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Clemmensen FK, Areskeviciute A, Lund EL, Roos P. Variably protease-sensitive prionopathy with methionine homozygosity at codon 129 in the prion protein gene. BMJ Case Rep 2024; 17:e258199. [PMID: 38388201 PMCID: PMC10884235 DOI: 10.1136/bcr-2023-258199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Variably protease-sensitive prionopathy (VPSPr) is a recently characterised rare subtype of sporadic prion disease, mainly affecting individuals with valine homozygosity at codon 129 in the prion protein gene, with only seven methionine homozygote cases reported to date. This case presents clinical, neuropathological and biochemical features of the eighth VPSPr case worldwide with methionine homozygosity at codon 129 and compares the features with the formerly presented cases.The patient, a woman in her 70s, presented with cognitive decline, impaired balance and frequent falls. Medical history and clinical presentation were suggestive of a rapidly progressive dementia disorder. MRI showed bilateral thalamic hyperintensity. Cerebrospinal fluid real-time quaking-induced conversion was negative, and the electroencephalogram was unremarkable. The diagnosis was established through post-mortem pathological examinations. VPSPr should be suspected in rapidly progressive dementia lacking typical features or paraclinical results of protein misfolding diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frederikke Kragh Clemmensen
- Danish Dementia Research Centre, Department of Neurology, Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Ausrine Areskeviciute
- Danish Reference Centre for Prion Disease, Department of Pathology, Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Eva Løbner Lund
- Danish Reference Centre for Prion Disease, Department of Pathology, Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Peter Roos
- Danish Dementia Research Centre, Department of Neurology, Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
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Chen L, Xu Y, Fang MJ, Shi YG, Zhang J, Zhang LL, Wang Y, Han YZ, Hu JY, Yang RM, Yu XE. Case report: A Chinese patient with spinocerebellar ataxia finally confirmed as Gerstmann-Sträussler-Scheinker syndrome with P102L mutation. Front Neurol 2023; 14:1187813. [PMID: 37602242 PMCID: PMC10435367 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2023.1187813] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2023] [Accepted: 07/13/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Gerstmann-Sträussler-Scheinker syndrome (GSS) is a rare genetic prion disease caused by a mutation in the prion protein (PRNP) gene. It is typically characterized by progressive cerebellar ataxia and slowly progressive dementia. We present a case study of the GSS from China in which a 45-year-old male with a progressive gait and balance disorder developed cerebellar ataxia onset but was misdiagnosed as spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA) for 2 years. The patient's clinical, electrophysiological, and radiological data were retrospectively analyzed. Examination revealed ataxia, dysarthria, muscle weakness, areflexia in lower limbs, including a pyramidal sign, whereas cognitive decline was insignificant. His late mother had a similar unsteady gait. An electroencephalogram (EEG) showed normal findings, and 14-3-3 protein was negative. A brain MRI was performed for global brain atrophy and ventricular enlargement. Positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) (18F-fluoro-2-deoxy-d-glucose, FDG) images showed mild to moderate decreased glucose metabolism in the left superior parietal lobe and left middle temporal lobe. According to genetic testing, his younger brother also had the P102L variant in the PRNP gene. This single case adds to the clinical and genetic phenotypes of GSS.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Xu-en Yu
- Department of Neurology, The Affiliated Hospital of Institute of Neurology, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, China
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Areškevičiūtė A, Lund EL, Capellari S, Parchi P, Pinkowsky CT. The First Sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease Case with a Rare Molecular Subtype VV1 and 1-Octapeptide Repeat Deletion in PRNP. Viruses 2021; 13:v13102061. [PMID: 34696491 PMCID: PMC8540765 DOI: 10.3390/v13102061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2021] [Revised: 09/30/2021] [Accepted: 10/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
In the present manuscript, we report the clinical presentation and challenging diagnostic work-up of a sporadic Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease patient with confirmed VV1 subtype and heterozygous 1-octapeptide repeat deletion in the prion protein gene. The described patient was a 58-year-old woman. Interestingly, most of the reported patients with the VV1 subtype to date are men with an average age of 44 years at disease onset. The patient was observed clinically from symptoms onset until her death 22 months later. This report describes the patient’s insidious clinical evolution and the paraclinical examinations and pathology reports gathered at different time points of disease progression. Unfortunately, the absence of typical clinical and paraclinical features of classic sporadic Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease made the brain biopsy surgery necessary. This case report illustrates the diagnostic difficulties posed by the phenotypic heterogeneity of sporadic Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease and urges clinicians to consider this diagnosis even in patients who do not fulfil the typical clinical disease criteria. Furthermore, it highlights the need for real-time quaking-induced conversion method adaptation for detection of rare sporadic Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease subtypes with certain prion protein gene variants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aušrinė Areškevičiūtė
- Department of Pathology, Danish Reference Center for Prion Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark; (A.A.); (E.L.L.)
| | - Eva Løbner Lund
- Department of Pathology, Danish Reference Center for Prion Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark; (A.A.); (E.L.L.)
| | - Sabina Capellari
- IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, Ospedale Bellaria, 40123 Bologna, Italy; (S.C.); (P.P.)
- Department of Experimental Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine (DIMES), University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Piero Parchi
- IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, Ospedale Bellaria, 40123 Bologna, Italy; (S.C.); (P.P.)
- Department of Experimental Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine (DIMES), University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
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Areškevičiūtė A, Høgh P, Bartoletti-Stella A, Melchior LC, Nielsen PR, Parchi P, Capellari S, Broholm H, Scheie D, Lund EL. A Novel Eight Octapeptide Repeat Insertion in PRNP Causing Prion Disease in a Danish Family. J Neuropathol Exp Neurol 2020; 78:595-604. [PMID: 31107536 DOI: 10.1093/jnen/nlz037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Octapeptide repeat insertions (OPRI) found in the prion protein gene (PRNP) constitute a subgroup of pathogenic mutations linked to inherited prion diseases, a hallmark of which is a misfolded prion protein. The number of repeats in OPRI has been associated with different disease phenotypes. However, due to the rarity of the cases and heterogenous disease manifestations, the recognition and classification of these variants has been difficult. Here, we report the first Danish family, the fifth worldwide, carrying a novel 8-OPRI with a unique sequence of the additional 8 inserts: R1-R2-R2-R3-R2-R2-R2a-R2-R3g-R2-R2-R3-R4. The mutation was found on the allele coding for methionine at codon 129 in the PRNP gene. The clinical exome sequencing revealed that no other dementia-associated genes harbored pathogenic alterations. Mutation carriers had onset of symptoms in their early thirties, but disease duration varied from 5 to 11 years. Progressive dementia with psychiatric and motor symptoms were the most prominent clinical features. Clinical, pathological, and genetic characteristics of other 4 reported families with 8-OPRI were reviewed and compared with the findings in the Danish family.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aušrinė Areškevičiūtė
- Danish Reference Center for Prion Diseases, Department of Pathology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Peter Høgh
- Department of Neurology, Regional Dementia Research Centre, Zealand University Hospital, Roskilde, Denmark.,Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Anna Bartoletti-Stella
- IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, Ospedale Bellaria, Bologna, Italia
| | - Linea Cecilie Melchior
- Danish Reference Center for Prion Diseases, Department of Pathology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Pia Rude Nielsen
- Department of Pathology, Zealand University Hospital, Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Piero Parchi
- IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, Ospedale Bellaria, Bologna, Italia.,Department of Experimental, Diagnostic, and Specialty Medicine (DIMES)
| | - Sabina Capellari
- IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, Ospedale Bellaria, Bologna, Italia.,Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences (DIBINEM), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Helle Broholm
- Danish Reference Center for Prion Diseases, Department of Pathology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - David Scheie
- Danish Reference Center for Prion Diseases, Department of Pathology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Eva Løbner Lund
- Danish Reference Center for Prion Diseases, Department of Pathology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
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Areškevičiūtė A, Broholm H, Melchior LC, Bartoletti-Stella A, Parchi P, Capellari S, Scheie D, Lund EL. Molecular Characterization of the Danish Prion Diseases Cohort With Special Emphasis on Rare and Unique Cases. J Neuropathol Exp Neurol 2020; 78:980-992. [PMID: 31553446 DOI: 10.1093/jnen/nlz089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2019] [Revised: 08/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to perform an updated reclassification of all definite prion disease cases with available fresh-frozen samples referred to the Danish Reference Center over the past 40 years, putting a special emphasis on the molecular characterization of novel disease subtypes. Investigation of the Danish prion diseases cohort revealed rare sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease cases with mixed subtypes and subtypes with previously uncharacterized white matter plaques, a new case of sporadic fatal insomnia, and 3 novel mutations, including 2 large octapeptide repeat insertions, and a point mutation in the prion protein gene. The evaluation of methionine and valine distribution at codon 129 among the prion disease patients in the cohort revealed the increased prevalence of methionine homozygotes compared to the general population. This observation was in line with the prevalence reported in other Caucasian prion disease cohort studies. Reclassification of the old prion diseases cohort revealed unique cases, the molecular characterization of which improves prion diseases classification, diagnostic accuracy, genetic counseling of affected families, and the understanding of disease biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aušrinė Areškevičiūtė
- Department of Pathology, Danish Reference Center for Prion Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark; IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, Ospedale Bellaria, Bologna, Italy; Department of Experimental Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine; and Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, Italy
| | - Helle Broholm
- Department of Pathology, Danish Reference Center for Prion Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark; IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, Ospedale Bellaria, Bologna, Italy; Department of Experimental Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine; and Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, Italy
| | - Linea C Melchior
- Department of Pathology, Danish Reference Center for Prion Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark; IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, Ospedale Bellaria, Bologna, Italy; Department of Experimental Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine; and Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, Italy
| | - Anna Bartoletti-Stella
- Department of Pathology, Danish Reference Center for Prion Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark; IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, Ospedale Bellaria, Bologna, Italy; Department of Experimental Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine; and Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, Italy
| | - Piero Parchi
- Department of Pathology, Danish Reference Center for Prion Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark; IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, Ospedale Bellaria, Bologna, Italy; Department of Experimental Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine; and Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, Italy
| | - Sabina Capellari
- Department of Pathology, Danish Reference Center for Prion Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark; IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, Ospedale Bellaria, Bologna, Italy; Department of Experimental Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine; and Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, Italy
| | - David Scheie
- Department of Pathology, Danish Reference Center for Prion Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark; IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, Ospedale Bellaria, Bologna, Italy; Department of Experimental Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine; and Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, Italy
| | - Eva L Lund
- Department of Pathology, Danish Reference Center for Prion Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark; IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, Ospedale Bellaria, Bologna, Italy; Department of Experimental Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine; and Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, Italy
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Snethen H, Ye J, Gillespie KM, Scolding NJ. Maternal micro-chimeric cells in the multiple sclerosis brain. Mult Scler Relat Disord 2020; 40:101925. [PMID: 31986425 DOI: 10.1016/j.msard.2020.101925] [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: 10/11/2019] [Revised: 12/29/2019] [Accepted: 01/01/2020] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Maternal microchimeric cells (MMC) pass across the placenta from a mother to her baby during pregnancy. MMC have been identified in healthy adults, but have been reported to be more frequent and at a higher concentration in individuals with autoimmune diseases. MMC in brain tissue from individuals with autoimmune neurological disease has never previously been explored. The present study aims to identify and quantify MMC in adult human brain from control and multiple sclerosis (MS) affected individuals using fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) with a probe for the X and Y chromosomes. Post mortem brain tissue from 6 male MS cases and 6 male control cases were examined. Female cells presumed to be MMC were identified in 5/6 MS cases and 6/6 control cases. Cell specific labeling identified female cells of neuronal and immune phenotype in both control and active MS lesion tissue. This study shows that female cells presumed to be MMC are a common phenomenon in adult human brain where they appear to have embedded into brain tissue with the ability to express tissue specific markers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heidi Snethen
- MS and stem cell group, Clinical Neuroscience, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Jody Ye
- Diabetes and Metabolism Unit, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Kathleen M Gillespie
- Diabetes and Metabolism Unit, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Neil J Scolding
- MS and stem cell group, Clinical Neuroscience, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom.
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