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De Mattei F, Ferrandes F, Gallone S, Canosa A, Calvo A, Chiò A, Vasta R. Epidemiology of Spinocerebellar Ataxias in Europe. CEREBELLUM (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2024; 23:1176-1183. [PMID: 37698771 PMCID: PMC11102384 DOI: 10.1007/s12311-023-01600-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/20/2023] [Indexed: 09/13/2023]
Abstract
Spinocerebellar ataxias (SCAs) are a heterogenous group of rare neurodegenerative conditions sharing an autosomal dominant pattern of inheritance. More than 40 SCAs have been genetically determined. However, a systematic review of SCA epidemiology in Europe is still missing. Here we performed a narrative review of the literature on the epidemiology of the most common SCAs in Europe. PubMed, Embase, and MEDLINE were searched from inception until 1 April 2023. All English peer-reviewed articles published were considered and then filtered by abstract examination and subsequently by full text reading. A total of 917 original articles were retrieved. According to the inclusion criteria and after reviewing references for useful papers, a total of 35 articles were included in the review. Overall, SCA3 is the most frequent spinocerebellar ataxia in Europe. Its frequency is strikingly higher in Portugal, followed by Germany, France, and Netherlands. None or few cases were described in Italy, Russia, Poland, Serbia, Finland, and Norway. SCA1 and SCA2 globally displayed similar frequencies, and are more prevalent in Italy, United Kingdom, Poland, Serbia, and France.
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Affiliation(s)
- Filippo De Mattei
- ALS Center, Department of Neuroscience "Rita Levi Montalcini", University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Fabio Ferrandes
- Aging Brain and Memory Clinic, Department of Neuroscience "Rita Levi Montalcini", University of Turin, Turin, Italy.
| | - Salvatore Gallone
- Neurology 1, AOU Città Della Salute E Della Scienza Di Torino, Turin, Italy
| | - Antonio Canosa
- ALS Center, Department of Neuroscience "Rita Levi Montalcini", University of Turin, Turin, Italy
- Neurology 1, AOU Città Della Salute E Della Scienza Di Torino, Turin, Italy
- Institute of Cognitive Science and Technologies, National Research Council, Rome, Italy
| | - Andrea Calvo
- ALS Center, Department of Neuroscience "Rita Levi Montalcini", University of Turin, Turin, Italy
- Neurology 1, AOU Città Della Salute E Della Scienza Di Torino, Turin, Italy
- Institute of Cognitive Science and Technologies, National Research Council, Rome, Italy
| | - Adriano Chiò
- ALS Center, Department of Neuroscience "Rita Levi Montalcini", University of Turin, Turin, Italy
- Neurology 1, AOU Città Della Salute E Della Scienza Di Torino, Turin, Italy
- Institute of Cognitive Science and Technologies, National Research Council, Rome, Italy
| | - Rosario Vasta
- ALS Center, Department of Neuroscience "Rita Levi Montalcini", University of Turin, Turin, Italy
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Souza GN, Kersting N, Krum-Santos AC, Santos ASP, Furtado GV, Pacheco D, Gonçalves TA, Saute JA, Schuler-Faccini L, Mattos EP, Saraiva-Pereira ML, Jardim LB. Spinocerebellar ataxia type 3/Machado-Joseph disease: segregation patterns and factors influencing instability of expanded CAG transmissions. Clin Genet 2016; 90:134-40. [PMID: 26693702 DOI: 10.1111/cge.12719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2015] [Revised: 12/16/2015] [Accepted: 12/17/2015] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Controversies about Mendelian segregation and CAG expansion (CAGexp) instabilities during meiosis in spinocerebellar ataxia type 3/Machado-Joseph disease (SCA3/MJD) need clarification. Additional evidence about these issues was obtained from the cohort of all SCA3/MJD individuals living in South Brazil. A survey was carried out to update information registered since 2001. Deaths were checked with the Public Information System, and data was made anonymous. Anticipation and delta-CAGexp from parent-offspring pairs, and delta-CAGexp between siblings were obtained. One hundred and fifty-nine families (94% of the entire registry) were retrieved, comprising 3725 living individuals as of 2015, 625 of these being symptomatic. Minimal prevalence was 6:100,000. Carriers of a CAGexp represented 65.6% of sibs in the genotyped offspring (p < 0.001). Median instability was larger among paternal than maternal transmissions, and instabilities correlated with anticipation (r = 0.38; p = 0.001). Age of the parent correlated to delta-CAGexp among 115 direct parent-offspring CAGexp transmissions (ρ = 0.23, p = 0.014). In 98 additional kindreds, the delta-CAGexp between 269 siblings correlated with their delta-of-age (ρ = 0.27, p < 0.0001). SCA3/MJD was associated with a segregation distortion favoring the expanded allele in our cohort. Instability of expansion during meiosis was weakly influenced by the age of the transmitting parent at the time of conception.
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Affiliation(s)
- G N Souza
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Médicas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - N Kersting
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Médicas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - A C Krum-Santos
- Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - A S P Santos
- Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - G V Furtado
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Genética e Biologia Molecular, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Laboratório de Identificação Genética, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - D Pacheco
- Faculdade de Serviço Social, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - T A Gonçalves
- Escola de Enfermagem, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - J A Saute
- Laboratório de Identificação Genética, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Serviço de Genética Médica, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - L Schuler-Faccini
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Genética e Biologia Molecular, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Serviço de Genética Médica, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Departamento de Genética e Biologia Molecular, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Instituto de Genética Médica Populacional (INAGEMP), Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - E P Mattos
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Genética e Biologia Molecular, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Laboratório de Identificação Genética, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - M L Saraiva-Pereira
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Genética e Biologia Molecular, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Laboratório de Identificação Genética, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Serviço de Genética Médica, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Instituto de Genética Médica Populacional (INAGEMP), Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Departamento de Bioquímica, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - L B Jardim
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Médicas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Programa de Pós-Graduação em Genética e Biologia Molecular, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Laboratório de Identificação Genética, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Serviço de Genética Médica, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Instituto de Genética Médica Populacional (INAGEMP), Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Departamento de Medicina Interna, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
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3
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Yamashita C, Tomiyama H, Funayama M, Inamizu S, Ando M, Li Y, Yoshino H, Araki T, Ichikawa T, Ehara Y, Ishikawa K, Mizusawa H, Hattori N. Evaluation of polyglutamine repeats in autosomal dominant Parkinson's disease. Neurobiol Aging 2014; 35:1779.e17-21. [PMID: 24534762 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2014.01.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2013] [Revised: 01/20/2014] [Accepted: 01/21/2014] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
We evaluated the contributions of various polyglutamine (polyQ) disease genes to Parkinson's disease (PD). We compared the distributions of polyQ repeat lengths in 8 common genes (ATXN1, ATXN2, ATXN3, CACNA1A, ATXN7, TBP, ATN1, and HTT) in 299 unrelated patients with autosomal dominant PD (ADPD) and 329 normal controls. We also analyzed the possibility of genetic interactions between ATXN1 and ATXN2, ATXN2 and ATXN3, and ATXN2 and CACNA1A. Intermediate-length polyQ expansions (>24 Qs) of ATXN2 were found in 7 ADPD patients and no controls (7/299 = 2.34% and 0/329 = 0%, respectively; p = 0.0053 < 0.05/8 after Bonferroni correction). These patients showed typical L-DOPA-responsive PD phenotypes. Conversely, no significant differences in polyQ repeat lengths were found between the ADPD patients and the controls for the other 7 genes. Our results may support the hypothesis that ATXN2 polyQ expansion is a specific predisposing factor for multiple neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chikara Yamashita
- Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medicine, Juntendo University, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Tomiyama
- Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medicine, Juntendo University, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan; Department of Neuroscience for Neurodegenerative Disorders, Graduate School of Medicine, Juntendo University, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Manabu Funayama
- Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medicine, Juntendo University, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan; Research Institute for Diseases of Old Age, Graduate School of Medicine, Juntendo University, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Saeko Inamizu
- Department of Neurology, Hiroshima Red Cross Hospital & Atomic-bomb Survivors Hospital, Naka-ku, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Maya Ando
- Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medicine, Juntendo University, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yuanzhe Li
- Research Institute for Diseases of Old Age, Graduate School of Medicine, Juntendo University, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hiroyo Yoshino
- Research Institute for Diseases of Old Age, Graduate School of Medicine, Juntendo University, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Takehisa Araki
- Department of Neurology, Hiroshima Red Cross Hospital & Atomic-bomb Survivors Hospital, Naka-ku, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Tadashi Ichikawa
- Department of Neurology, Saitama Prefectural Rehablitation Center, Ageo-city, Saitama, Japan
| | - Yoshiro Ehara
- Department of Medical Education, Graduate School of Medicine, Juntendo University, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kinya Ishikawa
- Department of Neurology and Neurological Science, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hidehiro Mizusawa
- Department of Neurology and Neurological Science, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Nobutaka Hattori
- Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medicine, Juntendo University, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan; Department of Neuroscience for Neurodegenerative Disorders, Graduate School of Medicine, Juntendo University, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan; Research Institute for Diseases of Old Age, Graduate School of Medicine, Juntendo University, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
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Jacobi H, Reetz K, du Montcel ST, Bauer P, Mariotti C, Nanetti L, Rakowicz M, Sulek A, Durr A, Charles P, Filla A, Antenora A, Schöls L, Schicks J, Infante J, Kang JS, Timmann D, Di Fabio R, Masciullo M, Baliko L, Melegh B, Boesch S, Bürk K, Peltz A, Schulz JB, Dufaure-Garé I, Klockgether T. Biological and clinical characteristics of individuals at risk for spinocerebellar ataxia types 1, 2, 3, and 6 in the longitudinal RISCA study: analysis of baseline data. Lancet Neurol 2013; 12:650-8. [PMID: 23707147 DOI: 10.1016/s1474-4422(13)70104-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 147] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Spinocerebellar ataxias (SCAs) are autosomal, dominantly inherited, fully penetrant neurodegenerative diseases. Our aim was to study the preclinical stage of the most common SCAs: SCA1, SCA2, SCA3, and SCA6. METHODS Between Sept 13, 2008, and Dec 1, 2011, offspring or siblings of patients with SCA1, SCA2, SCA3, or SCA6 were enrolled into a prospective, longitudinal observational study at 14 European centres. To be eligible for inclusion in our study, individuals had to have no ataxia and be aged 18-50 years if directly related to individuals with SCA1, SCA2, or SCA3, or 35-70 years if directly related to individuals with SCA6. We did anonymous genetic testing to identify mutation carriers. We assessed participants with clinical scales, questionnaires, and performance-based coordination tests. In eight of the 14 centres, participants underwent MRI. We analysed relations between outcome variables and time from onset (defined as the difference between present age and estimated age at ataxia onset). This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT01037777. FINDINGS 276 participants met inclusion criteria and agreed to participate, of whom 12 (4%) were excluded from final analysis because DNA samples were missing or genotyping failed. Estimated time from onset was -9 years (IQR -13 to -6) in 50 carriers of the SCA1 mutation, -12 years (-15 to -9) in 31 SCA2 mutation carriers, -8 years (-11 to -6) in 26 SCA3 mutation carriers, and -18 years (-22 to -16) in 16 SCA6 mutation carriers. Compared with non-carriers of each mutation, SCA1 mutation carriers had higher median scores on the scale for the assessment and rating of ataxia (SARA; 0·5 [IQR 0-1·0] vs 0 [0-0]; p=0·0052), as did SCA2 mutation carriers (0·5 [0-2·0] vs 0 [0-0·5]; p=0·0037). SCA2 mutation carriers had lower SCA functional index scores than did non-carriers (-0·43 [-0·91 to -0·07] vs 0·09 [-0·30 to 0·56]; p=0·0007). SCA2 mutation carriers had worse composite cerebellar functional scores than did their non-carrier counterparts (0·915 [0·861-0·959] vs 0·849 [0·764-0·886]; p=0·0039). All other differences between carriers and non-carriers were non-significant. In SCA1 and SCA2 mutation carriers, SARA scores were increased in participants who were closer to the estimated age at onset (SCA1: r=0·36, p=0·0112; SCA2: r=0·50, p=0·0038). 83 individuals (30%) underwent MRI. Voxel-based morphometry showed grey-matter loss in the brainstem and cerebellum in SCA1 and SCA2 mutation carriers, and normalised brainstem volume was lower in SCA2 mutation carriers (median 0·015, range 0·012-0·016) than in non-carriers (0·019, 0·017-0·021; p=0·0107). INTERPRETATION Preclinical SCA1 and SCA2 mutation carriers seem to have mild coordination deficits and abnormalities in the brain that are more common in carriers who are closer to the estimated onset of ataxia. Individuals in this early disease stage could be targeted in future preventive trials. FUNDING ERA-Net E-Rare and Polish Ministry of Science and Higher Education.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heike Jacobi
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
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5
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Sumathipala DS, Abeysekera GS, Jayasekara RW, Tallaksen CME, Dissanayake VHW. Autosomal dominant hereditary ataxia in Sri Lanka. BMC Neurol 2013; 13:39. [PMID: 23634774 PMCID: PMC3667103 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2377-13-39] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2012] [Accepted: 04/25/2013] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Spinocerebellar ataxias (SCA) are a group of hereditary neurodegenerative disorders. Prevalence of SCA subtypes differ worldwide. Autosomal dominant ataxias are the commonest types of inherited ataxias seen in Sri Lanka. The aim of the study is to determine the genetic etiology of patients with autosomal dominant ataxia in Sri Lanka and to describe the clinical features of each genetic subtype. Methods Thirty four patients with autosomal dominant ataxia were recruited. For every patient the following was done: recording of clinical details and genotyping for SCA 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 12, and 17. Results Sixty one per cent of the subjects were identified as SCA1. One subject had SCA2, 12 remain unidentified. Mean age at onset was 34.8 ± 10years for SCA1 and 32.7 ± 9.8 for non SCA1. 76% of SCA1 patients and 50% of non SCA1 were using walking aids. Quantification of symptoms and signs were similar in the SCA1 and non SCA1 groups. Clinical depression was evidenced in 68.4% of SCA1 and 75% non SCA-1 patients. Mean CAG repeat length in SCA1 patients was 52.0 ± 3.8, with greater anticipation seen with paternal inheritance. Conclusion SCA1 was the predominant subtype and showed similar phenotype to previous reports. However, disease severity was higher and depression more prevalent in this population than previously described.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dulika S Sumathipala
- Human Genetics Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, Colombo, Sri Lanka
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Reetz K, Costa AS, Mirzazade S, Lehmann A, Juzek A, Rakowicz M, Boguslawska R, Schöls L, Linnemann C, Mariotti C, Grisoli M, Dürr A, van de Warrenburg BP, Timmann D, Pandolfo M, Bauer P, Jacobi H, Hauser TK, Klockgether T, Schulz JB. Genotype-specific patterns of atrophy progression are more sensitive than clinical decline in SCA1, SCA3 and SCA6. Brain 2013; 136:905-17. [PMID: 23423669 DOI: 10.1093/brain/aws369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 103] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Spinocerebellar ataxias are dominantly inherited disorders that are associated with progressive brain degeneration, mainly affecting the cerebellum and brainstem. As part of the multicentre European integrated project on spinocerebellar ataxias study, 37 patients with spinocerebellar ataxia-1, 19 with spinocerebellar ataxia-3 and seven with spinocerebellar ataxia-6 were clinically examined and underwent magnetic resonance imaging at baseline and after a 2-year follow-up. All patients were compared with age-matched and gender-matched healthy control subjects. Magnetic resonance imaging analysis included three-dimensional volumetry and observer-independent longitudinal voxel-based morphometry. Volumetry revealed loss of brainstem, cerebellar and basal ganglia volume in all genotypes. Most sensitive to change was the pontine volume in spinocerebellar ataxia-1, striatal volume in spinocerebellar ataxia-3 and caudate volume in spinocerebellar ataxia-6. Sensitivity to change, as measured by standard response mean, of the respective MRI measures was greater than that of the most sensitive clinical measure, the Scale for the Assessment and Rating of Ataxia. Longitudinal voxel-based morphometry revealed greatest grey matter loss in the cerebellum and brainstem in spinocerebellar ataxia-1, in the putamen and pallidum in spinocerebellar ataxia-3 and in the cerebellum, thalamus, putamen and pallidum in spinocerebellar ataxia-6. There was a mild correlation between CAG repeat length and volume loss of the bilateral cerebellum and the pons in spinocerebellar ataxia-1. Quantitative volumetry and voxel-based morphometry imaging demonstrated genotype-specific patterns of atrophy progression in spinocerebellar ataxias-1, 3 and 6, and they showed a high sensitivity to detect change that was superior to clinical scales. These structural magnetic resonance imaging findings have the potential to serve as surrogate markers, which might help to delineate quantifiable endpoints and non-invasive methods for rapid and reliable data acquisition, encouraging their use in clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathrin Reetz
- Department of Neurology, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstrasse 30, D-52074 Aachen, Germany
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Berciano J, García A, Infante J. Peripheral nerve involvement in hereditary cerebellar and multisystem degenerative disorders. HANDBOOK OF CLINICAL NEUROLOGY 2013; 115:907-32. [PMID: 23931821 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-444-52902-2.00051-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Hereditary ataxias (HA) encompass an increasing number of degenerative disorders characterized by progressive cerebellar ataxia usually accompanied by extracerebellar semeiology including peripheral nerve involvement. Classically, HA were classified according to their pathological hallmark comprising three main forms: (1) spinal form predominantly with degeneration of spinocerebellar tracts, posterior columns, and pyramidal tracts (Friedreich's ataxia, FA); (2) olivopontocerebellar atrophy (OPCA); and (3) cortical cerebellar atrophy (CCA). In the 1980s Harding proposed a clinico-genetic classification based upon age of onset, modality of transmission, and clinical semeiology. The main categories in this classification were as follows: (1) early onset cerebellar ataxia (EOCA) with age of onset below 25 years and usually with autosomal recessive (AR) transmission (this group encompasses FA and syndromes different from FA); (2) autosomal dominant cerebellar ataxia (ADCA) with adult onset and with either cerebellar-plus syndrome or pure cerebellar semeiology; and (3) idiopathic late onset onset cerebellar ataxia (ILOCA). With the advent of molecular genetics, the nosology of HA has been in a state of constant flux. At present EOCA comprises at least 17 genotypes (designated with the acronym of ARCA derived from AR cerebellar ataxia), whereas under the umbrella of ADCA 30 genotypes have been reported. In this chapter we will review peripheral nerve involvement in classical pathological entities (OPCA and CCA), ARCA, ADCA, and ILOCA paying special attention to the most prevalent syndromes in each category. As a general rule, nerve involvement is relatively common in any form of ataxia except ILOCA, the most common pattern being either sensory or sensorimotor neuronopathy with a dying-back process. An exception to this rule is AR spastic ataxia of Charlevoix-Saguenay where nerve conduction studies show the characteristic pattern of intermediate neuropathy implying that sacsin mutation causes both axonal and Schwann cell dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- José Berciano
- Department of Neurology and Clinical Neurophysiology, University Hospital "Marqués de Valdecilla (IFIMAV)", University of Cantabria and Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas, Santander, Spain.
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Jacobi H, Hauser TK, Giunti P, Globas C, Bauer P, Schmitz-Hübsch T, Baliko L, Filla A, Mariotti C, Rakowicz M, Charles P, Ribai P, Szymanski S, Infante J, van de Warrenburg BPC, Dürr A, Timmann D, Boesch S, Fancellu R, Rola R, Depondt C, Schöls L, Zdzienicka E, Kang JS, Ratzka S, Kremer B, Stephenson DA, Melegh B, Pandolfo M, Tezenas du Montcel S, Borkert J, Schulz JB, Klockgether T. Spinocerebellar ataxia types 1, 2, 3 and 6: the clinical spectrum of ataxia and morphometric brainstem and cerebellar findings. THE CEREBELLUM 2012; 11:155-66. [PMID: 21701895 DOI: 10.1007/s12311-011-0292-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
To assess the clinical spectrum of ataxia and cerebellar oculomotor deficits in the most common spinocerebellar ataxias (SCAs), we analysed the baseline data of the EUROSCA natural history study, a multicentric cohort study of 526 patients with either spinocerebellar ataxia type 1, 2, 3 or 6. To quantify ataxia symptoms, we used the Scale for the Assessment and Rating of Ataxia (SARA). The presence of cerebellar oculomotor signs was assessed using the Inventory of Non-Ataxia Symptoms (INAS). In a subgroup of patients, in which magnetic resonance images (MRIs) were available, we correlated MRI morphometric measures with clinical signs on an exploratory basis. The SARA subscores posture and gait (items 1-3), speech (item 4) and the limb kinetic subscore (items 5-8) did not differ between the genotypes. The scores of SARA item 3 (sitting), 5 (finger chase) and 6 (nose-finger test) differed between the subtypes whereas the scores of the remaining items were not different. In SCA1, ataxia symptoms were correlated with brainstem atrophy and in SCA3 with both brainstem and cerebellar atrophy. Cerebellar oculomotor deficits were most frequent in SCA6 followed by SCA3, whereas these abnormalities were less frequent in SCA1 and SCA2. Our data suggest that vestibulocerebellar, spinocerebellar and pontocerebellar circuits in SCA1, SCA2, SCA3 and SCA6 are functionally impaired to almost the same degree, but at different anatomical levels. The seemingly low prevalence of cerebellar oculomotor deficits in SCA1 and SCA2 is most probably related to the defective saccadic system in these disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heike Jacobi
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital of Bonn, Sigmund-Freud-Straße 25, 53105 Bonn, Germany.
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9
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Donato SD, Mariotti C, Taroni F. Spinocerebellar ataxia type 1. HANDBOOK OF CLINICAL NEUROLOGY 2012; 103:399-421. [PMID: 21827903 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-444-51892-7.00025-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 (SCA1) is one out of nine polyglutamine diseases, a group of late-onset neurodegenerative diseases present only in humans. SCA1, the first autosomal dominant cerebellar ataxia (ADCA) to be genetically characterized, is caused by the expansion of a CAG triplet repeat located in the N-terminal coding region of the disease-causing gene ATX1 located on chromosome 6p23: the mutation results in the production of a mutant protein, dubbed ataxin-1, with a longer-than-normal polyglutamine stretch. The predominant effect of the mutation is thought to be a toxic gain-of-function of the aberrant protein, and longer expansions are associated with earlier onset and more severe disease in subsequent generations. The most common presentation of SCA1 is dominant ataxia 'plus', characterized by cerebellar dysfunctions variably associated with slow saccades, ophthalmoplegia, pyramidal and extrapyramidal features, mild to moderate dementia, amyotrophy, and peripheral neuropathy. Its diagnostic pathological feature is olivopontocerebellar atrophy and degeneration predominantly affects the Purkinje cells and the dentate nuclei of the cerebellum. Pathogenesis is mainly attributed to the toxic effect of mutant ataxin-1, which localizes into the nucleus and, through restricted and aberrant protein-protein interactions, causes putative dysfunctional gene transcription in target cells which leads to late-onset cell dysfunction and death.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefano Di Donato
- UO Biochimica e Genetics, IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Milan, Italy.
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Jacobi H, Bauer P, Giunti P, Labrum R, Sweeney MG, Charles P, Dürr A, Marelli C, Globas C, Linnemann C, Schöls L, Rakowicz M, Rola R, Zdzienicka E, Schmitz-Hübsch T, Fancellu R, Mariotti C, Tomasello C, Baliko L, Melegh B, Filla A, Rinaldi C, van de Warrenburg BP, Verstappen CCP, Szymanski S, Berciano J, Infante J, Timmann D, Boesch S, Hering S, Depondt C, Pandolfo M, Kang JS, Ratzka S, Schulz J, Tezenas du Montcel S, Klockgether T. The natural history of spinocerebellar ataxia type 1, 2, 3, and 6: a 2-year follow-up study. Neurology 2011; 77:1035-41. [PMID: 21832228 DOI: 10.1212/wnl.0b013e31822e7ca0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 151] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To obtain quantitative data on the progression of the most common spinocerebellar ataxias (SCAs) and identify factors that influence their progression, we initiated the EUROSCA natural history study, a multicentric longitudinal cohort study of 526 patients with SCA1, SCA2, SCA3, or SCA6. We report the results of the 1- and 2-year follow-up visits. METHODS As the primary outcome measure we used the Scale for the Assessment and Rating of Ataxia (SARA, 0-40), and as a secondary measure the Inventory of Non-Ataxia Symptoms (INAS, 0-16) count. RESULTS The annual increase of the SARA score was greatest in SCA1 (2.18 ± 0.17, mean ± SE) followed by SCA3 (1.61 ± 0.12) and SCA2 (1.40 ± 0.11). SARA progression in SCA6 was slowest and nonlinear (first year: 0.35 ± 0.34, second year: 1.44 ± 0.34). Analysis of the INAS count yielded similar results. Larger expanded repeats and earlier age at onset were associated with faster SARA progression in SCA1 and SCA2. In SCA1, repeat length of the expanded allele had a similar effect on INAS progression. In SCA3, SARA progression was influenced by the disease duration at inclusion, and INAS progression was faster in females. CONCLUSIONS Our study gives a comprehensive quantitative account of disease progression in SCA1, SCA2, SCA3, and SCA6 and identifies factors that specifically affect disease progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Jacobi
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
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11
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Klockgether T. The clinical diagnosis of autosomal dominant spinocerebellar ataxias. THE CEREBELLUM 2009; 7:101-5. [PMID: 18418679 DOI: 10.1007/s12311-008-0023-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
The spinocerebellar ataxias (SCAs) are a heterogeneous group of autosomal dominantly inherited progressive ataxia diseases. Up to now, almost 30 different gene loci have been found. In 14 of them, the underlying mutations have been identified. The more common SCAs, SCA1, 2, 3 and 6 are due to translated CAG repeat expansions that code for an elongated polyglutamine tract within the respective proteins. These diseases belong to a larger group of polyglutamine disorders that also includes Huntington's disease. Epidemiological studies conducted in different European regions found prevalence rates of SCAs ranging from 0.9 to 3.0:100,000. In all SCAs, ataxia is the prominent symptom. However, the majority have a complex phenotype in which ataxia is accompanied by varying non-ataxia symptoms. In all ataxia patients with proven or suspected autosomal dominant mode of inheritance, the available molecular genetic tests for SCA mutations should be performed. Depending on the geographical origin of the family, these tests will lead to positive diagnostic results in at least half of the families.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Klockgether
- Department of Neurology, University of Bonn, Sigmund-Freud-Str. 25, D-53105 Bonn, Germany.
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12
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Genetics and Pathogenesis of Inherited Ataxias and Spastic Paraplegias. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2009; 652:263-96. [DOI: 10.1007/978-90-481-2813-6_18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
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13
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Abstract
Seven neurodegenerative disorders are known to be caused by unstable expansions of the trinucleotide CAG within human genes, and more will be discovered in the coming years. These disorders share some clinical similarities, as well as some differences, which are summarized here. These diseases have unusual clinical genetic properties related to the dynamic nature of CAG repeat expansions, including instability of the repeat expansion in meiosis, particularly male meiosis; a strong correlation between onset age and size of the repeat expansion; anticipation (earlier disease onset in succeeding generations); new mutations arising from unstable, mutable alleles with a high-normal CAG repeat number; and reduced penetrance for alleles in the low-affected range. Much more remains to be learned about the molecular biology and clinical pathophysiology of this new class of genetic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- M A Nance
- Department of Neurology, Hennepin County Medical Center, Minneapolis, MN 55415, USA.
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14
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Abstract
Apart from motor control the cerebellum has been implicated in higher cortical functions such as memory, fronto-executive functions, visuoconstructive skills and emotion. Clinical descriptions of hereditary ataxias mention cognitive impairment to a variable extent. Systematic neuropsychological studies are limited. Regarding the neuropathological pattern in different SCA types, cognitive deficits in hereditary ataxias are not likely to be contingent upon cerebellar degeneration but to result from disruption of cerebrocerebellar circuitries at various levels in the CNS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katrin Bürk
- Department of Neurology, University of Marburg, and Institute of Brain Research, University of Tübingen, Germany.
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15
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Yoshida K, Okano T, Hoshi K, Yahikozawa H, Suzuki K, Banno H, Tamura T, Sobue G, Ikeda SI. Congenital fibrosis of the extraocular muscles (CFEOM) syndrome associated with progressive cerebellar ataxia. Am J Med Genet A 2007; 143A:1494-501. [PMID: 17551929 DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.a.31795] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
We here report on a Japanese family with congenital fibrosis of the extraocular muscles (CFEOM) syndrome associated with slowly progressive cerebellar ataxia. The pedigree indicated autosomal dominant inheritance. All affected individuals showed a complete loss of upgaze function with ptosis, and severe or moderate restriction of downgaze function probably from the birth. Horizontal gaze function was well preserved, except for the eldest patient, who showed both eyes almost totally fixed in exotrophic position. The primary vertical and horizontal position of each eye varied from patient to patient. Aberrant eye movements were observed on attempted upgaze. They showed amblyopia and/or astigmatism, but none of them complained of diplopia. Pupillary reactions were normal, and retinal pigmentary degeneration or optic atrophy was not observed. These ophthalmological findings were consistent with the CFEOM phenotype. The two middle-aged patients, but not the two younger patients, showed slowly progressive gait ataxia with juvenile onset. Magnetic resonance images of the brain indicated cerebellar atrophy in addition to congenital hypoplasia in the cerebellar vermis. Molecular genetic analysis provided a negative linkage to the FEOM3 locus. Linkage to the FEOM1 locus could not be excluded in our family, but mutation in KIF21A, a major cause of the CFEOM1 phenotype, was not detected. We consider that this family may broaden the spectrum of the clinical features of CFEOM or the related disorders presenting with the CFEOM phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kunihiro Yoshida
- Department of Medicine (Neurology and Rheumatology), Shinshu University School of Medicine, 3-1-1 Asahi, Matsumoto 390-8621, Japan.
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16
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Bryer A, Krause A, Bill P, Davids V, Bryant D, Butler J, Heckmann J, Ramesar R, Greenberg J. The hereditary adult-onset ataxias in South Africa. J Neurol Sci 2004; 216:47-54. [PMID: 14607302 DOI: 10.1016/s0022-510x(03)00209-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
There is little data on the spectrum and frequencies of the autosomal dominant spinocerebellar ataxias (SCAs) from the African continent. We undertook a large prospective population-based study over a 10-year period in South Africa (SA). Affected persons were clinically evaluated, and the molecular analysis for the SCA1, 2, 3, 6 and 7 expansions was undertaken. Of the 54 SA families with dominant ataxia, SCA1 accounted for 40.7%, SCA2 for 13%, SCA3 for 3.7%, SCA6 for 1.9%, SCA7 for 22.2% and 18.5% were negative for all these mutations. The frequency of the SCA1 and SCA7 expansions in SA represents one of the highest frequencies for these expansions reported in any country. In this study, the SCA7 mutations have only been found in SA families of Black ethnic origin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alan Bryer
- Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, Groote Schuur Hospital and University of Cape Town (UCT), Cape Town, South Africa.
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17
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Herman-Bert A, Stevanin G, Netter JC, Rascol O, Brassat D, Calvas P, Camuzat A, Yuan QP, Schalling M, Dürr A, Brice A. Mapping of spinocerebellar ataxia 13 to chromosome 19q13.3-q13.4 in a family with autosomal dominant cerebellar ataxia and mental retardation. Am J Hum Genet 2000; 67:229-35. [PMID: 10820125 PMCID: PMC1287081 DOI: 10.1086/302958] [Citation(s) in RCA: 115] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2000] [Accepted: 03/12/2000] [Indexed: 11/03/2022] Open
Abstract
We examined a large French family with autosomal dominant cerebellar ataxia (ADCA) that was excluded from all previously identified spinocerebellar ataxia genes and loci. The patients-seven women and a 4-year-old boy-exhibited slowly progressive childhood-onset cerebellar gait ataxia associated with cerebellar dysarthria, moderate mental retardation (IQ 62-76), and mild developmental delays in motor acquisition. Nystagmus and pyramidal signs were also observed in some cases. This unique association of clinical features clearly distinguishes this new entity from other previously described ADCA. Cerebral magnetic-resonance imaging showed moderate cerebellar and pontine atrophy in two patients. We performed a genomewide search and found significant evidence for linkage to chromosome 19q13.3-q13.4, in an approximately 8-cM interval between markers D19S219 and D19S553.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Herman-Bert
- INSERM U289, Hôpital de la Salpêtrière, and Consultation de Génétique Médicale, Hôpital de la Salpêtrière, Paris; Service de Néonatologie, Centre Hospitalier Intercommunal de Tarbes, Tarbes, France; Service de Pharmacologie Clinique, Faculté de Médecine, Fédération de Neurologie, Hôpital Purpan, and Consultation de Génétique Médicale, Hôpital Purpan, Toulouse, France; and Neurogenetics Unit, Department of Molecular Medicine, Karolinska Hospital, Stockholm
| | - Giovanni Stevanin
- INSERM U289, Hôpital de la Salpêtrière, and Consultation de Génétique Médicale, Hôpital de la Salpêtrière, Paris; Service de Néonatologie, Centre Hospitalier Intercommunal de Tarbes, Tarbes, France; Service de Pharmacologie Clinique, Faculté de Médecine, Fédération de Neurologie, Hôpital Purpan, and Consultation de Génétique Médicale, Hôpital Purpan, Toulouse, France; and Neurogenetics Unit, Department of Molecular Medicine, Karolinska Hospital, Stockholm
| | - Jean-Claude Netter
- INSERM U289, Hôpital de la Salpêtrière, and Consultation de Génétique Médicale, Hôpital de la Salpêtrière, Paris; Service de Néonatologie, Centre Hospitalier Intercommunal de Tarbes, Tarbes, France; Service de Pharmacologie Clinique, Faculté de Médecine, Fédération de Neurologie, Hôpital Purpan, and Consultation de Génétique Médicale, Hôpital Purpan, Toulouse, France; and Neurogenetics Unit, Department of Molecular Medicine, Karolinska Hospital, Stockholm
| | - Olivier Rascol
- INSERM U289, Hôpital de la Salpêtrière, and Consultation de Génétique Médicale, Hôpital de la Salpêtrière, Paris; Service de Néonatologie, Centre Hospitalier Intercommunal de Tarbes, Tarbes, France; Service de Pharmacologie Clinique, Faculté de Médecine, Fédération de Neurologie, Hôpital Purpan, and Consultation de Génétique Médicale, Hôpital Purpan, Toulouse, France; and Neurogenetics Unit, Department of Molecular Medicine, Karolinska Hospital, Stockholm
| | - David Brassat
- INSERM U289, Hôpital de la Salpêtrière, and Consultation de Génétique Médicale, Hôpital de la Salpêtrière, Paris; Service de Néonatologie, Centre Hospitalier Intercommunal de Tarbes, Tarbes, France; Service de Pharmacologie Clinique, Faculté de Médecine, Fédération de Neurologie, Hôpital Purpan, and Consultation de Génétique Médicale, Hôpital Purpan, Toulouse, France; and Neurogenetics Unit, Department of Molecular Medicine, Karolinska Hospital, Stockholm
| | - Patrick Calvas
- INSERM U289, Hôpital de la Salpêtrière, and Consultation de Génétique Médicale, Hôpital de la Salpêtrière, Paris; Service de Néonatologie, Centre Hospitalier Intercommunal de Tarbes, Tarbes, France; Service de Pharmacologie Clinique, Faculté de Médecine, Fédération de Neurologie, Hôpital Purpan, and Consultation de Génétique Médicale, Hôpital Purpan, Toulouse, France; and Neurogenetics Unit, Department of Molecular Medicine, Karolinska Hospital, Stockholm
| | - Agnès Camuzat
- INSERM U289, Hôpital de la Salpêtrière, and Consultation de Génétique Médicale, Hôpital de la Salpêtrière, Paris; Service de Néonatologie, Centre Hospitalier Intercommunal de Tarbes, Tarbes, France; Service de Pharmacologie Clinique, Faculté de Médecine, Fédération de Neurologie, Hôpital Purpan, and Consultation de Génétique Médicale, Hôpital Purpan, Toulouse, France; and Neurogenetics Unit, Department of Molecular Medicine, Karolinska Hospital, Stockholm
| | - Qiu-ping Yuan
- INSERM U289, Hôpital de la Salpêtrière, and Consultation de Génétique Médicale, Hôpital de la Salpêtrière, Paris; Service de Néonatologie, Centre Hospitalier Intercommunal de Tarbes, Tarbes, France; Service de Pharmacologie Clinique, Faculté de Médecine, Fédération de Neurologie, Hôpital Purpan, and Consultation de Génétique Médicale, Hôpital Purpan, Toulouse, France; and Neurogenetics Unit, Department of Molecular Medicine, Karolinska Hospital, Stockholm
| | - Martin Schalling
- INSERM U289, Hôpital de la Salpêtrière, and Consultation de Génétique Médicale, Hôpital de la Salpêtrière, Paris; Service de Néonatologie, Centre Hospitalier Intercommunal de Tarbes, Tarbes, France; Service de Pharmacologie Clinique, Faculté de Médecine, Fédération de Neurologie, Hôpital Purpan, and Consultation de Génétique Médicale, Hôpital Purpan, Toulouse, France; and Neurogenetics Unit, Department of Molecular Medicine, Karolinska Hospital, Stockholm
| | - Alexandra Dürr
- INSERM U289, Hôpital de la Salpêtrière, and Consultation de Génétique Médicale, Hôpital de la Salpêtrière, Paris; Service de Néonatologie, Centre Hospitalier Intercommunal de Tarbes, Tarbes, France; Service de Pharmacologie Clinique, Faculté de Médecine, Fédération de Neurologie, Hôpital Purpan, and Consultation de Génétique Médicale, Hôpital Purpan, Toulouse, France; and Neurogenetics Unit, Department of Molecular Medicine, Karolinska Hospital, Stockholm
| | - Alexis Brice
- INSERM U289, Hôpital de la Salpêtrière, and Consultation de Génétique Médicale, Hôpital de la Salpêtrière, Paris; Service de Néonatologie, Centre Hospitalier Intercommunal de Tarbes, Tarbes, France; Service de Pharmacologie Clinique, Faculté de Médecine, Fédération de Neurologie, Hôpital Purpan, and Consultation de Génétique Médicale, Hôpital Purpan, Toulouse, France; and Neurogenetics Unit, Department of Molecular Medicine, Karolinska Hospital, Stockholm
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18
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Cancel G, Gourfinkel-An I, Stevanin G, Didierjean O, Abbas N, Hirsch E, Agid Y, Brice A. Somatic mosaicism of the CAG repeat expansion in spinocerebellar ataxia type 3/Machado-Joseph disease. Hum Mutat 2000; 11:23-7. [PMID: 9450899 DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1098-1004(1998)11:1<23::aid-humu4>3.0.co;2-m] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
An expanded and unstable CAG repeat in the coding region of the MJD1 gene is the mutation responsible for spinocerebellar ataxia 3/Machado-Joseph disease. In order to determine whether there was a higher degree of instability in affected regions, the size of the expanded CAG repeat was analyzed in different regions of the central nervous system, in two unrelated SCA3/MJD patients. The degree of somatic mosaicism was quantified and compared to that in a SCA1 patient. Instability of the expanded CAG repeat was observed in peripheral tissues as well as in CNS of the three patients, but there was no correlation between the degree of mosaicism and the selective vulnerability of CNS structures. As in the other diseases caused by expanded CAG repeats, a lower degree of mosaicism was found in the cerebellar cortex of both SCA1 and SCA3/MJD patients, probably reflecting specific properties of this structure. In SCA3/MJD, the degree of mosaicism seemed to correlate with age at death rather than with the size of the expanded CAG repeat. Finally, somatic instability was more pronounced in SCA1 than in SCA3/MJD patients.
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19
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Frontali M, Novelletto A, Annesi G, Jodice C. CAG repeat instability, cryptic sequence variation and pathogeneticity: evidence from different loci. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 1999; 354:1089-94. [PMID: 10434311 PMCID: PMC1692606 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.1999.0464] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Different aspects of expanded polyglutamine tracts and of their pathogenetic role are taken into consideration here. (i) The (CAG)n length of wild-type alleles of the Huntington disease gene was analysed in instability-prone tumour tissue from colon cancer patients to test whether the process leading to the elongation of alleles towards the expansion range involves single-unit stepwise mutations or larger jumps. The analysis showed that length changes of a single unit had a relatively low frequency. (ii) The observation of an expanded spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA)1 allele with an unusual pattern of multiple CAT interruptions showed that cryptic sequence variations are critical not only for sequence length stability but also for the expression of the disease phenotype. (iii) Small expansions of the (CAG)n sequence at the CACNA1A gene have been reported as causing SCA6. The analysis of families with SCA6 and episodic ataxia type 2 showed that these phenotypes are, in fact, expressions of the same disorder caused either by point mutations or by small (CAG)n expansions. A gain of function has been hypothesized for all proteins containing an expanded polyglutamine stretch, including the alpha 1A subunit of the voltage-gated calcium channel type P/Q coded by the CACNA1A gene. Because point mutations at the same gene with similar phenotypic consequences are highly unlikely to have this effect, an alternative common pathogenetic mechanism for all these mutations, including small expansions, can be hypothesized.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Frontali
- Istituto di Medicina Sperimentale, CNR, Roma, Italy.
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20
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Kubis N, Dürr A, Gugenheim M, Chneiweiss H, Mazzetti P, Brice A, Bouche P. Polyneuropathy in autosomal dominant cerebellar ataxias: phenotype-genotype correlation. Muscle Nerve 1999; 22:712-7. [PMID: 10366224 DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1097-4598(199906)22:6<712::aid-mus7>3.0.co;2-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Autosomal dominant cerebellar ataxias (ADCAs) are clinically and genetically heterogeneous neurodegenerative disorders. The aim of this study was to evaluate electrophysiologically peripheral nervous system involvement in each of the groups studied and its correlation with the number of CAG repeats. Forty patients with ADCA were clinically and electrophysiologically investigated. Thirty-five patients belonged to the ADCA type I group (SCA1, 12; SCA2, 10; SCA3, 13) and five to the ADCA type II group. Axonal sensory or sensorimotor polyneuropathy was found in 42% of the SCA1 patients, 80% of the SCA2 patients, and 54% of the SCA3 patients, whereas electrophysiological studies were normal in all those with ADCA type II. The number of CAG repeats was significantly higher in SCA1 patients with polyneuropathy than in those without polyneuropathy (P = 0.01), whereas the reverse was observed in SCA3/MJD (Machado-Joseph disease) patients (P = 0.05). We conclude that axonal polyneuropathy is often associated with ADCA type I, but its frequency varies according to factors such as the locus responsible and the number of CAG repeats.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Kubis
- Laboratoire d'Explorations Fonctionnelles Neurologiques, Hôpital de la Salpêtrière, Paris, France
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Giuffrida S, Lanza S, Restivo DA, Saponara R, Valvo SC, Le Pira F, Trovato Salinaro A, Spinella F, Nicoletti A, Condorelli DF. Clinical and molecular analysis of 11 Sicilian SCA2 families: influence of gender on age at onset. Eur J Neurol 1999; 6:301-7. [PMID: 10210910 DOI: 10.1046/j.1468-1331.1999.630301.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Autosomal dominant cerebellar ataxias (ADCAs) are a complex group of slowly progressive neurodegenerative disorders characterized by gait and stance ataxia, dysarthria and other symptoms of nervous system involvement. ADCA type I is the commonest form and is genetically heterogeneous; several loci have been identified. Spinocerebellar ataxia type 2 (SCA2) has been mapped to chromosome 12, with expanded cytosine-adenine-guanine (CAG) repeats being identified as the mutational cause of the disease. We investigated 15 families, all originating from mid-eastern Sicily, with ADCA type I; molecular studies performed in 12 families showed the SCA2 mutation to be present in 11 of them (91.6%) - the highest occurrence so far reported in the literature. The CAG repeat of the affected alleles varied between 34 and 44 repeats. Age at onset and repeat length revealed an inverse correlation. Mean age at onset was 37.32 +/- 16. 74 years, and occurred earlier in males than in females. There were no differences in mean CAG repeat units between the sexes. However, a higher instability of CAG repeats was observed for paternal transmission than for maternal transmission. Age at onset and anticipation were not related to parental transmission. Our data suggest that in SCA2 an unknown sex-linked factor may play a role in the modulation of toxic effects of the polyglutamine tract.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Giuffrida
- Institute of Neurological Sciences, Universita di Catania, Viale Andrea Doria 6, I-95125, Catania, Italy
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22
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Condorelli DF, Trovato-Salinaro A, Spinella F, Valvo S, Saponara R, Giuffrida S. Rapid touchdown PCR assay for the molecular diagnosis of spinocerebellar ataxia type 2. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CLINICAL & LABORATORY RESEARCH 1998; 28:174-8. [PMID: 9801928 DOI: 10.1007/s005990050039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
Seven different chromosomal loci, designated SCA1 to SCA7 (spinocerebellar ataxias), have been identified as responsible for autosomal dominant cerebellar ataxias. Five genes (SCA1, 2, 3, 6, 7) have been cloned to date and show a single type of mutation, an unstable expansion of a CAG repeat coding for a polyglutamine stretch in the corresponding protein. We describe an improved polymerase chain reaction assay, based on a touchdown protocol, for the diagnosis of spinocerebellar ataxia type 2. This method produces an efficient amplification of both normal and pathological alleles and no radioactive labelling is necessary to observe the amplification products. The pathological alleles are identified by a simple non-denaturing polyacrylamide electrophoretic separation followed by ethidium bromide staining. A comparison of this technique with previously reported methods confirmed its utility for the rapid molecular diagnosis of spinocerebellar ataxia type 2. We found that the spinocerebellar ataxia type 2 mutation is responsible for 88% of the examined autosomal dominant cerebellar ataxia type 1 families in our territory (eastern Sicily). With the rapid touchdown polymerase chain reaction method, the trinucleotide expansion was also observed in 2 ataxic patients without family history of the disease, suggesting the necessity for analysis of spinocerebellar ataxia type 2 expansion even in sporadic patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- D F Condorelli
- Institute of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Catania, Italy
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Yokota T, Sasaki H, Iwabuchi K, Shiojiri T, Yoshino A, Otagiri A, Inaba A, Yuasa T. Electrophysiological features of central motor conduction in spinocerebellar atrophy type 1, type 2, and Machado-Joseph disease. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 1998; 65:530-4. [PMID: 9771779 PMCID: PMC2170300 DOI: 10.1136/jnnp.65.4.530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To characterise electrophysiologically the central motor conduction of spinocerebellar atrophy type 1 (SCA1), type 2 (SCA2), and Machado-Joseph disease (MJD). METHODS Motor evoked potentials (MEPs) triggered by transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) was used to investigate the functions of corticospinal tracts of 10 patients with SCA1, 10 with MJD, and eight with SCA2 in addition to pathological study of the spinal cord in a patient with SCA1. RESULTS Central motor conduction time (CMCT) was extremely prolonged and the MEP threshold increased in all patients with SCA1, whereas both were normal in patients with SCA2 or MJD. The MEP size in MJD was larger than normal, but was normal in SCA1 and SCA2. A pathological investigation of the corticospinal tract of the spinal cord of a patient with SCA1 showed selective loss of large diameter fibres. CONCLUSIONS SCA1, SCA2, and MJD differ in their pathophysiological features of the central motor tract and can be differentiated from each other by MEP values for the lower limb muscles, even though their neurological symptoms are sometimes similar.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Yokota
- Department of Neurology, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Japan.
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24
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Storey E. Dominantly inherited ataxias. Part II. J Clin Neurosci 1998; 5:369-77. [DOI: 10.1016/s0967-5868(98)90263-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/1998] [Accepted: 02/27/1998] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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Affiliation(s)
- M E MacDonald
- Molecular Neurogenetics Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital East, Charlestown 02129, USA
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Iughetti P, Otto PA, Zatz M, Bueno MRP, Marie SK. Different behavior in the paternally vs. maternally inherited mutated allele in Brazilian Machado-Joseph (MJD1) Families. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 1998. [DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1096-8628(19980518)77:3<246::aid-ajmg11>3.0.co;2-g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
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27
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Rivaud-Pechoux S, Dürr A, Gaymard B, Cancel G, Ploner CJ, Agid Y, Brice A, Pierrot-Deseilligny C. Eye movement abnormalities correlate with genotype in autosomal dominant cerebellar ataxia type I. Ann Neurol 1998; 43:297-302. [PMID: 9506545 DOI: 10.1002/ana.410430306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
We compared horizontal eye movements (visually guided saccades, antisaccades, and smooth pursuit) in control subjects (n = 14) and patients with three forms of autosomal dominant cerebellar ataxias type I: spinocerebellar ataxias 1 and 2 (SCA1, n = 11; SCA2, n = 10) and SCA3/Machado-Joseph disease (MJD) (n = 16). In SCA1, saccade amplitude was significantly increased, resulting in hypermetria. The smooth pursuit gain was decreased. In SCA2, saccade velocity was markedly decreased. The percentage of errors in antisaccades was greatly increased and was significantly correlated with age at disease onset. In addition, a correlation between smooth pursuit gain and the number of trinucleotide repeats was found. In SCA3, gaze-evoked nystagmus was often present as was saccade hypometria and smooth pursuit gain was markedly decreased. Three major criteria, saccade amplitude, saccade velocity, and presence of gaze-evoked nystagmus, permitted the correct assignment of 90% of the SCA1, 90% of the SCA2, and 93% of the patients with SCA3 to their genetically confirmed patient group and, therefore, may help orient diagnoses of SCA1, SCA2, and SCA3 at early clinical stages of the diseases.
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Schöls L, Amoiridis G, Büttner T, Przuntek H, Epplen JT, Riess O. Autosomal dominant cerebellar ataxia: phenotypic differences in genetically defined subtypes? Ann Neurol 1997; 42:924-32. [PMID: 9403486 DOI: 10.1002/ana.410420615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 236] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Seventy-seven families with autosomal dominant cerebellar ataxia were analyzed for the CAG repeat expansions causing spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA) types 1, 2, 3, and 6. The SCA1 mutation accounted for 9%, SCA2 for 10%, SCA3 for 42%, and SCA6 for 22% of German ataxia families. Seven of 27 SCA6 patients had no family history of ataxia. Age at onset correlated inversely with repeat length in all subtypes. Yet the average effect of one CAG unit on onset age was different for each SCA subtype. We compared clinical, electrophysiological, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings to identify phenotypic characteristics of genetically defined SCA subtypes. Slow saccades, hyporeflexia, myoclonus, and action tremor proposed SCA2. SCA3 patients frequently developed diplopia, severe spasticity or pronounced peripheral neuropathy, and impaired temperature discrimination, apart from ataxia. SCA6 presented with a predominantly cerebellar syndrome and patients often had onset after 55 years of age. SCA1 was characterized by markedly prolonged peripheral and central motor conduction times in motor evoked potentials. MRI scans showed pontine and cerebellar atrophy in SCA1 and SCA2. In SCA3, enlargement of the fourth ventricle was the main sequel of atrophy. SCA6 presented with pure cerebellar atrophy on MRI. However, overlap between the four SCA subtypes was broad.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Schöls
- Department of Neurology, St Josef Hospital, Ruhr-University, Bochum, Germany
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29
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Ikeuchi T, Takano H, Koide R, Horikawa Y, Honma Y, Onishi Y, Igarashi S, Tanaka H, Nakao N, Sahashi K, Tsukagoshi H, Inoue K, Takahashi H, Tsuji S. Spinocerebellar ataxia type 6: CAG repeat expansion in alpha1A voltage-dependent calcium channel gene and clinical variations in Japanese population. Ann Neurol 1997; 42:879-84. [PMID: 9403480 DOI: 10.1002/ana.410420609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 99] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Autosomal dominant spinocerebellar ataxias (SCAs) are clinically and genetically a heterogeneous group of neurodegenerative disorders. Recently, mild CAG repeat expansion in the alpha1A voltage-dependent calcium channel gene has been found to be associated with a type of autosomal dominant SCA (SCA6). We analyzed 98 Japanese families with autosomal dominant SCAs, for whom CAG repeat expansions of the SCA1, SCA2, Machado-Joseph disease/SCA3, and dentatorubral-pallidoluysian atrophy genes were excluded, and 5 apparently sporadic cases of cortical cerebellar atrophy. The diagnosis of SCA6 was confirmed in 30 families (31%) comprising 47 affected individuals and 1 sporadic case. The size of expanded CAG repeats ranged from 21 to 26 repeat units and was found to be correlated inversely with age at onset. We identified 2 SCA6 patients homozygous for expanded CAG repeats, whose ages at onset were earlier than the 95% lower confidence level, suggesting the presence of a gene dosage effect of expanded CAG repeat. Ataxia is the most common initial symptom found in 45 of the 48 patients. Patients with a prolonged disease course showed other accompanying clinical features including dystonic postures, involuntary movements, and abnormalities in tendon reflexes.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Ikeuchi
- Department of Neurology, Brain Research Institute, Niigata University, Japan
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30
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Cooper AJ, Sheu KR, Burke JR, Onodera O, Strittmatter WJ, Roses AD, Blass JP. Transglutaminase-catalyzed inactivation of glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase and alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase complex by polyglutamine domains of pathological length. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 1997; 94:12604-9. [PMID: 9356496 PMCID: PMC25053 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.94.23.12604] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Several adult-onset neurodegenerative diseases are caused by genes with expanded CAG triplet repeats within their coding regions and extended polyglutamine (Qn) domains within the expressed proteins. Generally, in clinically affected individuals n >/= 40. Glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase binds tightly to four Qn disease proteins, but the significance of this interaction is unknown. We now report that purified glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase is inactivated by tissue transglutaminase in the presence of glutathione S-transferase constructs containing a Qn domain of pathological length (n = 62 or 81). The dehydrogenase is less strongly inhibited by tissue transglutaminase in the presence of constructs containing shorter Qn domains (n = 0 or 10). Purified alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase complex also is inactivated by tissue transglutaminase plus glutathione S-transferase constructs containing pathological-length Qn domains (n = 62 or 81). The results suggest that tissue transglutaminase-catalyzed covalent linkages involving the larger poly-Q domains may disrupt cerebral energy metabolism in CAG/Qn expansion diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- A J Cooper
- Department of Biochemistry, Cornell University Medical College, New York, NY 10021, USA.
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31
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Kompoliti K, Pappert EJ, Goetz CG, Ford B, Wood NW. Progressive cognitive decline with truncal/limb ataxia and ballistic movements. Mov Disord 1997; 12:1075-84. [PMID: 9399242 DOI: 10.1002/mds.870120640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- K Kompoliti
- Department of Neurological Sciences, Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke's Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
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32
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Andrew SE, Goldberg YP, Hayden MR. Rethinking genotype and phenotype correlations in polyglutamine expansion disorders. Hum Mol Genet 1997; 6:2005-10. [PMID: 9328463 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/6.12.2005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 95] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- S E Andrew
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, Department of Medical Genetics, Vancouver, B.C., Canada
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33
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Limprasert P, Nouri N, Nopparatana C, Deininger PL, Keats BJ. Comparative studies of the CAG repeats in the spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 (SCA1) gene. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF MEDICAL GENETICS 1997; 74:488-93. [PMID: 9342197 DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1096-8628(19970919)74:5<488::aid-ajmg6>3.0.co;2-k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
The CAG repeat tract at the autosomal dominant spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 (SCA1) locus was analyzed in SCA1 families and French-Acadian, African-American, Caucasian, Greenland Inuit, and Thai populations. The normal alleles had 9-37 repeats, whereas disease alleles contained 44-64 repeats. The CAG repeat tract contained one or two CAT interruptions in 44 of 47 normal human chromosomes and in all five chimpanzees examined. In contrast, no CAT interruptions were found in Old World monkeys or expanded human alleles. The number and positions of CAT interruptions may be important in stabilizing CAG repeat tracts in normal chromosomes. At least five codons occupy the region corresponding to the polyglutamine tract at the SCA1 locus in mice, rats, and other rodents. They comprise three or four CCN (coding for proline) in addition to one or two CAG repeats.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Limprasert
- Department of Biometry and Genetics, Louisiana State University Medical Center, New Orleans 70112, USA
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34
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Arruda WO, Teive HA. [Hereditary cerebellar ataxias: from hammer to genetics]. ARQUIVOS DE NEURO-PSIQUIATRIA 1997; 55:666-76. [PMID: 9629425 DOI: 10.1590/s0004-282x1997000400027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The hereditary ataxias comprise a complex group of neurological disorders involving the cerebellum and its connections. Several classifications based on clinical and/or pathological data have been only partially successful. Recent progress in molecular genetics has identified the genic loci of hereditary ataxias and has allowed a more precise diagnosis of distinct genetic diseases. Trinucleotide repeat expansions has been recognized as a mechanism of disease in some autosomal dominant spinocerebellar ataxias (ADCA) (SCA1 to SCA7), including Machado-Joseph disease/SCA3, probably the most common form of ADCA in South Brazil, and Friedreich ataxia (GAA expansion-chromosome 9p). Familial alpha-tocopherol deficiency (chromosome 8q) may have a Friedreich ataxia phenotype and responds to the oral supplementation with vitamin E. Familial episodic ataxias with (EA1-chromosome 12p) and without (chromosome 19p-EA2) myokimia were identified, the first one caused by point mutations in the gene encoding the KCNA1 potassium voltage-gated channel. The gene responsible for ataxia-teleangiectasia (chromosome 11q) was found to encode a putative DNA binding protein kinase (ATM), related to the cell cycle control. One to 3% of the population are heterozygotic ATM gen carry and pose a higher risk of cancer when exposed to ionizing radiation. Molecular biology has provided us with useful tools to diagnosis and genetic counseling and, hopefully, will provide us with a better understanding of the pathogenesis and eventual treatment of the several forms of hereditary ataxias.
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Affiliation(s)
- W O Arruda
- Departamento de Clínica Médica, Universidade Federal do Paraná (UFPR), Brasil
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35
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Cancel G, Dürr A, Didierjean O, Imbert G, Bürk K, Lezin A, Belal S, Benomar A, Abada-Bendib M, Vial C, Guimarães J, Chneiweiss H, Stevanin G, Yvert G, Abbas N, Saudou F, Lebre AS, Yahyaoui M, Hentati F, Vernant JC, Klockgether T, Mandel JL, Agid Y, Brice A. Molecular and clinical correlations in spinocerebellar ataxia 2: a study of 32 families. Hum Mol Genet 1997; 6:709-15. [PMID: 9158145 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/6.5.709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 147] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Spinocerebellar ataxia 2 (SCA2) is caused by the expansion of an unstable CAG repeat encoding a polyglutamine tract. One hundred and eighty four index patients with autosomal dominant cerebellar ataxia type I were screened for this mutation. We found expansion in 109 patients from 30 families of different geographical origins (15%) and in two isolated cases with no known family histories (2%). The SCA2 chromosomes contained from 34 to 57 repeats and consisted of a pure stretch of CAG, whereas all tested normal chromosomes (14-31 repeats), except one with 14 repeats, were interrupted by 1-3 repeats of CAA. As in other diseases caused by unstable mutations, a strong negative correlation was observed between the age at onset and the size of the CAG repeat (r = -0.81). The frequency of several clinical signs such as myoclonus, dystonia and myokymia increased with the number of CAG repeats whereas the frequency of others was related to disease duration. The CAG repeat was highly unstable during transmission with variations ranging from -8 to +12, and a mean increase of +2.2, but there was no significant difference according to the parental sex. This instability was confirmed by the high degree of gonadal mosaicism observed in sperm DNA of one patient.
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36
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Gusella JF, Persichetti F, MacDonald ME. The Genetic Defect Causing Huntington’s Disease: Repeated in Other Contexts? Mol Med 1997. [DOI: 10.1007/bf03401677] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
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37
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Onodera O, Roses AD, Tsuji S, Vance JM, Strittmatter WJ, Burke JR. Toxicity of expanded polyglutamine-domain proteins in Escherichia coli. FEBS Lett 1996; 399:135-9. [PMID: 8980137 DOI: 10.1016/s0014-5793(96)01301-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Five neurodegenerative diseases are caused by proteins with expanded polyglutamine domains. Toxicity of these proteins has been previously identified only in mammals, and no simple model systems are available. In this paper, we demonstrate in E. coli that long polyglutamine domains (59-81 residues) as GST-fusion proteins inhibit growth while smaller glutamine (10-35 residues) or polyalanine (61 residues) domains have no effect. Analogously in humans, polyglutamine repeats less than 35-40 glutamines produce a normal phenotype, while expansion greater than 40 glutamines is always associated with disease. Expression of polyglutamine proteins in E. coli may help identify the molecular mechanism of pathogenesis of CAG trinucleotide repeat diseases and be a useful screen to identify potential therapeutic compound.
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Affiliation(s)
- O Onodera
- Department of Medicine (Neurology), Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
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38
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Schöls L, Amoiridis G, Epplen JT, Langkafel M, Przuntek H, Riess O. Relations between genotype and phenotype in German patients with the Machado-Joseph disease mutation. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 1996; 61:466-70. [PMID: 8937340 PMCID: PMC1074043 DOI: 10.1136/jnnp.61.5.466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Machado-Joseph disease (MJD) is an autosomal dominant cerebellar ataxia with extensive phenotypic variability originally described in families of Portuguese ancestry. Recently, the mutation causing the disease has been identified as an expanded CAG trinucleotide repeat. In this study relations between genotype and phenotype were investigated. METHODS A series of 180 German patients with degenerative forms of ataxia were clinically and genetically examined. Patients bearing the MJD mutation were assigned to three phenotypes: phenotype 1 characterised by early onset and dystonia or pronounced rigidity associated with ataxia and spasticity. Main symptoms in phenotype 2 were ataxia and spasticity. In phenotype 3 onset was relatively late and peripheral neuropathy accompanied ataxia. Clinical and molecular data were correlated. RESULTS An expanded CAG array was found in 42 patients from 22 families. Repeat length of CAG varied between 67 and 80 CAG motifs and showed an inverse correlation with the age of onset. For the development of phenotype 1 early onset (< 20 years) seemed more decisive than extensive repeat length. Phenotype 2 was present in all patients with more than 73 CAG motifs and onset between 20 and 40. Phenotype 3 developed in most patients with less than 73 CAG motifs and onset was regularly beyond the age of 40. Intrafamilial variability of both repeat length and phenotype was large reflecting meiotic instability of the expanded CAG repeat. CONCLUSIONS The MJD mutation is the most frequent cause of dominantly inherited ataxia in Germany. Variations in repeat lengths substantially influence age of onset as well as phenotype but cannot explain why MJD characteristics of Portuguese families such as "bulging eyes", dystonia, and rigidity are essentially missing in German families. Despite the genotypic and phenotypic relations found in this study a reliable individual prognosis of the course of the disease is not possible at a presymptomatic stage.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Schöls
- Department of Neurology, St Josef Hospital, Ruhr-University, Bochum, Germany
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39
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Filla A, De Michele G, Campanella G, Perretti A, Santoro L, Serlenga L, Ragno M, Calabrese O, Castaldo I, De Joanna G, Cocozza S. Autosomal dominant cerebellar ataxia type I. Clinical and molecular study in 36 Italian families including a comparison between SCA1 and SCA2 phenotypes. J Neurol Sci 1996; 142:140-7. [PMID: 8902734 DOI: 10.1016/0022-510x(96)00177-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
We studied 83 patients from 36 Italian families with autosomal dominant cerebellar ataxia type I. Mean onset age +/- SD was 34.2 +/- 12.8 years with a mean anticipation of 12.8 +/- 15.1 in 52 parent-offspring pairs. Onset age anticipation occurred predominantly through paternal transmission. Mean age at death was at 56.5 +/- 15.5 years. The most common associated features were supranuclear ophthalmoplegia, corticospinal signs, peripheral neuropathy and cognitive impairment. Cerebellar atrophy was constant at MRI and usually associated with shrinkage of the pons and degeneration of the pontine transverse fibres. Direct mutation analysis in 29 families showed two families with SCA1 and none with Machado-Joseph/SCA3 mutation. We performed linkage analysis in the ten largest families. Two of them showed linkage to SCA2 locus and none to SCA4 and SCA5 loci. SCA2 patients showed higher occurrence of peripheral neuropathy and slow saccades, rarer corticospinal signs and a milder course of the disease in comparison with SCA1 patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Filla
- Department of Neurology, Federico II University, Naples, Italy
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40
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MESH Headings
- Cerebellar Ataxia/genetics
- Chromosomes, Human, Pair 11
- Chromosomes, Human, Pair 12
- Chromosomes, Human, Pair 14
- Chromosomes, Human, Pair 16
- Chromosomes, Human, Pair 21
- Chromosomes, Human, Pair 3
- Friedreich Ataxia/genetics
- Genetic Linkage
- Humans
- Point Mutation
- RNA, Messenger
- Transcription, Genetic
- Trinucleotide Repeats/genetics
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41
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Benomar A, Meggouh F, Didierjean O, Kissani N, Dürr A, Sefiani A, Chkili T, Agid Y, Yahyaoui M, Brice A. Autosomal dominant cerebellar ataxia type I in Morocco: presence of the SCA1 and SCA3/MJD mutations. Eur J Neurol 1996. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1468-1331.1996.tb00231.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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42
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Illarioshkin SN, Slominsky PA, Ovchinnikov IV, Markova ED, Miklina NI, Klyushnikov SA, Shadrina M, Vereshchagin NV, Limborskaya SA, Ivanova-Smolenskaya IA. Spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 in Russia. J Neurol 1996; 243:506-10. [PMID: 8836939 DOI: 10.1007/bf00886871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 (SCA1) is one form of autosomal dominant cerebellar ataxia (ADCA) caused by trinucleotide (CAG) repeat expansion within a mutant gene. We investigated 25 patients from 15 Russian ADCA families for SCA1 mutation and found an expanded CAG repeat in 5 families. Mutant chromosomes contained 41-51 CAG repeats (mean 46.1, SD 3.1), and normal chromosomes displayed 21-27 repeat units (mean 24.7, SD 1.3). Progressive cerebellar ataxia in our series of SCA1 patients was very commonly associated with dysarthria (in all cases) and pyramidal signs (in 10 of 11 cases). In three patients from one family we found optic atrophy, which has never been described before in genetically proven cases of SCA1. We observed no specific clinical features distinguishing SCA1 from non-SCA1 patients. In contrast to the high frequency of SCA1 in our series, we found no patients with Machado-Joseph disease, another form of ADCA caused by expanded CAG repeat.
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Affiliation(s)
- S N Illarioshkin
- Department of Neurogenetics, Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, Moscow, Russia
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43
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Lezin A, Cancel G, Stevanin G, Smadja D, Vernant JC, Dürr A, Martial J, Buisson GG, Bellance R, Chneiweiss H, Agid Y, Brice A. Autosomal dominant cerebellar ataxia type I in Martinique (French West Indies): genetic analysis of three unrelated SCA2 families. Hum Genet 1996; 97:671-6. [PMID: 8655151 DOI: 10.1007/bf02281881] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Autosomal dominant cerebellar ataxias (ADCAs) are a group of neurodegenerative disorders that are clinically and genetically heterogeneous. We report here a genetic linkage study, with five chromosome 12q markers, of three Martinican families with ADCA type 1, for which the spinocerebellar ataxia 1 (SCA1) locus was excluded. Linkage to the SCA2 locus was demonstrated with a maximal lead score of 6.64 at theta = 0.00 with marker D12S354. Recombinational events observed by haplotype reconstruction demonstrated that the SCA2 locus is located in an approximately 7-cM interval flanked by D12S105 and D12S79. Using the z(max)-1 method, multipoint analysis further reduced the candidate interval for SCA2 to a region of 5 cM. Two families shared a common haplotype at loci spanning 7 cM, which suggests a founder effect, whereas a different haplotype segregated with the disease in the third family. Finally, a mean anticipation of 12+/-14 years was found in parent-child couples, with no parental sex effect, suggesting that the disease might be caused by an expanded and unstable triplet repeat.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Lezin
- Laboratoire de Biologie Moléculaire, CTS-Höpital Perre Zobda-Quitman,Fort-de-France, Martinique
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44
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Dürr A, Stevanin G, Cancel G, Duyckaerts C, Abbas N, Didierjean O, Chneiweiss H, Benomar A, Lyon-Caen O, Julien J, Serdaru M, Penet C, Agid Y, Brice A. Spinocerebellar ataxia 3 and Machado-Joseph disease: clinical, molecular, and neuropathological features. Ann Neurol 1996; 39:490-9. [PMID: 8619527 DOI: 10.1002/ana.410390411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 310] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Patients with spinocerebellar ataxia 3 (SCA3) and Machado-Joseph disease (MJD) carry an expanded CAG repeat in the MJD1 gene. One hundred twenty families of different geographic origin with autosomal dominant cerebellar ataxia (ADCA) type I were tested. Thirty-four families (126 patients) carried an expanded CAG repeat. The expanded and the normal allele did not overlap and the repeat was unstable during transmission, with variation in the size of the CAG length ranging from -8 to +5 and a mean expansion of 0.86 repeats without differences according to the parental sex. There was a combined effect of the number of CAG repeats of the expanded and normal allele on the age at onset, which accounted for 70% of its variability. The length of the CAG repeat influenced the frequency of clinical signs associated with cerebellar ataxia, such as abnormal tendon reflexes or decreased vibration sense, whereas the interindividual variation of supranuclear ophthalmoplegia, sphincter and swallowing difficulties, and amyotrophy was mostly determined by different disease durations. We compared the clinical profile of 91 SCA3/MJD patients with 51 SCA1 and 32 SCA2 patients. There were striking differences between the SCA3/MJD and SCA2 but not with SCA1 groups of patients. Despite their clinical similarities, distinct neuropathological features were observed in 2 SCA3/MJD and 2 SCA1 patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Dürr
- INSERM U289, Hôpital de la Salpêtrière, Paris, France
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45
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Sasaki H, Fukazawa T, Yanagihara T, Hamada T, Shima K, Matsumoto A, Hashimoto K, Ito N, Wakisaka A, Tashiro K. Clinical features and natural history of spinocerebellar ataxia type 1. Acta Neurol Scand 1996; 93:64-71. [PMID: 8825276 DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0404.1996.tb00173.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
SCA1 is a dominant spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA) and a multi-systemic syndrome caused by abnormal expansion of unstable CAG repeat in a novel gene located on chromosome 6p22-p23. We clinically studied 35 Japanese SCA1 patients who were assumed to have come from a common origin. The age at onset ranged from 15-63 years, and significantly correlated with CAG repeat units of mutant alleles. Ataxia was the initial symptom, and the majority of patients had a similar history of signs and symptoms. Nystagmus was at first minimal, later attenuated, and a slow saccade followed. Limb tendon reflexes were mostly hyperactive and depressed with the development of diffuse amyotrophy. The cardinal feature was ataxia-hyperreflexia-late slow saccade syndrome with terminal amyotrophy. Although the phenotype of SCA1 overlaps with those of other dominant SCAs, some facets of the neurological events differ from either SCA2 with ataxia-hyporeflexia-slow saccade syndrome, or early-onset Machado-Joseph disease with dystonia-bradykinesia-spasticity syndrome.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Sasaki
- Department of Neurology, Hokkaido University School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan
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Abstract
Knowledge of the molecular causes for genetic diseases that affect the nervous system is rapidly expanding. Especially striking has been the finding in several autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disorders that unstable expansions of trinucleotide repeats are responsible for the genetic disorder and that the length of the repeat can be correlated with the age of onset and the severity of symptoms. Phenotypic heterogeneity in many disorders associated with enzyme deficiencies can often be linked to the amount of residual enzyme activity occurring with different gene mutations. Making a specific diagnosis of a neurological disorder associated with genetically determined metabolic defects requires access to a laboratory that can assist in arranging for appropriate testing to be carried out. In some disorders such as the aminoacidurias diagnostic metabolic studies can be performed in hospital clinical chemistry laboratories. In others, such as the lysosomal storage diseases, a laboratory that carries out special lipid analyses and white blood cell enzyme assays will be necessary. DNA mutational analyses are becoming commercially available for diagnosing many disorders such as mitochondrial diseases and those conditions associated with expanded trinucleotide repeats. It may be necessary to contact individual research laboratories when confronted with a disorder that has been newly discovered or that is very rare. A computerised directory of specialised laboratories that perform disease specific testing for genetic disorders should be useful in choosing the appropriate diagnostic or research laboratory.
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Affiliation(s)
- P D Swanson
- Department of Neurology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle 98195, USA
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47
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DeStefano AL, Farrer LA, Maciel P, Gaspar C, Rouleau GA, Coutinho P, Sequeiros J. Gender equality in Machado-Joseph disease. Nat Genet 1995; 11:118-9. [PMID: 7550334 DOI: 10.1038/ng1095-118b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
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48
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Dürr A, Stevanin G, Cancel G, Abbas N, Chneiweiss H, Agid Y, Feingold J, Brice A. Gender equality in Machado-Joseph disease. Nat Genet 1995; 11:118-9. [PMID: 7550335 DOI: 10.1038/ng1095-118a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
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49
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Matilla T, McCall A, Subramony SH, Zoghbi HY. Molecular and clinical correlations in spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 and Machado-Joseph disease. Ann Neurol 1995; 38:68-72. [PMID: 7611728 DOI: 10.1002/ana.410380113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
The autosomal dominant spinocerebellar ataxias are clinically and genetically a heterogeneous group of neurodegenerative disorders. Genetic studies have classified some of these disorders based on the mapping of their respective genes. The gene for Machado-Joseph disease, one type of spinocerebellar ataxia, has been mapped to the long arm of chromosome 14q24.3-ter. The gene for another spinocerebellar ataxia, which is clinically distinct from Machado-Joseph disease, has been also localized to the same region on 14q and has been named type 3 spinocerebellar ataxia. Recently, expansions of a CAG trinucleotide repeat in a novel gene on chromosome 14q32.1 were shown in 11 patients affected with Machado-Joseph disease. In this study, we analyzed the DNA samples from 103 individuals representing 42 independent families with dominantly inherited ataxia to determine whether any had the Machado-Joseph disease mutation. The Machado-Joseph disease CAG expansion was detected in 5 of these 42 families. Sixteen affected individuals displayed a normal allele containing 14 to 31 CAG repeats and an expanded allele ranging between 66 and 79 CAG repeats. Seven asymptomatic individuals showed an allele ranging between 67 and 80 CAG repeats. Two of these families had a phenotype consistent with Machado-Joseph disease while the other 3 had clinical features of type 3 spinocerebellar ataxia. These data suggest that a single locus at 14q32.1 is responsible for two forms of spinocerebellar ataxia, spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 and Machado-Joseph disease, and that this locus may account for approximately 11% of this group of dominantly inherited ataxias.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Matilla
- Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
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50
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Shulman LM, Lang AE, Jankovic J, David NJ, Weiner WJ. Case 1, 1995: psychosis, dementia, chorea, ataxia, and supranuclear gaze dysfunction. Mov Disord 1995; 10:257-62. [PMID: 7651440 DOI: 10.1002/mds.870100304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- L M Shulman
- Department of Neurology, University of Miami School of Medicine, Florida
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