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K Khanna R, Catanese S, Mortemousque G, Mureau N, Emond P, Pisella PJ, Blasco H, Corcia P. Exploring amyotrophic lateral sclerosis through the visual system: A systematic review. Eur J Neurol 2024:e16475. [PMID: 39302063 DOI: 10.1111/ene.16475] [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: 03/11/2024] [Revised: 07/27/2024] [Accepted: 08/28/2024] [Indexed: 09/22/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The human visual system relies on neural networks throughout the brain that are easily accessible for tests exploring eye structures and movements. Over the past two decades, investigations have been carried out on both afferent and efferent components of the visual system in people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). This approach might represent an innovative biomarker research strategy to better characterise the phenotypic variability of ALS. The purpose of this review was to determine whether exploring the visual system of patients with ALS (pwALS) is an effective strategy. METHODS The Medline and Web of science databases were searched for studies with terms relating to ALS and vision. Of 1146 references identified, 43 articles were included. RESULTS In this review article, both afferent and efferent components of the visual system were found to be impaired in pwALS in the absence of visual complaint, thereby contributing to the hypothesis that ALS is a multisystem disease with sensory involvement. Of note, some areas of the eye remain unexplored (i.e., tears, and retinal function using electroretinography). CONCLUSIONS According to the findings available in the literature, investigating the oculomotor system and exploring the ocular surface could represent two key promising strategies to identify new diagnostic biomarkers in pwALS. Further longitudinal studies are needed to identify relevant indicators of disease progression and response to therapeutic intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raoul K Khanna
- Department of Ophthalmology, Bretonneau University Hospital of Tours, Tours, France
- INSERM, Imaging Brain & Neuropsychiatry iBraiN U1253, Université de Tours, Tours, France
| | - Sophie Catanese
- Department of Ophthalmology, Bretonneau University Hospital of Tours, Tours, France
- INSERM, Imaging Brain & Neuropsychiatry iBraiN U1253, Université de Tours, Tours, France
| | | | - Nicolas Mureau
- Department of Nuclear Medicine In Vitro, University Hospital of Tours, Tours, France
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University Hospital of Tours, Tours, France
| | - Patrick Emond
- INSERM, Imaging Brain & Neuropsychiatry iBraiN U1253, Université de Tours, Tours, France
- Department of Nuclear Medicine In Vitro, University Hospital of Tours, Tours, France
| | - Pierre-Jean Pisella
- Department of Ophthalmology, Bretonneau University Hospital of Tours, Tours, France
| | - Hélène Blasco
- INSERM, Imaging Brain & Neuropsychiatry iBraiN U1253, Université de Tours, Tours, France
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University Hospital of Tours, Tours, France
| | - Philippe Corcia
- INSERM, Imaging Brain & Neuropsychiatry iBraiN U1253, Université de Tours, Tours, France
- Department of Neurology, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Centre, University Hospital of Tours, Tours, France
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Taufik SA, Ramli N, Tan AH, Lim SY, Ghani MTA, Shahrizaila N. Longitudinal Changes in the Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Thickness in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Parkinson's Disease. J Clin Neurol 2024; 20:285-292. [PMID: 38627230 PMCID: PMC11076187 DOI: 10.3988/jcn.2023.0353] [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: 09/05/2023] [Revised: 11/05/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 05/08/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE There is increasing evidence that the anterior visual pathways are involved in neurodegenerative diseases including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and Parkinson's disease (PD). This study investigated longitudinal changes in retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness in patients with ALS and PD with the aim of better understanding their roles as biomarkers of disease progression. METHODS This study recruited 21 ALS patients, 19 age-matched PD patients, and 21 agematched healthy controls. Patient demographics and clinical scores relating to the respective diseases were documented. The RNFL thickness was measured using optical coherence tomography at baseline and after 6 months. RESULTS At baseline, the RNFL in the superior quadrant was significantly thinner in the patients with ALS than in healthy controls (109.90±22.41 µm vs. 127.81±17.05 µm [mean±standard deviation], p=0.008). The RNFL thickness did not differ significantly between the ALS and PD patients or between the PD patients and healthy controls. At 6 months, there was further significant RNFL thinning in patients with ALS, for both the overall thickness (baseline: median=94.5 µm, range=83.0-106.0 µm; follow-up: median=93.5 µm, range=82.5-104.5 µm, p=0.043) and the thickness in the inferior quadrant (median=126 µm, range=109.5-142.5 µm; and median=117.5 µm, range=98.5-136.5 µm; respectively, p=0.032). However, these changes were not correlated with the ALS functional scores. In contrast, the patients with PD did not demonstrate a significant change in RNFL thickness between the two time points. CONCLUSIONS The RNFL thickness is a promising biomarker of disease progression in patients with ALS but not in those with PD, which has a slower disease progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sharifah Azira Taufik
- UM Eye Research Centre, Department of Ophthalmology, Universiti Malaya, Jalan Profesor Diraja Ungku Aziz, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Norlina Ramli
- UM Eye Research Centre, Department of Ophthalmology, Universiti Malaya, Jalan Profesor Diraja Ungku Aziz, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
| | - Ai Huey Tan
- Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, Universiti Malaya, Jalan Profesor Diraja Ungku Aziz, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Shen-Yang Lim
- Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, Universiti Malaya, Jalan Profesor Diraja Ungku Aziz, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Mohd Taufiq Abdul Ghani
- Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya, Jalan Profesor Diraja Ungku Aziz, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Nortina Shahrizaila
- Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, Universiti Malaya, Jalan Profesor Diraja Ungku Aziz, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
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Seki S, Kitaoka Y, Kawata S, Nishiura A, Uchihashi T, Hiraoka SI, Yokota Y, Isomura ET, Kogo M, Tanaka S. Characteristics of Sensory Neuron Dysfunction in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS): Potential for ALS Therapy. Biomedicines 2023; 11:2967. [PMID: 38001967 PMCID: PMC10669304 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11112967] [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: 09/07/2023] [Revised: 10/24/2023] [Accepted: 10/29/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a devastating neurodegenerative disorder characterised by the progressive degeneration of motor neurons, resulting in muscle weakness, paralysis, and, ultimately, death. Presently, no effective treatment for ALS has been established. Although motor neuron dysfunction is a hallmark of ALS, emerging evidence suggests that sensory neurons are also involved in the disease. In clinical research, 30% of patients with ALS had sensory symptoms and abnormal sensory nerve conduction studies in the lower extremities. Peroneal nerve biopsies show histological abnormalities in 90% of the patients. Preclinical research has reported several genetic abnormalities in the sensory neurons of animal models of ALS, as well as in motor neurons. Furthermore, the aggregation of misfolded proteins like TAR DNA-binding protein 43 has been reported in sensory neurons. This review aims to provide a comprehensive description of ALS-related sensory neuron dysfunction, focusing on its clinical changes and underlying mechanisms. Sensory neuron abnormalities in ALS are not limited to somatosensory issues; proprioceptive sensory neurons, such as MesV and DRG neurons, have been reported to form networks with motor neurons and may be involved in motor control. Despite receiving limited attention, sensory neuron abnormalities in ALS hold potential for new therapies targeting proprioceptive sensory neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soju Seki
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Graduate School of Dentistry, Osaka University, 1-8 Yamadaoka, Suita 565-0871, Osaka, Japan
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4
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Miscioscia A, Puthenparampil M, Blasi L, Rinaldi F, Perini P, Sorarù G, Gallo P. Neurodegeneration in the retina of motoneuron diseases: a longitudinal study in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and Kennedy's disease. J Neurol 2023; 270:4478-4486. [PMID: 37289322 PMCID: PMC10421755 DOI: 10.1007/s00415-023-11802-2] [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: 04/11/2023] [Revised: 05/29/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND To what extent retinal atrophy in neurodegenerative diseases reflects the severity and/or the chronicity of brain pathology or is a local independent phenomenon remains to be clarified. Moreover, whether retinal atrophy has a clinical (diagnostic and prognostic) value in these diseases remains unclear. OBJECTIVE To add light on the pathological significance and clinical value of retinal atrophy in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and Kennedy's disease (KD). METHODS Thirty-five ALS, thirty-seven KD, and forty-nine age-matched healthy controls (HC) were included in a one-year longitudinal study. Spectrum-domain optical coherence tomography (OCT) was performed at study entry (T0) and after 12 months (T1). Disease duration and functional rating scale (FRS) for ALS and KD patients were correlated to retinal thicknesses. RESULTS Compared to HC, peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (pRNFL) thickness was significantly thinner in both ALS (p = 0.034) and KD (p = 0.003). pRNFL was thinner in KD compared to ALS, but the difference was not significant. In KD, pRNFL atrophy significantly correlated with both disease severity (r = 0.296, p = 0.035) and disease duration (r = - 0.308, p = 0.013) while no significant correlation was found in ALS (disease severity: r = 0.147, p = 0.238; disease duration: r = - 0.093, p = 0.459). During the follow-up, pRNFL thickness remained stable in KD while significantly decreased in ALS (p = 0.043). CONCLUSIONS Our study provides evidence of retinal atrophy in both ALS and KD and suggests that retinal thinning is a primary local phenomenon in motoneuron diseases. The clinical value of pRNFL atrophy in KD is worthy of further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Miscioscia
- Department of Neurosciences, DNS, School of Medicine, University of Padua, Padua, Italy.
- Multiple Sclerosis Centre of the Veneto Region (CeSMuV), Neurology Clinic, University Hospital of Padua, Via Giustiniani, 5, 35128, Padua, Italy.
| | - Marco Puthenparampil
- Department of Neurosciences, DNS, School of Medicine, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
- Multiple Sclerosis Centre of the Veneto Region (CeSMuV), Neurology Clinic, University Hospital of Padua, Via Giustiniani, 5, 35128, Padua, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Blasi
- Department of Neurosciences, DNS, School of Medicine, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
- Neuromuscular Center, Neurology Clinic, University Hospital of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Francesca Rinaldi
- Multiple Sclerosis Centre of the Veneto Region (CeSMuV), Neurology Clinic, University Hospital of Padua, Via Giustiniani, 5, 35128, Padua, Italy
| | - Paola Perini
- Multiple Sclerosis Centre of the Veneto Region (CeSMuV), Neurology Clinic, University Hospital of Padua, Via Giustiniani, 5, 35128, Padua, Italy
| | - Gianni Sorarù
- Department of Neurosciences, DNS, School of Medicine, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
- Neuromuscular Center, Neurology Clinic, University Hospital of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Paolo Gallo
- Department of Neurosciences, DNS, School of Medicine, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
- Multiple Sclerosis Centre of the Veneto Region (CeSMuV), Neurology Clinic, University Hospital of Padua, Via Giustiniani, 5, 35128, Padua, Italy
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Vautier A, Lebreton AL, Codron P, Awada Z, Gohier P, Cassereau J. Retinal vessels as a window on amyotrophic lateral sclerosis pathophysiology: A systematic review. Rev Neurol (Paris) 2023; 179:548-562. [PMID: 36842953 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurol.2022.11.010] [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: 07/30/2022] [Revised: 10/13/2022] [Accepted: 11/04/2022] [Indexed: 02/28/2023]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a rare fatal motor neuron disease. Although many potential mechanisms have been proposed, the pathophysiology of the disease remains unknown. Currently available treatments can only delay the progression of the disease and prolong life expectancy by a few months. There is still no definitive cure for ALS, and the development of new treatments is limited by a lack of understanding of the underlying biological processes that trigger and promote neurodegeneration. Several scientific results suggest a neurovascular impairment in ALS providing perspectives for the development of new biomarkers and treatments. In this article, we performed a systematic review using PRISMA guidelines including PubMed, EmBase, GoogleScholar, and Web of Science Core Collection to analyze the scientific literature published between 2000 and 2021 discussing the neurocardiovascular involvement and ophthalmologic abnormalities in ALS. In total, 122 articles were included to establish this systematic review. Indeed, microvascular pathology seems to be involved in ALS, affecting all the neurovascular unit components. Retinal changes have also been recently highlighted without significant alteration of the visual pathways. Despite the peripheral location of the retina, it is considered as an extension of the central nervous system (CNS) as it displays similarities to the brain, the inner blood-retinal barrier, and the blood-brain barrier. This suggests that the eye could be considered as a 'window' into the brain in many CNS disorders. Thus, studying ocular manifestations of brain pathologies seems very promising in understanding neurodegenerative disorders, mainly ALS. Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A) could therefore be a powerful approach for exploration of retinal microvascularization allowing to obtain new diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers of ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Vautier
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital, Angers, France.
| | - A L Lebreton
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital, Angers, France
| | - P Codron
- Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Center, Department of Neurology, University Hospital, Angers, France; Department of Neurobiology and Neuropathology, University Hospital, Angers, France; University of Angers, Inserm, CNRS, MITOVASC, SFR ICAT, Angers, France
| | - Z Awada
- Department of neuroscience, LHH-SIUH, New York, USA
| | - P Gohier
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital, Angers, France
| | - J Cassereau
- Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Center, Department of Neurology, University Hospital, Angers, France; University of Angers, Inserm, CNRS, MITOVASC, SFR ICAT, Angers, France.
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Salazar JJ, Satriano A, Matamoros JA, Fernández-Albarral JA, Salobrar-García E, López-Cuenca I, de Hoz R, Sánchez-Puebla L, Ramírez JM, Alonso C, Satta V, Hernández-Fisac I, Sagredo O, Ramírez AI. Retinal Tissue Shows Glial Changes in a Dravet Syndrome Knock-in Mouse Model. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24032727. [PMID: 36769051 PMCID: PMC9916888 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24032727] [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: 12/19/2022] [Revised: 01/26/2023] [Accepted: 01/29/2023] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Dravet syndrome (DS) is an epileptic encephalopathy caused by mutations in the Scn1a gene encoding the α1 subunit of the Nav1.1 sodium channel, which is associated with recurrent and generalized seizures, even leading to death. In experimental models of DS, histological alterations have been found in the brain; however, the retina is a projection of the brain and there are no studies that analyze the possible histological changes that may occur in the disease. This study analyzes the retinal histological changes in glial cells (microglia and astrocytes), retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and GABAergic amacrine cells in an experimental model of DS (Syn-Cre/Scn1aWT/A1783V) compared to a control group at postnatal day (PND) 25. Retinal whole-mounts were labeled with anti-GFAP, anti-Iba-1, anti-Brn3a and anti-GAD65/67. Signs of microglial and astroglial activation, and the number of Brn3a+ and GAD65+67+ cells were quantified. We found retinal activation of astroglial and microglial cells but not death of RGCs and GABAergic amacrine cells. These changes are similar to those found at the level of the hippocampus in the same experimental model in PND25, indicating a relationship between brain and retinal changes in DS. This suggests that the retina could serve as a possible biomarker in DS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan J. Salazar
- Instituto de Investigaciones Oftalmológicas Ramón Castroviejo, Grupo UCM 920105, IdISSC, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
- Facultad de Óptica y Optometría, Departamento de Inmunología, Oftalmología y ORL, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28037 Madrid, Spain
| | - Andrea Satriano
- Preclinical and Translational Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, Italy
| | - José A. Matamoros
- Instituto de Investigaciones Oftalmológicas Ramón Castroviejo, Grupo UCM 920105, IdISSC, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
- Facultad de Óptica y Optometría, Departamento de Inmunología, Oftalmología y ORL, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28037 Madrid, Spain
| | - José A. Fernández-Albarral
- Instituto de Investigaciones Oftalmológicas Ramón Castroviejo, Grupo UCM 920105, IdISSC, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Elena Salobrar-García
- Instituto de Investigaciones Oftalmológicas Ramón Castroviejo, Grupo UCM 920105, IdISSC, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
- Facultad de Óptica y Optometría, Departamento de Inmunología, Oftalmología y ORL, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28037 Madrid, Spain
| | - Inés López-Cuenca
- Instituto de Investigaciones Oftalmológicas Ramón Castroviejo, Grupo UCM 920105, IdISSC, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
- Facultad de Óptica y Optometría, Departamento de Inmunología, Oftalmología y ORL, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28037 Madrid, Spain
| | - Rosa de Hoz
- Instituto de Investigaciones Oftalmológicas Ramón Castroviejo, Grupo UCM 920105, IdISSC, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
- Facultad de Óptica y Optometría, Departamento de Inmunología, Oftalmología y ORL, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28037 Madrid, Spain
| | - Lidia Sánchez-Puebla
- Instituto de Investigaciones Oftalmológicas Ramón Castroviejo, Grupo UCM 920105, IdISSC, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - José M. Ramírez
- Instituto de Investigaciones Oftalmológicas Ramón Castroviejo, Grupo UCM 920105, IdISSC, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
- Facultad de Medicina, Departamento de Inmunología, Oftalmología y ORL, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Cristina Alonso
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28031 Madrid, Spain
- Instituto Universitario de Investigación en Neuroquímica, Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Complutense, 28040 Madrid, Spain
- Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria (IRYCIS), 28034 Madrid, Spain
| | - Valentina Satta
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28031 Madrid, Spain
- Instituto Universitario de Investigación en Neuroquímica, Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Complutense, 28040 Madrid, Spain
- Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria (IRYCIS), 28034 Madrid, Spain
| | - Inés Hernández-Fisac
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28031 Madrid, Spain
| | - Onintza Sagredo
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28031 Madrid, Spain
- Instituto Universitario de Investigación en Neuroquímica, Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Complutense, 28040 Madrid, Spain
- Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria (IRYCIS), 28034 Madrid, Spain
- Correspondence: (O.S.); (A.I.R.)
| | - Ana I. Ramírez
- Instituto de Investigaciones Oftalmológicas Ramón Castroviejo, Grupo UCM 920105, IdISSC, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
- Facultad de Óptica y Optometría, Departamento de Inmunología, Oftalmología y ORL, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28037 Madrid, Spain
- Correspondence: (O.S.); (A.I.R.)
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Sensory Involvement in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232415521. [PMID: 36555161 PMCID: PMC9779879 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232415521] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2022] [Revised: 11/19/2022] [Accepted: 12/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Although amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is pre-eminently a motor disease, the existence of non-motor manifestations, including sensory involvement, has been described in the last few years. Although from a clinical perspective, sensory symptoms are overshadowed by their motor manifestations, this does not mean that their pathological significance is not relevant. In this review, we have made an extensive description of the involvement of sensory and autonomic systems described to date in ALS, from clinical, neurophysiological, neuroimaging, neuropathological, functional, and molecular perspectives.
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Wong BM, Hudson C, Snook E, Tayyari F, Jung H, Binns MA, Samet S, Cheng RW, Balian C, Mandelcorn ED, Margolin E, Finger E, Black SE, Tang-Wai DF, Zinman L, Tan B, Lou W, Masellis M, Abrahao A, Frank A, Beaton D, Sunderland KM, Arnott SR, Tartaglia MC, Hatch WV. Retinal nerve fiber layer in frontotemporal lobar degeneration and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:964715. [PMID: 36278002 PMCID: PMC9583385 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.964715] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2022] [Accepted: 08/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose Tauopathy and transactive response DNA binding protein 43 (TDP-43) proteinopathy are associated with neurodegenerative diseases. These proteinopathies are difficult to detect in vivo. This study examined if spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) can differentiate in vivo the difference in peripapillary retinal nerve fibre layer (pRNFL) thickness and macular retinal thickness between participants with presumed tauopathy (progressive supranuclear palsy) and those with presumed TDP-43 proteinopathy (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and semantic variant primary progressive aphasia). Study design Prospective, multi-centre, observational study. Materials and methods pRNFL and macular SD-OCT images were acquired in both eyes of each participant using Heidelberg Spectralis SD-OCT. Global and pRNFL thickness in 6 sectors were analyzed, as well as macular thickness in a central 1 mm diameter zone and 4 surrounding sectors. Linear mixed model methods adjusting for baseline differences between groups were used to compare the two groups with respect to pRNFL and macular thickness. Results A significant difference was found in mean pRNFL thickness between groups, with the TDP-43 group (n = 28 eyes) having a significantly thinner pRNFL in the temporal sector than the tauopathy group (n = 9 eyes; mean difference = 15.46 μm, SE = 6.98, p = 0.046), which was not significant after adjusting for multiple comparisons. No other significant differences were found between groups for pRNFL or macular thickness. Conclusion The finding that the temporal pRNFL in the TDP-43 group was on average 15.46 μm thinner could potentially have clinical significance. Future work with larger sample sizes, longitudinal studies, and at the level of retinal sublayers will help to determine the utility of SD-OCT to differentiate between these two proteinopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bryan M. Wong
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Christopher Hudson
- Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- School of Optometry and Vision Science, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada
| | - Emily Snook
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Faryan Tayyari
- School of Optometry and Vision Science, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada
- Kensington Eye Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Hyejung Jung
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Malcolm A. Binns
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Rotman Research Institute, Baycrest Health Sciences, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Saba Samet
- Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | | | - Carmen Balian
- School of Optometry and Vision Science, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada
- Kensington Eye Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Efrem D. Mandelcorn
- Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Kensington Eye Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Edward Margolin
- Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Kensington Eye Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Elizabeth Finger
- Department of Clinical Neurological Sciences, Western University, London, ON, Canada
| | - Sandra E. Black
- Department of Medicine (Neurology), Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Hurvitz Brain Sciences Research Program, Sunnybrook Research Institute, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Medicine, Division of Neurology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - David F. Tang-Wai
- Department of Medicine, Division of Neurology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Krembil Brain Institute, University Health Network Memory Clinic, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Lorne Zinman
- Department of Medicine (Neurology), Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Hurvitz Brain Sciences Research Program, Sunnybrook Research Institute, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Medicine, Division of Neurology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Brian Tan
- Rotman Research Institute, Baycrest Health Sciences, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Wendy Lou
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Mario Masellis
- Department of Medicine (Neurology), Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Hurvitz Brain Sciences Research Program, Sunnybrook Research Institute, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Medicine, Division of Neurology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Agessandro Abrahao
- Department of Medicine (Neurology), Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Hurvitz Brain Sciences Research Program, Sunnybrook Research Institute, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Medicine, Division of Neurology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Andrew Frank
- Bruyere Research Institute, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Derek Beaton
- Rotman Research Institute, Baycrest Health Sciences, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | | | - Stephen R. Arnott
- Rotman Research Institute, Baycrest Health Sciences, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Maria Carmela Tartaglia
- Department of Medicine, Division of Neurology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Krembil Brain Institute, University Health Network Memory Clinic, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Wendy V. Hatch
- Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Kensington Eye Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada
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9
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Nepal G, Kharel S, Coghlan MA, Yadav JK, Parajuli P, Pandit K, Shing YK, Ojha R. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and retinal changes in optical coherence tomography: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Brain Behav 2022; 12:e2741. [PMID: 35996223 PMCID: PMC9480919 DOI: 10.1002/brb3.2741] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2022] [Revised: 06/20/2022] [Accepted: 07/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Increasing evidence suggests Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) as a widespread pathological process comprising nonmotor features like fatigue, mild sensory symptoms, cognitive decline, and visual impairment. Measurements of retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness using Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) may correlate with the neurodegeneration associated with ALS. In addition to RNFL thickness, other OCT parameters have been explored in the context of diagnosing ALS and predicting disease severity. In this study, we explore the possibility that OCT parameters of patients with ALS may differ significantly from those of healthy controls and thus serve as biomarkers for the disease and its progression. MATERIALS AND METHODS Between 2010 and 2021, the PubMed and EMBASE databases were examined for English language literature. ALS severity was assessed using the revised ALS functional rating scale (ALSFRS-R). The pooled mean differences in RNFL thickness between ALS patients and controls were calculated using the Standard Mean Difference (Hedges's g) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) in STATA software version 16. RESULTS Eleven studies were reviewed for data collection. RNFL thickness was not statistically significantly different between ALS patients (n = 412) and controls (n = 376) (Hedges's g = -0.22; 95% CI: -0.51 to 0.07, I2 = 73.04%, p = .14). However, the thickness of inner nuclear layer was significantly different between ALS patients and controls (Hedges's g = -0.38; 95% CI: -0.61 to 0.14, I2 = 14.85%, p = .00). CONCLUSION Our meta-analysis found that RNFL thickness as a whole or by individual quadrants was not significantly different between ALS patients and controls while the inner nuclear layer (INL) was substantially thinner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gaurav Nepal
- Department of Internal Medicine, Maharajgunj Medical Campus, Tribhuvan University Institute of Medicine, Maharajgunj, Kathmandu, Nepal
| | - Sanjeev Kharel
- Department of Internal Medicine, Maharajgunj Medical Campus, Tribhuvan University Institute of Medicine, Maharajgunj, Kathmandu, Nepal
| | - Megan Ariel Coghlan
- Department of Neurology, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, Kentucky, US
| | - Jayant Kumar Yadav
- Department of Internal Medicine, Maharajgunj Medical Campus, Tribhuvan University Institute of Medicine, Maharajgunj, Kathmandu, Nepal
| | - Pawan Parajuli
- Department of Internal Medicine, Koshi Hospital, Biratnagar, Nepal
| | - Kamal Pandit
- Department of Ophthalmology, Maharajgunj Medical Campus, Tribhuvan University Institute of Medicine, Maharajgunj, Kathmandu, Nepal
| | - Yow Ka Shing
- Department of Internal Medicine, National University Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Rajeev Ojha
- Department of Internal Medicine, Maharajgunj Medical Campus, Tribhuvan University Institute of Medicine, Maharajgunj, Kathmandu, Nepal
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10
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Cunha LP, Pires LA, Cruzeiro MM, Almeida ALM, Martins LC, Martins PN, Shigaeff N, Vale TC. Optical coherence tomography in neurodegenerative disorders. ARQUIVOS DE NEURO-PSIQUIATRIA 2022; 80:180-191. [PMID: 35352756 PMCID: PMC9648920 DOI: 10.1590/0004-282x-anp-2021-0134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2021] [Revised: 05/21/2021] [Accepted: 06/15/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Structural imaging of the brain is the most widely used diagnostic tool for investigating neurodegenerative diseases. More advanced structural imaging techniques have been applied to early or prodromic phases, but they are expensive and not widely available. Therefore, it is highly desirable to search for noninvasive, easily accessible, low-cost clinical biomarkers suitable for large-scale population screening, in order to focus on making diagnoses at the earliest stages of the disease. In this scenario, imaging studies focusing on the structures of the retina have increasingly been used for evaluating neurodegenerative diseases. The retina shares embryological, histological, biochemical, microvascular and neurotransmitter similarities with the cerebral cortex, thus making it a uniquely promising biomarker for neurodegenerative diseases. Optical coherence tomography is a modern noninvasive imaging technique that provides high-resolution two-dimensional cross-sectional images and quantitative reproducible three-dimensional volumetric measurements of the optic nerve head and retina. This technology is widely used in ophthalmology practice for diagnosing and following up several eye diseases, such as glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration. Its clinical impact on neurodegenerative diseases has raised enormous interest over recent years, as several clinical studies have demonstrated that these diseases give rise to reduced thickness of the inner retinal nerve fiber layer, mainly composed of retinal ganglion cells and their axons. In this review, we aimed to address the clinical utility of optical coherence tomography for diagnosing and evaluating different neurodegenerative diseases, to show the potential of this noninvasive and easily accessible method.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonardo Provetti Cunha
- Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Faculdade de Medicina, Divisão de Oftalmologia, Juiz de Fora MG, Brazil
- Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Medicina, Divisão de Oftalmologia, São Paulo SP, Brazil
- Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Faculdade de Medicina, Pós-Graduação em Saúde, Núcleo de Pesquisa em Neurologia, Juiz de Fora MG, Brazil
| | - Leopoldo Antônio Pires
- Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Faculdade de Medicina, Pós-Graduação em Saúde, Núcleo de Pesquisa em Neurologia, Juiz de Fora MG, Brazil
- Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Hospital Universitário, Serviço de Neurologia, Juiz de Fora MG, Brazil
- Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Hospital Universitário, Serviço de Neurologia, Juiz de Fora MG, Brazil
| | - Marcelo Maroco Cruzeiro
- Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Faculdade de Medicina, Pós-Graduação em Saúde, Núcleo de Pesquisa em Neurologia, Juiz de Fora MG, Brazil
- Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Hospital Universitário, Serviço de Neurologia, Juiz de Fora MG, Brazil
- Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Hospital Universitário, Serviço de Neurologia, Juiz de Fora MG, Brazil
| | - Ana Laura Maciel Almeida
- Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Faculdade de Medicina, Pós-Graduação em Saúde, Núcleo de Pesquisa em Neurologia, Juiz de Fora MG, Brazil
- Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Hospital Universitário, Serviço de Neurologia, Juiz de Fora MG, Brazil
- Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Hospital Universitário, Serviço de Neurologia, Juiz de Fora MG, Brazil
| | - Luiza Cunha Martins
- Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Faculdade de Medicina, Pós-Graduação em Saúde, Núcleo de Pesquisa em Neurologia, Juiz de Fora MG, Brazil
- Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Faculdade de Medicina, Departamento de Clínica Médica, Juiz de Fora MG, Brazil
| | - Pedro Nascimento Martins
- Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Faculdade de Medicina, Pós-Graduação em Saúde, Núcleo de Pesquisa em Neurologia, Juiz de Fora MG, Brazil
- Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Faculdade de Medicina, Departamento de Clínica Médica, Juiz de Fora MG, Brazil
| | - Nadia Shigaeff
- Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Faculdade de Medicina, Pós-Graduação em Saúde, Núcleo de Pesquisa em Neurologia, Juiz de Fora MG, Brazil
- Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Instituto de Ciências Humanas, Departamento de Psicologia, Juiz de Fora MG, Brazil
| | - Thiago Cardoso Vale
- Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Faculdade de Medicina, Pós-Graduação em Saúde, Núcleo de Pesquisa em Neurologia, Juiz de Fora MG, Brazil
- Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Hospital Universitário, Serviço de Neurologia, Juiz de Fora MG, Brazil
- Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Hospital Universitário, Serviço de Neurologia, Juiz de Fora MG, Brazil
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11
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Zhang Y, Liu X, Fu J, Zhang Y, Yang X, Zhang S, Fan D. Selective and Inverse U-Shaped Curve Alteration of the Retinal Nerve in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A Potential Mirror of the Disease. Front Aging Neurosci 2022; 13:783431. [PMID: 35069179 PMCID: PMC8770270 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2021.783431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2021] [Accepted: 12/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Alterations in the visual pathway involving the retina have been reported in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) but they lack consistency and subgroup analysis. We aimed to assess the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) and retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) alterations in different stages of ALS patients and their association with ALS progression parameters. Methods: The study population consisted of 70 clinically diagnosed ALS patients and 55 age, sex matched controls. All of them underwent ophthalmic assessments and optical coherence tomography imaging. Four quadrants of the peripapillary RNFL and ganglion cell/inner plexiform complex (GCIP) were observed and automatically measured. Early-stage distal motor neuron axon dysfunction in ALS was detected by compound muscle action potential (CMAP) of the distal limbs within 12 months. The ALS disease parameters included the ALSFRS-R score and the disease progression rate (ΔFS). Results: Generally compared with controls, the nasal (p = 0.016) quadrant of the RNFL was thicker in ALS patients. When controlling for age and ΔFS, the RNFL(r = 0.37, p = 0.034) and GCIP(r = 0.40, p = 0.021) were significantly thickened as disease progressed within 12 months, while the RNFL declined with time after one year (r = −0.41, p = 0.037). ALS patients was subclassified into thickened RNFL (T-RNFL, >95th percentile of normal), impaired RNFL (I-RNFL, <5th percentile of normal) and normal RNFL. There were significant differences in the GCIP among the three groups (p < 0.001). In the T-RNFL group (n = 18), the RNFL was negatively correlated with the abductor pollicis brevis-CMAP amplitude within 12 months (r = −0.56, p = 0.01). Patients within 12 months in this group progressed faster than others (p = 0.039). In the normal RNFL group (n = 22), 13 patients were diagnosed beyond 12 months, whose ΔFS was remarkably lower (p = 0.007). In I-RNFL group (n = 30), the early stage patients (<12 months) had significant higher ΔFS (p = 0.006). One patient was with SOD1 pathogenic variant (p.A5V). Conclusion: Alterations of retinal nerve were not consistent in ALS patients with diverse phenotypes and progression rates. Generally speaking, the RNFL thickened during the first year and then gradually declined, which is related to but preceding the thickness change of the RGCs. Patients with a significant RNFL thinning in the early stage may have a faster progression rate. The inverse U-shaped curve transformation might be in accordance with early-stage motor neuron axonopathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yixuan Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
- Beijing Municipal Key Laboratory of Biomarker and Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, Beijing, China
| | - Xiangyi Liu
- Department of Neurology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
- Beijing Municipal Key Laboratory of Biomarker and Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, Beijing, China
| | - Jiayu Fu
- Department of Neurology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
- Beijing Municipal Key Laboratory of Biomarker and Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, Beijing, China
| | - Yuanjin Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
- Beijing Municipal Key Laboratory of Biomarker and Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, Beijing, China
| | - Xue Yang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Shuo Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
- Beijing Municipal Key Laboratory of Biomarker and Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, Beijing, China
| | - Dongsheng Fan
- Department of Neurology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
- Beijing Municipal Key Laboratory of Biomarker and Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, Beijing, China
- *Correspondence: Dongsheng Fan
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12
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Ramirez AI, de Hoz R, Rojas P, Salazar JJ. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a neurodegenerative motor neuron disease with retinal involvement. Neural Regen Res 2021; 17:1011-1012. [PMID: 34558524 PMCID: PMC8552863 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.324841] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Ana I Ramirez
- Instituto de Investigaciones Oftalmológicas Ramón Castroviejo; Facultad de Óptica y Optometría. Departamento de Inmunología, Oftalmología y ORL. Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Rosa de Hoz
- Instituto de Investigaciones Oftalmológicas Ramón Castroviejo; Facultad de Óptica y Optometría. Departamento de Inmunología, Oftalmología y ORL. Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Pilar Rojas
- Instituto de Investigaciones Oftalmológicas Ramón Castroviejo. Universidad Complutense de Madrid; Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, Instituto Oftálmico de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Juan J Salazar
- Instituto de Investigaciones Oftalmológicas Ramón Castroviejo; Facultad de Óptica y Optometría. Departamento de Inmunología, Oftalmología y ORL. Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
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13
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Chiò A, Canosa A, Calvo A, Moglia C, Cicolin A, Mora G. Developments in the assessment of non-motor disease progression in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Expert Rev Neurother 2021; 21:1419-1440. [PMID: 34554894 DOI: 10.1080/14737175.2021.1984883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The burden of non-motor symptoms is a major determinant of quality of life and outcome in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and has profound negative effect also on caregivers. AREAS COVERED Non-motor symptoms in ALS include cognitive impairment, neurobehavioral symptoms, depression and anxiety, suicidal ideation, pain, disordered sleep, fatigue, weight loss and reduced appetite, and autonomic dysfunctions. This review summarizes the measures used for the assessment of non-motor symptoms and their properties and recaps the frequency and progression of these symptoms along the course of ALS. EXPERT OPINION Non-motor symptoms in ALS represent a major component of the disease and span over several domains. These symptoms require a high level of medical attention and should be checked at each visit using ad hoc questionnaires and proactively treated. Several instruments assessing non-motor symptoms have been used in ALS. Specific screening questionnaires for non-motor symptoms can be used for monitoring patients during telehealth visits and for remote surveillance through sensors and apps installed on smartphones. Novel trials for non-motor symptoms treatment specifically designed for ALS are necessary to increase and refine the therapeutic armamentarium. Finally, scales assessing the most frequent and burdensome non-motor symptoms should be included in clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adriano Chiò
- 'Rita Levi Montalcini' Department of Neuroscience, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.,Neurology I, Azienda Ospedaliera Città Della Salute E Della Scienza of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Antonio Canosa
- 'Rita Levi Montalcini' Department of Neuroscience, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.,Neurology I, Azienda Ospedaliera Città Della Salute E Della Scienza of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Andrea Calvo
- 'Rita Levi Montalcini' Department of Neuroscience, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.,Neurology I, Azienda Ospedaliera Città Della Salute E Della Scienza of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Cristina Moglia
- 'Rita Levi Montalcini' Department of Neuroscience, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.,Neurology I, Azienda Ospedaliera Città Della Salute E Della Scienza of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Alessandro Cicolin
- 'Rita Levi Montalcini' Department of Neuroscience, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.,Sleep Medicine Center, Azienda Ospedaliera Città Della Salute E Della Scienza of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Gabriele Mora
- Neurorehabilitation Department, Ics Maugeri Irccs, Institute of Milan, Milan, Italy
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14
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Soldatov VO, Kukharsky MS, Soldatova MO, Puchenkova OA, Nikitina Y, Lysikova EA, Kartashkina NL, Deykin AV, Pokrovskiy MV. Retinal abnormalities in transgenic mice overexpressing aberrant human FUS[1-359] gene. BULLETIN OF RUSSIAN STATE MEDICAL UNIVERSITY 2021. [DOI: 10.24075/brsmu.2021.043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Retinal damage is an optional sign in a number of neurodegenerative diseases, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The aim of this work was to assess the structural and functional state of the retina in a murine model of ALS caused by overexpression of the aberrant FUS protein [1-359]. The retinal examination was carried out on 12 transgenic and 13 wild-type mice of 2.5–3 months of age. The study revealed not statistically significant higher level of ophthalmoscopic violations in FUS[1-359] mice. Moreover, gene expression assay confirmed an increased expression of the inflammatory genes Vegfa, Il1b, Il6, Icam1, Tnfa. However, despite the detected structural and functional abnormalities, western blot analysis and quantitative PCR did not detect the expression of the protein and mRNA products of the FUS transgene in the retina of FUS[1-359] mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- VO Soldatov
- Belgorod State National Research University, Belgorod, Russia
| | - MS Kukharsky
- Institute of Physiologically Active Substances, Moscow, Russia
| | | | - OA Puchenkova
- Belgorod State National Research University, Belgorod, Russia
| | - YuA Nikitina
- Institute of Physiologically Active Substances, Moscow, Russia
| | - EA Lysikova
- Institute of Physiologically Active Substances, Moscow, Russia
| | - NL Kartashkina
- Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia
| | - AV Deykin
- Belgorod State National Research University, Belgorod, Russia
| | - MV Pokrovskiy
- Belgorod State National Research University, Belgorod, Russia
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15
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The Value of OCT and OCTA as Potential Biomarkers for Preclinical Alzheimer's Disease: A Review Study. Life (Basel) 2021; 11:life11070712. [PMID: 34357083 PMCID: PMC8306512 DOI: 10.3390/life11070712] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Revised: 07/15/2021] [Accepted: 07/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Preclinical Alzheimer's disease (AD) includes cognitively healthy subjects with at least one positive biomarker: reduction in cerebrospinal fluid Aβ42 or visualization of cerebral amyloidosis by positron emission tomography imaging. The use of these biomarkers is expensive, invasive, and not always possible. It has been shown that the retinal changes measured by optical coherence tomography (OCT) and OCT-angiography (OCTA) could be biomarkers of AD. Diagnosis in early stages before irreversible AD neurological damage takes place is important for the development of new therapeutic interventions. In this review, we summarize the findings of different published studies using OCT and OCTA in participants with preclinical AD. To date, there have been few studies on this topic and they are methodologically very dissimilar. Moreover, these include only two longitudinal studies. For these reasons, it would be interesting to unify the methodology, make the inclusion criteria more rigorous, and conduct longer longitudinal studies to assess the evolution of these subjects. If the results were consistent across repeated studies with the same methodology, this could provide us with insight into the value of the retinal changes observed by OCT/OCTA as potential reliable, cost-effective, and noninvasive biomarkers of preclinical AD.
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16
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Soldatov VO, Kukharsky MS, Belykh AE, Sobolev AM, Deykin AV. Retinal Damage in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: Underlying Mechanisms. Eye Brain 2021; 13:131-146. [PMID: 34012311 PMCID: PMC8128130 DOI: 10.2147/eb.s299423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2021] [Accepted: 03/04/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease resulting in a gradual loss of motor neuron function. Although ophthalmic complaints are not presently considered a classic symptom of ALS, retinal changes such as thinning, axonal degeneration and inclusion bodies have been found in many patients. Retinal abnormalities observed in postmortem human tissues and animal models are similar to spinal cord changes in ALS. These findings are not dramatically unexpected because retina shares an ontogenetic relationship with the brain, and many genes are associated both with neurodegeneration and retinal diseases. Experimental studies have demonstrated that ALS affects many “vulnerable points” of the retina. Aggregate deposition, impaired nuclear protein import, endoplasmic reticulum stress, glutamate excitotoxicity, vascular regression, and mitochondrial dysfunction are factors suspected as being the main cause of motor neuron damage in ALS. Herein, we show that all of these pathways can affect retinal cells in the same way as motor neurons. Furthermore, we suppose that understanding the patterns of neuro-ophthalmic interaction in ALS can help in the diagnosis and treatment of this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vladislav O Soldatov
- Core Facility Centre, Institute of Gene Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia.,Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacology, Belgorod State National Research University, Belgorod, Russia
| | - Michail S Kukharsky
- Department of General and Cell Biology, Faculty of Medical Biology, Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Moscow, Russia.,Laboratory of Genetic Modelling of Neurodegenerative Processes, Institute of Physiologically Active Compounds, Russian Academy of Sciences, Chernogolovka, Russia
| | - Andrey E Belykh
- Department of Pathophysiology, Kursk State Medical University, Kursk, Russia
| | - Andrey M Sobolev
- Laboratory of Genetic Modelling of Neurodegenerative Processes, Institute of Physiologically Active Compounds, Russian Academy of Sciences, Chernogolovka, Russia
| | - Alexey V Deykin
- Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacology, Belgorod State National Research University, Belgorod, Russia.,Center for Precision Genome Editing and Genetic Technologies for Biomedicine, Institute of Gene Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
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17
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Sharma K, Amin Mohammed Amin M, Gupta N, Zinman L, Zhou X, Irving H, Yücel Y. Retinal Spheroids and Axon Pathology Identified in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2021; 61:30. [PMID: 33226405 PMCID: PMC7691787 DOI: 10.1167/iovs.61.13.30] [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] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose To determine whether patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) show retinal axon pathology. Methods Postmortem eyes from 10 patients with ALS were sectioned and compared with 10 age-matched controls. Retinal sections were evaluated with periodic acid Schiff and phosphorylated (P-NF) and nonphosphorylated (NP-NF) forms of neurofilament with SMI 31 and 32 antibodies. Spheroids identified in the retinal nerve fiber layer were counted and their overall density was calculated in central, peripheral, and peripapillary regions. P-NF intensity was quantified. Morphometric features of ALS cases were compared with age-matched controls using the exact Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed-rank test. Results Distinct periodic acid Schiff–positive round profiles were identified in the retinal nerve fiber layer of patients with ALS and were most commonly observed in the peripapillary and peripheral retina. The density of periodic acid Schiff–positive spheroids was significantly greater in patients with ALS compared with controls (P = 0.027), with increased density in the peripapillary region (P = 0.047). Spheroids positive for P-NF and NP-NF were detected. P-NF–positive spheroid density was significantly increased in patients with ALS (P = 0.004), while the density of NP-NF spheroids did not differ significantly between ALS and control groups (P > 0.05). P-NF immunoreactivity in the retinal nerve fiber layer was significantly greater in patients with ALS than in controls (P = 0.002). Conclusions Retinal spheroids and axon pathology discovered in patients with ALS, similar to hallmark findings in spinal cord motor neurons, point to disrupted axon transport as a shared pathogenesis. Retinal manifestations detected in ALS suggest a novel biomarker detectable by noninvasive retinal imaging to help to diagnose and monitor ALS disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kieran Sharma
- Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Science, St. Michael's Hospital, Unity Health Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Ophthalmology & Vision Sciences, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Laboratory Medicine & Pathobiology, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Maryam Amin Mohammed Amin
- Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Science, St. Michael's Hospital, Unity Health Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Ophthalmology & Vision Sciences, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Ryerson University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Neeru Gupta
- Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Science, St. Michael's Hospital, Unity Health Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Ophthalmology & Vision Sciences, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Laboratory Medicine & Pathobiology, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Glaucoma & Nerve Protection Unit, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Lorne Zinman
- Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Xun Zhou
- Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Science, St. Michael's Hospital, Unity Health Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Ophthalmology & Vision Sciences, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Laboratory Medicine & Pathobiology, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Hyacinth Irving
- Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Science, St. Michael's Hospital, Unity Health Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Yeni Yücel
- Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Science, St. Michael's Hospital, Unity Health Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Ophthalmology & Vision Sciences, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Laboratory Medicine & Pathobiology, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Ryerson University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Ophthalmic Pathology Laboratory, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Technology (iBEST), St. Michael's Hospital, Ryerson University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Architectural Science, Ryerson University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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18
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Rojas P, Ramírez AI, Cadena M, Fernández-Albarral JA, Salobrar-García E, López-Cuenca I, Santos-García I, de Lago E, Urcelay-Segura JL, Ramírez JM, de Hoz R, Salazar JJ. Retinal Ganglion Cell Loss and Microglial Activation in a SOD1G93A Mouse Model of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22041663. [PMID: 33562231 PMCID: PMC7915199 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22041663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2020] [Revised: 02/01/2021] [Accepted: 02/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The neurodegenerative disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) affects the spinal cord, brain stem, and cerebral cortex. In this pathology, both neurons and glial cells are affected. However, few studies have analyzed retinal microglia in ALS models. In this study, we quantified the signs of microglial activation and the number of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) in an SOD1G93A transgenic mouse model at 120 days (advanced stage of the disease) in retinal whole-mounts. For SOD1G93A animals (compared to the wild-type), we found, in microglial cells, (i) a significant increase in the area occupied by each microglial cell in the total area of the retina; (ii) a significant increase in the arbor area in the outer plexiform layer (OPL) inferior sector; (iii) the presence of cells with retracted processes; (iv) areas of cell groupings in some sectors; (v) no significant increase in the number of microglial cells; (vi) the expression of IFN-γ and IL-1β; and (vii) the non-expression of IL-10 and arginase-I. For the RGCs, we found a decrease in their number. In conclusion, in the SOD1G93A model (at 120 days), retinal microglial activation occurred, taking a pro-inflammatory phenotype M1, which affected the OPL and inner retinal layers and could be related to RGC loss.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pilar Rojas
- Instituto de Investigaciones Oftalmológicas Ramón Castroviejo, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (P.R.); (A.I.R.); (J.A.F.-A.); (E.S.-G.); (I.L.-C.); (J.M.R.)
- Instituto Oftálmico de Madrid, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, 28007 Madrid, Spain; (M.C.); (J.L.U.-S.)
| | - Ana I. Ramírez
- Instituto de Investigaciones Oftalmológicas Ramón Castroviejo, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (P.R.); (A.I.R.); (J.A.F.-A.); (E.S.-G.); (I.L.-C.); (J.M.R.)
- OFTARED-ISCIII, IIORC, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28011 Madrid, Spain
- Departamento de Inmunología, Oftalmología y ORL, Facultad de Óptica y Optometría, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28037 Madrid, Spain
| | - Manuel Cadena
- Instituto Oftálmico de Madrid, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, 28007 Madrid, Spain; (M.C.); (J.L.U.-S.)
| | - José A. Fernández-Albarral
- Instituto de Investigaciones Oftalmológicas Ramón Castroviejo, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (P.R.); (A.I.R.); (J.A.F.-A.); (E.S.-G.); (I.L.-C.); (J.M.R.)
| | - Elena Salobrar-García
- Instituto de Investigaciones Oftalmológicas Ramón Castroviejo, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (P.R.); (A.I.R.); (J.A.F.-A.); (E.S.-G.); (I.L.-C.); (J.M.R.)
- OFTARED-ISCIII, IIORC, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28011 Madrid, Spain
- Departamento de Inmunología, Oftalmología y ORL, Facultad de Óptica y Optometría, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28037 Madrid, Spain
| | - Inés López-Cuenca
- Instituto de Investigaciones Oftalmológicas Ramón Castroviejo, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (P.R.); (A.I.R.); (J.A.F.-A.); (E.S.-G.); (I.L.-C.); (J.M.R.)
| | - Irene Santos-García
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Medicina, Instituto Universitario de Investigación en Neuroquímica, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28011 Madrid, Spain; (I.S.-G.); (E.d.L.)
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria (IRYCIS), 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Eva de Lago
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Medicina, Instituto Universitario de Investigación en Neuroquímica, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28011 Madrid, Spain; (I.S.-G.); (E.d.L.)
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria (IRYCIS), 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - José L. Urcelay-Segura
- Instituto Oftálmico de Madrid, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, 28007 Madrid, Spain; (M.C.); (J.L.U.-S.)
- Departamento de Inmunología, Oftalmología y ORL, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - José M. Ramírez
- Instituto de Investigaciones Oftalmológicas Ramón Castroviejo, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (P.R.); (A.I.R.); (J.A.F.-A.); (E.S.-G.); (I.L.-C.); (J.M.R.)
- OFTARED-ISCIII, IIORC, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28011 Madrid, Spain
- Departamento de Inmunología, Oftalmología y ORL, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Rosa de Hoz
- Instituto de Investigaciones Oftalmológicas Ramón Castroviejo, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (P.R.); (A.I.R.); (J.A.F.-A.); (E.S.-G.); (I.L.-C.); (J.M.R.)
- OFTARED-ISCIII, IIORC, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28011 Madrid, Spain
- Departamento de Inmunología, Oftalmología y ORL, Facultad de Óptica y Optometría, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28037 Madrid, Spain
- Correspondence: (R.d.H.); (J.J.S.)
| | - Juan J. Salazar
- Instituto de Investigaciones Oftalmológicas Ramón Castroviejo, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (P.R.); (A.I.R.); (J.A.F.-A.); (E.S.-G.); (I.L.-C.); (J.M.R.)
- OFTARED-ISCIII, IIORC, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28011 Madrid, Spain
- Departamento de Inmunología, Oftalmología y ORL, Facultad de Óptica y Optometría, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28037 Madrid, Spain
- Correspondence: (R.d.H.); (J.J.S.)
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19
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Rojas P, Ramírez AI, Fernández-Albarral JA, López-Cuenca I, Salobrar-García E, Cadena M, Elvira-Hurtado L, Salazar JJ, de Hoz R, Ramírez JM. Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A Neurodegenerative Motor Neuron Disease With Ocular Involvement. Front Neurosci 2020; 14:566858. [PMID: 33071739 PMCID: PMC7544921 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2020.566858] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2020] [Accepted: 08/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease that causes degeneration of the lower and upper motor neurons and is the most prevalent motor neuron disease. This disease is characterized by muscle weakness, stiffness, and hyperreflexia. Patients survive for a short period from the onset of the disease. Most cases are sporadic, with only 10% of the cases being genetic. Many genes are now known to be involved in familial ALS cases, including some of the sporadic cases. It has also been observed that, in addition to genetic factors, there are numerous molecular mechanisms involved in these pathologies, such as excitotoxicity, mitochondrial disorders, alterations in axonal transport, oxidative stress, accumulation of misfolded proteins, and neuroinflammation. This pathology affects the motor neurons, the spinal cord, the cerebellum, and the brain, but recently, it has been shown that it also affects the visual system. This impact occurs not only at the level of the oculomotor system but also at the retinal level, which is why the retina is being proposed as a possible biomarker of this pathology. The current review discusses the main aspects mentioned above related to ALS, such as the main genes involved, the most important molecular mechanisms that affect this pathology, its ocular involvement, and the possible usefulness of the retina as a biomarker.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pilar Rojas
- Instituto de Investigaciones Oftalmológicas Ramón Castroviejo, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain.,Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, Instituto Oftálmico de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Ana I Ramírez
- Instituto de Investigaciones Oftalmológicas Ramón Castroviejo, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain.,OFTARED, ISCIII, Madrid, Spain.,Departamento de Inmunología Oftalmología y ORL, Facultad de Óptica y Optometría, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - José A Fernández-Albarral
- Instituto de Investigaciones Oftalmológicas Ramón Castroviejo, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Inés López-Cuenca
- Instituto de Investigaciones Oftalmológicas Ramón Castroviejo, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Elena Salobrar-García
- Instituto de Investigaciones Oftalmológicas Ramón Castroviejo, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain.,OFTARED, ISCIII, Madrid, Spain.,Departamento de Inmunología Oftalmología y ORL, Facultad de Óptica y Optometría, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Manuel Cadena
- Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, Instituto Oftálmico de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Lorena Elvira-Hurtado
- Instituto de Investigaciones Oftalmológicas Ramón Castroviejo, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Juan J Salazar
- Instituto de Investigaciones Oftalmológicas Ramón Castroviejo, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain.,OFTARED, ISCIII, Madrid, Spain.,Departamento de Inmunología Oftalmología y ORL, Facultad de Óptica y Optometría, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Rosa de Hoz
- Instituto de Investigaciones Oftalmológicas Ramón Castroviejo, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain.,OFTARED, ISCIII, Madrid, Spain.,Departamento de Inmunología Oftalmología y ORL, Facultad de Óptica y Optometría, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - José M Ramírez
- Instituto de Investigaciones Oftalmológicas Ramón Castroviejo, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain.,OFTARED, ISCIII, Madrid, Spain.,Departamento de Inmunología Oftalmología y ORL, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
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20
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Tsokolas G, Tsaousis KT, Diakonis VF, Matsou A, Tyradellis S. Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography in Neurodegenerative Diseases: A Review. Eye Brain 2020; 12:73-87. [PMID: 32765149 PMCID: PMC7368556 DOI: 10.2147/eb.s193026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2020] [Accepted: 06/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A) has emerged as a novel, fast, safe and non-invasive imaging technique of analyzing the retinal and choroidal microvasculature in vivo. OCT-A captures multiple sequential B-scans performed repeatedly over a specific retinal area at high speed, thus enabling the composition of a vascular map with areas of contrast change (high flow zones) and areas of steady contrast (slow or no flow zones). It therefore provides unique insight into the exact retinal or choroidal layer and location at which abnormal blood flow develops. OCTA has evolved into a useful tool for understanding a number of retinal pathologies such as diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration, central serous chorioretinopathy, vascular occlusions, macular telangiectasia and choroidal neovascular membranes of other causes. OCT-A technology is also increasingly being used in the evaluation of optic disc perfusion and has been suggested as a valuable tool in the early detection of glaucomatous damage and monitoring progression. Objective To review the existing literature on the applications of optical coherence tomography angiography in neurodegenerative diseases. Summary A meticulous literature was performed until the present day. Google Scholar, PubMed, Mendeley search engines were used for this purpose. We used 123 published manuscripts as our references. OCT-A has been utilized so far to describe abnormalities in multiple sclerosis (MS), Alzheimer’s disease, arteritic and non-arteritic optic neuropathy (AION and NAION), Leber’s hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON) papilloedema, Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Wolfram syndrome, migraines, lesions of the visual pathway and cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL). It appears that OCT-A findings correlate quite well with the severity of the aforementioned diseases. However, OCT-A has its own limitations, namely its lack of wide-field view of the peripheral retina and the inaccurate interpretation due to motion artifacts in uncooperative groups of patients (e.g. children). Larger prospective longitudinal studies will need to be conducted in order to eliminate the aforementioned limitations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georgios Tsokolas
- Ophthalmology Department, Leicester Royal Infirmary, University Hospitals of Leicester, Leicester, UK
| | - Konstantinos T Tsaousis
- Ophthalmology Department, Leicester Royal Infirmary, University Hospitals of Leicester, Leicester, UK
| | | | - Artemis Matsou
- Ophthalmology Department, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge University Hospitals, Cambridge, UK
| | - Straton Tyradellis
- Ophthalmology Department, Leicester Royal Infirmary, University Hospitals of Leicester, Leicester, UK
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21
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Lenahan C, Sanghavi R, Huang L, Zhang JH. Rhodopsin: A Potential Biomarker for Neurodegenerative Diseases. Front Neurosci 2020; 14:326. [PMID: 32351353 PMCID: PMC7175229 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2020.00326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2020] [Accepted: 03/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Retinal alterations have recently been associated with numerous neurodegenerative diseases. Rhodopsin is a G-protein coupled receptor found in the rod cells of the retina. As a biomarker associated with retinal thinning and degeneration, it bears potential in the early detection and monitoring of several neurodegenerative diseases. In this review article, we summarize the findings of correlations between rhodopsin and several neurodegenerative disorders as well as the potential of a novel technique, cSLO, in the quantification of rhodopsin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cameron Lenahan
- Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine, Las Cruces, NM, United States.,Center for Neuroscience Research, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA, United States
| | - Rajvee Sanghavi
- Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine, Las Cruces, NM, United States
| | - Lei Huang
- Center for Neuroscience Research, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA, United States.,Department of Neurosurgery, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA, United States.,Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA, United States
| | - John H Zhang
- Center for Neuroscience Research, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA, United States.,Department of Neurosurgery, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA, United States.,Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA, United States.,Department of Anesthesiology, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA, United States
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22
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Ocular Involvement in Friedreich Ataxia Patients and its Relationship with Neurological Disability, a Follow-up Study. Diagnostics (Basel) 2020; 10:diagnostics10020075. [PMID: 32013267 PMCID: PMC7168917 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics10020075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2019] [Revised: 01/28/2020] [Accepted: 01/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: This study compared functional and structural visual changes in Friedreich ataxia (FRDA) patients with healthy controls (HC) and correlated these changes with neurological disability. Methods: Eight FRDA Spanish patients and eight HC were selected from 2014 to 2018. Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), visual field (VF), optic coherence tomography (OCT), and neurological disability measured by “scale for the assessment and rating of ataxia” (SARA) were taken in a basal exploration and repeated after 6 months. A linear mixed analysis and Bonferroni p-value correction were performed. Results: FRDA baseline and follow-up patients showed statistically significant decreases in BCVA, VF, and OCT parameters compared with the HC. Some of the VF measurements and most of the OCT parameters had an inverse mild-to-strong correlation with SARA. Moreover, the analysis of the ROC curve demonstrated that the peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (pRNFL) average thickness was the best parameter to discriminate between FRDA patients and HC. Conclusions: The follow-up study showed a progression in OCT parameters. Findings showed a sequential effect in pRNFL, ganglion cell complex (GCC), and macula. The VF and the OCT could be useful biomarkers in FRDA, both for their correlation with neurological disease as well as for their ability to evaluate disease progression.
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