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Della Marina A, Koutsoulidou A, Natera-de Benito D, Tykocinski LO, Tomazou M, Georgiou K, Laner A, Kölbel H, Nascimento A, Ortez C, Abicht A, Thakur BK, Lochmüller H, Phylactou LA, Ruck T, Schara-Schmidt U, Kale D, Hentschel A, Roos A. Blood biomarker fingerprints in a cohort of patients with CHRNE-related congenital myasthenic syndrome. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2025; 13:29. [PMID: 39948634 PMCID: PMC11823195 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-025-01946-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Academic Contribution Register] [Received: 10/14/2024] [Accepted: 02/03/2025] [Indexed: 02/16/2025] Open
Abstract
Mutations in CHRNE encoding the epsilon subunit of acetylcholine receptor result in impaired neuromuscular transmission and congenital myasthenic syndrome (CMS) with variying severity of symptoms. Although the pathophysiology is well-known, blood biomarker signatures enabling a patient-stratification are lacking. This retrospective two-center-study includes 19 recessive CHRNE-patients (AChR deficiency; mean age 14.8 years) from 13 families which were clinically characterized according to disease severity. 15 patients were classified as mildly and 4 patients as moderate to severely affected. Seven known pathogenic and one unreported variant (c.1032 + 2_1032 + 3delinsGT) were identified. Biomarker discovery was carried out on blood samples: proteomics was performed on white blood cells (WBC; n = 12) and on extracellular vesicles (EV) purified from serum samples (n = 7) in addition to amino acid profiling (n = 9) and miRNA screening (n = 18). For miRNA studies, 7 patients with other CMS-subtypes were moreover included. WBC-proteomics unveiled a significant increase of 7 and a decrease of 36 proteins. In silico studies of these proteins indicated affection of secretory granules and the extracellular space. Comparison across patients unveiled increase of two vesicular transport proteins (SCAMP2 and SNX2) in severely affected patients and indeed EV-proteomics revealed increase of 7 and decrease of 13 proteins. Three of these proteins (TARSH, ATRN & PLEC) are known to be important for synaptogenesis and synaptic function. Metabolomics showed decrease of seven amino acids/ amino acid metabolites (aspartic and glutamic acids, phosphoserine, amino adipate, citrulline, ornithine, and 1-methyhistidine). miRNA-profiling showed increase miR - 483 - 3p, miR-365a-3p, miR - 365b - 3p and miR-99a, and decrease of miR-4433b-3p, miR-6873-3p, miR-182-5p and let-7b-5p in CHRNE-patients whereas a comparison with other CMS subtypes showed increase of miR - 205 - 5p, miR - 10b - 5p, miR-125a-5p, miR-499-5p, miR-3120-5p and miR - 483 - 5p and decrease of miR - 1290. Our combined data introduce a molecular fingerprint on protein, metabolic and miRNA level with some of those playing different roles along the neuromuscular axis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adela Della Marina
- Department of Pediatric Neurology, Center for Neuromuscular Disorders in Children and Adolescents, University Hospital Essen, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.
| | - Andrie Koutsoulidou
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Function and Therapy, The Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Daniel Natera-de Benito
- Neuromuscular Unit, Department of Neurology, Sant Joan de Deu Hospital, Barcelona, Spain
- Applied Research in Neuromuscular Diseases, Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu, Barcelona, Spain
- Center for Biomedical Research Network on Rare Diseases (CIBERER), ISCIII, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Lars-Oliver Tykocinski
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Rheumatology, Internal Medicine V, Medical Faculty, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Marios Tomazou
- Department of Bioinformatics, The Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Kristia Georgiou
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Function and Therapy, The Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | | | - Heike Kölbel
- Department of Pediatric Neurology, Center for Neuromuscular Disorders in Children and Adolescents, University Hospital Essen, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Andres Nascimento
- Neuromuscular Unit, Department of Neurology, Sant Joan de Deu Hospital, Barcelona, Spain
- Applied Research in Neuromuscular Diseases, Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu, Barcelona, Spain
- Center for Biomedical Research Network on Rare Diseases (CIBERER), ISCIII, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Carlos Ortez
- Neuromuscular Unit, Department of Neurology, Sant Joan de Deu Hospital, Barcelona, Spain
- Applied Research in Neuromuscular Diseases, Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu, Barcelona, Spain
- Center for Biomedical Research Network on Rare Diseases (CIBERER), ISCIII, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Angela Abicht
- Medical Genetics Center, Munich, Germany
- Friedrich-Baur Institute, Ludwig Maximilian University, Munich, Germany
| | - Basant Kumar Thakur
- Cancer Exosome Research Lab, Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Hanns Lochmüller
- Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute, Ottawa, Canada
- Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, The Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa, Canada
- Brain and Mind Research Institute, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada
- Centro Nacional de Análisis Genómico (CNAG), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Leonidas A Phylactou
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Function and Therapy, The Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Tobias Ruck
- Department of Neurology, Medical Faculty, University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich-Heine- University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
- Department of Neurology, BG & Heimer Institute for Muscle Research, University-Hospital Bergmannsheil Bochum, Ruhr-University, Bochum, Germany
| | - Ulrike Schara-Schmidt
- Department of Pediatric Neurology, Center for Neuromuscular Disorders in Children and Adolescents, University Hospital Essen, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Dipali Kale
- Leibniz-Institut für Analytische Wissenschaften -ISAS- e.V, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Andreas Hentschel
- Leibniz-Institut für Analytische Wissenschaften -ISAS- e.V, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Andreas Roos
- Department of Pediatric Neurology, Center for Neuromuscular Disorders in Children and Adolescents, University Hospital Essen, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
- Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute, Ottawa, Canada
- Department of Neurology, Medical Faculty, University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich-Heine- University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
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Tarum J, Ball G, Gustafsson T, Altun M, Santos L. Artificial neural network inference analysis identified novel genes and gene interactions associated with skeletal muscle aging. J Cachexia Sarcopenia Muscle 2024; 15:2143-2155. [PMID: 39210538 PMCID: PMC11446686 DOI: 10.1002/jcsm.13562] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Academic Contribution Register] [Received: 11/27/2023] [Revised: 07/01/2024] [Accepted: 07/15/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Sarcopenia is an age-related muscle disease that increases the risk of falls, disabilities, and death. It is associated with increased muscle protein degradation driven by molecular signalling pathways including Akt and FOXO1. This study aims to identify genes, gene interactions, and molecular pathways and processes associated with muscle aging and exercise in older adults that remained undiscovered until now leveraging on an artificial intelligence approach called artificial neural network inference (ANNi). METHODS Four datasets reporting the profile of muscle transcriptome obtained by RNA-seq of young (21-43 years) and older adults (63-79 years) were selected and retrieved from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) data repository. Two datasets contained the transcriptome profiles associated to muscle aging and two the transcriptome linked to resistant exercise in older adults, the latter before and after 6 months of exercise training. Each dataset was individually analysed by ANNi based on a swarm neural network approach integrated into a deep learning model (Intelligent Omics). This allowed us to identify top 200 genes influencing (drivers) or being influenced (targets) by aging or exercise and the strongest interactions between such genes. Downstream gene ontology (GO) analysis of these 200 genes was performed using Metacore (Clarivate™) and the open-source software, Metascape. To confirm the differential expression of the genes showing the strongest interactions, real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) was employed on human muscle biopsies obtained from eight young (25 ± 4 years) and eight older men (78 ± 7.6 years), partaking in a 6-month resistance exercise training programme. RESULTS CHAD, ZDBF2, USP54, and JAK2 were identified as the genes with the strongest interactions predicting aging, while SCFD1, KDM5D, EIF4A2, and NIPAL3 were the main interacting genes associated with long-term exercise in older adults. RT-qPCR confirmed significant upregulation of USP54 (P = 0.005), CHAD (P = 0.03), and ZDBF2 (P = 0.008) in the aging muscle, while exercise-related genes were not differentially expressed (EIF4A2 P = 0.99, NIPAL3 P = 0.94, SCFD1 P = 0.94, and KDM5D P = 0.64). GO analysis related to skeletal muscle aging suggests enrichment of pathways linked to bone development (adj P-value 0.006), immune response (adj P-value <0.001), and apoptosis (adj P-value 0.01). In older exercising adults, these were ECM remodelling (adj P-value <0.001), protein folding (adj P-value <0.001), and proteolysis (adj P-value <0.001). CONCLUSIONS Using ANNi and RT-qPCR, we identified three strongly interacting genes predicting muscle aging, ZDBF2, USP54, and CHAD. These findings can help to inform the design of nonpharmacological and pharmacological interventions that prevent or mitigate sarcopenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janelle Tarum
- Department of Sport Science, Sport, Health and Performance Enhancement Research Centre (SHAPE), School of Science and TechnologyNottingham Trent UniversityNottinghamUK
| | - Graham Ball
- Medical Technology Research CentreAnglia Ruskin UniversityEssexUK
| | - Thomas Gustafsson
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Section of Clinical PhysiologyKarolinska Institutet HuddingeHuddingeSweden
- Department of Clinical PhysiologyKarolinska University HospitalHuddingeSweden
| | - Mikael Altun
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Section of Clinical PhysiologyKarolinska Institutet HuddingeHuddingeSweden
- Department of Clinical PhysiologyKarolinska University HospitalHuddingeSweden
| | - Lívia Santos
- Department of Sport Science, Sport, Health and Performance Enhancement Research Centre (SHAPE), School of Science and TechnologyNottingham Trent UniversityNottinghamUK
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Liu QK. Mechanisms of action and therapeutic applications of GLP-1 and dual GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonists. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2024; 15:1431292. [PMID: 39114288 PMCID: PMC11304055 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2024.1431292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Academic Contribution Register] [Received: 05/11/2024] [Accepted: 07/08/2024] [Indexed: 08/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) are two incretins that bind to their respective receptors and activate the downstream signaling in various tissues and organs. Both GIP and GLP-1 play roles in regulating food intake by stimulating neurons in the brain's satiety center. They also stimulate insulin secretion in pancreatic β-cells, but their effects on glucagon production in pancreatic α-cells differ, with GIP having a glucagonotropic effect during hypoglycemia and GLP-1 exhibiting glucagonostatic effect during hyperglycemia. Additionally, GIP directly stimulates lipogenesis, while GLP-1 indirectly promotes lipolysis, collectively maintaining healthy adipocytes, reducing ectopic fat distribution, and increasing the production and secretion of adiponectin from adipocytes. Together, these two incretins contribute to metabolic homeostasis, preventing both hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia, mitigating dyslipidemia, and reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases in individuals with type 2 diabetes and obesity. Several GLP-1 and dual GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonists have been developed to harness these pharmacological effects in the treatment of type 2 diabetes, with some demonstrating robust effectiveness in weight management and prevention of cardiovascular diseases. Elucidating the underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms could potentially usher in the development of new generations of incretin mimetics with enhanced efficacy and fewer adverse effects. The treatment guidelines are evolving based on clinical trial outcomes, shaping the management of metabolic and cardiovascular diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiyuan Keith Liu
- MedStar Medical Group, MedStar Montgomery Medical Center, Olney, MD, United States
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Barbalho SM, Minniti G, Miola VFB, Haber JFDS, Bueno PCDS, de Argollo Haber LS, Girio RSJ, Detregiachi CRP, Dall'Antonia CT, Rodrigues VD, Nicolau CCT, Catharin VMCS, Araújo AC, Laurindo LF. Organokines in COVID-19: A Systematic Review. Cells 2023; 12:1349. [PMID: 37408184 DOI: 10.3390/cells12101349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Academic Contribution Register] [Received: 02/22/2023] [Revised: 05/03/2023] [Accepted: 05/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a viral infection caused by SARS-CoV-2 that induces a generalized inflammatory state. Organokines (adipokines, osteokines, myokines, hepatokines, and cardiokines) can produce beneficial or harmful effects in this condition. This study aimed to systematically review the role of organokines on COVID-19. PubMed, Embase, Google Scholar, and Cochrane databases were searched, the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were followed, and 37 studies were selected, comprising more than 2700 individuals infected with the virus. Among COVID-19 patients, organokines have been associated with endothelial dysfunction and multiple organ failure due to augmented cytokines and increased SARS-CoV-2 viremia. Changes in the pattern of organokines secretion can directly or indirectly contribute to aggravating the infection, promoting immune response alterations, and predicting the disease progression. These molecules have the potential to be used as adjuvant biomarkers to predict the severity of the illness and severe outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Maria Barbalho
- Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of Marília (UNIMAR), Avenida Hygino Muzzy Filho, 1001, Marília 17525-902, SP, Brazil
- Postgraduate Program in Structural and Functional Interactions in Rehabilitation, University of Marília (UNIMAR), Avenida Hygino Muzzy Filho, 1001, Marília 17525-902, SP, Brazil
- Department of Biochemistry and Nutrition, School of Food and Technology of Marília (FATEC), Avenida Castro Alves, 62, Marília 17500-000, SP, Brazil
| | - Giulia Minniti
- Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of Marília (UNIMAR), Avenida Hygino Muzzy Filho, 1001, Marília 17525-902, SP, Brazil
| | - Vitor Fernando Bordin Miola
- Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of Marília (UNIMAR), Avenida Hygino Muzzy Filho, 1001, Marília 17525-902, SP, Brazil
| | - Jesselina Francisco Dos Santos Haber
- Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of Marília (UNIMAR), Avenida Hygino Muzzy Filho, 1001, Marília 17525-902, SP, Brazil
- Centro Interdisciplinar em Diabetes (CENID), School of Medicine, University of Marília (UNIMAR), Avenida Hygino Muzzy Filho, 1001, Marília 17525-902, SP, Brazil
| | - Patrícia Cincotto Dos Santos Bueno
- Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of Marília (UNIMAR), Avenida Hygino Muzzy Filho, 1001, Marília 17525-902, SP, Brazil
- Department of Animal Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Marília (UNIMAR), Avenida Hygino Muzzy Filho, 1001, Marília 17525-902, SP, Brazil
| | - Luiza Santos de Argollo Haber
- Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of Marília (UNIMAR), Avenida Hygino Muzzy Filho, 1001, Marília 17525-902, SP, Brazil
| | - Raul S J Girio
- Department of Animal Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Marília (UNIMAR), Avenida Hygino Muzzy Filho, 1001, Marília 17525-902, SP, Brazil
| | - Cláudia Rucco Penteado Detregiachi
- Postgraduate Program in Structural and Functional Interactions in Rehabilitation, University of Marília (UNIMAR), Avenida Hygino Muzzy Filho, 1001, Marília 17525-902, SP, Brazil
- Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Faculdade de Medicina de Marília (FAMEMA), School of Medicine, Avenida Monte Carmelo, 800, Marília 17519-030, SP, Brazil
| | - Camila Tiveron Dall'Antonia
- Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of Marília (UNIMAR), Avenida Hygino Muzzy Filho, 1001, Marília 17525-902, SP, Brazil
| | - Victória Dogani Rodrigues
- Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Faculdade de Medicina de Marília (FAMEMA), School of Medicine, Avenida Monte Carmelo, 800, Marília 17519-030, SP, Brazil
| | - Claudia C T Nicolau
- Department of Biochemistry and Nutrition, School of Food and Technology of Marília (FATEC), Avenida Castro Alves, 62, Marília 17500-000, SP, Brazil
| | - Virginia Maria Cavallari Strozze Catharin
- Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of Marília (UNIMAR), Avenida Hygino Muzzy Filho, 1001, Marília 17525-902, SP, Brazil
- Postgraduate Program in Structural and Functional Interactions in Rehabilitation, University of Marília (UNIMAR), Avenida Hygino Muzzy Filho, 1001, Marília 17525-902, SP, Brazil
| | - Adriano Cressoni Araújo
- Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of Marília (UNIMAR), Avenida Hygino Muzzy Filho, 1001, Marília 17525-902, SP, Brazil
- Postgraduate Program in Structural and Functional Interactions in Rehabilitation, University of Marília (UNIMAR), Avenida Hygino Muzzy Filho, 1001, Marília 17525-902, SP, Brazil
| | - Lucas Fornari Laurindo
- Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of Marília (UNIMAR), Avenida Hygino Muzzy Filho, 1001, Marília 17525-902, SP, Brazil
- Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Faculdade de Medicina de Marília (FAMEMA), School of Medicine, Avenida Monte Carmelo, 800, Marília 17519-030, SP, Brazil
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Ferrara M, Samaden M, Ruggieri E, Vénéreau E. Cancer cachexia as a multiorgan failure: Reconstruction of the crime scene. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:960341. [PMID: 36158184 PMCID: PMC9493094 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.960341] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Academic Contribution Register] [Received: 06/02/2022] [Accepted: 08/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Cachexia is a devastating syndrome associated with the end-stage of several diseases, including cancer, and characterized by body weight loss and severe muscle and adipose tissue wasting. Although different cancer types are affected to diverse extents by cachexia, about 80% of all cancer patients experience this comorbidity, which highly reduces quality of life and response to therapy, and worsens prognosis, accounting for more than 25% of all cancer deaths. Cachexia represents an urgent medical need because, despite several molecular mechanisms have been identified, no effective therapy is currently available for this devastating syndrome. Most studies focus on skeletal muscle, which is indeed the main affected and clinically relevant organ, but cancer cachexia is characterized by a multiorgan failure. In this review, we focus on the current knowledge on the multiple tissues affected by cachexia and on the biomarkers with the attempt to define a chronological pathway, which might be useful for the early identification of patients who will undergo cachexia. Indeed, it is likely that the inefficiency of current therapies might be attributed, at least in part, to their administration in patients at the late stages of cachexia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michele Ferrara
- Tissue Regeneration and Homeostasis Unit, Division of Genetics and Cell Biology, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
- Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
| | - Maria Samaden
- Tissue Regeneration and Homeostasis Unit, Division of Genetics and Cell Biology, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
- Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
| | - Elena Ruggieri
- Tissue Regeneration and Homeostasis Unit, Division of Genetics and Cell Biology, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
- Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
| | - Emilie Vénéreau
- Tissue Regeneration and Homeostasis Unit, Division of Genetics and Cell Biology, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
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