara Yıldırım Beyazıt University, Department of Medical Genetics, Ankara Bilkent City Hospital, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Yin-Hsiu Chien
- Department of Medical Genetics & Pediatrics, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | | | - Sarah H Elsea
- Dept. of Molecular & Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | | | - Àngels García-Cazorla
- Neurometabolic Unit, Department of Neurology, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, CIBERER, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Charul Gijavanekar
- Dept. of Molecular & Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Emel Yılmaz Gümüş
- Department of Pediatrics and Inherited Metabolic Diseases, Marmara University School of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Muddathir H Hamad
- Neurology Division, Pediatric Department, King Saud University Medical City, Riyadh, SA, Saudi Arabia
| | - Burcu Hişmi
- Department of Pediatrics and Inherited Metabolic Diseases, Marmara University School of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Tomas Honzik
- Dept. of Pediatrics and Inherited Metabolic Disorders, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and General University Hospital in Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Oya Kuseyri Hübschmann
- Dietmar-Hopp Metabolic Center and Centre for Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, University Children's Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany; Division of Neuropediatrics and Metabolic Medicine, University Children's Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Wuh-Liang Hwu
- Department of Medical Genetics & Pediatrics, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | | | - Kathrin Jeltsch
- Division of Neuropediatrics and Metabolic Medicine, University Children's Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Natalia Juliá-Palacios
- Neurometabolic Unit, Department of Neurology, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, CIBERER, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Çiğdem Seher Kasapkara
- Department of Pediatric Metabolism, Ankara Yıldırım Beyazıt University, Ankara Bilkent City Hospital, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Manju A Kurian
- Developmental Neurosciences, Zayed Centre for Research, UCL GOS-Institute of Child Health & Department of Neurology, Great Ormond Street Hospital, London, United Kingdom
| | - Katarzyna Kusmierska
- Department of Screening and Metabolic Diagnostics, Institute of Mother and Child, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Ning Liu
- Dept. of Molecular & Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Lock Hock Ngu
- Department of Genetics, Hospital Kuala Lumpur, Ministry of Health, Malaysia
| | - John D Odom
- Dept. of Molecular & Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Winnie Peitee Ong
- Department of Genetics, Hospital Kuala Lumpur, Ministry of Health, Malaysia
| | - Thomas Opladen
- Division of Neuropediatrics and Metabolic Medicine, University Children's Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Mari Oppeboen
- Children's Department, Division of Child Neurology and Norwegian National Unit for Newborn Screening, Division of Paediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Phillip L Pearl
- Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Belén Pérez
- Centro de Diagnostico de Enfermedades Moleculares, CIBERER, IdiPAZ, Universidad Autonoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Roser Pons
- First Department of Pediatrics, Aghia Sophia Children's Hospital, University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Agnieszka Magdalena Rygiel
- Department of Medical Genetics, Laboratory of Hereditary Diseases, Institute of Mother and Child, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Tan Ee Shien
- Genetics Service, Department of Paediatrics, KK Women's and Children's Hospital, Singapore
| | - Robert Spaull
- Developmental Neurosciences, Zayed Centre for Research, UCL GOS-Institute of Child Health & Department of Neurology, Great Ormond Street Hospital, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jolanta Sykut-Cegielska
- Department of Inborn Errors of Metabolism and Paediatrics, The Institute of Mother and Child, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Brahim Tabarki
- Division of Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, Prince Sultan Military Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Trine Tangeraas
- Norwegian National Unit for Newborn Screening, Division of Paediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Beat Thöny
- Divisions of Metabolism, University Children's Hospital, Zürich, Switzerland
| | | | - Yongxin Wen
- Medical Genetic Division, Pediatric Department, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, SA, Saudi Arabia
| | - Yusnita Yakob
- Molecular Diagnostics Unit, Specialised Diagnostics Centre, Institute for Medical Research, National Institute of Health, Ministry of Health, Malaysia
| | - Jasmine Goh Chew Yin
- Genetics Service, Department of Paediatrics, KK Women's and Children's Hospital, Singapore
| | - Jiri Zeman
- Dept. of Pediatrics and Inherited Metabolic Disorders, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and General University Hospital in Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Nenad Blau
- Divisions of Metabolism, University Children's Hospital, Zürich, Switzerland.
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4
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Ren S, Geng W, Cui X, Wu B, Zheng Z. A Label‐Free and Continuous Fluorescence Detection for L–DOPA Decarboxylase Activity Based on Supramolecular Tandem Assay. ChemistrySelect 2023. [DOI: 10.1002/slct.202203646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Siying Ren
- School of Chemical Engineering & Technology China University of Mining and Technology Xuzhou Jiangsu 221116 P. R. China
| | - Wen‐Chao Geng
- Key Laboratory of Systems Microbial Biotechnology Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology Chinese Academy of Sciences Tianjin 300308 P. R. China
| | - Xuexian Cui
- CAS Key Laboratory of Microbial Physiological and Metabolic Engineering State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources Institute of Microbiology Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing 100101 P. R. China
- College of Life Sciences University of Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing 100149 P. R. China
| | - Bian Wu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Microbial Physiological and Metabolic Engineering State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources Institute of Microbiology Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing 100101 P. R. China
| | - Zhe Zheng
- School of Chemical Engineering & Technology China University of Mining and Technology Xuzhou Jiangsu 221116 P. R. China
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5
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Gantz E, Daniel Sharer J, McGrath TM. Diagnosis of Aromatic L-Amino Acid Decarboxylase (AADC) Deficiency via Epilepsy Gene Panel Screening in a Patient with Atypical Presentation. Child Neurol Open 2023. [DOI: 10.1177/2329048x231161027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/05/2023] Open
Abstract
We describe an atypical presentation of a girl with aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase (AADC) deficiency identified via a genetic testing program for children with epilepsy. At 21 months of age, she presented with poor head control, diffuse hypotonia, poor fixation, developmental delay, and dysphagia. She was lost to follow-up, then presented back at 3 years of age with staring spells and brief episodes of upward eye deviation. The diagnosis of unprovoked epilepsy allowed her to be included in a genetic testing program, which identified two heterozygous variants in the dopa decarboxylase (DCC) gene. Based on the genetic testing, plasma AADC enzyme activity and plasma 3-O-methyldopa results, a diagnosis of AADC deficiency was made when she was 4 years and 2 months of age. This case report shows that AADC deficiency can be the underlying diagnosis in patients with suspected epilepsy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily Gantz
- Division of Pediatric Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Alabama, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - J. Daniel Sharer
- Biochemical Genetics Laboratory, Department of Genetics, University of Alabama, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Tony M. McGrath
- Division of Pediatric Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Alabama, Birmingham, AL, USA
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6
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Himmelreich N, Montioli R, Garbade SF, Kopesky J, Elsea SH, Carducci C, Voltattorni CB, Blau N. Spectrum of DDC variants causing aromatic l-amino acid decarboxylase (AADC) deficiency and pathogenicity interpretation using ACMG-AMP/ACGS recommendations. Mol Genet Metab 2022; 137:359-381. [PMID: 36427457 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymgme.2022.11.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2022] [Revised: 10/25/2022] [Accepted: 11/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Pathogenic variants in dopa decarboxylase (DDC), the gene encoding the aromatic l-amino acid decarboxylase (AADC) enzyme, lead to a severe deficiency of neurotransmitters, resulting in neurological, neuromuscular, and behavioral manifestations clinically characterized by developmental delays, oculogyric crises, dystonia, and severe neurologic dysfunction in infancy. Historically, therapy has been aimed at compensating for neurotransmitter abnormalities, but response to pharmacologic therapy varies, and in most cases, the therapy shows little or no benefit. A novel human DDC gene therapy was recently approved in the European Union that targets the underlying genetic cause of the disorder, providing a new treatment option for patients with AADC deficiency. However, the applicability of human DDC gene therapy depends on the ability of laboratories and clinicians to interpret the results of genetic testing accurately enough to diagnose the patient. An accurate interpretation of genetic variants depends in turn on expert-guided curation of locus-specific databases. The purpose of this research was to identify previously uncharacterized DDC variants that are of pathologic significance in AADC deficiency as well as characterize and curate variants of unknown significance (VUSs) to further advance the diagnostic accuracy of genetic testing for this condition. DDC variants were identified using existing databases and the literature. The pathogenicity of the variants was classified using modified American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics/Association for Molecular Pathology/Association for Clinical Genomic Science (ACMG-AMP/ACGS) criteria. To improve the current variant interpretation recommendations, in silico variant interpretation tools were combined with structural 3D modeling of protein variants and applied comparative analysis to predict the impact of the variant on protein function. A total of 422 variants were identified (http://biopku.org/home/pnddb.asp). Variants were identified on nearly all introns and exons of the DDC gene, as well as the 3' and 5' untranslated regions. The largest percentage of the identified variants (48%) were classified as missense variants. The molecular effects of these missense variants were then predicted, and the pathogenicity of each was classified using a number of variant effect predictors. Using ACMG-AMP/ACGS criteria, 7% of variants were classified as pathogenic, 32% as likely pathogenic, 58% as VUSs of varying subclassifications, 1% as likely benign, and 1% as benign. For 101 out of 108 reported genotypes, at least one allele was classified as pathogenic or likely pathogenic. In silico variant pathogenicity interpretation tools, combined with structural 3D modeling of variant proteins and applied comparative analysis, have improved the current DDC variant interpretation recommendations, particularly of VUSs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nastassja Himmelreich
- Dietmar-Hopp Metabolic Center and Centre for Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, University Children's Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Riccardo Montioli
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy.
| | - Sven F Garbade
- Dietmar-Hopp Metabolic Center and Centre for Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, University Children's Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany.
| | - Jeffrey Kopesky
- Medical Affairs, PTC Therapeutics, Inc., South Plainfield, NJ, USA.
| | - Sarah H Elsea
- Department of Molecular & Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
| | - Carla Carducci
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
| | - Carla B Voltattorni
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy.
| | - Nenad Blau
- Divisions of Metabolism, University Children's Hospital, Zürich, Switzerland.
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7
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Buesch K, Zhang R, Szczepańska K, Veličković V, Turner L, Despotović M, Đorđević B, Russell A. Burden and severity of disease of aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase deficiency: a systematic literature review. Curr Med Res Opin 2022; 38:1871-1882. [PMID: 35485958 DOI: 10.1080/03007995.2022.2072090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The objective was to investigate the severity of aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase deficiency (AADCd) as reported in the published literature and to collate evidence of the clinical manifestations of AADCd, and the impact of the disease on patients, caregivers, and healthcare systems. METHODS Published articles reporting severity of disease or disease impact were eligible for inclusion in this review. Articles were searched in MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane CENTRAL, TRIP medical, and CRD databases in October 2021. The quality of the included studies was investigated using a modified version of the grading system of the Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine (CEBM). Descriptive data of the literature was extracted and a narrative synthesis of the results across studies was conducted. This review is reported according to the PRISMA reporting guidelines for systematic reviews. RESULTS The search identified 970 unique reports, of which 59 met eligibility criteria to be included in the review. Of these, 48 included reports provided details on the clinical manifestations of AADCd. Two reports explored the disease impact on patients, while four described the impact on caregivers. Five reports assessed the impact on healthcare systems. Individuals with AADCd experience very severe clinical manifestations regardless of motor milestones achieved, and present with a spectrum of other complications. Individuals with AADCd present with very limited function, which, in combination with additional complications, substantially impact the quality-of-life of individuals and their caregivers. The five studies which explore the impact on the healthcare system reported that adequate care of individuals with AADCd requires a vast array of medical services and supportive therapies. CONCLUSIONS Irrespective of the ambulatory status of individuals, AADCd is a debilitating disease that significantly impacts quality-of-life for individuals and caregivers. It impacts the healthcare system due to the need for complex coordinated activities of a multidisciplinary specialist team.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Vladica Veličković
- Core Models Ltd, London, United Kingdom
- Institute of Public Health, Medical Decision Making and HTA, UMIT, Hall in Tirol, Austria
| | - Lucy Turner
- Core Models Ltd, London, United Kingdom
- Research in Health Consulting, Ottawa, Canada
| | | | - Branka Đorđević
- Core Models Ltd, London, United Kingdom
- Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Medicine, University of Nis, Nis, Serbia
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8
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Shirvani-Rad S, Ejtahed HS, Ettehad Marvasti F, Taghavi M, Sharifi F, Arzaghi SM, Larijani B. The Role of Gut Microbiota-Brain Axis in Pathophysiology of ADHD: A Systematic Review. J Atten Disord 2022; 26:1698-1710. [PMID: 35048732 DOI: 10.1177/10870547211073474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The main goal of this systematic review is to summarize evidences regarding alterations of microbial composition in ADHD cases and uncover underlying mechanisms. METHODS A comprehensive search was conducted on PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus databases up to March 2021. All the observational studies including case-control, cross-sectional, and cohorts investigating the correlations between the gut microbiota and ADHD in both adults and children were included. RESULTS We found eight eligible studies. Enterococcus, Bifidobacterium, and Odoribacter were increased which may lead to impaired dopamine related functions in CNS. Moreover, decrease of Faecalibacterium frequency in ADHD could result in higher permeability and crossing of inflammatory cytokines. Regarding the short chain fatty acids-producing bacteria, Ruminococcaceae family decreased and Bacteroides uniformis and Bacteroides ovatus species increased. CONCLUSION Gut microbiota correlation with ADHD and its underlying mechanisms could open new windows for developing novel therapies of ADHD by manipulating microbiota.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salman Shirvani-Rad
- Obesity and Eating Habits Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Clinical Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.,Faculty of Medicine, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hanieh-Sadat Ejtahed
- Obesity and Eating Habits Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Clinical Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Fateme Ettehad Marvasti
- Obesity and Eating Habits Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Clinical Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - MinaSadat Taghavi
- Obesity and Eating Habits Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Clinical Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Farshad Sharifi
- Obesity and Eating Habits Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Clinical Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Seyed Masoud Arzaghi
- Obesity and Eating Habits Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Clinical Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Bagher Larijani
- Obesity and Eating Habits Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Clinical Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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9
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Compound Heterozygosis in AADC Deficiency and Its Complex Phenotype in Terms of AADC Protein Population. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms231911238. [PMID: 36232540 PMCID: PMC9570296 DOI: 10.3390/ijms231911238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2022] [Revised: 09/21/2022] [Accepted: 09/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Aromatic amino acid decarboxylase (AADC) deficiency is a rare monogenic disease due to mutations in the ddc gene producing AADC, a homodimeric pyridoxal 5′-phosphate-dependent enzyme. The disorder is often fatal in the first decade and is characterized by profound motor impairments and developmental delay. In the last two years, there has been a net rise in the number of patients and variants identified, maybe also pushed by the ongoing gene therapy trials. The majority of the identified genotypes are compound heterozygous (about 70%). Efforts are underway to reach early diagnosis, find possible new markers/new fast methods, and predict clinical outcome. However, no clear correlation of genotype-to-phenotype exists to date. Nevertheless, for homozygous patients, reliable results have been obtained using genetic methods combined with available computational tools on crystal structures corroborated by biochemical investigations on recombinant homodimeric AADC variants that have been obtained and characterized in solution. For these variants, the molecular basis for the defect has been suggested and validated, since it correlates quite well with mildness/severity of the homozygous phenotype. Instead, prediction for compound heterozygous patients is more difficult since complementation effects could happen. Here, by analyzing the existing literature on compound heterozygosity in AADC deficiency and other genetic disorders, we highlight that, in order to assess pathogenicity, the measurement of activity of the AADC heterodimeric variant should be integrated by bioinformatic, structural, and functional data on the whole protein constellation theoretically present in such patients. A wider discussion on symptomatic heterozygosity in AADC deficiency is also presented.
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10
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Manti F, Mastrangelo M, Battini R, Carducci C, Spagnoli C, Fusco C, Tolve M, Carducci C, Leuzzi V. Long-term neurological and psychiatric outcomes in patients with aromatic l-amino acid decarboxylase deficiency. Parkinsonism Relat Disord 2022; 103:105-111. [PMID: 36096017 DOI: 10.1016/j.parkreldis.2022.08.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2022] [Revised: 08/28/2022] [Accepted: 08/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION l-amino acid decarboxylase deficiency (AADCD) is an ultrarare autosomal recessive defect of biogenic amine synthesis that presents with early-onset encephalopathy progressing to severe neurological impairment and intellectual disability. We aimed to explore neurocognitive and behavioral profiles associated with AADCD and possible factors predicting outcome in more detail. METHODS Nine AADCD patients (23.2 ± 10.3 years; range 8-40) underwent systematic clinical and neuropsychological assessment. Diagnostic levels of CSF 5-hydroxyindolacetic acid (5-HIAA) and homovanillic acid (HVA), and DDC genotype (as ascertained by American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics grading) were included in the data analysis. RESULTS All AADCD patients were affected by intellectual disability and psychiatric disorders. Movement disorders included parkinsonism-dystonia, dysarthria, and oculogyric crises. CSF 5-HIAA and HVA levels at diagnosis had a significant influence on adaptive behavior and executive function performance. Patients homozygous for DDC pathogenetic variants showed lower CSF 5-HIAA and HVA levels and higher Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale scores. The disease showed a self-limiting clinical course with partial improvement under pharmacological treatment (B6 and dopamine mimetic drugs). CONCLUSIONS Patients with AADCD suffer from neuropsychological and psychopathological impairment, which may be improved but not reversed under the present therapeutic approach. However, cognitive functioning should be specifically examined in order to avoid its underestimation on the basis of movement disorder severity. Genotype and biogenic amine level at diagnosis have an important prognostic value.
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Affiliation(s)
- Filippo Manti
- Department of Human Neuroscience, Unit of Child Neurology and Psychiatry, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Mario Mastrangelo
- Department of Human Neuroscience, Unit of Child Neurology and Psychiatry, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Roberta Battini
- Department of Developmental Neuroscience, IRCCS Stella Maris Foundation, Pisa, Italy; Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Claudia Carducci
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Carlotta Spagnoli
- Child Neurology Unit, Pediatric Neurophysiology Laboratory, Department of Pediatrics, Azienda USL-IRCCS, Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | - Carlo Fusco
- Child Neurology Unit, Pediatric Neurophysiology Laboratory, Department of Pediatrics, Azienda USL-IRCCS, Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | - Manuela Tolve
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Carla Carducci
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Leuzzi
- Department of Human Neuroscience, Unit of Child Neurology and Psychiatry, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
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11
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Bisello G, Kusmierska K, Verbeek MM, Sykut-Cegielska J, Willemsen MAAP, Wevers RA, Szymańska K, Poznanski J, Drozak J, Wertheim-Tysarowska K, Rygiel AM, Bertoldi M. The novel P330L pathogenic variant of aromatic amino acid decarboxylase maps on the catalytic flexible loop underlying its crucial role. Cell Mol Life Sci 2022; 79:305. [PMID: 35593933 PMCID: PMC9121088 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-022-04343-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2022] [Revised: 04/13/2022] [Accepted: 05/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Aromatic amino acid decarboxylase (AADC) deficiency is a rare monogenic disease, often fatal in the first decade, causing severe intellectual disability, movement disorders and autonomic dysfunction. It is due to mutations in the gene coding for the AADC enzyme responsible for the synthesis of dopamine and serotonin. Using whole exome sequencing, we have identified a novel homozygous c.989C > T (p.Pro330Leu) variant of AADC causing AADC deficiency. Pro330 is part of an essential structural and functional element: the flexible catalytic loop suggested to cover the active site as a lid and properly position the catalytic residues. Our investigations provide evidence that Pro330 concurs in the achievement of an optimal catalytic competence. Through a combination of bioinformatic approaches, dynamic light scattering measurements, limited proteolysis experiments, spectroscopic and in solution analyses, we demonstrate that the substitution of Pro330 with Leu, although not determining gross conformational changes, results in an enzymatic species that is highly affected in catalysis with a decarboxylase catalytic efficiency decreased by 674- and 194-fold for the two aromatic substrates. This defect does not lead to active site structural disassembling, nor to the inability to bind the pyridoxal 5’-phosphate (PLP) cofactor. The molecular basis for the pathogenic effect of this variant is rather due to a mispositioning of the catalytically competent external aldimine intermediate, as corroborated by spectroscopic analyses and pH dependence of the kinetic parameters. Altogether, we determined the structural basis for the severity of the manifestation of AADC deficiency in this patient and discussed the rationale for a precision therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Bisello
- Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, Section of Biochemistry, University of Verona, Strada Le Grazie 8, 37134, Verona, Italy
| | - Katarzyna Kusmierska
- Department of Screening and Metabolic Diagnostics, Institute of Mother and Child, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Marcel M Verbeek
- Department of Neurology, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Centre, Geert Grooteplein 10, 6525 GA, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Translational Metabolic Laboratory, Department Laboratory Medicine, Radboud University Medical Cente, Geert Grooteplein 10, 6525 GA, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Jolanta Sykut-Cegielska
- Department of Inborn Errors of Metabolism and Paediatrics, Institute of Mother and Child, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Michèl A A P Willemsen
- Department of Pediatric Neurology, Radboud University Medical Centre, Geert Grooteplein 10, 6525 GA, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Ron A Wevers
- Translational Metabolic Laboratory, Department Laboratory Medicine, Radboud University Medical Cente, Geert Grooteplein 10, 6525 GA, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Krystyna Szymańska
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Jarosław Poznanski
- Department of Biophysics, Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Jakub Drozak
- Department of Metabolic Regulation, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | | | | | - Mariarita Bertoldi
- Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, Section of Biochemistry, University of Verona, Strada Le Grazie 8, 37134, Verona, Italy.
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12
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Simultaneous determination of 5-hydroxytryptophan and 3-O-methyldopa in dried blood spot by UPLC-MS/MS: A useful tool for the diagnosis of L-amino acid decarboxylase deficiency. J Chromatogr B Analyt Technol Biomed Life Sci 2021; 1185:122999. [PMID: 34715572 DOI: 10.1016/j.jchromb.2021.122999] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2021] [Revised: 09/14/2021] [Accepted: 10/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
5-hydroxytryptophan (5HTP) and 3-O-methyldopa (3OMD) are CSF diagnostic biomarkers of the defect of aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase (AADC), a rare inherited disorder of neurotransmitter synthesis which, if untreated, results in severely disabling neurological impairment. In the last few years, different methods to detect 3OMD in dried blood spot (DBS) were published. We developed and validated a fast and specific diagnostic tool to detect 5HTP alongside 3OMD. After extraction from DBS, 3OMD and 5HTP were separated by ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) and detected by tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS). Instrument parameters were optimized to obtain the best sensitivity and specificity. Chromatographic separation was accomplished in 13 min. The limit of detection was 2.4 and 1.4 nmol/L of blood for 3OMD and 5HTP respectively, and response was linear over the blood range of 25-5000 nmol/L. Between-run imprecision was less than 9% for 3OMD and <13% for 5HTP. An age-specific continuous reference range was established, revealing a marked and continuous 3OMD decline with aging. The effect of age on 5HTP was less evident, showing only a slight decrease with age after the first week of life. A marked increase of both 3OMD and 5HTP was found in four patients affected by AADC deficiency (1780.6 ± 773.1 nmol/L, rv 71.0-144.9; and 94.8 ± 19.0 nmol/L, rv 15.2-42.8, respectively) while an isolated increase of 3OMD (6159.6 ± 3449.1 nmol/L, rv 73.2-192.2) was detected in three subjects affected by inherited disorders of dopamine synthesis under levodopa/carbidopa treatment (a marginal increase of 5HTP was detected in one of them). Simultaneous measurement of 5HTP and 3OMD in DBS leads to an improvement in specificity and sensitivity for the biochemical diagnosis of AADC deficiency.
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13
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Rossignoli G, Krämer K, Lugarà E, Alrashidi H, Pope S, De La Fuente Barrigon C, Barwick K, Bisello G, Ng J, Counsell J, Lignani G, Heales SJR, Bertoldi M, Barral S, Kurian MA. Aromatic l-amino acid decarboxylase deficiency: a patient-derived neuronal model for precision therapies. Brain 2021; 144:2443-2456. [PMID: 33734312 PMCID: PMC8418346 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awab123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2020] [Revised: 01/25/2021] [Accepted: 02/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Aromatic l-amino acid decarboxylase (AADC) deficiency is a complex inherited neurological disorder of monoamine synthesis which results in dopamine and serotonin deficiency. The majority of affected individuals have variable, though often severe cognitive and motor delay, with a complex movement disorder and high risk of premature mortality. For most, standard pharmacological treatment provides only limited clinical benefit. Promising gene therapy approaches are emerging, though may not be either suitable or easily accessible for all patients. To characterize the underlying disease pathophysiology and guide precision therapies, we generated a patient-derived midbrain dopaminergic neuronal model of AADC deficiency from induced pluripotent stem cells. The neuronal model recapitulates key disease features, including absent AADC enzyme activity and dysregulated dopamine metabolism. We observed developmental defects affecting synaptic maturation and neuronal electrical properties, which were improved by lentiviral gene therapy. Bioinformatic and biochemical analyses on recombinant AADC predicted that the activity of one variant could be improved by l-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (l-DOPA) administration; this hypothesis was corroborated in the patient-derived neuronal model, where l-DOPA treatment leads to amelioration of dopamine metabolites. Our study has shown that patient-derived disease modelling provides further insight into the neurodevelopmental sequelae of AADC deficiency, as well as a robust platform to investigate and develop personalized therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giada Rossignoli
- Developmental Neurosciences, GOS Institute of Child Health, University College London, London WC1N 1EH, UK
- Biological Chemistry, NBM Department, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy
| | - Karolin Krämer
- Developmental Neurosciences, GOS Institute of Child Health, University College London, London WC1N 1EH, UK
| | - Eleonora Lugarà
- Clinical and Experimental Epilepsy, Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Haya Alrashidi
- Genetics and Genomic Medicine, GOS Institute of Child Health, University College London, London WC1N 1EH, UK
| | - Simon Pope
- Neurometabolic Unit, National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG, UK
| | | | - Katy Barwick
- Developmental Neurosciences, GOS Institute of Child Health, University College London, London WC1N 1EH, UK
| | - Giovanni Bisello
- Biological Chemistry, NBM Department, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy
| | - Joanne Ng
- Developmental Neurosciences, GOS Institute of Child Health, University College London, London WC1N 1EH, UK
- Gene Transfer Technology Group, EGA-Institute for Women's Health, University College London, London WC1E 6HU, UK
| | - John Counsell
- Developmental Neurosciences, GOS Institute of Child Health, University College London, London WC1N 1EH, UK
| | - Gabriele Lignani
- Clinical and Experimental Epilepsy, Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Simon J R Heales
- Neurometabolic Unit, National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG, UK
- Centre for Inborn Errors of Metabolism, GOS Institute of Child Health, UniversCity College London, London WC1N 1EH, UK
| | - Mariarita Bertoldi
- Biological Chemistry, NBM Department, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy
- Correspondence may also be addressed to: Prof Mariarita Bertoldi Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences Biological Chemistry Section, Room 1.24 Strada le Grazie 8, 37134 Verona, Italy E-mail:
| | - Serena Barral
- Developmental Neurosciences, GOS Institute of Child Health, University College London, London WC1N 1EH, UK
| | - Manju A Kurian
- Developmental Neurosciences, GOS Institute of Child Health, University College London, London WC1N 1EH, UK
- Department of Neurology, Great Ormond Street Hospital, London WC1N 3JH, UK
- Correspondence to: Prof Manju Kurian Zayed Centre for Research UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health 20 Guilford St, London WC1N 1DZ, UK E-mail:
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14
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Longo C, Montioli R, Bisello G, Palazzi L, Mastrangelo M, Brennenstuhl H, de Laureto PP, Opladen T, Leuzzi V, Bertoldi M. Compound heterozygosis in AADC deficiency: A complex phenotype dissected through comparison among heterodimeric and homodimeric AADC proteins. Mol Genet Metab 2021; 134:147-155. [PMID: 34479793 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymgme.2021.08.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2021] [Revised: 08/25/2021] [Accepted: 08/25/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Compound heterozygosis is the most diffuse and hardly to tackle condition in aromatic amino acid decarboxylase (AADC) deficiency, a genetic disease leading to severe neurological impairment. Here, by using an appropriate vector, we succeeded in obtaining high yields of AADC protein and characterizing two new heterodimers, T69M/S147R and C281W/M362T, detected in two AADC deficiency patients. We performed an extensive biochemical characterization of the heterodimeric recombinant proteins and of the related homodimers, by a combination of dichroic and fluorescence spectroscopy and activity assays together with bioinformatic analyses. We found that T69M/S147R exhibits negative complementation in terms of activity but it is more stable than the average of the homodimeric counterparts. The heterodimer C281W/M362T retains a nearly good catalytic efficiency, whereas M362T homodimer is less affected and C281W homodimer is recovered as insoluble. These results, which are consistent with the related phenotypes, and the data emerging from previous studies, suggest that the severity of AADC deficiency is not directly explained by positive or negative complementation phenomena, but rather depends on: i) the integrity of one or both active sites; ii) the structural and functional properties of the entire pool of AADC proteins expressed. Overall, this integrated and cross-sectional approach enables proper characterization and depicts the functional result of subunit interactions in the dimeric structure and will help to elucidate the physio-pathological mechanisms in AADC deficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmen Longo
- Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, Section of Biological Chemistry, Strada Le Grazie 8, 37134 Verona, Italy
| | - Riccardo Montioli
- Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, Section of Biological Chemistry, Strada Le Grazie 8, 37134 Verona, Italy
| | - Giovanni Bisello
- Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, Section of Biological Chemistry, Strada Le Grazie 8, 37134 Verona, Italy
| | - Luana Palazzi
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, CRIBI Biotechnology Center, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Mario Mastrangelo
- Unit of Child Neurology and Psychiatry Unit, Department of Human Neuroscience, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy
| | - Heiko Brennenstuhl
- University Children's Hospital Heidelberg, Department of General Pediatrics, Division of Neuropediatrics and Metabolic Medicine, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Patrizia Polverino de Laureto
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, CRIBI Biotechnology Center, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Thomas Opladen
- University Children's Hospital Heidelberg, Department of General Pediatrics, Division of Neuropediatrics and Metabolic Medicine, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Vincenzo Leuzzi
- Unit of Child Neurology and Psychiatry Unit, Department of Human Neuroscience, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy
| | - Mariarita Bertoldi
- Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, Section of Biological Chemistry, Strada Le Grazie 8, 37134 Verona, Italy.
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15
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Ghatge MS, Al Mughram M, Omar AM, Safo MK. Inborn errors in the vitamin B6 salvage enzymes associated with neonatal epileptic encephalopathy and other pathologies. Biochimie 2021; 183:18-29. [PMID: 33421502 PMCID: PMC11273822 DOI: 10.1016/j.biochi.2020.12.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2020] [Revised: 12/28/2020] [Accepted: 12/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP), the active cofactor form of vitamin B6 is required by over 160 PLP-dependent (vitamin B6) enzymes serving diverse biological roles, such as carbohydrates, amino acids, hemes, and neurotransmitters metabolism. Three key enzymes, pyridoxal kinase (PL kinase), pyridoxine 5'-phosphate oxidase (PNPO), and phosphatases metabolize and supply PLP to PLP-dependent enzymes through the salvage pathway. In born errors in the salvage enzymes are known to cause inadequate levels of PLP in the cell, particularly in neuronal cells. The resulting PLP deficiency is known to cause or implicated in several pathologies, most notably seizures. One such disorder, PNPO-dependent neonatal epileptic encephalopathy (NEE) results from natural mutations in PNPO and leads to null or reduced enzymatic activity. NEE does not respond to conventional antiepileptic drugs but may respond to treatment with the B6 vitamers PLP and/or pyridoxine (PN). In born errors that lead to PLP deficiency in cells have also been reported in PL kinase, however, to date none has been associated with epilepsy or seizure. One such pathology is polyneuropathy that responds to PLP therapy. Phosphatase deficiency or hypophosphatasia disorder due to pathogenic mutations in alkaline phosphatase is known to cause seizures that respond to PN therapy. In this article, we review the biochemical features of in born errors pertaining to the salvage enzyme's deficiency that leads to NEE and other pathologies. We also present perspective on vitamin B6 treatment for these disorders, along with attempts to develop zebrafish model to study the NEE syndrome in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohini S Ghatge
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, 23298, USA; Institute for Structural Biology, Drug Discovery, and Development, School of Pharmacy, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, 23298, USA
| | - Mohammed Al Mughram
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, 23298, USA; Institute for Structural Biology, Drug Discovery, and Development, School of Pharmacy, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, 23298, USA
| | - Abdelsattar M Omar
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, King Abdulaziz University, Alsulaymanyah, Jeddah, 21589, Saudi Arabia; Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Azhar University, Cairo, 11884, Egypt
| | - Martin K Safo
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, 23298, USA; Institute for Structural Biology, Drug Discovery, and Development, School of Pharmacy, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, 23298, USA.
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16
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Aromatic Amino Acid Decarboxylase Deficiency: The Added Value of Biochemistry. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22063146. [PMID: 33808712 PMCID: PMC8003434 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22063146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2021] [Revised: 03/15/2021] [Accepted: 03/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Aromatic amino acid decarboxylase (AADC) deficiency is a rare, autosomal recessive neurometabolic disorder caused by mutations in the DDC gene, leading to a deficit of AADC, a pyridoxal 5′-phosphate requiring enzyme that catalyzes the decarboxylation of L-Dopa and L-5-hydroxytryptophan in dopamine and serotonin, respectively. Although clinical and genetic studies have given the major contribution to the diagnosis and therapy of AADC deficiency, biochemical investigations have also helped the comprehension of this disorder at a molecular level. Here, we reported the steps leading to the elucidation of the functional and structural features of the enzyme that were useful to identify the different molecular defects caused by the mutations, either in homozygosis or in heterozygosis, associated with AADC deficiency. By revisiting the biochemical data available on the characterization of the pathogenic variants in the purified recombinant form, and interpreting them on the basis of the structure-function relationship of AADC, it was possible: (i) to define the enzymatic phenotype of patients harboring pathogenic mutations and at the same time to propose specific therapeutic managements, and (ii) to identify residues and/or regions of the enzyme relevant for catalysis and/or folding of AADC.
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17
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Wan L, Ge WR, Zhang S, Sun YL, Wang B, Yang G. Case-Control Study of the Effects of Gut Microbiota Composition on Neurotransmitter Metabolic Pathways in Children With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Front Neurosci 2020; 14:127. [PMID: 32132899 PMCID: PMC7040164 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2020.00127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2019] [Accepted: 01/31/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neuropsychiatric condition that may be related to an imbalance of neural transmitters. The gut microbiota is the largest ecosystem in the human body, and the brain-gut axis theory proposes that the gut microbiome can affect brain function in multiple ways. The purpose of this study was to explore the gut microbiota in children with ADHD and assess the possible role of the gut microbiota in disease pathogenesis to open new avenues for ADHD treatment. Methods A case-control design was used. We enrolled 17 children aged 6-12 years with ADHD who were treated in the Pediatric Outpatient Department of the First Medical Center of the Chinese PLA General Hospital from January to June, 2019. Seventeen children aged 6-12 years were selected as the healthy control (HC) group. Fecal samples of cases and controls were analyzed by shotgun metagenomics sequencing. Alpha diversity and the differences in the relative abundances of bacteria were compared between the two groups. Functional annotations were performed for the microbiota genes and metabolic pathways were analyzed using the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG). Results There was no significant difference in the alpha diversity of gut microbiota between the ADHD and HC groups. Compared with HCs, Faecalibacterium and Veillonellaceae were significantly reduced in children with ADHD (P < 0.05), Odoribacter and Enterococcus were significantly increased [linear discriminant analysis (LDA) > 2]. At the species level, Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, Lachnospiraceae bacterium, and Ruminococcus gnavus were significantly reduced in the ADHD group (P < 0.05), while Bacteroides caccae, Odoribacter splanchnicus, Paraprevotella xylaniphila, and Veillonella parvula were increased (P < 0.05). Metabolic pathway analysis revealed significant between-group differences in the metabolic pathways of neurotransmitters (e.g., serotonin and dopamine) (P < 0.05). Conclusion Composition differences of gut microbiota in subjects with ADHD may contribute to brain-gut axis alterations and affect neurotransmitter levels, which could contribute to ADHD symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Wan
- The First Medical Center of the Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Wen-Rong Ge
- Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Shan Zhang
- The First Medical Center of the Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Yu-Lin Sun
- The First Medical Center of the Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Bin Wang
- The First Medical Center of the Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Guang Yang
- The First Medical Center of the Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
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18
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Montioli R, Bisello G, Dindo M, Rossignoli G, Voltattorni CB, Bertoldi M. New variants of AADC deficiency expand the knowledge of enzymatic phenotypes. Arch Biochem Biophys 2020; 682:108263. [PMID: 31953134 DOI: 10.1016/j.abb.2020.108263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2019] [Revised: 01/05/2020] [Accepted: 01/08/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
AADC deficiency is a rare genetic disease caused by mutations in the gene of aromatic amino acid decarboxylase, the pyridoxal 5'-phosphate dependent enzyme responsible for the synthesis of dopamine and serotonin. Here, following a biochemical approach together with an in silico bioinformatic analysis, we present a structural and functional characterization of 13 new variants of AADC. The amino acid substitutions are spread over the entire protein from the N-terminal (V60A), to its loop1 (H70Y and F77L), to the large domain (G96R) and its various motifs, i.e. loop2 (A110E), or a core β-barrel either on the surface (P210L, F251S and E283A) or in a more hydrophobic milieu (L222P, F237S and W267R) or loop3 (L353P), and to the C-terminal domain (R453C). Results show that the β-barrel variants exhibit a low solubility and those belonging to the surface tend to aggregate in their apo form, leading to the identification of a new enzymatic phenotype for AADC deficiency. Moreover, five variants of residues belonging to the large interface of AADC (V60A, G96R, A110E, L353P and R453C) are characterized by a decreased catalytic efficiency. The remaining ones (H70Y and F77L) present features typical of apo-to-holo impaired transition. Thus, defects in catalysis or in the acquirement of the correct holo structure are due not only to specific local domain effects but also to long-range effects at either the protein surface or the subunit interface. Altogether, the new characterized enzymatic phenotypes represent a further step in the elucidation of the molecular basis for the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Riccardo Montioli
- Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, Section of Biological Chemistry, University of Verona, Strada Le Grazie, 8, 37134, Verona, Italy
| | - Giovanni Bisello
- Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, Section of Biological Chemistry, University of Verona, Strada Le Grazie, 8, 37134, Verona, Italy
| | - Mirco Dindo
- Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, 1919-1 Tancha, Onna-son, Okinawa, 904-0412, Japan
| | - Giada Rossignoli
- Molecular Neurosciences, Developmental Neurosciences Programme, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, 30 Guildford Street, London, WC1N 1EH, UK
| | - Carla Borri Voltattorni
- Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, Section of Biological Chemistry, University of Verona, Strada Le Grazie, 8, 37134, Verona, Italy
| | - Mariarita Bertoldi
- Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, Section of Biological Chemistry, University of Verona, Strada Le Grazie, 8, 37134, Verona, Italy.
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