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Çelik MH, Gagneur J, Lim RG, Wu J, Thompson LM, Xie X. Identifying dysregulated regions in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis through chromatin accessibility outliers. HGG ADVANCES 2024; 5:100318. [PMID: 38872308 PMCID: PMC11260578 DOI: 10.1016/j.xhgg.2024.100318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2023] [Revised: 06/10/2024] [Accepted: 06/11/2024] [Indexed: 06/15/2024] Open
Abstract
The high heritability of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) contrasts with its low molecular diagnosis rate post-genetic testing, pointing to potential undiscovered genetic factors. To aid the exploration of these factors, we introduced EpiOut, an algorithm to identify chromatin accessibility outliers that are regions exhibiting divergent accessibility from the population baseline in a single or few samples. Annotation of accessible regions with histone chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing and Hi-C indicates that outliers are concentrated in functional loci, especially among promoters interacting with active enhancers. Across different omics levels, outliers are robustly replicated, and chromatin accessibility outliers are reliable predictors of gene expression outliers and aberrant protein levels. When promoter accessibility does not align with gene expression, our results indicate that molecular aberrations are more likely to be linked to post-transcriptional regulation rather than transcriptional regulation. Our findings demonstrate that the outlier detection paradigm can uncover dysregulated regions in rare diseases. EpiOut is available at github.com/uci-cbcl/EpiOut.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammed Hasan Çelik
- Department of Computer Science, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA; Center for Complex Biological Systems, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Julien Gagneur
- Department of Informatics, Technical University of Munich, Garching, Germany; Helmholtz Association - Munich School for Data Science (MUDS), Munich, Germany; Institute of Human Genetics, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany; Institute of Computational Biology, Helmholtz Center Munich, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Ryan G Lim
- Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Jie Wu
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Leslie M Thompson
- Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA; Department of Biological Chemistry, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA; UCI MIND, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior and Sue and Bill Gross Stem Cell Center, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA; Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Xiaohui Xie
- Department of Computer Science, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA.
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2
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Zhu Y, Li M, Wang H, Yang F, Du R, Pang X, Bai J, Huang X. Mendelian Randomization Identifies Genetically Supported Drug Targets for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Mol Neurobiol 2024; 61:3809-3818. [PMID: 38019415 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-023-03817-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2023] [Accepted: 11/18/2023] [Indexed: 11/30/2023]
Abstract
Currently, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) have no effective treatments. Drug repurposing offers a rapid method to meet therapeutic need for ALS and FTD. To identify therapeutic targets associated with ALS and FTD, Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis and colocalization were performed. Genetic instruments were based on transcriptomic and proteomic data for 422 actionable proteins targeted by approved drugs or clinical drug candidates. The publicly available ALS GWAS summary data (including a total of 20,806 ALS cases and 59,804 controls) and FTD GWAS summary data (including a total of 2154 patients with FTD and 4308 controls) were used. Using cis-expression quantitative trait loci and cis-protein quantitative trait loci genetic instruments, we identified several drug targets for repurposing (ALS: MARK3, false-discovery rate (FDR) = 0.043; LTBR, FDR = 0.068) (FTD: HLA-DRB1, FDR = 0.083; ADH5, FDR = 0.056). Our MR study analyzed the actionable druggable proteins and provided potential therapeutic targets for ALS and FTD. Future studies should further elucidate the underlying mechanism of corresponding drug targets in the pathogenesis of ALS and FTD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yahui Zhu
- Medical School of Chinese PLA, Beijing, China
- Department of Neurology, the First Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Mao Li
- Department of Neurology, the First Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Hongfen Wang
- Department of Neurology, the First Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Fei Yang
- Department of Neurology, the First Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - RongRong Du
- Department of Neurology, the First Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
- College of Medicine, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
| | - Xinyuan Pang
- Department of Neurology, the First Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
- College of Medicine, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
| | - Jiongming Bai
- Department of Neurology, the First Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
- College of Medicine, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
| | - Xusheng Huang
- Medical School of Chinese PLA, Beijing, China.
- Department of Neurology, the First Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China.
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Kim A, Lee DY, Sung JJ. Cdk5 inhibition in the SOD1 G93A transgenic mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis suppresses neurodegeneration and extends survival. J Neurochem 2024. [PMID: 38934222 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.16160] [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: 01/16/2024] [Revised: 06/06/2024] [Accepted: 06/12/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
Deregulated cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (Cdk5) activity closely correlates with hyperphosphorylated tau, a common pathology found in neurodegenerative diseases. Previous postmortem studies had revealed increased Cdk5 immunoreactivity in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS); hence, we investigated the effects of Cdk5 inhibition on ALS model mice and neurons in this study. For the in vitro study, motor neuron cell lines with wild-type superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) or SOD1G93A and primary neuronal cultures from SOD1G93A transgenic (TG) mice or non-TG mice were compared for the expression of proteins involved in tau pathology, neuroinflammation, apoptosis, and neuritic outgrowth by applying Cdk5-small interfering RNA or Cdk5-short hairpin RNA (shRNA). For the in vivo study, SOD1G93A mice and non-TG mice were intrathecally injected with adeno-associated virus 9 (AAV9)-scramble (SCR)-shRNA or AAV9-Cdk5-shRNA at the age of 5 weeks. Weight and motor function were measured three times per week from 60 days of age, longevity was evaluated, and the tissues were collected from 90-day-old or 120-day-old mice. Neurons with SOD1G93A showed increased phosphorylated tau, attenuated neuritic growth, mislocalization of SOD1, and enhanced neuroinflammation and apoptosis, all of which were reversed by Cdk5 inhibition. Weights did not show significant differences among non-TG and SOD1G93A mice with or without Cdk5 silencing. SOD1G93A mice treated with AAV9-Cdk5-shRNA showed significantly delayed disease onset, delayed rotarod failure, and prolonged survival compared with those treated with AAV9-SCR-shRNA. The brain and spinal cord of SOD1G93A mice intrathecally injected with AAV9-Cdk5-shRNA exhibited suppressed tau pathology, neuroinflammation, apoptosis, and an increased number of motor neurons compared to those of SOD1G93A mice injected with AAV9-SCR-shRNA. Cdk5 inhibition could be an important mechanism in the development of a new therapeutic strategy for ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahwon Kim
- Department of Neurology, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Department of Neurology, Chungbuk National University Hospital, Cheongju-si, Chungcheongbuk-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Do-Yeon Lee
- Department of Neurology, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Department of Translational Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Department of Neurology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Jung-Joon Sung
- Department of Neurology, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Department of Translational Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Department of Neurology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Neuroscience Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
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4
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Sexton CE, Bitan G, Bowles KR, Brys M, Buée L, Maina MB, Clelland CD, Cohen AD, Crary JF, Dage JL, Diaz K, Frost B, Gan L, Goate AM, Golbe LI, Hansson O, Karch CM, Kolb HC, La Joie R, Lee SE, Matallana D, Miller BL, Onyike CU, Quiroz YT, Rexach JE, Rohrer JD, Rommel A, Sadri‐Vakili G, Schindler SE, Schneider JA, Sperling RA, Teunissen CE, Weninger SC, Worley SL, Zheng H, Carrillo MC. Novel avenues of tau research. Alzheimers Dement 2024; 20:2240-2261. [PMID: 38170841 PMCID: PMC10984447 DOI: 10.1002/alz.13533] [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: 03/27/2023] [Revised: 10/03/2023] [Accepted: 10/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The pace of innovation has accelerated in virtually every area of tau research in just the past few years. METHODS In February 2022, leading international tau experts convened to share selected highlights of this work during Tau 2022, the second international tau conference co-organized and co-sponsored by the Alzheimer's Association, CurePSP, and the Rainwater Charitable Foundation. RESULTS Representing academia, industry, and the philanthropic sector, presenters joined more than 1700 registered attendees from 59 countries, spanning six continents, to share recent advances and exciting new directions in tau research. DISCUSSION The virtual meeting provided an opportunity to foster cross-sector collaboration and partnerships as well as a forum for updating colleagues on research-advancing tools and programs that are steadily moving the field forward.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Gal Bitan
- Department of NeurologyDavid Geffen School of MedicineBrain Research InstituteMolecular Biology InstituteUniversity of California Los Angeles (UCLA)Los AngelesCaliforniaUSA
| | - Kathryn R. Bowles
- UK Dementia Research Institute at the University of EdinburghCentre for Discovery Brain SciencesUniversity of EdinburghEdinburghUK
| | | | - Luc Buée
- Univ LilleInsermCHU‐LilleLille Neuroscience and CognitionLabEx DISTALZPlace de VerdunLilleFrance
| | - Mahmoud Bukar Maina
- Sussex NeuroscienceSchool of Life SciencesUniversity of SussexFalmerUK
- Biomedical Science Research and Training CentreYobe State UniversityDamaturuNigeria
| | - Claire D. Clelland
- Memory and Aging CenterDepartment of NeurologyWeill Institute for NeurosciencesUniversity of CaliforniaSan FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
| | - Ann D. Cohen
- University of PittsburghSchool of MedicineDepartment of Psychiatry and Alzheimer's disease Research CenterPittsburghPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - John F. Crary
- Departments of PathologyNeuroscience, and Artificial Intelligence & Human HealthIcahn School of Medicine at Mount SinaiNew YorkNew YorkUSA
| | - Jeffrey L. Dage
- Department of NeurologyIndiana University School of MedicineIndianapolisIndianaUSA
| | | | - Bess Frost
- Sam & Ann Barshop Institute for Longevity & Aging Studies Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer's & Neurodegenerative Disorders Department of Cell Systems and Anatomy University of Texas Health San AntonioSan AntonioTexasUSA
| | - Li Gan
- Helen and Robert Appel Alzheimer Disease Research InstituteFeil Family Brain and Mind Research InstituteWeill Cornell MedicineNew YorkNew YorkUSA
| | - Alison M Goate
- Department of Genetics & Genomic SciencesRonald M. Loeb Center for Alzheimer's diseaseIcahn School of Medicine at Mount SinaiNew YorkNew YorkUSA
| | - Lawrence I. Golbe
- CurePSPIncNew YorkNew YorkUSA
- Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical SchoolNew BrunswickNew JerseyUSA
| | - Oskar Hansson
- Clinical Memory Research UnitDepartment of Clinical Sciences MalmöLund UniversityLundSweden
| | - Celeste M. Karch
- Department of PsychiatryWashington University in St. LouisSt. LouisMissouriUSA
| | | | - Renaud La Joie
- Memory and Aging CenterDepartment of NeurologyWeill Institute for NeurosciencesUniversity of CaliforniaSan FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
| | - Suzee E. Lee
- Memory and Aging CenterDepartment of NeurologyWeill Institute for NeurosciencesUniversity of CaliforniaSan FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
| | - Diana Matallana
- Aging InstituteNeuroscience ProgramPsychiatry DepartmentSchool of MedicinePontificia Universidad JaverianaBogotáColombia
- Mental Health DepartmentHospital Universitario Fundaciòn Santa FeBogotaColombia
| | - Bruce L. Miller
- Memory and Aging CenterDepartment of NeurologyWeill Institute for NeurosciencesUniversity of CaliforniaSan FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral SciencesUniversity of CaliforniaSan FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
| | - Chiadi U. Onyike
- Division of Geriatric Psychiatry and NeuropsychiatryJohns Hopkins University School of MedicineBaltimoreBaltimoreMarylandUSA
| | - Yakeel T. Quiroz
- Departments of Psychiatry and NeurologyMassachusetts General HospitalHarvard Medical SchoolBostonMassachusettsUSA
| | - Jessica E. Rexach
- Program in NeurogeneticsDepartment of NeurologyDavid Geffen School of MedicineUniversity of CaliforniaLos AngelesCaliforniaUSA
| | - Jonathan D. Rohrer
- Department of Neurodegenerative DiseaseDementia Research CentreUniversity College London Institute of Neurology, Queen SquareLondonUK
| | - Amy Rommel
- Rainwater Charitable FoundationFort WorthTexasUSA
| | - Ghazaleh Sadri‐Vakili
- Sean M. Healey &AMG Center for ALS at Mass GeneralMassachusetts General HospitalBostonMassachusettsUSA
| | - Suzanne E. Schindler
- Department of NeurologyWashington University School of MedicineSt. LouisMissouriUSA
| | | | - Reisa A. Sperling
- Center for Alzheimer Research and TreatmentBrigham and Women's HospitalMassachusetts General HospitalHarvard Medical SchoolBostonMassachusettsUSA
| | - Charlotte E. Teunissen
- Neurochemistry LaboratoryClinical Chemistry departmentAmsterdam NeuroscienceProgram NeurodegenerationAmsterdam University Medical CentersVrije Universiteit AmsterdamAmsterdamThe Netherlands
| | | | | | - Hui Zheng
- Huffington Center on AgingBaylor College of MedicineHoustonTexasUSA
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Li J, Xue C, Yang H, Zhang J, Li G, Li J, Kuang F, Chen J, Zhang S, Gao F, Kou Z, Zhang X, Dong L. Simulated weightlessness induces hippocampal insulin resistance and cognitive impairment. Life Sci 2023; 333:122112. [PMID: 37758017 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2023.122112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2023] [Revised: 09/05/2023] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023]
Abstract
Growing evidence highlights the potential consequences of long-term spaceflight, including gray matter volume reduction and cognitive dysfunction with subclinical manifestations of diabetes mellitus among astronauts, but the underlying mechanisms remain unknown. In this study, we found that long-term simulated weightlessness induced hippocampal insulin resistance and subsequent neuronal damage and cognitive impairment in rats. Rats subjected to 4-week tail suspension exhibited peripheral insulin resistance, evidenced by increased fasting blood glucose and abnormal glucose tolerance and insulin tolerance, alongside reduced spontaneous activity and impaired recognition memory. In addition, 4 weeks of simulated weightlessness induced neuronal apoptosis and degeneration in the hippocampus, as evidenced by increased TUNEL and Fluoro-Jade B staining-positive neurons. Mechanistically, insulin-stimulated hippocampal Akt phosphorylation was decreased, while PTEN, the negative regulator of insulin signaling, was increased in the hippocampus in tail-suspended rats. Interestingly, treatment with berberine, an insulin sensitizer, partly reversed the above-mentioned effects induced by simulated weightlessness. These data suggest that long-term simulated weightlessness induces cognitive impairment as well as neuronal apoptosis and neural degeneration, partially through hippocampal insulin resistance via PTEN up-regulation. Berberine treatment attenuates hippocampal insulin resistance and improves cognitive function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiahui Li
- Key Laboratory of Aerospace Medicine of the Ministry of Education, School of Aerospace Medicine, Air Force Medical University, Xi'an, China; Department of Psychology, Air Force Hospital, Western Theater Command, Chengdu, China
| | - Caiyan Xue
- Key Laboratory of Aerospace Medicine of the Ministry of Education, School of Aerospace Medicine, Air Force Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Hongyan Yang
- Key Laboratory of Aerospace Medicine of the Ministry of Education, School of Aerospace Medicine, Air Force Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Jiaxin Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Aerospace Medicine of the Ministry of Education, School of Aerospace Medicine, Air Force Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Guohua Li
- Key Laboratory of Aerospace Medicine of the Ministry of Education, School of Aerospace Medicine, Air Force Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Jijun Li
- Key Laboratory of Aerospace Medicine of the Ministry of Education, School of Aerospace Medicine, Air Force Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Fang Kuang
- Department of Neurobiology, Air Force Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Jing Chen
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology & K. K. Leung Brain Research Centre, Air Force Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Shu Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Aerospace Medicine of the Ministry of Education, School of Aerospace Medicine, Air Force Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Feng Gao
- Key Laboratory of Aerospace Medicine of the Ministry of Education, School of Aerospace Medicine, Air Force Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Zhenzhen Kou
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology & K. K. Leung Brain Research Centre, Air Force Medical University, Xi'an, China.
| | - Xing Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Aerospace Medicine of the Ministry of Education, School of Aerospace Medicine, Air Force Medical University, Xi'an, China.
| | - Ling Dong
- Key Laboratory of Aerospace Medicine of the Ministry of Education, School of Aerospace Medicine, Air Force Medical University, Xi'an, China.
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Vacchiano V, Mastrangelo A, Zenesini C, Baiardi S, Avoni P, Polischi B, Capellari S, Salvi F, Liguori R, Parchi P. Elevated plasma p-tau181 levels unrelated to Alzheimer's disease pathology in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2023; 94:428-435. [PMID: 37012065 DOI: 10.1136/jnnp-2022-330709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2022] [Accepted: 03/15/2023] [Indexed: 04/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Phosphorylated-tau181 (p-tau181), a specific marker of Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology, was found elevated in plasma but not in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). We expanded these findings in a larger patient cohort, exploring clinical/electrophysiological associations, prognostic value and longitudinal trajectories of the biomarker. METHODS We obtained baseline plasma samples from 148 ALS, 12 spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), and 88 AD patients, and 60 healthy controls. Baseline CSF and longitudinal plasma samples were from 130 and 39 patients with ALS. CSF AD markers were measured with the Lumipulse platform, and plasma p-tau181 with SiMoA. RESULTS Patients with ALS showed higher plasma p-tau181 levels than controls (p<0.001) and lower than AD participants (p=0.02). SMA patients had higher levels than controls (p=0.03). In patients with ALS, CSF p-tau and plasma p-tau181 did not correlate (p=0.37). Plasma p-tau181 significantly increased with the number of regions showing clinical/neurophysiological lower motor neurons (LMN) signs (p=0.007) and correlated with the degree of denervation in the lumbosacral area (r=0.51, p<0.0001). Plasma p-tau181 levels were higher in classic and LMN-predominant than in bulbar phenotype (p=0.004 and p=0.006). Multivariate Cox regression confirmed plasma p-tau181 as an independent prognostic factor in ALS (HR 1.90, 95% CI 1.25 to 2.90, p=0.003). Longitudinal analysis showed a significant rise in plasma p-tau181 values over time, especially in fast progressors. CONCLUSIONS Plasma p-tau181 is elevated in patients with ALS, independently from CSF levels, and is firmly associated with LMN dysfunction. The finding indicates that p-tau181 of putative peripheral origin might represent a confounding factor in using plasma p-tau181 for AD pathology screening, which deserves further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veria Vacchiano
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche e Neuromotorie, Alma Mater Studiorum Università di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
- IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Andrea Mastrangelo
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche e Neuromotorie, Alma Mater Studiorum Università di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Corrado Zenesini
- IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Simone Baiardi
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche e Neuromotorie, Alma Mater Studiorum Università di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
- IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Patrizia Avoni
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche e Neuromotorie, Alma Mater Studiorum Università di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
- 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, Alma Mater Studiorum Università di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
- IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Salvi
- IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Rocco Liguori
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche e Neuromotorie, Alma Mater Studiorum Università di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
- IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Piero Parchi
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche e Neuromotorie, Alma Mater Studiorum Università di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
- IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
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Riku Y, Yoshida M, Iwasaki Y, Sobue G, Katsuno M, Ishigaki S. TDP-43 Proteinopathy and Tauopathy: Do They Have Pathomechanistic Links? Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232415755. [PMID: 36555399 PMCID: PMC9779029 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232415755] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2022] [Revised: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 12/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Transactivation response DNA binding protein 43 kDa (TDP-43) and tau are major pathological proteins of neurodegenerative disorders, of which neuronal and glial aggregates are pathological hallmarks. Interestingly, accumulating evidence from neuropathological studies has shown that comorbid TDP-43 pathology is observed in a subset of patients with tauopathies, and vice versa. The concomitant pathology often spreads in a disease-specific manner and has morphological characteristics in each primary disorder. The findings from translational studies have suggested that comorbid TDP-43 or tau pathology has clinical impacts and that the comorbid pathology is not a bystander, but a part of the disease process. Shared genetic risk factors or molecular abnormalities between TDP-43 proteinopathies and tauopathies, and direct interactions between TDP-43 and tau aggregates, have been reported. Further investigations to clarify the pathogenetic factors that are shared by a broad spectrum of neurodegenerative disorders will establish key therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuichi Riku
- Institute for Medical Science of Aging, Aichi Medical University, Nagakute 480-1195, Japan
- Department of Neurology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya 744-8550, Japan
- Correspondence: or
| | - Mari Yoshida
- Institute for Medical Science of Aging, Aichi Medical University, Nagakute 480-1195, Japan
| | - Yasushi Iwasaki
- Institute for Medical Science of Aging, Aichi Medical University, Nagakute 480-1195, Japan
| | - Gen Sobue
- Graduate School of Medicine, Aichi Medical University, Nagakute 480-1195, Japan
| | - Masahisa Katsuno
- Department of Neurology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya 744-8550, Japan
- Department of Clinical Research Education, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya 744-8550, Japan
| | - Shinsuke Ishigaki
- Molecular Neuroscience Research Center, Shiga University of Medical Science, Otsu 520-2192, Japan
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8
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Gong Z, Gao L, Lu Y, Wang Z. CSF p-tau as a potential cognition impairment biomarker in ALS. Front Neurol 2022; 13:991143. [PMID: 36388201 PMCID: PMC9663818 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2022.991143] [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: 07/11/2022] [Accepted: 10/11/2022] [Indexed: 09/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum tau (t-tau, p-tau) are potential biomarkers for neurodegeneration in Alzheimer disease (AD), but their role in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is unclear. Objectives The aim of our study was to evaluate CSF and serum p-tau and t-tau in patients with ALS and to analyze the correlation and clinical parameters between them. Methods CSF and serum samples were obtained from 90 patients with ALS, 48 other neurological disease (OND), and 20 with AM (ALS mimic, AM) diseases. The levels of p-tau and t-tau in the CSF and serum were assessed with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and disease progression parameters, including the duration, the ALSFRS-R score, disease progression rate (DPR), the upper motor neuron (UMN) score, the Mini-mental State Examination (MMSE) score, the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) score, and the Edinburgh Cognitive and Behavioral ALS Screen (ECAS) results, were analyzed by registered neurologists. Statistical analyses were performed using Prism software. Results Compared with controls, patients with ALS displayed significantly lower levels of CSF p-tau and p-tau:t-tau ratio. The CSF p-tau level in patients with ALS and cognition impairment was higher than that in patients with ALS who did not have cognition impairment. CSF p-tau level was negatively correlated with MMSE, MoCA, and ECAS total score and the specific score of ECAS in patients with ALS and cognition impairment. Conclusions The CSF p-tau level and p-tau:t-tau ratio were lower in patients with ALS than patients with OND and AM. Results suggest that CSF p-tau may be used as an index of cognition impairment in patients with ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhongying Gong
- Department of Neurology, Tianjin First Central Hospital, School of Medicine, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
| | - Lina Gao
- Department of Neurology, Tianjin First Central Hospital, School of Medicine, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
| | - Yi Lu
- Department of Neurology, Tianjin First Central Hospital, School of Medicine, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
| | - Zhiyun Wang
- Department of Neurology, Tianjin First Central Hospital, School of Medicine, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
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9
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Cousins KAQ, Shaw LM, Shellikeri S, Dratch L, Rosario L, Elman LB, Quinn C, Amado DA, Wolk DA, Tropea TF, Chen-Plotkin A, Irwin DJ, Grossman M, Lee EB, Trojanowski JQ, McMillan CT. Elevated Plasma Phosphorylated Tau 181 in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Ann Neurol 2022; 92:807-818. [PMID: 35877814 PMCID: PMC9588516 DOI: 10.1002/ana.26462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2022] [Revised: 07/21/2022] [Accepted: 07/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Plasma phosphorylated tau (p-tau181 ) is reliably elevated in Alzheimer's disease (AD), but less explored is its specificity relative to other neurodegenerative conditions. Here, we find novel evidence that plasma p-tau181 is elevated in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a neurodegenerative condition typically lacking tau pathology. We performed a detailed evaluation to identify the clinical correlates of elevated p-tau181 in ALS. METHODS Patients were clinically or pathologically diagnosed with ALS (n = 130) or AD (n = 79), or were healthy non-impaired controls (n = 26). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were analyzed and area under the curve (AUC) was used to discriminate AD from ALS. Within ALS, Mann-Whitney-Wilcoxon tests compared analytes by presence/absence of upper motor neuron and lower motor neuron (LMN) signs. Spearman correlations tested associations between plasma p-tau181 and postmortem neuron loss. RESULTS A Wilcoxon test showed plasma p-tau181 was higher in ALS than controls (W = 2,600, p = 0.000015), and ROC analyses showed plasma p-tau181 poorly discriminated AD and ALS (AUC = 0.60). In ALS, elevated plasma p-tau181 was associated with LMN signs in cervical (W = 827, p = 0.0072), thoracic (W = 469, p = 0.00025), and lumbosacral regions (W = 851, p = 0.0000029). In support of LMN findings, plasma p-tau181 was associated with neuron loss in the spinal cord (rho = 0.46, p = 0.017), but not in the motor cortex (p = 0.41). Cerebrospinal spinal fluid p-tau181 and plasma neurofilament light chain were included as reference analytes, and demonstrate specificity of findings. INTERPRETATION We found strong evidence that plasma p-tau181 is elevated in ALS and may be a novel marker specific to LMN dysfunction. ANN NEUROL 2022;92:807-818.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katheryn A Q Cousins
- Department of Neurology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Leslie M Shaw
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Sanjana Shellikeri
- Department of Neurology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Laynie Dratch
- Department of Neurology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Luis Rosario
- Department of Neurology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Lauren B Elman
- Department of Neurology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Colin Quinn
- Department of Neurology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Defne A Amado
- Department of Neurology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
| | - David A Wolk
- Department of Neurology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Thomas F Tropea
- Department of Neurology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Alice Chen-Plotkin
- Department of Neurology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
| | - David J Irwin
- Department of Neurology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Murray Grossman
- Department of Neurology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Edward B Lee
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
| | - John Q Trojanowski
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Corey T McMillan
- Department of Neurology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
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10
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Petrozziello T, Amaral AC, Dujardin S, Farhan SMK, Chan J, Trombetta BA, Kivisäkk P, Mills AN, Bordt EA, Kim SE, Dooley PM, Commins C, Connors TR, Oakley DH, Ghosal A, Gomez-Isla T, Hyman BT, Arnold SE, Spires-Jones T, Cudkowicz ME, Berry JD, Sadri-Vakili G. Novel genetic variants in MAPT and alterations in tau phosphorylation in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis post-mortem motor cortex and cerebrospinal fluid. Brain Pathol 2021; 32:e13035. [PMID: 34779076 PMCID: PMC8877756 DOI: 10.1111/bpa.13035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2021] [Revised: 09/22/2021] [Accepted: 10/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Although the molecular mechanisms underlying amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) are not yet fully understood, several studies report alterations in tau phosphorylation in both sporadic and familial ALS. Recently, we have demonstrated that phosphorylated tau at S396 (pTau‐S396) is mislocalized to synapses in ALS motor cortex (mCTX) and contributes to mitochondrial dysfunction. Here, we demonstrate that while there was no overall increase in total tau, pTau‐S396, and pTau‐S404 in ALS post‐mortem mCTX, total tau and pTau‐S396 were increased in C9ORF72‐ALS. Additionally, there was a significant decrease in pTau‐T181 in ALS mCTX compared controls. Furthermore, we leveraged the ALS Knowledge Portal and Project MinE data sets and identified ALS‐specific genetic variants across MAPT, the gene encoding tau. Lastly, assessment of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples revealed a significant increase in total tau levels in bulbar‐onset ALS together with a decrease in CSF pTau‐T181:tau ratio in all ALS samples, as reported previously. While increases in CSF tau levels correlated with a faster disease progression as measured by the revised ALS functional rating scale (ALSFRS‐R), decreases in CSF pTau‐T181:tau ratio correlated with a slower disease progression, suggesting that CSF total tau and pTau‐T181 ratio may serve as biomarkers of disease in ALS. Our findings highlight the potential role of pTau‐T181 in ALS, as decreases in CSF pTau‐T181:tau ratio may reflect the significant decrease in pTau‐T181 in post‐mortem mCTX. Taken together, these results indicate that tau phosphorylation is altered in ALS post‐mortem mCTX as well as in CSF and, importantly, the newly described pathogenic or likely pathogenic variants identified in MAPT in this study are adjacent to T181 and S396 phosphorylation sites further highlighting the potential role of these tau functional domains in ALS. Although the molecular mechanisms underlying amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) are not yet fully understood, recent studies report alterations in tau phosphorylation in ALS. Our study builds on these findings and demonstrates that tau phosphorylation is altered in post‐mortem ALS motor cortex and highlights new and ALS‐specific variants in MAPT, the gene encoding tau. Lastly, we report alterations in phosphorylated tau in ALS cerebrospinal fluid that may function as a predictive biomarker for ALS.![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiziana Petrozziello
- Sean M. Healey & AMG Center for ALS at Mass General, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Ana C Amaral
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Simon Dujardin
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Sali M K Farhan
- Analytic and Translational Genetics Unit, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Program in Medical and Population Genetics, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - James Chan
- Biostatistics Center, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Bianca A Trombetta
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Pia Kivisäkk
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Alexandra N Mills
- Sean M. Healey & AMG Center for ALS at Mass General, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Evan A Bordt
- Department of Pediatrics, Lurie Center for Autism, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Spencer E Kim
- Sean M. Healey & AMG Center for ALS at Mass General, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Patrick M Dooley
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Caitlin Commins
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Theresa R Connors
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Derek H Oakley
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Anubrata Ghosal
- Sean M. Healey & AMG Center for ALS at Mass General, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Teresa Gomez-Isla
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Bradley T Hyman
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Steven E Arnold
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Tara Spires-Jones
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, UK Dementia Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, UK
| | - Merit E Cudkowicz
- Sean M. Healey & AMG Center for ALS at Mass General, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - James D Berry
- Sean M. Healey & AMG Center for ALS at Mass General, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Ghazaleh Sadri-Vakili
- Sean M. Healey & AMG Center for ALS at Mass General, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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11
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Petrozziello T, Bordt EA, Mills AN, Kim SE, Sapp E, Devlin BA, Obeng-Marnu AA, Farhan SMK, Amaral AC, Dujardin S, Dooley PM, Henstridge C, Oakley DH, Neueder A, Hyman BT, Spires-Jones TL, Bilbo SD, Vakili K, Cudkowicz ME, Berry JD, DiFiglia M, Silva MC, Haggarty SJ, Sadri-Vakili G. Targeting Tau Mitigates Mitochondrial Fragmentation and Oxidative Stress in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Mol Neurobiol 2021; 59:683-702. [PMID: 34757590 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-021-02557-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2021] [Accepted: 09/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Understanding the mechanisms underlying amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is crucial for the development of new therapies. Previous studies have demonstrated that mitochondrial dysfunction is a key pathogenetic event in ALS. Interestingly, studies in Alzheimer's disease (AD) post-mortem brain and animal models link alterations in mitochondrial function to interactions between hyperphosphorylated tau and dynamin-related protein 1 (DRP1), the GTPase involved in mitochondrial fission. Recent evidence suggest that tau may be involved in ALS pathogenesis, therefore, we sought to determine whether hyperphosphorylated tau may lead to mitochondrial fragmentation and dysfunction in ALS and whether reducing tau may provide a novel therapeutic approach. Our findings demonstrated that pTau-S396 is mis-localized to synapses in post-mortem motor cortex (mCTX) across ALS subtypes. Additionally, the treatment with ALS synaptoneurosomes (SNs), enriched in pTau-S396, increased oxidative stress, induced mitochondrial fragmentation, and altered mitochondrial connectivity without affecting cell survival in vitro. Furthermore, pTau-S396 interacted with DRP1, and similar to pTau-S396, DRP1 accumulated in SNs across ALS subtypes, suggesting increases in mitochondrial fragmentation in ALS. As previously reported, electron microscopy revealed a significant decrease in mitochondria density and length in ALS mCTX. Lastly, reducing tau levels with QC-01-175, a selective tau degrader, prevented ALS SNs-induced mitochondrial fragmentation and oxidative stress in vitro. Collectively, our findings suggest that increases in pTau-S396 may lead to mitochondrial fragmentation and oxidative stress in ALS and decreasing tau may provide a novel strategy to mitigate mitochondrial dysfunction in ALS. pTau-S396 mis-localizes to synapses in ALS. ALS synaptoneurosomes (SNs), enriched in pTau-S396, increase oxidative stress and induce mitochondrial fragmentation in vitro. pTau-S396 interacts with the pro-fission GTPase DRP1 in ALS. Reducing tau with a selective degrader, QC-01-175, mitigates ALS SNs-induced mitochondrial fragmentation and increases in oxidative stress in vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiziana Petrozziello
- Sean M. Healey & AMG Center for ALS at Mass General, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, 02129, USA
| | - Evan A Bordt
- Department of Pediatrics, Lurie Center for Autism, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02129, USA
| | - Alexandra N Mills
- Sean M. Healey & AMG Center for ALS at Mass General, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, 02129, USA
| | - Spencer E Kim
- Sean M. Healey & AMG Center for ALS at Mass General, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, 02129, USA
| | - Ellen Sapp
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, 02129, USA
| | - Benjamin A Devlin
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Abigail A Obeng-Marnu
- Department of Pediatrics, Lurie Center for Autism, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02129, USA
| | - Sali M K Farhan
- Analytic and Translational Genetics Unit, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02114, USA.,Program in Medical and Population Genetics, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, 7 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA
| | - Ana C Amaral
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, 02129, USA
| | - Simon Dujardin
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, 02129, USA
| | - Patrick M Dooley
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, 02129, USA
| | - Christopher Henstridge
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, UK Dementia Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Division of Systems Medicine, Neuroscience, Ninewells hospital & Medical School, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK
| | - Derek H Oakley
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, 02129, USA
| | - Andreas Neueder
- Department of Neurology, Ulm University, 89081, Ulm, Germany
| | - Bradley T Hyman
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, 02129, USA
| | - Tara L Spires-Jones
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, UK Dementia Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Staci D Bilbo
- Department of Pediatrics, Lurie Center for Autism, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02129, USA.,Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Khashayar Vakili
- Department of Surgery, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, 02125, USA
| | - Merit E Cudkowicz
- Sean M. Healey & AMG Center for ALS at Mass General, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, 02129, USA
| | - James D Berry
- Sean M. Healey & AMG Center for ALS at Mass General, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, 02129, USA
| | - Marian DiFiglia
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, 02129, USA
| | - M Catarina Silva
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, 02129, USA.,Chemical Neurobiology Laboratory, Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
| | - Stephen J Haggarty
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, 02129, USA.,Chemical Neurobiology Laboratory, Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02114, USA.,Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, 02114, USA
| | - Ghazaleh Sadri-Vakili
- Sean M. Healey & AMG Center for ALS at Mass General, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, 02129, USA. .,MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease, Massachusetts General Hospital, Bldg 114 16th Street, R2200, Charlestown, MA, 02129, USA.
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12
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Roos E, Wärmländer SKTS, Meyer J, Sholts SB, Jarvet J, Gräslund A, Roos PM. Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis After Exposure to Manganese from Traditional Medicine Procedures in Kenya. Biol Trace Elem Res 2021; 199:3618-3624. [PMID: 33230634 PMCID: PMC8360856 DOI: 10.1007/s12011-020-02501-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2020] [Accepted: 11/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease characterized by motor neuron loss and widespread muscular atrophy. Despite intensive investigations on genetic and environmental factors, the cause of ALS remains unknown. Recent data suggest a role for metal exposures in ALS causation. In this study we present a patient who developed ALS after a traditional medical procedure in Kenya. The procedure involved insertion of a black metal powder into several subcutaneous cuts in the lower back. Four months later, general muscle weakness developed. Clinical and electrophysiological examinations detected widespread denervation consistent with ALS. The patient died from respiratory failure less than a year after the procedure. Scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction analyses identified the black powder as potassium permanganate (KMnO4). A causative relationship between the systemic exposure to KMnO4 and ALS development can be suspected, especially as manganese is a well-known neurotoxicant previously found to be elevated in cerebrospinal fluid from ALS patients. Manganese neurotoxicity and exposure routes conveying this toxicity deserve further attention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elin Roos
- Department of Global Public Health, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Sebastian K T S Wärmländer
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Stockholm University, 106 91, Stockholm, Sweden
- UCLA/Getty Conservation Programme, Cotsen Institute of Archaeology, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Jeremy Meyer
- Unit for Surgical Research, Medical School of Geneva, University of Geneva, 120511, 14, Genève, Switzerland
| | - Sabrina B Sholts
- Department of Anthropology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, 370 12, Washington D.C, USA
| | - Jüri Jarvet
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Stockholm University, 106 91, Stockholm, Sweden
- The National Institute of Chemical Physics and Biophysics, 12618, Tallinn, Estonia
| | - Astrid Gräslund
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Stockholm University, 106 91, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Per M Roos
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Clinical Physiology, St. Goran Hospital, 112 81, Stockholm, Sweden
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13
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Russell KL, Downie JM, Gibson SB, Tsetsou S, Keefe MD, Duran JA, Figueroa KP, Bromberg MB, Murtaugh LC, Bonkowsky JL, Pulst SM, Jorde LB. Pathogenic Effect of TP73 Gene Variants in People With Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Neurology 2021; 97:e225-e235. [PMID: 34135078 PMCID: PMC8302149 DOI: 10.1212/wnl.0000000000012285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2020] [Accepted: 04/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To identify novel disease associated loci for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), we used sequencing data and performed in vitro and in vivo experiments to demonstrate pathogenicity of mutations identified in TP73. METHODS We analyzed exome sequences of 87 patients with sporadic ALS and 324 controls, with confirmatory sequencing in independent ALS cohorts of >2,800 patients. For the top hit, TP73, a regulator of apoptosis and differentiation and a binding partner and homolog of the tumor suppressor gene TP53, we assayed mutation effects using in vitro and in vivo experiments. C2C12 myoblast differentiation assays, characterization of myotube appearance, and immunoprecipitation of p53-p73 complexes were performed in vitro. In vivo, we used clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/Cas9 targeting of zebrafish tp73 to assay motor neuron number and axon morphology. RESULTS Four heterozygous rare, nonsynonymous mutations in TP73 were identified in our sporadic ALS cohort. In independent ALS cohorts, we identified an additional 19 rare, deleterious variants in TP73. Patient TP73 mutations caused abnormal differentiation and increased apoptosis in the myoblast differentiation assay, with abnormal myotube appearance. Immunoprecipitation of mutant ΔN-p73 demonstrated that patient mutations hinder the ability of ΔN-p73 to bind p53. CRISPR/Cas9 knockout of tp73 in zebrafish led to impaired motor neuron development and abnormal axonal morphology, concordant with ALS pathology. CONCLUSION Together, these results strongly suggest that variants in TP73 correlate with risk for ALS and indicate a role for apoptosis in ALS disease pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristi L Russell
- From the Departments of Human Genetics (K.L.R., J.A.D., L.C.M., L.B.J.), Neurology (S.B.G., K.P.F., M.B.B., S.M.P.), and Pediatrics (M.D.K., J.L.B.), University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City; Department of Medicine (J.M.D.), Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston; Department of Neurosurgery (S.T.), Mount Sinai Hospital, Icahn School of Medicine, New York, NY; and Brain and Spine Center (J.L.B.), Primary Children's Hospital, Salt Lake City, UT.
| | - Jonathan M Downie
- From the Departments of Human Genetics (K.L.R., J.A.D., L.C.M., L.B.J.), Neurology (S.B.G., K.P.F., M.B.B., S.M.P.), and Pediatrics (M.D.K., J.L.B.), University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City; Department of Medicine (J.M.D.), Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston; Department of Neurosurgery (S.T.), Mount Sinai Hospital, Icahn School of Medicine, New York, NY; and Brain and Spine Center (J.L.B.), Primary Children's Hospital, Salt Lake City, UT
| | - Summer B Gibson
- From the Departments of Human Genetics (K.L.R., J.A.D., L.C.M., L.B.J.), Neurology (S.B.G., K.P.F., M.B.B., S.M.P.), and Pediatrics (M.D.K., J.L.B.), University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City; Department of Medicine (J.M.D.), Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston; Department of Neurosurgery (S.T.), Mount Sinai Hospital, Icahn School of Medicine, New York, NY; and Brain and Spine Center (J.L.B.), Primary Children's Hospital, Salt Lake City, UT
| | - Spyridoula Tsetsou
- From the Departments of Human Genetics (K.L.R., J.A.D., L.C.M., L.B.J.), Neurology (S.B.G., K.P.F., M.B.B., S.M.P.), and Pediatrics (M.D.K., J.L.B.), University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City; Department of Medicine (J.M.D.), Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston; Department of Neurosurgery (S.T.), Mount Sinai Hospital, Icahn School of Medicine, New York, NY; and Brain and Spine Center (J.L.B.), Primary Children's Hospital, Salt Lake City, UT
| | - Matthew D Keefe
- From the Departments of Human Genetics (K.L.R., J.A.D., L.C.M., L.B.J.), Neurology (S.B.G., K.P.F., M.B.B., S.M.P.), and Pediatrics (M.D.K., J.L.B.), University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City; Department of Medicine (J.M.D.), Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston; Department of Neurosurgery (S.T.), Mount Sinai Hospital, Icahn School of Medicine, New York, NY; and Brain and Spine Center (J.L.B.), Primary Children's Hospital, Salt Lake City, UT
| | - Jerry A Duran
- From the Departments of Human Genetics (K.L.R., J.A.D., L.C.M., L.B.J.), Neurology (S.B.G., K.P.F., M.B.B., S.M.P.), and Pediatrics (M.D.K., J.L.B.), University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City; Department of Medicine (J.M.D.), Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston; Department of Neurosurgery (S.T.), Mount Sinai Hospital, Icahn School of Medicine, New York, NY; and Brain and Spine Center (J.L.B.), Primary Children's Hospital, Salt Lake City, UT
| | - Karla P Figueroa
- From the Departments of Human Genetics (K.L.R., J.A.D., L.C.M., L.B.J.), Neurology (S.B.G., K.P.F., M.B.B., S.M.P.), and Pediatrics (M.D.K., J.L.B.), University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City; Department of Medicine (J.M.D.), Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston; Department of Neurosurgery (S.T.), Mount Sinai Hospital, Icahn School of Medicine, New York, NY; and Brain and Spine Center (J.L.B.), Primary Children's Hospital, Salt Lake City, UT
| | - Mark B Bromberg
- From the Departments of Human Genetics (K.L.R., J.A.D., L.C.M., L.B.J.), Neurology (S.B.G., K.P.F., M.B.B., S.M.P.), and Pediatrics (M.D.K., J.L.B.), University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City; Department of Medicine (J.M.D.), Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston; Department of Neurosurgery (S.T.), Mount Sinai Hospital, Icahn School of Medicine, New York, NY; and Brain and Spine Center (J.L.B.), Primary Children's Hospital, Salt Lake City, UT
| | - L Charles Murtaugh
- From the Departments of Human Genetics (K.L.R., J.A.D., L.C.M., L.B.J.), Neurology (S.B.G., K.P.F., M.B.B., S.M.P.), and Pediatrics (M.D.K., J.L.B.), University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City; Department of Medicine (J.M.D.), Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston; Department of Neurosurgery (S.T.), Mount Sinai Hospital, Icahn School of Medicine, New York, NY; and Brain and Spine Center (J.L.B.), Primary Children's Hospital, Salt Lake City, UT
| | - Joshua L Bonkowsky
- From the Departments of Human Genetics (K.L.R., J.A.D., L.C.M., L.B.J.), Neurology (S.B.G., K.P.F., M.B.B., S.M.P.), and Pediatrics (M.D.K., J.L.B.), University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City; Department of Medicine (J.M.D.), Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston; Department of Neurosurgery (S.T.), Mount Sinai Hospital, Icahn School of Medicine, New York, NY; and Brain and Spine Center (J.L.B.), Primary Children's Hospital, Salt Lake City, UT
| | - Stefan M Pulst
- From the Departments of Human Genetics (K.L.R., J.A.D., L.C.M., L.B.J.), Neurology (S.B.G., K.P.F., M.B.B., S.M.P.), and Pediatrics (M.D.K., J.L.B.), University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City; Department of Medicine (J.M.D.), Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston; Department of Neurosurgery (S.T.), Mount Sinai Hospital, Icahn School of Medicine, New York, NY; and Brain and Spine Center (J.L.B.), Primary Children's Hospital, Salt Lake City, UT
| | - Lynn B Jorde
- From the Departments of Human Genetics (K.L.R., J.A.D., L.C.M., L.B.J.), Neurology (S.B.G., K.P.F., M.B.B., S.M.P.), and Pediatrics (M.D.K., J.L.B.), University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City; Department of Medicine (J.M.D.), Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston; Department of Neurosurgery (S.T.), Mount Sinai Hospital, Icahn School of Medicine, New York, NY; and Brain and Spine Center (J.L.B.), Primary Children's Hospital, Salt Lake City, UT
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14
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Pathway from TDP-43-Related Pathology to Neuronal Dysfunction in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22083843. [PMID: 33917673 PMCID: PMC8068029 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22083843] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2021] [Revised: 04/02/2021] [Accepted: 04/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Transactivation response DNA binding protein 43 kDa (TDP-43) is known to be a pathologic protein in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD). TDP-43 is normally a nuclear protein, but affected neurons of ALS or FTLD patients exhibit mislocalization of nuclear TDP-43 and cytoplasmic inclusions. Basic studies have suggested gain-of-neurotoxicity of aggregated TDP-43 or loss-of-function of intrinsic, nuclear TDP-43. It has also been hypothesized that the aggregated TDP-43 functions as a propagation seed of TDP-43 pathology. However, a mechanistic discrepancy between the TDP-43 pathology and neuronal dysfunctions remains. This article aims to review the observations of TDP-43 pathology in autopsied ALS and FTLD patients and address pathways of neuronal dysfunction related to the neuropathological findings, focusing on impaired clearance of TDP-43 and synaptic alterations in TDP-43-related ALS and FTLD. The former may be relevant to intraneuronal aggregation of TDP-43 and exocytosis of propagation seeds, whereas the latter may be related to neuronal dysfunction induced by TDP-43 pathology. Successful strategies of disease-modifying therapy might arise from further investigation of these subcellular alterations.
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Strong MJ, Donison NS, Volkening K. Alterations in Tau Metabolism in ALS and ALS-FTSD. Front Neurol 2020; 11:598907. [PMID: 33329356 PMCID: PMC7719764 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2020.598907] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2020] [Accepted: 10/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
There is increasing acceptance that amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), classically considered a neurodegenerative disease affecting almost exclusively motor neurons, is syndromic with both clinical and biological heterogeneity. This is most evident in its association with a broad range of neuropsychological, behavioral, speech and language deficits [collectively termed ALS frontotemporal spectrum disorder (ALS-FTSD)]. Although the most consistent pathology of ALS and ALS-FTSD is a disturbance in TAR DNA binding protein 43 kDa (TDP-43) metabolism, alterations in microtubule-associated tau protein (tau) metabolism can also be observed in ALS-FTSD, most prominently as pathological phosphorylation at Thr175 (pThr175tau). pThr175 has been shown to promote exposure of the phosphatase activating domain (PAD) in the tau N-terminus with the consequent activation of GSK3β mediated phosphorylation at Thr231 (pThr231tau) leading to pathological oligomer formation. This pathological cascade of tau phosphorylation has been observed in chronic traumatic encephalopathy with ALS (CTE-ALS) and in both in vivo and in vitro experimental paradigms, suggesting that it is of critical relevance to the pathobiology of ALS-FTSD. It is also evident that the co-existence of alterations in the metabolism of TDP-43 and tau acts synergistically in a rodent model to exacerbate the pathology of either.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael J Strong
- Molecular Medicine, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Robarts Research Institute, Western University, London, ON, Canada.,Department of Clinical Neurological Sciences, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, Canada
| | - Neil S Donison
- Molecular Medicine, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Robarts Research Institute, Western University, London, ON, Canada.,Neuroscience Graduate Program, Western University, London, ON, Canada
| | - Kathryn Volkening
- Molecular Medicine, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Robarts Research Institute, Western University, London, ON, Canada.,Department of Clinical Neurological Sciences, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, Canada
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Devos D, Cabantchik ZI, Moreau C, Danel V, Mahoney-Sanchez L, Bouchaoui H, Gouel F, Rolland AS, Duce JA, Devedjian JC. Conservative iron chelation for neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. J Neural Transm (Vienna) 2020; 127:189-203. [PMID: 31912279 DOI: 10.1007/s00702-019-02138-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2019] [Accepted: 12/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Focal iron accumulation associated with brain iron dyshomeostasis is a pathological hallmark of various neurodegenerative diseases (NDD). The application of iron-sensitive sequences in magnetic resonance imaging has provided a useful tool to identify the underlying NDD pathology. In the three major NDD, degeneration occurs in central nervous system (CNS) regions associated with memory (Alzheimer's disease, AD), automaticity (Parkinson's disease, PD) and motor function (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, ALS), all of which require a high oxygen demand for harnessing neuronal energy. In PD, a progressive degeneration of the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc) is associated with the appearance of siderotic foci, largely caused by increased labile iron levels resulting from an imbalance between cell iron import, storage and export. At a molecular level, α-synuclein regulates dopamine and iron transport with PD-associated mutations in this protein causing functional disruption to these processes. Equally, in ALS, an early iron accumulation is present in neurons of the cortico-spinal motor pathway before neuropathology and secondary iron accumulation in microglia. High serum ferritin is an indicator of poor prognosis in ALS and the application of iron-sensitive sequences in magnetic resonance imaging has become a useful tool in identifying pathology. The molecular pathways that cascade down from such dyshomeostasis still remain to be fully elucidated but strong inroads have been made in recent years. Far from being a simple cause or consequence, it has recently been discovered that these alterations can trigger susceptibility to an iron-dependent cell-death pathway with unique lipoperoxidation signatures called ferroptosis. In turn, this has now provided insight into some key modulators of this cell-death pathway that could be therapeutic targets for the NDD. Interestingly, iron accumulation and ferroptosis are highly sensitive to iron chelation. However, whilst chelators that strongly scavenge intracellular iron protect against oxidative neuronal damage in mammalian models and are proven to be effective in treating systemic siderosis, these compounds are not clinically suitable due to the high risk of developing iatrogenic iron depletion and ensuing anaemia. Instead, a moderate iron chelation modality that conserves systemic iron offers a novel therapeutic strategy for neuroprotection. As demonstrated with the prototype chelator deferiprone, iron can be scavenged from labile iron complexes in the brain and transferred (conservatively) either to higher affinity acceptors in cells or extracellular transferrin. Promising preclinical and clinical proof of concept trials has led to several current large randomized clinical trials that aim to demonstrate the efficacy and safety of conservative iron chelation for NDD, notably in a long-term treatment regimen.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Devos
- Service de Pharmacologie Clinique et Service de Neurologie NS-Park/FCRIN Network LICEND COEN Center Lille, Université de Lille, CHU de Lille, INSERM, UMRS_1171, Lille, France.
- Service de Neurologie NS-Park/FCRIN Network LICEND COEN Center Lille, Université de Lille, CHU de Lille, INSERM, UMRS_1171, Lille, France.
- Département de Pharmacologie Médicale, Université Lille INSERM 1171, CHU de Lille, 59037, Lille, France.
| | - Z Ioav Cabantchik
- Della Pergola Chair, Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, Hebrew University, 91904, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Caroline Moreau
- Service de Neurologie NS-Park/FCRIN Network LICEND COEN Center Lille, Université de Lille, CHU de Lille, INSERM, UMRS_1171, Lille, France
| | - Véronique Danel
- Service de Neurologie NS-Park/FCRIN Network LICEND COEN Center Lille, Université de Lille, CHU de Lille, INSERM, UMRS_1171, Lille, France
| | - Laura Mahoney-Sanchez
- Service de Pharmacologie Clinique et Service de Neurologie NS-Park/FCRIN Network LICEND COEN Center Lille, Université de Lille, CHU de Lille, INSERM, UMRS_1171, Lille, France
| | - Hind Bouchaoui
- Service de Pharmacologie Clinique et Service de Neurologie NS-Park/FCRIN Network LICEND COEN Center Lille, Université de Lille, CHU de Lille, INSERM, UMRS_1171, Lille, France
| | - Flore Gouel
- Service de Pharmacologie Clinique et Service de Neurologie NS-Park/FCRIN Network LICEND COEN Center Lille, Université de Lille, CHU de Lille, INSERM, UMRS_1171, Lille, France
| | - Anne-Sophie Rolland
- Service de Pharmacologie Clinique et Service de Neurologie NS-Park/FCRIN Network LICEND COEN Center Lille, Université de Lille, CHU de Lille, INSERM, UMRS_1171, Lille, France
| | - James A Duce
- The ALBORADA Drug Discovery Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Hills Road, Cambridge, UK
- Melbourne Dementia Research Centre, The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Jean-Christophe Devedjian
- Service de Pharmacologie Clinique et Service de Neurologie NS-Park/FCRIN Network LICEND COEN Center Lille, Université de Lille, CHU de Lille, INSERM, UMRS_1171, Lille, France
- Université du Littoral Côte d'Opale-1, place de l'Yser, BP 72033, 59375, Dunkerque Cedex, France
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