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Willis AT, Dahlgren AR, Woolard KD, Ghosh S, Donnelly CG, de la Concha‐Bermejillo A, Pacheco A, Watson KD, Berryhill E, Aleman M, Wensley F, Humphreys S, Whitehead AE, Goldsmith D, Chesen B, Ragsdale J, Tompkins JE, Nash R, Plunkett AH, Qualls HJ, Rodriguez K, Hochanadel D, Miller AD, Finno CJ. Clinicopathological and pedigree investigation of a novel spinocerebellar neurological disease in juvenile Quarter Horses in North America. J Vet Intern Med 2024; 38:1808-1814. [PMID: 38669583 PMCID: PMC11099776 DOI: 10.1111/jvim.17049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2023] [Accepted: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In 2020, a novel neurologic disease was observed in juvenile Quarter Horses (QHs) in North America. It was unknown if this was an aberrant manifestation of another previously described neurological disorder in foals, such as equine neuroaxonal dystrophy/equine degenerative myeloencephalopathy (eNAD/EDM). HYPOTHESIS/OBJECTIVES To describe the clinical findings, outcomes, and postmortem changes with Equine Juvenile Spinocerebellar Ataxia (EJSCA), differentiate the disease from other similar neurological disorders, and determine a mode of inheritance. ANIMALS Twelve neurologically affected QH foals and the dams. METHODS Genomic DNA was isolated and pedigrees were manually constructed. RESULTS All foals (n = 12/12) had a history of acute onset of neurological deficits with no history of trauma. Neurological deficits were characterized by asymmetrical spinal ataxia, with pelvic limbs more severely affected than thoracic limbs. Clinicopathological abnormalities included high serum activity of gamma-glutamyl transferase and hyperglycemia. All foals became recumbent (median, 3 days: [0-18 days]), which necessitated humane euthanasia (n = 11/12, 92%; the remaining case was found dead). Histological evaluation at postmortem revealed dilated myelin sheaths and digestion chambers within the spinal cord, most prominently in the dorsal spinocerebellar tracts. Pedigree analysis revealed a likely autosomal recessive mode of inheritance. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE EJSCA is a uniformly fatal, rapidly progressive, likely autosomal recessive neurological disease of QHs <1 month of age in North America that is etiologically distinct from other clinically similar neurological disorders. Once the causative variant for EJSCA is validated, carriers can be identified through genetic testing to inform breeding decisions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Anna R. Dahlgren
- Department of Population Health and Reproduction, School of Veterinary MedicineUniversity of California DavisDavisCaliforniaUSA
| | - Kevin D. Woolard
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, School of Veterinary MedicineUniversity of CaliforniaDavisCaliforniaUSA
| | - Sharmila Ghosh
- Department of Population Health and Reproduction, School of Veterinary MedicineUniversity of California DavisDavisCaliforniaUSA
| | - Callum G. Donnelly
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary MedicineCornell UniversityIthacaNew YorkUSA
| | | | - Ana Pacheco
- Carlson College of Veterinary MedicineOregon State UniversityCorvallisOregonUSA
| | - Katherine D. Watson
- California Animal Health and Food Safety Lab, School of Veterinary MedicineUniversity of California DavisDavisCaliforniaUSA
| | - Emily Berryhill
- Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary MedicineUniversity of California DavisDavisCaliforniaUSA
| | - Monica Aleman
- Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary MedicineUniversity of California DavisDavisCaliforniaUSA
| | - Fiona Wensley
- Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary MedicineUniversity of California DavisDavisCaliforniaUSA
| | | | | | - Dayna Goldsmith
- Diagnostic Services UnitUniversity of Calgary, Faculty of Veterinary MedicineCalgaryAlbertaCanada
| | | | - John Ragsdale
- New Mexico Department of AgricultureVeterinary Diagnostic ServicesAlbuquerqueNew MexicoUSA
| | | | - Ron Nash
- Ronald Nash, DVMMagnoliaArkansasUSA
| | | | | | | | | | - Andrew D. Miller
- Department of Population Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences, Section of Anatomic PathologyCornell University College of Veterinary MedicineIthacaNew YorkUSA
| | - Carrie J. Finno
- Department of Population Health and Reproduction, School of Veterinary MedicineUniversity of California DavisDavisCaliforniaUSA
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Tanaka M, Fujikawa R, Sekiguchi T, Hernandez J, Johnson OT, Tanaka D, Kumafuji K, Serikawa T, Hoang Trung H, Hattori K, Mashimo T, Kuwamura M, Gestwicki JE, Kuramoto T. A missense mutation in the Hspa8 gene encoding heat shock cognate protein 70 causes neuroaxonal dystrophy in rats. Front Neurosci 2024; 18:1263724. [PMID: 38384479 PMCID: PMC10880117 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2024.1263724] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Neuroaxonal dystrophy (NAD) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by spheroid (swollen axon) formation in the nervous system. In the present study, we focused on a newly established autosomal recessive mutant strain of F344-kk/kk rats with hind limb gait abnormalities and ataxia from a young age. Histopathologically, a number of axonal spheroids were observed throughout the central nervous system, including the spinal cord (mainly in the dorsal cord), brain stem, and cerebellum in F344-kk/kk rats. Transmission electron microscopic observation of the spinal cord revealed accumulation of electron-dense bodies, degenerated abnormal mitochondria, as well as membranous or tubular structures in the axonal spheroids. Based on these neuropathological findings, F344-kk/kk rats were diagnosed with NAD. By a positional cloning approach, we identified a missense mutation (V95E) in the Hspa8 (heat shock protein family A (Hsp70) member 8) gene located on chromosome 8 of the F344-kk/kk rat genome. Furthermore, we developed the Hspa8 knock-in (KI) rats with the V95E mutation using the CRISPR-Cas system. Homozygous Hspa8-KI rats exhibited ataxia and axonal spheroids similar to those of F344-kk/kk rats. The V95E mutant HSC70 protein exhibited the significant but modest decrease in the maximum hydrolysis rate of ATPase when stimulated by co-chaperons DnaJB4 and BAG1 in vitro, which suggests the functional deficit in the V95E HSC70. Together, our findings provide the first evidence that the genetic alteration of the Hspa8 gene caused NAD in mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miyuu Tanaka
- Institute of Laboratory Animals, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan
- Laboratory of Veterinary Pathology, Graduate School of Veterinary Science, Osaka Metropolitan University, Izumisano, Osaka, Japan
| | - Ryoko Fujikawa
- Laboratory of Veterinary Pathology, Graduate School of Veterinary Science, Osaka Metropolitan University, Izumisano, Osaka, Japan
| | - Takahiro Sekiguchi
- Laboratory of Veterinary Pathology, Graduate School of Veterinary Science, Osaka Metropolitan University, Izumisano, Osaka, Japan
| | - Jason Hernandez
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and the Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Oleta T. Johnson
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and the Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Daisuke Tanaka
- Institute of Laboratory Animals, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Kenta Kumafuji
- Institute of Laboratory Animals, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Tadao Serikawa
- Institute of Laboratory Animals, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Hieu Hoang Trung
- Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture, Atsugi, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Kosuke Hattori
- Division of Animal Genetics, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Tomoji Mashimo
- Division of Animal Genetics, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Mitsuru Kuwamura
- Laboratory of Veterinary Pathology, Graduate School of Veterinary Science, Osaka Metropolitan University, Izumisano, Osaka, Japan
| | - Jason E. Gestwicki
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and the Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Takashi Kuramoto
- Institute of Laboratory Animals, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan
- Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture, Atsugi, Kanagawa, Japan
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Kiener S, Troyer H, Ruvolo D, Grest P, Soto S, Letko A, Jagannathan V, Leeb T, Mauldin EA, Yang C, Rostaher A. Independent COL17A1 Variants in Cats with Junctional Epidermolysis Bullosa. Genes (Basel) 2023; 14:1835. [PMID: 37895184 PMCID: PMC10606533 DOI: 10.3390/genes14101835] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2023] [Revised: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Epidermolysis bullosa (EB), characterized by defective adhesion of the epidermis to the dermis, is a heterogeneous disease with many subtypes in human patients and domestic animals. We investigated two unrelated cats with recurring erosions and ulcers on ear pinnae, oral mucosa, and paw pads that were suggestive of EB. Histopathology confirmed the diagnosis of EB in both cats. Case 1 was severe and had to be euthanized at 5 months of age. Case 2 had a milder course and was alive at 11 years of age at the time of writing. Whole genome sequencing of both affected cats revealed independent homozygous variants in COL17A1 encoding the collagen type XVII alpha 1 chain. Loss of function variants in COL17A1 lead to junctional epidermolysis bullosa (JEB) in human patients. The identified splice site variant in case 1, c.3019+1del, was predicted to lead to a complete deficiency in collagen type XVII. Case 2 had a splice region variant, c.769+5G>A. Assessment of the functional impact of this variant on the transcript level demonstrated partial aberrant splicing with residual expression of wildtype transcript. Thus, the molecular analyses provided a plausible explanation of the difference in clinical severity between the two cases and allowed the refinement of the diagnosis in the affected cats to JEB. This study highlights the complexity of EB in animals and contributes to a better understanding of the genotype-phenotype correlation in COL17A1-related JEB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Kiener
- Institute of Genetics, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, 3001 Bern, Switzerland; (S.K.); (A.L.); (V.J.)
- Dermfocus, University of Bern, 3001 Bern, Switzerland;
| | - Heather Troyer
- Oradell Animal Hospital, Paramus, NJ 07652, USA; (H.T.); (D.R.)
| | - Daniel Ruvolo
- Oradell Animal Hospital, Paramus, NJ 07652, USA; (H.T.); (D.R.)
| | - Paula Grest
- Institute of Veterinary Pathology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland;
| | - Sara Soto
- Dermfocus, University of Bern, 3001 Bern, Switzerland;
- Institute of Animal Pathology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, 3001 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Anna Letko
- Institute of Genetics, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, 3001 Bern, Switzerland; (S.K.); (A.L.); (V.J.)
| | - Vidhya Jagannathan
- Institute of Genetics, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, 3001 Bern, Switzerland; (S.K.); (A.L.); (V.J.)
| | - Tosso Leeb
- Institute of Genetics, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, 3001 Bern, Switzerland; (S.K.); (A.L.); (V.J.)
- Dermfocus, University of Bern, 3001 Bern, Switzerland;
| | - Elizabeth A. Mauldin
- School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; (E.A.M.); (C.Y.)
| | - Ching Yang
- School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; (E.A.M.); (C.Y.)
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Long Island University, Brookville, NY 11548, USA
| | - Ana Rostaher
- Clinic for Small Animal Internal Medicine, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland;
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Towards Precision Therapies for Inherited Disorders of Neurodegeneration with Brain Iron Accumulation. Tremor Other Hyperkinet Mov (N Y) 2021; 11:51. [PMID: 34909266 PMCID: PMC8641530 DOI: 10.5334/tohm.661] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2021] [Accepted: 11/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Neurodegeneration with brain iron accumulation (NBIA) disorders comprise a group of rare but devastating inherited neurological diseases with unifying features of progressive cognitive and motor decline, and increased iron deposition in the basal ganglia. Although at present there are no proven disease-modifying treatments, the severe nature of these monogenic disorders lends to consideration of personalized medicine strategies, including targeted gene therapy. In this review we summarize the progress and future direction towards precision therapies for NBIA disorders. Methods: This review considered all relevant publications up to April 2021 using a systematic search strategy of PubMed and clinical trials databases. Results: We review what is currently known about the underlying pathophysiology of NBIA disorders, common NBIA disease pathways, and how this knowledge has influenced current management strategies and clinical trial design. The safety profile, efficacy and clinical outcome of clinical studies are reviewed. Furthermore, the potential for future therapeutic approaches is also discussed. Discussion: Therapeutic options in NBIAs remain very limited, with no proven disease-modifying treatments at present. However, a number of different approaches are currently under development with increasing focus on targeted precision therapies. Recent advances in the field give hope that novel strategies, such as gene therapy, gene editing and substrate replacement therapies are both scientifically and financially feasible for these conditions. Highlights This article provides an up-to-date review of the current literature about Neurodegeneration with Brain Iron Accumulation (NBIA), with a focus on disease pathophysiology, current and previously trialed therapies, and future treatments in development, including consideration of potential genetic therapy approaches.
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