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Srinivasan V, Homer V, Barton D, Clutterbuck-James A, Jenkins S, Potter C, Brock K, Logan A, Smith D, Bruce L, Nagy Z, Bach SP. A low molecular weight dextran sulphate, ILB®, for the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS): An open-label, single-arm, single-centre, phase II trial. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0291285. [PMID: 38990927 PMCID: PMC11239073 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0291285] [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: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 06/02/2024] [Indexed: 07/13/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig´s disease, is a rare neurological condition and is the most common motor neurone disease. It is a fatal disease with specific loss of motor neurons in the spinal cord, brain stem, and motor cortex leading to progressive paralysis and usually death within five years of diagnosis. There remains no cure for ALS, and management is focused on a combination of neuroprotective medication, respiratory support, and management by multidisciplinary clinics. PATIENTS AND METHODS This prospective, single-arm, open-label phase II clinical trial of sustained weekly administration of 2 mg/kg ILB® (a low-molecular weight dextran sulphate) was conducted in a single UK hospital. Eligible patients were at least 18 years and had a definite diagnosis of ALS according to El Escorial Criteria. The co-primary outcomes were safety, tolerability, and quantity of ILB® administered. EudraCT number. 2018-000668-28. FINDINGS Between 18-Apr-2019 and 27-Mar-2020, 11 patients were recruited and treated for up to 38 weeks. There were no treatment terminations or withdrawals. One serious adverse event was reported, which was not related to ILB® and resolved without sequalae. 270 mild/moderate adverse events were reported with no intolerable events occurring during the trial. The total number of ILB® treatments administered per patient ranged from 4 to 38, with a cumulative dose ranging from 745 to 6668 mg. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and the high-risk status of study participants, recruitment and treatment was suspended early in Mar-2020. At the long-term follow-up, three patients had died after the trial was halted, between 53 and 62 weeks after their final ILB® injection. INTERPRETATION Long-term weekly ILB® injections of 2 mg/kg was well tolerated and had an acceptable safety profile in patients with ALS. TRIAL REGISTRATION EudraCT: 2018-000668-28. clinicaltrials.gov: NCT03705390. This trial adheres to the principles of GCP in the design, conduct, recording and reporting of clinical trials as listed in part 2, "Conditions and Principles which apply to all Clinical Trials" under the header "Principles based on Articles 2 to 5 of the EU GCP Directive" in the Medicines for Human Use Clinical Trials Regulations (as amended in SI 2006/1928). For clarity, the study did not conform to all aspects of the International Conference on Harmonisation (ICH) E6 R2 Guidelines for GCP (also known as 'ICH GCP'). Of note, we did not use an external database, perform 100% source data verification, and only primary outcome data were analysed in parallel by a second, independent statistician.
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Affiliation(s)
- Venkataramanan Srinivasan
- Neurology, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Victoria Homer
- Cancer Research UK Clinical Trials Unit, Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Darren Barton
- Cancer Research UK Clinical Trials Unit, Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Abigail Clutterbuck-James
- Cancer Research UK Clinical Trials Unit, Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Siân Jenkins
- Cancer Research UK Clinical Trials Unit, Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Claire Potter
- Centre for Trials Research, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom
| | - Kristian Brock
- Cancer Research UK Clinical Trials Unit, Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Ann Logan
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry, United Kingdom
- Axolotl Consulting Limited, Droitwich, United Kingdom
| | - Donna Smith
- Birmingham Clinical Trials Unit, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Lars Bruce
- Tikomed AB, Karlsfältsvägen, Viken, Sweden
| | - Zsuzsanna Nagy
- Neuroscience and Ophthalmology, Institute of Inflammation and Ageing, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Simon P Bach
- Cancer Research UK Clinical Trials Unit, Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, United Kingdom
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Hüper L, Steinacker P, Polyakova M, Mueller K, Godulla J, Herzig S, Danek A, Engel A, Diehl-Schmid J, Classen J, Fassbender K, Fliessbach K, Jahn H, Kassubek J, Kornhuber J, Landwehrmeyer B, Lauer M, Obrig H, Oeckl P, Prudlo J, Saur D, Anderl-Straub S, Synofzik M, Wagner M, Wiltfang J, Winkelmann J, Volk AE, Huppertz HJ, Otto M, Schroeter ML. Neurofilaments and progranulin are related to atrophy in frontotemporal lobar degeneration - A transdiagnostic study cross-validating atrophy and fluid biomarkers. Alzheimers Dement 2024; 20:4461-4475. [PMID: 38865340 DOI: 10.1002/alz.13863] [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: 12/21/2023] [Revised: 03/22/2024] [Accepted: 03/24/2024] [Indexed: 06/14/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) encompasses behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD), progressive supranuclear palsy, corticobasal syndrome/degeneration, and primary progressive aphasias (PPAs). We cross-validated fluid biomarkers and neuroimaging. METHODS Seven fluid biomarkers from cerebrospinal fluid and serum were related to atrophy in 428 participants including these FTLD subtypes, logopenic variant PPA (lvPPA), Alzheimer's disease (AD), and healthy subjects. Atrophy was assessed by structural magnetic resonance imaging and atlas-based volumetry. RESULTS FTLD subtypes, lvPPA, and AD showed specific profiles for neurofilament light chain, phosphorylated heavy chain, tau, phospho-tau, amyloid beta1-42 from serum/cerebrospinal fluid, and brain atrophy. Neurofilaments related to regional atrophy in bvFTD, whereas progranulin was associated with atrophy in semantic variant PPA. Ubiquitin showed no effects. DISCUSSION Results specify biomarker and atrophy patterns in FTLD and AD supporting differential diagnosis. They identify neurofilaments and progranulin in interaction with structural imaging as promising candidates for monitoring disease progression and therapy. HIGHLIGHTS Study cross-validated neuroimaging and fluid biomarkers in dementia. Five kinds of frontotemporal lobar degeneration and two variants of Alzheimer's disease. Study identifies disease-specific fluid biomarker and atrophy profiles. Fluid biomarkers and atrophy interact in a disease-specific way. Neurofilaments and progranulin are proposed as biomarkers for diagnosis and therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lea Hüper
- Department of Neurology, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Petra Steinacker
- Department of Neurology, University Clinic Halle, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, Saale, Germany
| | - Maryna Polyakova
- Department of Neurology, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany
- Clinic for Cognitive Neurology, University Hospital Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Karsten Mueller
- Department of Neurology, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Jannis Godulla
- Department of Neurology, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany
- Clinic for Cognitive Neurology, University Hospital Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Sabine Herzig
- Clinic for Cognitive Neurology, University Hospital Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Adrian Danek
- Department of Neurology, Ludwig Maximilians University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Annerose Engel
- Department of Neurology, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany
- Clinic for Cognitive Neurology, University Hospital Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Janine Diehl-Schmid
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
- kbo-Inn-Salzach-Klinikum, Clinical Center for Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, Psychosomatic Medicine, Geriatrics and Neurology, Wasserburg/Inn, Germany
| | - Joseph Classen
- Department for Neurology, University Hospital Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Klaus Fassbender
- Department of Neurology, Saarland University Hospital, Homburg, Germany
| | - Klaus Fliessbach
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Bonn, Germany
| | - Holger Jahn
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Jan Kassubek
- Department of Neurology, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Johannes Kornhuber
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | | | - Martin Lauer
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Hellmuth Obrig
- Department of Neurology, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany
- Clinic for Cognitive Neurology, University Hospital Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Patrick Oeckl
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Bonn, Germany
- Department of Neurology, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Johannes Prudlo
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Bonn, Germany
- Department of Neurology, University Medicine Rostock, Rostock, Germany
| | - Dorothee Saur
- Department for Neurology, University Hospital Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | | | - Matthis Synofzik
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Bonn, Germany
- Department of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Center of Neurology, Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Matias Wagner
- Institute of Human Genetics, School of Medicine and Health, Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany
- Institute of Neurogenomics, Helmholtz Center Munich, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Jens Wiltfang
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Bonn, Germany
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Göttingen (UMG), Göttingen, Germany
- Neurosciences and Signaling Group, Department of Medical Sciences, Institute of Biomedicine (iBiMED), University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Juliane Winkelmann
- Institute of Neurogenomics, Helmholtz Center Munich, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Alexander E Volk
- Institute of Human Genetics, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | | | - Markus Otto
- Department of Neurology, University Clinic Halle, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, Saale, Germany
- Department of Neurology, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Matthias L Schroeter
- Department of Neurology, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany
- Clinic for Cognitive Neurology, University Hospital Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
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Jiang T, Ruan N, Luo P, Wang Q, Wei X, Li Y, Dai Y, Lin L, Lv J, Liu Y, Zhang C. Modulation of ER-mitochondria tethering complex VAPB-PTPIP51: Novel therapeutic targets for aging-associated diseases. Ageing Res Rev 2024; 98:102320. [PMID: 38719161 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2024.102320] [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: 10/04/2023] [Revised: 04/15/2024] [Accepted: 05/01/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024]
Abstract
Aging is a gradual and irreversible natural process. With aging, the body experiences a functional decline, and the effects amplify the vulnerability to a range of age-related diseases, including neurodegenerative, cardiovascular, and metabolic diseases. Within the aging process, the morphology and function of mitochondria and the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) undergo alterations, particularly in the structure connecting these organelles known as mitochondria-associated membranes (MAMs). MAMs serve as vital intracellular signaling hubs, facilitating communication between the ER and mitochondria when regulating various cellular events, including calcium homeostasis, lipid metabolism, mitochondrial function, and apoptosis. The formation of MAMs is partly dependent on the interaction between the vesicle-associated membrane protein-associated protein-B (VAPB) and protein tyrosine phosphatase-interacting protein-51 (PTPIP51). Accumulating evidence has begun to elucidate the pivotal role of the VAPB-PTPIP51 tether in the initiation and progression of age-related diseases. In this study, we delineate the intricate structure and multifunctional role of the VAPB-PTPIP51 tether and discuss its profound implications in aging-associated diseases. Moreover, we provide a comprehensive overview of potential therapeutic interventions and pharmacological agents targeting the VAPB-PTPIP51-mediated MAMs, thereby offering a glimmer of hope in mitigating aging processes and treating age-related disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Jiang
- Department of Geriatrics, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China; Key Laboratory of Vascular Aging, Ministry of Education, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Nan Ruan
- Department of Geriatrics, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China; Key Laboratory of Vascular Aging, Ministry of Education, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Pengcheng Luo
- Department of Geriatrics, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China; Key Laboratory of Vascular Aging, Ministry of Education, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Qian Wang
- Department of Geriatrics, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China; Key Laboratory of Vascular Aging, Ministry of Education, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Xiuxian Wei
- Department of Geriatrics, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China; Key Laboratory of Vascular Aging, Ministry of Education, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Yi Li
- Department of Geriatrics, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China; Key Laboratory of Vascular Aging, Ministry of Education, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Yue Dai
- Department of Geriatrics, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China; Key Laboratory of Vascular Aging, Ministry of Education, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Li Lin
- Key Laboratory of Vascular Aging, Ministry of Education, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China; Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Jiagao Lv
- Key Laboratory of Vascular Aging, Ministry of Education, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China; Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Yu Liu
- Department of Geriatrics, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China; Key Laboratory of Vascular Aging, Ministry of Education, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China.
| | - Cuntai Zhang
- Department of Geriatrics, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China; Key Laboratory of Vascular Aging, Ministry of Education, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China.
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Wohnrade C, Seeliger T, Gingele S, Bjelica B, Skripuletz T, Petri S. Diagnostic value of neurofilaments in differentiating motor neuron disease from multifocal motor neuropathy. J Neurol 2024; 271:4441-4452. [PMID: 38683209 PMCID: PMC11233354 DOI: 10.1007/s00415-024-12355-8] [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: 01/08/2024] [Revised: 03/23/2024] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To evaluate the performance of serum neurofilament light chain (NfL) and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) phosphorylated neurofilament heavy chain (pNfH) as diagnostic biomarkers for the differentiation between motor neuron disease (MND) and multifocal motor neuropathy (MMN). METHODS This retrospective, monocentric study included 16 patients with MMN and 34 incident patients with MND. A subgroup of lower motor neuron (MN) dominant MND patients (n = 24) was analyzed separately. Serum NfL was measured using Ella automated immunoassay, and CSF pNfH was measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Area under the curve (AUC), optimal cutoff values (Youden's index), and correlations with demographic characteristics were calculated. RESULTS Neurofilament concentrations were significantly higher in MND compared to MMN (p < 0.001), and serum NfL and CSF pNfH correlated strongly with each other (Spearman's rho 0.68, p < 0.001). Serum NfL (AUC 0.946, sensitivity and specificity 94%) and CSF pNfH (AUC 0.937, sensitivity 90.0%, specificity 100%) performed excellent in differentiating MND from MMN. Optimal cutoff values were ≥ 44.15 pg/mL (serum NfL) and ≥ 715.5 pg/mL (CSF pNfH), respectively. Similar results were found when restricting the MND cohort to lower MN dominant patients. Only one MMN patient had serum NfL above the cutoff. Two MND patients presented with neurofilament concentrations below the cutoffs, both featuring a slowly progressive disease. CONCLUSION Neurofilaments are valuable supportive biomarkers for the differentiation between MND and MMN. Serum NfL and CSF pNfH perform similarly well and elevated neurofilaments in case of diagnostic uncertainty underpin MND diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camilla Wohnrade
- Department of Neurology, Hannover Medical School, 30625, Hannover, Germany.
| | - Tabea Seeliger
- Department of Neurology, Hannover Medical School, 30625, Hannover, Germany
| | - Stefan Gingele
- Department of Neurology, Hannover Medical School, 30625, Hannover, Germany
| | - Bogdan Bjelica
- Department of Neurology, Hannover Medical School, 30625, Hannover, Germany
| | - Thomas Skripuletz
- Department of Neurology, Hannover Medical School, 30625, Hannover, Germany
| | - Susanne Petri
- Department of Neurology, Hannover Medical School, 30625, Hannover, Germany
- Center for Systems Neuroscience (ZSN) Hannover, 30559, Hannover, Germany
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Liang Y, Liu C, Cheng M, Geng L, Li J, Du W, Song M, Chen N, Yeleen TAN, Song L, Wang X, Han Y, Sheng C. The link between gut microbiome and Alzheimer's disease: From the perspective of new revised criteria for diagnosis and staging of Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimers Dement 2024. [PMID: 38940631 DOI: 10.1002/alz.14057] [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: 04/15/2024] [Revised: 05/20/2024] [Accepted: 05/22/2024] [Indexed: 06/29/2024]
Abstract
Over the past decades, accumulating evidence suggests that the gut microbiome exerts a key role in Alzheimer's disease (AD). The Alzheimer's Association Workgroup is updating the diagnostic criteria for AD, which changed the profiles and categorization of biomarkers from "AT(N)" to "ATNIVS." Previously, most of studies focus on the correlation between the gut microbiome and amyloid beta deposition ("A"), the initial AD pathological feature triggering the "downstream" tauopathy and neurodegeneration. However, limited research investigated the interactions between the gut microbiome and other AD pathogenesis ("TNIVS"). In this review, we summarize current findings of the gut microbial characteristics in the whole spectrum of AD. Then, we describe the association of the gut microbiome with updated biomarker categories of AD pathogenesis. In addition, we outline the gut microbiome-related therapeutic strategies for AD. Finally, we discuss current key issues of the gut microbiome research in the AD field and future research directions. HIGHLIGHTS: The new revised criteria for Alzheimer's disease (AD) proposed by the Alzheimer's Association Workgroup have updated the profiles and categorization of biomarkers from "AT(N)" to "ATNIVS." The associations of the gut microbiome with updated biomarker categories of AD pathogenesis are described. Current findings of the gut microbial characteristics in the whole spectrum of AD are summarized. Therapeutic strategies for AD based on the gut microbiome are proposed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan Liang
- Department of Neurology, The Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical University, Jining, China
| | - Congcong Liu
- Department of Neurology, The Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical University, Jining, China
| | - Manman Cheng
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical University, Jining, China
| | - Lijie Geng
- Department of Radiology, The People's Hospital of Yanzhou, Jining, China
| | - Jing Li
- Department of Emergency, The Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical University, Jining, China
| | - Wenying Du
- Department of Neurology, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Minfang Song
- Department of Neurology, The Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical University, Jining, China
| | - Nian Chen
- Department of Neurology, The Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical University, Jining, China
| | | | - Li Song
- Department of Neurology, The Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical University, Jining, China
| | - Xiaoni Wang
- Department of Neurology, Sir Run Shaw Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Ying Han
- Department of Neurology, Xuanwu Hospital of Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering of Hainan Province, School of Biomedical Engineering, Hainan University, Haikou, China
- Center of Alzheimer's Disease, Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Beijing, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Beijing, China
| | - Can Sheng
- Department of Neurology, The Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical University, Jining, China
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Verde F, Licaj S, Soranna D, Ticozzi N, Silani V, Zambon A. Cerebrospinal fluid and blood neurofilament light chain levels in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal degeneration: A meta-analysis. Eur J Neurol 2024:e16371. [PMID: 38937912 DOI: 10.1111/ene.16371] [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: 01/06/2024] [Revised: 04/25/2024] [Accepted: 05/12/2024] [Indexed: 06/29/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Neurofilament light chain (NFL) has been shown to be increased in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and, to a lesser extent, in frontotemporal dementia (FTD). A meta-analysis of NFL in ALS and FTD was performed. METHODS Available studies comparing cerebrospinal fluid and blood NFL levels in ALS versus neurologically healthy controls (NHCs), other neurological diseases (ONDs) and ALS mimics, as well as in FTD and related entities (behavioural variant of FTD and frontotemporal lobar degeneration syndromes) versus NHCs, ONDs and other dementias were evaluated. RESULTS In ALS, both cerebrospinal fluid and blood levels of NFL were higher compared to other categories. In FTD, behavioural variant of FTD and frontotemporal lobar degeneration syndromes, NFL levels were consistently higher compared to NHCs; however, several comparisons with ONDs and other dementias did not demonstrate significant differences. DISCUSSION Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is characterized by higher NFL levels compared to most other conditions. In contrast, NFL is not as good at discriminating FTD from other dementias.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federico Verde
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Dino Ferrari Center, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Sara Licaj
- Department of Statistics and Quantitative Methods, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | - Davide Soranna
- Biostatistics Unit, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy
| | - Nicola Ticozzi
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Dino Ferrari Center, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Silani
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Dino Ferrari Center, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Antonella Zambon
- Department of Statistics and Quantitative Methods, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
- Biostatistics Unit, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy
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Meyer T, Dreger M, Grehl T, Weyen U, Kettemann D, Weydt P, Günther R, Lingor P, Petri S, Koch JC, Großkreutz J, Rödiger A, Baum P, Hermann A, Prudlo J, Boentert M, Weishaupt JH, Löscher WN, Dorst J, Koc Y, Bernsen S, Cordts I, Vidovic M, Steinbach R, Metelmann M, Kleinveld VE, Norden J, Ludolph A, Walter B, Schumann P, Münch C, Körtvélyessy P, Maier A. Serum neurofilament light chain in distinct phenotypes of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: A longitudinal, multicenter study. Eur J Neurol 2024:e16379. [PMID: 38859579 DOI: 10.1111/ene.16379] [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: 02/25/2024] [Revised: 05/01/2024] [Accepted: 05/21/2024] [Indexed: 06/12/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To assess the performance of serum neurofilament light chain (sNfL) in clinical phenotypes of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). METHODS In 2949 ALS patients at 16 ALS centers in Germany and Austria, clinical characteristics and sNfL were assessed. Phenotypes were differentiated for two anatomical determinants: (1) upper and/or lower motor involvement (typical, typMN; upper/lower motor neuron predominant, UMNp/LMNp; primary lateral sclerosis, PLS) and (2) region of onset and propagation of motor neuron dysfunction (bulbar, limb, flail-arm, flail-leg, thoracic onset). Phenotypes were correlated to sNfL, progression, and survival. RESULTS Mean sNfL was - compared to typMN (75.7 pg/mL, n = 1791) - significantly lower in LMNp (45.1 pg/mL, n = 413), UMNp (58.7 pg/mL n = 206), and PLS (37.6 pg/mL, n = 84). Also, sNfL significantly differed in the bulbar (92.7 pg/mL, n = 669), limb (64.1 pg/mL, n = 1305), flail-arm (46.4 pg/mL, n = 283), flail-leg (53.6 pg/mL, n = 141), and thoracic (74.5 pg/mL, n = 96) phenotypes. Binary logistic regression analysis showed highest contribution to sNfL elevation for faster progression (odds ratio [OR] 3.24) and for the bulbar onset phenotype (OR 1.94). In contrast, PLS (OR 0.20), LMNp (OR 0.45), and thoracic onset (OR 0.43) showed reduced contributions to sNfL. Longitudinal sNfL (median 12 months, n = 2862) showed minor monthly changes (<0.2%) across all phenotypes. Correlation of sNfL with survival was confirmed (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS This study underscored the correlation of ALS phenotypes - differentiated for motor neuron involvement and region of onset/propagation - with sNfL, progression, and survival. These phenotypes demonstrated a significant effect on sNfL and should be recognized as independent confounders of sNfL analyses in ALS trials and clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Meyer
- Department of Neurology, Center for ALS and Other Motor Neuron Disorders, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
- Ambulanzpartner Soziotechnologie APST GmbH, Berlin, Germany
| | - Marie Dreger
- Department of Neurology, Center for ALS and Other Motor Neuron Disorders, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Torsten Grehl
- Department of Neurology, Center for ALS and Other Motor Neuron Disorders, Alfried Krupp Krankenhaus, Essen, Germany
| | - Ute Weyen
- Department of Neurology, Center for ALS and Other Motor Neuron Disorders, Berufsgenossenschaftliches Universitätsklinikum Bergmannsheil, Bochum, Germany
| | - Dagmar Kettemann
- Department of Neurology, Center for ALS and Other Motor Neuron Disorders, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Patrick Weydt
- Department for Neuromuscular Disorders, Bonn University, Bonn, Germany
- Deutsches Zentrum für Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen (DZNE), Bonn, Germany
| | - René Günther
- Department of Neurology, Technische Universität Dresden, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Dresden, Germany
- Deutsches Zentrum für Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen (DZNE), Dresden, Germany
| | - Paul Lingor
- Department of Neurology, Technical University of Munich, School of Medicine, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Munich, Germany
- Deutsches Zentrum für Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen (DZNE), Munich, Germany
| | - Susanne Petri
- Department of Neurology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Jan Christoph Koch
- Department of Neurology, Universitätsmedizin Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Julian Großkreutz
- Department of Neurology, Universitätsmedizin Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Annekathrin Rödiger
- Department of Neurology, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
- Zentrum für Seltene Erkrankungen (ZSE), Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
| | - Petra Baum
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Andreas Hermann
- Translational Neurodegeneration Section "Albrecht-Kossel", Department of Neurology, University of Rostock, University Medical Center, Rostock, Germany
- Deutsches Zentrum für Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen (DZNE), Greifswald, Germany
| | - Johannes Prudlo
- Translational Neurodegeneration Section "Albrecht-Kossel", Department of Neurology, University of Rostock, University Medical Center, Rostock, Germany
- Deutsches Zentrum für Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen (DZNE), Greifswald, Germany
| | - Matthias Boentert
- Department of Neurology, Münster University Hospital, Münster, Germany
| | - Jochen H Weishaupt
- Division for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Neurology Department, Mannheim Center for Translational Medicine, University Medicine Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Wolfgang N Löscher
- Department of Neurology, Medical University Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Johannes Dorst
- Department of Neurology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
- Deutsches Zentrum für Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen (DZNE), Ulm, Germany
| | - Yasemin Koc
- Department of Neurology, Center for ALS and Other Motor Neuron Disorders, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Sarah Bernsen
- Department of Neurology, Center for ALS and Other Motor Neuron Disorders, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
- Department for Neuromuscular Disorders, Bonn University, Bonn, Germany
- Deutsches Zentrum für Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen (DZNE), Bonn, Germany
| | - Isabell Cordts
- Department of Neurology, Technical University of Munich, School of Medicine, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Munich, Germany
| | - Maximilian Vidovic
- Department of Neurology, Technische Universität Dresden, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Dresden, Germany
| | - Robert Steinbach
- Department of Neurology, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
| | - Moritz Metelmann
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Vera E Kleinveld
- Department of Neurology, Medical University Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Jenny Norden
- Department of Neurology, Center for ALS and Other Motor Neuron Disorders, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Albert Ludolph
- Department of Neurology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
- Deutsches Zentrum für Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen (DZNE), Ulm, Germany
| | - Bertram Walter
- Department of Neurology, Center for ALS and Other Motor Neuron Disorders, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Peggy Schumann
- Department of Neurology, Center for ALS and Other Motor Neuron Disorders, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
- Ambulanzpartner Soziotechnologie APST GmbH, Berlin, Germany
| | - Christoph Münch
- Department of Neurology, Center for ALS and Other Motor Neuron Disorders, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
- Ambulanzpartner Soziotechnologie APST GmbH, Berlin, Germany
| | - Péter Körtvélyessy
- Department of Neurology, Center for ALS and Other Motor Neuron Disorders, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - André Maier
- Department of Neurology, Center for ALS and Other Motor Neuron Disorders, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
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8
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Cooley SA, Petersen KJ, Tice C, Langford D, Burdo TH, Roman J, Ances BM. Relationships between plasma neurofilament light chain protein, cognition, and brain aging in people with HIV. AIDS 2024; 38:955-962. [PMID: 38329137 PMCID: PMC11062811 DOI: 10.1097/qad.0000000000003861] [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] [Indexed: 02/09/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Neurofilament light chain protein (NfL) is a marker of neuronal injury and neurodegeneration. Typically assessed in cerebrospinal fluid, recent advances have allowed this biomarker to be more easily measured in plasma. This study assesses plasma NfL in people with HIV (PWH) compared with people without HIV (PWoH), and its relationship with cognitive impairment, cardiovascular risk, and a neuroimaging metric of brain aging [brain-age gap (BAG)]. DESIGN One hundred and four PWH (HIV RNA <50 copies/ml) and 42 PWoH provided blood samples and completed a cardiovascular risk score calculator, neuroimaging, and cognitive testing. METHOD Plasma NfL was compared between PWoH and PWH and assessed for relationships with age, HIV clinical markers, cardiovascular disease risk, cognition, and BAG (difference between a brain-predicted age and chronological age). RESULTS Plasma NfL was not significantly different between PWoH and PWH. Higher NfL related to increasing age in both groups. Plasma NfL was not associated with typical HIV disease variables. Within PWH, NfL was higher with higher cardiovascular risk, cognitive impairment and a greater BAG. CONCLUSION Virally suppressed PWH who are cognitively normal likely do not have significant ongoing neurodegeneration, as evidenced by similar plasma NfL compared with PWoH. However, NfL may represent a biomarker of cognitive impairment and brain aging in PWH. Further research examining NfL with longitudinal cognitive decline is needed to understand this relationship more fully.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah A Cooley
- Department of Neurology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO
| | - Kalen J Petersen
- Department of Neurology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO
| | | | | | - Tricia H Burdo
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Inflammation, Center for Neurovirology and Gene Editing, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - June Roman
- Department of Neurology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO
| | - Beau M Ances
- Department of Neurology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO
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9
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Mandelblatt J, Dage JL, Zhou X, Small BJ, Ahles TA, Ahn J, Artese A, Bethea TN, Breen EC, Carroll JE, Cohen HJ, Extermann M, Graham D, Isaacs C, Jim HSL, Mcdonald BC, Nakamura ZM, Patel SK, Rebeck GW, Rentscher KE, Root JC, Russ KA, Tometich DB, Turner RS, Van Dyk K, Zhai W, Huang LW, Saykin AJ. Alzheimer's disease-related biomarkers and cancer-related cognitive decline: the thinking and living with cancer study. J Natl Cancer Inst 2024:djae113. [PMID: 38788675 DOI: 10.1093/jnci/djae113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2024] [Revised: 04/22/2024] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE We evaluated whether plasma Alzheimer's Disease (AD)-related biomarkers were associated with cancer-related cognitive decline (CRCD) among older breast cancer survivors. METHODS We included survivors 60-90 years with primary stage 0-III breast cancers (n = 236) and frequency-matched non-cancer controls (n = 154) who passed a cognitive screen and had banked plasma specimens. Participants were assessed at baseline (pre-systemic therapy) and annually for up to 60-months. Cognition was measured using tests of attention, processing speed and executive function (APE) and learning and memory (LM); perceived cognition was measured by the FACT-Cog PCI. Baseline plasma neurofilament light (NfL), glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), beta-amyloid 42/40 (Aβ42/40) and phosphorylated tau (p-tau181) were assayed using single molecule arrays. Mixed models tested associations between cognition and baseline AD-biomarkers, time, group (survivor vs control) and their two- and three-way interactions, controlling for age, race, WRAT4 Word Reading score, comorbidity and BMI; two-sided 0.05 p-values were considered statistically significant. RESULTS There were no group differences in baseline AD-related biomarkers except survivors had higher baseline NfL levels than controls (p = .013). Survivors had lower adjusted longitudinal APE than controls starting from baseline and continuing over time (p = <0.002). However, baseline AD-related biomarker levels were not independently associated with adjusted cognition over time, except controls had lower APE scores with higher GFAP levels (p = .008). CONCLUSION The results do not support a relationship between baseline AD-related biomarkers and CRCD. Further investigation is warranted to confirm the findings, test effects of longitudinal changes in AD-related biomarkers and examine other mechanisms and factors affecting cognition pre-systemic therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeanne Mandelblatt
- Georgetown Lombardi Institute for Cancer and Aging Research, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Department of Oncology, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Jeffrey L Dage
- Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Department of Neurology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Xingtao Zhou
- Department of Biostatistics, Bioinformatics, and Biomathematics, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Brent J Small
- School of Aging Studies, University of South Florida, and Health Outcomes and Behavior Program, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Tim A Ahles
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jaeil Ahn
- Department of Biostatistics, Bioinformatics, and Biomathematics, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Ashley Artese
- Department of Exercise Science and Health Promotion, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL, USA
| | - Traci N Bethea
- Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Department of Oncology, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Elizabeth C Breen
- Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, Department of Psychiatry & Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Cousins Center for Psychoneuroimmunology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Judith E Carroll
- Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, Department of Psychiatry & Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Cousins Center for Psychoneuroimmunology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Harvey J Cohen
- Center for the Study of Aging and Human Development, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Martine Extermann
- Senior Adult Oncology Program, Department of Oncology, Moffitt Cancer Center, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Deena Graham
- John Theurer Cancer Center, Hackensack University Medical Center, Hackensack, NJ, USA
| | - Claudine Isaacs
- Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Department of Oncology, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Heather S L Jim
- Department of Health Outcomes and Behavior, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Brenna C Mcdonald
- Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center, and Indiana Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Zev M Nakamura
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Sunita K Patel
- City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center, Duarte, CA, USA
| | - G William Rebeck
- Department of Neuroscience, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Kelly E Rentscher
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin Cancer Center, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA
| | - James C Root
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Kristen A Russ
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics and National Centralized Repository for Alzheimer's and Related Dementias, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Danielle B Tometich
- Department of Health Outcomes and Behavior, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - R Scott Turner
- Department of Neurology, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Kathleen Van Dyk
- Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, Department of Psychiatry & Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Wanting Zhai
- Department of Biostatistics, Bioinformatics, and Biomathematics, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Li-Wen Huang
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, University of California San Francisco and San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center, USA
| | - Andrew J Saykin
- Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center, and Indiana Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
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10
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Pineda SS, Lee H, Ulloa-Navas MJ, Linville RM, Garcia FJ, Galani K, Engelberg-Cook E, Castanedes MC, Fitzwalter BE, Pregent LJ, Gardashli ME, DeTure M, Vera-Garcia DV, Hucke ATS, Oskarsson BE, Murray ME, Dickson DW, Heiman M, Belzil VV, Kellis M. Single-cell dissection of the human motor and prefrontal cortices in ALS and FTLD. Cell 2024; 187:1971-1989.e16. [PMID: 38521060 PMCID: PMC11086986 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2024.02.031] [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: 02/16/2023] [Revised: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 02/23/2024] [Indexed: 03/25/2024]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) share many clinical, pathological, and genetic features, but a detailed understanding of their associated transcriptional alterations across vulnerable cortical cell types is lacking. Here, we report a high-resolution, comparative single-cell molecular atlas of the human primary motor and dorsolateral prefrontal cortices and their transcriptional alterations in sporadic and familial ALS and FTLD. By integrating transcriptional and genetic information, we identify known and previously unidentified vulnerable populations in cortical layer 5 and show that ALS- and FTLD-implicated motor and spindle neurons possess a virtually indistinguishable molecular identity. We implicate potential disease mechanisms affecting these cell types as well as non-neuronal drivers of pathogenesis. Finally, we show that neuron loss in cortical layer 5 tracks more closely with transcriptional identity rather than cellular morphology and extends beyond previously reported vulnerable cell types.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Sebastian Pineda
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02141, USA
| | - Hyeseung Lee
- Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | | | - Raleigh M Linville
- Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02141, USA
| | - Francisco J Garcia
- Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Kyriakitsa Galani
- Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02141, USA
| | | | | | - Brent E Fitzwalter
- Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Luc J Pregent
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL 32224, USA
| | | | - Michael DeTure
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL 32224, USA
| | | | - Andre T S Hucke
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL 32224, USA
| | | | - Melissa E Murray
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL 32224, USA
| | - Dennis W Dickson
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL 32224, USA
| | - Myriam Heiman
- Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.
| | | | - Manolis Kellis
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02141, USA.
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11
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Lai JD, Berlind JE, Fricklas G, Lie C, Urenda JP, Lam K, Sta Maria N, Jacobs R, Yu V, Zhao Z, Ichida JK. KCNJ2 inhibition mitigates mechanical injury in a human brain organoid model of traumatic brain injury. Cell Stem Cell 2024; 31:519-536.e8. [PMID: 38579683 DOI: 10.1016/j.stem.2024.03.004] [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: 04/27/2023] [Revised: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2024] [Indexed: 04/07/2024]
Abstract
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) strongly correlates with neurodegenerative disease. However, it remains unclear which neurodegenerative mechanisms are intrinsic to the brain and which strategies most potently mitigate these processes. We developed a high-intensity ultrasound platform to inflict mechanical injury to induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived cortical organoids. Mechanically injured organoids elicit classic hallmarks of TBI, including neuronal death, tau phosphorylation, and TDP-43 nuclear egress. We found that deep-layer neurons were particularly vulnerable to injury and that TDP-43 proteinopathy promotes cell death. Injured organoids derived from C9ORF72 amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/frontotemporal dementia (ALS/FTD) patients displayed exacerbated TDP-43 dysfunction. Using genome-wide CRISPR interference screening, we identified a mechanosensory channel, KCNJ2, whose inhibition potently mitigated neurodegenerative processes in vitro and in vivo, including in C9ORF72 ALS/FTD organoids. Thus, targeting KCNJ2 may reduce acute neuronal death after brain injury, and we present a scalable, genetically flexible cerebral organoid model that may enable the identification of additional modifiers of mechanical stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jesse D Lai
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Amgen Inc., Thousand Oaks, CA, USA; Neurological & Rare Diseases, Dewpoint Therapeutics, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Joshua E Berlind
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Eli and Edythe Broad CIRM Center for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Gabriella Fricklas
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Eli and Edythe Broad CIRM Center for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Cecilia Lie
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Eli and Edythe Broad CIRM Center for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Jean-Paul Urenda
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Eli and Edythe Broad CIRM Center for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Kelsey Lam
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Eli and Edythe Broad CIRM Center for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Naomi Sta Maria
- Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Russell Jacobs
- Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Violeta Yu
- Amgen Inc., Thousand Oaks, CA, USA; Neurological & Rare Diseases, Dewpoint Therapeutics, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Zhen Zhao
- Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Justin K Ichida
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Eli and Edythe Broad CIRM Center for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
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12
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Baka P, Steenken L, Escolano-Lozano F, Steffen F, Papagianni A, Sommer C, Pogatzki-Zahn E, Hirsch S, Protopapa M, Bittner S, Birklein F. Studying serum neurofilament light chain levels as a potential new biomarker for small fiber neuropathy. Eur J Neurol 2024; 31:e16192. [PMID: 38189534 DOI: 10.1111/ene.16192] [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: 10/24/2023] [Revised: 12/01/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/09/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Diagnosing small fiber neuropathies can be challenging. To address this issue, whether serum neurofilament light chain (sNfL) could serve as a potential biomarker of damage to epidermal Aδ- and C-fibers was tested. METHODS Serum NfL levels were assessed in 30 patients diagnosed with small fiber neuropathy and were compared to a control group of 19 healthy individuals. Electrophysiological studies, quantitative sensory testing and quantification of intraepidermal nerve fiber density after skin biopsy were performed in both the proximal and distal leg. RESULTS Serum NfL levels were not increased in patients with small fiber neuropathy compared to healthy controls (9.1 ± 3.9 and 9.4 ± 3.8, p = 0.83) and did not correlate with intraepidermal nerve fiber density at the lateral calf or lateral thigh or with other parameters of small fiber impairment. CONCLUSION Serum NfL levels cannot serve as a biomarker for small fiber damage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Panoraia Baka
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Livia Steenken
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Fabiola Escolano-Lozano
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Falk Steffen
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | | | - Claudia Sommer
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Esther Pogatzki-Zahn
- Department of Anaesthesiology, Intensive Care and Pain Medicine, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Silke Hirsch
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Maria Protopapa
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Stefan Bittner
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Frank Birklein
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
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13
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Tzeplaeff L, Jürs AV, Wohnrade C, Demleitner AF. Unraveling the Heterogeneity of ALS-A Call to Redefine Patient Stratification for Better Outcomes in Clinical Trials. Cells 2024; 13:452. [PMID: 38474416 PMCID: PMC10930688 DOI: 10.3390/cells13050452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2024] [Revised: 02/26/2024] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Despite tremendous efforts in basic research and a growing number of clinical trials aiming to find effective treatments, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) remains an incurable disease. One possible reason for the lack of effective causative treatment options is that ALS may not be a single disease entity but rather may represent a clinical syndrome, with diverse genetic and molecular causes, histopathological alterations, and subsequent clinical presentations contributing to its complexity and variability among individuals. Defining a way to subcluster ALS patients is becoming a central endeavor in the field. Identifying specific clusters and applying them in clinical trials could enable the development of more effective treatments. This review aims to summarize the available data on heterogeneity in ALS with regard to various aspects, e.g., clinical, genetic, and molecular.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Tzeplaeff
- Department of Neurology, Rechts der Isar Hospital, Technical University of Munich, 81675 München, Germany
| | - Alexandra V. Jürs
- Translational Neurodegeneration Section “Albrecht Kossel”, Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Rostock, 18057 Rostock, Germany
| | - Camilla Wohnrade
- Department of Neurology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany;
| | - Antonia F. Demleitner
- Department of Neurology, Rechts der Isar Hospital, Technical University of Munich, 81675 München, Germany
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14
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Dzik KP, Flis DJ, Kaczor-Keller KB, Bytowska ZK, Karnia MJ, Ziółkowski W, Kaczor JJ. Spinal cord abnormal autophagy and mitochondria energy metabolism are modified by swim training in SOD1-G93A mice. J Mol Med (Berl) 2024; 102:379-390. [PMID: 38197966 PMCID: PMC10879285 DOI: 10.1007/s00109-023-02410-8] [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: 03/07/2023] [Revised: 11/16/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2024]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) may result from the dysfunctions of various mechanisms such as protein accumulation, mitophagy, and biogenesis of mitochondria. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the molecular mechanisms in ALS development and the impact of swim training on these processes. In the present study, an animal model of ALS, SOD1-G93A mice, was used with the wild-type mice as controls. Mice swam five times per week for 30 min. Mice were analyzed before ALS onset (70 days old), at ALS 1 disease onset (116 days old), and at the terminal stage of the disease ALS (130 days old), and compared with the corresponding ALS untrained groups and normalized to the wild-type group. Enzyme activity and protein content were analyzed in the spinal cord homogenates. The results show autophagy disruptions causing accumulation of p62 accompanied by low PGC-1α and IGF-1 content in the spinal cord of SOD1-G93A mice. Swim training triggered a neuroprotective effect, attenuation of NF-l degradation, less accumulated p62, and lower autophagy initiation. The IGF-1 pathway induces pathophysiological adaptation to maintain energy demands through anaerobic metabolism and mitochondrial protection. KEY MESSAGES: The increased protein content of p62 in the spinal cord of SOD1-G93A mice suggests that autophagic clearance and transportation are disrupted. Swim training attenuates neurofilament light destruction in the spinal cord of SOD1-G93A mice. Swim training reducing OGDH provokes suppression of ATP-consuming anabolic pathways. Swim training induces energy metabolic changes and mitochondria protection through the IGF-1 signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katarzyna Patrycja Dzik
- Department of Animal and Human Physiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Gdansk, Bazynskiego 8, 80-309, Gdansk, Poland
| | - Damian Józef Flis
- Department of Pharmaceutical Pathophysiology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Barbara Kaczor-Keller
- Department of Molecular Biology, Institute of Genetics and Animal Biotechnology, Polish Academy of Science, Magdalenka, Poland
| | - Zofia Kinga Bytowska
- Division of Bioenergetics and Physiology of Exercise, Faculty of Health Sciences With Institute of Maritime and Tropical Medicine, Medical University of Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland
| | - Mateusz Jakub Karnia
- Department of Animal and Human Physiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Gdansk, Bazynskiego 8, 80-309, Gdansk, Poland
| | - Wiesław Ziółkowski
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences With Institute of Maritime and Tropical Medicine, Medical University of Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland
| | - Jan Jacek Kaczor
- Department of Animal and Human Physiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Gdansk, Bazynskiego 8, 80-309, Gdansk, Poland.
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15
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Das S, van Engelen MPE, Goossens J, Jacobs D, Bongers B, Fieldhouse JLP, Pijnenburg YAL, Teunissen CE, Vanmechelen E, Verberk IMW. The use of synaptic biomarkers in cerebrospinal fluid to differentiate behavioral variant of frontotemporal dementia from primary psychiatric disorders and Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimers Res Ther 2024; 16:34. [PMID: 38355535 PMCID: PMC10865562 DOI: 10.1186/s13195-024-01409-8] [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: 09/22/2023] [Accepted: 02/04/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Lack of early molecular biomarkers in sporadic behavioral variants of frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD) and its clinical overlap with primary psychiatric disorders (PPD) hampers its diagnostic distinction. Synaptic dysfunction is an early feature in bvFTD and identification of specific biomarkers might improve its diagnostic accuracy. Our goal was to understand the differential diagnostic potential of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) synaptic biomarkers in bvFTD versus PPD and their specificity towards bvFTD compared with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and controls. Additionally, we explored the association of CSF synaptic biomarkers with social cognition, cognitive performance, and disease severity in these clinical groups. METHODS Participants with probable bvFTD (n = 57), PPD (n = 71), AD (n = 60), and cognitively normal controls (n = 39) with available CSF, cognitive tests, and disease severity as frontotemporal lobar degeneration-modified clinical dementia rating scale (FTLD-CDR) were included. In a subset of bvFTD and PPD cases, Ekman 60 faces test scores for social cognition were available. CSF synaptosomal-associated protein 25 (SNAP25), neurogranin (Ng), neuronal pentraxin 2 (NPTX2), and glutamate receptor 4 (GluR4) were measured, along with neurofilament light (NfL), and compared between groups using analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) and logistic regression. Diagnostic accuracy was assessed using ROC analyses, and biomarker panels were selected using Wald's backward selection. Correlations with cognitive measures were performed using Pearson's partial correlation analysis. RESULTS NPTX2 concentrations were lower in the bvFTD group compared with PPD (p < 0.001) and controls (p = 0.003) but not compared with AD. Concentrations of SNAP25 (p < 0.001) and Ng (p < 0.001) were elevated in patients with AD versus those with bvFTD and controls. The modeled panel for differential diagnosis of bvFTD versus PPD consisted of NfL and NPTX2 (AUC = 0.96, CI: 0.93-0.99, p < 0.001). In bvFTD versus AD, the modeled panel consisted of NfL, SNAP25, Ng, and GluR4 (AUC = 0.86, CI: 0.79-0.92, p < 0.001). In bvFTD, lower NPTX2 (Pearson's r = 0.29, p = 0.036) and GluR4 (Pearson's r = 0.34, p = 0.014) concentrations were weakly associated with worse performance of total cognitive score. Lower GluR4 concentrations were also associated with worse MMSE scores (Pearson's r = 0.41, p = 0.002) as well as with worse executive functioning (Pearson's r = 0.36, p = 0.011) in bvFTD. There were no associations between synaptic markers and social cognition or disease severity in bvFTD. CONCLUSION Our findings of involvement of NTPX2 in bvFTD but not PPD contribute towards better understanding of bvFTD disease pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shreyasee Das
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Neurochemistry Laboratory, Amsterdam, UMC location VrijeUniversiteit Amsterdam, Boelelaan 1117, Amsterdam, 1081 HV, The Netherlands
- ADx NeuroSciences, Technologiepark-Zwijnaarde 6, 9052, Gent, Belgium
| | - Marie-Paule E van Engelen
- Neurology, Amsterdam UMC location VUmc, Alzheimer Center Amsterdam, VrijeUniversiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1118, Amsterdam, 1081 HZ, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Neuroscience, Neurodegeneration, De Boelelaan 1085, Amsterdam, 1081 HV, The Netherlands
| | - Julie Goossens
- ADx NeuroSciences, Technologiepark-Zwijnaarde 6, 9052, Gent, Belgium
| | - Dirk Jacobs
- ADx NeuroSciences, Technologiepark-Zwijnaarde 6, 9052, Gent, Belgium
| | - Bram Bongers
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Neurochemistry Laboratory, Amsterdam, UMC location VrijeUniversiteit Amsterdam, Boelelaan 1117, Amsterdam, 1081 HV, The Netherlands
| | - Jay L P Fieldhouse
- Neurology, Amsterdam UMC location VUmc, Alzheimer Center Amsterdam, VrijeUniversiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1118, Amsterdam, 1081 HZ, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Neuroscience, Neurodegeneration, De Boelelaan 1085, Amsterdam, 1081 HV, The Netherlands
| | - Yolande A L Pijnenburg
- Neurology, Amsterdam UMC location VUmc, Alzheimer Center Amsterdam, VrijeUniversiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1118, Amsterdam, 1081 HZ, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Neuroscience, Neurodegeneration, De Boelelaan 1085, Amsterdam, 1081 HV, The Netherlands
| | - Charlotte E Teunissen
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Neurochemistry Laboratory, Amsterdam, UMC location VrijeUniversiteit Amsterdam, Boelelaan 1117, Amsterdam, 1081 HV, The Netherlands
- Neurology, Amsterdam UMC location VUmc, Alzheimer Center Amsterdam, VrijeUniversiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1118, Amsterdam, 1081 HZ, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Neuroscience, Neurodegeneration, De Boelelaan 1085, Amsterdam, 1081 HV, The Netherlands
| | | | - Inge M W Verberk
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Neurochemistry Laboratory, Amsterdam, UMC location VrijeUniversiteit Amsterdam, Boelelaan 1117, Amsterdam, 1081 HV, The Netherlands.
- Neurology, Amsterdam UMC location VUmc, Alzheimer Center Amsterdam, VrijeUniversiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1118, Amsterdam, 1081 HZ, The Netherlands.
- Amsterdam Neuroscience, Neurodegeneration, De Boelelaan 1085, Amsterdam, 1081 HV, The Netherlands.
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16
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Mohammadi S, Ghaderi S, Fatehi F. MRI biomarkers and neuropsychological assessments of hippocampal and parahippocampal regions affected by ALS: A systematic review. CNS Neurosci Ther 2024; 30:e14578. [PMID: 38334254 PMCID: PMC10853901 DOI: 10.1111/cns.14578] [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: 09/14/2023] [Revised: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 02/10/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive motor and extra-motor neurodegenerative disease. This systematic review aimed to examine MRI biomarkers and neuropsychological assessments of the hippocampal and parahippocampal regions in patients with ALS. METHODS A systematic review was conducted in the Scopus and PubMed databases for studies published between January 2000 and July 2023. The inclusion criteria were (1) MRI studies to assess hippocampal and parahippocampal regions in ALS patients, and (2) studies reporting neuropsychological data in patients with ALS. RESULTS A total of 46 studies were included. Structural MRI revealed hippocampal atrophy, especially in ALS-FTD, involving specific subregions (CA1, dentate gyrus). Disease progression and genetic factors impacted atrophy patterns. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) showed increased mean diffusivity (MD), axial diffusivity (AD), radial diffusivity (RD), and decreased fractional anisotropy (FA) in the hippocampal tracts and adjacent regions, indicating loss of neuronal and white matter integrity. Functional MRI (fMRI) revealed reduced functional connectivity (FC) between the hippocampus, parahippocampus, and other regions, suggesting disrupted networks. Perfusion MRI showed hypoperfusion in parahippocampal gyri. Magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) found changes in the hippocampus, indicating neuronal loss. Neuropsychological tests showed associations between poorer memory and hippocampal atrophy or connectivity changes. CA1-2, dentate gyrus, and fimbria atrophy were correlated with worse memory. CONCLUSIONS The hippocampus and the connected regions are involved in ALS. Hippocampal atrophy disrupted connectivity and metabolite changes correlate with cognitive and functional decline. Specific subregions can be particularly affected. The hippocampus is a potential biomarker for disease monitoring and prognosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sana Mohammadi
- Neuromuscular Research Center, Department of Neurology, Shariati HospitalTehran University of Medical SciencesTehranIran
- Department of Medical Sciences, School of MedicineIran University of Medical SciencesTehranIran
| | - Sadegh Ghaderi
- Neuromuscular Research Center, Department of Neurology, Shariati HospitalTehran University of Medical SciencesTehranIran
- Department of Neuroscience and Addiction Studies, School of Advanced Technologies in MedicineTehran University of Medical SciencesTehranIran
| | - Farzad Fatehi
- Neuromuscular Research Center, Department of Neurology, Shariati HospitalTehran University of Medical SciencesTehranIran
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17
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Gentile F, Maranzano A, Verde F, Bettoni V, Colombo E, Doretti A, Olivero M, Scheveger F, Colombrita C, Bulgarelli I, Spinelli EG, Torresani E, Messina S, Maderna L, Agosta F, Morelli C, Filippi M, Silani V, Ticozzi N. The value of routine blood work-up in clinical stratification and prognosis of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. J Neurol 2024; 271:794-803. [PMID: 37801095 PMCID: PMC10827966 DOI: 10.1007/s00415-023-12015-3] [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: 07/19/2023] [Revised: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 09/19/2023] [Indexed: 10/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is an unmet need in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) to provide specific biomarkers for the disease. Due to their easy availability, we aimed to investigate whether routine blood parameters provide useful clues for phenotypic classification and disease prognosis. METHODS We analyzed a large inpatient cohort of 836 ALS patients who underwent deep phenotyping with evaluation of the clinical and neurophysiological burden of upper (UMN) and lower (LMN) motor neuron signs. Disability and progression rate were measured through the revised ALS Functional Rating Scale (ALSFRS-R) and its changes during time. Cox regression analysis was performed to assess survival associations. RESULTS Creatinine significantly correlated with LMN damage (r = 0.38), active (r = 0.18) and chronic (r = 0.24) denervation and baseline ALSFRS-R (r = 0.33). Creatine kinase (CK), alanine (ALT) and aspartate (AST) transaminases correlated with active (r = 0.35, r = 0.27, r = 0.24) and chronic (r = 0.37, r = 0.20, r = 0.19) denervation, while albumin and C-reactive protein significantly correlated with LMN score (r = 0.20 and r = 0.17). Disease progression rate showed correlations with chloride (r = -0.19) and potassium levels (r = -0.16). After adjustment for known prognostic factors, total protein [HR 0.70 (95% CI 0.57-0.86)], creatinine [HR 0.86 (95% CI 0.81-0.92)], chloride [HR 0.95 (95% CI 0.92-0.99)], lactate dehydrogenase [HR 0.99 (95% CI 0.99-0.99)], and AST [HR 1.02 (95% CI 1.01-1.02)] were independently associated with survival. CONCLUSIONS Creatinine is a reliable biomarker for ALS, associated with clinical features, disability and survival. Markers of nutrition/inflammation may offer additional prognostic information and partially correlate with clinical features. AST and chloride could further assist in predicting progression rate and survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Gentile
- Neurology Residency Program, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Alessio Maranzano
- Department of Neurology, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, P. Le Brescia 20, 20149, Milan, Italy
| | - Federico Verde
- Department of Neurology, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, P. Le Brescia 20, 20149, Milan, Italy
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, "Dino Ferrari" Center, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Veronica Bettoni
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, IRCCS Mondino Foundation, Università degli Studi di Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Eleonora Colombo
- Department of Neurology, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, P. Le Brescia 20, 20149, Milan, Italy
| | - Alberto Doretti
- Department of Neurology, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, P. Le Brescia 20, 20149, Milan, Italy
| | - Marco Olivero
- Neurology Residency Program, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Claudia Colombrita
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Laboratory of Clinical Chemistry and Microbiology, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy
| | - Ilaria Bulgarelli
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Laboratory of Clinical Chemistry and Microbiology, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy
| | - Edoardo Gioele Spinelli
- Neurology Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
- Neuroimaging Research Unit, Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
- Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
| | - Erminio Torresani
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Laboratory of Clinical Chemistry and Microbiology, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy
| | - Stefano Messina
- Department of Neurology, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, P. Le Brescia 20, 20149, Milan, Italy
| | - Luca Maderna
- Department of Neurology, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, P. Le Brescia 20, 20149, Milan, Italy
| | - Federica Agosta
- Neurology Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
- Neuroimaging Research Unit, Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
- Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
| | - Claudia Morelli
- Department of Neurology, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, P. Le Brescia 20, 20149, Milan, Italy
| | - Massimo Filippi
- Neurology Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
- Neuroimaging Research Unit, Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
- Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
- Neurorehabilitation Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
- Neurophysiology Service, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Silani
- Department of Neurology, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, P. Le Brescia 20, 20149, Milan, Italy
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, "Dino Ferrari" Center, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Nicola Ticozzi
- Department of Neurology, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, P. Le Brescia 20, 20149, Milan, Italy.
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, "Dino Ferrari" Center, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy.
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18
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Vacchiano V, Bonan L, Liguori R, Rizzo G. Primary Lateral Sclerosis: An Overview. J Clin Med 2024; 13:578. [PMID: 38276084 PMCID: PMC10816328 DOI: 10.3390/jcm13020578] [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: 12/12/2023] [Revised: 01/15/2024] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Primary lateral sclerosis (PLS) is a rare neurodegenerative disorder which causes the selective deterioration of the upper motor neurons (UMNs), sparing the lower motor neuron (LMN) system. The clinical course is defined by a progressive motor disability due to muscle spasticity which typically involves lower extremities and bulbar muscles. Although classically considered a sporadic disease, some familiar cases and possible causative genes have been reported. Despite it having been recognized as a rare but distinct entity, whether it actually represents an extreme end of the motor neuron diseases continuum is still an open issue. The main knowledge gap is the lack of specific biomarkers to improve the clinical diagnostic accuracy. Indeed, the diagnostic imprecision, together with some uncertainty about overlap with UMN-predominant ALS and Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia (HSP), has become an obstacle to the development of specific therapeutic trials. In this study, we provided a comprehensive analysis of the existing literature, including neuropathological, clinical, neuroimaging, and neurophysiological features of the disease, and highlighting the controversies still unsolved in the differential diagnoses and the current diagnostic criteria. We also discussed the current knowledge gaps still present in both diagnostic and therapeutic fields when approaching this rare condition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veria Vacchiano
- IRCCS, Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, UOC Clinica Neurologica, 40139 Bologna, Italy; (V.V.); (R.L.)
| | - Luigi Bonan
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences (DIBINEM), University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy;
| | - Rocco Liguori
- IRCCS, Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, UOC Clinica Neurologica, 40139 Bologna, Italy; (V.V.); (R.L.)
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences (DIBINEM), University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy;
| | - Giovanni Rizzo
- IRCCS, Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, UOC Clinica Neurologica, 40139 Bologna, Italy; (V.V.); (R.L.)
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19
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Krishnamurthy K, Pradhan RK. Emerging perspectives of synaptic biomarkers in ALS and FTD. Front Mol Neurosci 2024; 16:1279999. [PMID: 38249293 PMCID: PMC10796791 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2023.1279999] [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: 08/19/2023] [Accepted: 12/01/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD) are debilitating neurodegenerative diseases with shared pathological features like transactive response DNA-binding protein of 43 kDa (TDP-43) inclusions and genetic mutations. Both diseases involve synaptic dysfunction, contributing to their clinical features. Synaptic biomarkers, representing proteins associated with synaptic function or structure, offer insights into disease mechanisms, progression, and treatment responses. These biomarkers can detect disease early, track its progression, and evaluate therapeutic efficacy. ALS is characterized by elevated neurofilament light chain (NfL) levels in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and blood, correlating with disease progression. TDP-43 is another key ALS biomarker, its mislocalization linked to synaptic dysfunction. In FTD, TDP-43 and tau proteins are studied as biomarkers. Synaptic biomarkers like neuronal pentraxins (NPs), including neuronal pentraxin 2 (NPTX2), and neuronal pentraxin receptor (NPTXR), offer insights into FTD pathology and cognitive decline. Advanced technologies, like machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI), aid biomarker discovery and drug development. Challenges in this research include technological limitations in detection, variability across patients, and translating findings from animal models. ML/AI can accelerate discovery by analyzing complex data and predicting disease outcomes. Synaptic biomarkers offer early disease detection, personalized treatment strategies, and insights into disease mechanisms. While challenges persist, technological advancements and interdisciplinary efforts promise to revolutionize the understanding and management of ALS and FTD. This review will explore the present comprehension of synaptic biomarkers in ALS and FTD and discuss their significance and emphasize the prospects and obstacles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karrthik Krishnamurthy
- Department of Neuroscience, Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
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20
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Lauria G, Curcio R, Tucci P. A Machine Learning Approach for Highlighting microRNAs as Biomarkers Linked to Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Diagnosis and Progression. Biomolecules 2023; 14:47. [PMID: 38254647 PMCID: PMC10813207 DOI: 10.3390/biom14010047] [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: 10/30/2023] [Revised: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease characterized by the progressive loss of motor neurons in the brain and spinal cord. The early diagnosis of ALS can be challenging, as it usually depends on clinical examination and the exclusion of other possible causes. In this regard, the analysis of miRNA expression profiles in biofluids makes miRNAs promising non-invasive clinical biomarkers. Due to the increasing amount of scientific literature that often provides controversial results, this work aims to deepen the understanding of the current state of the art on this topic using a machine-learning-based approach. A systematic literature search was conducted to analyze a set of 308 scientific articles using the MySLR digital platform and the Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) algorithm. Two relevant topics were identified, and the articles clustered in each of them were analyzed and discussed in terms of biomolecular mechanisms, as well as in translational and clinical settings. Several miRNAs detected in the tissues and biofluids of ALS patients, including blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), have been linked to ALS diagnosis and progression. Some of them may represent promising non-invasive clinical biomarkers. In this context, future scientific priorities and goals have been proposed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Rosita Curcio
- Correspondence: (R.C.); (P.T.); Tel.: +39-0984493046 (R.C.); +39-0984493185 (P.T.)
| | - Paola Tucci
- Correspondence: (R.C.); (P.T.); Tel.: +39-0984493046 (R.C.); +39-0984493185 (P.T.)
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21
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McMackin R, Bede P, Ingre C, Malaspina A, Hardiman O. Biomarkers in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: current status and future prospects. Nat Rev Neurol 2023; 19:754-768. [PMID: 37949994 DOI: 10.1038/s41582-023-00891-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
Disease heterogeneity in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis poses a substantial challenge in drug development. Categorization based on clinical features alone can help us predict the disease course and survival, but quantitative measures are also needed that can enhance the sensitivity of the clinical categorization. In this Review, we describe the emerging landscape of diagnostic, categorical and pharmacodynamic biomarkers in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and their place in the rapidly evolving landscape of new therapeutics. Fluid-based markers from cerebrospinal fluid, blood and urine are emerging as useful diagnostic, pharmacodynamic and predictive biomarkers. Combinations of imaging measures have the potential to provide important diagnostic and prognostic information, and neurophysiological methods, including various electromyography-based measures and quantitative EEG-magnetoencephalography-evoked responses and corticomuscular coherence, are generating useful diagnostic, categorical and prognostic markers. Although none of these biomarker technologies has been fully incorporated into clinical practice or clinical trials as a primary outcome measure, strong evidence is accumulating to support their clinical utility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roisin McMackin
- Discipline of Physiology, School of Medicine, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin, The University of Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
- Academic Unit of Neurology, School of Medicine, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin, The University of Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Peter Bede
- Academic Unit of Neurology, School of Medicine, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin, The University of Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
- Computational Neuroimaging Group, School of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, The University of Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
- Department of Neurology, St James's Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Caroline Ingre
- Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Neurology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Andrea Malaspina
- Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Orla Hardiman
- Academic Unit of Neurology, School of Medicine, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin, The University of Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
- Department of Neurology, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
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22
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Sattler R, Traynor BJ, Robertson J, Van Den Bosch L, Barmada SJ, Svendsen CN, Disney MD, Gendron TF, Wong PC, Turner MR, Boxer A, Babu S, Benatar M, Kurnellas M, Rohrer JD, Donnelly CJ, Bustos LM, Van Keuren-Jensen K, Dacks PA, Sabbagh MN. Roadmap for C9ORF72 in Frontotemporal Dementia and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: Report on the C9ORF72 FTD/ALS Summit. Neurol Ther 2023; 12:1821-1843. [PMID: 37847372 PMCID: PMC10630271 DOI: 10.1007/s40120-023-00548-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2023] [Accepted: 09/14/2023] [Indexed: 10/18/2023] Open
Abstract
A summit held March 2023 in Scottsdale, Arizona (USA) focused on the intronic hexanucleotide expansion in the C9ORF72 gene and its relevance in frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS; C9ORF72-FTD/ALS). The goal of this summit was to connect basic scientists, clinical researchers, drug developers, and individuals affected by C9ORF72-FTD/ALS to evaluate how collaborative efforts across the FTD-ALS disease spectrum might break down existing disease silos. Presentations and discussions covered recent discoveries in C9ORF72-FTD/ALS disease mechanisms, availability of disease biomarkers and recent advances in therapeutic development, and clinical trial design for prevention and treatment for individuals affected by C9ORF72-FTD/ALS and asymptomatic pathological expansion carriers. The C9ORF72-associated hexanucleotide repeat expansion is an important locus for both ALS and FTD. C9ORF72-FTD/ALS may be characterized by loss of function of the C9ORF72 protein and toxic gain of functions caused by both dipeptide repeat (DPR) proteins and hexanucleotide repeat RNA. C9ORF72-FTD/ALS therapeutic strategies discussed at the summit included the use of antisense oligonucleotides, adeno-associated virus (AAV)-mediated gene silencing and gene delivery, and engineered small molecules targeting RNA structures associated with the C9ORF72 expansion. Neurofilament light chain, DPR proteins, and transactive response (TAR) DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43)-associated molecular changes were presented as biomarker candidates. Similarly, brain imaging modalities (i.e., magnetic resonance imaging [MRI] and positron emission tomography [PET]) measuring structural, functional, and metabolic changes were discussed as important tools to monitor individuals affected with C9ORF72-FTD/ALS, at both pre-symptomatic and symptomatic disease stages. Finally, summit attendees evaluated current clinical trial designs available for FTD or ALS patients and concluded that therapeutics relevant to FTD/ALS patients, such as those specifically targeting C9ORF72, may need to be tested with composite endpoints covering clinical symptoms of both FTD and ALS. The latter will require novel clinical trial designs to be inclusive of all patient subgroups spanning the FTD/ALS spectrum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rita Sattler
- Barrow Neurological Institute, 2910 N Third Ave, Phoenix, AZ, 85013, USA.
| | - Bryan J Traynor
- Neuromuscular Diseases Research Section, Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Janice Robertson
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Ludo Van Den Bosch
- VIB, Center for Brain & Disease Research, Laboratory of Neurobiology and KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Neurosciences, Experimental Neurology and Leuven Brain Institute (LBI), University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Sami J Barmada
- Department of Neurology, Neuroscience Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Clive N Svendsen
- Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Matthew D Disney
- Department of Chemistry, The Herbert Wertheim UF-Scripps Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, FL, USA
| | - Tania F Gendron
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, USA
| | - Philip C Wong
- Departments of Pathology and Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Martin R Turner
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Adam Boxer
- Department of Neurology, Memory and Aging Center, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Suma Babu
- Sean M. Healey and AMG Center for ALS and the Neurological Clinical Research Institute, Massachusetts General Hospital-Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Michael Benatar
- Department of Neurology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, 33129, USA
| | | | - Jonathan D Rohrer
- Dementia Research Centre, Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Christopher J Donnelly
- LiveLikeLou Center for ALS Research, Brain Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, USA
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Lynette M Bustos
- Barrow Neurological Institute, 2910 N Third Ave, Phoenix, AZ, 85013, USA
| | | | - Penny A Dacks
- The Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration and FTD Disorders Registry, King of Prussia, PA, USA
| | - Marwan N Sabbagh
- Barrow Neurological Institute, 2910 N Third Ave, Phoenix, AZ, 85013, USA.
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23
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Donini L, Tanel R, Zuccarino R, Basso M. Protein biomarkers for the diagnosis and prognosis of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Neurosci Res 2023; 197:31-41. [PMID: 37689321 DOI: 10.1016/j.neures.2023.09.002] [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: 07/01/2023] [Revised: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 09/11/2023]
Abstract
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is the most common motor neuron disease, still incurable. The disease is highly heterogenous both genetically and phenotypically. Therefore, developing efficacious treatments is challenging in many aspects because it is difficult to predict the rate of disease progression and stratify the patients to minimize statistical variability in clinical studies. Moreover, there is a lack of sensitive measures of therapeutic effect to assess whether a pharmacological intervention ameliorates the disease. There is also urgency of markers that reflect a molecular mechanism dysregulated by ALS pathology and can be rescued when a treatment relieves the condition. Here, we summarize and discuss biomarkers tested in multicentered studies and across different laboratories like neurofilaments, the most used marker in ALS clinical studies, neuroinflammatory-related proteins, p75ECD, p-Tau/t-Tau, and UCHL1. We also explore the applicability of muscle proteins and extracellular vesicles as potential biomarkers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luisa Donini
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology - CIBIO, University of Trento, Italy.
| | - Raffaella Tanel
- Clinical Center NeMO, APSS Ospedale Riabilitativo Villa Rosa, Pergine 38057, TN, Italy.
| | - Riccardo Zuccarino
- Clinical Center NeMO, APSS Ospedale Riabilitativo Villa Rosa, Pergine 38057, TN, Italy
| | - Manuela Basso
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology - CIBIO, University of Trento, Italy.
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24
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Abrahams S. Neuropsychological impairment in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis-frontotemporal spectrum disorder. Nat Rev Neurol 2023; 19:655-667. [PMID: 37828358 DOI: 10.1038/s41582-023-00878-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 10/14/2023]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease with a rapid course, characterized by motor neuron dysfunction, leading to progressive disability and death. This Review, which is aimed at neurologists, psychologists and other health professionals who follow evidence-based practice relating to ALS and frontotemporal dementia (FTD), examines the neuropsychological evidence that has driven the reconceptualization of ALS as a spectrum disorder ranging from a pure motor phenotype to ALS-FTD. It focuses on changes in cognition and behaviour, which vary in severity across the spectrum: around 50% individuals with ALS are within the normal range, 15% meet the criteria for ALS-FTD, and the remaining 35% are in the mid-spectrum range with milder and more focal impairments. The cognitive impairments include deficits in verbal fluency, executive functions, social cognition and language, and apathy is the most prevalent behavioural change. The pattern and severity of cognitive and behavioural change predicts underlying regional cerebral dysfunction from brain imaging and post-mortem pathology. Our increased recognition of cognition and behaviour as part of the ALS phenotype has led to the development and standardization of assessment tools, which have been incorporated into research and clinical care. Measuring change over the course of the disease is vital for clinical trials, and neuropsychology is proving to be a biomarker for the earliest preclinical changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sharon Abrahams
- Human Cognitive Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
- Euan MacDonald Centre for MND Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
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25
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Rogers ML, Schultz DW, Karnaros V, Shepheard SR. Urinary biomarkers for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: candidates, opportunities and considerations. Brain Commun 2023; 5:fcad287. [PMID: 37946793 PMCID: PMC10631861 DOI: 10.1093/braincomms/fcad287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2023] [Revised: 08/23/2023] [Accepted: 10/24/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is a relentless neurodegenerative disease that is mostly fatal within 3-5 years and is diagnosed on evidence of progressive upper and lower motor neuron degeneration. Around 15% of those with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis also have frontotemporal degeneration, and gene mutations account for ∼10%. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is a variable heterogeneous disease, and it is becoming increasingly clear that numerous different disease processes culminate in the final degeneration of motor neurons. There is a profound need to clearly articulate and measure pathological process that occurs. Such information is needed to tailor treatments to individuals with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis according to an individual's pathological fingerprint. For new candidate therapies, there is also a need for methods to select patients according to expected treatment outcomes and measure the success, or not, of treatments. Biomarkers are essential tools to fulfil these needs, and urine is a rich source for candidate biofluid biomarkers. This review will describe promising candidate urinary biomarkers of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and other possible urinary candidates in future areas of investigation as well as the limitations of urinary biomarkers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary-Louise Rogers
- Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Adelaide 5042, South Australia, Australia
| | - David W Schultz
- Neurology Department and MND Clinic, Flinders Medical Centre, Adelaide 5042, South Australia, Australia
| | - Vassilios Karnaros
- Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Adelaide 5042, South Australia, Australia
| | - Stephanie R Shepheard
- Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Adelaide 5042, South Australia, Australia
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26
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Chiu C, Cheng W, Lin Y, Lin T, Chang H, Chang Y, Lee C, Chang H, Liu C. A pilot study: handgrip as a predictor in the disease progression of SCA3. Orphanet J Rare Dis 2023; 18:317. [PMID: 37817286 PMCID: PMC10565987 DOI: 10.1186/s13023-023-02948-3] [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: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 10/05/2023] [Indexed: 10/12/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (SCA3) is an inherited, autosomal, and rare neurodegenerative disease. Serum/plasma biomarkers or functional magnetic resonance imaging used to assess progression, except for neurological examinations, is either inconvenient or expensive. Handgrip strength (HGS) may be considered as a biomarker to predict the progress of SCA3 and align with the alteration of plasma neurofilament light chain (NfL) and Scale for the Assessment and Rating of Ataxia (SARA). METHODS Patients with SCA3 and healthy subjects were recruited from Changhua Christian Hospital. SARA, body mass index (BMI), and NfL were obtained for both groups. HGS was measured using a Jamar Plus + hand dynamometer. RESULTS This study recruited 31 patients and 36 controls. HGS in the SCA3 group revealed a profound decrease (P < 0.001) compared with normal subjects. HGS also had a negative correlation with SARA (r = - 0.548, P = 0.001), NfL (r = - 0.359, P = 0.048), and a positive correlation with BMI (r = 0.680, P < 0.001). Moreover, HGS/BMI ratio correlated with SARA (r = - 0.441, P = 0.013). Controlling for gender and age, HGS still correlated with the above clinical items. The initial hypothesis was also proved in SCA3 84Q transgenic mice, showing grip strength weakness compared to normal mice. CONCLUSIONS HGS can be an alternative tool to assess the clinical severity of SCA3. Further research is needed to investigate the underlying mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chungmin Chiu
- Graduate Institute of Integrated Medicine, College of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
- Department of Chinese Medicine, Changhua Christian Hospital, Changhua, Taiwan
| | - Wenling Cheng
- Vascular and Genomic Center, Institute of ATP, Changhua Christian Hospital, Changhua, Taiwan
| | - Yongshiou Lin
- Vascular and Genomic Center, Institute of ATP, Changhua Christian Hospital, Changhua, Taiwan
| | - Tatsung Lin
- Vascular and Genomic Center, Institute of ATP, Changhua Christian Hospital, Changhua, Taiwan
| | - Huiju Chang
- Center of Regenerative Medicine and Tissue Repair, Institute of ATP, Changhua Christian Hospital, Changhua, Taiwan
| | - Yujun Chang
- Big Data Center, Changhua Christian Hospital, Changhua, Taiwan
| | - Chiaju Lee
- Department of Neurology, Changhua Christian Hospital, 7F., No.235, Syuguang Rd., Changhua, 500, Taiwan
| | - Henhong Chang
- Graduate Institute of Integrated Medicine, College of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
- Department of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, No.91, Xueshi Rd., North District, Taichung, 404, Taiwan.
- Chinese Medicine Research Center, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
| | - Chinsan Liu
- Vascular and Genomic Center, Institute of ATP, Changhua Christian Hospital, Changhua, Taiwan.
- Department of Neurology, Changhua Christian Hospital, 7F., No.235, Syuguang Rd., Changhua, 500, Taiwan.
- Department of Post-Baccalaureate Medicine, College of Medicine, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan.
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27
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Giuffrè GM, Quaranta D, Costantini EM, Citro S, Martellacci N, De Ninno G, Vita MG, Guglielmi V, Rossini PM, Calabresi P, Marra C. Cerebrospinal fluid neurofilament light chain and total-tau as biomarkers of neurodegeneration in Alzheimer's disease and frontotemporal dementia. Neurobiol Dis 2023; 186:106267. [PMID: 37652185 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2023.106267] [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: 04/02/2023] [Revised: 08/10/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 09/02/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION CSF Neurofilament light chain(NfL) is a promising biomarker of neurodegeneration, but its utility in discriminating between Alzheimer's disease(AD) and frontotemporal dementia(FTD) is limited. METHODS 105 patients with clinical-biological diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment(MCI) due to AD (N = 72) or clinical diagnosis of FTD (N = 33) underwent neuropsychological assessment and CSF Aβ42/40, p-tau181, total-tau and NfL quantification. Group comparisons, correlations between continuous variables and ROC curve analysis were carried out to assess NfL role in discriminating between MCI due to AD and FTD, exploring the associations between NfL, ATN biomarkers and neuropsychological measures. RESULTS NfL levels were significantly lower in the AD group, while levels of total-tau were higher. In the FTD group, significant correlations were found between NfL, p-tau181 and total-tau, and between NfL and cognitive performances. In the AD group, NfL levels were directly correlated with total-tau and p-tau181; Aβ42/40 ratio was inversely correlated with total-tau and p-tau181, but not with NfL. Moreover, p-tau181 and t-tau levels were found to be associated with episodic memory and lexical-semantic impairment. Total-tau/NfL ratio differentiated prodromal-AD from FTD with an AUC of 0.951, higher than the individual measures. DISCUSSION & CONCLUSIONS The results support that NfL and total-tau levels reflect distinct pathophysiological neurodegeneration mechanisms, independent and dependent of Aβ pathology, respectively, Combining them may enhance both markers reliability, their ratio showing high accuracy in distinguishing MCI due to AD from FTD. Moreover, our results revealed associations between NfL and disease severity in FTD and between tauopathy and episodic memory and lexical-semantic impairment in prodromal-AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guido Maria Giuffrè
- Neurology Unit Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy; Memory Clinic Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy; Department of Neuroscience, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy
| | - Davide Quaranta
- Neurology Unit Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy; Memory Clinic Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy; Department of Neuroscience, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy.
| | | | - Salvatore Citro
- Neurology Unit Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy; Memory Clinic Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy; Department of Neuroscience, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy
| | - Noemi Martellacci
- Memory Clinic Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Grazia De Ninno
- UOC of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Clinical Molecular Biology - Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Gabriella Vita
- Neurology Unit Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Valeria Guglielmi
- Neurology Unit Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Paolo Maria Rossini
- Brain Connectivity Laboratory, Department of Neuroscience and Neurorehabilitation, IRCCS San Raffaele Roma, Rome, Italy
| | - Paolo Calabresi
- Neurology Unit Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy; Memory Clinic Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy; Department of Neuroscience, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy
| | - Camillo Marra
- Memory Clinic Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy; Department of Neuroscience, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy
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28
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Grossman M, Seeley WW, Boxer AL, Hillis AE, Knopman DS, Ljubenov PA, Miller B, Piguet O, Rademakers R, Whitwell JL, Zetterberg H, van Swieten JC. Frontotemporal lobar degeneration. Nat Rev Dis Primers 2023; 9:40. [PMID: 37563165 DOI: 10.1038/s41572-023-00447-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/12/2023] [Indexed: 08/12/2023]
Abstract
Frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) is one of the most common causes of early-onset dementia and presents with early social-emotional-behavioural and/or language changes that can be accompanied by a pyramidal or extrapyramidal motor disorder. About 20-25% of individuals with FTLD are estimated to carry a mutation associated with a specific FTLD pathology. The discovery of these mutations has led to important advances in potentially disease-modifying treatments that aim to slow progression or delay disease onset and has improved understanding of brain functioning. In both mutation carriers and those with sporadic disease, the most common underlying diagnoses are linked to neuronal and glial inclusions containing tau (FTLD-tau) or TDP-43 (FTLD-TDP), although 5-10% of patients may have inclusions containing proteins from the FUS-Ewing sarcoma-TAF15 family (FTLD-FET). Biomarkers definitively identifying specific pathological entities in sporadic disease have been elusive, which has impeded development of disease-modifying treatments. Nevertheless, disease-monitoring biofluid and imaging biomarkers are becoming increasingly sophisticated and are likely to serve as useful measures of treatment response during trials of disease-modifying treatments. Symptomatic trials using novel approaches such as transcranial direct current stimulation are also beginning to show promise.
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Affiliation(s)
- Murray Grossman
- Department of Neurology and Penn Frontotemporal Degeneration Center, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - William W Seeley
- Departments of Neurology and Memory and Aging Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
- Department of Pathology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
| | - Adam L Boxer
- Departments of Neurology and Memory and Aging Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Argye E Hillis
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | | | - Peter A Ljubenov
- Departments of Neurology and Memory and Aging Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Bruce Miller
- Departments of Neurology and Memory and Aging Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Olivier Piguet
- School of Psychology and Brain and Mind Center, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Rosa Rademakers
- VIB Center for Molecular Neurology, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | | | - Henrik Zetterberg
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, The University of Gothenburg, Mölndal, Sweden
- Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Mölndal, Sweden
- Clinical Neurochemistry Laboratory, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Mölndal, Sweden
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Institute of Neurology, London, UK
- UK Dementia Research Institute at UCL, London, UK
- Hong Kong Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong, China
- Wisconsin Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
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29
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Murphy S, Schmitt-John T, Dowling P, Henry M, Meleady P, Swandulla D, Ohlendieck K. Proteomic profiling of the brain from the wobbler mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis reveals elevated levels of the astrogliosis marker glial fibrillary acidic protein. Eur J Transl Myol 2023; 33:11555. [PMID: 37565261 PMCID: PMC10583141 DOI: 10.4081/ejtm.2023.11555] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2023] [Accepted: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 08/12/2023] Open
Abstract
The wobbler mouse is a widely used model system of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and exhibits progressive neurodegeneration and neuroinflammation in association with skeletal muscle wasting. This study has used wobbler brain preparations for the systematic and mass spectrometric determination of proteome-wide changes. The proteomic characterization of total protein extracts from wobbler specimens was carried out with the help of an Orbitrap mass spectrometer and revealed elevated levels of glia cell marker proteins, i.e., glial fibrillary acidic protein and the actin-binding protein coronin. In contrast, the abundance of the actin-binding protein neurabin and the scaffolding protein named piccolo of the presynaptic cytomatrix were shown to be reduced. The increased abundance of glial fibrillary acidic protein, which is frequently used in neuropathological studies as a marker protein of glial scar formation, was confirmed by immunoblotting. In analogy, the proteomic profiling of the brain from another established murine model of motor neuron disease, the SOD1mouse, also showed increased levels of this intermediate filament protein. This suggests that neurodegenerative processes are associated with astrogliosis in both the wobbler and SOD1 brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Murphy
- Charles River Laboratories, Chesterford Research Park, Saffron Walden.
| | | | - Paul Dowling
- Department of Biology, Maynooth University, National University of Ireland, Maynooth, Co. Kildare, Ireland; Kathleen Lonsdale Institute for Human Health Research, Maynooth University, Maynooth, Co. Kildare.
| | - Michael Henry
- National Institute for Cellular Biotechnology, Dublin City University, Dublin.
| | - Paula Meleady
- National Institute for Cellular Biotechnology, Dublin City University, Dublin.
| | - Dieter Swandulla
- Institute of Physiology, Medical Faculty, University of Bonn, Bonn.
| | - Kay Ohlendieck
- Department of Biology, Maynooth University, National University of Ireland, Maynooth, Co. Kildare, Ireland; Kathleen Lonsdale Institute for Human Health Research, Maynooth University, Maynooth, Co. Kildare.
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30
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Magen I, Yacovzada NS, Warren JD, Heller C, Swift I, Bobeva Y, Malaspina A, Rohrer JD, Fratta P, Hornstein E. microRNA-based predictor for diagnosis of frontotemporal dementia. Neuropathol Appl Neurobiol 2023; 49:e12916. [PMID: 37317649 DOI: 10.1111/nan.12916] [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: 01/06/2023] [Revised: 04/28/2023] [Accepted: 06/02/2023] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
AIMS This study aimed to explore the non-linear relationships between cell-free microRNAs (miRNAs) and their contribution to prediction of Frontotemporal dementia (FTD), an early onset dementia that is clinically heterogeneous, and too often suffers from delayed diagnosis. METHODS We initially studied a training cohort of 219 subjects (135 FTD and 84 non-neurodegenerative controls) and then validated the results in a cohort of 74 subjects (33 FTD and 41 controls). RESULTS On the basis of cell-free plasma miRNA profiling by next generation sequencing and machine learning approaches, we develop a non-linear prediction model that accurately distinguishes FTD from non-neurodegenerative controls in ~90% of cases. CONCLUSIONS The fascinating potential of diagnostic miRNA biomarkers might enable early-stage detection and a cost-effective screening approach for clinical trials that can facilitate drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iddo Magen
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
- Department of Molecular Neuroscience, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Nancy-Sarah Yacovzada
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
- Department of Molecular Neuroscience, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Jason D Warren
- Dementia Research Centre, Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | - Carolin Heller
- Dementia Research Centre, Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
- UK Dementia Research Institute, Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | - Imogen Swift
- Dementia Research Centre, Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
- UK Dementia Research Institute, Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | - Yoana Bobeva
- Centre for Neuroscience and Trauma, Blizard Institute, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Andrea Malaspina
- Centre for Neuroscience and Trauma, Blizard Institute, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
- Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | - Jonathan D Rohrer
- Dementia Research Centre, Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | - Pietro Fratta
- Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | - Eran Hornstein
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
- Department of Molecular Neuroscience, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
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31
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Zhou J, Zeng Q, Liao Q, Niu Q, Gu W, Su D, Li S, Xiao B, Bi F. Biomarkers in cerebrospinal fluid for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis phenotypes. Ann Clin Transl Neurol 2023; 10:1467-1480. [PMID: 37350306 PMCID: PMC10424661 DOI: 10.1002/acn3.51836] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2023] [Revised: 06/07/2023] [Accepted: 06/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/24/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease involving both upper and lower motor neurons. The motor phenotypes of ALS are highly clinically heterogeneous, and the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. METHODS A comparative proteomic analysis was performed in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of bulbar-onset (BO) and spinal-onset (SO) ALS patients and controls (n = 14). Five biomarker candidates were selected from a differentially regulated protein pool, and further validation was performed in a larger independent cohort (n = 92) using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS A total of 1732 CSF proteins were identified, and 78 differentially expressed proteins were found among BO-ALS patients, SO-ALS patients, and controls. Five promising biomarker candidates were selected for further validation, and lipopolysaccharide-binding protein (LBP) and HLA class II histocompatibility antigen, DR alpha chain (HLA-DRA) were validated. CSF LBP levels were increased in ALS patients compared with controls and higher in BO-ALS versus SO-ALS. The increased CSF LBP levels were correlated with the revised ALS Functional Scale (ALSFRS-R) score. CSF HLA-DRA levels were specifically elevated in BO-ALS patients, and there was no significant difference between SO-ALS patients and controls. Increased HLA-DRA expression was correlated with decreased survival. INTERPRETATION Our data shows that elevated CSF LBP is a good biomarker for ALS and correlates with clinical severity, and increased HLA-DRA is a specific biomarker for BO-ALS and may predict short survival. It also suggests that the microglial pathway and HLA-II-related adaptive immunity may be differentially involved in ALS phenotypes and may be new therapeutic targets for ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinxia Zhou
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya HospitalCentral South UniversityChangsha410008HunanChina
- Hunan Key Laboratary of Aging Biology, Xiangya HospitalCentral South UniversityChangsha410008HunanChina
| | - Qianqian Zeng
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya HospitalCentral South UniversityChangsha410008HunanChina
| | - Qiao Liao
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya HospitalCentral South UniversityChangsha410008HunanChina
| | - Qi Niu
- Department of GeriatricsThe First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing Medical UniversityNanjing210029JiangsuChina
| | - Wenping Gu
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya HospitalCentral South UniversityChangsha410008HunanChina
| | - Dandan Su
- Department of Neurology928 Hospital of Joint Logistics Support Force of PLAHaikou571100HainanChina
| | - Sizhuo Li
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya HospitalCentral South UniversityChangsha410008HunanChina
| | - Bo Xiao
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya HospitalCentral South UniversityChangsha410008HunanChina
| | - Fangfang Bi
- Department of Neurology, The Fifth Affiliated HospitalSun Yat‐Sen UniversityZhuhai519000GuangdongChina
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Antonioni A, Raho EM, Lopriore P, Pace AP, Latino RR, Assogna M, Mancuso M, Gragnaniello D, Granieri E, Pugliatti M, Di Lorenzo F, Koch G. Frontotemporal Dementia, Where Do We Stand? A Narrative Review. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:11732. [PMID: 37511491 PMCID: PMC10380352 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241411732] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2023] [Revised: 07/18/2023] [Accepted: 07/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is a neurodegenerative disease of growing interest, since it accounts for up to 10% of middle-age-onset dementias and entails a social, economic, and emotional burden for the patients and caregivers. It is characterised by a (at least initially) selective degeneration of the frontal and/or temporal lobe, generally leading to behavioural alterations, speech disorders, and psychiatric symptoms. Despite the recent advances, given its extreme heterogeneity, an overview that can bring together all the data currently available is still lacking. Here, we aim to provide a state of the art on the pathogenesis of this disease, starting with established findings and integrating them with more recent ones. In particular, advances in the genetics field will be examined, assessing them in relation to both the clinical manifestations and histopathological findings, as well as considering the link with other diseases, such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Furthermore, the current diagnostic criteria will be explored, including neuroimaging methods, nuclear medicine investigations, and biomarkers on biological fluids. Of note, the promising information provided by neurophysiological investigations, i.e., electroencephalography and non-invasive brain stimulation techniques, concerning the alterations in brain networks and neurotransmitter systems will be reviewed. Finally, current and experimental therapies will be considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annibale Antonioni
- Unit of Clinical Neurology, Neurosciences and Rehabilitation Department, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
- Doctoral Program in Translational Neurosciences and Neurotechnologies, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Emanuela Maria Raho
- Unit of Clinical Neurology, Neurosciences and Rehabilitation Department, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Piervito Lopriore
- Neurological Institute, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Antonia Pia Pace
- Institute of Radiology, Department of Medicine, University of Udine, University Hospital S. Maria della Misericordia, Azienda Sanitaria-Universitaria Friuli Centrale, 33100 Udine, Italy
| | - Raffaela Rita Latino
- Complex Structure of Neurology, Emergency Department, Fondazione Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, 71013 San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy
| | - Martina Assogna
- Centro Demenze, Policlinico Tor Vergata, University of Rome 'Tor Vergata', 00133 Rome, Italy
- Non Invasive Brain Stimulation Unit, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico Santa Lucia, 00179 Rome, Italy
| | - Michelangelo Mancuso
- Neurological Institute, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Daniela Gragnaniello
- Nuerology Unit, Neurosciences and Rehabilitation Department, Ferrara University Hospital, 44124 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Enrico Granieri
- Unit of Clinical Neurology, Neurosciences and Rehabilitation Department, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Maura Pugliatti
- Unit of Clinical Neurology, Neurosciences and Rehabilitation Department, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Francesco Di Lorenzo
- Non Invasive Brain Stimulation Unit, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico Santa Lucia, 00179 Rome, Italy
| | - Giacomo Koch
- Non Invasive Brain Stimulation Unit, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico Santa Lucia, 00179 Rome, Italy
- Iit@Unife Center for Translational Neurophysiology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
- Section of Human Physiology, Neurosciences and Rehabilitation Department, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
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Carlos AF, Josephs KA. The Role of Clinical Assessment in the Era of Biomarkers. Neurotherapeutics 2023; 20:1001-1018. [PMID: 37594658 PMCID: PMC10457273 DOI: 10.1007/s13311-023-01410-3] [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] [Accepted: 07/14/2023] [Indexed: 08/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Hippocratic Medicine revolved around the three main principles of patient, disease, and physician and promoted the systematic observation of patients, rational reasoning, and interpretation of collected information. Although these remain the cardinal features of clinical assessment today, Medicine has evolved from a more physician-centered to a more patient-centered approach. Clinical assessment allows physicians to encounter, observe, evaluate, and connect with patients. This establishes the patient-physician relationship and facilitates a better understanding of the patient-disease relationship, as the ultimate goal is to diagnose, prognosticate, and treat. Biomarkers are at the core of the more disease-centered approach that is currently revolutionizing Medicine as they provide insight into the underlying disease pathomechanisms and biological changes. Genetic, biochemical, radiographic, and clinical biomarkers are currently used. Here, we define a seven-level theoretical construct for the utility of biomarkers in neurodegenerative diseases. Level 1-3 biomarkers are considered supportive of clinical assessment, capable of detecting susceptibility or risk factors, non-specific neurodegeneration or dysfunction, and/or changes at the individual level which help increase clinical diagnostic accuracy and confidence. Level 4-7 biomarkers have the potential to surpass the utility of clinical assessment through detection of early disease stages and prediction of underlying pathology. In neurodegenerative diseases, biomarkers can potentiate, but cannot substitute, clinical assessment. In this current era, aside from adding to the discovery, evaluation/validation, and implementation of more biomarkers, clinical assessment remains crucial to maintaining the personal, humanistic, and sociocultural aspects of patient care. We would argue that clinical assessment is a custom that should never go obsolete.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arenn F Carlos
- Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, 200 1st St. S.W., Rochester, MN, 55905, USA.
| | - Keith A Josephs
- Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, 200 1st St. S.W., Rochester, MN, 55905, USA
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Guise AJ, Misal SA, Carson R, Boekweg H, Watt DVD, Truong T, Liang Y, Chu JH, Welsh NC, Gagnon J, Payne SH, Plowey ED, Kelly RT. TDP-43-stratified single-cell proteomic profiling of postmortem human spinal motor neurons reveals protein dynamics in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.06.08.544233. [PMID: 37333094 PMCID: PMC10274884 DOI: 10.1101/2023.06.08.544233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/20/2023]
Abstract
Unbiased proteomics has been employed to interrogate central nervous system (CNS) tissues (brain, spinal cord) and fluid matrices (CSF, plasma) from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients; yet, a limitation of conventional bulk tissue studies is that motor neuron (MN) proteome signals may be confounded by admixed non-MN proteins. Recent advances in trace sample proteomics have enabled quantitative protein abundance datasets from single human MNs (Cong et al., 2020b). In this study, we leveraged laser capture microdissection (LCM) and nanoPOTS (Zhu et al., 2018c) single-cell mass spectrometry (MS)-based proteomics to query changes in protein expression in single MNs from postmortem ALS and control donor spinal cord tissues, leading to the identification of 2515 proteins across MNs samples (>900 per single MN) and quantitative comparison of 1870 proteins between disease groups. Furthermore, we studied the impact of enriching/stratifying MN proteome samples based on the presence and extent of immunoreactive, cytoplasmic TDP-43 inclusions, allowing identification of 3368 proteins across MNs samples and profiling of 2238 proteins across TDP-43 strata. We found extensive overlap in differential protein abundance profiles between MNs with or without obvious TDP-43 cytoplasmic inclusions that together point to early and sustained dysregulation of oxidative phosphorylation, mRNA splicing and translation, and retromer-mediated vesicular transport in ALS. Our data are the first unbiased quantification of single MN protein abundance changes associated with TDP-43 proteinopathy and begin to demonstrate the utility of pathology-stratified trace sample proteomics for understanding single-cell protein abundance changes in human neurologic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Santosh A. Misal
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84602
| | - Richard Carson
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84602
| | - Hannah Boekweg
- Biology Department, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84602, USA
| | | | - Thy Truong
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84602
| | - Yiran Liang
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84602
| | | | | | | | - Samuel H. Payne
- Biology Department, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84602, USA
| | | | - Ryan T. Kelly
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84602
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Bennet BM, Pardo ID, Assaf BT, Buza E, Cramer S, Crawford LK, Engelhardt JA, Grubor B, Morrison JP, Osborne TS, Sharma AK, Bolon B. Scientific and Regulatory Policy Committee Points to Consider: Sampling, Processing, Evaluation, Interpretation, and Reporting of Test Article-Related Ganglion Pathology for Nonclinical Toxicity Studies. Toxicol Pathol 2023; 51:176-204. [PMID: 37489508 DOI: 10.1177/01926233231179707] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/26/2023]
Abstract
Certain biopharmaceutical products consistently affect dorsal root ganglia, trigeminal ganglia, and/or autonomic ganglia. Product classes targeting ganglia include antineoplastic chemotherapeutics, adeno-associated virus-based gene therapies, antisense oligonucleotides, and anti-nerve growth factor agents. This article outlines "points to consider" for sample collection, processing, evaluation, interpretation, and reporting of ganglion findings; these points are consistent with published best practices for peripheral nervous system evaluation in nonclinical toxicity studies. Ganglion findings often occur as a combination of neuronal injury (e.g., degeneration, necrosis, and/or loss) and/or glial effects (e.g., increased satellite glial cell cellularity) with leukocyte accumulation (e.g., mononuclear cell infiltration or inflammation). Nerve fiber degeneration and/or glial reactions may be seen in nerves, dorsal spinal nerve roots, spinal cord, and occasionally brainstem. Interpretation of test article (TA)-associated effects may be confounded by incidental background changes or experimental procedure-related changes and limited historical control data. Reports should describe findings at these sites, any TA relationship, and the criteria used for assigning severity grades. Contextualizing adversity of ganglia findings can require a weight-of-evidence approach because morphologic changes of variable severity occur in ganglia but often are not accompanied by observable overt in-life functional alterations detectable by conventional behavioral and neurological testing techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Elizabeth Buza
- University of Pennsylvania, Gene Therapy Program, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | | | - LaTasha K Crawford
- University of Wisconsin-Madison, School of Veterinary Medicine, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | | | | | - James P Morrison
- Charles River Laboratories, Inc., Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, USA
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McCluskey G, Morrison KE, Donaghy C, McConville J, McCarron MO, McVerry F, Duddy W, Duguez S. Serum Neurofilaments in Motor Neuron Disease and Their Utility in Differentiating ALS, PMA and PLS. Life (Basel) 2023; 13:1301. [PMID: 37374084 DOI: 10.3390/life13061301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2023] [Revised: 05/25/2023] [Accepted: 05/29/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Neurofilament levels are elevated in many neurodegenerative diseases and have shown promise as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), the most common form of Motor Neuron Disease (MND). This study assesses serum neurofilament light (NFL) and neurofilament heavy (NFH) chain concentrations in patients with ALS, other variants of motor neuron disease such as Progressive Muscular Atrophy (PMA) and Primary Lateral Sclerosis (PLS), and a range of other neurological diseases. It aims to evaluate the use of NFL and NFH to differentiate these conditions and for the prognosis of MND disease progression. NFL and NFH levels were quantified using electrochemiluminescence immunoassays (ECLIA). Both were elevated in 47 patients with MND compared to 34 patients with other neurological diseases and 33 healthy controls. NFL was able to differentiate patients with MND from the other groups with a Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve area under the curve (AUC) of 0.90 (p < 0.001). NFL correlated with the rate of disease progression in MND (rho 0.758, p < 0.001) and with the ALS Functional Rating Scale (rho -0.335, p = 0.021). NFL levels were higher in patients with ALS compared to both PMA (p = 0.032) and PLS (p = 0.012) and were able to distinguish ALS from both PMA and PLS with a ROC curve AUC of 0.767 (p = 0.005). These findings support the use of serum NFL to help diagnose and differentiate types of MND, in addition to providing prognostic information to patients and their families.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gavin McCluskey
- Personalised Medicine Centre, School of Medicine, Ulster University, Derry BT47 6SB, UK
- Department of Neurology, Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast BT12 6BA, UK
- Department of Neurology, Altnagelvin Hospital, Derry BT47 6SB, UK
| | - Karen E Morrison
- Department of Neurology, Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast BT12 6BA, UK
- Faculty of Medicine, Health & Life Sciences, Queen's University, Belfast BT9 6AG, UK
| | - Colette Donaghy
- Department of Neurology, Altnagelvin Hospital, Derry BT47 6SB, UK
| | - John McConville
- Department of Neurology, Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast BT12 6BA, UK
- Department of Neurology, Ulster Hospital, Belfast BT16 1RH, UK
| | - Mark O McCarron
- Department of Neurology, Altnagelvin Hospital, Derry BT47 6SB, UK
| | - Ferghal McVerry
- Department of Neurology, Altnagelvin Hospital, Derry BT47 6SB, UK
| | - William Duddy
- Personalised Medicine Centre, School of Medicine, Ulster University, Derry BT47 6SB, UK
| | - Stephanie Duguez
- Personalised Medicine Centre, School of Medicine, Ulster University, Derry BT47 6SB, UK
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37
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De Marchi F, Franjkic T, Schito P, Russo T, Nimac J, Chami AA, Mele A, Vidatic L, Kriz J, Julien JP, Apic G, Russell RB, Rogelj B, Cannon JR, Baralle M, Agosta F, Hecimovic S, Mazzini L, Buratti E, Munitic I. Emerging Trends in the Field of Inflammation and Proteinopathy in ALS/FTD Spectrum Disorder. Biomedicines 2023; 11:1599. [PMID: 37371694 PMCID: PMC10295684 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11061599] [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: 04/28/2023] [Revised: 05/27/2023] [Accepted: 05/29/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Proteinopathy and neuroinflammation are two main hallmarks of neurodegenerative diseases. They also represent rare common events in an exceptionally broad landscape of genetic, environmental, neuropathologic, and clinical heterogeneity present in patients. Here, we aim to recount the emerging trends in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal degeneration (FTD) spectrum disorder. Our review will predominantly focus on neuroinflammation and systemic immune imbalance in ALS and FTD, which have recently been highlighted as novel therapeutic targets. A common mechanism of most ALS and ~50% of FTD patients is dysregulation of TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43), an RNA/DNA-binding protein, which becomes depleted from the nucleus and forms cytoplasmic aggregates in neurons and glia. This, in turn, via both gain and loss of function events, alters a variety of TDP-43-mediated cellular events. Experimental attempts to target TDP-43 aggregates or manipulate crosstalk in the context of inflammation will be discussed. Targeting inflammation, and the immune system in general, is of particular interest because of the high plasticity of immune cells compared to neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabiola De Marchi
- Department of Neurology and ALS Centre, University of Piemonte Orientale, Maggiore Della Carità Hospital, Corso Mazzini 18, 28100 Novara, Italy; (F.D.M.); (A.M.)
| | - Toni Franjkic
- Laboratory for Molecular Immunology, Department of Biotechnology, University of Rijeka, R. Matejcic 2, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia;
- Metisox, Cambridge CB24 9NL, UK;
| | - Paride Schito
- Department of Neurology & Neuropathology Unit, Institute of Experimental Neurology (INSPE), Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132 Milan, Italy; (P.S.); (T.R.)
| | - Tommaso Russo
- Department of Neurology & Neuropathology Unit, Institute of Experimental Neurology (INSPE), Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132 Milan, Italy; (P.S.); (T.R.)
| | - Jerneja Nimac
- Department of Biotechnology, Jozef Stefan Institute, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (J.N.); (B.R.)
- Graduate School of Biomedicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Anna A. Chami
- CERVO Research Centre, Laval University, Quebec City, QC G1J 2G3, Canada; (A.A.C.); (J.K.); (J.-P.J.)
| | - Angelica Mele
- Department of Neurology and ALS Centre, University of Piemonte Orientale, Maggiore Della Carità Hospital, Corso Mazzini 18, 28100 Novara, Italy; (F.D.M.); (A.M.)
| | - Lea Vidatic
- Laboratory for Neurodegenerative Disease Research, Division of Molecular Medicine, Ruder Boskovic Institute, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia; (L.V.); (S.H.)
| | - Jasna Kriz
- CERVO Research Centre, Laval University, Quebec City, QC G1J 2G3, Canada; (A.A.C.); (J.K.); (J.-P.J.)
| | - Jean-Pierre Julien
- CERVO Research Centre, Laval University, Quebec City, QC G1J 2G3, Canada; (A.A.C.); (J.K.); (J.-P.J.)
| | | | | | - Boris Rogelj
- Department of Biotechnology, Jozef Stefan Institute, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (J.N.); (B.R.)
- Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology, University of Ljubljana, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Jason R. Cannon
- School of Health Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA;
- Purdue Institute for Integrative Neuroscience, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
| | | | - Federica Agosta
- Neuroimaging Research Unit, Institute of Experimental Neurology, Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132 Milan, Italy;
| | - Silva Hecimovic
- Laboratory for Neurodegenerative Disease Research, Division of Molecular Medicine, Ruder Boskovic Institute, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia; (L.V.); (S.H.)
| | - Letizia Mazzini
- Department of Neurology and ALS Centre, University of Piemonte Orientale, Maggiore Della Carità Hospital, Corso Mazzini 18, 28100 Novara, Italy; (F.D.M.); (A.M.)
| | - Emanuele Buratti
- International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Padriciano 99, 34149 Trieste, Italy
| | - Ivana Munitic
- Laboratory for Molecular Immunology, Department of Biotechnology, University of Rijeka, R. Matejcic 2, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia;
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González-Mingot C, Miana-Mena FJ, Iñarrea PJ, Iñiguez C, Capablo JL, Osta R, Gil-Sánchez A, Brieva L, Larrodé P. Mitochondrial Aconitase Enzymatic Activity: A Potential Long-Term Survival Biomarker in the Blood of ALS Patients. J Clin Med 2023; 12:jcm12103560. [PMID: 37240666 DOI: 10.3390/jcm12103560] [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: 04/04/2023] [Revised: 05/07/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a multisystemic, progressive, neurodegenerative disorder. Despite it being generally fatal within a period of 2-4 years, it is highly heterogeneous; as a result, survival periods may vary greatly among individual patients. Biomarkers can serve as tools for diagnosis, prognosis, indicators of therapeutic response, and future therapeutics. Free-radical-dependent mitochondrial damage is believed to play a crucial role in neurodegeneration in ALS. Mitochondrial aconitase, which is also known as aconitase 2 (Aco2), is a key Krebs cycle enzyme and is involved in the regulation of cellular metabolism and iron homeostasis. Aco2 is very sensitive to oxidative inactivation and can aggregate and accumulate in the mitochondrial matrix, causing mitochondrial dysfunction. Loss of Aco2 activity may therefore reflect increased levels of mitochondrial dysfunction due to oxidative damage and could be relevant to ALS pathogenesis. The aim of our study was to confirm changes in mitochondrial aconitase activity in peripheral blood and to determine whether such changes are dependent on, or independent of, the patient's condition and to propose the feasibility of using them as possible valid biomarkers to quantify the progression of the disease and as a predictor of individual prognosis in ALS. METHODS We measured the Aco2 enzymatic activity in the platelets of blood samples taken from 22 controls and 26 ALS patients at different stages of disease development. We then correlated antioxidant activity with clinical and prognostic variables. RESULTS Aco2 activity was significantly lower in the 26 ALS patients than in the 22 controls (p < 0.05). Patients with higher levels of Aco2 activity survived longer than those with lower levels (p < 0.05). Aco2 activity was also higher in patients with earlier onset (p < 0.05) and in those with predominantly upper motor neuron signs. CONCLUSIONS Aco2 activity seems to be an independent factor that could be used in the long-term survival prognosis of ALS. Our findings suggest that blood Aco2 could be a leading candidate for use as a biomarker to improve prognosis. More studies are needed to confirm these results.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Francisco Javier Miana-Mena
- LAGENBIO-Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Aragon Institute for Health Research (IIS Aragon), Zaragoza University, 50013 Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Pedro José Iñarrea
- Biochemical-Department of Biology-Faculty, Zaragoza University, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Cristina Iñiguez
- Neurology-Department, Hospital Clínico Universitario Lozano Blesa of Zaragoza, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain
| | - José Luis Capablo
- Neurology-Department, Hospital Universitario Miguel Servet of Zaragoza, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Rosario Osta
- LAGENBIO-Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Aragon Institute for Health Research (IIS Aragon), Zaragoza University, 50013 Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Anna Gil-Sánchez
- Neurology-Department, Hospital Arnau de Vilanova of Lleida, 25198 Lleida, Spain
| | - Luis Brieva
- Neurology-Department, Hospital Arnau de Vilanova of Lleida, 25198 Lleida, Spain
| | - Pilar Larrodé
- Neurology-Department, Hospital Clínico Universitario Lozano Blesa of Zaragoza, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain
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Margraf NG, Dargvainiene J, Theel E, Leypoldt F, Lieb W, Franke A, Berger K, Kuhle J, Kuhlenbaeumer G. Neurofilament light (NfL) as biomarker in serum and CSF in status epilepticus. J Neurol 2023; 270:2128-2138. [PMID: 36624182 PMCID: PMC10025237 DOI: 10.1007/s00415-022-11547-4] [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: 10/02/2022] [Revised: 12/22/2022] [Accepted: 12/23/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE We explored the potential of neurofilament light chain (NfL) in serum and cerebrospinal fluid as a biomarker for neurodestruction in status epilepticus. METHODS In a retrospective analysis, we measured NfL in serum and cerebrospinal fluid samples of patients with status epilepticus using a highly sensitive single-molecule array technique (Simoa). Status epilepticus was diagnosed according to ILAE criteria. Additionally, we employed an alternative classification with more emphasis on the course of status epilepticus. We used data from three large control groups to compare NfL in status epilepticus versus neurologically healthy controls. RESULTS We included 28 patients (mean age: 69.4 years, SD: 15 years) with a median status duration of 44 h (IQR: 80 h). Twenty-one patients (75%) suffered from convulsive status epilepticus and seven (25%) from non-convulsive status epilepticus. Six patients died (21%). Cerebrospinal fluid and serum NfL concentrations showed a high correlation (r = 0.73, p < 0.001, Pearson). The main determinant of NfL concentration was the status duration. NfL concentrations did not differ between convulsive status epilepticus and convulsive status epilepticus classified according to the ILAE or to the alternative classification without and with adjusting for status duration and time between status onset and sampling. We found no association of NfL concentration with death, treatment refractoriness, or prognostic scores. CONCLUSION The results suggest that neurodestruction in status epilepticus measured by NfL is mainly determined by status duration, not status type nor therapy refractoriness. Therefore, our results suggest that regarding neurodestruction convulsive and non-convulsive status epilepticus are both neurological emergencies of comparable urgency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nils G Margraf
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein (UKSH), Christian-Albrechts-University (CAU), Arnold-Heller-Str. 3, 24105, Kiel, Germany.
| | - Justina Dargvainiene
- Institute of Clinical Chemistry, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein (UKSH), Christian-Albrechts-University (CAU), Kiel, Germany
| | - Emily Theel
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein (UKSH), Christian-Albrechts-University (CAU), Arnold-Heller-Str. 3, 24105, Kiel, Germany
| | - Frank Leypoldt
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein (UKSH), Christian-Albrechts-University (CAU), Arnold-Heller-Str. 3, 24105, Kiel, Germany
- Institute of Clinical Chemistry, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein (UKSH), Christian-Albrechts-University (CAU), Kiel, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Lieb
- Institute of Epidemiology and Biobank PopGen, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein (UKSH), Christian-Albrechts-University (CAU), Kiel, Germany
| | - Andre Franke
- Institute of Clinical Molecular Biology, Christian-Albrechts-University of Kiel and University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany
| | - Klaus Berger
- Institute of Epidemiology and Social Medicine, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Jens Kuhle
- Multiple Sclerosis Centre, Neurology, Departments of Head, Spine and Neuromedicine, Biomedicine and Clinical Research, University Hospital Basel and University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Research Center for Clinical Neuroimmunology and Neuroscience (RC2NB), University Hospital and University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Gregor Kuhlenbaeumer
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein (UKSH), Christian-Albrechts-University (CAU), Arnold-Heller-Str. 3, 24105, Kiel, Germany
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40
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Müller HP, Behler A, Münch M, Dorst J, Ludolph AC, Kassubek J. Sequential alterations in diffusion metrics as correlates of disease severity in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. J Neurol 2023; 270:2308-2313. [PMID: 36763176 PMCID: PMC10025190 DOI: 10.1007/s00415-023-11582-9] [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: 11/24/2022] [Revised: 01/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE The neuropathology of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) follows a regional distribution pattern in the brain with four stages. Using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), this pattern can be translated into a tract-based staging scheme to assess cerebral progression in vivo. This study investigates the association between the sequential alteration pattern and disease severity in patients with ALS. METHODS DTI data of 325 patients with ALS and 130 healthy controls were analyzed in a tract of interest (TOI)-based approach. Patients were categorized according to their ALS-FRS-R scores into groups with declining functionality. The fractional anisotropy (FA) values in the tracts associated with neuropathological stages were group-wise compared with healthy controls. RESULTS The FA in the tracts associated with ALS stages showed a decrease which could be related to the disease severity stratification, i.e., at the group level, the lower the ALS-FRS-R of the categorized patient group, the higher was the effect size of the stage-related tract. In the patient group with the highest ALS-FRS-R, Cohen's d showed a medium effect size in the corticospinal tract and small effect sizes in the other stage-related tracts. Overall, the lower the ALS-FRS-R of the categorized patient group the higher was the effect size of the comparison with healthy controls. CONCLUSION The progression of white matter alterations across tracts according to the model of sequential tract involvement is associated with clinical disease severity in patients with ALS, suggesting the use of staging-based DTI as a technical marker for disease progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hans-Peter Müller
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Ulm, Oberer Eselsberg 45, 89081, Ulm, Germany
| | - Anna Behler
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Ulm, Oberer Eselsberg 45, 89081, Ulm, Germany
| | - Maximilian Münch
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Ulm, Oberer Eselsberg 45, 89081, Ulm, Germany
| | - Johannes Dorst
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Ulm, Oberer Eselsberg 45, 89081, Ulm, Germany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Ulm, Germany
| | - Albert C Ludolph
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Ulm, Oberer Eselsberg 45, 89081, Ulm, Germany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Ulm, Germany
| | - Jan Kassubek
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Ulm, Oberer Eselsberg 45, 89081, Ulm, Germany.
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Ulm, Germany.
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Verde F, Milone I, Colombo E, Maranzano A, Solca F, Torre S, Doretti A, Gentile F, Manini A, Bonetti R, Peverelli S, Messina S, Maderna L, Morelli C, Poletti B, Ratti A, Silani V, Ticozzi N. Phenotypic correlates of serum neurofilament light chain levels in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Front Aging Neurosci 2023; 15:1132808. [PMID: 37009451 PMCID: PMC10050442 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2023.1132808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2022] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 03/17/2023] Open
Abstract
ObjectiveTo investigate the relationship between serum levels of the neuroaxonal degeneration biomarker neurofilament light chain (NFL) and phenotype in ALS.Materials and methodsSerum NFL (sNFL) concentration was quantified in 209 ALS patients and 46 neurologically healthy controls (NHCs).ResultssNFL was clearly increased in ALS patients and discriminated them from NHCs with AUC = 0.9694. Among ALS patients, females had higher sNFL levels, especially in case of bulbar onset. sNFL was more increased in phenotypes with both upper (UMN) and lower motor neuron (LMN) signs, and particularly in those with UMN predominance, compared to LMN forms. At the same time, primary lateral sclerosis (PLS) had significantly lower levels compared to UMN-predominant ALS (AUC = 0.7667). sNFL correlated negatively with disease duration at sampling and ALSFRS-R score, positively with disease progression rate, differed among King’s stages, and was negatively associated with survival. It also correlated with clinical/neurophysiological indices of UMN and LMN dysfunction (Penn UMN Score, LMN score, MRC composite score, active spinal denervation score). On the contrary, sNFL was not associated with cognitive deficits nor with respiratory parameters. Notably, we found a negative correlation between sNFL and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR).InterpretationWe confirm that ALS is characterized by increased sNFL levels, whose main determinant is the rate of degeneration of both UMNs and LMNs. sNFL is a biomarker of only motor, not of extra-motor, disease. The negative correlation with kidney function might reflect varying renal clearance of the molecule and deserves further investigation before introducing sNFL measurement as routine test in clinical care of ALS patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federico Verde
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, “Dino Ferrari” Center, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
- *Correspondence: Federico Verde,
| | - Ilaria Milone
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy
| | - Eleonora Colombo
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy
| | - Alessio Maranzano
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy
| | - Federica Solca
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy
| | - Silvia Torre
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy
| | - Alberto Doretti
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy
| | - Francesco Gentile
- Neurology Residency Program, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Arianna Manini
- Neurology Residency Program, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Ruggero Bonetti
- Neurology Residency Program, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Silvia Peverelli
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy
| | - Stefano Messina
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy
| | - Luca Maderna
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy
| | - Claudia Morelli
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy
| | - Barbara Poletti
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy
| | - Antonia Ratti
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy
- Department of Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Silani
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, “Dino Ferrari” Center, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Nicola Ticozzi
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, “Dino Ferrari” Center, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
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42
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Meyer T, Salkic E, Grehl T, Weyen U, Kettemann D, Weydt P, Günther R, Lingor P, Koch JC, Petri S, Hermann A, Prudlo J, Großkreutz J, Baum P, Boentert M, Metelmann M, Norden J, Cordts I, Weishaupt JH, Dorst J, Ludolph A, Koc Y, Walter B, Münch C, Spittel S, Dreger M, Maier A, Körtvélyessy P. Performance of serum neurofilament light chain in a wide spectrum of clinical courses of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis-a cross-sectional multicenter study. Eur J Neurol 2023; 30:1600-1610. [PMID: 36899448 DOI: 10.1111/ene.15773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2022] [Revised: 01/15/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2023] [Indexed: 03/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The objective was to assess the performance of serum neurofilament light chain (sNfL) in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in a wide range of disease courses, in terms of progression, duration and tracheostomy invasive ventilation (TIV). METHODS A prospective cross-sectional study at 12 ALS centers in Germany was performed. sNfL concentrations were age adjusted using sNfL Z scores expressing the number of standard deviations from the mean of a control reference database and correlated to ALS duration and ALS progression rate (ALS-PR), defined by the decline of the ALS Functional Rating Scale. RESULTS In the total ALS cohort (n = 1378) the sNfL Z score was elevated (3.04; 2.46-3.43; 99.88th percentile). There was a strong correlation of sNfL Z score with ALS-PR (p < 0.001). In patients with long (5-10 years, n = 167) or very long ALS duration (>10 years, n = 94) the sNfL Z score was significantly lower compared to the typical ALS duration of <5 years (n = 1059) (p < 0.001). Furthermore, in patients with TIV, decreasing sNfL Z scores were found in correlation with TIV duration and ALS-PR (p = 0.002; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS The finding of moderate sNfL elevation in patients with long ALS duration underlined the favorable prognosis of low sNfL. The strong correlation of sNfL Z score with ALS-PR strengthened its value as progression marker in clinical management and research. The lowering of sNfL in correlation with long TIV duration could reflect a reduction either in disease activity or in the neuroaxonal substrate of biomarker formation during the protracted course of ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Meyer
- Department of Neurology, Center for ALS and Other Motor Neuron Disorders, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin Institute of Health, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- APST Research GmbH, Berlin, Germany
| | - Erma Salkic
- Department of Neurology, Center for ALS and Other Motor Neuron Disorders, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin Institute of Health, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Torsten Grehl
- Department of Neurology, Center for ALS and Other Motor Neuron Disorders, Alfried Krupp Krankenhaus, Essen, Germany
| | - Ute Weyen
- Department of Neurology, Center for ALS and Other Motor Neuron Disorders, Berufsgenossenschaftliches Universitätsklinikum Bergmannsheil, Bochum, Germany
| | - Dagmar Kettemann
- Department of Neurology, Center for ALS and Other Motor Neuron Disorders, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin Institute of Health, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Patrick Weydt
- Department for Neurodegenerative Disorders and Gerontopsychiatry, Bonn University, Bonn, Germany
- Deutsches Zentrum für Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen (DZNE), Research Site Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - René Günther
- Department of Neurology, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
- Deutsches Zentrum für Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen, Research Site Dresden (DZNE), Dresden, Germany
| | - Paul Lingor
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Jan Christoph Koch
- Department of Neurology, Universitätsmedizin Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Susanne Petri
- Department of Neurology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Andreas Hermann
- Department of Neurology, Translational Neurodegeneration Section "Albrecht-Kossel", University of Rostock, University Medical Center, Rostock, Germany
- Deutsches Zentrum für Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen, Research Site Rostock/Greifswald, DZNE, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Johannes Prudlo
- Deutsches Zentrum für Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen, Research Site Rostock/Greifswald, DZNE, Greifswald, Germany
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Rostock, University of Rostock, Rostock,, Germany
| | - Julian Großkreutz
- Department of Neurology, Universitätsmedizin Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Petra Baum
- Department of Neurology, Universitätsklinikum Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Matthias Boentert
- Department of Neurology, Universitätsklinikum Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Moritz Metelmann
- Department of Neurology, Universitätsklinikum Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Jenny Norden
- Department of Neurology, Center for ALS and Other Motor Neuron Disorders, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin Institute of Health, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Isabell Cordts
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Jochen H Weishaupt
- Division for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Department of Neurology, Mannheim Center for Translational Medicine, University Medicine Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | | | - Albert Ludolph
- Department of Neurology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
- Deutsches Zentrum für Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen, Research Site Ulm (DZNE), Ulm, Germany
| | - Yasemin Koc
- Department of Neurology, Center for ALS and Other Motor Neuron Disorders, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin Institute of Health, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Bertram Walter
- Department of Neurology, Center for ALS and Other Motor Neuron Disorders, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin Institute of Health, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Christoph Münch
- Department of Neurology, Center for ALS and Other Motor Neuron Disorders, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin Institute of Health, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- APST Research GmbH, Berlin, Germany
| | - Susanne Spittel
- Department of Neurology, Center for ALS and Other Motor Neuron Disorders, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin Institute of Health, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- APST Research GmbH, Berlin, Germany
| | - Marie Dreger
- Department of Neurology, Center for ALS and Other Motor Neuron Disorders, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin Institute of Health, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - André Maier
- Department of Neurology, Center for ALS and Other Motor Neuron Disorders, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin Institute of Health, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Péter Körtvélyessy
- Department of Neurology, Center for ALS and Other Motor Neuron Disorders, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin Institute of Health, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Deutsches Zentrum für Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen, Research Site Magdeburg (DZNE), Magdeburg, Germany
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43
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Giagnorio E, Malacarne C, Cavalcante P, Scandiffio L, Cattaneo M, Pensato V, Gellera C, Riva N, Quattrini A, Dalla Bella E, Lauria G, Mantegazza R, Bonanno S, Marcuzzo S. MiR-146a in ALS: Contribution to Early Peripheral Nerve Degeneration and Relevance as Disease Biomarker. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24054610. [PMID: 36902041 PMCID: PMC10002507 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24054610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2023] [Revised: 02/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2023] [Indexed: 03/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is characterized by the progressive, irreversible loss of upper and lower motor neurons (UMNs, LMNs). MN axonal dysfunctions are emerging as relevant pathogenic events since the early ALS stages. However, the exact molecular mechanisms leading to MN axon degeneration in ALS still need to be clarified. MicroRNA (miRNA) dysregulation plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of neuromuscular diseases. These molecules represent promising biomarkers for these conditions since their expression in body fluids consistently reflects distinct pathophysiological states. Mir-146a has been reported to modulate the expression of the NFL gene, encoding the light chain of the neurofilament (NFL) protein, a recognized biomarker for ALS. Here, we analyzed miR-146a and Nfl expression in the sciatic nerve of G93A-SOD1 ALS mice during disease progression. The miRNA was also analyzed in the serum of affected mice and human patients, the last stratified relying on the predominant UMN or LMN clinical signs. We revealed a significant miR-146a increase and Nfl expression decrease in G93A-SOD1 peripheral nerve. In the serum of both ALS mice and human patients, the miRNA levels were reduced, discriminating UMN-predominant patients from the LMN ones. Our findings suggest a miR-146a contribution to peripheral axon impairment and its potential role as a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker for ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleonora Giagnorio
- Neurology IV—Neuroimmunology and Neuromuscular Diseases Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Via Celoria 11, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Claudia Malacarne
- Neurology IV—Neuroimmunology and Neuromuscular Diseases Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Via Celoria 11, 20133 Milan, Italy
- Ph.D. Program in Neuroscience, University of Milano-Bicocca, 20900 Monza, Italy
| | - Paola Cavalcante
- Neurology IV—Neuroimmunology and Neuromuscular Diseases Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Via Celoria 11, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Letizia Scandiffio
- Neurology IV—Neuroimmunology and Neuromuscular Diseases Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Via Celoria 11, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Marco Cattaneo
- Neuroalgology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Via Celoria 11, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Viviana Pensato
- Unit of Medical Genetics and Neurogenetics, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Via Celoria 11, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Cinzia Gellera
- Unit of Medical Genetics and Neurogenetics, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Via Celoria 11, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Nilo Riva
- Neuroalgology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Via Celoria 11, 20133 Milan, Italy
- Experimental Neuropathology Unit, Institute of Experimental Neurology (INSPE), Division of Neuroscience, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132 Milan, Italy
| | - Angelo Quattrini
- Experimental Neuropathology Unit, Institute of Experimental Neurology (INSPE), Division of Neuroscience, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132 Milan, Italy
| | - Eleonora Dalla Bella
- Neuroalgology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Via Celoria 11, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Lauria
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Via Celoria 11, 20133 Milan, Italy
- Department of Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine, University of Milan, Via Vanvitelli 32, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Renato Mantegazza
- Neurology IV—Neuroimmunology and Neuromuscular Diseases Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Via Celoria 11, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Silvia Bonanno
- Neurology IV—Neuroimmunology and Neuromuscular Diseases Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Via Celoria 11, 20133 Milan, Italy
- Correspondence: (S.B.); (S.M.); Tel.: +39-02-2394-2284 (S.B.); +39-02-2394-4651 (S.M.); Fax: +39-02-7063-3874 (S.M.)
| | - Stefania Marcuzzo
- Neurology IV—Neuroimmunology and Neuromuscular Diseases Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Via Celoria 11, 20133 Milan, Italy
- Correspondence: (S.B.); (S.M.); Tel.: +39-02-2394-2284 (S.B.); +39-02-2394-4651 (S.M.); Fax: +39-02-7063-3874 (S.M.)
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Gotkine M, Caraco Y, Lerner Y, Blotnick S, Wanounou M, Slutsky SG, Chebath J, Kuperstein G, Estrin E, Ben-Hur T, Hasson A, Molakandov K, Sonnenfeld T, Stark Y, Revel A, Revel M, Izrael M. Safety and efficacy of first-in-man intrathecal injection of human astrocytes (AstroRx®) in ALS patients: phase I/IIa clinical trial results. J Transl Med 2023; 21:122. [PMID: 36788520 PMCID: PMC9927047 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-023-03903-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2022] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Malfunction of astrocytes is implicated as one of the pathological factors of ALS. Thus, intrathecal injection of healthy astrocytes in ALS can potentially compensate for the diseased astrocytes. AstroRx® is an allogeneic cell-based product, composed of healthy and functional human astrocytes derived from embryonic stem cells. AstroRx® was shown to clear excessive glutamate, reduce oxidative stress, secrete various neuroprotective factors, and act as an immunomodulator. Intrathecal injection of AstroRx® to animal models of ALS slowed disease progression and extended survival. Here we report the result of a first-in-human clinical study evaluating intrathecal injection of AstroRx® in ALS patients. METHODS We conducted a phase I/IIa, open-label, dose-escalating clinical trial to evaluate the safety, tolerability, and therapeutic effects of intrathecal injection of AstroRx® in patients with ALS. Five patients were injected intrathecally with a single dose of 100 × 106 AstroRx® cells and 5 patients with 250 × 106 cells (low and high dose, respectively). Safety and efficacy assessments were recorded for 3 months pre-treatment (run-in period) and 12 months post-treatment (follow-up period). RESULTS A single administration of AstroRx® at either low or high doses was safe and well tolerated. No adverse events (AEs) related to AstroRx® itself were reported. Transient AEs related to the Intrathecal (IT) procedure were all mild to moderate. The study demonstrated a clinically meaningful effect that was maintained over the first 3 months after treatment, as measured by the pre-post slope change in ALSFRS-R. In the 100 × 106 AstroRx® arm, the ALSFRS-R rate of deterioration was attenuated from - 0.88/month pre-treatment to - 0.30/month in the first 3 months post-treatment (p = 0.039). In the 250 × 106 AstroRx® arm, the ALSFRS-R slope decreased from - 1.43/month to - 0.78/month (p = 0.0023). The effect was even more profound in a rapid progressor subgroup of 5 patients. No statistically significant change was measured in muscle strength using hand-held dynamometry and slow vital capacity continued to deteriorate during the study. CONCLUSIONS Overall, these findings suggest that a single IT administration of AstroRx® to ALS patients at a dose of 100 × 106 or 250 × 106 cells is safe. A signal of beneficial clinical effect was observed for the first 3 months following cell injection. These results support further investigation of repeated intrathecal administrations of AstroRx®, e.g., every 3 months. TRIAL REGISTRATION NCT03482050.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc Gotkine
- Department of Neurology, The Agnes Ginges Center for Human Neurogenetics, Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Yoseph Caraco
- Hadassah Clinical Research Center (HCRC), Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Yossef Lerner
- Department of Neurology, The Agnes Ginges Center for Human Neurogenetics, Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Simcha Blotnick
- Hadassah Clinical Research Center (HCRC), Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Maor Wanounou
- Hadassah Clinical Research Center (HCRC), Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Shalom Guy Slutsky
- Neurodegenerative Diseases Department, Kadimastem Ltd, Pinchas Sapir 7, Weizmann Science Park, Ness-Ziona, Israel
| | - Judith Chebath
- Neurodegenerative Diseases Department, Kadimastem Ltd, Pinchas Sapir 7, Weizmann Science Park, Ness-Ziona, Israel
| | - Graciela Kuperstein
- Neurodegenerative Diseases Department, Kadimastem Ltd, Pinchas Sapir 7, Weizmann Science Park, Ness-Ziona, Israel
| | - Elena Estrin
- Neurodegenerative Diseases Department, Kadimastem Ltd, Pinchas Sapir 7, Weizmann Science Park, Ness-Ziona, Israel
| | - Tamir Ben-Hur
- Department of Neurology, The Agnes Ginges Center for Human Neurogenetics, Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Arik Hasson
- Neurodegenerative Diseases Department, Kadimastem Ltd, Pinchas Sapir 7, Weizmann Science Park, Ness-Ziona, Israel
| | - Kfir Molakandov
- Neurodegenerative Diseases Department, Kadimastem Ltd, Pinchas Sapir 7, Weizmann Science Park, Ness-Ziona, Israel
| | - Tehila Sonnenfeld
- Neurodegenerative Diseases Department, Kadimastem Ltd, Pinchas Sapir 7, Weizmann Science Park, Ness-Ziona, Israel
| | - Yafit Stark
- Neurodegenerative Diseases Department, Kadimastem Ltd, Pinchas Sapir 7, Weizmann Science Park, Ness-Ziona, Israel
| | - Ariel Revel
- Neurodegenerative Diseases Department, Kadimastem Ltd, Pinchas Sapir 7, Weizmann Science Park, Ness-Ziona, Israel
| | - Michel Revel
- Neurodegenerative Diseases Department, Kadimastem Ltd, Pinchas Sapir 7, Weizmann Science Park, Ness-Ziona, Israel
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Weizmann Institute of Science, 76100, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Michal Izrael
- Neurodegenerative Diseases Department, Kadimastem Ltd, Pinchas Sapir 7, Weizmann Science Park, Ness-Ziona, Israel.
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Adil O, Shamsi MH. Electrochemical Impedance Immunoassay for ALS-Associated Neurofilament Protein: Matrix Effect on the Immunoplatform. BIOSENSORS 2023; 13:247. [PMID: 36832013 PMCID: PMC9954657 DOI: 10.3390/bios13020247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2023] [Revised: 02/07/2023] [Accepted: 02/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disorder, which has complex diagnostic steps. Electrochemical immunoassays may make the diagnosis simpler and faster. Here, we present the detection of ALS-associated neurofilament light chain (Nf-L) protein through an electrochemical impedance immunoassay on reduced graphene oxide (rGO) screen-printed electrodes. The immunoassay was developed in two different media, i.e., buffer and human serum, to compare the effect of the media on their figures of merit and calibration models. The label-free charge transfer resistance (RCT) of the immunoplatform was used as a signal response to develop the calibration models. We found that exposure of the biorecognition layer to human serum improved the impedance response of the biorecognition element with significantly lower relative error. Moreover, the calibration model obtained in the human serum environment has higher sensitivity and a better limit of detection (0.087 ng/mL) than the buffer medium (0.39 ng/mL). The analyses of the ALS patient samples show that concentrations obtained from the buffer-based regression model was higher than the serum-based model. However, a high Pearson correlation (r = 1.00) between the media suggests that concentration in one medium may be useful to predict the concentration in the other medium. Moreover, the Nf-L concentration appears to increase with age in both male and female groups, while overall higher Nf-L was found in the male group than the female group.
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Relationship between cerebrospinal fluid/serum albumin quotient and phenotype in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: a retrospective study on 328 patients. Neurol Sci 2023; 44:1679-1685. [PMID: 36646859 DOI: 10.1007/s10072-023-06604-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2022] [Accepted: 01/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND We analysed the relationship between cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)/serum albumin quotient (Q-Alb) and phenotype in a large cohort of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). METHODS Three hundred twenty-eight single-centre consecutive patients with ALS were evaluated for Q-Alb, basic epidemiological and clinical data, motor phenotype, cognitive/behavioural impairment, clinical staging, clinical and neurophysiological indexes of upper (UMN) and lower motor neuron (LMN) dysfunction, and presence of ALS gene mutations. RESULTS Q-Alb did not correlate with age but was independently associated with sex, with male patients having higher levels than female ones; the site of onset was not independently associated with Q-Alb. Q-Alb was not associated with motor phenotype, cognitive/behavioural impairment, disease stage, progression rate, survival, or genetic mutations. Among measures of UMN and LMN dysfunction, Q-Alb only had a weak positive correlation with an electromyography-based index of active limb denervation. CONCLUSION Previous work has documented increased Q-Alb in ALS compared to unaffected individuals. This, together with the absence of associations with nearly all ALS phenotypic features in our cohort, suggests dysfunction of the blood-CSF barrier as a shared, phenotype-independent element in ALS pathophysiology. However, correlation with the active denervation index could point to barrier dysfunction as a local driver of LMN degeneration.
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Requena-Ocaña N, Araos P, Serrano-Castro PJ, Flores-López M, García-Marchena N, Oliver-Martos B, Ruiz JJ, Gavito A, Pavón FJ, Serrano A, Mayoral F, Suarez J, de Fonseca FR. Plasma Concentrations of Neurofilament Light Chain Protein and Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor as Consistent Biomarkers of Cognitive Impairment in Alcohol Use Disorder. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24021183. [PMID: 36674698 PMCID: PMC9866623 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24021183] [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: 10/18/2022] [Revised: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 01/03/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
For a long time, Substance Use Disorders (SUDs) were not considered a component in the etiology of dementia. The fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders introduced substance-induced neurocognitive disorders, incorporating this notion to clinical practice. However, detection and monitoring of neurodegenerative processes in SUD patients remain a major clinical challenge, especially when early diagnosis is required. In the present study, we aimed to investigate new potential biomarkers of neurodegeneration that could predict cognitive impairment in SUD patients: the circulating concentrations of Neurofilament Light chain protein (NfL) and Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF). Sixty SUD patients were compared with twenty-seven dementia patients and forty healthy controls. SUD patients were recruited and assessed using the Psychiatric Research Interview for Substance and Mental (PRISM) and a battery of neuropsychological tests, including the Montreal Cognitive Assessment test for evaluation of cognitive impairment. When compared to healthy control subjects, SUD patients showed increases in plasma NfL concentrations and NfL/BDNF ratio, as well as reduced plasma BDNF levels. These changes were remarkable in SUD patients with moderate-severe cognitive impairment, being comparable to those observed in dementia patients. NfL concentrations correlated with executive function and memory cognition in SUD patients. The parameters "age", "NfL/BDNF ratio", "first time alcohol use", "age of onset of alcohol use disorder", and "length of alcohol use disorder diagnosis" were able to stratify our SUD sample into patients with cognitive impairment from those without cognitive dysfunction with great specificity and sensibility. In conclusion, we propose the combined use of NfL and BDNF (NfL/BDNF ratio) to monitor substance-induced neurocognitive disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nerea Requena-Ocaña
- Neuropsychopharmacology Group, Instituto IBIMA, Hospital Regional Universitario de Málaga, Avda. Carlos Haya 82, Sótano, 29010 Malaga, Spain
- School of Psychology, Complutense University of Madrid, Campus de Somosaguas, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Pedro Araos
- Neuropsychopharmacology Group, Instituto IBIMA, Hospital Regional Universitario de Málaga, Avda. Carlos Haya 82, Sótano, 29010 Malaga, Spain
| | - Pedro J. Serrano-Castro
- Andalusian Network for Clinical and Translational Research in Neurology (NEURO-RECA), 29010 Malaga, Spain
- Neurology Service, Regional University Hospital of Malaga, 29010 Malaga, Spain
| | - María Flores-López
- Neuropsychopharmacology Group, Instituto IBIMA, Hospital Regional Universitario de Málaga, Avda. Carlos Haya 82, Sótano, 29010 Malaga, Spain
| | - Nuria García-Marchena
- Neuropsychopharmacology Group, Instituto IBIMA, Hospital Regional Universitario de Málaga, Avda. Carlos Haya 82, Sótano, 29010 Malaga, Spain
- Institute D, Research in Health Sciences Germans Trias i Pujol (IGTP), Addictions Unit-Internal Medicine Service, Campus Can Ruti, Carrer del Canyet s/n, 08916 Badalona, Spain
| | - Begoña Oliver-Martos
- Andalusian Network for Clinical and Translational Research in Neurology (NEURO-RECA), 29010 Malaga, Spain
- Neurology Service, Regional University Hospital of Malaga, 29010 Malaga, Spain
| | - Juan Jesús Ruiz
- Provincial Drug Addiction Center (CPD) of Malaga, Provincial Council of Malaga, C/Ana Solo de Zaldívar, n3, 29010 Malaga, Spain
| | - Ana Gavito
- Neuropsychopharmacology Group, Instituto IBIMA, Hospital Regional Universitario de Málaga, Avda. Carlos Haya 82, Sótano, 29010 Malaga, Spain
| | - Francisco Javier Pavón
- Neuropsychopharmacology Group, Instituto IBIMA, Hospital Regional Universitario de Málaga, Avda. Carlos Haya 82, Sótano, 29010 Malaga, Spain
- Center for Biomedical Research in the Cardiovascular Diseases Network (CIBERCV), Carlos III Health Institute, Calle de Melchor Fernández Almagro, 3, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Antonia Serrano
- Neuropsychopharmacology Group, Instituto IBIMA, Hospital Regional Universitario de Málaga, Avda. Carlos Haya 82, Sótano, 29010 Malaga, Spain
| | - Fermín Mayoral
- Mental Health Clinical Management Unit, Institute of Biomedical Research of Malaga-IBIMA, Regional University Hospital of Málaga, 29010 Malaga, Spain
| | - Juan Suarez
- Neuropsychopharmacology Group, Instituto IBIMA, Hospital Regional Universitario de Málaga, Avda. Carlos Haya 82, Sótano, 29010 Malaga, Spain
- Department of Anatomy, Legal Medicine and History of Science, School of Medicine, University of Malaga, Boulevard Louis Pasteur 32, 29071 Malaga, Spain
- Correspondence: (J.S.); (F.R.d.F.)
| | - Fernando Rodríguez de Fonseca
- Neuropsychopharmacology Group, Instituto IBIMA, Hospital Regional Universitario de Málaga, Avda. Carlos Haya 82, Sótano, 29010 Malaga, Spain
- Andalusian Network for Clinical and Translational Research in Neurology (NEURO-RECA), 29010 Malaga, Spain
- Neurology Service, Regional University Hospital of Malaga, 29010 Malaga, Spain
- Mental Health Clinical Management Unit, Institute of Biomedical Research of Malaga-IBIMA, Regional University Hospital of Málaga, 29010 Malaga, Spain
- Correspondence: (J.S.); (F.R.d.F.)
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Zetterberg H, Teunissen C, van Swieten J, Kuhle J, Boxer A, Rohrer JD, Mitic L, Nicholson AM, Pearlman R, McCaughey SM, Tatton N. The role of neurofilament light in genetic frontotemporal lobar degeneration. Brain Commun 2023; 5:fcac310. [PMID: 36694576 PMCID: PMC9866262 DOI: 10.1093/braincomms/fcac310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2022] [Revised: 09/26/2022] [Accepted: 11/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Genetic frontotemporal lobar degeneration caused by autosomal dominant gene mutations provides an opportunity for targeted drug development in a highly complex and clinically heterogeneous dementia. These neurodegenerative disorders can affect adults in their middle years, progress quickly relative to other dementias, are uniformly fatal and have no approved disease-modifying treatments. Frontotemporal dementia, caused by mutations in the GRN gene which encodes the protein progranulin, is an active area of interventional drug trials that are testing multiple strategies to restore progranulin protein deficiency. These and other trials are also examining neurofilament light as a potential biomarker of disease activity and disease progression and as a therapeutic endpoint based on the assumption that cerebrospinal fluid and blood neurofilament light levels are a surrogate for neuroaxonal damage. Reports from genetic frontotemporal dementia longitudinal studies indicate that elevated concentrations of blood neurofilament light reflect disease severity and are associated with faster brain atrophy. To better inform patient stratification and treatment response in current and upcoming clinical trials, a more nuanced interpretation of neurofilament light as a biomarker of neurodegeneration is now required, one that takes into account its relationship to other pathophysiological and topographic biomarkers of disease progression from early presymptomatic to later clinically symptomatic stages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Henrik Zetterberg
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.,Clinical Chemistry, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden.,Dementia Research Institute, University College London, London, UK.,DRI Fluid Biomarker Laboratory, Hong Kong Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Hong Kong, China
| | - Charlotte Teunissen
- Department of Clinical Chemistry, Amsterdam University Medical Center, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - John van Swieten
- Department of Neurology, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Jens Kuhle
- Department of Clinical Research, Department of Neurology, Department of Biomedicine, Multiple Sclerosis Centre, University Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Adam Boxer
- Department of Neurology, Memory and Aging Center, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Jonathan D Rohrer
- Queen Square UCL Institute of Neurology, Dementia Research Centre, UK Dementia Research Institute, University College London, London, UK
| | - Laura Mitic
- Department of Neurology, Memory and Aging Center, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.,The Bluefield Project to Cure FTD, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Alexandra M Nicholson
- The Bluefield Project to Cure FTD, San Francisco, CA, USA.,Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic Jacksonville, Jacksonville, FL, USA
| | | | | | - Nadine Tatton
- Medical Affairs, Alector, Inc., South San Francisco, CA, USA
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Verde F, Milone I, Maranzano A, Colombo E, Torre S, Solca F, Doretti A, Gentile F, Manini A, Bonetti R, Peverelli S, Messina S, Maderna L, Morelli C, Poletti B, Ratti A, Silani V, Ticozzi N. Serum levels of glial fibrillary acidic protein in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Ann Clin Transl Neurol 2022; 10:118-129. [PMID: 36525477 PMCID: PMC9852391 DOI: 10.1002/acn3.51708] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2022] [Revised: 10/26/2022] [Accepted: 11/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To compare serum levels of the astrocyte biomarker glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and neurologically healthy controls and to analyze the relations between serum GFAP (sGFAP) and phenotype in ALS. METHODS We studied 114 ALS patients and 38 controls. sGFAP was quantified with single molecule array (Simoa) technology. RESULTS In both ALS patients and controls, sGFAP moderately correlated with age. ALS patients had higher sGFAP levels compared to controls, but this yielded a weak discriminative performance (AUC = 0.6198). In ALS, sGFAP was not associated with most of the motor phenotypic features, including site of onset, functional status, disease progression rate, disease stage, and indices of upper (UMN) and lower motor neuron (LMN) impairment. However, sGFAP negatively correlated with cognitive scores regarding ALS-nonspecific functions, particularly memory (r = -0.2082) and tended to be higher in ALS patients with eye movement abnormalities (p = 0.0628). sGFAP also correlated with polysomnographic indices of oxygen desaturation (ODI; r = 0.2639) and apnea-hypopnea (AHI; r = 0.2858). In a multivariate analysis, sGFAP was negatively associated with survival (HR = 1.005). Relevantly, we found a negative correlation between sGFAP and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR; r = -0.3500). INTERPRETATION Our work provides neurochemical evidence of astrocyte involvement in ALS pathophysiology and particularly in the development of extra-motor manifestations (namely, cognitive - memory - impairment) and respiratory dysfunction. The negative correlation between sGFAP and eGFR has practical relevance and should not be disregarded in future investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federico Verde
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of NeuroscienceIRCCS Istituto Auxologico ItalianoMilanItaly,Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, “Dino Ferrari” CenterUniversità degli Studi di MilanoMilanItaly
| | - Ilaria Milone
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of NeuroscienceIRCCS Istituto Auxologico ItalianoMilanItaly
| | - Alessio Maranzano
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of NeuroscienceIRCCS Istituto Auxologico ItalianoMilanItaly
| | - Eleonora Colombo
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of NeuroscienceIRCCS Istituto Auxologico ItalianoMilanItaly
| | - Silvia Torre
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of NeuroscienceIRCCS Istituto Auxologico ItalianoMilanItaly
| | - Federica Solca
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of NeuroscienceIRCCS Istituto Auxologico ItalianoMilanItaly
| | - Alberto Doretti
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of NeuroscienceIRCCS Istituto Auxologico ItalianoMilanItaly
| | - Francesco Gentile
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of NeuroscienceIRCCS Istituto Auxologico ItalianoMilanItaly,Neurology Residency ProgramUniversità degli Studi di MilanoMilanItaly
| | - Arianna Manini
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of NeuroscienceIRCCS Istituto Auxologico ItalianoMilanItaly,Neurology Residency ProgramUniversità degli Studi di MilanoMilanItaly
| | - Ruggero Bonetti
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of NeuroscienceIRCCS Istituto Auxologico ItalianoMilanItaly,Neurology Residency ProgramUniversità degli Studi di MilanoMilanItaly
| | - Silvia Peverelli
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of NeuroscienceIRCCS Istituto Auxologico ItalianoMilanItaly
| | - Stefano Messina
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of NeuroscienceIRCCS Istituto Auxologico ItalianoMilanItaly
| | - Luca Maderna
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of NeuroscienceIRCCS Istituto Auxologico ItalianoMilanItaly
| | - Claudia Morelli
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of NeuroscienceIRCCS Istituto Auxologico ItalianoMilanItaly
| | - Barbara Poletti
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of NeuroscienceIRCCS Istituto Auxologico ItalianoMilanItaly
| | - Antonia Ratti
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of NeuroscienceIRCCS Istituto Auxologico ItalianoMilanItaly,Department of Medical Biotechnology and Translational MedicineUniversità degli Studi di MilanoMilanItaly
| | - Vincenzo Silani
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of NeuroscienceIRCCS Istituto Auxologico ItalianoMilanItaly,Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, “Dino Ferrari” CenterUniversità degli Studi di MilanoMilanItaly
| | - Nicola Ticozzi
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of NeuroscienceIRCCS Istituto Auxologico ItalianoMilanItaly,Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, “Dino Ferrari” CenterUniversità degli Studi di MilanoMilanItaly
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Santos F, Cabreira V, Rocha S, Massano J. Blood Biomarkers for the Diagnosis of Neurodegenerative Dementia: A Systematic Review. J Geriatr Psychiatry Neurol 2022:8919887221141651. [PMID: 36423207 DOI: 10.1177/08919887221141651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Accurately diagnosing neurodegenerative dementia is often challenging due to overlapping clinical features. Disease specific biomarkers could enhance diagnostic accuracy. However, CSF analysis procedures and advanced imaging modalities are either invasive or high-priced, and routinely unavailable. Easily accessible disease biomarkers would be of utmost value for accurate differential diagnosis of dementia subtypes. OBJECTIVE To assess the diagnostic accuracy of blood-based biomarkers for the differential diagnosis of AD from Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration (FTLD), or AD from Dementia with Lewy Bodies (DLB). METHODS Systematic review. Three databases (PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science) were searched. Studies assessing blood-based biomarkers levels in AD versus FTLD, or AD versus DLB, and its diagnostic accuracy, were selected. When the same biomarker was assessed in three or more studies, a meta-analysis was performed. QUADAS-2 criteria were used for quality assessment. RESULTS Twenty studies were included in this analysis. Collectively, 905 AD patients were compared to 1262 FTLD patients, and 209 AD patients were compared to 246 DLB patients. Regarding biomarkers for AD versus FTLD, excellent discriminative accuracy (AUC >0.9) was found for p-tau181, p-tau217, synaptophysin, synaptopodin, GAP43 and calmodulin. Other biomarkers also demonstrated good accuracy (AUC = 0.8-0.9). For AD versus DLB distinction, only miR-21-5p and miR-451a achieved excellent accuracy (AUC >0.9). CONCLUSION Encouraging results were found for several biomarkers, alone or in combination. Prospective longitudinal designs and consensual protocols, comprising larger cohorts and homogeneous testing modalities across centres, are essential to validate the clinical value of blood biomarkers for the precise etiological diagnosis of dementia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Filipa Santos
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences and Mental Health, 26705Faculty of Medicine University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Verónica Cabreira
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences and Mental Health, 26705Faculty of Medicine University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.,Department of Neurology, 285211Centro Hospitalar Universitário de São João, Porto, Portugal
| | - Sara Rocha
- iLoF - Intelligent Lab on Fiber, Oxford, UK.,Department of Biochemistry, 26705Faculty of Medicine University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - João Massano
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences and Mental Health, 26705Faculty of Medicine University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.,Department of Neurology, 285211Centro Hospitalar Universitário de São João, Porto, Portugal
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