NOTCH3 cysteine-altering variant is an important risk factor for stroke in the Taiwanese population

Disease Severity Staging System for NOTCH3-Associated Small Vessel Disease, Including CADASIL

Importance

Typical cysteine-altering NOTCH3 (NOTCH3cys) variants are highly prevalent (approximately 1 in 300 individuals) and are associated with a broad spectrum of small vessel disease (SVD), ranging from early-onset stroke and dementia (cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy [CADASIL]) to nonpenetrance. A staging system that captures the full NOTCH3-SVD severity spectrum is needed and currently lacking.

Objective

To design a simple disease severity staging system that captures the broad clinicoradiological NOTCH3-SVD severity spectrum.

Design, Setting, and Participants

A cohort study was performed in which the NOTCH3-SVD severity staging system was developed using a discovery cohort (2019-2020) and validated in independent international CADASIL cohorts (1999-2023) and the UK Biobank. Clinical and imaging data were collected from participants originating from 23 international CADASIL cohorts and from the UK Biobank. Eligibility criteria were presence of a NOTCH3cys variant, availability of brain magnetic resonance imaging, and modified Rankin Scale score. The discovery cohort consisted of 195 NOTCH3cys-positive cases from families with CADASIL; the validation set included 1713 NOTCH3cys-positive cases from 15 countries. The UK Biobank cohort consisted of 101 NOTCH3cys-positive individuals. Data from 2-year (2019-2023) and 18-year (1999-2017) follow-up studies were also analyzed. Data analysis was performed from July 2023 to August 2024.

Main Outcomes and Measures

Percentage of cases following the sequence of events of the NOTCH3-SVD stages, and the association between the stages and ischemic stroke, intracerebral hemorrhage, global cognition, processing speed, brain volume, brain microstructural damage, and serum neurofilament light chain (NfL) level.

Results

The NOTCH3-SVD staging system encompasses 9 disease stages or substages, ranging from stage 0 (premanifest stage) to stage 4B (end stage). Of all 1908 cases, which included 195 in the discovery cohort (mean [SD] age, 52.4 [12.2] years) and 1713 in the validation cohorts (mean [SD] age, 53.1 [13.0] years), 1789 (94%) followed the sequence of events defined by the NOTCH3-SVD staging system. The NOTCH3-SVD stages were associated with neuroimaging outcomes in the NOTCH3cys-positive cases in the CADASIL cohorts and in the UK Biobank and with cognitive outcomes and serum NfL level in cases from the CADASIL cohorts. The NOTCH3-SVD staging system captured disease progression and was associated with 18-year survival.

Conclusions and Relevance

The NOTCH3-SVD staging system captures the full disease spectrum, from asymptomatic individuals with a NOTCH3cys variant to patients with end-stage disease. The NOTCH3-SVD staging system is a simple but effective tool for uniform disease staging in the clinic and in research.

White Matter Hyperintensities and Cognitive Functions in People With the R544C Variant of the NOTCH3 Gene Without Stroke or Dementia

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

NOTCH3 pathologic variants cause cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL), which presents with stroke and dementia and is characterized by white matter hyperintensities (WMHs) on brain MRI. The R544C variant is a common pathologic variant in Taiwan, but not all carriers exhibit significant symptoms. We investigated whether WMHs occur before clinical symptoms in carriers with pathogenic variants, examined factors associated with WMHs, and explored their relationship with cognitive functions.

METHODS

We enrolled 63 R544C carriers without overt clinical disease (WOCD) and 37 age-matched and sex-matched noncarriers as controls from the Taiwan Precision Medicine Initiative data set. All participants underwent clinical interviews, comprehensive neuropsychological assessments, and brain MRI. We calculated total and regional WMH volumes, determined the age at which WMHs began increasing in carriers, and examined the relationship between WMHs and neuropsychological performance. Factors associated with WMH volumes were analyzed using multivariable linear regression models.

RESULTS

Compared with controls, R544C carriers WOCD had increased WMH volume, except in the occipital and midbrain areas, and showed a rapid increase in WMHs starting at age 48. They scored lower on the Mini-Mental State Examination (median = 28.4 vs 29.0, p = 0.048), Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) (median = 28.3 vs 29.0, p = 0.013), and memory and executive function tests than controls. After adjusting for age, sex, and education, MoCA scores were associated with whole-brain (r = -0.387, padj = 0.008) and regional WMHs (all padj < 0.05) except in the midbrain area. Age (β = 0.034, 95% CI 0.021-0.046, p < 0.001), hypercholesterolemia (β = 0.375, 95% CI 0.097-0.653, p = 0.009), and the vascular risk factor (VRF) index (β = 0.132, 95% CI 0.032-0.242, p = 0.019) were associated with the WMH severity in carriers.

DISCUSSION

Our study revealed that WMHs are extensively distributed in R544C carriers WOCD. They exhibited a rapid increase in WMHs beginning at age 48, approximately 7 years earlier than the reported age at symptomatic onset. Age was the strongest predictive factor of WMHs, and VRF, particularly hypercholesterolemia, might be modifying factors of WMHs.

Nailfold capillary measurements correlated to NOTCH3 R544C mutation in preclinical CADASIL patients

BACKGROUND

Cerebral Autosomal Dominant Arteriopathy with Subcortical Infarcts and Leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL) is a hereditary disease caused by NOTCH3 mutation. Nailfold capillaroscopy is a non-invasive technique typically used for rheumatic diseases. It has potential in other conditions linked to vascular pathology. However, capillaroscopy in CADASIL has not been explored. This study aims to investigate whether capillaroscopy measurements can correlate with brain vascular changes in preclinical CADASIL patients, specifically those with NOTCH3 mutation.

METHODS

This study included 69 participants from the Taiwan Precision Medicine Initiative (TPMI) dataset who visited Taichung Veterans General Hospital from January to December 2022. All individuals underwent genetic studies, brain imaging and nailfold capillaroscopy. The Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare results of brain imaging between carriers and controls. It was also used to compare measurements in nailfold capillaroscopy within each group. Spearman Rank Correlation Analysis was used to explore the relationship between capillary measurements and brain MRI results.

RESULTS

White matter hyperintensities (WMH) expression was positively correlated with capillary dimension and negatively correlated with density. Our results presented that R544C carriers exhibited a diffuse increase in WMH (p < 0.001) and a global reduction in gray matter volume but preserved in specific areas. The white matter lesion scores in all brain regions were higher in the mutation carriers than the controls. (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

This research highlights the association of nailfold capillaroscopy findings with white matter lesions in preclinical CADASIL patients. Capillaroscopy guides an effective screening strategy in individuals with NOTCH3 mutations.

Preimplantation Genetic Testing Inhibits the Transmission of Pathogenic Variants Associated With Cerebral White Matter Disease

Hereditary white matter disease is a series of progressive genetic diseases that mainly affect the white matter of the central nervous system. The development of molecular genetics enables the clinical diagnosis, carrier detection, and prenatal diagnosis of hereditary white matter disease. Here, we block the transmission of pathogenic variants in ABCD1 and NOTCH3 in a family with cerebral white matter disease via preimplantation genetic testing (PGT). Pathogenic genes were identified based on clinical manifestations, genetic background, and the results of targeted gene capture sequencing. A blastocyst biopsy was performed, and multiple annealing and looping-based amplification (MALBAC), next-generation sequencing (NGS), and single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) arrays were used to analyze ploidy and the state of the gene mutations. The proband (III:1) had hemizygous mutations in ABCD1 (c.323C>A (p.Ser108 *) and c.775C>T (p.Arg259Trp)) and heterozygous mutations in NOTCH3 (c.1630C>T (p.Arg544Cys)), which were maternally inherited (II:2). After genetic analysis, a euploid blastocyst without ABCD1 and NOTCH3 variations was transferred. A healthy male baby was born at full term, and the results of prenatal diagnosis by amniocentesis in the second trimester verified the results of PGT. To our knowledge, this is the first report of simultaneously blocking the transmission of pathogenic variants in ABCD1 and NOTCH3 via PGT. This report highlights the feasibility and effectiveness of PGT in preventing cerebral adrenoleukodystrophy (cALD) and cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL) and provides valuable insights for the diagnosis and treatment of similar cases.

Pathophysiology of cerebral small vessel disease: a journey through recent discoveries

Cerebral small vessel disease (cSVD) encompasses a heterogeneous group of age-related small vessel pathologies that affect multiple regions. Disease manifestations range from lesions incidentally detected on neuroimaging (white matter hyperintensities, small deep infarcts, microbleeds, or enlarged perivascular spaces) to severe disability and cognitive impairment. cSVD accounts for approximately 25% of ischemic strokes and the vast majority of spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage and is also the most important vascular contributor to dementia. Despite its high prevalence and potentially long therapeutic window, there are still no mechanism-based treatments. Here, we provide an overview of the recent advances in this field. We summarize recent data highlighting the remarkable continuum between monogenic and multifactorial cSVDs involving NOTCH3, HTRA1, and COL4A1/A2 genes. Taking a vessel-centric view, we discuss possible cause-and-effect relationships between risk factors, structural and functional vessel changes, and disease manifestations, underscoring some major knowledge gaps. Although endothelial dysfunction is rightly considered a central feature of cSVD, the contributions of smooth muscle cells, pericytes, and other perivascular cells warrant continued investigation.

Association of Rare NOTCH3 Variants With Prevalent and Incident Stroke and Dementia in the General Population

BACKGROUND

It is uncertain whether rare NOTCH3 variants are associated with stroke and dementia in the general population and whether they lead to alterations in cognitive function. This study aims to determine the associations of rare NOTCH3 variants with prevalent and incident stroke and dementia, as well as cognitive function changes.

METHODS AND RESULTS

In the prospective community-based Shunyi Study, a total of 1007 participants were included in the baseline analysis. For the follow-up analysis, 1007 participants were included in the stroke analysis, and 870 participants in the dementia analysis. All participants underwent baseline brain magnetic resonance imaging, carotid ultrasound, and whole exome sequencing. Rare NOTCH3 variants were defined as variants with minor allele frequency <1%. A total of 137 rare NOTCH3 carriers were enrolled in the baseline study. At baseline, rare NOTCH3 variant carriers had higher rates of stroke (8.8% versus 5.6%) and dementia (2.9% versus 0.8%) compared with noncarriers. After adjustment for associated risk factors, the epidermal growth factor-like repeats (EGFr)-involving rare NOTCH3 variants were associated with a higher risk of prevalent stroke (odds ratio [OR], 2.697 [95% CI, 1.266-5.745]; P=0.040) and dementia (OR, 8.498 [95% CI, 1.727-41.812]; P=0.032). After 5 years of follow-up, we did not find that the rare NOTCH3 variants increased the risk of incident stroke and dementia. There was no statistical difference in the change in longitudinal cognitive scale scores.

CONCLUSIONS

Rare NOTCH3 EGFr-involving variants are genetic risk factors for stroke and dementia in the general Chinese population.

Modifiable vascular risk factors contribute to stroke in 1080 NOTCH3 R544C carriers in Taiwan Biobank

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Previous studies have suggested cardiovascular risk factors increase the risk of not only common sporadic stroke but also of stroke in patients with monogenic stroke disorders including CADASIL. We investigated the effects of the NOTCH3 Arg544Cys (R544C) variant and associated vascular risk factors on stroke in the Taiwanese population.

METHODS

This study was conducted using data from the Taiwan Biobank, consisting of at least 130,000 Han Chinese participants. The genotype was derived from customized genome-wide arrays for 650,000 to 750,000 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Individuals with NOTCH3 R544C were subsequently matched with noncarriers based on the propensity score at a 1:10 ratio by demographic and cardiovascular risk factors. The odds ratio (OR) for stroke or other phenotypes in NOTCH3 R544C carriers and matched noncarriers was then calculated. Univariate and multivariate regression analyses were performed on cardiovascular risk factors in NOTCH3 R544C carriers with and without stroke. The polygenic risk score (PRS) model, adopted from the UK Biobank, was then applied to evaluate the role of NOTCH3 R544C in stroke.

RESULTS

From the 114,282 participants with both genotype and questionnaire results, 1080 (0.95%) harbored the pathogenic NOTCH3 R544C variant. When compared to the matched controls (n = 10,800), the carriers presented with a history of stroke (OR: 2.52, 95% confidence interval (CI) (1.45, 4.37)), dementia (OR: 30.1, 95% CI (3.13, 289.43)), and sibling history of stroke (OR: 2.48, 95% CI (1.85, 3.34)) phenotypes. The risk of stroke increased with every 10-year increase in age (p = 0.006, Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel test). Among NOTCH3 R544C carriers, 16 (1.3%) of the 1080 carriers with a stroke history were older, male, and more likely to have hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, and a family history of stroke. In the stepwise multivariate analysis, hypertension (OR: 11.28, 95% CI (3.54, 43.3)) and diabetes mellitus (OR: 4.10, 95% CI (1.31, 12.4)) were independently associated with stroke. Harboring the NOTCH3 R544C variant in the Taiwan Biobank is comparable with a 6.74 standard deviations increase in individual's polygenic risk score for stroke.

CONCLUSION

While the NOTCH3 R544C variant alone increased the risk of stroke, modifiable vascular risk factors also played a role in the occurrence of stroke in Taiwanese community-dwelling individuals carrying the NOTCH3 variant.

The cysteine-altering p.R544C variant in the NOTCH3 gene is a probable candidate for blood pressure and relevant traits in the Taiwan Biobank

BACKGROUND

The cysteine-altering variants in NOTCH3 have been suggested to be associated with stroke, dementia, and cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL), where aberrant blood pressure levels represent the characteristics of these diseases. We aimed to assess whether the cysteine-altering p.Arg544Cys (p.R544C; rs201118034) variant and common single nucleotide variants (SNVs) in NOTCH3 could contribute to systolic and diastolic blood pressure and related phenotypes in the Taiwan Biobank.

METHODS

We employed a discovery sample of 68,925 individuals, an independent replication sample of 45,676 individuals, and a combined/total sample of 114,601 individuals; all from the Taiwan Biobank. Blood pressure, such as systolic and diastolic blood pressure, was measured for all participants. Association was evaluated using a general linear model, where results were considered statistically significant if the P value < 0.05 divided by the number of independent tests per model.

RESULTS

From our analysis, we identified and replicated three novel candidates for blood pressure that have not previously been reported: the cysteine-altering p.R544C variant for systolic blood pressure, the common SNV rs11669950 for diastolic blood pressure, and the common SNV rs4808235 for diastolic blood pressure. We also generalized two previously identified SNVs (i.e., rs10418305 and rs7408868) in NOTCH3 for blood pressure in European and non-Taiwanese East Asian populations to the Taiwanese population. Moreover, the participants with NOTCH3 p.R544C had an increased stroke frequency (P < 1.0 × 10-5) and a higher dementia frequency (P = 2.0 × 10-4) compared with the whole Taiwan Biobank population in the combined/total sample.

CONCLUSION

NOTCH3 is a strong candidate for a role in stroke, dementia, and CADASIL, which has previously been linked to blood pressure changes. While our preliminary study suggests that NOTCH3 p.R544C may influence blood pressure, stroke, and dementia in the Taiwan Biobank, replication in a well-powered external sample is required. This study also underlines considerable prospects of detecting novel genetic biomarkers in underrepresented worldwide populations.

Update on the Epidemiology, Pathogenesis, and Biomarkers of Cerebral Autosomal Dominant Arteriopathy With Subcortical Infarcts and Leukoencephalopathy

Cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL) is the most common monogenic disorder of the cerebral small blood vessels. It is caused by mutations in the NOTCH3 gene on chromosome 19, and more than 280 distinct pathogenic mutations have been reported to date. CADASIL was once considered a very rare disease with an estimated prevalence of 1.3-4.1 per 100,000 adults. However, recent large-scale genomic studies have revealed a high prevalence of pathogenic NOTCH3 variants among the general population, with the highest risk being among Asians. The disease severity and age at onset vary significantly even among individuals who carry the same NOTCH3 mutations. It is still unclear whether a significant genotype-phenotype correlation is present in CADASIL. The accumulation of granular osmiophilic material in the vasculature is a characteristic feature of CADASIL. However, the exact pathogenesis of CADASIL remains largely unclear despite various laboratory and clinical observations being made. Major hypotheses proposed so far have included aberrant NOTCH3 signaling, toxic aggregation, and abnormal matrisomes. Several characteristic features have been observed in the brain magnetic resonance images of patients with CADASIL, including subcortical lacunar lesions and white matter hyperintensities in the anterior temporal lobe or external capsule, which were useful in differentiating CADASIL from sporadic stroke in patients. The number of lacunes and the degree of brain atrophy were useful in predicting the clinical outcomes of patients with CADASIL. Several promising blood biomarkers have also recently been discovered for CADASIL, which require further research for validation.

Monogenic Causes in Familial Stroke Across Intracerebral Hemorrhage and Ischemic Stroke Subtypes Identified by Whole-Exome Sequencing

Whole exome sequencing (WES) has been used to detect rare causative variants in neurological diseases. However, the efficacy of WES in genetic diagnosis of clinically heterogeneous familial stroke remains inconclusive. We prospectively searched for disease-causing variants in unrelated probands with defined familial stroke by candidate gene/hotspot screening and/or WES, depending on stroke subtypes and neuroimaging features at a referral center. The clinical significance of each variant was determined according to the American College of Medical Genetics guidelines. Among 161 probands (mean age at onset 53.2 ± 13.7 years; male 63.4%), 33 participants (20.5%) had been identified with 19 pathogenic/likely pathogenic variants (PVs; WES applied 152/161 = 94.4%). Across subtypes, the highest hit rate (HR) was intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH, 7/18 = 38.9%), particularly with the etiological subtype of structural vasculopathy (4/4 = 100%, PVs in ENG, KRIT1, PKD1, RNF213); followed by ischemic small vessel disease (SVD, 15/48 = 31.3%; PVs in NOTCH3, HTRA1, HBB). In contrast, large artery atherosclerosis (LAA, 4/44 = 9.1%) and cardioembolism (0/11 = 0%) had the lowest HR. NOTCH3 was the most common causative gene (16/161 = 9.9%), presenting with multiple subtypes of SVD (n = 13), ICH (n = 2), or LAA (n = 1). Importantly, we disclosed two previously unreported PVs, KRIT1 p.E379* in a familial cerebral cavernous malformation, and F2 p.F382L in a familial cerebral venous sinus thrombosis. The contribution of monogenic etiologies was particularly high in familial ICH and SVD subtypes in our Taiwanese cohort. Utilizing subtype-guided hotspot screening and/or subsequent WES, we unraveled monogenic causes in 20.5% familial stroke probands, including 1.2% novel PVs. Genetic diagnosis may enable early diagnosis, management and lifestyle modification. Among 161 familial stroke probands, 33 (20.5%) had been identified pathogenic or likely pathogenic monogenic variants related to stroke. The positive hit rate among all subtypes was high in intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) and ischemic small vessel disease (SVD). Notably, two previously unreported variants, KRIT1 p.E379* in a familial cerebral cavernous malformation and F2 p.F382L in familial cerebral venous sinus thrombosis, were disclosed. CVT cerebral venous thrombosis; HTN Hypertensive subtype; LAA large artery atherosclerosis; SV structural vasculopathy; U Undetermined.

Biobanking as a Tool for Genomic Research: From Allele Frequencies to Cross-Ancestry Association Studies

In recent years, great advances have been made in the field of collection, storage, and analysis of biological samples. Large collections of samples, biobanks, have been established in many countries. Biobanks typically collect large amounts of biological samples and associated clinical information; the largest collections include over a million samples. In this review, we summarize the main directions in which biobanks aid medical genetics and genomic research, from providing reference allele frequency information to allowing large-scale cross-ancestry meta-analyses. The largest biobanks greatly vary in the size of the collection, and the amount of available phenotype and genotype data. Nevertheless, all of them are extensively used in genomics, providing a rich resource for genome-wide association analysis, genetic epidemiology, and statistical research into the structure, function, and evolution of the human genome. Recently, multiple research efforts were based on trans-biobank data integration, which increases sample size and allows for the identification of robust genetic associations. We provide prominent examples of such data integration and discuss important caveats which have to be taken into account in trans-biobank research.

Analysis of clinically relevant variants from ancestrally diverse Asian genomes

Asian populations are under-represented in human genomics research. Here, we characterize clinically significant genetic variation in 9051 genomes representing East Asian, South Asian, and severely under-represented Austronesian-speaking Southeast Asian ancestries. We observe disparate genetic risk burden attributable to ancestry-specific recurrent variants and identify individuals with variants specific to ancestries discordant to their self-reported ethnicity, mostly due to cryptic admixture. About 27% of severe recessive disorder genes with appreciable carrier frequencies in Asians are missed by carrier screening panels, and we estimate 0.5% Asian couples at-risk of having an affected child. Prevalence of medically-actionable variant carriers is 3.4% and a further 1.6% harbour variants with potential for pathogenic classification upon additional clinical/experimental evidence. We profile 23 pharmacogenes with high-confidence gene-drug associations and find 22.4% of Asians at-risk of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Tier 1 genetic conditions concurrently harbour pharmacogenetic variants with actionable phenotypes, highlighting the benefits of pre-emptive pharmacogenomics. Our findings illuminate the diversity in genetic disease epidemiology and opportunities for precision medicine for a large, diverse Asian population.

R558C NOTCH3 Mutation in a CADASIL Patient with Intracerebral Hemorrhage: A Case Report with Literature Review

BACKGROUND

Cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL) is a monogenic cerebral small-vessel disease, which is characterized by migraine, recurrent ischemic strokes, psychiatric disorder, progressive cognitive decline, and occasionally intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). ICH events have been reported in a high proportion of East Asian CADASIL patients with R544C mutation in exon 11 of NOTCH3; however, whether any other specific NOTCH3 mutation determines the ICH phenotype has yet to be explored.

CASE PRESENTATION

We report the case of a 60-year-old male CADASIL patient with a novel R558C mutation in exon 11 of the NOTCH3 gene, who presented with ICH in the basal ganglia and cerebellum. Brain imaging revealed multiple confluent white matter hyperintensities and abundant cerebral microbleeds (CMBs) in the bilateral basal ganglia, thalamus, and cerebellum. The patient had been having recurrent ischemic strokes prior to this ICH event, and had taken antiplatelet and antihypertensive agents for six months. We analyzed the possible reasons for ICH onset in the patient to recommend certain guidelines for the clinic.

CONCLUSIONS

Novel R558C mutation-related CADASIL vasculopathy and numerous CMBs, uncontrolled hypertension, and antiplatelet therapy could collectively contribute to ICH onset in the patient with CADASIL. These findings suggest that a diagnosis of CADASIL should also be considered when patients present with ICH, whenever MRI imaging reveals typical white matter abnormalities. Furthermore, this case report emphasizes the importance of CMB assessment, appropriate blood pressure control, and cautious assessment of the risk-benefits of antiplatelet medication in patients with CADASIL.

Transcription Factor HEY1 Improves Brain Vascular Endothelial Cell Function and Alleviates Ischemic Stroke by Upregulating NOTCH3

To investigate the function of hairy/enhancer-of-split related with YRPW motif protein 1 (HEY1) and Notch receptor 3 (NOTCH3) in ischemic stroke. Stroke models were established by middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) and oxygen glucose deprivation (OGD) in rats and rat brain microvascular endothelial cells (BMVECs), respectively. Neurological deficit evaluation and 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining were used to assess cerebral injury. The expression of HEY1 and NOTCH3 was manipulated using gain and loss of function approaches. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling and Western blotting analysis of cleaved caspase-3 and B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl2) were used to evaluate apoptosis. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was performed to measure the expression levels of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6 and IL-18. The proliferation and migration of BMVECs were analyzed by Ki-67 immunofluorescence and scratch assay, respectively. Tube formation assay was conducted to measure the length of capillary-like tubes formed by BMVECs. Co-immunoprecipitation was used to testify the relationship between HEY1 and NOTCH3. HEY1 and NOTCH3 were upregulated in MCAO and OGD models. HEY1 ameliorated ischemic injuries in MCAO rats. Knockdown of HEY1 or NOTCH3 promoted OGD-induced apoptosis and inflammation and inhibited proliferation and migration in BMVECs. NOTCH3 was a binding protein of HEY1. Overexpression of HEY1 offset the disease-promoting effect of NOTCH3 silencing. HEY1 suppresses apoptosis and inflammation and promotes proliferation and migration in BMVECs by upregulating NOTCH3, thereby ameliorating ischemic stroke.

Mutation screening and association analysis of NOTCH3 p.R544C in patients with migraine with or without aura

BACKGROUND

The role of the NOTCH3 p.R544C variant, the predominant variant of cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy in multiple East Asian regions, in migraine is unknown.

METHODS

Migraine patients (n = 2,884) (2,279F/605M, mean age 38.8 ± 11.7 years), including 324 (11.2%) with migraine with aura, were prospectively enrolled by headache specialists according to the International Classification of Headache Disorders criteria. These patients and 3,502 population controls free of stroke, dementia, and headache were genotyped for NOTCH3 p.R544C by TaqMan genotyping assay or Axiom Genome-Wide TWB 2.0 Array. Clinical manifestations and brain magnetic resonance images were examined and compared between migraine patients with and without NOTCH3 p.R544C.

RESULTS

Thirty-two migraine patients (1.1%) and 36 controls (1.0%) harbored the p.R544C variant, and the percentages were comparable among migraine patients without and with aura, and controls (1.2%, vs. 0.6% vs. 1.0%, p = 0.625). Overall, migraine patients with and without the p.R544C variant had similar percentages of migraine with aura, headache characteristics, frequencies and disabilities. However, those with p.R544C were less likely to have pulsatile headaches (50.0% vs. 68.2%, p = 0.028), and more likely to have moderate to severe white matter hyperintensities in the external capsule (18.8% vs. 1.2%, p = 0.006) and anterior temporal lobe (12.5% vs. 0%, p = 0.008).

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that NOTCH3 p.R544C does not increase the risk of migraine with aura, or migraine as a whole, and generally does not alter clinical manifestations of migraine. The role of NOTCH3 variants, as well as potential influences from ethnicity or modifier genes, in migraine needs to be further clarified.

Pathogenic NOTCH3 Variants Are Frequent Among the Korean General Population

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to determine the frequency of pathogenic NOTCH3 variants among Koreans.

METHODS

In this cross-sectional study, we queried for pathogenic NOTCH3 variants in 2 Korean public genome databases: the Korean Reference Genome Database (KRGDB) and the Korean Genome Project (Korea1K). In addition, we screened the 3 most common pathogenic NOTCH3 variants (p.Arg75Pro, p.Arg544Cys, and p.Arg578Cys) for 1,000 individuals on Jeju Island, where the largest number of patients with cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL) have been reported in Korea.

RESULTS

The pathogenic NOTCH3 variant (p.Arg544Cys) was found in 0.12% of sequences in the KRGDB, and 3 pathogenic variants (p.Arg75Pro, p.Arg182Cys, and p.Arg544Cys) were present in 0.44% of the Korea1K database. Of the 1,000 individuals on Jeju Island, we found 2 cysteine-altering NOTCH3 variants (p.Arg544Cys variant in 9 and p.Arg578Cys in 1 individual) in 1.00% of the participants (95% confidence interval: 0.48%-1.83%). The presence of cysteine-altering NOTCH3 variants was significantly associated with a history of stroke (p < 0.001).

DISCUSSION

Pathogenic NOTCH3 variants are frequently found in the general Korean population. Such a high prevalence of pathogenic variants could threaten the brain health of tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of older adults in Korea.

Accurate Prediction of Stroke for Hypertensive Patients Based on Medical Big Data and Machine Learning Algorithms: Retrospective Study

Background

Stroke risk assessment is an important means of primary prevention, but the applicability of existing stroke risk assessment scales in the Chinese population has always been controversial. A prospective study is a common method of medical research, but it is time-consuming and labor-intensive. Medical big data has been demonstrated to promote disease risk factor discovery and prognosis, attracting broad research interest.

Objective

We aimed to establish a high-precision stroke risk prediction model for hypertensive patients based on historical electronic medical record data and machine learning algorithms.

Methods

Based on the Shenzhen Health Information Big Data Platform, a total of 57,671 patients were screened from 250,788 registered patients with hypertension, of whom 9421 had stroke onset during the 3-year follow-up. In addition to baseline characteristics and historical symptoms, we constructed some trend characteristics from multitemporal medical records. Stratified sampling according to gender ratio and age stratification was implemented to balance the positive and negative cases, and the final 19,953 samples were randomly divided into a training set and test set according to a ratio of 7:3. We used 4 machine learning algorithms for modeling, and the risk prediction performance was compared with the traditional risk scales. We also analyzed the nonlinear effect of continuous characteristics on stroke onset.

Results

The tree-based integration algorithm extreme gradient boosting achieved the optimal performance with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.9220, surpassing the other 3 traditional machine learning algorithms. Compared with 2 traditional risk scales, the Framingham stroke risk profiles and the Chinese Multiprovincial Cohort Study, our proposed model achieved better performance on the independent validation set, and the area under the receiver operating characteristic value increased by 0.17. Further nonlinear effect analysis revealed the importance of multitemporal trend characteristics in stroke risk prediction, which will benefit the standardized management of hypertensive patients.

Conclusions

A high-precision 3-year stroke risk prediction model for hypertensive patients was established, and the model's performance was verified by comparing it with the traditional risk scales. Multitemporal trend characteristics played an important role in stroke onset, and thus the model could be deployed to electronic health record systems to assist in more pervasive, preemptive stroke risk screening, enabling higher efficiency of early disease prevention and intervention.

Etiology and risk factors of intracranial hemorrhage and ischemic stroke in young adults

BACKGROUND

Young stroke incidence has increased worldwide with lifestyle changes. Etiology and risk factors for both ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke in young Asians remain underexplored.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed consecutive acute stroke patients aged 16-45 years admitted to the Taipei Veterans General Hospital between 2009 and 2019 to analyze etiologic subtypes, risk factors, and serial modified Rankin Scale scores for 1 year and compare the age groups of 16-30 and 31-45 years.

RESULTS

Among 670 young Taiwanese patients (mean age at onset 37.5 ± 7.0 years; male 65.1%), there were 366 nontraumatic spontaneous hemorrhagic stroke (including 259 intracerebral hemorrhage [ICH] and 107 subarachnoid hemorrhage, SAH), 292 ischemic stroke and 12 cerebral venous thromboses. Notably, ICH was more prevalent in patients aged 16-30 than in those aged 31-45 (54.8% vs 36.8%). Specifically, structural vasculopathy (e.g., arteriovenous malformation, cavernoma) was the most common etiologic subtype in patients aged 16-30 (p < 0.001), whereas hypertensive ICH was the most common subtype in patients aged 31-45 (p < 0.001). On the other hand, the top ischemic subtype for both age groups was other determined diseases (e.g., arterial dissection, autoimmune diseases, moyamoya disease, etc.) rather than large artery atherosclerosis. Hyperlipidemia, diabetes, and cigarette smoking were more common risk factors for infarction than ICH. Familial stroke patients whose first- or second-degree relatives had a stroke by age 80 (n = 104, 15.5%) had more infarctions than those without a familial stroke history. In multivariate analyses, initial stroke severity, and infarction type were important predictors of favorable outcomes after 3 months. At the 1-year follow-up, patients with ICH and SAH had worse functional outcomes and survival rates than those with infarction.

CONCLUSION

An aggressive approach to elucidate the etiology of stroke is indicated because structural vasculopathy-induced ICH and other determined infarction are distinctively prevalent in young adults, particularly those aged 16-30.

Contribution of "Omic" Studies to the Understanding of Cadasil. A Systematic Review

CADASIL (Cerebral Autosomal Dominant Arteriopathy with Subcortical Infarcts and Leukoencephalopathy) is a small vessel disease caused by mutations in NOTCH3 that lead to an odd number of cysteines in the epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like repeat domain, causing protein misfolding and aggregation. The main symptoms are migraines, psychiatric disorders, recurrent strokes, and dementia. Omic technologies allow the massive study of different molecules for understanding diseases in a non-biased manner or even for discovering targets and their possible treatments. We analyzed the progress in understanding CADASIL that has been made possible by omics sciences. For this purpose, we included studies that focused on CADASIL and used omics techniques, searching bibliographic resources, such as PubMed. We excluded studies with other phenotypes, such as migraine or leukodystrophies. A total of 18 articles were reviewed. Due to the high prevalence of NOTCH3 mutations considered pathogenic to date in genomic repositories, one can ask whether all of them produce CADASIL, different degrees of the disease, or whether they are just a risk factor for small vessel disease. Besides, proteomics and transcriptomics studies found that the molecules that are significantly altered in CADASIL are mainly related to cell adhesion, the cytoskeleton or extracellular matrix components, misfolding control, autophagia, angiogenesis, or the transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) signaling pathway. The omics studies performed on CADASIL have been useful for understanding the biological mechanisms and could be key factors for finding potential drug targets.

A Chinese CADASIL Family with a Novel Mutation on Exon 10 of Notch3 Gene

BACKGROUND

Cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL), which is caused by the Notch3 gene mutation, has its unique clinical and imaging characteristics. Here we present a Chinese family with a novel mutation on exon 10 of Notch3 gene.

METHODS

Clinical and MRI data of the three patients in the family during the 7-year follow-up were collected. The CADASIL Scale Score was calculated to evaluate the disease risk of the three patients at their first admission or clinic visit. Five family members underwent genetic test.

RESULTS

Genetic test confirmed the diagnosis of CADASIL in this family. A novel mutation of p.C533S on exon 10 of Notch3 gene was detected. The CADASIL score of the proband and her sister was both 17 and that of her brother was 14.

CONCLUSIONS

Our report not only expands the mutation spectrum of Notch3 gene in CADASIL, but also shows the distinct heterogeneity of CADASIL patients in the same family with the same mutation.

Genetic Counselling Improves the Molecular Characterisation of Dementing Disorders

Dementing disorders are a complex group of neurodegenerative diseases characterised by different, but often overlapping, pathological pathways. Genetics have been largely associated with the development or the risk to develop dementing diseases. Recent advances in molecular technologies permit analyzing of several genes in a small time, but the interpretation analysis is complicated by several factors: the clinical complexity of neurodegenerative disorders, the frequency of co-morbidities, and the high phenotypic heterogeneity of genetic diseases. Genetic counselling supports the diagnostic path, providing an accurate familial and phenotypic characterisation of patients. In this review, we summarise neurodegenerative dementing disorders and their genetic determinants. Genetic variants and associated phenotypes will be divided into high and low impact, in order to reflect the pathologic continuum between multifactorial and mendelian genetic factors. Moreover, we report a molecular characterisation of genes associated with neurodegenerative disorders with cognitive impairment. In particular, the high frequency of rare coding genetic variants in dementing genes strongly supports the role of geneticists in both, clinical phenotype characterisation and interpretation of genotypic data. The smart application of exome analysis to dementia patients, with a pre-analytical selection on familial, clinical, and instrumental features, improves the diagnostic yield of genetic test, reduces time for diagnosis, and allows a rapid and personalised management of disease.

Classification differentiates clinical and neuroanatomic features of cerebral small vessel disease

Age-related cerebral small vessel disease involves heterogeneous pathogenesis, such as arteriosclerosis/lipohyalinosis and cerebral amyloid angiopathy. MRI can visualize the brain lesions attributable to small vessel disease pathologies, including white-matter hyperintensities, lacune and cerebral microbleeds. However, these MRI markers usually coexist in small vessel disease of different aetiologies. Currently, there is no available classification integrating these neuroimaging markers for differentiating clinical and neuroanatomic features of small vessel disease yet. In this study, we tested whether our proposed stratification scheme could characterize specific clinical, neuroanatomic and potentially pathogenesis/aetiologies in classified small vessel disease subtypes. Cross-sectional analyses from a community-based non-demented non-stroke cohort consisting of ≥50 years old individuals were conducted. All participants were scanned 3T brain MRI for small vessel disease detection and neuroanatomic measurements and underwent physical and cognitive assessments. Study population were classified into robust and four small vessel disease groups based on imaging markers indicating (i) bleeding or non-bleeding; (ii) specific location of cerebral microbleeds; and (iii) the severity and combination of white-matter hyperintensities and lacune. We used whole-brain voxel-based morphometry analyses and tract-based spatial statistics to evaluate the regional grey-matter volume and white-matter microstructure integrity for comparisons among groups. Among the 735 participants with eligible brain MRI images, quality screening qualified 670 for grey-matter volume analyses and 617 for white-matter microstructural analyses. Common and distinct patterns of the clinical and neuroimaging manifestations were found in the stratified four small vessel disease subgroups. Hierarchical clustering analysis revealed that small vessel disease type 4 had features distinct from the small vessel disease types 1, 2 and 3. Abnormal white-matter microstructures and cognitive function but preserved physical function and grey-matter volume were found in small vessel disease type 4. Among small vessel disease types 1, 2 and 3, there were similar characteristics but different severity; the clinical features showed both physical frail and cognitive impairment and the neuroanatomic features revealed frontal–subcortical white-matter microstructures and remote, diffuse cortical abnormalities. This novel stratification scheme highlights the distinct clinical and neuroanatomic features of small vessel disease and the possible underlying pathogenesis. It could have potential application in research and clinical settings.

Electrophilic and Drug-Induced Stimulation of NOTCH3 N-terminal Fragment Oligomerization in Cerebrovascular Pathology

Small vessel disease is a prevalent age-related condition linked to increased risk of dementia and stroke. We investigate the most commonly inherited form, CADASIL, caused by cysteine-involving mutations in NOTCH3. Recent studies highlight accumulation of NOTCH3 N-terminal fragmentation product (NTF) in disease. In vitro, NTF is capable of both spontaneous and catecholamine-enhanced cysteine-mediated oligomerization. Despite well-characterized genetic influence on CADASIL, environmental effects, including medication usage, on disease remain unclear. We studied effects of assorted electrophilic compounds and drugs on NTF oligomerization by SDS-PAGE and dynamic light scattering. We then examined direct proton pump inhibitor-NTF binding with antibodies designed against proton pump inhibitor-labeled proteins and mass spectrometry. Finally, we used monoclonal NTF antibodies with Proximity Ligation Assay to identify NTF oligomers in 3 CADASIL and 2 age-matched control brains. We identified enhancement of NTF oligomerization by two electrophilic cysteine-modifying compounds, N-ethylmaleimide and iodoacetamide, and an electrophilic compound capable of oxidizing cysteines, ferric chloride. Electrophilic clinical drugs (fenoldopam, omeprazole, tenatoprazole, lansoprazole, and rabeprazole) also promoted oligomerization, and we identified direct omeprazole-NTF and tenatoprazole-NTF complexes. Additionally, we provide novel evidence of NTF multimers in human CADASIL brains. A broad array of electrophilic chemicals, including clinically relevant drugs, influences oligomerization of a pathological CADASIL protein, providing mechanistic insight into disease protein oligomerization. We posit that environmental influences, which may include usage of electrophilic drugs, may affect CADASIL presentations.

Genetic profiles of 103,106 individuals in the Taiwan Biobank provide insights into the health and history of Han Chinese

Personalized medical care focuses on prediction of disease risk and response to medications. To build the risk models, access to both large-scale genomic resources and human genetic studies is required. The Taiwan Biobank (TWB) has generated high-coverage, whole-genome sequencing data from 1492 individuals and genome-wide SNP data from 103,106 individuals of Han Chinese ancestry using custom SNP arrays. Principal components analysis of the genotyping data showed that the full range of Han Chinese genetic variation was found in the cohort. The arrays also include thousands of known functional variants, allowing for simultaneous ascertainment of Mendelian disease-causing mutations and variants that affect drug metabolism. We found that 21.2% of the population are mutation carriers of autosomal recessive diseases, 3.1% have mutations in cancer-predisposing genes, and 87.3% carry variants that affect drug response. We highlight how TWB data provide insight into both population history and disease burden, while showing how widespread genetic testing can be used to improve clinical care.

Mutational analysis in familial Alzheimer's disease of Han Chinese in Taiwan with a predominant mutation PSEN1 p.Met146Ile

Mutations in PSEN1, PSEN2, or APP genes are known to be causative for autosomal dominant Alzheimer’s disease (ADAD). While more than 400 mutations were reported worldwide, predominantly PSEN1, over 40 mutations have been reported in Han Chinese and were associated with earlier onset and more affected family members. Between 2002 and 2018, 77 patients in the neurological clinic of Taipei Veterans General Hospital with a history suggestive of ADAD were referred for mutational analysis. We retrospectively collected demographics, initial symptoms, neurological features and inheritance. We identified 16 patients with PSEN1 and 1 with APP mutation. Among the mutations identified, PSEN1 p.Pro117Leu, p.Met146Ile, p.Gly206Asp, p.Gly209Glu, p.Glu280Lys and p.Leu286Val and APP p.Asp678His were known pathogenic mutations; PSEN1 p.His131Arg and p.Arg157Ser were classified as likely pathogenic and variance of unknown significance respectively. The mean age at onset was 46.2 ± 6.2 years in patients with mutation found. PSEN1 p.Met146Ile, occurred in 56.2% (9/16) of patients with PSEN1 mutations, was the most frequent mutation in the cohort. The additional neurological features occurring in 9 PSEN1 p.Met146Ile index patients were similar with the literature. We found patients with genetic diagnoses were more likely to have positive family history, younger age at onset and less brain white matter hyperintensity.

Cysteine-Altering NOTCH3 Variants Are a Risk Factor for Stroke in the Elderly Population

Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text.

Cysteine altering NOTCH3 variants, which have previously been exclusively associated with the rare hereditary small vessel disease cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy, have a population frequency of 1:300 worldwide. Using a large population database, and taking genotype as a starting point, we aimed to determine whether individuals harboring a NOTCH3 cysteine altering variant have a higher load of small vessel disease markers on brain magnetic resonance imaging than controls, as well as a higher risk of stroke and cognitive impairment.

Imaging-based pregenetic screening for NOTCH3 p.R544C mutation in ischemic stroke in Taiwan

Objective

To develop an easily applicable screening score to guide NOTCH3 p.R544C genetic testing for patients who presented with acute ischemic cerebrovascular events in Taiwan.

Methods

1734 patients who presented with ischemic cerebrovascular events were enrolled from the Formosa Stroke Genetic Consortium stroke registry and were screened for the NOTCH3 p.R544C mutation. Clinical and MRI characteristics of NOTCH3 p.R544C mutation carriers (n = 36) and a subset of noncarriers (n = 673) were tested in a logistic regression model to identify key features associated with the NOTCH3 p.R544C carrier status. Variables and their odds ratios in the regression model were used to develop the R544C screening score to predict positive NOTCH3 p.R544C test results.

Results

We constructed the R544C screening score using five clinical and imaging characteristics, including stroke onset before 50 years of age, the small vessel occlusion subtype, a family history of stroke/TIA in siblings, external capsule involvement, and advanced deep white matter hyperintensity. The area under the ROC curve of the screening score was 0.867 (95% CI = 0.810‐0.924). The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and accuracy were 0.75, 0.88, 0.13, 0.99, and 0.88, respectively, for a cutoff score of 5 points. In addition, the R544C screening score was validated in another cohort composed of 235 stroke patients with comparable performance (area under the ROC curve = 0.957, 95% CI = 0.916‐0.997).

Interpretations

For Taiwanese patients presenting with acute ischemic cerebrovascular events, the R544C screening score is easily applicable and can efficiently select high‐risk patients for NOTCH3 p.R544C mutation test.

Broad phenotype of cysteine-altering NOTCH3 variants in UK Biobank: CADASIL to nonpenetrance

OBJECTIVE

To determine the small vessel disease spectrum associated with cysteine-altering NOTCH3 variants in community-dwelling individuals by analyzing the clinical and neuroimaging features of UK Biobank participants harboring such variants.

METHODS

The exome and genome sequencing datasets of the UK Biobank (n = 50,000) and cohorts of cognitively healthy elderly (n = 751) were queried for cysteine-altering NOTCH3 variants. Brain MRIs of individuals harboring such variants were scored according to Standards for Reporting Vascular Changes on Neuroimaging criteria, and clinical information was extracted with ICD-10 codes. Clinical and neuroimaging data were compared to age- and sex-matched UK Biobank controls and clinically diagnosed patients from the Dutch cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL) registry.

RESULTS

We identified 108 individuals harboring a cysteine-altering NOTCH3 variant (2.2 of 1,000), of whom 75% have a variant that has previously been reported in CADASIL pedigrees. Almost all variants were located in 1 of the NOTCH3 protein epidermal growth factor-like repeat domains 7 to 34. White matter hyperintensity lesion load was higher in individuals with NOTCH3 variants than in controls (p = 0.006) but lower than in patients with CADASIL with the same variants (p < 0.001). Almost half of the 24 individuals with brain MRI had a Fazekas score of 0 or 1 up to age 70 years. There was no increased risk of stroke.

CONCLUSIONS

Although community-dwelling individuals harboring a cysteine-altering NOTCH3 variant have a higher small vessel disease MRI burden than controls, almost half have no MRI abnormalities up to age 70 years. This shows that NOTCH3 cysteine altering variants are associated with an extremely broad phenotypic spectrum, ranging from CADASIL to nonpenetrance.

Prevalence and Atypical Clinical Characteristics of NOTCH3 Mutations Among Patients Admitted for Acute Lacunar Infarctions

Objectives: Cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL) is the most common hereditary small vessel disease, with reported frequencies of 2-5/100,000 individuals. Recently, it has been reported that some patients with NOTCH3 gene mutations show atypical clinical symptoms of CADASIL. Assuming that CADASIL is underdiagnosed in some cases of lacunar infarction, this study was designed to examine the prevalence of NOTCH3 gene mutations in the patients at highest risk who were admitted for lacunar infarctions.

Methods: From January 2011 to April 2018, 1,094 patients with lacunar infarctions were admitted to our hospital, of whom 31 patients without hypertension but with white matter disease (Fazekas scale 2 or 3) were selected and genetically analyzed for NOTCH3 gene mutations (Phase 1). Furthermore, 54 patients, who were 60 years or younger, were analyzed for NOTCH3 mutations (Phase 2). NOTCH3 exons 2–24, which encode the epidermal growth factor-like repeat domain of the NOTCH3 receptor, were analyzed for mutations by direct sequencing of genomic DNA.

Results: Three patients presented NOTCH3 p.R75P mutations: two in the Phase 1 and one in the Phase 2 cohort. Among patients aged 60 years or younger and those without hypertension but with moderate-to-severe white matter lesions, the carrier frequency of p.R75P was 3.5% (3/85), which was significantly higher than that in the Japanese general population (4.7KJPN) (odds ratio [95% CI] = 58.2 [11.6–292.5]). All three patients with NOTCH3 mutations had family histories of stroke, and the average patient age was 51.3 years. All three patients also showed white matter lesions in the external capsule but not in the temporal pole. The CADASIL and CADASIL scale-J scores of the three patients were 6, 17, 7 (mean, 10.0) and 13, 20, 10 (mean, 14.3), respectively.

Conclusion: Among patients hospitalized for lacunar infarctions, the p.R75P prevalence may be higher than previously estimated. The NOTCH3 p.R75P mutation may be underdiagnosed in patients with early-onset lacunar infarctions due to the atypical clinical and neuroimaging features of CADASIL. Early-onset, presence of family history of stroke, external capsule lesions, and absence of hypertension may help predict underlying NOTCH3 mutations despite no temporal white matter lesions.

Plasma neurofilament light chain and glial fibrillary acidic protein predict stroke in CADASIL

Background

Stroke remains the most cumbersome disease burden in patients with cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL). This study aimed to investigate whether plasma biomarkers can reflect disease severity and predict stroke recurrence in CADASIL patients.

Methods

Sixty-three CADASIL patients (mean age 58.9 ± 9.3 years old, male 63%) from a multicenter registry and 17 controls were recruited. Plasma biomarkers, namely neurofilament light chain (NfL), glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), tau, and ubiquitin carboxy-terminal hydrolase L1 (UCHL1), were measured using an ultra-sensitive single molecule array at baseline. Neuroimaging markers assessed included the Fazekas scale of white matter hyperintensity, numbers of lacunes, and cerebral microbleeds (CMBs). Cox proportional hazards regression models were applied to calculate the hazard ratio (HR) of plasma biomarkers at baseline for predicting incident stroke during follow-up.

Results

Plasma NfL, GFAP, and UCHL1 levels were significantly elevated in the CADASIL patients than in the controls. Among the CADASIL patients, both plasma NfL and GFAP levels positively correlated with the numbers of CMBs (r = 0.32 and r = 0.37, respectively; both p < 0.05). Higher plasma levels of NfL and GFAP were associated with any stroke (odds ratio 2.02, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.06–3.87) and ICH (odds ratio 2.06, 95% CI 1.26–3.35) at baseline, respectively. Within a mean follow-up period of 3.1 ± 2.1 years, 10 patients (16%) had incident stroke and 6 of them were ICH. Higher baseline NfL (HR 1.93, 95% CI 1.19–3.13) predicted any incident stroke, whereas higher GFAP (HR 2.80, 95% CI 1.21–6.53) predicted incident ICH.

Conclusions

In CADASIL patients, plasma NfL can be a promising biomarker for monitoring incident stroke, whereas GFAP may have a role in cerebral hemorrhage.