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Almeida MR, Tábuas-Pereira M, Baldeiras I, Lima M, Durães J, Massano J, Pinto M, Cruto C, Santana I. Characterization of Progranulin Gene Mutations in Portuguese Patients with Frontotemporal Dementia. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 25:511. [PMID: 38203682 PMCID: PMC10778719 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25010511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2023] [Revised: 12/23/2023] [Accepted: 12/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
In Portugal, heterozygous loss-of-function mutations in the progranulin (GRN) gene account for approximately half of the genetic mediated forms of frontotemporal dementia (FTD). GRN mutations reported thus far cause FTD through a haploinsufficiency disease mechanism. Herein, we aim to unveil the GRN mutation spectrum, investigated in 257 FTD patients and 19 family members from the central/north region of Portugal using sequencing methods. Seven different pathogenic variants were identified in 46 subjects including 40 patients (16%) and 6 relatives (32%). bvFTD was the most common clinical presentation among the GRN mutation patients, who showed a global pattern of moderate-to-severe frontotemporoparietal deficits in the neuropsychological evaluation. Interestingly, two mutations were novel (p.Thr238Profs*18, p.Leu354Profs*16), and five were previously described, although three of them only in the Portuguese population, suggesting a population-specific GRN mutational spectrum. The subjects harboring a GRN mutation showed a significant reduction in serum PGRN levels, supporting the pathogenic nature of these variants. This work broadens the mutation spectrum of GRN and the identification of the underlying GRN mutations provided an accurate genetic counselling and allowed the enrolment of subjects with GRN mutations (both asymptomatic and symptomatic) in ongoing clinical trials, which is essential to test new drugs for the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Rosário Almeida
- CNC—Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal; (I.B.); (I.S.)
| | - Miguel Tábuas-Pereira
- Neurology Department, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra, 3004-561 Coimbra, Portugal; (M.T.-P.); (M.L.); (J.D.)
| | - Inês Baldeiras
- CNC—Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal; (I.B.); (I.S.)
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, 3000-370 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Marisa Lima
- Neurology Department, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra, 3004-561 Coimbra, Portugal; (M.T.-P.); (M.L.); (J.D.)
| | - João Durães
- Neurology Department, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra, 3004-561 Coimbra, Portugal; (M.T.-P.); (M.L.); (J.D.)
| | - João Massano
- Neurology Department, Centro Hospitalar Universitário de São João, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal; (J.M.); (M.P.)
| | - Madalena Pinto
- Neurology Department, Centro Hospitalar Universitário de São João, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal; (J.M.); (M.P.)
| | - Catarina Cruto
- Neurology Department, Hospital Pedro Hispano, Unidade Local de Saúde de Matosinhos, 4464-513 Matosinhos, Portugal;
| | - Isabel Santana
- CNC—Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal; (I.B.); (I.S.)
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, 3000-370 Coimbra, Portugal
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Silva-Spínola A, Lima M, Leitão MJ, Durães J, Tábuas-Pereira M, Almeida MR, Santana I, Baldeiras I. Serum neurofilament light chain as a surrogate of cognitive decline in sporadic and familial frontotemporal dementia. Eur J Neurol 2021; 29:36-46. [PMID: 34375485 DOI: 10.1111/ene.15058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2021] [Revised: 07/29/2021] [Accepted: 07/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Neurofilament light chain (NfL) has recently been proposed as a promising biomarker in frontotemporal dementia (FTD). We investigated the correlation of both cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum NfL with detailed neuropsychological data and cognitive decline in a cohort of sporadic and familial FTD. METHODS CSF and serum NfL, as well as conventional CSF Alzheimer's disease (AD) biomarkers (Aβ42, t-Tau, p-Tau181), were determined in 63 FTD patients (30 sporadic-FTD, 20 with progranulin (GRN) mutations [FTD-GRN], 13 with chromosome 9 open reading frame 72 [C9orf72] expansions [C9orf72-FTD]), 37 AD patients, and 31 neurologic controls. Serum NfL was also quantified in 37 healthy individuals. Correlations between baseline CSF and serum NfL levels, standardized neuropsychological tests, and the rate of cognitive decline in FTD patients were assessed. RESULTS CSF and serum NfL presented with significantly higher levels in FTD than in AD patients and both control groups. Within FTD subtypes, genetic cases, and particularly FTD-GRN, had higher CSF and serum NfL levels. Significant correlations between NfL levels and overall cognitive function, abstract reasoning (CSF and serum), executive functions, memory, and language (serum) were found. A relationship between increased baseline CSF and serum NfL and a decay in cognitive performance over time was also observed. CONCLUSIONS Our findings highlight the potential of serum NfL as a useful surrogate end point of disease severity in upcoming targeted treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anuschka Silva-Spínola
- Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology (CIBB), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,Department of Informatics Engineering, Centre for Informatics and Systems, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Marisa Lima
- Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology (CIBB), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,Neurology Department, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Center for Research in Neuropsychology and Cognitive Behavioral Intervention (CINEICC), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Maria João Leitão
- Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology (CIBB), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - João Durães
- Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology (CIBB), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,Neurology Department, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Miguel Tábuas-Pereira
- Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology (CIBB), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,Neurology Department, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Maria Rosário Almeida
- Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology (CIBB), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Isabel Santana
- Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology (CIBB), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,Neurology Department, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Inês Baldeiras
- Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology (CIBB), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
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Poos JM, Russell LL, Peakman G, Bocchetta M, Greaves CV, Jiskoot LC, van der Ende EL, Seelaar H, Papma JM, van den Berg E, Pijnenburg YA, Borroni B, Sanchez‐Valle R, Moreno F, Laforce R, Graff C, Synofzik M, Galimberti D, Rowe JB, Masellis M, Tartaglia C, Finger E, Vandenberghe R, de Medonça A, Tagliavini F, Butler CR, Santana I, Ber IL, Gerhard A, Ducharme S, Levin J, Danek A, Otto M, Sorbi S, Pasquier F, van Swieten JC, Rohrer JD. Impairment of episodic memory in genetic frontotemporal dementia: A GENFI study. ALZHEIMER'S & DEMENTIA (AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS) 2021; 13:e12185. [PMID: 34027016 PMCID: PMC8116844 DOI: 10.1002/dad2.12185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2021] [Revised: 03/06/2021] [Accepted: 03/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION We aimed to assess episodic memory in genetic frontotemporal dementia (FTD) with the Free and Cued Selective Reminding Test (FCSRT). METHODS The FCSRT was administered in 417 presymptomatic and symptomatic mutation carriers (181 chromosome 9 open reading frame 72 [C9orf72], 163 progranulin [GRN], and 73 microtubule-associated protein tau [MAPT]) and 290 controls. Group differences and correlations with other neuropsychological tests were examined. We performed voxel-based morphometry to investigate the underlying neural substrates of the FCSRT. RESULTS All symptomatic mutation carrier groups and presymptomatic MAPT mutation carriers performed significantly worse on all FCSRT scores compared to controls. In the presymptomatic C9orf72 group, deficits were found on all scores except for the delayed total recall task, while no deficits were found in presymptomatic GRN mutation carriers. Performance on the FCSRT correlated with executive function, particularly in C9orf72 mutation carriers, but also with memory and naming tasks in the MAPT group. FCSRT performance also correlated with gray matter volumes of frontal, temporal, and subcortical regions in C9orf72 and GRN, but mainly temporal areas in MAPT mutation carriers. DISCUSSION The FCSRT detects presymptomatic deficits in C9orf72- and MAPT-associated FTD and provides important insight into the underlying cause of memory impairment in different forms of FTD.
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