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Ruffo P, De Amicis F, La Bella V, Conforti FL. Investigating Repeat Expansions in NIPA1, NOP56, and NOTCH2NLC Genes: A Closer Look at Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Patients from Southern Italy. Cells 2024; 13:677. [PMID: 38667292 PMCID: PMC11049433 DOI: 10.3390/cells13080677] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2024] [Revised: 03/30/2024] [Accepted: 04/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
The discovery of hexanucleotide repeats expansion (RE) in Chromosome 9 Open Reading frame 72 (C9orf72) as the major genetic cause of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and the association between intermediate repeats in Ataxin-2 (ATXN2) with the disorder suggest that repetitive sequences in the human genome play a significant role in ALS pathophysiology. Investigating the frequency of repeat expansions in ALS in different populations and ethnic groups is therefore of great importance. Based on these premises, this study aimed to define the frequency of REs in the NIPA1, NOP56, and NOTCH2NLC genes and the possible associations between phenotypes and the size of REs in the Italian population. Using repeat-primed-PCR and PCR-fragment analyses, we screened 302 El-Escorial-diagnosed ALS patients and compared the RE distribution to 167 age-, gender-, and ethnicity-matched healthy controls. While the REs distribution was similar between the ALS and control groups, a moderate association was observed between longer RE lengths and clinical features such as age at onset, gender, site of onset, and family history. In conclusion, this is the first study to screen ALS patients from southern Italy for REs in NIPA1, NOP56, and NOTCH2NLC genes, contributing to our understanding of ALS genetics. Our results highlighted that the extremely rare pathogenic REs in these genes do not allow an association with the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Ruffo
- Medical Genetics Laboratory, Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, Italy;
- Neuromuscular Diseases Research Section, National Institute on Aging, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Francesca De Amicis
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, Italy;
| | - Vincenzo La Bella
- ALS Clinical Research Centre and Laboratory of Neurochemistry, Department of Experimental Biomedicine and Clinical Neurosciences, University of Palermo, 90133 Palermo, Italy;
| | - Francesca Luisa Conforti
- Medical Genetics Laboratory, Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, Italy;
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Morello G, La Cognata V, Guarnaccia M, La Bella V, Conforti FL, Cavallaro S. A Diagnostic Gene-Expression Signature in Fibroblasts of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Cells 2023; 12:1884. [PMID: 37508548 PMCID: PMC10378077 DOI: 10.3390/cells12141884] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2023] [Revised: 07/11/2023] [Accepted: 07/15/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal, progressive neurodegenerative disease with limited treatment options. Diagnosis can be difficult due to the heterogeneity and non-specific nature of the initial symptoms, resulting in delays that compromise prompt access to effective therapeutic strategies. Transcriptome profiling of patient-derived peripheral cells represents a valuable benchmark in overcoming such challenges, providing the opportunity to identify molecular diagnostic signatures. In this study, we characterized transcriptome changes in skin fibroblasts of sporadic ALS patients (sALS) and controls and evaluated their utility as a molecular classifier for ALS diagnosis. Our analysis identified 277 differentially expressed transcripts predominantly involved in transcriptional regulation, synaptic transmission, and the inflammatory response. A support vector machine classifier based on this 277-gene signature was developed to discriminate patients with sALS from controls, showing significant predictive power in both the discovery dataset and in six independent publicly available gene expression datasets obtained from different sALS tissue/cell samples. Taken together, our findings support the utility of transcriptional signatures in peripheral cells as valuable biomarkers for the diagnosis of ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanna Morello
- Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation, National Research Council (CNR-IRIB), 95126 Catania, Italy
| | - Valentina La Cognata
- Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation, National Research Council (CNR-IRIB), 95126 Catania, Italy
| | - Maria Guarnaccia
- Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation, National Research Council (CNR-IRIB), 95126 Catania, Italy
| | - Vincenzo La Bella
- ALS Clinical Research Center and Neurochemistry Laboratory, BiND, University of Palermo, 90133 Palermo, Italy
| | - Francesca Luisa Conforti
- Medical Genetics Laboratory, Department of Pharmacy and Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, Italy
| | - Sebastiano Cavallaro
- Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation, National Research Council (CNR-IRIB), 95126 Catania, Italy
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3
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Piccoli T, Castro F, La Bella V, Meraviglia S, Di Simone M, Salemi G, Dieli F, Spataro R. Role of the immune system in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Analysis of the natural killer cells and other circulating lymphocytes in a cohort of ALS patients. BMC Neurol 2023; 23:222. [PMID: 37296379 DOI: 10.1186/s12883-023-03255-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2022] [Accepted: 05/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023] Open
Abstract
AIMS Neuroinflammation might be involved in the degeneration and progression of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). Here, we studied the role of the circulating lymphocytes in ALS, in particular the NK cells. We focused on the relationship between blood lymphocytes, ALS clinical subtype and disease severity. SUBJECTS AND METHODS Blood samples were collected from 92 patients with sporadic ALS, 21 patients with Primary Lateral Sclerosis (PLS) and 37 patients affected by primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS) with inactive plaques. Blood was taken from ALS and controls at the time of diagnosis/referral. Circulating lymphocytes were analyzed by flow cytometry with specific antibodies. Values were expressed as absolute number (n°/µl) of viable lymphocytes subpopulations in ALS were compared with controls. Multivariable analysis was made using site of onset, gender changes in ALSFRS-R and disease progression rate (calculated as ΔFS score). RESULTS Age at onset was 65y (58-71) in ALS (spinal 67.4%; bulbar, 32.6%), 57y (48-78) in PLS and 56y (44-68) PPMS. Absolute blood levels of the lymphocytes in the different cohorts were within normal range. Furthermore, while levels of lymphocytes T and B were not different between disease groups, NK cells were increased in the ALS cohort (ALS = 236 [158-360] vs. Controls = 174[113-240], p < 0.001). In ALS, blood levels of NK cells were not related with the main clinical-demographic variables, including the rate of disease progression. Multivariable analysis suggested that male gender and bulbar onset were independently associated with a risk of high blood NK cells levels. CONCLUSIONS We show that blood NK cells are selectively increased in ALS, though their level appear unaffected in patients with an estimated rapidly progressing disease. Being of a male gender and with a bulbar onset seems to confer higher susceptibility to have increased NK lymphocytes levels at diagnosis/referral. Our experiments provides a further clear-cut evidence of the role of the NK lymphocytes as a significant player in ALS pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tommaso Piccoli
- Cognitive and Memory Disorders Clinic, AOUP "Paolo Giaccone" University Teaching Hospital and BiND, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Francesca Castro
- ALS Clinical Research Center, Laboratory of Neurochemistry, AOUP "Paolo Giaccone" University Teaching Hospital and BiND, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Vincenzo La Bella
- ALS Clinical Research Center, Laboratory of Neurochemistry, AOUP "Paolo Giaccone" University Teaching Hospital and BiND, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy.
- ALS Clinical Research Center, Laboratory of Neurochemistry, Department of Biomedicine, Neurosciences and Advanced Diagnosis, University of Palermo, via Gaetano La Loggia, 1, Palermo, I-90129, Italy.
| | - Serena Meraviglia
- Central Laboratory of Advanced Diagnosis and Biomedical Research, AOUP "Paolo Giaccone" University Teaching Hospital and BiND, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Marta Di Simone
- Central Laboratory of Advanced Diagnosis and Biomedical Research, AOUP "Paolo Giaccone" University Teaching Hospital and BiND, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Salemi
- Multiple Sclerosis Clinic, AOUP "Paolo Giaccone" University Teaching Hospital and BiND, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Francesco Dieli
- Central Laboratory of Advanced Diagnosis and Biomedical Research, AOUP "Paolo Giaccone" University Teaching Hospital and BiND, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Rossella Spataro
- ALS Clinical Research Center, Laboratory of Neurochemistry, AOUP "Paolo Giaccone" University Teaching Hospital and BiND, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
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Ruffo P, Catalano S, La Bella V, Conforti FL. Deregulation of Plasma microRNA Expression in a TARDBP-ALS Family. Biomolecules 2023; 13:biom13040706. [PMID: 37189452 DOI: 10.3390/biom13040706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2023] [Revised: 04/06/2023] [Accepted: 04/19/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023] Open
Abstract
TDP-43 intracellular aggregates are a pathogenic sign of most amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) cases. Familial ALS, brought on by TARDBP gene mutations, emphasizes the relevance of this altered protein in pathophysiology. Growing evidence suggests a role for dysregulated microRNA (miRNA) in ALS disease. Furthermore, several studies showed that miRNAs are highly stable in various biological fluids (CSF, blood, plasma, and serum), and they are expressed differentially by comparing ALS patients and controls. In 2011, our research group discovered a rare mutation in a TARDBP gene (G376D) in a large ALS Apulian family with affected members exhibiting a rapidly progressing disease. To identify potential non-invasive biomarkers of preclinical and clinical progression in the TARDBP-ALS family, we assessed the expression levels of plasma microRNAs in affected patients (n = 7) and asymptomatic mutation carriers (n = 7) compared with healthy controls (n = 13). Applying qPCR, we investigate 10 miRNAs that bind TDP-43 in vitro during their biogenesis or in their mature form, and the other nine are known to be deregulated in the disease. We highlight the potential of miR-132-5p, miR-132-3p, miR-124-3p, and miR-133a-3p expression levels in plasma as biomarkers of preclinical progression for G376D-TARDBP-associated ALS. Our research strongly supports the potential of plasma miRNAs as biomarkers for performing predictive diagnostics and identifying new therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Ruffo
- Medical Genetics Laboratory, Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, Italy
- Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Stefania Catalano
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, Italy
| | - Vincenzo La Bella
- ALS Clinical Research Centre and Laboratory of Neurochemistry, Department of Experimental Biomedicine and Clinical Neurosciences, University of Palermo, 90133 Palermo, Italy
| | - Francesca Luisa Conforti
- Medical Genetics Laboratory, Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, Italy
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Beghi E, Pupillo E, Bianchi E, Bonetto V, Luotti S, Pasetto L, Bendotti C, Tortarolo M, Sironi F, Camporeale L, Sherman AV, Paganoni S, Scognamiglio A, De Marchi F, Bongioanni P, Del Carratore R, Caponnetto C, Diamanti L, Martinelli D, Calvo A, Filosto M, Padovani A, Piccinelli SC, Ricci C, Dalla Giacoma S, De Angelis N, Inghilleri M, Spataro R, La Bella V, Logroscino G, Lunetta C, Tarlarini C, Mandrioli J, Martinelli I, Simonini C, Zucchi E, Monsurrò MR, Ricciardi D, Trojsi F, Riva N, Filippi M, Simone IL, Sorarù G, Spera C, Florio L, Messina S, Russo M, Siciliano G, Conte A, Saddi MV, Carboni N, Mazzini L. Effect of RNS60 in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: a phase II multicentre, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Eur J Neurol 2023; 30:69-86. [PMID: 36148821 PMCID: PMC10092300 DOI: 10.1111/ene.15573] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2022] [Revised: 09/08/2022] [Accepted: 09/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease with limited treatment options. RNS60 is an immunomodulatory and neuroprotective investigational product that has shown efficacy in animal models of ALS and other neurodegenerative diseases. Its administration has been safe and well tolerated in ALS subjects in previous early phase trials. METHODS This was a phase II, multicentre, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group trial. Participants diagnosed with definite, probable or probable laboratory-supported ALS were assigned to receive RNS60 or placebo administered for 24 weeks intravenously (375 ml) once a week and via nebulization (4 ml/day) on non-infusion days, followed by an additional 24 weeks off-treatment. The primary objective was to measure the effects of RNS60 treatment on selected biomarkers of inflammation and neurodegeneration in peripheral blood. Secondary objectives were to measure the effect of RNS60 on functional impairment (ALS Functional Rating Scale-Revised), a measure of self-sufficiency, respiratory function (forced vital capacity, FVC), quality of life (ALS Assessment Questionnaire-40, ALSAQ-40) and survival. Tolerability and safety were assessed. RESULTS Seventy-four participants were assigned to RNS60 and 73 to placebo. Assessed biomarkers did not differ between arms. The mean rate of decline in FVC and the eating and drinking domain of ALSAQ-40 was slower in the RNS60 arm (FVC, difference 0.41 per week, standard error 0.16, p = 0.0101; ALSAQ-40, difference -0.19 per week, standard error 0.10, p = 0.0319). Adverse events were similar in the two arms. In a post hoc analysis, neurofilament light chain increased over time in bulbar onset placebo participants whilst remaining stable in those treated with RNS60. CONCLUSIONS The positive effects of RNS60 on selected measures of respiratory and bulbar function warrant further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ettore Beghi
- Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Milano, Italy
| | | | - Elisa Bianchi
- Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Milano, Italy
| | - Valentina Bonetto
- Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Milano, Italy
| | - Silvia Luotti
- Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Milano, Italy
| | - Laura Pasetto
- Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Milano, Italy
| | - Caterina Bendotti
- Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Milano, Italy
| | - Massimo Tortarolo
- Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Milano, Italy
| | - Francesca Sironi
- Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Milano, Italy
| | - Laura Camporeale
- Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Milano, Italy
| | - Alexander V Sherman
- Neurological Clinical Research Institute, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Sabrina Paganoni
- Sean M. Healey and AMG Center for ALS at Mass General Hospital, Department of Neurology, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Department of PM&R, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Ada Scognamiglio
- ALS Expert Center 'Maggiore della Carità' Hospital and University of Piemonte Orientale, Novara, Italy
| | - Fabiola De Marchi
- ALS Expert Center 'Maggiore della Carità' Hospital and University of Piemonte Orientale, Novara, Italy
| | - Paolo Bongioanni
- Spinal Cord Injuries Section, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Pisana, Pisa, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | - Andrea Calvo
- Centro Regionale Esperto per la Sclerosi Laterale Amiotrofica, Dipartimento di Neuroscienze 'Rita Levi Montalcini', Università degli Studi di Torino, AOU Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, Torino, Italy
| | - Massimiliano Filosto
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Gussago Brescia, Italy
| | - Alessandro Padovani
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Gussago Brescia, Italy
| | | | - Claudia Ricci
- Department of Medical, Surgical and Neurological Sciences, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Stefania Dalla Giacoma
- Department of Medical, Surgical and Neurological Sciences, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Nicoletta De Angelis
- Department of Medical, Surgical and Neurological Sciences, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Maurizio Inghilleri
- Università di Roma 'Sapienza' UOSD Malattie Neurodegenerative, Centro Malattie Rare Neuromuscolari Policlinico Universitario Umberto I, Roma, Italy
| | - Rossella Spataro
- ALS Clinical Research Center, AOUP 'P Giaccone' - University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Vincenzo La Bella
- ALS Clinical Research Center, AOUP 'P Giaccone' - University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Giancarlo Logroscino
- Center for neurodegenerative diseases and the Aging Brain, Department of Clinical Research in Neurology of the University of Bari at 'Pia Fondazione Card G. Panico 'Hospital Tricase, Tricase, Italy.,Department of Basic Medicine Neuroscience and Sense Organs, University Aldo Moro Bari, Bari, Italy
| | | | | | - Jessica Mandrioli
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy.,Department of Neurosciences, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Di Modena, Modena, Italy
| | - Ilaria Martinelli
- Department of Neurosciences, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Di Modena, Modena, Italy.,Clinical and Experimental Medicine PhD Program, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Cecilia Simonini
- Department of Neurosciences, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Di Modena, Modena, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Zucchi
- Department of Neurosciences, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Di Modena, Modena, Italy.,Neuroscience PhD Program, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Maria Rosaria Monsurrò
- Department of Advanced Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Campania 'Luigi Vanvitelli', Naples, Italy
| | - Dario Ricciardi
- Department of Advanced Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Campania 'Luigi Vanvitelli', Naples, Italy
| | - Francesca Trojsi
- Department of Advanced Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Campania 'Luigi Vanvitelli', Naples, Italy
| | - Nilo Riva
- Neurology Unit, Neurorehabilitation Unit, and Neurophysiology Unit, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University and San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Massimo Filippi
- Neurology Unit, Neurorehabilitation Unit, and Neurophysiology Unit, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University and San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Isabella Laura Simone
- Neurology Unit, Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neurosciences and Sense Organs, University of Bari, Bari, Italy
| | - Gianni Sorarù
- Motor Neuton Disease Center, Department of Neurosciences, Azienda Ospedale Università di Padova, Padova, Italy
| | | | - Lucia Florio
- Neurology Department, Fondazione IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy
| | - Sonia Messina
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Massimo Russo
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Gabriele Siciliano
- Department of clinical and experimental medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Amelia Conte
- Centro Clinico NEMO-Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Roma, Italy
| | | | - Nicola Carboni
- Neurology Department, San Francesco Hospital, Nuoro, Italy
| | - Letizia Mazzini
- ALS Expert Center 'Maggiore della Carità' Hospital and University of Piemonte Orientale, Novara, Italy
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Romano R, De Luca M, Del Fiore VS, Pecoraro M, Lattante S, Sabatelli M, La Bella V, Bucci C. Allele-specific silencing as therapy for familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis caused by the p.G376D TARDBP mutation. Brain Commun 2022; 4:fcac315. [PMID: 36751500 PMCID: PMC9897181 DOI: 10.1093/braincomms/fcac315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2022] [Revised: 08/25/2022] [Accepted: 11/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by the degeneration of motor neurons. There is no treatment for this disease that affects the ability to move, eat, speak and finally breathe, causing death. In an Italian family, a heterozygous pathogenic missense variant has been previously discovered in Exon 6 of the gene TARDBP encoding the TAR DNA-binding protein 43 protein. Here, we developed a potential therapeutic tool based on allele-specific small interfering RNAs for familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis with the heterozygous missense mutation c.1127G>A. We designed a small interfering RNA that was able to diminish specifically the expression of the exogenous Green Fluorescent Protein (TAR DNA-binding protein 43G376D mutant protein) in HEK-293T cells but not that of the Green Fluorescent Protein (TAR DNA-binding protein 43 wild-type). Similarly, this small interfering RNA silenced the mutated allele in fibroblasts derived from patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis but did not silence the wild-type gene in control fibroblasts. In addition, we established that silencing the mutated allele was able to strongly reduce the pathological cellular phenotypes induced by TAR DNA-binding protein 43G376D expression, such as the presence of cytoplasmic aggregates. Thus, we have identified a small interfering RNA that could be used to silence specifically the mutated allele to try a targeted therapy for patients carrying the p.G376D TAR DNA-binding protein 43 mutation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberta Romano
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies (DiSTeBA), Via Provinciale Lecce-Monteroni n.165, 73100 Lecce, Italy
| | - Maria De Luca
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies (DiSTeBA), Via Provinciale Lecce-Monteroni n.165, 73100 Lecce, Italy
| | - Victoria Stefania Del Fiore
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies (DiSTeBA), Via Provinciale Lecce-Monteroni n.165, 73100 Lecce, Italy
| | - Martina Pecoraro
- ALS Clinical Research Center, P Giaccone University Hospital and Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and advanced Diagnostic (BIND), University of Palermo, via Gaetano La Loggia n° 1, 90129 Palermo, Italy
| | - Serena Lattante
- Section of Genomic Medicine, Department of Life Sciences and Public Health, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy,Unit of Medical Genetics, Department of Laboratory and Infectious Disease Sciences, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Mario Sabatelli
- Adult NEMO Clinical Center, Unit of Neurology, Department of Aging, Neurological, Orthopedic and Head-Neck Sciences, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy,Section of Neurology, Department of Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Vincenzo La Bella
- ALS Clinical Research Center, P Giaccone University Hospital and Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and advanced Diagnostic (BIND), University of Palermo, via Gaetano La Loggia n° 1, 90129 Palermo, Italy
| | - Cecilia Bucci
- Correspondence to: Cecilia Bucci Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies (DiSTeBA) Via Provinciale Lecce-Monteroni n.165 73100 Lecce, Italy E-mail:
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7
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Spataro R, Xu Y, Xu R, Mandalà G, Allison BZ, Ortner R, Heilinger A, La Bella V, Guger C. How brain-computer interface technology may improve the diagnosis of the disorders of consciousness: A comparative study. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:959339. [PMID: 36033632 PMCID: PMC9404379 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.959339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2022] [Accepted: 07/18/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective Clinical assessment of consciousness relies on behavioural assessments, which have several limitations. Hence, disorder of consciousness (DOC) patients are often misdiagnosed. In this work, we aimed to compare the repetitive assessment of consciousness performed with a clinical behavioural and a Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) approach. Materials and methods For 7 weeks, sixteen DOC patients participated in weekly evaluations using both the Coma Recovery Scale-Revised (CRS-R) and a vibrotactile P300 BCI paradigm. To use the BCI, patients had to perform an active mental task that required detecting specific stimuli while ignoring other stimuli. We analysed the reliability and the efficacy in the detection of command following resulting from the two methodologies. Results Over repetitive administrations, the BCI paradigm detected command following before the CRS-R in seven patients. Four clinically unresponsive patients consistently showed command following during the BCI assessments. Conclusion Brain-Computer Interface active paradigms might contribute to the evaluation of the level of consciousness, increasing the diagnostic precision of the clinical bedside approach. Significance The integration of different diagnostic methods leads to a better knowledge and care for the DOC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rossella Spataro
- IRCCS Centro Neurolesi Bonino Pulejo, Palermo, Italy
- ALS Clinical Research Center, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
- *Correspondence: Rossella Spataro,
| | - Yiyan Xu
- ALS Clinical Research Center, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Ren Xu
- g.tec Medical Engineering GmbH, Schiedlberg, Austria
| | - Giorgio Mandalà
- Rehabilitation Unit, Ospedale Buccheri La Ferla, Palermo, Italy
| | - Brendan Z. Allison
- Cognitive Science Department, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, United States
| | - Rupert Ortner
- g.tec Medical Engineering Spain S.L., Barcelona, Spain
| | | | | | - Christoph Guger
- g.tec Medical Engineering GmbH, Schiedlberg, Austria
- g.tec Medical Engineering Spain S.L., Barcelona, Spain
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8
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Spataro R, La Bella V. The role of ethical attitudes on mortality of patients with disorders of consciousness. Eur J Neurol 2022; 29:3473-3474. [DOI: 10.1111/ene.15510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2021] [Revised: 06/18/2022] [Accepted: 07/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Rossella Spataro
- IRCCS Centro Neurolesi Bonino Pulejo Palermo Italy
- ALS Clinical Research Center University of Palermo Palermo Italy
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9
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D'Anzi A, Perciballi E, Ruotolo G, Ferrari D, Notaro A, Lombardi I, Gelati M, Frezza K, Bernardini L, Torrente I, De Luca A, La Bella V, Luigi Vescovi A, Rosati J. Production of CSSi013-A (9360) iPSC line from an asymptomatic subject carrying an heterozygous mutation in TDP-43 protein. Stem Cell Res 2022; 63:102835. [PMID: 35714448 DOI: 10.1016/j.scr.2022.102835] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2022] [Revised: 06/01/2022] [Accepted: 06/05/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal disease affecting both upper and lower motoneurons. The transactive response DNA binding protein (TARDBP) gene, encoding for TDP-43, is one of the most commonly mutated gene associated with familial cases of ALS (10%). We generated a human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC) line from the fibroblasts of an asymptomatic subject carrying the TARDBP p.G376D mutation. This mutation is very rare and was described in a large Apulian family, in which all ALS affected members are carriers of the mutation. The subject here described is the first identified asymptomatic carrier of the mutation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela D'Anzi
- Cellular Reprogramming Unit, Fondazione I.R.C.C.S. Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, Viale dei Cappuccini, 71013 San Giovanni Rotondo, Foggia, Italy
| | - Elisa Perciballi
- Biotechnology and Bioscience Department, Bicocca University, Piazza della Scienza 2, 20126 Milan, Italy
| | - Giorgia Ruotolo
- Cellular Reprogramming Unit, Fondazione I.R.C.C.S. Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, Viale dei Cappuccini, 71013 San Giovanni Rotondo, Foggia, Italy
| | - Daniela Ferrari
- Biotechnology and Bioscience Department, Bicocca University, Piazza della Scienza 2, 20126 Milan, Italy
| | - Antonietta Notaro
- Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies (STEBICEF), University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, 90128 Palermo, Italy
| | - Ivan Lombardi
- Biotechnology and Bioscience Department, Bicocca University, Piazza della Scienza 2, 20126 Milan, Italy
| | - Maurizio Gelati
- UPTA Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza - Viale dei Cappuccini, 71013 San Giovanni Rotondo, Foggia, Italy
| | - Katia Frezza
- Medical Genetics Unit, Fondazione I.R.C.C.S. Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, Viale dei Cappuccini, 71013 San Giovanni Rotondo, Foggia, Italy
| | - Laura Bernardini
- Medical Genetics Unit, Fondazione I.R.C.C.S. Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, Viale dei Cappuccini, 71013 San Giovanni Rotondo, Foggia, Italy
| | - Isabella Torrente
- Medical Genetics Unit, Fondazione I.R.C.C.S. Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, Viale dei Cappuccini, 71013 San Giovanni Rotondo, Foggia, Italy
| | - Alessandro De Luca
- Medical Genetics Unit, Fondazione I.R.C.C.S. Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, Viale dei Cappuccini, 71013 San Giovanni Rotondo, Foggia, Italy
| | - Vincenzo La Bella
- Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostics (BiND), University of Palermo, Via del Vespro 129, 90127 Palermo, Italy
| | - Angelo Luigi Vescovi
- Cellular Reprogramming Unit, Fondazione I.R.C.C.S. Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, Viale dei Cappuccini, 71013 San Giovanni Rotondo, Foggia, Italy; Biotechnology and Bioscience Department, Bicocca University, Piazza della Scienza 2, 20126 Milan, Italy.
| | - Jessica Rosati
- Cellular Reprogramming Unit, Fondazione I.R.C.C.S. Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, Viale dei Cappuccini, 71013 San Giovanni Rotondo, Foggia, Italy.
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10
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Quek H, Cuní-López C, Stewart R, Colletti T, Notaro A, Nguyen TH, Sun Y, Guo CC, Lupton MK, Roberts TL, Lim YC, Oikari LE, La Bella V, White AR. ALS monocyte-derived microglia-like cells reveal cytoplasmic TDP-43 accumulation, DNA damage, and cell-specific impairment of phagocytosis associated with disease progression. J Neuroinflammation 2022; 19:58. [PMID: 35227277 PMCID: PMC8887023 DOI: 10.1186/s12974-022-02421-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2021] [Accepted: 02/21/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Background
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a multifactorial neurodegenerative disease characterised by the loss of upper and lower motor neurons. Increasing evidence indicates that neuroinflammation mediated by microglia contributes to ALS pathogenesis. This microglial activation is evident in post-mortem brain tissues and neuroimaging data from patients with ALS. However, the role of microglia in the pathogenesis and progression of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis remains unclear, partly due to the lack of a model system that is able to faithfully recapitulate the clinical pathology of ALS. To address this shortcoming, we describe an approach that generates monocyte-derived microglia-like cells that are capable of expressing molecular markers, and functional characteristics similar to in vivo human brain microglia.
Methods
In this study, we have established monocyte-derived microglia-like cells from 30 sporadic patients with ALS, including 15 patients with slow disease progression, 6 with intermediate progression, and 9 with rapid progression, together with 20 non-affected healthy controls.
Results
We demonstrate that patient monocyte-derived microglia-like cells recapitulate canonical pathological features of ALS including non-phosphorylated and phosphorylated-TDP-43-positive inclusions. Moreover, ALS microglia-like cells showed significantly impaired phagocytosis, altered cytokine profiles, and abnormal morphologies consistent with a neuroinflammatory phenotype. Interestingly, all ALS microglia-like cells showed abnormal phagocytosis consistent with the progression of the disease. In-depth analysis of ALS microglia-like cells from the rapid disease progression cohort revealed significantly altered cell-specific variation in phagocytic function. In addition, DNA damage and NOD-leucine rich repeat and pyrin containing protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome activity were also elevated in ALS patient monocyte-derived microglia-like cells, indicating a potential new pathway involved in driving disease progression.
Conclusions
Taken together, our work demonstrates that the monocyte-derived microglia-like cell model recapitulates disease-specific hallmarks and characteristics that substantiate patient heterogeneity associated with disease subgroups. Thus, monocyte-derived microglia-like cells are highly applicable to monitor disease progression and can be applied as a functional readout in clinical trials for anti-neuroinflammatory agents, providing a basis for personalised treatment for patients with ALS.
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Abstract
Adverse events occurring after SARS-CoV-2 vaccination have been reported and are the subject of ongoing research. We present the case of a young woman with fully reversible radiculomyelitis, which happened after the first dose of the ChAdOx1 nCOVID-19 vaccine. A previously healthy woman in her 20s presented with a subacute onset of legs’ weakness and sensory disturbances, urinary dysfunction and cramping pain after receiving the first dose of the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine. A diagnostic workup led to the diagnosis of inflammatory radiculomyelitis. Her clinical status improved, with complete recovery after a few months. The case described a reversible radiculomyelitis associated with the ChAdOx1 nCOVID-19 vaccine. The clinical picture and evolution supported the diagnosis. No other identifiable causes of myelopathy were found. Our patient showed clinically moderate symptoms and signs, showing good recovery. The post-vaccine inflammatory radiculomyelitis is a rare side effect of the anti-COVID-19 vaccination, and it should not discourage the SARS-CoV-2 vaccination programme.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rossella Spataro
- Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostics, ALS Clinical Research Center, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy.,IRCCS Centro Neurolesi Bonino Pulejo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Giacomo Fisco
- IRCCS Centro Neurolesi Bonino Pulejo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Vincenzo La Bella
- Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostics, ALS Clinical Research Center, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
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12
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Notaro A, Messina A, La Bella V. A Deletion of the Nuclear Localization Signal Domain in the Fus Protein Induces Stable Post-stress Cytoplasmic Inclusions in SH-SY5Y Cells. Front Neurosci 2022; 15:759659. [PMID: 35002600 PMCID: PMC8733393 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.759659] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2021] [Accepted: 12/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Mutations in Fused-in-Sarcoma (FUS) gene involving the nuclear localization signal (NLS) domain lead to juvenile-onset Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). The mutant protein mislocalizes to the cytoplasm, incorporating it into Stress Granules (SG). Whether SGs are the first step to the formation of stable FUS-containing aggregates is still unclear. In this work, we used acute and chronic stress paradigms to study the SG dynamics in a human SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cell line carrying a deletion of the NLS domain of the FUS protein (homozygous: ΔNLS–/–; heterozygous: ΔNLS+/–). Wild-type (WT) cells served as controls. We evaluated the subcellular localization of the mutant protein through immunoblot and immunofluorescence, in basal conditions and after acute stress and chronic stress with sodium arsenite (NaAsO2). Cells were monitored for up to 24 h after rescue. FUS was expressed in both nucleus and cytoplasm in the ΔNLS+/– cells, whereas it was primarily cytoplasmic in the ΔNLS–/–. Acute NaAsO2 exposure induced SGs: at rescue,>90% of ΔNLS cells showed abundant FUS-containing if compared to less than 5% of the WT cells. The proportion of FUS-positive SGs remained 15–20% at 24 h in mutant cells. Cycloheximide did not abolish the long-lasting SGs in mutant cells. Chronic exposure to NaAsO2 did not induce significant SGs formation. A wealth of research has demonstrated that ALS-associated FUS mutations at the C-terminus facilitate the incorporation of the mutant protein into SGs. We have shown here that mutant FUS-containing SGs tend to fail to dissolve after stress, facilitating a liquid-to-solid phase transition. The FUS-containing inclusions seen in the dying motor neurons might therefore directly derive from SGs. This might represent an attractive target for future innovative therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonietta Notaro
- ALS Clinical Research Center and Laboratory of Neurochemistry, Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advances Diagnostics, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Antonella Messina
- ALS Clinical Research Center and Laboratory of Neurochemistry, Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advances Diagnostics, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Vincenzo La Bella
- ALS Clinical Research Center and Laboratory of Neurochemistry, Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advances Diagnostics, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
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13
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Agnello L, Lo Sasso B, Vidali M, Scazzone C, Piccoli T, Gambino CM, Bivona G, Giglio RV, Ciaccio AM, La Bella V, Ciaccio M. Neurogranin as a Reliable Biomarker for Synaptic Dysfunction in Alzheimer's Disease. Diagnostics (Basel) 2021; 11:diagnostics11122339. [PMID: 34943576 PMCID: PMC8700711 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics11122339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2021] [Revised: 12/07/2021] [Accepted: 12/10/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
(1) Background: Neurogranin is a post-synaptic protein expressed in the neurons of the hippocampus and cerebral cortex. It has been recently proposed as a promising biomarker of synaptic dysfunction, especially in Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, more efforts are needed before introducing it in clinical practice, including the definition of its reference interval (RI). The aim of the study was to establish the RI of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) neurogranin levels in controls and individuals with non-neurodegenerative neurological diseases; (2) We included a total of 136 individuals that were sub-grouped as follows: AD patients (n = 33), patients with non-neurodegenerative neurological diseases (n = 70) and controls (33). We measured CSF neurogranin levels by a commercial ELISA kit. CSF RI of neurogranin was calculated by a robust method; (3) Results: AD patients showed increased levels of neurogranin. We also found that neurogranin was significantly correlated with T-tau, P-tau and mini mental state examination in AD patients. The lower and upper reference limits of the RI were 2.9 (90%CI 0.1-10.8) and 679 (90%CI 595-779), respectively; (4) Conclusion: This is the first study establishing the RI of CSF neurogranin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luisa Agnello
- Department of Biomedicine, Neurosciences and Advanced Diagnostics, Institute of Clinical Biochemistry, Clinical Molecular Medicine and Clinical Laboratory Medicine, University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy; (L.A.); (B.L.S.); (C.S.); (C.M.G.); (G.B.); (R.V.G.)
| | - Bruna Lo Sasso
- Department of Biomedicine, Neurosciences and Advanced Diagnostics, Institute of Clinical Biochemistry, Clinical Molecular Medicine and Clinical Laboratory Medicine, University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy; (L.A.); (B.L.S.); (C.S.); (C.M.G.); (G.B.); (R.V.G.)
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Policlinico “P. Giaccone”, 90127 Palermo, Italy
| | - Matteo Vidali
- Foundation IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, 20122 Milan, Italy;
| | - Concetta Scazzone
- Department of Biomedicine, Neurosciences and Advanced Diagnostics, Institute of Clinical Biochemistry, Clinical Molecular Medicine and Clinical Laboratory Medicine, University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy; (L.A.); (B.L.S.); (C.S.); (C.M.G.); (G.B.); (R.V.G.)
| | - Tommaso Piccoli
- Unit of Neurology, Department of Biomedicine, Neurosciences and Advanced Diagnostics, University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy;
| | - Caterina Maria Gambino
- Department of Biomedicine, Neurosciences and Advanced Diagnostics, Institute of Clinical Biochemistry, Clinical Molecular Medicine and Clinical Laboratory Medicine, University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy; (L.A.); (B.L.S.); (C.S.); (C.M.G.); (G.B.); (R.V.G.)
| | - Giulia Bivona
- Department of Biomedicine, Neurosciences and Advanced Diagnostics, Institute of Clinical Biochemistry, Clinical Molecular Medicine and Clinical Laboratory Medicine, University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy; (L.A.); (B.L.S.); (C.S.); (C.M.G.); (G.B.); (R.V.G.)
| | - Rosaria Vincenza Giglio
- Department of Biomedicine, Neurosciences and Advanced Diagnostics, Institute of Clinical Biochemistry, Clinical Molecular Medicine and Clinical Laboratory Medicine, University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy; (L.A.); (B.L.S.); (C.S.); (C.M.G.); (G.B.); (R.V.G.)
| | - Anna Maria Ciaccio
- Unit of Clinical Biochemistry, University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy;
| | - Vincenzo La Bella
- ALS Clinical Research Center, Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostics, University of Palermo, 90129 Palermo, Italy;
| | - Marcello Ciaccio
- Department of Biomedicine, Neurosciences and Advanced Diagnostics, Institute of Clinical Biochemistry, Clinical Molecular Medicine and Clinical Laboratory Medicine, University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy; (L.A.); (B.L.S.); (C.S.); (C.M.G.); (G.B.); (R.V.G.)
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Policlinico “P. Giaccone”, 90127 Palermo, Italy
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-0916553296
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14
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Agnello L, Colletti T, Lo Sasso B, Vidali M, Spataro R, Gambino CM, Giglio RV, Piccoli T, Bivona G, La Bella V, Ciaccio M. Tau protein as a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Eur J Neurol 2021; 28:1868-1875. [PMID: 33638255 DOI: 10.1111/ene.14789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2020] [Accepted: 02/11/2021] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE To test the hypothesis that total tau (tTau), tau phosphorylated at threonine 181 (pTau) and pTau/tTau ratio in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) are diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), we performed a retrospective observational study in a large cohort of ALS patients and controls. METHODS We enrolled 196 ALS patients and 91 controls, who included patients with ALS-mimicking diseases and those with non-neurodegenerative diseases. All patients underwent lumbar puncture for CSF analysis at the time of the diagnostic evaluation or to first referral. We measured tTau and pTau levels in the CSF by chemiluminescence enzyme immunoassay. RESULTS Patients with ALS showed significantly higher levels of CSF tTau and a lower pTau/tTau ratio than controls (tTau: 245 vs. 146 pg/ml; p < 0.001; pTau/tTau ratio: 0.12 vs. 0.18; p < 0.001, respectively). No differences in pTau levels were detected. Receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis showed a good diagnostic accuracy of tTau and pTau/tTau ratio (tTau: area under the curve [AUC] 0.685, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.616-0.754, p = 0.039; pTau/tTau ratio: AUC 0.777, 95% CI 0.707-0.848, p < 0.001). Among ALS patients, increased tTau levels were associated with advanced age of onset, increased revised amyotrophic lateral sclerosis functional rating scale (ALSFRS-R) score (ΔFS) rate of progression, and spinal onset. Multivariate analysis showed that in ALS patients, this biomarker was an independent negative predictor of overall survival. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that tTau and pTau/tTau ratio can be diagnostic biomarkers of ALS. In addition, CSF tTau level at diagnosis might play a relevant prognostic role in the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luisa Agnello
- Department of Biomedicine, Neurosciences and Advanced Diagnostics, Institute of Clinical Biochemistry, Clinical Molecular Medicine and Laboratory Medicine, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Tiziana Colletti
- ALS Clinical Research Center and Laboratory of Neurochemistry, Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostics, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Bruna Lo Sasso
- Department of Biomedicine, Neurosciences and Advanced Diagnostics, Institute of Clinical Biochemistry, Clinical Molecular Medicine and Laboratory Medicine, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy.,Department of Laboratory Medicine, University Hospital "P. Giaccone", Palermo, Italy
| | - Matteo Vidali
- Unit of Clinical Chemistry, Maggiore della Carità Hospital, Novara, Italy
| | | | - Caterina Maria Gambino
- Department of Biomedicine, Neurosciences and Advanced Diagnostics, Institute of Clinical Biochemistry, Clinical Molecular Medicine and Laboratory Medicine, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Rosaria Vincenza Giglio
- Department of Biomedicine, Neurosciences and Advanced Diagnostics, Institute of Clinical Biochemistry, Clinical Molecular Medicine and Laboratory Medicine, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Tommaso Piccoli
- Unit of Neurology, Department of Biomedicine, Neurosciences and Advanced Diagnostics, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Giulia Bivona
- Department of Biomedicine, Neurosciences and Advanced Diagnostics, Institute of Clinical Biochemistry, Clinical Molecular Medicine and Laboratory Medicine, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Vincenzo La Bella
- ALS Clinical Research Center and Laboratory of Neurochemistry, Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostics, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Marcello Ciaccio
- Department of Biomedicine, Neurosciences and Advanced Diagnostics, Institute of Clinical Biochemistry, Clinical Molecular Medicine and Laboratory Medicine, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy.,Department of Laboratory Medicine, University Hospital "P. Giaccone", Palermo, Italy
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15
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Colletti T, Agnello L, Spataro R, Guccione L, Notaro A, Lo Sasso B, Blandino V, Graziano F, Gambino CM, Giglio RV, Bivona G, La Bella V, Ciaccio M, Piccoli T. Prognostic Role of CSF β-amyloid 1-42/1-40 Ratio in Patients Affected by Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Brain Sci 2021; 11:brainsci11030302. [PMID: 33673569 PMCID: PMC7997395 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci11030302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2021] [Revised: 02/22/2021] [Accepted: 02/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The involvement of β-amyloid (Aβ) in the pathogenesis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) has been widely discussed and its role in the disease is still a matter of debate. Aβ accumulates in the cortex and the anterior horn neurons of ALS patients and seems to affect their survival. To clarify the role of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) Aβ 1–42 and Aβ 42/40 ratios as a potential prognostic biomarker for ALS, we performed a retrospective observational study on a cohort of ALS patients who underwent a lumbar puncture at the time of the diagnosis. CSF Aβ 1–40 and Aβ 1–42 ratios were detected by chemiluminescence immunoassay and their values were correlated with clinical features. We found a significant correlation of the Aβ 42/40 ratio with age at onset and Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores. No significant correlation of Aβ 1–42 or Aβ 42/40 ratios to the rate of progression of the disease were found. Furthermore, when we stratified patients according to Aβ 1–42 concentration and the Aβ 42/40 ratio, we found that patients with a lower Aβ 42/40 ratio showed a shorter survival. Our results support the hypothesis that Aβ 1–42 could be involved in some pathogenic mechanism of ALS and we suggest the Aβ 42/40 ratio as a potential prognostic biomarker.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiziana Colletti
- ALS Clinical Research Center and Laboratory of Neurochemistry, Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostics, University of Palermo, 90129 Palermo, Italy
| | - Luisa Agnello
- Institute of Clinical Biochemistry, Clinical Molecular Medicine and Laboratory Medicine, Department of Biomedicine, Neurosciences and Advanced Diagnostics, University of Palermo, 90127, Palermo, Italy
| | | | - Lavinia Guccione
- ALS Clinical Research Center and Laboratory of Neurochemistry, Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostics, University of Palermo, 90129 Palermo, Italy
| | - Antonietta Notaro
- ALS Clinical Research Center and Laboratory of Neurochemistry, Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostics, University of Palermo, 90129 Palermo, Italy
| | - Bruna Lo Sasso
- Institute of Clinical Biochemistry, Clinical Molecular Medicine and Laboratory Medicine, Department of Biomedicine, Neurosciences and Advanced Diagnostics, University of Palermo, 90127, Palermo, Italy
| | - Valeria Blandino
- Unit of Neurology, Department of Biomedicine, Neurosciences and Advanced Diagnostics, University of Palermo, 90129, Palermo, Italy
| | - Fabiola Graziano
- Unit of Neurology, Department of Biomedicine, Neurosciences and Advanced Diagnostics, University of Palermo, 90129, Palermo, Italy
| | - Caterina Maria Gambino
- Institute of Clinical Biochemistry, Clinical Molecular Medicine and Laboratory Medicine, Department of Biomedicine, Neurosciences and Advanced Diagnostics, University of Palermo, 90127, Palermo, Italy
| | - Rosaria Vincenza Giglio
- Institute of Clinical Biochemistry, Clinical Molecular Medicine and Laboratory Medicine, Department of Biomedicine, Neurosciences and Advanced Diagnostics, University of Palermo, 90127, Palermo, Italy
| | - Giulia Bivona
- Institute of Clinical Biochemistry, Clinical Molecular Medicine and Laboratory Medicine, Department of Biomedicine, Neurosciences and Advanced Diagnostics, University of Palermo, 90127, Palermo, Italy
| | - Vincenzo La Bella
- ALS Clinical Research Center and Laboratory of Neurochemistry, Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostics, University of Palermo, 90129 Palermo, Italy
| | - Marcello Ciaccio
- Institute of Clinical Biochemistry, Clinical Molecular Medicine and Laboratory Medicine, Department of Biomedicine, Neurosciences and Advanced Diagnostics, University of Palermo, 90127, Palermo, Italy
| | - Tommaso Piccoli
- Unit of Neurology, Department of Biomedicine, Neurosciences and Advanced Diagnostics, University of Palermo, 90129, Palermo, Italy
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16
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Heilinger A, Ortner R, La Bella V, Lugo ZR, Chatelle C, Laureys S, Spataro R, Guger C. Corrigendum: Performance Differences Using a Vibro-Tactile P300 BCI in LIS-Patients Diagnosed With Stroke and ALS. Front Neurosci 2021; 14:637905. [PMID: 33488356 PMCID: PMC7816770 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2020.637905] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2020] [Accepted: 12/07/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
| | - Rupert Ortner
- g.tec medical engineering Spain SL, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Vincenzo La Bella
- ALS Clinical Research Center, BioNeC, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Zulay R Lugo
- GIGA Consciousness, Coma Science Group, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium.,French Association of Locked-in Syndrome (ALIS), Paris, France.,Research Department, Hospital Universitari Institut Pere Mata, Reus, Spain
| | - Camille Chatelle
- GIGA Consciousness, Coma Science Group, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | - Steven Laureys
- GIGA Consciousness, Coma Science Group, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | - Rossella Spataro
- ALS Clinical Research Center, BioNeC, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy.,Centro Neurolesi Bonino Pulejo (IRCCS), Palermo, Italy
| | - Christoph Guger
- g.tec medical engineering GmbH, Schiedlberg, Austria.,Guger Technologies OG, Graz, Austria
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17
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Taiello AC, La Bella V, Spataro R. Diabetic thoracic radiculopathy: a case of a young woman with clinical improvement following immunotherapy. BMJ Case Rep 2020; 13:13/12/e236412. [PMID: 33310829 PMCID: PMC7735115 DOI: 10.1136/bcr-2020-236412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Thoracic radiculopathy is a rare cause of thoracic-abdominal or abdominal pain in subjects with poorly controlled diabetes. We present a case of a young woman with type I diabetes and a severe abdominal pain in both lower quadrants. An extensive diagnostic gastroenterological and gynaecological workup did not disclose abnormalities. Electromyography revealed an initial polyneuropathy and significant neurogenic abnormalities in the T10-T12 paravertebral muscles. Following the hypothesis that the radiculopathy-related abdominal pain might have an immuno-mediated pathogenesis, the patient underwent a complex trial of immunotherapy, which was accompanied by a sustained improvement over months to full recovery. This report would support the hypothesis that immune-mediated mechanisms are still active even months after onset of symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Vincenzo La Bella
- Dipartimento di Biomedicina Sperimentale, Neuroscienze e Diagnostica Avanzata, Università di Palermo, Palermo, Italy
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18
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Morello G, Gentile G, Spataro R, Spampinato AG, Guarnaccia M, Salomone S, La Bella V, Conforti FL, Cavallaro S. Genomic Portrait of a Sporadic Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Case in a Large Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 1 Family. J Pers Med 2020; 10:jpm10040262. [PMID: 33276461 PMCID: PMC7712010 DOI: 10.3390/jpm10040262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2020] [Revised: 11/27/2020] [Accepted: 11/30/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Repeat expansions in the spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 (SCA1) gene ATXN1 increases the risk for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), supporting a relationship between these disorders. We recently reported the co-existence, in a large SCA1 family, of a clinically definite ALS individual bearing an intermediate ATXN1 expansion and SCA1 patients with a full expansion, some of which manifested signs of lower motor neuron involvement. Methods: In this study, we employed a systems biology approach that integrated multiple genomic analyses of the ALS patient and some SCA1 family members. Results: Our analysis identified common and distinctive candidate genes/variants and related biological processes that, in addition to or in combination with ATXN1, may contribute to motor neuron degeneration phenotype. Among these, we distinguished ALS-specific likely pathogenic variants in TAF15 and C9ORF72, two ALS-linked genes involved in the regulation of RNA metabolism, similarly to ATXN1, suggesting a selective role for this pathway in ALS pathogenesis. Conclusions: Overall, our work supports the utility to apply personal genomic information for characterizing complex disease phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanna Morello
- Institute for Research and Biomedical Innovation (IRIB), Italian National Research Council (CNR), Via Paolo Gaifami, 18, 95125 Catania, Italy; (G.M.); (G.G.); (A.G.S.); (M.G.)
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, Section of Pharmacology, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy;
| | - Giulia Gentile
- Institute for Research and Biomedical Innovation (IRIB), Italian National Research Council (CNR), Via Paolo Gaifami, 18, 95125 Catania, Italy; (G.M.); (G.G.); (A.G.S.); (M.G.)
| | - Rossella Spataro
- ALS Clinical Research Center and Neurochemistry Laboratory, BioNeC, University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy; (R.S.); (V.L.B.)
| | - Antonio Gianmaria Spampinato
- Institute for Research and Biomedical Innovation (IRIB), Italian National Research Council (CNR), Via Paolo Gaifami, 18, 95125 Catania, Italy; (G.M.); (G.G.); (A.G.S.); (M.G.)
- Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy
| | - Maria Guarnaccia
- Institute for Research and Biomedical Innovation (IRIB), Italian National Research Council (CNR), Via Paolo Gaifami, 18, 95125 Catania, Italy; (G.M.); (G.G.); (A.G.S.); (M.G.)
| | - Salvatore Salomone
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, Section of Pharmacology, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy;
| | - Vincenzo La Bella
- ALS Clinical Research Center and Neurochemistry Laboratory, BioNeC, University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy; (R.S.); (V.L.B.)
| | - Francesca Luisa Conforti
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, Arcavacata di Rende, 87036 Rende, Italy
- Correspondence: (F.L.C.); (S.C.); Tel.: +39-0984-496204 (F.L.C.); +39-095-7338111 (S.C.); Fax: +39-0984-496203 (F.L.C.); +39-095-7338110 (S.C.)
| | - Sebastiano Cavallaro
- Institute for Research and Biomedical Innovation (IRIB), Italian National Research Council (CNR), Via Paolo Gaifami, 18, 95125 Catania, Italy; (G.M.); (G.G.); (A.G.S.); (M.G.)
- Correspondence: (F.L.C.); (S.C.); Tel.: +39-0984-496204 (F.L.C.); +39-095-7338111 (S.C.); Fax: +39-0984-496203 (F.L.C.); +39-095-7338110 (S.C.)
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Agnello L, Gambino CM, Lo Sasso B, Bivona G, Milano S, Ciaccio AM, Piccoli T, La Bella V, Ciaccio M. Neurogranin as a Novel Biomarker in Alzheimer's Disease. Lab Med 2020; 52:188-196. [PMID: 32926148 DOI: 10.1093/labmed/lmaa062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In this study, we investigated the possible role of 2 novel biomarkers of synaptic damage, namely, neurogranin and α-synuclein, in Alzheimer disease (AD). METHODS The study was performed in a cohort consisting of patients with AD and those without AD, including individuals with other neurological diseases. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) neurogranin and α-synuclein levels were measured by sensitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs). RESULTS We found significantly increased levels of CSF neurogranin and α-synuclein in patients with AD than those without AD. Neurogranin was correlated with total tau (tTau) and phosphorylated tau (pTau), as well as with cognitive decline, in patients with AD. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis showed good diagnostic accuracy of neurogranin for AD at a cutoff point of 306 pg per mL with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.872 and sensitivity and specificity of 84.2% and 78%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Our findings support the use of CSF neurogranin as a biomarker of synapsis damage in patients with AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luisa Agnello
- Department of Biomedicine, Neurosciences and Advanced Diagnostics, Institute of Clinical Biochemistry, Clinical Molecular Medicine and Laboratory Medicine, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Caterina Maria Gambino
- Department of Biomedicine, Neurosciences and Advanced Diagnostics, Institute of Clinical Biochemistry, Clinical Molecular Medicine and Laboratory Medicine, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Bruna Lo Sasso
- Department of Biomedicine, Neurosciences and Advanced Diagnostics, Institute of Clinical Biochemistry, Clinical Molecular Medicine and Laboratory Medicine, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy.,Department of Laboratory Medicine, University Hospital "P. Giaccone," Palermo, Italy
| | - Giulia Bivona
- Department of Biomedicine, Neurosciences and Advanced Diagnostics, Institute of Clinical Biochemistry, Clinical Molecular Medicine and Laboratory Medicine, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy.,Department of Laboratory Medicine, University Hospital "P. Giaccone," Palermo, Italy
| | - Salvatore Milano
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University Hospital "P. Giaccone," Palermo, Italy
| | | | - Tommaso Piccoli
- Department of Biomedicine, Neurosciences and Advanced Diagnostics, Neurology Unit, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Vincenzo La Bella
- Department of Biomedicine, Neurosciences and Advanced Diagnostics, Neurology Unit, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Marcello Ciaccio
- Department of Biomedicine, Neurosciences and Advanced Diagnostics, Institute of Clinical Biochemistry, Clinical Molecular Medicine and Laboratory Medicine, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy.,Department of Laboratory Medicine, University Hospital "P. Giaccone," Palermo, Italy
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20
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Ungaro C, Sprovieri T, Morello G, Perrone B, Spampinato AG, Simone IL, Trojsi F, Monsurrò MR, Spataro R, La Bella V, Andò S, Cavallaro S, Conforti FL. Genetic investigation of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients in south Italy: a two-decade analysis. Neurobiol Aging 2020; 99:99.e7-99.e14. [PMID: 32951934 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2020.08.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2020] [Revised: 07/21/2020] [Accepted: 08/22/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a multifactorial disease characterized by the interplay of genetic and environmental factors. In the majority of cases, ALS is sporadic, whereas familial forms occur in less than 10% of patients. Herein, we present the results of molecular analyses performed in a large cohort of Italian ALS patients, focusing on novel and already described variations in ALS-linked genes. Our analysis revealed that more than 10% of tested patients carried a mutation in one of the major ALS genes, with C9orf72 hexanucleotide expansion being the most common mutation. In addition, our study confirmed a significant association between ALS patients carrying the ATNX-1 intermediate repeat and the pathological C9orf72 expansion, supporting the involvement of this risk factor in neuronal degeneration. Overall, our study broadens the known mutational spectrum in ALS and provides new insights for a more accurate view of the genetic pattern of the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmine Ungaro
- Department of Earth and Environment, Institute of Atmospheric Pollution (IIA), National Research Council (CNR), Rende (CS), Italy
| | - Teresa Sprovieri
- Department of Earth and Environment, Institute of Atmospheric Pollution (IIA), National Research Council (CNR), Rende (CS), Italy
| | - Giovanna Morello
- Department of Biomedical Science, Institute for Research and Biomedical Innovation (IRIB), National Research Council (CNR), Catania, Italy
| | - Benedetta Perrone
- Department of Pharmacy and Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, Rende (CS), Italy
| | - Antonio Gianmaria Spampinato
- Department of Biomedical Science, Institute for Research and Biomedical Innovation (IRIB), National Research Council (CNR), Catania, Italy
| | - Isabella Laura Simone
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neurosciences and Sense Organs, University of Bari, Bari, Italy
| | - Francesca Trojsi
- Department of Advanced Medical and Surgical Sciences, MRI Research Center SUN-FISM, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy
| | - Maria Rosaria Monsurrò
- Department of Advanced Medical and Surgical Sciences, MRI Research Center SUN-FISM, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy
| | | | - Vincenzo La Bella
- Department of Experimental Biomedicine and Clinical Neurosciences, ALS Clinical Research Center and Laboratory of Neurochemistry, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Sebastiano Andò
- Department of Pharmacy and Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, Rende (CS), Italy; Centro Sanitario, Università della Calabria, Rende (CS), Italy
| | - Sebastiano Cavallaro
- Department of Biomedical Science, Institute for Research and Biomedical Innovation (IRIB), National Research Council (CNR), Catania, Italy
| | - Francesca Luisa Conforti
- Department of Pharmacy and Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, Rende (CS), Italy.
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21
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Murovec N, Heilinger A, Xu R, Ortner R, Spataro R, La Bella V, Miao Y, Jin J, Chatelle C, Laureys S, Allison BZ, Guger C. Effects of a Vibro-Tactile P300 Based Brain-Computer Interface on the Coma Recovery Scale-Revised in Patients With Disorders of Consciousness. Front Neurosci 2020; 14:294. [PMID: 32327970 PMCID: PMC7161577 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2020.00294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2019] [Accepted: 03/13/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Persons diagnosed with disorders of consciousness (DOC) typically suffer from motor and cognitive disabilities. Recent research has shown that non-invasive brain-computer interface (BCI) technology could help assess these patients' cognitive functions and command following abilities. 20 DOC patients participated in the study and performed 10 vibro-tactile P300 BCI sessions over 10 days with 8-12 runs each day. Vibrotactile tactors were placed on the each patient's left and right wrists and one foot. Patients were instructed, via earbuds, to concentrate and silently count vibrotactile pulses on either their left or right wrist that presented a target stimulus and to ignore the others. Changes of the BCI classification accuracy were investigated over the 10 days. In addition, the Coma Recovery Scale-Revised (CRS-R) score was measured before and after the 10 vibro-tactile P300 sessions. In the first run, 10 patients had a classification accuracy above chance level (>12.5%). In the best run, every patient reached an accuracy ≥60%. The grand average accuracy in the first session for all patients was 40%. In the best session, the grand average accuracy was 88% and the median accuracy across all sessions was 21%. The CRS-R scores compared before and after 10 VT3 sessions for all 20 patients, are showing significant improvement (p = 0.024). Twelve of the twenty patients showed an improvement of 1 to 7 points in the CRS-R score after the VT3 BCI sessions (mean: 2.6). Six patients did not show a change of the CRS-R and two patients showed a decline in the score by 1 point. Every patient achieved at least 60% accuracy at least once, which indicates successful command following. This shows the importance of repeated measures when DOC patients are assessed. The improvement of the CRS-R score after the 10 VT3 sessions is an important issue for future experiments to test the possible therapeutic applications of vibro-tactile and related BCIs with a larger patient group.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nensi Murovec
- g. tec Medical Engineering GmbH, Schiedlberg, Austria
- Guger Technologies OG, Graz, Austria
| | | | - Ren Xu
- Guger Technologies OG, Graz, Austria
| | - Rupert Ortner
- g. tec Medical Engineering Spain S.L., Barcelona, Spain
| | - Rossella Spataro
- g. tec Medical Engineering GmbH, Schiedlberg, Austria
- IRCCS Centro Neurolesi Bonino Pulejo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Vincenzo La Bella
- ALS Clinical Research Center, Bi.N.D., University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Yangyang Miao
- Department of Automation, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, China
| | - Jing Jin
- Department of Automation, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, China
| | - Camille Chatelle
- GIGA Consciousness, Coma Science Group, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | - Steven Laureys
- GIGA Consciousness, Coma Science Group, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
- French Association of Locked-in Syndrome (ALIS), Paris, France
| | - Brendan Z. Allison
- Department of Cognitive Science, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Christoph Guger
- g. tec Medical Engineering GmbH, Schiedlberg, Austria
- Guger Technologies OG, Graz, Austria
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Salamone P, Fuda G, Casale F, Marrali G, Lunetta C, Caponnetto C, Mazzini L, La Bella V, Mandrioli J, Simone IL, Moglia C, Calvo A, Tarella C, Chio A. G-CSF (filgrastim) treatment for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: protocol for a phase II randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel group, multicentre clinical study (STEMALS-II trial). BMJ Open 2020; 10:e034049. [PMID: 32209625 PMCID: PMC7202695 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2019-034049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal progressive neurological disorder characterised by a selective degeneration of motor neurons (MNs). Stem cell transplantation is considered as a promising strategy in neurological disorders therapy and the possibility of inducing bone marrow cells (BMCs) to circulate in the peripheral blood is suggested to investigate stem cells migration in degenerated ALS nerve tissues where potentially repair MN damage. Granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) is a growth factor which stimulates haematopoietic progenitor cells, mobilises BMCs into injured brain and it is itself a neurotrophic factor for MN. G-CSF safety in humans has been demonstrated and many observations suggest that it may affect neural cells. Therefore, we decided to use G-CSF to mobilise BMCs into the peripheral circulation in patients with ALS, planning a clinical trial to evaluate the effect of G-CSF administration in ALS patients compared with placebo. METHODS AND ANALYSIS STEMALS-II is a phase II multicentre, randomised double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel group clinical trial on G-CSF (filgrastim) and mannitol in ALS patients. Specifically, we investigate safety, tolerability and efficacy of four repeated courses of intravenous G-CSF and mannitol administered in 76 ALS patients in comparison with placebo (indistinguishable glucose solution 5%). We determine increase of G-CSF levels in serum and cerebrospinal fluid as CD34+ cells and leucocyte count after treatment; reduction in ALS Functional Rating Scale-Revised Score, forced vital capacity, Scale for Testing Muscle Strength Score and quality of life; the adverse events/reactions during the treatment; changes in neuroinflammation biomarkers before and after treatment. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION The study protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee of Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria 'Città della Salute e della Scienza', Torino, Italy. Results will be presented during scientific symposia or published in scientific journals. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER Eudract 2014-002228-28.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paolina Salamone
- 'Rita Levi Montalcini' Department of Neuroscience, University of Turin, Torino, Piemonte, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Fuda
- 'Rita Levi Montalcini' Department of Neuroscience, University of Turin, Torino, Piemonte, Italy
| | - Federico Casale
- 'Rita Levi Montalcini' Department of Neuroscience, University of Turin, Torino, Piemonte, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Marrali
- 'Rita Levi Montalcini' Department of Neuroscience, University of Turin, Torino, Piemonte, Italy
| | - Christian Lunetta
- NEuroMuscular Omnicentre (NEMO), Fondazione Serena Onlus, Milan, Italy
| | - Claudia Caponnetto
- Neurological Clinic, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy
| | - Letizia Mazzini
- Department of Neurology, Maggiore della Carità Hospital, University of Piemonte Orientale, Novara, Italy
| | - Vincenzo La Bella
- Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostics, University of Palermo, Palermo, Sicilia, Italy
| | - Jessica Mandrioli
- Department of Neuroscience, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Modena, St. Agostino-Estense Hospital, Modena, Italy
| | - Isabella Laura Simone
- Neurology Unit, Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neurosciences and Sense Organs, University of Bari, Bari, Puglia, Italy
| | - Cristina Moglia
- 'Rita Levi Montalcini' Department of Neuroscience, University of Turin, Torino, Piemonte, Italy
- ALS Center, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, Torino, Piemonte, Italy
| | - Andrea Calvo
- 'Rita Levi Montalcini' Department of Neuroscience, University of Turin, Torino, Piemonte, Italy
- ALS Center, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, Torino, Piemonte, Italy
| | - Corrado Tarella
- Oncohematology Division, IEO European Institute of Oncology, IRCCS, University of Milan, Milano, Lombardia, Italy
| | - Adriano Chio
- 'Rita Levi Montalcini' Department of Neuroscience, University of Turin, Torino, Piemonte, Italy
- ALS Center, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, Torino, Piemonte, Italy
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23
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Caputo M, La Bella V, Notaro A. Differential subcellular expression of P525LFUS as a putative biomarker for ALS phenoconversion. Neurol Genet 2020; 6:e410. [PMID: 32190731 PMCID: PMC7068678 DOI: 10.1212/nxg.0000000000000410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2019] [Accepted: 01/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Maria Caputo
- ALS Clinical Research Center and Laboratory of Neurochemistry, Department of Biomedicine Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostics (Bi.N.D.), University of Palermo, Italy
| | - Vincenzo La Bella
- ALS Clinical Research Center and Laboratory of Neurochemistry, Department of Biomedicine Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostics (Bi.N.D.), University of Palermo, Italy
| | - Antonietta Notaro
- ALS Clinical Research Center and Laboratory of Neurochemistry, Department of Biomedicine Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostics (Bi.N.D.), University of Palermo, Italy
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24
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Sprovieri T, Ungaro C, Perrone B, Naimo GD, Spataro R, Cavallaro S, La Bella V, Conforti FL. A novel S379A TARDBP mutation associated to late-onset sporadic ALS. Neurol Sci 2019; 40:2111-2118. [DOI: 10.1007/s10072-019-03943-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2019] [Accepted: 05/16/2019] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
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25
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Spataro R, Kousi M, Farhan SMK, Willer JR, Ross JP, Dion PA, Rouleau GA, Daly MJ, Neale BM, La Bella V, Katsanis N. Mutations in ATP13A2 (PARK9) are associated with an amyotrophic lateral sclerosis-like phenotype, implicating this locus in further phenotypic expansion. Hum Genomics 2019; 13:19. [PMID: 30992063 PMCID: PMC6469102 DOI: 10.1186/s40246-019-0203-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2019] [Accepted: 03/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis [1] is a genetically heterogeneous neurodegenerative disorder, characterized by late-onset degeneration of motor neurons leading to progressive limb and bulbar weakness, as well as of the respiratory muscles, which is the primary cause of disease fatality. To date, over 25 genes have been implicated as causative in ALS with C9orf72, SOD1, FUS, and TARDBP accounting for the majority of genetically positive cases. RESULTS We identified two patients of Italian and French ancestry with a clinical diagnosis of juvenile-onset ALS who were mutation-negative in any of the known ALS causative genes. Starting with the index case, a consanguineous family of Italian origin, we performed whole-exome sequencing and identified candidate pathogenic mutations in 35 genes, 27 of which were homozygous. We next parsed all candidates against a cohort of 3641 ALS cases; only ATP13A2 was found to harbor recessive changes, in a patient with juvenile-onset ALS, similar to the index case. In vivo complementation of ATP13A2 using a zebrafish surrogate model that focused on the assessment of motor neuron morphology and cerebellar integrity confirmed the role of this gene in central and peripheral nervous system maintenance and corroborated the damaging direction of effect of the change detected in the index case of this study. CONCLUSIONS We here expand the phenotypic spectrum associated with genetic variants in ATP13A2 that previously comprised Kufor-Rakeb syndrome, spastic paraplegia 78, and neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis type 12 (CLN12), to also include juvenile-onset ALS, as supported by both genetic and functional data. Our findings highlight the importance of establishing a complete genetic profile towards obtaining an accurate clinical diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Maria Kousi
- Center for Human Disease Modeling, Duke University Medical Center, Carmichael Building, 300 North Duke Street, Suite 48-118, Durham, NC, 27701, USA.,MIT Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL), Cambridge, MA, USA.,The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Sali M K Farhan
- Analytic and Translational Genetics Unit, Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.,Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA.,Program in Medical and Population Genetics, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Jason R Willer
- Center for Human Disease Modeling, Duke University Medical Center, Carmichael Building, 300 North Duke Street, Suite 48-118, Durham, NC, 27701, USA
| | - Jay P Ross
- Montreal Neurological Institute, and Hospital, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada.,Department of Human Genetics, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Patrick A Dion
- Montreal Neurological Institute, and Hospital, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada.,Department of Human Genetics, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Guy A Rouleau
- Montreal Neurological Institute, and Hospital, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada.,Department of Human Genetics, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Mark J Daly
- Analytic and Translational Genetics Unit, Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.,Program in Medical and Population Genetics, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA.,Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Benjamin M Neale
- Analytic and Translational Genetics Unit, Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.,Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA.,Program in Medical and Population Genetics, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Vincenzo La Bella
- ALS Clinical Research Center, Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostics, University of Palermo, via G La Loggia 1, 90129, Palermo, Italy.
| | - Nicholas Katsanis
- Center for Human Disease Modeling, Duke University Medical Center, Carmichael Building, 300 North Duke Street, Suite 48-118, Durham, NC, 27701, USA.
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La Bella V, Iannitto E, Cuffaro L, Spataro R. A rapidly progressive motor neuron disease associated to a natural killer cells leukaemia. J Neurol Sci 2019; 398:117-118. [PMID: 30708207 DOI: 10.1016/j.jns.2019.01.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2018] [Revised: 01/07/2019] [Accepted: 01/15/2019] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Vincenzo La Bella
- ALS Clinical Research Center, BioNeC, University of Palermo, 90129 Palermo, Italy.
| | - Emilio Iannitto
- Hematology Unit, Department of Oncology, University Hospital "P Giaccone", 90127 Palermo, Italy
| | - Luca Cuffaro
- ALS Clinical Research Center, BioNeC, University of Palermo, 90129 Palermo, Italy
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An H, Skelt L, Notaro A, Highley JR, Fox AH, La Bella V, Buchman VL, Shelkovnikova TA. ALS-linked FUS mutations confer loss and gain of function in the nucleus by promoting excessive formation of dysfunctional paraspeckles. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2019; 7:7. [PMID: 30642400 PMCID: PMC6330737 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-019-0658-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2018] [Accepted: 01/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Mutations in the FUS gene cause amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS-FUS). Mutant FUS is known to confer cytoplasmic gain of function but its effects in the nucleus are less understood. FUS is an essential component of paraspeckles, subnuclear bodies assembled on a lncRNA NEAT1. Paraspeckles may play a protective role specifically in degenerating spinal motor neurons. However it is still unknown how endogenous levels of mutant FUS would affect NEAT1/paraspeckles. Using novel cell lines with the FUS gene modified by CRISPR/Cas9 and human patient fibroblasts, we found that endogenous levels of mutant FUS cause accumulation of NEAT1 isoforms and paraspeckles. However, despite only mild cytoplasmic mislocalisation of FUS, paraspeckle integrity is compromised in these cells, as confirmed by reduced interaction of mutant FUS with core paraspeckle proteins NONO and SFPQ and increased NEAT1 extractability. This results in NEAT1 localisation outside paraspeckles, especially prominent under conditions of paraspeckle-inducing stress. Consistently, paraspeckle-dependent microRNA production, a readout for functionality of paraspeckles, is impaired in cells expressing mutant FUS. In line with the cellular data, we observed paraspeckle hyper-assembly in spinal neurons of ALS-FUS patients. Therefore, despite largely preserving its nuclear localisation, mutant FUS leads to loss (dysfunctional paraspeckles) and gain (excess of free NEAT1) of function in the nucleus. Perturbed fine structure and functionality of paraspeckles accompanied by accumulation of non-paraspeckle NEAT1 may contribute to the disease severity in ALS-FUS.
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Heilinger A, Ortner R, La Bella V, Lugo ZR, Chatelle C, Laureys S, Spataro R, Guger C. Performance Differences Using a Vibro-Tactile P300 BCI in LIS-Patients Diagnosed With Stroke and ALS. Front Neurosci 2018; 12:514. [PMID: 30108476 PMCID: PMC6080415 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2018.00514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2018] [Accepted: 07/10/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Patients with locked-in syndrome (LIS) are typically unable to move or communicate and can be misdiagnosed as patients with disorders of consciousness (DOC). Behavioral assessment scales are limited in their ability to detect signs of consciousness in this population. Recent research has shown that brain-computer interface (BCI) technology could supplement behavioral scales and allows to establish communication with these severely disabled patients. In this study, we compared the vibro-tactile P300 based BCI performance in two groups of patients with LIS of different etiologies: stroke (n = 6) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) (n = 9). Two vibro-tactile paradigms were administered to the patients to assess conscious function and command following. The first paradigm is called vibrotactile evoked potentials (EPs) with two tactors (VT2), where two stimulators were placed on the patient’s left and right wrist, respectively. The patients were asked to count the rare stimuli presented to one wrist to elicit a P300 complex to target stimuli only. In the second paradigm, namely vibrotactile EPs with three tactors (VT3), two stimulators were placed on the wrists as done in VT2, and one additional stimulator was placed on his/her back. The task was to count the rare stimuli presented to one wrist, to elicit the event-related potentials (ERPs). The VT3 paradigm could also be used for communication. For this purpose, the patient had to count the stimuli presented to the left hand to answer “yes” and to count the stimuli presented to the right hand to answer “no.” All patients except one performed above chance level in at least one run in the VT2 paradigm. In the VT3 paradigm, all 6 stroke patients and 8/9 ALS patients showed at least one run above chance. Overall, patients achieved higher accuracies in VT2 than VT3. LIS patients due to ALS exhibited higher accuracies that LIS patients due to stroke, in both the VT2 and VT3 paradigms. These initial data suggest that controlling this type of BCI requires specific cognitive abilities that may be impaired in certain sub-groups of severely motor-impaired patients. Future studies on a larger cohort of patients are needed to better identify and understand the underlying cortical mechanisms of these differences.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Rupert Ortner
- g.tec medical engineering Spain SL, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Vincenzo La Bella
- ALS Clinical Research Center, BioNeC, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Zulay R Lugo
- GIGA Consciousness, Coma Science Group, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium.,French Association of Locked-in Syndrome (ALIS), Paris, France.,Research Department, Hospital Universitari Institut Pere Mata, Reus, Spain
| | - Camille Chatelle
- GIGA Consciousness, Coma Science Group, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | - Steven Laureys
- GIGA Consciousness, Coma Science Group, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | - Rossella Spataro
- ALS Clinical Research Center, BioNeC, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy.,Centro Neurolesi Bonino Pulejo (IRCCS), Palermo, Italy
| | - Christoph Guger
- g.tec medical engineering GmbH, Schiedlberg, Austria.,Guger Technologies OG, Graz, Austria
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Guger C, Spataro R, Pellas F, Allison BZ, Heilinger A, Ortner R, Cho W, Xu R, La Bella V, Edlinger G, Annen J, Mandalá G, Chatelle C, Laureys S. Assessing Command-Following and Communication With Vibro-Tactile P300 Brain-Computer Interface Tools in Patients With Unresponsive Wakefulness Syndrome. Front Neurosci 2018; 12:423. [PMID: 30008659 PMCID: PMC6034093 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2018.00423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2018] [Accepted: 06/04/2018] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Persons diagnosed with disorders of consciousness (DOC) typically suffer from motor disablities, and thus assessing their spared cognitive abilities can be difficult. Recent research from several groups has shown that non-invasive brain-computer interface (BCI) technology can provide assessments of these patients' cognitive function that can supplement information provided through conventional behavioral assessment methods. In rare cases, BCIs may provide a binary communication mechanism. Here, we present results from a vibrotactile BCI assessment aiming at detecting command-following and communication in 12 unresponsive wakefulness syndrome (UWS) patients. Two different paradigms were administered at least once for every patient: (i) VT2 with two vibro-tactile stimulators fixed on the patient's left and right wrists and (ii) VT3 with three vibro-tactile stimulators fixed on both wrists and on the back. The patients were instructed to mentally count either the stimuli on the left or right wrist, which may elicit a robust P300 for the target wrist only. The EEG data from −100 to +600 ms around each stimulus were extracted and sub-divided into 8 data segments. This data was classified with linear discriminant analysis (using a 10 × 10 cross validation) and used to calibrate a BCI to assess command following and YES/NO communication abilities. The grand average VT2 accuracy across all patients was 38.3%, and the VT3 accuracy was 26.3%. Two patients achieved VT3 accuracy ≥80% and went through communication testing. One of these patients answered 4 out of 5 questions correctly in session 1, whereas the other patient answered 6/10 and 7/10 questions correctly in sessions 2 and 4. In 6 other patients, the VT2 or VT3 accuracy was above the significance threshold of 23% for at least one run, while in 4 patients, the accuracy was always below this threshold. The study highlights the importance of repeating EEG assessments to increase the chance of detecting command-following in patients with severe brain injury. Furthermore, the study shows that BCI technology can test command following in chronic UWS patients and can allow some of these patients to answer YES/NO questions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christoph Guger
- Guger Technologies OG, Graz, Austria.,g.tec Medical Engineering GmbH, Schiedlberg, Austria
| | - Rossella Spataro
- IRCCS Centro Neurolesi Bonino Pulejo, Palermo, Italy.,ALS Clinical Research Center, BioNeC, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Frederic Pellas
- Post-ICU Neurorehabilitation Unit, University Hospital of Nîmes, Nîmes, France
| | - Brendan Z Allison
- Department of Cognitive Science, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States
| | | | - Rupert Ortner
- g.tec Medical Engineering GmbH, Schiedlberg, Austria
| | - Woosang Cho
- g.tec Medical Engineering GmbH, Schiedlberg, Austria
| | - Ren Xu
- Guger Technologies OG, Graz, Austria
| | - Vincenzo La Bella
- ALS Clinical Research Center, BioNeC, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Günter Edlinger
- Guger Technologies OG, Graz, Austria.,g.tec Medical Engineering GmbH, Schiedlberg, Austria
| | - Jitka Annen
- Coma Science Group, GIGA Consciousness, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | - Giorgio Mandalá
- Rehabilitation Unit, Buccheri La Ferla Hospital, Palermo, Italy
| | - Camille Chatelle
- Coma Science Group, GIGA Consciousness, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | - Steven Laureys
- Coma Science Group, GIGA Consciousness, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
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30
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Spataro R, Heilinger A, Allison B, De Cicco D, Marchese S, Gregoretti C, La Bella V, Guger C. Preserved somatosensory discrimination predicts consciousness recovery in unresponsive wakefulness syndrome. Clin Neurophysiol 2018; 129:1130-1136. [DOI: 10.1016/j.clinph.2018.02.131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2017] [Revised: 01/27/2018] [Accepted: 02/24/2018] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
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31
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Taiello AC, Spataro R, La Bella V. The Primitive Palmomental Reflex in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Eur Neurol 2018; 79:187-191. [PMID: 29566377 DOI: 10.1159/000487993] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2017] [Accepted: 02/22/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The palmomental reflex (PMR) is a primitive reflex that might be released due to inhibition in adulthood. It has been associated with several neurodegenerative conditions. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the frequency of PMR in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). PATIENTS AND METHODS Non-demented ALS patients (n = 179) were recruited. Two groups of disease controls were enrolled: (a) non-demented patients with other neurological disorders (NC; n = 86, mean age 60 ± 14 years); (b) healthy subjects, healthy controls (HC; n = 175, mean age 61 ± 12 years). PMR was elicited by a brisk stroke along the thenar eminence of the right hand with a key or a pen. RESULTS The PMR could be elicited in 46% of the ALS patients, compared to 29% of NC and 16% of HC (p < 0.001). A multivariate analysis showed that bulbar-onset and female gender are associated with an increased risk of PMR. CONCLUSION We demonstrate a higher frequency of the PMR in ALS patients compared to NC or HC. Its expression increases with age, being higher in bulbar-onset patients. Given that the reflex circuit is located in the brain stem, its release due to inhibition might be associated to the presence of a cortico-bulbar tract dysfunction in ALS.
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Nicolas A, Kenna KP, Renton AE, Ticozzi N, Faghri F, Chia R, Dominov JA, Kenna BJ, Nalls MA, Keagle P, Rivera AM, van Rheenen W, Murphy NA, van Vugt JJFA, Geiger JT, Van der Spek RA, Pliner HA, Shankaracharya, Smith BN, Marangi G, Topp SD, Abramzon Y, Gkazi AS, Eicher JD, Kenna A, Mora G, Calvo A, Mazzini L, Riva N, Mandrioli J, Caponnetto C, Battistini S, Volanti P, La Bella V, Conforti FL, Borghero G, Messina S, Simone IL, Trojsi F, Salvi F, Logullo FO, D'Alfonso S, Corrado L, Capasso M, Ferrucci L, Moreno CDAM, Kamalakaran S, Goldstein DB, Gitler AD, Harris T, Myers RM, Phatnani H, Musunuri RL, Evani US, Abhyankar A, Zody MC, Kaye J, Finkbeiner S, Wyman SK, LeNail A, Lima L, Fraenkel E, Svendsen CN, Thompson LM, Van Eyk JE, Berry JD, Miller TM, Kolb SJ, Cudkowicz M, Baxi E, Benatar M, Taylor JP, Rampersaud E, Wu G, Wuu J, Lauria G, Verde F, Fogh I, Tiloca C, Comi GP, Sorarù G, Cereda C, Corcia P, Laaksovirta H, Myllykangas L, Jansson L, Valori M, Ealing J, Hamdalla H, Rollinson S, Pickering-Brown S, Orrell RW, Sidle KC, Malaspina A, Hardy J, Singleton AB, Johnson JO, Arepalli S, Sapp PC, McKenna-Yasek D, Polak M, Asress S, Al-Sarraj S, King A, Troakes C, Vance C, de Belleroche J, Baas F, Ten Asbroek ALMA, Muñoz-Blanco JL, Hernandez DG, Ding J, Gibbs JR, Scholz SW, Floeter MK, Campbell RH, Landi F, Bowser R, Pulst SM, Ravits JM, MacGowan DJL, Kirby J, Pioro EP, Pamphlett R, Broach J, Gerhard G, Dunckley TL, Brady CB, Kowall NW, Troncoso JC, Le Ber I, Mouzat K, Lumbroso S, Heiman-Patterson TD, Kamel F, Van Den Bosch L, Baloh RH, Strom TM, Meitinger T, Shatunov A, Van Eijk KR, de Carvalho M, Kooyman M, Middelkoop B, Moisse M, McLaughlin RL, Van Es MA, Weber M, Boylan KB, Van Blitterswijk M, Rademakers R, Morrison KE, Basak AN, Mora JS, Drory VE, Shaw PJ, Turner MR, Talbot K, Hardiman O, Williams KL, Fifita JA, Nicholson GA, Blair IP, Rouleau GA, Esteban-Pérez J, García-Redondo A, Al-Chalabi A, Rogaeva E, Zinman L, Ostrow LW, Maragakis NJ, Rothstein JD, Simmons Z, Cooper-Knock J, Brice A, Goutman SA, Feldman EL, Gibson SB, Taroni F, Ratti A, Gellera C, Van Damme P, Robberecht W, Fratta P, Sabatelli M, Lunetta C, Ludolph AC, Andersen PM, Weishaupt JH, Camu W, Trojanowski JQ, Van Deerlin VM, Brown RH, van den Berg LH, Veldink JH, Harms MB, Glass JD, Stone DJ, Tienari P, Silani V, Chiò A, Shaw CE, Traynor BJ, Landers JE. Genome-wide Analyses Identify KIF5A as a Novel ALS Gene. Neuron 2018; 97:1267-1288. [PMID: 29566793 PMCID: PMC5867896 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2018.02.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 420] [Impact Index Per Article: 70.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2017] [Revised: 01/21/2018] [Accepted: 02/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
To identify novel genes associated with ALS, we undertook two lines of investigation. We carried out a genome-wide association study comparing 20,806 ALS cases and 59,804 controls. Independently, we performed a rare variant burden analysis comparing 1,138 index familial ALS cases and 19,494 controls. Through both approaches, we identified kinesin family member 5A (KIF5A) as a novel gene associated with ALS. Interestingly, mutations predominantly in the N-terminal motor domain of KIF5A are causative for two neurodegenerative diseases: hereditary spastic paraplegia (SPG10) and Charcot-Marie-Tooth type 2 (CMT2). In contrast, ALS-associated mutations are primarily located at the C-terminal cargo-binding tail domain and patients harboring loss-of-function mutations displayed an extended survival relative to typical ALS cases. Taken together, these results broaden the phenotype spectrum resulting from mutations in KIF5A and strengthen the role of cytoskeletal defects in the pathogenesis of ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aude Nicolas
- Neuromuscular Diseases Research Section, Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute on Aging, NIH, Porter Neuroscience Research Center, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Kevin P Kenna
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Alan E Renton
- Neuromuscular Diseases Research Section, Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute on Aging, NIH, Porter Neuroscience Research Center, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA; Ronald M. Loeb Center for Alzheimer's Disease, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Nicola Ticozzi
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy; Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, "Dino Ferrari" Center - Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan 20122, Italy
| | - Faraz Faghri
- Molecular Genetics Section, Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute on Aging, NIH, Porter Neuroscience Research Center, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; Department of Computer Science, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Ruth Chia
- Neuromuscular Diseases Research Section, Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute on Aging, NIH, Porter Neuroscience Research Center, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Janice A Dominov
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Brendan J Kenna
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Mike A Nalls
- Molecular Genetics Section, Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute on Aging, NIH, Porter Neuroscience Research Center, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; Data Tecnica International, Glen Echo, MD, USA
| | - Pamela Keagle
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Alberto M Rivera
- Neuromuscular Diseases Research Section, Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute on Aging, NIH, Porter Neuroscience Research Center, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Wouter van Rheenen
- Department of Neurology, Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Natalie A Murphy
- Neuromuscular Diseases Research Section, Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute on Aging, NIH, Porter Neuroscience Research Center, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Joke J F A van Vugt
- Department of Neurology, Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Joshua T Geiger
- Neurodegenerative Diseases Research Unit, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Rick A Van der Spek
- Department of Neurology, Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Hannah A Pliner
- Neuromuscular Diseases Research Section, Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute on Aging, NIH, Porter Neuroscience Research Center, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Shankaracharya
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Bradley N Smith
- Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE5 9RS, UK
| | - Giuseppe Marangi
- Neuromuscular Diseases Research Section, Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute on Aging, NIH, Porter Neuroscience Research Center, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; Institute of Genomic Medicine, Catholic University, Roma, Italy
| | - Simon D Topp
- Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE5 9RS, UK
| | - Yevgeniya Abramzon
- Neuromuscular Diseases Research Section, Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute on Aging, NIH, Porter Neuroscience Research Center, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; Sobell Department of Motor Neuroscience and Movement Disorders, University College London, Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | - Athina Soragia Gkazi
- Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE5 9RS, UK
| | - John D Eicher
- Genetics and Pharmacogenomics, MRL, Merck & Co., Inc., Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Aoife Kenna
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Gabriele Mora
- ALS Center, Salvatore Maugeri Foundation, IRCCS, Mistretta, Messina, Italy
| | - Andrea Calvo
- "Rita Levi Montalcini" Department of Neuroscience, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | | | - Nilo Riva
- Department of Neurology, Institute of Experimental Neurology, Division of Neuroscience, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Jessica Mandrioli
- Department of Neuroscience, St. Agostino Estense Hospital, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria di Modena, Modena, Italy
| | - Claudia Caponnetto
- Department of Neurosciences, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Rehabilitation, Maternal and Child Health, Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy
| | - Stefania Battistini
- Department of Medical, Surgical and Neurological Sciences, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Paolo Volanti
- ALS Center, Salvatore Maugeri Foundation, IRCCS, Mistretta, Messina, Italy
| | | | - Francesca L Conforti
- Institute of Neurological Sciences, National Research Council, Mangone, Cosenza, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Borghero
- Department of Neurology, Azienda Universitario Ospedaliera di Cagliari and University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Sonia Messina
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina and Nemo Sud Clinical Center for Neuromuscular Diseases, Aurora Foundation, Messina, Italy
| | - Isabella L Simone
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neurosciences and Sense Organs, University of Bari, Bari, Italy
| | - Francesca Trojsi
- Department of Medical, Surgical, Neurological, Metabolic and Aging Sciences, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli," Naples, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Salvi
- "Il Bene" Center for Immunological and Rare Neurological Diseases at Bellaria Hospital, IRCCS, Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche, Bologna, Italy
| | | | - Sandra D'Alfonso
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Piedmont, Novara, Italy
| | - Lucia Corrado
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Piedmont, Novara, Italy
| | | | - Luigi Ferrucci
- Longitudinal Studies Section, Clinical Research Branch, National Institute on Aging, NIH, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
| | | | | | - David B Goldstein
- Institute for Genomic Medicine, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Aaron D Gitler
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Tim Harris
- Bioverativ, 225 2nd Avenue, Waltham, MA 02145, USA
| | - Richard M Myers
- HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, Huntsville, AL 35806, USA
| | - Hemali Phatnani
- Center for Genomics of Neurodegenerative Diseases (CGND), New York Genome Center, New York, NY, USA
| | | | | | | | - Michael C Zody
- Computational Biology, New York Genome Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Julia Kaye
- Gladstone Institute of Neurological Disease, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Steven Finkbeiner
- Gladstone Institute of Neurological Disease, San Francisco, CA, USA; Departments of Neurology and Physiology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Stacia K Wyman
- Gladstone Institute of Neurological Disease, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Alex LeNail
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Leandro Lima
- Gladstone Institute of Neurological Disease, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Ernest Fraenkel
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Broad Institute, 415 Main Street, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Clive N Svendsen
- Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA; Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - Leslie M Thompson
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Institute of Memory Impairment and Neurological Disorders, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Institute of Memory Impairment and Neurological Disorders, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Jennifer E Van Eyk
- The Heart Institute and Department of Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - James D Berry
- Harvard Medical School, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), Boston, MA, USA; Neurological Clinical Research Institute (NCRI), Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Timothy M Miller
- Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Stephen J Kolb
- Department of Neurology, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Merit Cudkowicz
- Harvard Medical School, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), Boston, MA, USA; Neurological Clinical Research Institute (NCRI), Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Emily Baxi
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Michael Benatar
- Department of Neurology, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - J Paul Taylor
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD 20815, USA; Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Evadnie Rampersaud
- Department of Computational Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Gang Wu
- Department of Computational Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Joanne Wuu
- Department of Neurology, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Giuseppe Lauria
- 3rd Neurology Unit, Motor Neuron Diseases Center, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico "Carlo Besta," and Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences "Luigi Sacco," University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Federico Verde
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy
| | - Isabella Fogh
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy; Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE5 9RS, UK
| | - Cinzia Tiloca
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy
| | - Giacomo P Comi
- Neurology Unit, IRCCS Foundation Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Gianni Sorarù
- Department of Neurosciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Cristina Cereda
- Genomic and Post-Genomic Center, IRCCS Mondino Foundation, Pavia, Italy
| | | | - Hannu Laaksovirta
- Department of Neurology, Helsinki University Hospital and Molecular Neurology Programme, Biomedicum, University of Helsinki, Helsinki FIN-02900, Finland
| | - Liisa Myllykangas
- Department of Pathology, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Lilja Jansson
- Department of Neurology, Helsinki University Hospital and Molecular Neurology Programme, Biomedicum, University of Helsinki, Helsinki FIN-02900, Finland
| | - Miko Valori
- Department of Neurology, Helsinki University Hospital and Molecular Neurology Programme, Biomedicum, University of Helsinki, Helsinki FIN-02900, Finland
| | - John Ealing
- Greater Manchester Neurosciences Centre, Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust, Salford M6 8HD, UK
| | - Hisham Hamdalla
- Greater Manchester Neurosciences Centre, Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust, Salford M6 8HD, UK
| | - Sara Rollinson
- Faculty of Human and Medical Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT, UK
| | | | - Richard W Orrell
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Neurology, University College London, London NW3 2PG, UK
| | - Katie C Sidle
- Department of Molecular Neuroscience and Reta Lila Weston Laboratories, Institute of Neurology, University College London, Queen Square House, London WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Andrea Malaspina
- Centre for Neuroscience and Trauma, Blizard Institute, Queen Mary University of London, NorthEast London and Essex Regional Motor Neuron Disease Care Centre, London E1 2AT, UK
| | - John Hardy
- Department of Molecular Neuroscience and Reta Lila Weston Laboratories, Institute of Neurology, University College London, Queen Square House, London WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Andrew B Singleton
- Molecular Genetics Section, Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute on Aging, NIH, Porter Neuroscience Research Center, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Janel O Johnson
- Neuromuscular Diseases Research Section, Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute on Aging, NIH, Porter Neuroscience Research Center, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Sampath Arepalli
- Genomics Technology Group, Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute on Aging, NIH, Porter Neuroscience Research Center, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Peter C Sapp
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Diane McKenna-Yasek
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Meraida Polak
- Department of Neurology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Seneshaw Asress
- Department of Neurology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Safa Al-Sarraj
- Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE5 9RS, UK
| | - Andrew King
- Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE5 9RS, UK
| | - Claire Troakes
- Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE5 9RS, UK
| | - Caroline Vance
- Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE5 9RS, UK
| | | | - Frank Baas
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | | | - José Luis Muñoz-Blanco
- ALS-Neuromuscular Unit, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, IISGM, Madrid, Spain
| | - Dena G Hernandez
- Genomics Technology Group, Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute on Aging, NIH, Porter Neuroscience Research Center, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Jinhui Ding
- Computational Biology Group, Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute on Aging, NIH, Porter Neuroscience Research Center, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - J Raphael Gibbs
- Computational Biology Group, Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute on Aging, NIH, Porter Neuroscience Research Center, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Sonja W Scholz
- Neurodegenerative Diseases Research Unit, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Mary Kay Floeter
- Motor Neuron Disorders Unit, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Roy H Campbell
- Department of Computer Science, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Francesco Landi
- Center for Geriatric Medicine, Department of Geriatrics, Neurosciences and Orthopedics, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Rome 00168, Italy
| | - Robert Bowser
- Division of Neurology, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ, USA
| | - Stefan M Pulst
- Department of Neurology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - John M Ravits
- Department of Neuroscience, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Daniel J L MacGowan
- Mount Sinai Beth Israel Hospital, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Janine Kirby
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN), University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Erik P Pioro
- Department of Neurology, Neuromuscular Center, Neurological Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Roger Pamphlett
- Discipline of Pathology, Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, 94 Mallett Street, Camperdown, NSW 2050, Australia
| | - James Broach
- Department of Biochemistry, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA
| | - Glenn Gerhard
- Department of Pathology, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA
| | - Travis L Dunckley
- Neurogenomics Division, Translational Genomics Research Institute, Phoenix, AZ, USA
| | - Christopher B Brady
- Research and Development Service, Veterans Affairs Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Neurology, Program in Behavioral Neuroscience, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Neil W Kowall
- Neurology Service, VA Boston Healthcare System and Boston University Alzheimer's Disease Center, Boston, MA 02130, USA
| | - Juan C Troncoso
- Departments of Pathology and Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Isabelle Le Ber
- Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06, Inserm, CNRS, Institut du Cerveau et la Moelle (ICM), Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP) - Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France
| | - Kevin Mouzat
- INM, University Montpellier, Montpellier, France; Department of Biochemistry, CHU Nîmes, Nîmes, France
| | - Serge Lumbroso
- INM, University Montpellier, Montpellier, France; Department of Biochemistry, CHU Nîmes, Nîmes, France
| | - Terry D Heiman-Patterson
- Department of Neurology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Department of Neurology, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Freya Kamel
- Epidemiology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Durham, NC 27709, USA
| | - Ludo Van Den Bosch
- KU Leuven - University of Leuven, Department of Neurosciences, Experimental Neurology and Leuven Research Institute for Neuroscience and Disease (LIND), B-3000 Leuven, Belgium; VIB, Center for Brain and Disease Research, Laboratory of Neurobiology, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Robert H Baloh
- Department of Neurology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Tim M Strom
- Institute of Human Genetics, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany; Institute of Human Genetics, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Thomas Meitinger
- Institute of Human Genetics, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany; Institute of Human Genetics, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany; Munich Cluster for Systems Neurology (SyNergy), Munich, Germany
| | - Aleksey Shatunov
- Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE5 9RS, UK
| | - Kristel R Van Eijk
- Department of Neurology, Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Mamede de Carvalho
- Institute of Physiology, Institute of Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal; Department of Neurosciences, Hospital de Santa Maria-CHLN, Lisbon, Portugal
| | | | - Bas Middelkoop
- Department of Neurology, Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Matthieu Moisse
- KU Leuven - University of Leuven, Department of Neurosciences, Experimental Neurology and Leuven Research Institute for Neuroscience and Disease (LIND), B-3000 Leuven, Belgium; VIB, Center for Brain and Disease Research, Laboratory of Neurobiology, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Russell L McLaughlin
- Population Genetics Laboratory, Smurfit Institute of Genetics, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Republic of Ireland
| | - Michael A Van Es
- Department of Neurology, Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Markus Weber
- Neuromuscular Diseases Center/ALS Clinic, Kantonsspital St. Gallen, St. Gallen, Switzerland
| | - Kevin B Boylan
- Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic Florida, Jacksonville, FL 32224, USA
| | | | - Rosa Rademakers
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, USA
| | | | - A Nazli Basak
- Suna and Inan Kırac Foundation, Neurodegeneration Research Laboratory, Bogazici University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Jesús S Mora
- ALS Unit/Neurology, Hospital San Rafael, Madrid, Spain
| | - Vivian E Drory
- Department of Neurology, Tel-Aviv Sourasky Medical Centre, Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | - Pamela J Shaw
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN), University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Martin R Turner
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Kevin Talbot
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Orla Hardiman
- Academic Unit of Neurology, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Republic of Ireland
| | - Kelly L Williams
- Centre for MND Research, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia
| | - Jennifer A Fifita
- Centre for MND Research, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia
| | - Garth A Nicholson
- Centre for MND Research, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia; ANZAC Research Institute, Concord Hospital, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2139, Australia
| | - Ian P Blair
- Centre for MND Research, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia
| | - Guy A Rouleau
- Montreal Neurological Institute, Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Jesús Esteban-Pérez
- Unidad de ELA, Instituto de Investigación Hospital 12 de Octubre de Madrid, SERMAS, and Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER U-723), Madrid, Spain
| | - Alberto García-Redondo
- Unidad de ELA, Instituto de Investigación Hospital 12 de Octubre de Madrid, SERMAS, and Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER U-723), Madrid, Spain
| | - Ammar Al-Chalabi
- Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE5 9RS, UK
| | - Ekaterina Rogaeva
- Tanz Centre for Research of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3H2, Canada
| | - Lorne Zinman
- Division of Neurology, Department of Internal Medicine, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M4N 3M5, Canada
| | - Lyle W Ostrow
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | | | | | - Zachary Simmons
- Department of Neurology, Penn State Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, PA, USA
| | - Johnathan Cooper-Knock
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN), University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Alexis Brice
- Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06, Inserm, CNRS, Institut du Cerveau et la Moelle (ICM), Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP) - Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France
| | | | - Eva L Feldman
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Summer B Gibson
- Department of Neurology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Franco Taroni
- Unit of Genetics of Neurodegenerative and Metabolic Diseases, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico "Carlo Besta," Milan 20133, Italy
| | - Antonia Ratti
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy; Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, "Dino Ferrari" Center - Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan 20122, Italy
| | - Cinzia Gellera
- Unit of Genetics of Neurodegenerative and Metabolic Diseases, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico "Carlo Besta," Milan 20133, Italy
| | - Philip Van Damme
- KU Leuven - University of Leuven, Department of Neurosciences, Experimental Neurology and Leuven Research Institute for Neuroscience and Disease (LIND), B-3000 Leuven, Belgium; VIB, Center for Brain and Disease Research, Laboratory of Neurobiology, Leuven, Belgium; University Hospitals Leuven, Department of Neurology, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Wim Robberecht
- KU Leuven - University of Leuven, Department of Neurosciences, Experimental Neurology and Leuven Research Institute for Neuroscience and Disease (LIND), B-3000 Leuven, Belgium; VIB, Center for Brain and Disease Research, Laboratory of Neurobiology, Leuven, Belgium; University Hospitals Leuven, Department of Neurology, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Pietro Fratta
- Sobell Department of Motor Neuroscience and Movement Disorders, University College London, Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | - Mario Sabatelli
- Centro Clinico NeMO, Institute of Neurology, Catholic University, Largo F. Vito 1, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Christian Lunetta
- NEuroMuscular Omnicenter (NEMO), Serena Onlus Foundation, Milan, Italy
| | - Albert C Ludolph
- Neurology Department, Ulm University, Albert-Einstein-Allee 11, 89081 Ulm, Germany
| | - Peter M Andersen
- Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Neuroscience, Umeå University, Umeå SE-90185, Sweden
| | - Jochen H Weishaupt
- Neurology Department, Ulm University, Albert-Einstein-Allee 11, 89081 Ulm, Germany
| | - William Camu
- ALS Center, CHU Gui de Chauliac, University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - John Q Trojanowski
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Vivianna M Van Deerlin
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Robert H Brown
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Leonard H van den Berg
- Department of Neurology, Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Jan H Veldink
- Department of Neurology, Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Matthew B Harms
- Department of Neurology, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Jonathan D Glass
- Department of Neurology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - David J Stone
- Genetics and Pharmacogenomics, MRL, Merck & Co., Inc., West Point, PA 19486, USA
| | - Pentti Tienari
- Department of Neurology, Helsinki University Hospital and Molecular Neurology Programme, Biomedicum, University of Helsinki, Helsinki FIN-02900, Finland
| | - Vincenzo Silani
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy; Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, "Dino Ferrari" Center - Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan 20122, Italy
| | - Adriano Chiò
- "Rita Levi Montalcini" Department of Neuroscience, University of Turin, Turin, Italy; Neuroscience Institute of Torino, Turin 10124, Italy
| | - Christopher E Shaw
- Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE5 9RS, UK
| | - Bryan J Traynor
- Neuromuscular Diseases Research Section, Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute on Aging, NIH, Porter Neuroscience Research Center, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA.
| | - John E Landers
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA.
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Lo Bello M, Di Fini F, Notaro A, Spataro R, Conforti FL, La Bella V. ALS-Related Mutant FUS Protein Is Mislocalized to Cytoplasm and Is Recruited into Stress Granules of Fibroblasts from Asymptomatic FUS P525L Mutation Carriers. NEURODEGENER DIS 2017; 17:292-303. [PMID: 29035885 DOI: 10.1159/000480085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2017] [Accepted: 08/08/2017] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) shows a strong genetic basis, with SOD1, FUS, TARDBP, and C9ORF72 being the genes most frequently involved. This has allowed identification of asymptomatic mutation carriers, which may be of help in understanding the molecular changes preceding disease onset. OBJECTIVES We studied the cellular expression of FUS protein and the effect of heat-shock- and dithiothreitol-induced stress in fibroblasts from FUS P525L mutation carriers, healthy controls, and patients with sporadic ALS. METHODS Western blots and immunocytochemistry were performed to study the subcellular localization of FUS protein. Control and stressed cells were double stained with FUS and the stress marker TIA-R. RESULTS Fibroblasts from healthy controls and sporadic ALS cases showed a prominent nuclear FUS expression. In the 2 FUS P525L mutation carriers, instead, most cells showed a protein localization in both nucleus and cytoplasm, or exclusively in the cytoplasm. Stress prompted the formation of cytoplasmic granules in all subjects and in sporadic ALS FUS mislocalization to the cytoplasm. Cytoplasmic FUS was recruited into stress granules, which showed a time-dependent decrease in all subjects. However, in the FUS P525L fibroblasts, the granules persisted longer, and they were more numerous than those detected in the cells from controls and sporadic ALS patients. CONCLUSIONS We show that in fibroblasts of FUS P525L mutation carriers, FUS mislocalized to the cytoplasm where it redistributed into stress granules with likely a dose effect, i.e. a higher number of cells with granules, which persist longer, than in controls and ALS cases. These data represent an early molecular change occurring before ALS onset, suggesting a transient preaggregative state.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margherita Lo Bello
- ALS Clinical Research Center and Laboratory of Neurochemistry, Department of Experimental Biomedicine and Clinical Neurosciences, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
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Bella ED, Tramacere I, Antonini G, Borghero G, Capasso M, Caponnetto C, Chiò A, Corbo M, Eleopra R, Filosto M, Giannini F, Granieri E, Bella VL, Lunetta C, Mandrioli J, Mazzini L, Messina S, Monsurrò MR, Mora G, Riva N, Rizzi R, Siciliano G, Silani V, Simone I, Sorarù G, Volanti P, Lauria G. Protein misfolding, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and guanabenz: protocol for a phase II RCT with futility design (ProMISe trial). BMJ Open 2017; 7:e015434. [PMID: 28801400 PMCID: PMC5724081 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2016-015434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Recent studies suggest that endoplasmic reticulum stress may play a critical role in the pathogenesis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) through an altered regulation of the proteostasis, the cellular pathway-balancing protein synthesis and degradation. A key mechanism is thought to be the dephosphorylation of eIF2α, a factor involved in the initiation of protein translation. Guanabenz is an alpha-2-adrenergic receptor agonist safely used in past to treat mild hypertension and is now an orphan drug. A pharmacological action recently discovered is its ability to modulate the synthesis of proteins by the activation of translational factors preventing misfolded protein accumulation and endoplasmic reticulum overload. Guanabenz proved to rescue motoneurons from misfolding protein stress both in in vitro and in vivo ALS models, making it a potential disease-modifying drug in patients. It is conceivable investigating whether its neuroprotective effects based on the inhibition of eIF2α dephosphorylation can change the progression of ALS. METHODS AND ANALYSES Protocolised Management In Sepsis is a multicentre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase II clinical trial with futility design. We will investigate clinical outcomes, safety, tolerability and biomarkers of neurodegeneration in patients with ALS treated with guanabenz or riluzole alone for 6 months. The primary aim is to test if guanabenz can reduce the proportion of patients progressed to a higher stage of disease at 6 months compared with their baseline stage as measured by the ALS Milano-Torino Staging (ALS-MITOS) system and to the placebo group. Secondary aims are safety, tolerability and change in at least one biomarker of neurodegeneration in the guanabenz arm compared with the placebo group. Findings will provide reliable data on the likelihood that guanabenz can slow the course of ALS in a phase III trial. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION The study protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee of IRCCS 'Carlo Besta Foundation' of Milan (Eudract no. 2014-005367-32 Pre-results) based on the Helsinki declaration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleonora Dalla Bella
- 3rd Neurology Unit and ALS Centre, IRCCS ‘Carlo Besta’ Neurological Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Irene Tramacere
- Scientific Direction, IRCCS ‘Carlo Besta’ Neurological Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Giovanni Antonini
- Neuromuscular Disease Unit, Sant’Andrea Hospital and University of Rome ‘Sapienza’, Rome, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Borghero
- Neurologic Unit, Monserrato University Hospital, Cagliari University, Cagliari, Italy
| | | | - Claudia Caponnetto
- Department of Neurosciences, Rehabilitatioņ Ophthalmology, Genetics, Mother and Child Disease, IRCCS University Hospital San Martino IST, Genova, Italy
| | - Adriano Chiò
- Department of Neurosciences, ALS Centre, ‘Rita Levi Montalcini’, University of Turin and Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Città della Salute e della Scienza, Turin, Italy
| | - Massimo Corbo
- Department of Neurorehabilitation, Casa Cura Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Roberto Eleopra
- Neurology Unit, S Maria della Misericordia University Hospital, Udine, Italy
| | | | - Fabio Giannini
- Department of Medical and Surgery Sciences and Neurosciences, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | | | | | | | - Jessica Mandrioli
- Department of Neurosciences, S Agostino-Estense Hospital, Modena, Italy
| | - Letizia Mazzini
- ALS Centre, Neurologic Clinic, Maggiore della Carità University Hospital, Novara;, Italy
| | | | | | - Gabriele Mora
- ALS Center, ‘Salvatore Maugeri’ Clinical-Scientific Institutes, Milan, Italy
| | - Nilo Riva
- Department of Neurology IRCCS ‘San Raffaele’ Hospital, Milan, Italy
| | - Romana Rizzi
- Neurology Unit, Department of Neuro-Motor Diseases, IRCCS Arcispedale Santa Maria Nuova, Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | - Gabriele Siciliano
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Neurology Unit, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Silani
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano - Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, "Dino Ferrari" Center, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Isabella Simone
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neurosciences and Sense Organs, University of Bari, Bari, Italy
| | - Gianni Sorarù
- Department of Neurosciences, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Paolo Volanti
- Intensive Neurorehabilitation Unit, IRCCS ‘Salvatore Maugeri’ Foundation, Mistretta, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Lauria
- 3rd Neurology Unit and ALS Centre, IRCCS ‘Carlo Besta’ Neurological Institute, Milan, Italy
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Sorbello R, Tramonte S, Giardina ME, La Bella V, Spataro R, Allison B, Guger C, Chella A. A Human-Humanoid Interaction Through the Use of BCI for Locked-In ALS Patients Using Neuro-Biological Feedback Fusion. IEEE Trans Neural Syst Rehabil Eng 2017; 26:487-497. [PMID: 28727554 DOI: 10.1109/tnsre.2017.2728140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
This paper illustrates a new architecture for a human-humanoid interaction based on EEG-brain computer interface (EEG-BCI) for patients affected by locked-in syndrome caused by Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). The proposed architecture is able to recognise users' mental state accordingly to the biofeedback factor , based on users' attention, intention, and focus, that is used to elicit a robot to perform customised behaviours. Experiments have been conducted with a population of eight subjects: four ALS patients in a near locked-in status with normal ocular movement and four healthy control subjects enrolled for age, education, and computer expertise. The results showed as three ALS patients have completed the task with 96.67% success; the healthy controls with 100% success; the fourth ALS has been excluded from the results for his low general attention during the task; the analysis of factor highlights as ALS subjects have shown stronger (81.20%) than healthy controls (76.77%). Finally, a post-hoc analysis is provided to show how robotic feedback helps in maintaining focus on expected task. These preliminary data suggest that ALS patients could successfully control a humanoid robot through a BCI architecture, potentially enabling them to conduct some everyday tasks and extend their presence in the environment.
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Guger C, Spataro R, Allison BZ, Heilinger A, Ortner R, Cho W, La Bella V. Complete Locked-in and Locked-in Patients: Command Following Assessment and Communication with Vibro-Tactile P300 and Motor Imagery Brain-Computer Interface Tools. Front Neurosci 2017; 11:251. [PMID: 28529473 PMCID: PMC5418541 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2017.00251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2017] [Accepted: 04/18/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Many patients with locked-in syndrome (LIS) or complete locked-in syndrome (CLIS) also need brain-computer interface (BCI) platforms that do not rely on visual stimuli and are easy to use. We investigate command following and communication functions of mindBEAGLE with 9 LIS, 3 CLIS patients and three healthy controls. This tests were done with vibro-tactile stimulation with 2 or 3 stimulators (VT2 and VT3 mode) and with motor imagery (MI) paradigms. In VT2 the stimulators are fixed on the left and right wrist and the participant has the task to count the stimuli on the target hand in order to elicit a P300 response. In VT3 mode an additional stimulator is placed as a distractor on the shoulder and the participant is counting stimuli either on the right or left hand. In motor imagery mode the participant is instructed to imagine left or right hand movement. VT3 and MI also allow the participant to answer yes and no questions. Healthy controls achieved a mean assessment accuracy of 100% in VT2, 93% in VT3, and 73% in MI modes. They were able to communicate with VT3 (86.7%) and MI (83.3%) after 2 training runs. The patients achieved a mean accuracy of 76.6% in VT2, 63.1% in VT3, and 58.2% in MI modes after 1-2 training runs. 9 out of 12 LIS patients could communicate by using the vibro-tactile P300 paradigms (answered on average 8 out of 10 questions correctly) and 3 out of 12 could communicate with the motor imagery paradigm (answered correctly 4,7 out of 5 questions). 2 out of the 3 CLIS patients could use the system to communicate with VT3 (90 and 70% accuracy). The results show that paradigms based on non-visual evoked potentials and motor imagery can be effective for these users. It is also the first study that showed EEG-based BCI communication with CLIS patients and was able to bring 9 out of 12 patients to communicate with higher accuracies than reported before. More importantly this was achieved within less than 15-20 min.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christoph Guger
- Guger Technologies OGGraz, Austria
- g.tec Medical Engineering GmbHSchiedlberg, Austria
| | - Rossella Spataro
- ALS Clinical Research Center, Biomedicina e Neuroscienze Cliniche (BioNeC), University of PalermoPalermo, Italy
| | | | | | | | - Woosang Cho
- g.tec Medical Engineering GmbHSchiedlberg, Austria
| | - Vincenzo La Bella
- ALS Clinical Research Center, Biomedicina e Neuroscienze Cliniche (BioNeC), University of PalermoPalermo, Italy
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Sproviero W, Shatunov A, Stahl D, Shoai M, van Rheenen W, Jones AR, Al-Sarraj S, Andersen PM, Bonini NM, Conforti FL, Van Damme P, Daoud H, Del Mar Amador M, Fogh I, Forzan M, Gaastra B, Gellera C, Gitler AD, Hardy J, Fratta P, La Bella V, Le Ber I, Van Langenhove T, Lattante S, Lee YC, Malaspina A, Meininger V, Millecamps S, Orrell R, Rademakers R, Robberecht W, Rouleau G, Ross OA, Salachas F, Sidle K, Smith BN, Soong BW, Sorarù G, Stevanin G, Kabashi E, Troakes C, van Broeckhoven C, Veldink JH, van den Berg LH, Shaw CE, Powell JF, Al-Chalabi A. ATXN2 trinucleotide repeat length correlates with risk of ALS. Neurobiol Aging 2017; 51:178.e1-178.e9. [PMID: 28017481 PMCID: PMC5302215 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2016.11.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2016] [Revised: 11/14/2016] [Accepted: 11/16/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
We investigated a CAG trinucleotide repeat expansion in the ATXN2 gene in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Two new case-control studies, a British dataset of 1474 ALS cases and 567 controls, and a Dutch dataset of 1328 ALS cases and 691 controls were analyzed. In addition, to increase power, we systematically searched PubMed for case-control studies published after 1 August 2010 that investigated the association between ATXN2 intermediate repeats and ALS. We conducted a meta-analysis of the new and existing studies for the relative risks of ATXN2 intermediate repeat alleles of between 24 and 34 CAG trinucleotide repeats and ALS. There was an overall increased risk of ALS for those carrying intermediate sized trinucleotide repeat alleles (odds ratio 3.06 [95% confidence interval 2.37-3.94]; p = 6 × 10-18), with an exponential relationship between repeat length and ALS risk for alleles of 29-32 repeats (R2 = 0.91, p = 0.0002). No relationship was seen for repeat length and age of onset or survival. In contrast to trinucleotide repeat diseases, intermediate ATXN2 trinucleotide repeat expansion in ALS does not predict age of onset but does predict disease risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- William Sproviero
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, King's College London, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, London, UK
| | - Aleksey Shatunov
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, King's College London, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, London, UK
| | - Daniel Stahl
- Department of Biostatistics, King's College London, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, London, UK
| | - Maryam Shoai
- Department of Molecular Neuroscience, University College London (UCL) Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | - Wouter van Rheenen
- Department of Neurology, Brain Center Rudolf Magnus Institute of Neuroscience, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Ashley R Jones
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, King's College London, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, London, UK
| | - Safa Al-Sarraj
- Department of Clinical Neuropathology, King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Peter M Andersen
- Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Neuroscience, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Nancy M Bonini
- Department of Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | | | - Philip Van Damme
- Neurology Department, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Vesalius Research Center, VIB, Leuven, Belgium; Disease (LIND), KU Leuven - University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Hussein Daoud
- Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Maria Del Mar Amador
- Department of Nervous System Diseases, ALS Paris ALS Center for Rare Diseases, Groupe Hospitalier Pitié Salpêtrière, APHP, Paris, France
| | - Isabella Fogh
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, King's College London, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, London, UK
| | - Monica Forzan
- Clinical Genetics Unit, Department of Woman and Child Health, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Ben Gaastra
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, King's College London, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, London, UK
| | - Cinzia Gellera
- Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Milan, Italy
| | - Aaron D Gitler
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - John Hardy
- Department of Molecular Neuroscience, University College London (UCL) Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | - Pietro Fratta
- Sobell Department of Motor Neuroscience and Movement Disorders, University College London (UCL) Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | - Vincenzo La Bella
- ALS Clinical Research Center, Bio. Ne. C., University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Isabelle Le Ber
- Institut du Cerveau et de la Moelle épinière (ICM), Inserm U1127, CNRS UMR 7225, Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06 UMRS1127, Paris, France; AP-HP, Hôpitaux Universitaires La Pitié Salpêtrière-Charles Foix, Centre de Référence des Démences Rares, Departement de Neurologie, Paris, France
| | - Tim Van Langenhove
- Neurodegenerative Brain Diseases Group, Department of Molecular Genetics, VIB, Antwerp, Belgium; Laboratory of Neurogenetics, Insititute Born-Bunge, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium; Department of Neurology, Antwerp University Hospital, Edegem, Belgium
| | - Serena Lattante
- Institut du Cerveau et de la Moelle épinière (ICM), Inserm U1127, CNRS UMR 7225, Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06 UMRS1127, Paris, France
| | - Yi-Chung Lee
- Department of Neurology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Neurology, National Yang-Ming University School of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan; Brain Research Center, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Andrea Malaspina
- North-East London and Essex MND Care Centre - Neuroscience and Trauma Centre, Blizard, Institute of Cell and Molecular Medicine, Barts & the London School of Medicine & Dentistry, Barts Health NHS Trust, London, UK
| | - Vincent Meininger
- Hôpital de la Pitié-Salpêtrière, institut de recherche translationnelle en neurosciences (A-ICM), Paris, France; Hôpital de la Pitié-Salpêtrière, réseau SLA IdF, Paris, France
| | - Stéphanie Millecamps
- Institut du Cerveau et de la Moelle épinière (ICM), Inserm U1127, CNRS UMR 7225, Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06 UMRS1127, Paris, France
| | - Richard Orrell
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, University College London (UCL) Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | - Rosa Rademakers
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, USA
| | - Wim Robberecht
- Vesalius Research Center, VIB, Leuven, Belgium; Disease (LIND), KU Leuven - University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Guy Rouleau
- Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Owen A Ross
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, USA
| | - Francois Salachas
- Department of Nervous System Diseases, ALS Paris ALS Center for Rare Diseases, Groupe Hospitalier Pitié Salpêtrière, APHP, Paris, France; Institut du Cerveau et de la Moelle épinière (ICM), Inserm U1127, CNRS UMR 7225, Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06 UMRS1127, Paris, France
| | - Katie Sidle
- Department of Molecular Neuroscience, University College London (UCL) Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | - Bradley N Smith
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, King's College London, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, London, UK
| | - Bing-Wen Soong
- Department of Neurology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Neurology, National Yang-Ming University School of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan; Brain Research Center, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Gianni Sorarù
- Department of Neurosciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Giovanni Stevanin
- Institut du Cerveau et de la Moelle épinière (ICM), Inserm U1127, CNRS UMR 7225, Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06 UMRS1127, Paris, France; Neurogenetics team, Ecole Pratique des Hautes Etudes, Paris, France
| | - Edor Kabashi
- Institut du Cerveau et de la Moelle épinière (ICM), Inserm U1127, CNRS UMR 7225, Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06 UMRS1127, Paris, France
| | - Claire Troakes
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, King's College London, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, London, UK
| | - Christine van Broeckhoven
- Neurodegenerative Brain Diseases Group, Department of Molecular Genetics, VIB, Antwerp, Belgium; Laboratory of Neurogenetics, Insititute Born-Bunge, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Jan H Veldink
- Department of Neurology, Brain Center Rudolf Magnus Institute of Neuroscience, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Leonard H van den Berg
- Department of Neurology, Brain Center Rudolf Magnus Institute of Neuroscience, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Christopher E Shaw
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, King's College London, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, London, UK
| | - John F Powell
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, King's College London, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, London, UK
| | - Ammar Al-Chalabi
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, King's College London, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, London, UK.
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Spataro R, Chella A, Allison B, Giardina M, Sorbello R, Tramonte S, Guger C, La Bella V. Reaching and Grasping a Glass of Water by Locked-In ALS Patients through a BCI-Controlled Humanoid Robot. Front Hum Neurosci 2017; 11:68. [PMID: 28298888 PMCID: PMC5331030 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2017.00068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2016] [Accepted: 02/06/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Locked-in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) patients are fully dependent on caregivers for any daily need. At this stage, basic communication and environmental control may not be possible even with commonly used augmentative and alternative communication devices. Brain Computer Interface (BCI) technology allows users to modulate brain activity for communication and control of machines and devices, without requiring a motor control. In the last several years, numerous articles have described how persons with ALS could effectively use BCIs for different goals, usually spelling. In the present study, locked-in ALS patients used a BCI system to directly control the humanoid robot NAO (Aldebaran Robotics, France) with the aim of reaching and grasping a glass of water. Four ALS patients and four healthy controls were recruited and trained to operate this humanoid robot through a P300-based BCI. A few minutes training was sufficient to efficiently operate the system in different environments. Three out of the four ALS patients and all controls successfully performed the task with a high level of accuracy. These results suggest that BCI-operated robots can be used by locked-in ALS patients as an artificial alter-ego, the machine being able to move, speak and act in his/her place.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rossella Spataro
- Department of Experimental Biomedicine and Clinical Neurosciences, ALS Clinical Research Center, University of PalermoPalermo, Italy
| | - Antonio Chella
- Department of Chemical, Management, Computer, Mechanical Engineering, University of PalermoPalermo, Italy
- Instituto di Calcolo e Reti ad Alte Prestazioni (ICAR-CNR)Palermo, Italy
| | - Brendan Allison
- Guger Technologies OGGraz, Austria
- Cognitive Science Department, University of California at San DiegoLa Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Marcello Giardina
- Department of Chemical, Management, Computer, Mechanical Engineering, University of PalermoPalermo, Italy
| | - Rosario Sorbello
- Department of Chemical, Management, Computer, Mechanical Engineering, University of PalermoPalermo, Italy
| | - Salvatore Tramonte
- Department of Chemical, Management, Computer, Mechanical Engineering, University of PalermoPalermo, Italy
| | - Christoph Guger
- Guger Technologies OGGraz, Austria
- g.tec Medical Engineering GmbHSchiedlberg, Austria
| | - Vincenzo La Bella
- Department of Experimental Biomedicine and Clinical Neurosciences, ALS Clinical Research Center, University of PalermoPalermo, Italy
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Atassi N, Beghi E, Blanquer M, Boulis NM, Cantello R, Caponnetto C, Chiò A, Dunnett SB, Feldman EL, Vescovi A, Mazzini L, Bendotti C, Bersano E, Brajkovic S, Car P, De Marchi F, Fantozzi R, Follenzi A, Gelati M, Giorgi C, Grilli M, Guenzi P, La Bella V, Mancardi GL, Panzarasa G, Poloni M, Profico D, Silani V, Sorarù G, Spataro R, Stecco A, Vercelli A. Intraspinal stem cell transplantation for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: Ready for efficacy clinical trials? Cytotherapy 2016; 18:1471-1475. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jcyt.2016.08.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2016] [Revised: 08/11/2016] [Accepted: 08/13/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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Spataro R, Volanti P, Vitale F, Meli F, Colletti T, Di Natale A, La Bella V. Plasma cortisol level in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. J Neurol Sci 2015; 358:282-6. [PMID: 26384616 DOI: 10.1016/j.jns.2015.09.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2015] [Revised: 08/17/2015] [Accepted: 09/03/2015] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Amyotrophic Lateral sclerosis (ALS) is associated with a significant distress, being linked to changes in hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activity. A loss of cortisol circadian rhythmicity in ALS patients was suggested,while more recently an increased plasma cortisol level in the disease has been reported. OBJECTIVE To assay the circadian plasma cortisol level in ALS and to study its relationship with the clinical phenotype and the rate of disease progression. PATIENTS AND METHODS 135 ALS patients (Bulbar, 33; Spinal, 102;M/F=1.73) and 110 controls (not affected by neurological or psychiatric disorders, free of drugs; M/F=1.75) were recruited. Disease progression was scored with ΔFS.Morning and evening plasma cortisol levels (μg/dl)were assayed from fasting ALS patients and controls using Elecsys® Cortisol Immunoassay System. RESULTS We found that the morning level of cortisol in ALS patients was higher than controls (morning: ALS, 15.2[11.5-18.9] vs Controls, 11.4 [8.8 -14.3], p b 0.001; evening: ALS, 7.5[4.7–11.8] vs Controls, 7.9[5.4–10.0], p=0.6).Furthermore, the hormone's level was higher in the spinal-onset group (Spinal, 15.9[11.9–19.0] vs Bulbar,13.5[10.1–18.6] vs controls, 11.4[8.8–14.3], p b 0.001) and in patients with intermediate/rapid disease course. CONCLUSIONS Morning plasma cortisol level is increased in ALS, mainly in spinal-onset patients and in those with intermediate/rapidly progressing disease. The plasmatic changes of the steroid hormone appear however too small to make it a sensitive biochemical marker in this severe neurodegenerative disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rossella Spataro
- ALS Clinical Research Centre, Department of Experimental Biomedicine and Clinical Neurosciences (BioNeC), University of Palermo, 90129 Palermo, Italy
| | - Paolo Volanti
- Neurorehabilitation Unit, ALS Center, S Maugeri Foundation, Mistretta, Italy
| | - Francesco Vitale
- Dept of Sciences for Health Promotion, University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy
| | - Francesco Meli
- Dept of Sciences for Health Promotion, University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy
| | - Tiziana Colletti
- ALS Clinical Research Centre, Department of Experimental Biomedicine and Clinical Neurosciences (BioNeC), University of Palermo, 90129 Palermo, Italy
| | - Antonino Di Natale
- Neurorehabilitation Unit, ALS Center, S Maugeri Foundation, Mistretta, Italy
| | - Vincenzo La Bella
- ALS Clinical Research Centre, Department of Experimental Biomedicine and Clinical Neurosciences (BioNeC), University of Palermo, 90129 Palermo, Italy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valeria Bono
- ALS Clinical Research Center, BioNeC, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Vincenzo La Bella
- ALS Clinical Research Center, BioNeC, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy.
| | - Rossella Spataro
- ALS Clinical Research Center, BioNeC, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
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Lauria G, Dalla Bella E, Antonini G, Borghero G, Capasso M, Caponnetto C, Chiò A, Corbo M, Eleopra R, Fazio R, Filosto M, Giannini F, Granieri E, La Bella V, Logroscino G, Mandrioli J, Mazzini L, Monsurrò MR, Mora G, Pietrini V, Quatrale R, Rizzi R, Salvi F, Siciliano G, Sorarù G, Volanti P, Tramacere I, Filippini G. Erythropoietin in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: a multicentre, randomised, double blind, placebo controlled, phase III study. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2015; 86:879-86. [PMID: 25595151 PMCID: PMC4515982 DOI: 10.1136/jnnp-2014-308996] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2014] [Accepted: 09/14/2014] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To assess the efficacy of recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPO) in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). METHODS Patients with probable laboratory-supported, probable or definite ALS were enrolled by 25 Italian centres and randomly assigned (1:1) to receive intravenous rhEPO 40,000 IU or placebo fortnightly as add-on treatment to riluzole 100 mg daily for 12 months. The primary composite outcome was survival, tracheotomy or >23 h non-invasive ventilation (NIV). Secondary outcomes were ALSFRS-R, slow vital capacity (sVC) and quality of life (ALSAQ-40) decline. Tolerability was evaluated analysing adverse events (AEs) causing withdrawal. The randomisation sequence was computer-generated by blocks, stratified by centre, disease severity (ALSFRS-R cut-off score of 33) and onset (spinal or bulbar). The main outcome analysis was performed in all randomised patients and by intention-to-treat for the entire population and patients stratified by severity and onset. The study is registered, EudraCT 2009-016066-91. RESULTS We randomly assigned 208 patients, of whom 5 (1 rhEPO and 4 placebo) withdrew consent and 3 (placebo) became ineligible (retinal thrombosis, respiratory insufficiency, SOD1 mutation) before receiving treatment; 103 receiving rhEPO and 97 placebo were eligible for analysis. At 12 months, the annualised rate of death (rhEPO 0.11, 95% CI 0.06 to 0.20; placebo: 0.08, CI 0.04 to 0.17), tracheotomy or >23 h NIV (rhEPO 0.16, CI 0.10 to 0.27; placebo 0.18, CI 0.11 to 0.30) did not differ between groups, also after stratification by onset and ALSFRS-R at baseline. Withdrawal due to AE was 16.5% in rhEPO and 8.3% in placebo. No differences were found for secondary outcomes. CONCLUSIONS RhEPO 40,000 IU fortnightly did not change the course of ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppe Lauria
- Neuromuscular Disease, IRCCS Foundation, "Carlo Besta" Neurological Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Eleonora Dalla Bella
- Neuromuscular Disease, IRCCS Foundation, "Carlo Besta" Neurological Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Giovanni Antonini
- NESMOS Department, Neuromuscular Disease Unit, Sant'Andrea Hospital and University of Rome "Sapienza", Rome, Italy
| | | | | | - Claudia Caponnetto
- Departments of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophtalmology, Genetics, Mother and Child Disease, IRCCS University Hospital San Martino IST, Genova, Italy
| | - Adriano Chiò
- Department of Neurosciences, ALS Centre, "Rita Levi Montalcini" Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Città della Salute e della Scienza, Turin, Italy
| | - Massimo Corbo
- NEMO Clinical Centre, Milan, Italy Department of Neurorehabilitaton, Casa Cura Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Roberto Eleopra
- Neurology Unit, S. Maria della Misericordia University Hospital, Udine, Italy
| | - Raffaella Fazio
- Department of Neurology, IRCCS "San Raffaele" Hospital, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Fabio Giannini
- Department of Medical and Surgery Sciences and Neurosciences, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | | | | | | | - Jessica Mandrioli
- Department of Neurosciences, S. Agostino-Estense Hospital, Modena, Italy
| | - Letizia Mazzini
- ALS Centre, Neurologic Clinic, Maggiore della Carità University Hospital, Novara, Italy
| | | | | | - Vladimiro Pietrini
- Department of Neurosciences, Neurology Unit, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | | | - Romana Rizzi
- Neurology Unit, Department of Neuro-Motor Diseases, IRCCS Arcispedale Santa Maria Nuova, Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | | | - Gabriele Siciliano
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Neurology Unit, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Gianni Sorarù
- Department of Neurosciences, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Paolo Volanti
- Intensive Neurorehabilitation Unit, IRCCS "Salvatore Maugeri" Foundation, Mistretta, Italy
| | - Irene Tramacere
- Neuroepidemiology Units, IRCCS Foundation, "Carlo Besta" Neurological Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Graziella Filippini
- Neuroepidemiology Units, IRCCS Foundation, "Carlo Besta" Neurological Institute, Milan, Italy
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Chiò A, Mora G, Sabatelli M, Caponnetto C, Lunetta C, Traynor BJ, Johnson JO, Nalls MA, Calvo A, Moglia C, Borghero G, Monsurrò MR, La Bella V, Volanti P, Simone I, Salvi F, Logullo FO, Nilo R, Giannini F, Mandrioli J, Tanel R, Murru MR, Mandich P, Zollino M, Conforti FL, Penco S, Brunetti M, Barberis M, Restagno G. HFE p.H63D polymorphism does not influence ALS phenotype and survival. Neurobiol Aging 2015; 36:2906.e7-11. [PMID: 26174855 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2015.06.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2015] [Revised: 06/09/2015] [Accepted: 06/10/2015] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
It has been recently reported that the p.His63Asp polymorphism of the HFE gene accelerates disease progression both in the SOD1 transgenic mouse and in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients. We have evaluated the effect of HFE p.His63Asp polymorphism on the phenotype in 1351 Italian ALS patients (232 of Sardinian ancestry). Patients were genotyped for the HFE p.His63Asp polymorphism (CC, GC, and GG). All patients were also assessed for C9ORF72, TARDBP, SOD1, and FUS mutations. Of the 1351 ALS patients, 363 (29.2%) were heterozygous (GC) for the p.His63Asp polymorphism and 30 (2.2%) were homozygous for the minor allele (GG). Patients with CC, GC, and GG polymorphisms did not significantly differ by age at onset, site of onset of symptoms, and survival; however, in SOD1 patients with CG or GG polymorphism had a significantly longer survival than those with a CC polymorphism. Differently from what observed in the mouse model of ALS, the HFE p.His63Asp polymorphism has no effect on ALS phenotype in this large series of Italian ALS patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adriano Chiò
- ALS Center, "Rita Levi Montalcini" Department of Neuroscience, Neurology II, University of Torino, Torino, Italy; Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Città della Salute e della Scienza, Torino, Italy.
| | - Gabriele Mora
- Department of Neurological Rehabilitation, Fondazione Salvatore Maugeri, IRCCS, Istituto Scientifico di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Mario Sabatelli
- Neurological Institute, Catholic University and I.C.O.M.M. Association for ALS Research, Rome, Italy
| | - Claudia Caponnetto
- Department of Neurosciences, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Rehabilitation and Child Health, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria San Martino IST, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | | | - Bryan J Traynor
- Neuromuscular Diseases Research Unit, Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Janel O Johnson
- Neuromuscular Diseases Research Unit, Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA; Department of Neurology, Neurological Institute, Neuromuscular Center, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Mike A Nalls
- Molecular Genetics Section, Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Andrea Calvo
- ALS Center, "Rita Levi Montalcini" Department of Neuroscience, Neurology II, University of Torino, Torino, Italy; Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Città della Salute e della Scienza, Torino, Italy
| | - Cristina Moglia
- ALS Center, "Rita Levi Montalcini" Department of Neuroscience, Neurology II, University of Torino, Torino, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Borghero
- Department of Neurology, Azienda Universitario Ospedaliera di Cagliari and University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | | | - Vincenzo La Bella
- ALS Clinical Research Center, Department of Experimental Biomedicine and Clinical Neuroscience, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Paolo Volanti
- Neurorehabilitation Unit/ALS Center, Salvatore Maugeri Foundation, IRCCS, Scientific Institute of Mistretta, Mistretta, Italy
| | - Isabella Simone
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neurosciences and Sense Organs, University of Bari, Bari, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Salvi
- Center for Diagnosis and Cure of Rare Diseases, Department of Neurology, IRCCS Institute of Neurological Sciences, Bologna, Italy
| | | | - Riva Nilo
- Department of Neurology and Institute of Experimental Neurology (INSPE), IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Fabio Giannini
- Department of Medical, Surgical and Neurological Sciences, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Jessica Mandrioli
- Department of Neuroscience, S. Agostino- Estense Hospital, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Raffaella Tanel
- Department of Neurology, Santa Chiara Hospital, Trento, Italy
| | - Maria Rita Murru
- Multiple Sclerosis Centre, ASL 8, Cagliari/Department of Public Health, Clinical and Molecular Medicine, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Paola Mandich
- Department of Neurosciences, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Rehabilitation and Child Health, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria San Martino IST, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Marcella Zollino
- Institute of Medical Genetics, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca L Conforti
- Institute of Neurological Sciences, National Research Council, Mangone, Cosenza, Italy
| | - Silvana Penco
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Medical Genetics, Niguarda Ca' Granda Hospital, Milan, Italy
| | | | | | - Maura Brunetti
- ALS Center, "Rita Levi Montalcini" Department of Neuroscience, Neurology II, University of Torino, Torino, Italy; Laboratory of Molecular Genetics, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Città della Salute e della Scienza, Torino, Italy
| | - Marco Barberis
- ALS Center, "Rita Levi Montalcini" Department of Neuroscience, Neurology II, University of Torino, Torino, Italy; Laboratory of Molecular Genetics, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Città della Salute e della Scienza, Torino, Italy
| | - Gabriella Restagno
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Città della Salute e della Scienza, Torino, Italy
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Chiò A, Mora G, Sabatelli M, Caponnetto C, Traynor BJ, Johnson JO, Nalls MA, Calvo A, Moglia C, Borghero G, Monsurrò MR, La Bella V, Volanti P, Simone I, Salvi F, Logullo FO, Nilo R, Battistini S, Mandrioli J, Tanel R, Murru MR, Mandich P, Zollino M, Conforti FL, Brunetti M, Barberis M, Restagno G, Penco S, Lunetta C. CHCH10 mutations in an Italian cohort of familial and sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients. Neurobiol Aging 2015; 36:1767.e3-1767.e6. [PMID: 25726362 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2015.01.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2014] [Revised: 01/20/2015] [Accepted: 01/21/2015] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Mutations in CHCHD10 have recently been described as a cause of frontotemporal dementia (FTD) comorbid with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The aim of this study was to assess the frequency and clinical characteristics of CHCHD10 mutations in Italian patients diagnosed with familial (n = 64) and apparently sporadic ALS (n = 224). Three apparently sporadic patients were found to carry c.100C>T (p.Pro34Ser) heterozygous variant in the exon 2 of CHCHD10. This mutation had been previously described in 2 unrelated French patients with FTD-ALS. However, our patients had a typical ALS, without evidence of FTD, cerebellar or extrapyramidal signs, or sensorineural deficits. We confirm that CHCHD10 mutations account for ∼ 1% of Italian ALS patients and are a cause of disease in subjects without dementia or other atypical clinical signs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adriano Chiò
- ALS Center, 'Rita Levi Montalcini' Department of Neuroscience, Neurology II, University of Torino, Torino, Italy; Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Città della Salute e della Scienza, Torino, Italy.
| | - Gabriele Mora
- Department of Neurological Rehabilitation, Fondazione Salvatore Maugeri, IRCCS, Istituto Scientifico di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Mario Sabatelli
- Neurological Institute, Catholic University and I.C.O.M.M. Association for ALS Research, Rome, Italy
| | - Claudia Caponnetto
- Department of Neurosciences, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Rehabilitation and Child Health, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria San Martino IST, University of Genoa, Italy
| | - Bryan J Traynor
- Neuromuscular Diseases Research Section, Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Janel O Johnson
- Neuromuscular Diseases Research Section, Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Mike A Nalls
- Molecular Genetics Section, Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Andrea Calvo
- ALS Center, 'Rita Levi Montalcini' Department of Neuroscience, Neurology II, University of Torino, Torino, Italy; Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Città della Salute e della Scienza, Torino, Italy
| | - Cristina Moglia
- ALS Center, 'Rita Levi Montalcini' Department of Neuroscience, Neurology II, University of Torino, Torino, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Borghero
- Department of Neurology, Azienda Universitario Ospedaliera di Cagliari and University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | | | - Vincenzo La Bella
- ALS Clinical Research Center, Bio. Ne. C., University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Paolo Volanti
- Neurorehabilitation Unit/ALS Center, Salvatore Maugeri Foundation, IRCCS, Scientific Institute of Mistretta, Mistretta, Italy
| | - Isabella Simone
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neuroscience and Sense Organs, University of Bari, Bari, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Salvi
- Center for Diagnosis and Cure of Rare Diseases, Department of Neurology, IRCCS Institute of Neurological Sciences, Bologna, Italy
| | | | - Riva Nilo
- Department of Neurology and Institute of Experimental Neurology (INSPE), IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Stefania Battistini
- Department of Medical, Surgical and Neurological Sciences, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Jessica Mandrioli
- Department of Neuroscience, S. Agostino-Estense Hospital, University of Modena, Modena, Italy
| | - Raffaella Tanel
- Department of Neurology, Santa Chiara Hospital, Trento, Italy
| | - Maria Rita Murru
- Multiple Sclerosis Centre, ASL 8 Cagliari, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy; Department of Public Health, Clinical and Molecular Medicine, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Paola Mandich
- Department of Neurosciences, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Rehabilitation and Child Health, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria San Martino IST, University of Genoa, Italy
| | - Marcella Zollino
- Institute of Medical Genetics, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca L Conforti
- Institute of Neurological Sciences, National Research Council, Mangone, Cosenza, Italy
| | | | - Maura Brunetti
- ALS Center, 'Rita Levi Montalcini' Department of Neuroscience, Neurology II, University of Torino, Torino, Italy; Laboratory of Molecular Genetics, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Città della Salute e della Scienza, Torino, Italy
| | - Marco Barberis
- ALS Center, 'Rita Levi Montalcini' Department of Neuroscience, Neurology II, University of Torino, Torino, Italy; Laboratory of Molecular Genetics, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Città della Salute e della Scienza, Torino, Italy
| | - Gabriella Restagno
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Città della Salute e della Scienza, Torino, Italy
| | - Silvana Penco
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Medical Genetics, Niguarda Ca' Granda Hospital, Milan, Italy
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Bellia C, Bivona G, Caruso A, Elce A, Amato F, Spataro R, Colletti T, Pivetti A, Russo V, Scazzone C, Lo Sasso B, Castaldo G, La Bella V, Ciaccio M. MTHFR C677T allelic variant is not associated with plasma and cerebrospinal fluid homocysteine in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Clin Chem Lab Med 2015; 53:e73-5. [DOI: 10.1515/cclm-2014-0465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2014] [Accepted: 07/28/2014] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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Affiliation(s)
- Rossella Spataro
- Neurology Unit, Department of Experimental BioMedicine and Clinical Neurosciences, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
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Spataro R, Marchese S, La Bella V. Tracheostomy mechanical ventilation in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. J Neurol Sci 2013; 328:103-4. [PMID: 23428210 DOI: 10.1016/j.jns.2013.01.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2013] [Accepted: 01/22/2013] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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Beghi E, Pupillo E, Bonito V, Buzzi P, Caponnetto C, Chiò A, Corbo M, Giannini F, Inghilleri M, Bella VL, Logroscino G, Lorusso L, Lunetta C, Mazzini L, Messina P, Mora G, Perini M, Quadrelli ML, Silani V, Simone IL, Tremolizzo L. Randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial of acetyl-L-carnitine for ALS. Amyotroph Lateral Scler Frontotemporal Degener 2013; 14:397-405. [DOI: 10.3109/21678421.2013.764568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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Manno C, Lipari A, Bono V, Taiello AC, La Bella V. Sporadic Parkinson disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis complex (Brait-Fahn-Schwartz disease). J Neurol Sci 2013; 326:104-6. [PMID: 23380453 DOI: 10.1016/j.jns.2013.01.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2012] [Revised: 01/06/2013] [Accepted: 01/08/2013] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Clinical evidence for parkinsonism may accompany Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis with a frequency ranging from 5% to 17%. The concurrence of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Parkinson's disease, outside the known Guam and Kii Peninsula foci, is instead rare, but this raises the possibility of a common pathogenesis. Clinically this complex presents with a levodopa-responsive parkinsonism and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and has been termed Brait-Fahn-Schwartz disease. Here we describe two patients with this uncommon neurodegenerative complex. Both presented with Parkinson disease and progressed to a full blown Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. We further suggest that the association of Parkinson disease and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis represents a distinct nosological entity, which should be kept separated from extrapyramidal signs and symptoms that may occur in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Concetta Manno
- ALS Clinical Research Center, Department of Experimental Biomedicine and Clinical Neurosciences, University of Palermo, Italy
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Lo Casto A, Spataro R, Purpura P, La Bella V. Unilateral laryngeal and hypoglossal paralysis (Tapia's syndrome) in a patient with an inflammatory pseudotumor of the neck. Clin Neurol Neurosurg 2012; 115:1499-501. [PMID: 23265562 DOI: 10.1016/j.clineuro.2012.11.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2012] [Accepted: 11/25/2012] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Lo Casto
- Department of Radiological Sciences, DIBIMEF, University of Palermo, 90129 Palermo, Italy
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