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Danner B, Gonzalez AD, Corbett WC, Alhneif M, Etemadmoghadam S, Parker-Garza J, Flanagan ME. Brain banking in the United States and Europe: Importance, challenges, and future trends. J Neuropathol Exp Neurol 2024; 83:219-229. [PMID: 38506125 PMCID: PMC10951968 DOI: 10.1093/jnen/nlae014] [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] [Indexed: 03/21/2024] Open
Abstract
In recent years, brain banks have become valuable resources for examining the molecular underpinnings of various neurological and psychological disorders including Alzheimer disease and Parkinson disease. However, the availability of brain tissue has significantly declined. Proper collection, preparation, and preservation of postmortem autopsy tissue are essential for optimal downstream brain tissue distribution and experimentation. Collaborations between brain banks through larger networks such as NeuroBioBank with centralized sample request mechanisms promote tissue distribution where brain donations are disproportionately lower. Collaborations between brain banking networks also help to standardize the brain donation and sample preparation processes, ensuring proper distribution and experimentation. Ethical brain donation and thorough processing enhances the responsible conduct of scientific studies. Education and outreach programs that foster collaboration between hospitals, nursing homes, neuropathologists, and other research scientists help to alleviate concerns among potential brain donors. Furthermore, ensuring that biorepositories accurately reflect the true demographics of communities will result in research data that reliably represent populations. Implementing these measures will grant scientists improved access to brain tissue, facilitating a deeper understanding of the neurological diseases that impact millions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Danner
- Biggs Institute, University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, USA
| | - Angelique D Gonzalez
- Biggs Institute, University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, USA
| | - William Cole Corbett
- Biggs Institute, University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, USA
| | - Mohammad Alhneif
- Biggs Institute, University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, USA
| | - Shahroo Etemadmoghadam
- Biggs Institute, University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, USA
| | - Julie Parker-Garza
- Biggs Institute, University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, USA
| | - Margaret E Flanagan
- Biggs Institute, University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, USA
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, USA
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Ma Y, Jia T, Qin F, He Y, Han F, Zhang C. Abnormal Brain Protein Abundance and Cross-tissue mRNA Expression in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Mol Neurobiol 2024; 61:510-518. [PMID: 37639066 PMCID: PMC10791788 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-023-03587-2] [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: 02/20/2023] [Accepted: 08/13/2023] [Indexed: 08/29/2023]
Abstract
Due to the limitations of the present risk genes in understanding the etiology of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), it is necessary to find additional causative genes utilizing novel approaches. In this study, we conducted a two-stage proteome-wide association study (PWAS) using ALS genome-wide association study (GWAS) data (N = 152,268) and two distinct human brain protein quantitative trait loci (pQTL) datasets (ROSMAP N = 376 and Banner N = 152) to identify ALS risk genes and prioritized candidate genes with Mendelian randomization (MR) and Bayesian colocalization analysis. Next, we verified the aberrant expression of risk genes in multiple tissues, including lower motor neurons, skeletal muscle, and whole blood. Six ALS risk genes (SCFD1, SARM1, TMEM175, BCS1L, WIPI2, and DHRS11) were found during the PWAS discovery phase, and SARM1 and BCS1L were confirmed during the validation phase. The following MR (p = 2.10 × 10-7) and Bayesian colocalization analysis (ROSMAP PP4 = 0.999, Banner PP4 = 0.999) confirmed the causal association between SARM1 and ALS. Further differential expression analysis revealed that SARM1 was markedly downregulated in lower motor neurons (p = 7.64 × 10-3), skeletal muscle (p = 9.34 × 10-3), and whole blood (p = 1.94 × 10-3). Our findings identified some promising protein candidates for future investigation as therapeutic targets. The dysregulation of SARM1 in multiple tissues provides a new way to explain ALS pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanni Ma
- Mental Health Center and Psychiatric Laboratory, The State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Tingting Jia
- Mental Health Center and Psychiatric Laboratory, The State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Fengqin Qin
- Department of Neurology, The 3Rd Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Yongji He
- Clinical Trial Center, National Medical Products Administration Key Laboratory for Clinical Research and Evaluation of Innovative Drugs, West China Hospital Sichuan University, Chengdu, People's Republic of China
| | - Feng Han
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Hainan General Hospital, Hainan Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Haikou, China
| | - Chengcheng Zhang
- Mental Health Center and Psychiatric Laboratory, The State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China.
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Andersen AM, Kaalund SS, Marner L, Salvesen L, Pakkenberg B, Olesen MV. Quantitative cellular changes in multiple system atrophy brains. Neuropathol Appl Neurobiol 2023; 49:e12941. [PMID: 37812040 DOI: 10.1111/nan.12941] [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: 03/31/2023] [Revised: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 10/02/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023]
Abstract
Multiple system atrophy (MSA) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterised by a combined symptomatology of parkinsonism, cerebellar ataxia, autonomic failure and corticospinal dysfunction. In brains of MSA patients, the hallmark lesion is the aggregation of misfolded alpha-synuclein in oligodendrocytes. Even though the underlying pathological mechanisms remain poorly understood, the evidence suggests that alpha-synuclein aggregation in oligodendrocytes may contribute to the neurodegeneration seen in MSA. The primary aim of this review is to summarise the published stereological data on the total number of neurons and glial cell subtypes (oligodendrocytes, astrocytes and microglia) and volumes in brains from MSA patients. Thus, we include in this review exclusively the reports of unbiased quantitative data from brain regions including the neocortex, nuclei of the cerebrum, the brainstem and the cerebellum. Furthermore, we compare and discuss the stereological results in the context of imaging findings and MSA symptomatology. In general, the stereological results agree with the common neuropathological findings of neurodegeneration and gliosis in brains from MSA patients and support a major loss of nigrostriatal neurons in MSA patients with predominant parkinsonism (MSA-P), as well as olivopontocerebellar atrophy in MSA patients with predominant cerebellar ataxia (MSA-C). Surprisingly, the reports indicate only a minor loss of oligodendrocytes in sub-cortical regions of the cerebrum (glial cells not studied in the cerebellum) and negligible changes in brain volumes. In the past decades, the use of stereological methods has provided a vast amount of accurate information on cell numbers and volumes in the brains of MSA patients. Combining different techniques such as stereology and diagnostic imaging (e.g. MRI, PET and SPECT) with clinical data allows for a more detailed interdisciplinary understanding of the disease and illuminates the relationship between neuropathological changes and MSA symptomatology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alberte M Andersen
- Centre for Neuroscience and Stereology, Department of Neurology, Bispebjerg-Frederiksberg Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Sanne S Kaalund
- Centre for Neuroscience and Stereology, Department of Neurology, Bispebjerg-Frederiksberg Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Lisbeth Marner
- Department of Clinical Physiology and Nuclear Medicine, Bispebjerg-Frederiksberg Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Lisette Salvesen
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Neurology, Bispebjerg-Frederiksberg Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Bente Pakkenberg
- Centre for Neuroscience and Stereology, Department of Neurology, Bispebjerg-Frederiksberg Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Mikkel V Olesen
- Centre for Neuroscience and Stereology, Department of Neurology, Bispebjerg-Frederiksberg Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
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Pinkerton M, Lourenco G, Pacheco MT, Halliday GM, Kiernan MC, Tan RH. Survival in sporadic ALS is associated with lower p62 burden in the spinal cord. J Neuropathol Exp Neurol 2023; 82:769-773. [PMID: 37414530 PMCID: PMC10440721 DOI: 10.1093/jnen/nlad051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The autophagy marker p62 appears as a consistent component of pathological aggregates in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and its modulation to facilitate protein degradation has been proposed as a potential therapeutic target. Importantly, recent studies have implicated diffuse phosphorylated TDP-43 inclusions that are immuno-negative for p62 in more rapid disease, highlighting the need for better understanding of p62 involvement in ALS pathogenesis. The present study set out to assess p62 pathology in the motor neurons of 31 patients with sporadic ALS that had either a short (<2 years) or longer (4-7 years) disease duration to determine its association with pTDP-43 pathology, motor neuron loss, and survival in sporadic disease. Our results identified significantly more cytoplasmic p62 aggregates in the spinal cord of patients with a shorter survival. Disease duration demonstrated a negative association with p62 burden and density of remaining motor neurons in the spinal cord, suggesting that survival in sporadic ALS is associated with the successful clearance of lower motor neurons with p62 aggregates. These findings implicate the autophagy pathway in ALS survival and provide support for further study of p62 as a potential prognostic biomarker in ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monica Pinkerton
- Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, School of Medical Sciences, University of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Guinevere Lourenco
- Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, School of Medical Sciences, University of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia
| | | | - Glenda M Halliday
- Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, School of Medical Sciences, University of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Matthew C Kiernan
- Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Institute of Clinical Neurosciences, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Rachel H Tan
- Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, School of Medical Sciences, University of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia
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Ng DQ, Chan D, Acharya MM, Grill JD, Chan A. Research Attitude and Interest among Cancer Survivors with or without Cognitive Impairment. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:3409. [PMID: 37444519 PMCID: PMC10340755 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15133409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2023] [Revised: 06/15/2023] [Accepted: 06/27/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND We examined the research attitudes and willingness to participate in clinical research among cancer survivors with varying degrees of cognitive function. METHODS This is a secondary analysis of data collected through the University of California Irvine Consent-to-Contact registry. Cancer survivors completed the Cognitive Function Instrument (CFI), the Research Attitudes Questionnaire (RAQ), and willingness to participate (WTP) in certain research procedures. Perceived cognitive impairment (CI) was defined as the worst 20% CFI scores. RESULTS Here, 265 CI and 909 cognitively non-impaired (CNI) participants' data were analyzed. Mean age and sex distribution were similar, with fewer non-Hispanic Whites and education years among CI participants. More CI participants self-reported past diagnoses of Alzheimer's disease, mild cognitive impairment, stroke, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and alcohol abuse (all p < 0.05). CI participants were significantly more interested in studies investigating approved medications (92% vs. 87%, p = 0.030), lumbar puncture (47% vs. 38%, p = 0.027), and autopsy (78% vs. 69%, p = 0.022). After removing survivors with co-existing neuropsychiatric conditions, interest in autopsy studies remained statistically higher among CI (79% vs. 69%, p = 0.022). CONCLUSIONS Participants with cancer and CI are open to research procedures and interventions that are traditionally less utilized, which may facilitate the discovery of the pathogenesis and interventions for cancer-related cognitive impairment (CRCI).
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Affiliation(s)
- Ding Quan Ng
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Daniella Chan
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Munjal M. Acharya
- School of Medicine, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Joshua D. Grill
- School of Medicine, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
- School of Biological Sciences, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Alexandre Chan
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
- School of Medicine, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
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