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Appleby BS. Predicting Symptom Onset of Genetic Prion Diseases Using Fluid Biomarkers. Neurology 2024; 103:e209580. [PMID: 38896818 PMCID: PMC11226310 DOI: 10.1212/wnl.0000000000209580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2024] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Brian S Appleby
- From the Departments of Neurology, Pathology, and Psychiatry, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH
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Vallabh SM, Mortberg MA, Allen SW, Kupferschmid AC, Kivisakk P, Hammerschlag BL, Bolling A, Trombetta BA, Devitte-McKee K, Ford AM, Sather LE, Duffy G, Rivera A, Gerber J, McManus AJ, Minikel EV, Arnold SE. Fluid Biomarkers in Individuals at Risk for Genetic Prion Disease up to Disease Conversion. Neurology 2024; 103:e209506. [PMID: 38896810 PMCID: PMC11226308 DOI: 10.1212/wnl.0000000000209506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2024] [Accepted: 05/01/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To longitudinally characterize disease-relevant CSF and plasma biomarkers in individuals at risk for genetic prion disease up to disease conversion. METHODS This single-center longitudinal cohort study has followed known carriers of PRNP pathogenic variants at risk for prion disease, individuals with a close relative who died of genetic prion disease but who have not undergone predictive genetic testing, and controls. All participants were asymptomatic at first visit and returned roughly annually. We determined PRNP genotypes, measured NfL and GFAP in plasma, and RT-QuIC, total PrP, NfL, T-tau, and beta-synuclein in CSF. RESULTS Among 41 carriers and 21 controls enrolled, 28 (68%) and 15 (71%) were female, and mean ages were 47.5 and 46.1. At baseline, all individuals were asymptomatic. We observed RT-QuIC seeding activity in the CSF of 3 asymptomatic E200K carriers who subsequently converted to symptomatic and died of prion disease. 1 P102L carrier remained RT-QuIC negative through symptom conversion. No other individuals developed symptoms. The prodromal window from detection of RT-QuIC positivity to disease onset was 1 year long in an E200K individual homozygous (V/V) at PRNP codon 129 and 2.5 and 3.1 years in 2 codon 129 heterozygotes (M/V). Changes in neurodegenerative and neuroinflammatory markers were variably observed prior to onset, with increases observed for plasma NfL in 4/4 converters, and plasma GFAP, CSF NfL, CSF T-tau, and CSF beta-synuclein each in 2/4 converters, although values relative to age and fold changes relative to individual baseline were not remarkable for any of these markers. CSF PrP was longitudinally stable with mean coefficient of variation 9.0% across all individuals over up to 6 years, including data from converting individuals at RT-QuIC-positive timepoints. DISCUSSION CSF prion seeding activity may represent the earliest detectable prodromal sign in E200K carriers. Neuronal damage and neuroinflammation markers show limited sensitivity in the prodromal phase. CSF PrP levels remain stable even in the presence of RT-QuIC seeding activity. CLINICAL TRIALS REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05124392 posted 2017-12-01, updated 2023-01-27.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonia M Vallabh
- From the McCance Center for Brain Health (S.M.V., M.A.M., E.V.M.) and Department of Neurology (S.M.V., M.A.M., S.W.A., A.C.K., P.K., B.L.H., A.B., B.A.T., K.D.-M., A.M.F., L.E.S., G.D., A.R., J.G., A.J.M., E.V.M., S.E.A.), Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston; Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research (S.M.V., M.A.M., E.V.M.), Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge; and Department of Neurology (S.M.V., P.K., E.V.M., S.E.A.), Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Meredith A Mortberg
- From the McCance Center for Brain Health (S.M.V., M.A.M., E.V.M.) and Department of Neurology (S.M.V., M.A.M., S.W.A., A.C.K., P.K., B.L.H., A.B., B.A.T., K.D.-M., A.M.F., L.E.S., G.D., A.R., J.G., A.J.M., E.V.M., S.E.A.), Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston; Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research (S.M.V., M.A.M., E.V.M.), Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge; and Department of Neurology (S.M.V., P.K., E.V.M., S.E.A.), Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Shona W Allen
- From the McCance Center for Brain Health (S.M.V., M.A.M., E.V.M.) and Department of Neurology (S.M.V., M.A.M., S.W.A., A.C.K., P.K., B.L.H., A.B., B.A.T., K.D.-M., A.M.F., L.E.S., G.D., A.R., J.G., A.J.M., E.V.M., S.E.A.), Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston; Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research (S.M.V., M.A.M., E.V.M.), Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge; and Department of Neurology (S.M.V., P.K., E.V.M., S.E.A.), Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Ashley C Kupferschmid
- From the McCance Center for Brain Health (S.M.V., M.A.M., E.V.M.) and Department of Neurology (S.M.V., M.A.M., S.W.A., A.C.K., P.K., B.L.H., A.B., B.A.T., K.D.-M., A.M.F., L.E.S., G.D., A.R., J.G., A.J.M., E.V.M., S.E.A.), Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston; Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research (S.M.V., M.A.M., E.V.M.), Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge; and Department of Neurology (S.M.V., P.K., E.V.M., S.E.A.), Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Pia Kivisakk
- From the McCance Center for Brain Health (S.M.V., M.A.M., E.V.M.) and Department of Neurology (S.M.V., M.A.M., S.W.A., A.C.K., P.K., B.L.H., A.B., B.A.T., K.D.-M., A.M.F., L.E.S., G.D., A.R., J.G., A.J.M., E.V.M., S.E.A.), Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston; Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research (S.M.V., M.A.M., E.V.M.), Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge; and Department of Neurology (S.M.V., P.K., E.V.M., S.E.A.), Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Bruno L Hammerschlag
- From the McCance Center for Brain Health (S.M.V., M.A.M., E.V.M.) and Department of Neurology (S.M.V., M.A.M., S.W.A., A.C.K., P.K., B.L.H., A.B., B.A.T., K.D.-M., A.M.F., L.E.S., G.D., A.R., J.G., A.J.M., E.V.M., S.E.A.), Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston; Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research (S.M.V., M.A.M., E.V.M.), Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge; and Department of Neurology (S.M.V., P.K., E.V.M., S.E.A.), Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Anna Bolling
- From the McCance Center for Brain Health (S.M.V., M.A.M., E.V.M.) and Department of Neurology (S.M.V., M.A.M., S.W.A., A.C.K., P.K., B.L.H., A.B., B.A.T., K.D.-M., A.M.F., L.E.S., G.D., A.R., J.G., A.J.M., E.V.M., S.E.A.), Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston; Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research (S.M.V., M.A.M., E.V.M.), Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge; and Department of Neurology (S.M.V., P.K., E.V.M., S.E.A.), Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Bianca A Trombetta
- From the McCance Center for Brain Health (S.M.V., M.A.M., E.V.M.) and Department of Neurology (S.M.V., M.A.M., S.W.A., A.C.K., P.K., B.L.H., A.B., B.A.T., K.D.-M., A.M.F., L.E.S., G.D., A.R., J.G., A.J.M., E.V.M., S.E.A.), Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston; Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research (S.M.V., M.A.M., E.V.M.), Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge; and Department of Neurology (S.M.V., P.K., E.V.M., S.E.A.), Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Kelli Devitte-McKee
- From the McCance Center for Brain Health (S.M.V., M.A.M., E.V.M.) and Department of Neurology (S.M.V., M.A.M., S.W.A., A.C.K., P.K., B.L.H., A.B., B.A.T., K.D.-M., A.M.F., L.E.S., G.D., A.R., J.G., A.J.M., E.V.M., S.E.A.), Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston; Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research (S.M.V., M.A.M., E.V.M.), Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge; and Department of Neurology (S.M.V., P.K., E.V.M., S.E.A.), Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Abaigeal M Ford
- From the McCance Center for Brain Health (S.M.V., M.A.M., E.V.M.) and Department of Neurology (S.M.V., M.A.M., S.W.A., A.C.K., P.K., B.L.H., A.B., B.A.T., K.D.-M., A.M.F., L.E.S., G.D., A.R., J.G., A.J.M., E.V.M., S.E.A.), Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston; Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research (S.M.V., M.A.M., E.V.M.), Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge; and Department of Neurology (S.M.V., P.K., E.V.M., S.E.A.), Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Lauren E Sather
- From the McCance Center for Brain Health (S.M.V., M.A.M., E.V.M.) and Department of Neurology (S.M.V., M.A.M., S.W.A., A.C.K., P.K., B.L.H., A.B., B.A.T., K.D.-M., A.M.F., L.E.S., G.D., A.R., J.G., A.J.M., E.V.M., S.E.A.), Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston; Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research (S.M.V., M.A.M., E.V.M.), Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge; and Department of Neurology (S.M.V., P.K., E.V.M., S.E.A.), Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Griffin Duffy
- From the McCance Center for Brain Health (S.M.V., M.A.M., E.V.M.) and Department of Neurology (S.M.V., M.A.M., S.W.A., A.C.K., P.K., B.L.H., A.B., B.A.T., K.D.-M., A.M.F., L.E.S., G.D., A.R., J.G., A.J.M., E.V.M., S.E.A.), Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston; Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research (S.M.V., M.A.M., E.V.M.), Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge; and Department of Neurology (S.M.V., P.K., E.V.M., S.E.A.), Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Ashley Rivera
- From the McCance Center for Brain Health (S.M.V., M.A.M., E.V.M.) and Department of Neurology (S.M.V., M.A.M., S.W.A., A.C.K., P.K., B.L.H., A.B., B.A.T., K.D.-M., A.M.F., L.E.S., G.D., A.R., J.G., A.J.M., E.V.M., S.E.A.), Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston; Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research (S.M.V., M.A.M., E.V.M.), Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge; and Department of Neurology (S.M.V., P.K., E.V.M., S.E.A.), Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Jessica Gerber
- From the McCance Center for Brain Health (S.M.V., M.A.M., E.V.M.) and Department of Neurology (S.M.V., M.A.M., S.W.A., A.C.K., P.K., B.L.H., A.B., B.A.T., K.D.-M., A.M.F., L.E.S., G.D., A.R., J.G., A.J.M., E.V.M., S.E.A.), Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston; Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research (S.M.V., M.A.M., E.V.M.), Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge; and Department of Neurology (S.M.V., P.K., E.V.M., S.E.A.), Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Alison J McManus
- From the McCance Center for Brain Health (S.M.V., M.A.M., E.V.M.) and Department of Neurology (S.M.V., M.A.M., S.W.A., A.C.K., P.K., B.L.H., A.B., B.A.T., K.D.-M., A.M.F., L.E.S., G.D., A.R., J.G., A.J.M., E.V.M., S.E.A.), Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston; Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research (S.M.V., M.A.M., E.V.M.), Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge; and Department of Neurology (S.M.V., P.K., E.V.M., S.E.A.), Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Eric V Minikel
- From the McCance Center for Brain Health (S.M.V., M.A.M., E.V.M.) and Department of Neurology (S.M.V., M.A.M., S.W.A., A.C.K., P.K., B.L.H., A.B., B.A.T., K.D.-M., A.M.F., L.E.S., G.D., A.R., J.G., A.J.M., E.V.M., S.E.A.), Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston; Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research (S.M.V., M.A.M., E.V.M.), Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge; and Department of Neurology (S.M.V., P.K., E.V.M., S.E.A.), Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Steven E Arnold
- From the McCance Center for Brain Health (S.M.V., M.A.M., E.V.M.) and Department of Neurology (S.M.V., M.A.M., S.W.A., A.C.K., P.K., B.L.H., A.B., B.A.T., K.D.-M., A.M.F., L.E.S., G.D., A.R., J.G., A.J.M., E.V.M., S.E.A.), Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston; Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research (S.M.V., M.A.M., E.V.M.), Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge; and Department of Neurology (S.M.V., P.K., E.V.M., S.E.A.), Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
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Gentile JE, Corridon TL, Mortberg MA, D'Souza EN, Whiffin N, Minikel EV, Vallabh SM. Modulation of prion protein expression through cryptic splice site manipulation. J Biol Chem 2024; 300:107560. [PMID: 39002681 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2024.107560] [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: 01/04/2024] [Revised: 06/15/2024] [Accepted: 07/05/2024] [Indexed: 07/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Lowering expression of prion protein (PrP) is a well-validated therapeutic strategy in prion disease, but additional modalities are urgently needed. In other diseases, small molecules have proven capable of modulating pre-mRNA splicing, sometimes by forcing inclusion of cryptic exons that reduce gene expression. Here, we characterize a cryptic exon located in human PRNP's sole intron and evaluate its potential to reduce PrP expression through incorporation into the 5' untranslated region. This exon is homologous to exon 2 in nonprimate species but contains a start codon that would yield an upstream open reading frame with a stop codon prior to a splice site if included in PRNP mRNA, potentially downregulating PrP expression through translational repression or nonsense-mediated decay. We establish a minigene transfection system and test a panel of splice site alterations, identifying mutants that reduce PrP expression by as much as 78%. Our findings nominate a new therapeutic target for lowering PrP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliana E Gentile
- McCance Center for Brain Health and Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Taylor L Corridon
- McCance Center for Brain Health and Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Meredith A Mortberg
- McCance Center for Brain Health and Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Elston Neil D'Souza
- Big Data Institute and Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Nicola Whiffin
- Big Data Institute and Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK; Program in Medical and Population Genetics, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Eric Vallabh Minikel
- McCance Center for Brain Health and Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Sonia M Vallabh
- McCance Center for Brain Health and Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.
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Neumann EN, Bertozzi TM, Wu E, Serack F, Harvey JW, Brauer PP, Pirtle CP, Coffey A, Howard M, Kamath N, Lenz K, Guzman K, Raymond MH, Khalil AS, Deverman BE, Minikel EV, Vallabh SM, Weissman JS. Brainwide silencing of prion protein by AAV-mediated delivery of an engineered compact epigenetic editor. Science 2024; 384:ado7082. [PMID: 38935715 DOI: 10.1126/science.ado7082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2024] [Accepted: 05/02/2024] [Indexed: 06/29/2024]
Abstract
Prion disease is caused by misfolding of the prion protein (PrP) into pathogenic self-propagating conformations, leading to rapid-onset dementia and death. However, elimination of endogenous PrP halts prion disease progression. In this study, we describe Coupled Histone tail for Autoinhibition Release of Methyltransferase (CHARM), a compact, enzyme-free epigenetic editor capable of silencing transcription through programmable DNA methylation. Using a histone H3 tail-Dnmt3l fusion, CHARM recruits and activates endogenous DNA methyltransferases, thereby reducing transgene size and cytotoxicity. When delivered to the mouse brain by systemic injection of adeno-associated virus (AAV), Prnp-targeted CHARM ablates PrP expression across the brain. Furthermore, we have temporally limited editor expression by implementing a kinetically tuned self-silencing approach. CHARM potentially represents a broadly applicable strategy to suppress pathogenic proteins, including those implicated in other neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edwin N Neumann
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Tessa M Bertozzi
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Elaine Wu
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Fiona Serack
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - John W Harvey
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Pamela P Brauer
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Catherine P Pirtle
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Alissa Coffey
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Michael Howard
- Comparative Medicine, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Nikita Kamath
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Kenney Lenz
- Comparative Medicine, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Kenia Guzman
- Comparative Medicine, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Michael H Raymond
- Biological Design Center, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Ahmad S Khalil
- Biological Design Center, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Benjamin E Deverman
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Eric Vallabh Minikel
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
- McCance Center for Brain Health and Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Sonia M Vallabh
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
- McCance Center for Brain Health and Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Jonathan S Weissman
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
- Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
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Liu F, Lü W, Liu L. New implications for prion diseases therapy and prophylaxis. Front Mol Neurosci 2024; 17:1324702. [PMID: 38500676 PMCID: PMC10944861 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2024.1324702] [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: 10/23/2023] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Prion diseases are rare, fatal, progressive neurodegenerative disorders that affect both animal and human. Human prion diseases mainly present as Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD). However, there are no curable therapies, and animal prion diseases may negatively affect the ecosystem and human society. Over the past five decades, scientists are devoting to finding available therapeutic or prophylactic agents for prion diseases. Numerous chemical compounds have been shown to be effective in experimental research on prion diseases, but with the limitations of toxicity, poor efficacy, and low pharmacokinetics. The earliest clinical treatments of CJD were almost carried out with anti-infectious agents that had little amelioration of the course. With the discovery of pathogenic misfolding prion protein (PrPSc) and increasing insights into prion biology, amounts of novel technologies have attempted to eliminate PrPSc. This review presents new perspectives on clinical and experimental prion diseases, including immunotherapy, gene therapy, small-molecule drug, and stem cell therapy. It further explores the prospects and challenge associated with these emerging therapeutic approaches for prion diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fangzhou Liu
- Department of Neurology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Wenqi Lü
- Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Ling Liu
- Department of Neurology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
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Zerr I, Ladogana A, Mead S, Hermann P, Forloni G, Appleby BS. Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease and other prion diseases. Nat Rev Dis Primers 2024; 10:14. [PMID: 38424082 DOI: 10.1038/s41572-024-00497-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
Prion diseases share common clinical and pathological characteristics such as spongiform neuronal degeneration and deposition of an abnormal form of a host-derived protein, termed prion protein. The characteristic features of prion diseases are long incubation times, short clinical courses, extreme resistance of the transmissible agent to degradation and lack of nucleic acid involvement. Sporadic and genetic forms of prion diseases occur worldwide, of which genetic forms are associated with mutations in PRNP. Human to human transmission of these diseases has occurred due to iatrogenic exposure, and zoonotic forms of prion diseases are linked to bovine disease. Significant progress has been made in the diagnosis of these disorders. Clinical tools for diagnosis comprise brain imaging and cerebrospinal fluid tests. Aggregation assays for detection of the abnormally folded prion protein have a clear potential to diagnose the disease in peripherally accessible biofluids. After decades of therapeutic nihilism, new treatment strategies and clinical trials are on the horizon. Although prion diseases are relatively rare disorders, understanding their pathogenesis and mechanisms of prion protein misfolding has significantly enhanced the field in research of neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inga Zerr
- National Reference Center for CJD Surveillance, Department of Neurology, University Medical Center, Georg August University, Göttingen, Germany.
| | - Anna Ladogana
- Department of Neuroscience, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Simon Mead
- MRC Prion Unit at UCL, Institute of Prion Diseases, London, UK
| | - Peter Hermann
- National Reference Center for CJD Surveillance, Department of Neurology, University Medical Center, Georg August University, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Gianluigi Forloni
- Department of Neuroscience, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - Brian S Appleby
- Departments of Neurology, Psychiatry and Pathology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
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Gentile JE, Corridon TL, Mortberg MA, D'Souza EN, Whiffin N, Minikel EV, Vallabh SM. Modulation of prion protein expression through cryptic splice site manipulation. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.12.19.572439. [PMID: 38187635 PMCID: PMC10769280 DOI: 10.1101/2023.12.19.572439] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2024]
Abstract
Lowering expression of prion protein (PrP) is a well-validated therapeutic strategy in prion disease, but additional modalities are urgently needed. In other diseases, small molecules have proven capable of modulating pre-mRNA splicing, sometimes by forcing inclusion of cryptic exons that reduce gene expression. Here, we characterize a cryptic exon located in human PRNP's sole intron and evaluate its potential to reduce PrP expression through incorporation into the 5' untranslated region (5'UTR). This exon is homologous to exon 2 in non-primate species, but contains a start codon that would yield an upstream open reading frame (uORF) with a stop codon prior to a splice site if included in PRNP mRNA, potentially downregulating PrP expression through translational repression or nonsense-mediated decay. We establish a minigene transfection system and test a panel of splice site alterations, identifying mutants that reduce PrP expression by as much as 78%. Our findings nominate a new therapeutic target for lowering PrP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliana E Gentile
- McCance Center for Brain Health and Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142
| | - Taylor L Corridon
- McCance Center for Brain Health and Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142
| | - Meredith A Mortberg
- McCance Center for Brain Health and Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142
| | - Elston Neil D'Souza
- Big Data Institute and Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7LF, UK
| | - Nicola Whiffin
- Big Data Institute and Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7LF, UK
- Program in Medical and Population Genetics, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA
| | - Eric Vallabh Minikel
- McCance Center for Brain Health and Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142
| | - Sonia M Vallabh
- McCance Center for Brain Health and Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142
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8
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Vallabh SM, Mortberg MA, Allen SW, Kupferschmid AC, Kivisäkk P, Hammerschlag BL, Bolling A, Trombetta BA, Devitte-McKee K, Ford AM, Sather L, Duffy G, Rivera A, Gerber J, McManus AJ, Minikel EV, Arnold SE. Biomarker changes preceding symptom onset in genetic prion disease. MEDRXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES 2023:2023.12.18.23300042. [PMID: 38196583 PMCID: PMC10775317 DOI: 10.1101/2023.12.18.23300042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2024]
Abstract
Importance Genetic prion disease is a universally fatal and rapidly progressive neurodegenerative disease for which genetically targeted therapies are currently under development. Preclinical proofs of concept indicate that treatment before symptoms will offer outsize benefit. Though early treatment paradigms will be informed by the longitudinal biomarker trajectory of mutation carriers, to date limited cases have been molecularly tracked from the presymptomatic phase through symptomatic onset. Objective To longitudinally characterize disease-relevant cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and plasma biomarkers in individuals at risk for genetic prion disease up to disease conversion, alongside non-converters and healthy controls. Design setting and participants This single-center longitudinal cohort study has followed 41 PRNP mutation carriers and 21 controls for up to 6 years. Participants spanned a range of known pathogenic PRNP variants; all subjects were asymptomatic at first visit and returned roughly annually. Four at-risk individuals experienced prion disease onset during the study. Main outcomes and measures RT-QuIC prion seeding activity, prion protein (PrP), neurofilament light chain (NfL) total tau (t-tau), and beta synuclein were measured in CSF. Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and NfL were measured in plasma. Results We observed RT-QuIC seeding activity in the CSF of three E200K carriers prior to symptom onset and death, while the CSF of one P102L carrier remained RT-QuIC negative through symptom conversion. The prodromal window of RT-QuIC positivity was one year long in an E200K individual homozygous (V/V) at PRNP codon 129 and was longer than two years in two codon 129 heterozygotes (M/V). Other neurodegenerative and neuroinflammatory markers gave less consistent signal prior to symptom onset, whether analyzed relative to age or individual baseline. CSF PrP was longitudinally stable (mean CV 10%) across all individuals over up to 6 years, including at RT-QuIC positive timepoints. Conclusion and relevance In this study, we demonstrate that at least for the E200K mutation, CSF prion seeding activity may represent the earliest detectable prodromal sign, and that its prognostic value may be modified by codon 129 genotype. Neuronal damage and neuroinflammation markers show limited sensitivity in the prodromal phase. CSF PrP levels remain stable even in the presence of RT-QuIC seeding activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonia M Vallabh
- McCance Center for Brain Health and Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142
- Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115
| | - Meredith A Mortberg
- McCance Center for Brain Health and Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142
| | - Shona W. Allen
- McCance Center for Brain Health and Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114
| | - Ashley C Kupferschmid
- McCance Center for Brain Health and Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114
| | - Pia Kivisäkk
- McCance Center for Brain Health and Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114
- Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115
| | - Bruno L Hammerschlag
- McCance Center for Brain Health and Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114
| | - Anna Bolling
- McCance Center for Brain Health and Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114
| | - Bianca A. Trombetta
- McCance Center for Brain Health and Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114
| | - Kelli Devitte-McKee
- McCance Center for Brain Health and Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114
| | - Abaigeal M. Ford
- McCance Center for Brain Health and Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114
| | - Lauren Sather
- McCance Center for Brain Health and Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114
| | - Griffin Duffy
- McCance Center for Brain Health and Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114
| | - Ashley Rivera
- McCance Center for Brain Health and Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114
| | - Jessica Gerber
- McCance Center for Brain Health and Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114
| | - Alison J McManus
- McCance Center for Brain Health and Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114
| | - Eric Vallabh Minikel
- McCance Center for Brain Health and Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142
- Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115
| | - Steven E Arnold
- McCance Center for Brain Health and Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114
- Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115
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9
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Yoshinaga Tonholo Silva T, Oliveira Marques MV, Zanoteli E, Pedroso JL, Graziani Povoas Barsottini O. Juvenile Gerstmann-Sträussler-Scheinker Disease Mimicking Anticipation Phenomenon. Mov Disord Clin Pract 2023; 10:1700-1702. [PMID: 37982114 PMCID: PMC10654820 DOI: 10.1002/mdc3.13878] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2023] [Revised: 08/09/2023] [Accepted: 08/24/2023] [Indexed: 11/21/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Edmar Zanoteli
- Department of NeurologyFaculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (FMUSP)São PauloBrazil
| | - José Luiz Pedroso
- Department of Neurology, Ataxia UnitUniversidade Federal de São PauloSão PauloBrazil
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10
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Liu Y, Tan L, Tan MS. Chaperone-mediated autophagy in neurodegenerative diseases: mechanisms and therapy. Mol Cell Biochem 2023; 478:2173-2190. [PMID: 36695937 DOI: 10.1007/s11010-022-04640-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2022] [Accepted: 12/09/2022] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Chaperone-mediated autophagy (CMA) is the selective degradation process of intracellular components by lysosomes, which is required for the degradation of aggregate-prone proteins and contributes to proteostasis maintenance. Proteostasis is essential for normal cell function and survival, and it is determined by the balance of protein synthesis and degradation. Because postmitotic neurons are highly susceptible to proteostasis disruption, CMA is vital for the nervous system. Since Parkinson's disease (PD) was first linked to CMA dysfunction, an increasing number of studies have shown that CMA loss, as seen during aging, occurs in the pathogenetic process of neurodegenerative diseases. Here, we review the molecular mechanisms of CMA, as well as the physiological function and regulation of this autophagy pathway. Following, we highlight its potential role in neurodegenerative diseases, and the latest advances and challenges in targeting CMA in therapy of neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Liu
- Department of Neurology, Qingdao Municipal Hospital, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Lan Tan
- Department of Neurology, Qingdao Municipal Hospital, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China.
| | - Meng-Shan Tan
- Department of Neurology, Qingdao Municipal Hospital, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China.
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11
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Zhang YK, Liu JR, Yin KL, Zong Y, Wang YZ, Cao YM. Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease presenting as Korsakoff syndrome caused by E196A mutation in PRNP gene: A case report. World J Clin Cases 2023; 11:5982-5987. [PMID: 37727484 PMCID: PMC10506038 DOI: 10.12998/wjcc.v11.i25.5982] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2023] [Revised: 07/25/2023] [Accepted: 08/09/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prion diseases are a group of degenerative nerve diseases that are caused by infectious prion proteins or gene mutations. In humans, prion diseases result from mutations in the prion protein gene (PRNP). Only a limited number of cases involving a specific PRNP mutation at codon 196 (E196A) have been reported. The coexistence of Korsakoff syndrome in patients with Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) caused by E196A mutation has not been documented in the existing literature. CASE SUMMARY A 61-year-old Chinese man initially presented with Korsakoff syndrome, followed by rapid-onset dementia, visual hallucinations, akinetic mutism, myoclonus, and hyperthermia. The patient had no significant personal or familial medical history. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain revealed extensive hyperintense signals in the cortex, while positron emission tomography/computed tomography showed a diffuse reduction in cerebral cortex metabolism. Routine biochemical and microorganism testing of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) yielded normal results. Tests for thyroid function, human immunodeficiency virus, syphilis, vitamin B1 and B12 levels, and autoimmune rheumatic disorders were normal. Blood and CSF tests for autoimmune encephalitis and autoantibody-associated paraneoplastic syndrome yielded negative results. A test for 14-3-3 protein in the CSF yielded negative results. Whole-genome sequencing revealed a disease-causing mutation in PRNP. The patient succumbed to the illness 11 months after the initial symptom onset. CONCLUSION Korsakoff syndrome, typically associated with alcohol intoxication, also manifests in CJD patients. Individuals with CJD along with PRNP E196A mutation may present with Korsakoff syndrome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong-Kang Zhang
- Diagnosis and Treatment Center of Vascular Disease, Shanghai TCM-Integrated Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200082, China
| | - Jia-Rui Liu
- Diagnosis and Treatment Center of Vascular Disease, Shanghai TCM-Integrated Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200082, China
| | - Kang-Li Yin
- Diagnosis and Treatment Center of Vascular Disease, Shanghai TCM-Integrated Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200082, China
| | - Yuan Zong
- Diagnosis and Treatment Center of Vascular Disease, Shanghai TCM-Integrated Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200082, China
| | - Yu-Zhen Wang
- Diagnosis and Treatment Center of Vascular Disease, Shanghai TCM-Integrated Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200082, China
| | - Ye-Min Cao
- Diagnosis and Treatment Center of Vascular Disease, Shanghai TCM-Integrated Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200082, China
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12
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Mortberg MA, Gentile JE, Nadaf N, Vanderburg C, Simmons S, Dubinsky D, Slamin A, Maldonado S, Petersen C, Jones N, Kordasiewicz H, Zhao H, Vallabh S, Minikel E. A single-cell map of antisense oligonucleotide activity in the brain. Nucleic Acids Res 2023; 51:7109-7124. [PMID: 37188501 PMCID: PMC10415122 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkad371] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2023] [Revised: 04/19/2023] [Accepted: 04/27/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) dosed into cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) distribute broadly throughout the central nervous system (CNS). By modulating RNA, they hold the promise of targeting root molecular causes of disease and hold potential to treat myriad CNS disorders. Realization of this potential requires that ASOs must be active in the disease-relevant cells, and ideally, that monitorable biomarkers also reflect ASO activity in these cells. The biodistribution and activity of such centrally delivered ASOs have been deeply characterized in rodent and non-human primate (NHP) models, but usually only in bulk tissue, limiting our understanding of the distribution of ASO activity across individual cells and across diverse CNS cell types. Moreover, in human clinical trials, target engagement is usually monitorable only in a single compartment, CSF. We sought a deeper understanding of how individual cells and cell types contribute to bulk tissue signal in the CNS, and how these are linked to CSF biomarker outcomes. We employed single nucleus transcriptomics on tissue from mice treated with RNase H1 ASOs against Prnp and Malat1 and NHPs treated with an ASO against PRNP. Pharmacologic activity was observed in every cell type, though sometimes with substantial differences in magnitude. Single cell RNA count distributions implied target RNA suppression in every single sequenced cell, rather than intense knockdown in only some cells. Duration of action up to 12 weeks post-dose differed across cell types, being shorter in microglia than in neurons. Suppression in neurons was generally similar to, or more robust than, the bulk tissue. In macaques, PrP in CSF was lowered 40% in conjunction with PRNP knockdown across all cell types including neurons, arguing that a CSF biomarker readout is likely to reflect ASO pharmacodynamic effect in disease-relevant cells in a neuronal disorder. Our results provide a reference dataset for ASO activity distribution in the CNS and establish single nucleus sequencing as a method for evaluating cell type specificity of oligonucleotide therapeutics and other modalities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meredith A Mortberg
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Juliana E Gentile
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Naeem M Nadaf
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Charles Vanderburg
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Sean Simmons
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Dan Dubinsky
- Genomics Platform, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02141, USA
| | - Adam Slamin
- Genomics Platform, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02141, USA
| | - Salome Maldonado
- Genomics Platform, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02141, USA
| | - Caroline L Petersen
- Genomics Platform, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02141, USA
| | - Nichole Jones
- Genomics Platform, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02141, USA
| | | | - Hien T Zhao
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Carlsbad, CA 92010, USA
| | - Sonia M Vallabh
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
- McCance Center for Brain Health and Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
- Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA02115, USA
- Prion Alliance, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Eric Vallabh Minikel
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
- McCance Center for Brain Health and Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
- Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA02115, USA
- Prion Alliance, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
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13
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Vallabh SM, Zou D, Pitstick R, O’Moore J, Peters J, Silvius D, Kriz J, Jackson WS, Carlson GA, Minikel EV, Cabin DE. Therapeutic Trial of anle138b in Mouse Models of Genetic Prion Disease. J Virol 2023; 97:e0167222. [PMID: 36651748 PMCID: PMC9973041 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01672-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2022] [Accepted: 12/23/2022] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Phenotypic screening has yielded small-molecule inhibitors of prion replication that are effective in vivo against certain prion strains but not others. Here, we sought to test the small molecule anle138b in multiple mouse models of prion disease. In mice inoculated with the RML strain of prions, anle138b doubled survival and durably suppressed astrogliosis measured by live-animal bioluminescence imaging. In knock-in mouse models of the D178N and E200K mutations that cause genetic prion disease, however, we were unable to identify a clear, quantifiable disease endpoint against which to measure therapeutic efficacy. Among untreated animals, the mutations did not impact overall survival, and bioluminescence remained low out to >20 months of age. Vacuolization and PrP deposition were observed in some brain regions in a subset of mutant animals but appeared to be unable to carry the weight of a primary endpoint in a therapeutic study. We conclude that not all animal models of prion disease are suited to well-powered therapeutic efficacy studies, and care should be taken in choosing the models that will support drug development programs. IMPORTANCE There is an urgent need to develop drugs for prion disease, a currently untreatable neurodegenerative disease. In this effort, there is a debate over which animal models can best support a drug development program. While the study of prion disease benefits from excellent animal models because prions naturally afflict many different mammals, different models have different capabilities and limitations. Here, we conducted a therapeutic efficacy study of the drug candidate anle138b in mouse models with two of the most common mutations that cause genetic prion disease. In a more typical model where prions are injected directly into the brain, we found anle138b to be effective. In the genetic models, however, the animals never reached a clear, measurable point of disease onset. We conclude that not all prion disease animal models are ideally suited to drug efficacy studies, and well-defined, quantitative disease metrics should be a priority.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonia M. Vallabh
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
- McCance Center for Brain Health, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Prion Alliance, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Dan Zou
- Montana Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, Bozeman, Montana, USA
| | - Rose Pitstick
- McLaughlin Research Institute, Great Falls, Montana, USA
| | - Jill O’Moore
- McLaughlin Research Institute, Great Falls, Montana, USA
| | - Janet Peters
- McLaughlin Research Institute, Great Falls, Montana, USA
| | - Derek Silvius
- McLaughlin Research Institute, Great Falls, Montana, USA
| | - Jasna Kriz
- Cervo Brain Research Center, Université Laval, Québec, Québec, Canada
| | - Walker S. Jackson
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - George A. Carlson
- Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of California—San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Eric Vallabh Minikel
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
- McCance Center for Brain Health, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Prion Alliance, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
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14
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Mortberg MA, Gentile JE, Nadaf N, Vanderburg C, Simmons S, Dubinsky D, Slamin A, Maldonado S, Petersen CL, Jones N, Kordasiewicz HB, Zhao HT, Vallabh SM, Minikel EV. A single-cell map of antisense oligonucleotide activity in the brain. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.02.14.528473. [PMID: 36824749 PMCID: PMC9948956 DOI: 10.1101/2023.02.14.528473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/16/2023]
Abstract
Antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) dosed into cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) distribute broadly throughout the brain and hold the promise of treating myriad brain diseases by modulating RNA. CNS tissue is not routinely biopsied in living individuals, leading to reliance on CSF biomarkers to inform on drug target engagement. Animal models can link CSF biomarkers to brain parenchyma, but our understanding of how individual cells contribute to bulk tissue signal is limited. Here we employed single nucleus transcriptomics on tissue from mice treated with RNase H1 ASOs against Prnp and Malat1 and macaques treated with an ASO against PRNP . Activity was observed in every cell type, though sometimes with substantial differences in magnitude. Single cell RNA count distributions implied target suppression in every single sequenced cell, rather than intense knockdown in only some cells. Duration of action up to 12 weeks post-dose differed across cell types, being shorter in microglia than in neurons. Suppression in neurons was generally similar to, or more robust than, the bulk tissue. In macaques, PrP in CSF was lowered 40% in conjunction with PRNP knockdown across all cell types including neurons, arguing that a CSF biomarker readout is likely to reflect disease-relevant cells in a neuronal disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meredith A Mortberg
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard,Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA
| | - Juliana E Gentile
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard,Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA
| | - Naeem Nadaf
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard,Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA
| | - Charles Vanderburg
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard,Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA
| | - Sean Simmons
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard,Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA
| | - Dan Dubinsky
- Genomics Platform, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, 02141, USA
| | - Adam Slamin
- Genomics Platform, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, 02141, USA
| | - Salome Maldonado
- Genomics Platform, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, 02141, USA
| | - Caroline L Petersen
- Genomics Platform, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, 02141, USA
| | - Nichole Jones
- Genomics Platform, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, 02141, USA
| | | | - Hien T Zhao
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Carlsbad, CA, 92010, USA
| | - Sonia M Vallabh
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard,Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA
- McCance Center for Brain Health and Department of Neurology, Massachusetts GeneralHospital, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
- Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Prion Alliance, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Eric Vallabh Minikel
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard,Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA
- McCance Center for Brain Health and Department of Neurology, Massachusetts GeneralHospital, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
- Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Prion Alliance, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
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15
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Avar M, Heinzer D, Thackray AM, Liu Y, Hruska‐Plochan M, Sellitto S, Schaper E, Pease DP, Yin J, Lakkaraju AKK, Emmenegger M, Losa M, Chincisan A, Hornemann S, Polymenidou M, Bujdoso R, Aguzzi A. An arrayed genome-wide perturbation screen identifies the ribonucleoprotein Hnrnpk as rate-limiting for prion propagation. EMBO J 2022; 41:e112338. [PMID: 36254605 PMCID: PMC9713719 DOI: 10.15252/embj.2022112338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2022] [Revised: 09/17/2022] [Accepted: 09/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
A defining characteristic of mammalian prions is their capacity for self-sustained propagation. Theoretical considerations and experimental evidence suggest that prion propagation is modulated by cell-autonomous and non-autonomous modifiers. Using a novel quantitative phospholipase protection assay (QUIPPER) for high-throughput prion measurements, we performed an arrayed genome-wide RNA interference (RNAi) screen aimed at detecting cellular host-factors that can modify prion propagation. We exposed prion-infected cells in high-density microplates to 35,364 ternary pools of 52,746 siRNAs targeting 17,582 genes representing the majority of the mouse protein-coding transcriptome. We identified 1,191 modulators of prion propagation. While 1,151 modified the expression of both the pathological prion protein, PrPSc , and its cellular counterpart, PrPC , 40 genes selectively affected PrPSc . Of the latter 40 genes, 20 augmented prion production when suppressed. A prominent limiter of prion propagation was the heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein Hnrnpk. Psammaplysene A (PSA), which binds Hnrnpk, reduced prion levels in cultured cells and protected them from cytotoxicity. PSA also reduced prion levels in infected cerebellar organotypic slices and alleviated locomotor deficits in prion-infected Drosophila melanogaster expressing ovine PrPC . Hence, genome-wide QUIPPER-based perturbations can discover actionable cellular pathways involved in prion propagation. Further, the unexpected identification of a prion-controlling ribonucleoprotein suggests a role for RNA in the generation of infectious prions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Merve Avar
- Institute of NeuropathologyUniversity of ZurichZurichSwitzerland
| | - Daniel Heinzer
- Institute of NeuropathologyUniversity of ZurichZurichSwitzerland
| | - Alana M Thackray
- Department of Veterinary MedicineUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeUK
| | - Yingjun Liu
- Institute of NeuropathologyUniversity of ZurichZurichSwitzerland
| | | | - Stefano Sellitto
- Institute of NeuropathologyUniversity of ZurichZurichSwitzerland
| | - Elke Schaper
- Institute of NeuropathologyUniversity of ZurichZurichSwitzerland
| | - Daniel P Pease
- Institute of NeuropathologyUniversity of ZurichZurichSwitzerland
| | - Jiang‐An Yin
- Institute of NeuropathologyUniversity of ZurichZurichSwitzerland
| | | | - Marc Emmenegger
- Institute of NeuropathologyUniversity of ZurichZurichSwitzerland
| | - Marco Losa
- Institute of NeuropathologyUniversity of ZurichZurichSwitzerland
| | - Andra Chincisan
- Institute of NeuropathologyUniversity of ZurichZurichSwitzerland
| | - Simone Hornemann
- Institute of NeuropathologyUniversity of ZurichZurichSwitzerland
| | | | - Raymond Bujdoso
- Department of Veterinary MedicineUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeUK
| | - Adriano Aguzzi
- Institute of NeuropathologyUniversity of ZurichZurichSwitzerland
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16
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Appleby BS, Shetty S, Elkasaby M. Genetic aspects of human prion diseases. Front Neurol 2022; 13:1003056. [PMID: 36277922 PMCID: PMC9579322 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2022.1003056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2022] [Accepted: 08/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Human prion diseases are rapidly progressive and fatal neurodegenerative conditions caused by a disease-causing isoform of the native prion protein. The prion protein gene (PRNP) encodes for the cellular prion protein, which is the biological substrate for prion disease transmission and neurotoxicity. Human prion diseases have three etiologies: sporadic, genetic, and acquired. PRNP polymorphisms and pathogenic variants play a large role in the frequency, age at onset, and clinicopathologic phenotype of prion diseases. Genetic prion diseases will be covered in detail and information necessary for clinical care, predictive genetic testing, and genetic counseling will be reviewed. Because the prion protein is necessary for transmission and neurotoxicity, many experimental treatments targeting its production are being investigated and hold potential promise as a disease modifying treatment for all forms of prion disease, including asymptomatic mutation carriers. This article will review genetic aspects of human prion disease and their influence on epidemiology, clinicopathologic phenotype, diagnostics, clinical management, and potential treatment approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian S. Appleby
- Department of Pathology, National Prion Disease Pathology Surveillance Center, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, United States
- Department of Neurology, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center/Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, United States
- *Correspondence: Brian S. Appleby
| | - Shashirekha Shetty
- Department of Pathology, National Prion Disease Pathology Surveillance Center, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, United States
- Department of Pathology, Center for Human Genetics Laboratory, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center/Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, United States
| | - Mohamed Elkasaby
- Department of Neurology, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center/Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, United States
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17
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Corbie R, Campbell T, Darwent L, Rudge P, Collinge J, Mead S. Estimation of the number of inherited prion disease mutation carriers in the UK. Eur J Hum Genet 2022; 30:1167-1170. [PMID: 35754056 PMCID: PMC9553982 DOI: 10.1038/s41431-022-01132-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2022] [Revised: 05/26/2022] [Accepted: 06/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Inherited prion diseases (IPD) are a set of rare neurodegenerative diseases that are always caused by mutation of the prion protein gene (PRNP). These are highly heterogeneous in clinical presentation and best described by the specific gene mutation, but traditionally include the canonical syndromes familial Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, Gerstamann-Straussler-Scheinker syndrome, and fatal familial insomnia. In the UK, care of IPD patients and clinical PRNP sequencing have been carried out almost exclusively by the National Prion Clinic and affiliated laboratories since the disease gene was discovered in 1989. Using data obtained over 30 years (1990-2019), this study aimed to provide a greater understanding of the genetic prevalence of IPD using multiple complementary methods. A key source of bias in rare disorders is ascertainment, so we included an analysis based on capture-recapture techniques that may help to minimise ascertainment bias. 225 patients, with 21 different IPD mutations were identified, varying in frequency (with 8/21 mutations comprising over 90% observed cases), derived from 116 kindreds and 151 3-generation families. We estimated a total of 303 UK families (95% CI = 222, 384) segregate IPD mutations, 1091 (95% CI = 720, 1461) UK mutation carriers and a lifetime risk of approximately 1 in 60,000. Simpler methods of measuring prevalence based on extrapolation from the annual incidence of disease, and large scale genomic studies, result in similar estimates of prevalence. These estimates may be of value for planning preventive trials of therapeutics in IPD mutation carriers, prevention of prion disease transmission and provision of specialist services.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosie Corbie
- grid.52996.310000 0000 8937 2257National Prion Clinic, University College London (UCL) Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Tracy Campbell
- grid.421964.c0000 0004 0606 3301MRC Prion Unit at UCL, Institute of Prion Diseases, 33 Cleveland Street, London, W1W 7FF UK
| | - Lee Darwent
- grid.421964.c0000 0004 0606 3301MRC Prion Unit at UCL, Institute of Prion Diseases, 33 Cleveland Street, London, W1W 7FF UK
| | - Peter Rudge
- grid.52996.310000 0000 8937 2257National Prion Clinic, University College London (UCL) Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK ,grid.421964.c0000 0004 0606 3301MRC Prion Unit at UCL, Institute of Prion Diseases, 33 Cleveland Street, London, W1W 7FF UK
| | - John Collinge
- grid.52996.310000 0000 8937 2257National Prion Clinic, University College London (UCL) Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK ,grid.421964.c0000 0004 0606 3301MRC Prion Unit at UCL, Institute of Prion Diseases, 33 Cleveland Street, London, W1W 7FF UK
| | - Simon Mead
- National Prion Clinic, University College London (UCL) Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK. .,MRC Prion Unit at UCL, Institute of Prion Diseases, 33 Cleveland Street, London, W1W 7FF, UK.
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18
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Mortberg MA, Minikel EV, Vallabh SM. Analysis of non-human primate models for evaluating prion disease therapeutic efficacy. PLoS Pathog 2022; 18:e1010728. [PMID: 35994510 PMCID: PMC9436048 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1010728] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2022] [Revised: 09/01/2022] [Accepted: 07/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Prion disease is a fatal neurodegenerative disease caused by the conformational corruption of the prion protein (PrP), encoded by the prion protein gene (PRNP). While no disease-modifying therapy is currently available, genetic and pharmacological proofs of concept support development of therapies that lower PrP levels in the brain. In light of proposals for clinical testing of such drugs in presymptomatic individuals at risk for genetic prion disease, extensive nonclinical data are likely to be required, with extra attention paid to choice of animal models. Uniquely, the entire prion disease process can be faithfully modeled through transmission of human prions to non-human primates (NHPs), raising the question of whether NHP models should be used to assess therapeutic efficacy. Here we systematically aggregate data from N = 883 prion-inoculated animals spanning six decades of research studies. Using this dataset, we assess prion strain, route of administration, endpoint, and passage number to characterize the relationship of tested models to currently prevalent human subtypes of prion disease. We analyze the incubation times observed across diverse models and perform power calculations to assess the practicability of testing prion disease therapeutic efficacy in NHPs. We find that while some models may theoretically be able to support therapeutic efficacy studies, pilot studies would be required to confirm incubation time and attack rate before pivotal studies could be designed, cumulatively requiring several years. The models with the shortest and most tightly distributed incubation times are those with smaller brains and weaker homology to humans. Our findings indicate that it would be challenging to conduct efficacy studies in NHPs in a paradigm that honors the potential advantages of NHPs over other available models, on a timeframe that would not risk unduly delaying patient access to promising drug candidates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meredith A. Mortberg
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Eric Vallabh Minikel
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
- McCance Center for Brain Health, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Prion Alliance, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Sonia M. Vallabh
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
- McCance Center for Brain Health, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Prion Alliance, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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19
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Goldman JS, Vallabh SM. Genetic counseling for prion disease: Updates and best practices. Genet Med 2022; 24:1993-2003. [PMID: 35819418 DOI: 10.1016/j.gim.2022.06.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Revised: 06/13/2022] [Accepted: 06/15/2022] [Indexed: 10/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Prion disease is a rare, fatal, and often rapidly progressive neurodegenerative disease. Ten to fifteen percent of cases are caused by autosomal dominant gain-of-function variants in the prion protein gene, PRNP. Rarity and phenotypic variability complicate diagnosis, often obscuring family history and leaving families unprepared for the genetic implications of an index case. Several recent developments inspire this update in best practices for prion disease genetic counseling. A new prion-detection assay has transformed symptomatic diagnosis. Meanwhile, penetrance, age of onset, and duration of illness have been systematically characterized across PRNP variants in a global cohort. Clinically, the traditional genotype-phenotype correlation has weakened over time, and the term genetic prion disease may now better serve providers than the historical subtypes Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, fatal familial insomnia, and Gerstmann-Sträussler-Scheinker disease. Finally, in the age of genetically targeted therapies, clinical trials for prion disease are being envisaged, and healthy at-risk individuals may be best positioned to benefit. Such individuals need to be able to access clinical services for genetic counseling and testing. Thus, this update on the genetics of prion disease and best practices for genetic counseling for this disease aims to provide the information needed to expand genetic counseling services.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sonia M Vallabh
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA; Henry and Allison McCance Center for Brain Health, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA; Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA; Prion Alliance, Cambridge, MA.
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20
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Schmitz M, Canaslan S, Espinosa JC, Fernández-Borges N, Villar-Piqué A, Llorens F, Varges D, Maass F, Torres JM, Hermann P, Zerr I. Validation of Plasma and CSF Neurofilament Light Chain as an Early Marker for Sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease. Mol Neurobiol 2022; 59:1-9. [PMID: 35716271 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-022-02891-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2022] [Accepted: 05/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Biomarkers are becoming increasingly important for the differential diagnosis of neurodegenerative diseases. Previous observations indicated neurofilament light chain (NfL) as a potential blood-based biomarker for sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (sCJD). Here, we investigated the stability, inter-assay/intra-assay variation and the regulation of NfL levels in CSF and plasma in a large cohort of sCJD patients by using a single-molecule array (SIMOA). We defined cutoffs for an accurate diagnosis and measured plasma NfL level in prion-infected mice models at different time points to identify the potential dynamics throughout the disease. Our analyses confirmed CSF and plasma NfL as stable and consistent marker for sCJD. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis showed an AUC of 0.92-0.93 to distinguish sCJD from control groups. Newly defined cutoffs revealed good diagnostic accuracies of CSF and plasma NfL, indicated by a sensitivity of 80-83.5% and a specificity of 87.4-91%. Studies on two humanized prion-infected mice lines (Tg340-PRNP 129MM and Tg361-PRNP 129VV) revealed increased plasma NfL levels in a late pre-clinical or very early clinical stage between 120-150 days post-inoculation. In conclusion, our work supports the potential use of CSF and plasma NfL as a very early biomarker in sCJD diagnostic with good diagnostic accuracies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthias Schmitz
- Department of Neurology, University Medicine Göttingen, National Reference Center for TSE and the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Göttingen, Germany.
| | - Sezgi Canaslan
- Department of Neurology, University Medicine Göttingen, National Reference Center for TSE and the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Göttingen, Germany
| | - Juan Carlos Espinosa
- Centro de Investigación en Sanidad Animal-Instituto Nacional de Investigación Y Tecnología Agraria Y Alimentaria-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CISA-INIA-CSIC), 28130, Madrid, Spain
| | - Natalia Fernández-Borges
- Centro de Investigación en Sanidad Animal-Instituto Nacional de Investigación Y Tecnología Agraria Y Alimentaria-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CISA-INIA-CSIC), 28130, Madrid, Spain
| | - Anna Villar-Piqué
- Department of Neurology, University Medicine Göttingen, National Reference Center for TSE and the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Göttingen, Germany.,CIBERNED (Network Center for Biomedical Research of Neurodegenerative Diseases), Institute Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.,Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain
| | - Franc Llorens
- Department of Neurology, University Medicine Göttingen, National Reference Center for TSE and the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Göttingen, Germany.,CIBERNED (Network Center for Biomedical Research of Neurodegenerative Diseases), Institute Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.,Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain
| | - Daniela Varges
- Department of Neurology, University Medicine Göttingen, National Reference Center for TSE and the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Göttingen, Germany
| | - Fabian Maass
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Juan Maria Torres
- Centro de Investigación en Sanidad Animal-Instituto Nacional de Investigación Y Tecnología Agraria Y Alimentaria-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CISA-INIA-CSIC), 28130, Madrid, Spain
| | - Peter Hermann
- Department of Neurology, University Medicine Göttingen, National Reference Center for TSE and the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Göttingen, Germany
| | - Inga Zerr
- Department of Neurology, University Medicine Göttingen, National Reference Center for TSE and the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Göttingen, Germany
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21
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Sundararajan V, Burk UC, Bajdak-Rusinek K. Revisiting the miR-200 Family: A Clan of Five Siblings with Essential Roles in Development and Disease. Biomolecules 2022; 12:biom12060781. [PMID: 35740906 PMCID: PMC9221129 DOI: 10.3390/biom12060781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2022] [Revised: 05/29/2022] [Accepted: 06/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Over two decades of studies on small noncoding RNA molecules illustrate the significance of microRNAs (miRNAs/miRs) in controlling multiple physiological and pathological functions through post-transcriptional and spatiotemporal gene expression. Among the plethora of miRs that are essential during animal embryonic development, in this review, we elaborate the indispensable role of the miR-200 family (comprising miR-200a, -200b, 200c, -141, and -429) in governing the cellular functions associated with epithelial homeostasis, such as epithelial differentiation and neurogenesis. Additionally, in pathological contexts, miR-200 family members are primarily involved in tumor-suppressive roles, including the reversal of the cancer-associated epithelial–mesenchymal transition dedifferentiation process, and are dysregulated during organ fibrosis. Moreover, recent eminent studies have elucidated the crucial roles of miR-200s in the pathophysiology of multiple neurodegenerative diseases and tissue fibrosis. Lastly, we summarize the key studies that have recognized the potential use of miR-200 members as biomarkers for the diagnosis and prognosis of cancers, elaborating the application of these small biomolecules in aiding early cancer detection and intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vignesh Sundararajan
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, Center for Translational Medicine, Singapore 117599, Singapore;
| | - Ulrike C. Burk
- Institute of Molecular Medicine and Cell Research, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany;
| | - Karolina Bajdak-Rusinek
- Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Medical University of Silesia, 40-752 Katowice, Poland
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +48-32-208-8382
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22
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Teruya K, Doh-Ura K. Therapeutic development of polymers for prion disease. Cell Tissue Res 2022; 392:349-365. [PMID: 35307792 DOI: 10.1007/s00441-022-03604-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2021] [Accepted: 02/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Prion diseases, also known as transmissible spongiform encephalopathies, are caused by the accumulation of abnormal isoforms of the prion protein (scrapie isoform of the prion protein, PrPSc) in the central nervous system. Many compounds with anti-prion activities have been found using in silico screening, in vitro models, persistently prion-infected cell models, and prion-infected rodent models. Some of these compounds include several types of polymers. Although the inhibition or removal of PrPSc production is the main target of therapy, the unique features of prions, namely protein aggregation and assembly accompanied by steric structural transformation, may require different strategies for the development of anti-prion drugs than those for conventional therapeutics targeting enzyme inhibition, agonist ligands, or modulation of signaling. In this paper, we first overview the history of the application of polymers to prion disease research. Next, we describe the characteristics of each type of polymer with anti-prion activity. Finally, we discuss the common features of these polymers. Although drug delivery of these polymers to the brain is a challenge, they are useful not only as leads for therapeutic drugs but also as tools to explore the structure of PrPSc and are indispensable for prion disease research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenta Teruya
- Department of Neurochemistry, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Seiryo-cho, Aoba-ku, Sendai, 980-8575, Japan
| | - Katsumi Doh-Ura
- Department of Neurochemistry, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Seiryo-cho, Aoba-ku, Sendai, 980-8575, Japan.
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23
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Hermann P, Canaslan S, Villar-Piqué A, Bunck T, Goebel S, Llorens F, Schmitz M, Zerr I. Plasma neurofilament light chain as a biomarker for Fatal Familial Insomnia. Eur J Neurol 2022; 29:1841-1846. [PMID: 35212083 DOI: 10.1111/ene.15302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2022] [Accepted: 02/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Fatal Familial Insomnia is a rare hereditary prion disease associated with the D178N-129M PRNP mutation. Early diagnosis is difficult because the clinical syndrome may overlap with affective disorders. In addition, most known cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers for prion diseases and magnetic resonance imaging do not show a good diagnostic accuracy for Fatal Familial Insomnia. In this context, data on plasma biomarkers are scarce. METHODS We analyzed levels of neurofilament light chain, glial fibrillary acidic protein, chitinase-3-like protein 1, calcium-binding protein B, and total Tau protein in six serial plasma samples from a patient with Fatal Familial Insomnia. Subsequently, plasma neurofilament light chain was analyzed in n=25 patients and n=19 controls. The diagnostic accuracy and associations with disease stage and duration were explored. RESULTS Among all biomarker candidates in the case study, only neurofilament light chain levels showed a constant evolution and increased over time. It discriminated Fatal Familial Insomnia from controls with an area under the curve of 0.992 (95%CI:0.974 to 1) in the case-control study. Higher concentrations were associated with methionine homozygosity at Codon 129 PRNP (p=0.006), shorter total disease duration (rho=-0.467, p=0.019, 95%CI:-0.790 to -0.015), and shorter time from sampling to death (rho=-0.467, p=0.019, 95%CI -0.773 to -0.019). CONCLUSION Plasma neurofilament light chain may be a valuable minimal-invasive diagnostic biomarker for Fatal Familial Insomnia after clinical onset. Most important, stage-related increase and association with disease duration indicate potential as a prognostic marker and as a surrogate marker in clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Hermann
- Department of Neurology, National Reference Center for CJD Surveillance, University Medical Center Göttingen, 37075, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Sezgi Canaslan
- Department of Neurology, National Reference Center for CJD Surveillance, University Medical Center Göttingen, 37075, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Anna Villar-Piqué
- Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), 08908, Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain.,Network Center for Biomedical Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, CIBERNED, 28031, Madrid, Spain
| | - Timothy Bunck
- Department of Neurology, National Reference Center for CJD Surveillance, University Medical Center Göttingen, 37075, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Stefan Goebel
- Department of Neurology, National Reference Center for CJD Surveillance, University Medical Center Göttingen, 37075, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Franc Llorens
- Department of Neurology, National Reference Center for CJD Surveillance, University Medical Center Göttingen, 37075, Göttingen, Germany.,Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), 08908, Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain.,Network Center for Biomedical Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, CIBERNED, 28031, Madrid, Spain
| | - Matthias Schmitz
- Department of Neurology, National Reference Center for CJD Surveillance, University Medical Center Göttingen, 37075, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Inga Zerr
- Department of Neurology, National Reference Center for CJD Surveillance, University Medical Center Göttingen, 37075, Göttingen, Germany.,German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE)-Göttingen campus, 37075, Göttingen, Germany
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24
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Mortberg MA, Zhao HT, Reidenbach AG, Gentile JE, Kuhn E, O'Moore J, Dooley PM, Connors TR, Mazur C, Allen SW, Trombetta BA, McManus AJ, Moore MR, Liu J, Cabin DE, Kordasiewicz HB, Mathews J, Arnold SE, Vallabh SM, Minikel EV. PrP concentration in the central nervous system: regional variability, genotypic effects, and pharmacodynamic impact. JCI Insight 2022; 7:156532. [PMID: 35133987 PMCID: PMC8986079 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.156532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2021] [Accepted: 02/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Prion protein (PrP) concentration controls the kinetics of prion replication and is a genetically and pharmacologically validated therapeutic target for prion disease. In order to evaluate PrP concentration as a pharmacodynamic biomarker and assess its contribution to known prion disease risk factors, we developed and validated a plate-based immunoassay reactive for PrP across six species of interest and applicable to brain and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). PrP concentration varies dramatically between different brain regions in mice, cynomolgus macaques, and humans. PrP expression does not appear to contribute to the known risk factors of age, sex, or common PRNP genetic variants. CSF PrP is lowered in the presence of rare pathogenic PRNP variants, with heterozygous carriers of P102L displaying 55% and of D178N just 31% the CSF PrP concentration of mutation-negative controls. In rodents, pharmacologic reduction of brain Prnp RNA is reflected in brain parenchyma PrP, and in turn in CSF PrP, validating CSF as a sampling compartment for the effect of PrP-lowering therapy. Our findings support the use of CSF PrP as a pharmacodynamic biomarker for PrP-lowering drugs, and suggest that relative reduction from individual baseline CSF PrP concentration may be an appropriate marker for target engagement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meredith A Mortberg
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of Harvard & MIT, Cambridge, United States of America
| | - Hien T Zhao
- Neuroscience, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Carlsbad, United States of America
| | - Andrew G Reidenbach
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of Harvard & MIT, Cambridge, United States of America
| | - Juliana E Gentile
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of Harvard & MIT, Cambridge, United States of America
| | - Eric Kuhn
- Proteomics Platform, Broad Institute of Harvard & MIT, Cambridge, United States of America
| | - Jill O'Moore
- Comparative Medicine, McLaughlin Research Institute, Great Falls, United States of America
| | - Patrick M Dooley
- Massachusetts Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, United States of America
| | - Theresa R Connors
- Massachusetts Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, United States of America
| | - Curt Mazur
- Neuroscience, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Carlsbad, United States of America
| | - Shona W Allen
- McCance Center for Brain Health, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, United States of America
| | - Bianca A Trombetta
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, United States of America
| | - Alison J McManus
- McCance Center for Brain Health, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, United States of America
| | | | - Jiewu Liu
- Bioagilytix, Bioagilytix, Boston, United States of America
| | - Deborah E Cabin
- Comparative Medicine, McLaughlin Research Institute, Great Falls, United States of America
| | | | - Joel Mathews
- Neuroscience, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Carlsbad, United States of America
| | - Steven E Arnold
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, United States of America
| | - Sonia M Vallabh
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of Harvard & MIT, Cambridge, United States of America
| | - Eric Vallabh Minikel
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of Harvard & MIT, Cambridge, United States of America
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25
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Halbgebauer S, Abu-Rumeileh S, Oeckl P, Steinacker P, Roselli F, Wiesner D, Mammana A, Beekes M, Kortazar-Zubizarreta I, Perez de Nanclares G, Capellari S, Giese A, Castilla J, Ludolph AC, Žáková D, Parchi P, Otto M. Blood β-Synuclein and Neurofilament Light Chain During the Course of Prion Disease. Neurology 2022; 98:e1434-e1445. [PMID: 35110380 DOI: 10.1212/wnl.0000000000200002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2021] [Accepted: 01/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES For early diagnosis and disease monitoring of neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) reliable blood biomarkers are needed. Elevated levels of neurofilament light chain protein (NfL), an axonal damage marker, have been described across different NDs with highest values in prion diseases and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Synaptic degeneration is a common early feature in most NDs and seems to precede neuronal degeneration in prion disease. However, synaptic markers in blood are still missing. Here we investigated if the brain specific protein beta-synuclein might be a suitable blood biomarker for early diagnosis and evaluation of synaptic integrity in prion disease. METHODS We analyzed blood beta-synuclein with a newly established digital ELISA and NfL with single molecule array in samples obtained from human subjects and prion and ALS animal models. Furthermore, beta-synuclein was investigated in brain tissue of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) and control cases. RESULTS We investigated 308 patients including 129 prion disease cases, 8 presymptomatic PRNP mutation carriers, 60 ALS, 68 other ND and 43 control patients. In CJD symptomatic cases beta-synuclein and NfL were markedly increased compared to all other diagnostic groups (p<0.001). In the large majority of pre-symptomatic PRNP mutation carriers beta-synuclein and NfL levels were within normal range. In prion disease animal models, beta-synuclein and NfL displayed normal levels in the pre-symptomatic phase with a sudden elevation at disease onset and a plateau in the symptomatic phase. In contrast to NfL, beta-synuclein was neither elevated in symptomatic ALS patients nor in an ALS animal model. In the discrimination between prion disease and all other groups beta-synuclein (AUC: 0.97, 95% CI: 0.94-0.99, p<0.001) was superior to NfL (AUC: 0.91, 95% CI: 0.88-0.94, p<0.001). Additionally, brain tissue beta-synuclein showed significantly reduced levels in CJD compared to control patients (p<0.001). DISCUSSION Blood beta-synuclein was significantly elevated in CJD patients reflecting ongoing synaptic damage and showed good discriminative characteristics. We therefore propose it as a candidate blood marker for early diagnosis and monitoring of synaptic integrity in prion disease. CLASSIFICATION OF EVIDENCE This study provides Class III evidence that serum beta synuclein concentration accurately distinguishes patients with symptomatic CJD from controls.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steffen Halbgebauer
- Department of Neurology, Ulm University Hospital, Oberer Eselsberg 45, 89081 Ulm, Germany
| | - Samir Abu-Rumeileh
- Department of Neurology, Ulm University Hospital, Oberer Eselsberg 45, 89081 Ulm, Germany.,Department of Neurology, Halle University Hospital, Martin Luther University Halle/Wittenberg, Ernst-Grube Strasse 49, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Patrick Oeckl
- Department of Neurology, Ulm University Hospital, Oberer Eselsberg 45, 89081 Ulm, Germany
| | - Petra Steinacker
- Department of Neurology, Ulm University Hospital, Oberer Eselsberg 45, 89081 Ulm, Germany
| | - Francesco Roselli
- Department of Neurology, Ulm University Hospital, Oberer Eselsberg 45, 89081 Ulm, Germany
| | - Diana Wiesner
- Department of Neurology, Ulm University Hospital, Oberer Eselsberg 45, 89081 Ulm, Germany
| | - Angela Mammana
- IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Michael Beekes
- Centre for Biological Threats and Special Pathogens, Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany
| | | | | | - Sabina Capellari
- IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, Bologna, Italy.,Department of Biomedical and NeuroMotor Sciences (DIBINEM), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Armin Giese
- Department of Neuropathology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany
| | | | - Albert C Ludolph
- Department of Neurology, Ulm University Hospital, Oberer Eselsberg 45, 89081 Ulm, Germany
| | - Dana Žáková
- Department of Prion Diseases, Slovak Medical University, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Piero Parchi
- IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, Bologna, Italy.,Department of Experimental Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine (DIMES), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Markus Otto
- Department of Neurology, Ulm University Hospital, Oberer Eselsberg 45, 89081 Ulm, Germany .,Department of Neurology, Halle University Hospital, Martin Luther University Halle/Wittenberg, Ernst-Grube Strasse 49, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany
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26
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Novel regulators of PrPC biosynthesis revealed by genome-wide RNA interference. PLoS Pathog 2021; 17:e1010013. [PMID: 34705895 PMCID: PMC8575309 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1010013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2021] [Revised: 11/08/2021] [Accepted: 10/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The cellular prion protein PrPC is necessary for prion replication, and its reduction greatly increases life expectancy in animal models of prion infection. Hence the factors controlling the levels of PrPC may represent therapeutic targets against human prion diseases. Here we performed an arrayed whole-transcriptome RNA interference screen to identify modulators of PrPC expression. We cultured human U251-MG glioblastoma cells in the presence of 64’752 unique siRNAs targeting 21’584 annotated human genes, and measured PrPC using a one-pot fluorescence-resonance energy transfer immunoassay in 51’128 individual microplate wells. This screen yielded 743 candidate regulators of PrPC. When downregulated, 563 of these candidates reduced and 180 enhanced PrPC expression. Recursive candidate attrition through multiple secondary screens yielded 54 novel regulators of PrPC, 9 of which were confirmed by CRISPR interference as robust regulators of PrPC biosynthesis and degradation. The phenotypes of 6 of the 9 candidates were inverted in response to transcriptional activation using CRISPRa. The RNA-binding post-transcriptional repressor Pumilio-1 was identified as a potent limiter of PrPC expression through the degradation of PRNP mRNA. Because of its hypothesis-free design, this comprehensive genetic-perturbation screen delivers an unbiased landscape of the genes regulating PrPC levels in cells, most of which were unanticipated, and some of which may be amenable to pharmacological targeting in the context of antiprion therapies. The cellular prion protein (PrPC) acts as both, the substrate for prion formation and mediator of prion toxicity during the progression of all prion diseases. Suppressing the levels of PrPC is a viable therapeutic strategy as PRNP null animals are resistant to prion disease and the knockout of PRNP is not associated with any severe phenotypes. Motivated by the scarcity of knowledge regarding the molecular regulators of PrPC biosynthesis and degradation, which might serve as valuable targets to control its expression, here, we present a cell-based genome wide RNAi screen in arrayed format. The screening effort led to the identification of 54 regulators, nine of which were confirmed by an independent CRISPR-based method. Among the final nine targets, we identified PUM1 as a regulator of PRNP mRNA by acting on the 3’UTR promoting its degradation. The newly identified factors involved in the life cycle of PrPC provided by our study may also represent themselves as therapeutic targets for the intervention of prion diseases.
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27
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Bandiwadekar A, Jose J, Khayatkashani M, Habtemariam S, Khayat Kashani HR, Nabavi SM. Emerging Novel Approaches for the Enhanced Delivery of Natural Products for the Management of Neurodegenerative Diseases. J Mol Neurosci 2021; 72:653-676. [PMID: 34697770 DOI: 10.1007/s12031-021-01922-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Accepted: 09/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and prion disease affect any part of the brain. The complete mechanism of ND is unknown, but there are some molecular mechanism and chemical process. Natural compounds have better compatibility with the human body along with lesser side effects. Moreover, several studies showed that various natural compounds have significant neuroprotective, potent antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties, which are effective for treating the different type of ND. In ND, natural compounds act by various mechanisms such as preventing the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), eliminating destructed biomolecules before their accumulation affects cell metabolism, and improving the disease conditions. But due to the presence of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) layer and unfavorable pharmacokinetic properties of natural compounds, their delivery into the brain is limited. To minimize this problem and enhance drug delivery into the brain with an effective therapeutic dose, there is a need to develop a practical novel approach. The various studies showed that nanoformulations and microneedles (MN) containing natural compounds such as quercetin, curcumin, resveratrol, chrysin, piperine, ferulic acid, huperzine A, berberine, baicalein, hesperetin, and retinoic acid effectively improved many ND. In this review, the effect of such natural drug-loaded nanoformulation and MN patches on ND management is discussed, along with their merits and demerits. This review aims to introduce different novel approaches for enhancing natural drug delivery into the brain to manage various neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akshay Bandiwadekar
- Department of Pharmaceutics, NGSM Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences (NGSMIPS), Nitte (Deemed To Be University), Mangalore, 575018, Karnataka, India
| | - Jobin Jose
- Department of Pharmaceutics, NGSM Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences (NGSMIPS), Nitte (Deemed To Be University), Mangalore, 575018, Karnataka, India.
| | - Maryam Khayatkashani
- School of Iranian Traditional Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, 14155-6559, Tehran, Iran
| | - Solomon Habtemariam
- Pharmacognosy Research Laboratories and Herbal Analysis Services, University of Greenwich, Central Avenue, Chatham-Maritime, UK
| | - Hamid Reza Khayat Kashani
- Department of Neurosurgery, Imam Hossein Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, 1617763141, Tehran, Iran
| | - Seyed Mohammad Nabavi
- Applied Biotechnology Research Center, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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28
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Thompson AGB, Anastasiadis P, Druyeh R, Whitworth I, Nayak A, Nihat A, Mok TH, Rudge P, Wadsworth JDF, Rohrer J, Schott JM, Heslegrave A, Zetterberg H, Collinge J, Jackson GS, Mead S. Evaluation of plasma tau and neurofilament light chain biomarkers in a 12-year clinical cohort of human prion diseases. Mol Psychiatry 2021; 26:5955-5966. [PMID: 33674752 PMCID: PMC8758487 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-021-01045-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2020] [Revised: 01/20/2021] [Accepted: 02/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Prion diseases are fatal neurodegenerative conditions with highly accurate CSF and imaging diagnostic tests, but major unmet needs for blood biomarkers. Using ultrasensitive immuno-assays, we measured tau and neurofilament light chain (NfL) protein concentrations in 709 plasma samples taken from 377 individuals with prion disease during a 12 year prospective clinical study, alongside healthy and neurological control groups. This provides an unprecedented opportunity to evaluate their potential as biomarkers. Plasma tau and NfL were increased across all prion disease types. For distinguishing sCJD from control groups including clinically-relevant "CJD mimics", both show considerable diagnostic value. In sCJD, NfL was substantially elevated in every sample tested, including during early disease with minimal functional impairment and in all follow-up samples. Plasma tau was independently associated with rate of clinical progression in sCJD, while plasma NfL showed independent association with severity of functional impairment. In asymptomatic PRNP mutation carriers, plasma NfL was higher on average in samples taken within 2 years of symptom onset than in samples taken earlier. We present biomarker trajectories for nine mutation carriers healthy at enrolment who developed symptoms during follow-up. NfL started to rise as early as 2 years before onset in those with mutations typically associated with more slowly progressive clinical disease. This shows potential for plasma NfL as a "proximity marker", but further work is needed to establish predictive value on an individual basis, and how this varies across different PRNP mutations. We conclude that plasma tau and NfL have potential to fill key unmet needs for biomarkers in prion disease: as a secondary outcome for clinical trials (NfL and tau); for predicting onset in at-risk individuals (NfL); and as an accessible test for earlier identification of patients that may have CJD and require more definitive tests (NfL). Further studies should evaluate their performance directly in these specific roles.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Ronald Druyeh
- MRC Prion Unit at UCL, Institute of Prion Diseases, London, UK
| | - Ines Whitworth
- MRC Prion Unit at UCL, Institute of Prion Diseases, London, UK
| | - Annapurna Nayak
- MRC Prion Unit at UCL, Institute of Prion Diseases, London, UK
| | - Akin Nihat
- MRC Prion Unit at UCL, Institute of Prion Diseases, London, UK
- National Prion Clinic, National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UCLH), London, UK
| | - Tze How Mok
- MRC Prion Unit at UCL, Institute of Prion Diseases, London, UK
- National Prion Clinic, National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UCLH), London, UK
| | - Peter Rudge
- MRC Prion Unit at UCL, Institute of Prion Diseases, London, UK
- National Prion Clinic, National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UCLH), London, UK
| | | | - Jonathan Rohrer
- Dementia Research Centre, Department of Neurodegeneration, University College London (UCL) Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | - Jonathan M Schott
- Dementia Research Centre, Department of Neurodegeneration, University College London (UCL) Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | - Amanda Heslegrave
- UK Dementia Research Institute at University College London (UCL), London, UK
| | - Henrik Zetterberg
- UK Dementia Research Institute at University College London (UCL), London, UK
- Clinical Neurochemistry Laboratory, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Mölndal, Sweden
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy at University of Gothenburg, Mölndal, Sweden
| | - John Collinge
- MRC Prion Unit at UCL, Institute of Prion Diseases, London, UK
- National Prion Clinic, National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UCLH), London, UK
| | | | - Simon Mead
- MRC Prion Unit at UCL, Institute of Prion Diseases, London, UK.
- National Prion Clinic, National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UCLH), London, UK.
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29
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Novel quaternary structures of the human prion protein globular domain. Biochimie 2021; 191:118-125. [PMID: 34517052 DOI: 10.1016/j.biochi.2021.09.005] [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: 07/07/2021] [Revised: 08/30/2021] [Accepted: 09/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Prion disease is caused by the misfolding of the cellular prion protein, PrPC, into a self-templating conformer, PrPSc. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and X-ray crystallography revealed the 3D structure of the globular domain of PrPC and the possibility of its dimerization via an interchain disulfide bridge that forms due to domain swap or by non-covalent association of two monomers. On the contrary, PrPSc is composed by a complex and heterogeneous ensemble of poorly defined conformations and quaternary arrangements that are related to different patterns of neurotoxicity. Targeting PrPC with molecules that stabilize the native conformation of its globular domain emerged as a promising approach to develop anti-prion therapies. One of the advantages of this approach is employing structure-based drug discovery methods to PrPC. Thus, it is essential to expand our structural knowledge about PrPC as much as possible to aid such drug discovery efforts. In this work, we report a crystallographic structure of the globular domain of human PrPC that shows a novel dimeric form and a novel oligomeric arrangement. We use molecular dynamics simulations to explore its structural dynamics and stability and discuss potential implications of these new quaternary structures to the conversion process.
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30
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A Metal-Free, Disulfide Oxidized Form of Superoxide Dismutase 1 as a Primary Misfolded Species with Prion-Like Properties in the Extracellular Environments Surrounding Motor Neuron-Like Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22084155. [PMID: 33923808 PMCID: PMC8074096 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22084155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2021] [Revised: 04/14/2021] [Accepted: 04/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) is a metalloenzyme with high structural stability, but a lack of Cu and Zn ions decreases its stability and enhances the likelihood of misfolding, which is a pathological hallmark of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). A growing body of evidence has demonstrated that misfolded SOD1 has prion-like properties such as transmissibility between cells and intracellular propagation of misfolding of natively folded SOD1. Recently, we found that SOD1 is misfolded in the cerebrospinal fluid of sporadic ALS patients, providing a route by which misfolded SOD1 spreads via the extracellular environment of the central nervous system. Unlike intracellular misfolded SOD1, it is unknown which extracellular misfolded species is most relevant to prion-like properties. Here, we determined a conformational feature of extracellular misfolded SOD1 that is linked to prion-like properties. Using culture media from motor neuron-like cells, NSC-34, extracellular misfolded wild-type, and four ALS-causing SOD1 mutants were characterized as a metal-free, disulfide oxidized form of SOD1 (apo-SOD1S-S). Extracellular misfolded apo-SOD1S-S exhibited cell-to-cell transmission from the culture medium to recipient cells as well as intracellular propagation of SOD1 misfolding in recipient cells. Furthermore, culture medium containing misfolded apo-SOD1S-S exerted cytotoxicity to motor neuron-like cells, which was blocked by removal of misfolded apo-SOD1S-S from the medium. We conclude that misfolded apo-SOD1S-S is a primary extracellular species that is linked to prion-like properties.
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31
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Hermann P, Appleby B, Brandel JP, Caughey B, Collins S, Geschwind MD, Green A, Haïk S, Kovacs GG, Ladogana A, Llorens F, Mead S, Nishida N, Pal S, Parchi P, Pocchiari M, Satoh K, Zanusso G, Zerr I. Biomarkers and diagnostic guidelines for sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. Lancet Neurol 2021; 20:235-246. [PMID: 33609480 DOI: 10.1016/s1474-4422(20)30477-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 129] [Impact Index Per Article: 43.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2020] [Revised: 11/19/2020] [Accepted: 12/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease is a fatal neurodegenerative disease caused by misfolded prion proteins (PrPSc). Effective therapeutics are currently not available and accurate diagnosis can be challenging. Clinical diagnostic criteria use a combination of characteristic neuropsychiatric symptoms, CSF proteins 14-3-3, MRI, and EEG. Supportive biomarkers, such as high CSF total tau, could aid the diagnostic process. However, discordant studies have led to controversies about the clinical value of some established surrogate biomarkers. Development and clinical application of disease-specific protein aggregation and amplification assays, such as real-time quaking induced conversion (RT-QuIC), have constituted major breakthroughs for the confident pre-mortem diagnosis of sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. Updated criteria for the diagnosis of sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, including application of RT-QuIC, should improve early clinical confirmation, surveillance, assessment of PrPSc seeding activity in different tissues, and trial monitoring. Moreover, emerging blood-based, prognostic, and potentially pre-symptomatic biomarker candidates are under investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Hermann
- National Reference Center for Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies, Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.
| | - Brian Appleby
- National Prion Disease Pathology Surveillance Center, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA; Departments of Neurology, Psychiatry, and Pathology, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Jean-Philippe Brandel
- Cellule Nationale de Référence des Maladies de Creutzfeldt-Jakob, Groupe Hospitalier Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France; Institut du Cerveau et de la Moelle épinière, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France
| | - Byron Caughey
- Laboratory of Persistent Viral Diseases, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, MT, USA
| | - Steven Collins
- Australian National Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease Registry, Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health and Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | | | - Alison Green
- National CJD Research & Surveillance Unit, Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Stephane Haïk
- Cellule Nationale de Référence des Maladies de Creutzfeldt-Jakob, Groupe Hospitalier Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France; Institut du Cerveau et de la Moelle épinière, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France
| | - Gabor G Kovacs
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Disease and Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Laboratory Medicine Program, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Anna Ladogana
- Department of Neuroscience, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Franc Llorens
- National Reference Center for Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies, Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany; Network Center For Biomedical Research Of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Institute Carlos III, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain; Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute, Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Simon Mead
- National Prion Clinic, University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK; Medical Research Council Prion Unit at University College London, Institute of Prion Diseases, London, UK
| | - Noriyuki Nishida
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Suvankar Pal
- National CJD Research & Surveillance Unit, Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Piero Parchi
- Istituto di Ricovero e Cura e Carattere Scientifico, Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, Bologna, Italy; Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | | | - Katsuya Satoh
- Department of Locomotive Rehabilitation Science, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Gianluigi Zanusso
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Inga Zerr
- National Reference Center for Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies, Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany; German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Göttingen, Germany
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32
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Mbizvo GK, Ziso B, Larner AJ. Epilepsy and prion diseases: A narrative review. Epilepsy Behav 2021; 115:107630. [PMID: 33309427 DOI: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2020.107630] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2020] [Revised: 11/03/2020] [Accepted: 11/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Epileptic seizures have been described as one feature of prion diseases, but are an unusual clinical presentation. The aim of this narrative Review was to summarize current knowledge of epileptic seizures in the various forms of prion diseases, from a clinical perspective. Examination of the published literature identified no systematic studies; the evidence base is largely anecdotal, consisting mainly of case studies and small case series. Hence, uncertainty prevails as to seizure frequency, semiology, treatment, and pathogenesis in prion diseases. Seizures probably occur in around 10% of sporadic cases but less frequently in iatrogenic and familial forms, with the possible exception of the E200K mutation. The literature suggests a predominance of focal motor and nonconvulsive status epilepticus. Electroencephalographic accompaniments include periodic lateralized or generalized periodic epileptiform discharges (PLEDs, GPEDs), sometimes predating the more typical periodic sharp wave complexes. There are no convincing accounts of successful antiepileptic drug therapy. The underlying mechanisms of epileptogenesis in prion diseases may include loss of cellular prion protein function (PrPc) and aggregation of abnormally folded prion protein (PrPSc). The need for systematic studies and clinical trials to expand the evidence base surrounding epilepsy and prion diseases is evident.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gashirai K Mbizvo
- Cognitive Function Clinic, The Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool, United Kingdom.
| | - Besa Ziso
- Cognitive Function Clinic, The Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew J Larner
- Cognitive Function Clinic, The Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool, United Kingdom
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33
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Adan G, Mitchell JW, Ziso B, Larner AJ. Diagnosis and Management of Seizures in Neurodegenerative Diseases. Curr Treat Options Neurol 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s11940-020-00656-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
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34
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Watson N, Brandel JP, Green A, Hermann P, Ladogana A, Lindsay T, Mackenzie J, Pocchiari M, Smith C, Zerr I, Pal S. The importance of ongoing international surveillance for Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. Nat Rev Neurol 2021; 17:362-379. [PMID: 33972773 PMCID: PMC8109225 DOI: 10.1038/s41582-021-00488-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/18/2021] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) is a rapidly progressive, fatal and transmissible neurodegenerative disease associated with the accumulation of misfolded prion protein in the CNS. International CJD surveillance programmes have been active since the emergence, in the mid-1990s, of variant CJD (vCJD), a disease linked to bovine spongiform encephalopathy. Control measures have now successfully contained bovine spongiform encephalopathy and the incidence of vCJD has declined, leading to questions about the requirement for ongoing surveillance. However, several lines of evidence have raised concerns that further cases of vCJD could emerge as a result of prolonged incubation and/or secondary transmission. Emerging evidence from peripheral tissue distribution studies employing high-sensitivity assays suggests that all forms of human prion disease carry a theoretical risk of iatrogenic transmission. Finally, emerging diseases, such as chronic wasting disease and camel prion disease, pose further risks to public health. In this Review, we provide an up-to-date overview of the transmission of prion diseases in human populations and argue that CJD surveillance remains vital both from a public health perspective and to support essential research into disease pathophysiology, enhanced diagnostic tests and much-needed treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neil Watson
- grid.4305.20000 0004 1936 7988National CJD Research & Surveillance Unit, Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Jean-Philippe Brandel
- grid.411439.a0000 0001 2150 9058Cellule Nationale de référence des MCJ, Groupe Hospitalier Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France
| | - Alison Green
- grid.4305.20000 0004 1936 7988National CJD Research & Surveillance Unit, Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Peter Hermann
- grid.411984.10000 0001 0482 5331National Reference Centre for TSE, Department of Neurology, University Medical Centre Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Anna Ladogana
- grid.416651.10000 0000 9120 6856Registry of Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease, Department of Neuroscience, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Terri Lindsay
- grid.4305.20000 0004 1936 7988National CJD Research & Surveillance Unit, Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Janet Mackenzie
- grid.4305.20000 0004 1936 7988National CJD Research & Surveillance Unit, Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Maurizio Pocchiari
- grid.416651.10000 0000 9120 6856Registry of Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease, Department of Neuroscience, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Colin Smith
- grid.4305.20000 0004 1936 7988National CJD Research & Surveillance Unit, Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Inga Zerr
- grid.411984.10000 0001 0482 5331National Reference Centre for TSE, Department of Neurology, University Medical Centre Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Suvankar Pal
- grid.4305.20000 0004 1936 7988National CJD Research & Surveillance Unit, Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
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35
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Astolfi A, Spagnolli G, Biasini E, Barreca ML. The Compelling Demand for an Effective PrP C-Directed Therapy against Prion Diseases. ACS Med Chem Lett 2020; 11:2063-2067. [PMID: 33209189 PMCID: PMC7667650 DOI: 10.1021/acsmedchemlett.0c00528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Decades of research efforts have conclusively provided overwhelming evidence that the cellular prion protein (PrPC) plays a central role in prion diseases, a set of fatal and incurable neurodegenerative disorders for which no therapy is yet available. In this Viewpoint, we provide an overview of the drug discovery strategies in the field, highlighting the current therapeutic hypotheses targeting, whether directly or indirectly, PrPC as well as the antiprion agents closest to clinical application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Astolfi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, “Department of Excellence 2018-2022”, University of Perugia, 06123 Perugia PG, Italy
| | - Giovanni Spagnolli
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology (CIBIO) and Dulbecco Telethon Institute, University of Trento, 38122 Trento TN, Italy
| | - Emiliano Biasini
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology (CIBIO) and Dulbecco Telethon Institute, University of Trento, 38122 Trento TN, Italy
| | - Maria Letizia Barreca
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, “Department of Excellence 2018-2022”, University of Perugia, 06123 Perugia PG, Italy
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36
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Vallabh SM, Minikel EV. Implications of new genetic risk factors in prion disease. Nat Rev Neurol 2020; 17:5-6. [PMID: 33173159 DOI: 10.1038/s41582-020-00433-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Sonia M Vallabh
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA.,McCance Center for Brain Health and Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.,Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.,Prion Alliance, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Eric Vallabh Minikel
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA. .,McCance Center for Brain Health and Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA. .,Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. .,Prion Alliance, Cambridge, MA, USA.
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37
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Minikel EV, Zhao HT, Le J, O'Moore J, Pitstick R, Graffam S, Carlson GA, Kavanaugh MP, Kriz J, Kim JB, Ma J, Wille H, Aiken J, McKenzie D, Doh-Ura K, Beck M, O'Keefe R, Stathopoulos J, Caron T, Schreiber SL, Carroll JB, Kordasiewicz HB, Cabin DE, Vallabh SM. Prion protein lowering is a disease-modifying therapy across prion disease stages, strains and endpoints. Nucleic Acids Res 2020; 48:10615-10631. [PMID: 32776089 PMCID: PMC7641729 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkaa616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2020] [Revised: 06/23/2020] [Accepted: 07/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Lowering of prion protein (PrP) expression in the brain is a genetically validated therapeutic hypothesis in prion disease. We recently showed that antisense oligonucleotide (ASO)-mediated PrP suppression extends survival and delays disease onset in intracerebrally prion-infected mice in both prophylactic and delayed dosing paradigms. Here, we examine the efficacy of this therapeutic approach across diverse paradigms, varying the dose and dosing regimen, prion strain, treatment timepoint, and examining symptomatic, survival, and biomarker readouts. We recapitulate our previous findings with additional PrP-targeting ASOs, and demonstrate therapeutic benefit against four additional prion strains. We demonstrate that <25% PrP suppression is sufficient to extend survival and delay symptoms in a prophylactic paradigm. Rise in both neuroinflammation and neuronal injury markers can be reversed by a single dose of PrP-lowering ASO administered after the detection of pathological change. Chronic ASO-mediated suppression of PrP beginning at any time up to early signs of neuropathology confers benefit similar to constitutive heterozygous PrP knockout. Remarkably, even after emergence of frank symptoms including weight loss, a single treatment prolongs survival by months in a subset of animals. These results support ASO-mediated PrP lowering, and PrP-lowering therapeutics in general, as a promising path forward against prion disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric Vallabh Minikel
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
- Prion Alliance, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
- Henry and Allison McCance Center for Brain Health, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Hien T Zhao
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals Inc, Carlsbad, CA 92010, USA
| | - Jason Le
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Jill O'Moore
- McLaughlin Research Institute, Great Falls, MT 59405, USA
| | - Rose Pitstick
- McLaughlin Research Institute, Great Falls, MT 59405, USA
| | | | | | | | - Jasna Kriz
- Cervo Brain Research Center, Université Laval, Québec, QC G1J 2G3, Canada
| | | | - Jiyan Ma
- Center for Neurodegenerative Science, Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, USA
| | - Holger Wille
- University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2M8, Canada
| | - Judd Aiken
- University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2M8, Canada
| | | | - Katsumi Doh-Ura
- Department of Neurochemistry, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8575, Japan
| | - Matthew Beck
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Rhonda O'Keefe
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | | | - Tyler Caron
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Stuart L Schreiber
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
- Department of Chemistry & Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | | | | | | | - Sonia M Vallabh
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
- Prion Alliance, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
- Henry and Allison McCance Center for Brain Health, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
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Abu-Rumeileh S, Baiardi S, Ladogana A, Zenesini C, Bartoletti-Stella A, Poleggi A, Mammana A, Polischi B, Pocchiari M, Capellari S, Parchi P. Comparison between plasma and cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers for the early diagnosis and association with survival in prion disease. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2020; 91:1181-1188. [PMID: 32928934 DOI: 10.1136/jnnp-2020-323826] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2020] [Revised: 06/29/2020] [Accepted: 07/02/2020] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To compare the diagnostic accuracy and the prognostic value of blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) tests across prion disease subtypes. METHODS We used a single-molecule immunoassay to measure tau and neurofilament light chain (NfL) protein levels in the plasma and assessed CSF total(t)-tau, NfL and protein 14-3-3 levels in patients with prion disease (n=336), non-prion rapidly progressive dementias (n=106) and non-neurodegenerative controls (n=37). We then evaluated each plasma and CSF marker for diagnosis and their association with survival, taking into account the disease subtype, which is a strong independent prognostic factor in prion disease. RESULTS Plasma tau and NfL concentrations were higher in patients with prion disease than in non-neurodegenerative controls and non-prion rapidly progressive dementias. Plasma tau showed higher diagnostic value than plasma NfL, but a lower accuracy than the CSF proteins t-tau and 14-3-3. In the whole prion cohort, both plasma (tau and NfL) and CSF (t-tau, 14-3-3 and NfL) markers were significantly associated with survival and showed similar prognostic values. However, the intrasubtype analysis revealed that only CSF t-tau in sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (sCJD) MM(V)1, plasma tau and CSF t-tau in sCJD VV2, and plasma NfL in slowly progressive prion diseases were significantly associated with survival after accounting for covariates. CONCLUSIONS Plasma markers have lower diagnostic accuracy than CSF biomarkers. Plasma tau and NfL and CSF t-tau are significantly associated with survival in prion disease in a subtype-specific manner and can be used to improve clinical trial stratification and clinical care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samir Abu-Rumeileh
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche e Neuromotorie, Università di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Simone Baiardi
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche e Neuromotorie, Università di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Anna Ladogana
- Dipartimento di Neuroscienze, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Roma, Italy
| | - Corrado Zenesini
- IRCCS Istituto Delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | | | - Anna Poleggi
- Dipartimento di Neuroscienze, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Roma, Italy
| | - Angela Mammana
- IRCCS Istituto Delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Barbara Polischi
- IRCCS Istituto Delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | | | - Sabina Capellari
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche e Neuromotorie, Università di Bologna, Bologna, Italy.,IRCCS Istituto Delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Piero Parchi
- IRCCS Istituto Delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, Bologna, Italy .,Dipartimento di Medicina Specialistica Diagnostica e Sperimentale, Università di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
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39
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Recent developments in antibody therapeutics against prion disease. Emerg Top Life Sci 2020; 4:169-173. [PMID: 32633322 DOI: 10.1042/etls20200002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2020] [Revised: 06/15/2020] [Accepted: 06/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Preclinical evidence indicates that prion diseases can respond favorably to passive immunotherapy. However, certain antibodies to the cellular prion protein PrPC can be toxic. Comprehensive studies of structure-function relationships have revealed that the flexible amino-terminal tail of PrPC is instrumental for mediating prion toxicity. In a first-in-human study, an anti-prion antibody has been recently administered to patients diagnosed with sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob's disease, the most prevalent human prion disease. Moreover, large-scale serosurveys have mapped the prevalence of naturally occurring human anti-prion autoantibodies in health and disease. Here, we provide a perspective on the limitations and opportunities of therapeutic anti-prion antibodies.
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40
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Hermann P, Koch JC, Zerr I. Genetic prion disease: opportunities for early therapeutic intervention with rigorous pre-symptomatic trials. Expert Opin Investig Drugs 2020; 29:1313-1316. [PMID: 33089731 DOI: 10.1080/13543784.2020.1839048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Peter Hermann
- National Reference Center for TSE, University Medical Center Göttingen , Göttingen, Germany.,Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Göttingen , Göttingen, Germany
| | - Jan C Koch
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Göttingen , Göttingen, Germany
| | - Inga Zerr
- National Reference Center for TSE, University Medical Center Göttingen , Göttingen, Germany.,Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Göttingen , Göttingen, Germany.,German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) , Göttingen, Germany
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41
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Kotkowski E, Cabot JH, Lacci JV, Payne DH, Cavazos JE, Romero RS, Seifi A. Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease: In-hospital demographics report of national data in the United States from 2016 and review of a rapidly-progressive case. Clin Neurol Neurosurg 2020; 197:106103. [PMID: 32717558 PMCID: PMC7703375 DOI: 10.1016/j.clineuro.2020.106103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2020] [Revised: 07/17/2020] [Accepted: 07/19/2020] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND This report highlights a rapidly progressive case of Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD) whose time from symptom onset to death spanned less than two months. We also explore the most recently available in-patient demographics data for discharges with CJD in the United States. METHODS We reviewed a CJD case and systematically analyzed a retrospective cohort of CJD discharges using the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) to evaluate the existing national data on the status of CJD demographics and dispositions in the United States in 2016. RESULTS An estimated total of 710 hospital discharges with a diagnosis of CJD were seen across the United States in 2016. According to HCUP, the average age of patients was 66.15 ± 11.54 years with 48.6 % female. Average time to intubation from admission to hospital was 4.71 ± 7.32 days with a rate of intubation of 6.34 %. The mean hospital cost was $19,901.25 ± $18,743.48. The rate of in-hospital mortality was 8.45 %. No significant geographical differences were noted (p = 0.49). No significant differences were seen among incidence in specific ethnic groups (p = 0.33) or income quartiles (p = 0.90). CONCLUSIONS Our data shows that the incidence of CJD in 2016 appears to be equally distributed among individuals in the United States by demographic categories. Additionally, our case-study from 2019 illustrates an important example for diagnosing a rapidly-progressing case of CJD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eithan Kotkowski
- Research Imaging Institute, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA; University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio Long School of Medicine, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - John H Cabot
- University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio Long School of Medicine, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - John V Lacci
- University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio Long School of Medicine, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Davis H Payne
- University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio Long School of Medicine, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Jose E Cavazos
- University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio Long School of Medicine, San Antonio, TX, USA; University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio Department of Neurology, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Rebecca S Romero
- University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio Long School of Medicine, San Antonio, TX, USA; University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio Department of Neurology, San Antonio, TX, USA; Comprehensive Multiple Sclerosis Clinic at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Ali Seifi
- University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio Long School of Medicine, San Antonio, TX, USA; Department of Neurosurgery, Neurology, and Anesthesiology at University Health System, San Antonio, TX, USA.
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42
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Reidenbach AG, Mesleh MF, Casalena D, Vallabh SM, Dahlin JL, Leed AJ, Chan AI, Usanov DL, Yehl JB, Lemke CT, Campbell AJ, Shah RN, Shrestha OK, Sacher JR, Rangel VL, Moroco JA, Sathappa M, Nonato MC, Nguyen KT, Wright SK, Liu DR, Wagner FF, Kaushik VK, Auld DS, Schreiber SL, Minikel EV. Multimodal small-molecule screening for human prion protein binders. J Biol Chem 2020; 295:13516-13531. [PMID: 32723867 PMCID: PMC7521658 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra120.014905] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2020] [Revised: 07/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Prion disease is a rapidly progressive neurodegenerative disorder caused by misfolding and aggregation of the prion protein (PrP), and there are currently no therapeutic options. PrP ligands could theoretically antagonize prion formation by protecting the native protein from misfolding or by targeting it for degradation, but no validated small-molecule binders have been discovered to date. We deployed a variety of screening methods in an effort to discover binders of PrP, including 19F-observed and saturation transfer difference (STD) NMR spectroscopy, differential scanning fluorimetry (DSF), DNA-encoded library selection, and in silico screening. A single benzimidazole compound was confirmed in concentration-response, but affinity was very weak (Kd > 1 mm), and it could not be advanced further. The exceptionally low hit rate observed here suggests that PrP is a difficult target for small-molecule binders. Whereas orthogonal binder discovery methods could yield high-affinity compounds, non-small-molecule modalities may offer independent paths forward against prion disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew G Reidenbach
- Chemical Biology and Therapeutics Science Program, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Michael F Mesleh
- Center for the Development of Therapeutics, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Dominick Casalena
- Facilitated Access to Screening Technologies (FAST) Lab, Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research (NIBR), Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Sonia M Vallabh
- Chemical Biology and Therapeutics Science Program, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA; Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA; Prion Alliance, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Jayme L Dahlin
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Alison J Leed
- Center for the Development of Therapeutics, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Alix I Chan
- Chemical Biology and Therapeutics Science Program, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Dmitry L Usanov
- Chemical Biology and Therapeutics Science Program, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA; Center for the Development of Therapeutics, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Jenna B Yehl
- Center for the Development of Therapeutics, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Christopher T Lemke
- Center for the Development of Therapeutics, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Arthur J Campbell
- Center for the Development of Therapeutics, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Rishi N Shah
- Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP), Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Om K Shrestha
- Facilitated Access to Screening Technologies (FAST) Lab, Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research (NIBR), Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Joshua R Sacher
- Center for the Development of Therapeutics, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Victor L Rangel
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Jamie A Moroco
- Center for the Development of Therapeutics, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Murugappan Sathappa
- Center for the Development of Therapeutics, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Maria Cristina Nonato
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Kong T Nguyen
- Artificial Intelligence Molecular Screen (AIMS) Awards Program, Atomwise, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - S Kirk Wright
- Facilitated Access to Screening Technologies (FAST) Lab, Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research (NIBR), Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - David R Liu
- Chemical Biology and Therapeutics Science Program, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA; Merkin Institute of Transformative Technologies in Healthcare, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, Maryland, USA; Department of Chemistry & Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Florence F Wagner
- Center for the Development of Therapeutics, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA; Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Virendar K Kaushik
- Center for the Development of Therapeutics, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Douglas S Auld
- Facilitated Access to Screening Technologies (FAST) Lab, Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research (NIBR), Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Stuart L Schreiber
- Chemical Biology and Therapeutics Science Program, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA; Department of Chemistry & Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Eric Vallabh Minikel
- Chemical Biology and Therapeutics Science Program, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA; Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA; Prion Alliance, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
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Different Clinical Contexts of Use of Blood Neurofilament Light Chain Protein in the Spectrum of Neurodegenerative Diseases. Mol Neurobiol 2020; 57:4667-4691. [PMID: 32772223 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-020-02035-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2020] [Accepted: 07/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
One of the most pressing challenges in the clinical research of neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs) is the validation and standardization of pathophysiological biomarkers for different contexts of use (CoUs), such as early detection, diagnosis, prognosis, and prediction of treatment response. Neurofilament light chain (NFL) concentration is a particularly promising candidate, an indicator of axonal degeneration, which can be analyzed in peripheral blood with advanced ultrasensitive methods. Serum/plasma NFL concentration is closely correlated with cerebrospinal fluid NFL and directly reflects neurodegeneration within the central nervous system. Here, we provide an update on the feasible CoU of blood NFL in NDDs and translate recent findings to potentially valuable clinical practice applications. As NFL is not a disease-specific biomarker, however, blood NFL is an easily accessible biomarker with promising different clinical applications for several NDDs: (1) early detection and diagnosis (i.e., amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, atypical parkinsonisms, sporadic late-onset ataxias), (2) prognosis (Huntington's disease and Parkinson's disease), and (3) prediction of time to symptom onset (presymptomatic mutation carriers in genetic Alzheimer's disease and spinocerebellar ataxia type 3).
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Vallabh SM, Minikel EV, Williams VJ, Carlyle BC, McManus AJ, Wennick CD, Bolling A, Trombetta BA, Urick D, Nobuhara CK, Gerber J, Duddy H, Lachmann I, Stehmann C, Collins SJ, Blennow K, Zetterberg H, Arnold SE. Cerebrospinal fluid and plasma biomarkers in individuals at risk for genetic prion disease. BMC Med 2020; 18:140. [PMID: 32552681 PMCID: PMC7302371 DOI: 10.1186/s12916-020-01608-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2020] [Accepted: 04/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prion disease is neurodegenerative disease that is typically fatal within months of first symptoms. Clinical trials in this rapidly declining symptomatic patient population have proven challenging. Individuals at high lifetime risk for genetic prion disease can be identified decades before symptom onset and provide an opportunity for early therapeutic intervention. However, randomizing pre-symptomatic carriers to a clinical endpoint is not numerically feasible. We therefore launched a cohort study in pre-symptomatic genetic prion disease mutation carriers and controls with the goal of evaluating biomarker endpoints that may enable informative trials in this population. METHODS We collected cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and blood from pre-symptomatic individuals with prion protein gene (PRNP) mutations (N = 27) and matched controls (N = 16), in a cohort study at Massachusetts General Hospital. We quantified total prion protein (PrP) and real-time quaking-induced conversion (RT-QuIC) prion seeding activity in CSF and neuronal damage markers total tau (T-tau) and neurofilament light chain (NfL) in CSF and plasma. We compared these markers cross-sectionally, evaluated short-term test-retest reliability over 2-4 months, and conducted a pilot longitudinal study over 10-20 months. RESULTS CSF PrP levels were stable on test-retest with a mean coefficient of variation of 7% for both over 2-4 months in N = 29 participants and over 10-20 months in N = 10 participants. RT-QuIC was negative in 22/23 mutation carriers. The sole individual with positive RT-QuIC seeding activity at two study visits had steady CSF PrP levels and slightly increased tau and NfL concentrations compared with the others, though still within the normal range, and remained asymptomatic 1 year later. T-tau and NfL showed no significant differences between mutation carriers and controls in either CSF or plasma. CONCLUSIONS CSF PrP will be interpretable as a pharmacodynamic readout for PrP-lowering therapeutics in pre-symptomatic individuals and may serve as an informative surrogate biomarker in this population. In contrast, markers of prion seeding activity and neuronal damage do not reliably cross-sectionally distinguish mutation carriers from controls. Thus, as PrP-lowering therapeutics for prion disease advance, "secondary prevention" based on prodromal pathology may prove challenging; instead, "primary prevention" trials appear to offer a tractable paradigm for trials in pre-symptomatic individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonia M Vallabh
- Henry and Allison McCance Center for Brain Health, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, 02114, USA.
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, 02114, USA.
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, 415 Main St., Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA.
- Prion Alliance, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA.
| | - Eric Vallabh Minikel
- Henry and Allison McCance Center for Brain Health, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, 415 Main St., Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA
- Prion Alliance, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Victoria J Williams
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
| | - Becky C Carlyle
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
| | - Alison J McManus
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
| | - Chase D Wennick
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
| | - Anna Bolling
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
| | - Bianca A Trombetta
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
| | - David Urick
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
| | - Chloe K Nobuhara
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
| | - Jessica Gerber
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
| | - Holly Duddy
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
| | | | - Christiane Stehmann
- Australian National CJD Registry, University of Melbourne, Parkville, 3010, Australia
| | - Steven J Collins
- Australian National CJD Registry, University of Melbourne, Parkville, 3010, Australia
| | - Kaj Blennow
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, the Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, S-431 80, Mölndal, Sweden
| | - Henrik Zetterberg
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, the Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, S-431 80, Mölndal, Sweden
- Clinical Neurochemistry Laboratory, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, S-431 80, Mölndal, Sweden
- UK Dementia Research Institute, University College London, London, WC1N 3BG, UK
- Department of Molecular Neuroscience, UCL Institute of Neurology, London, WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Steven E Arnold
- Henry and Allison McCance Center for Brain Health, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, 02114, USA.
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, 02114, USA.
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45
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New paradigms of clinical trial design for genetic prion diseases. Lancet Neurol 2020; 19:284-285. [DOI: 10.1016/s1474-4422(20)30029-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2019] [Revised: 01/03/2020] [Accepted: 01/17/2020] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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