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González-Reyes M, Aragón J, Sánchez-Trujillo A, Rodríguez-Martínez G, Duarte K, Eleftheriou E, Barnier JV, Naquin D, Thermes C, Romo-Yáñez J, Roger JE, Rendon A, Vaillend C, Montanez C. Expression of Dystrophin Dp71 Splice Variants Is Temporally Regulated During Rodent Brain Development. Mol Neurobiol 2024:10.1007/s12035-024-04232-2. [PMID: 38802640 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-024-04232-2] [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: 12/12/2023] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
Dystrophin Dp71 is the major product of the Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) gene in the brain, and its loss in DMD patients and mouse models leads to cognitive impairments. Dp71 is expressed as a range of proteins generated by alternative splicing of exons 71 to 74 and 78, classified in the main Dp71d and Dp71f groups that contain specific C-terminal ends. However, it is unknown whether each isoform has a specific role in distinct cell types, brain regions, and/or stages of brain development. In the present study, we characterized the expression of Dp71 isoforms during fetal (E10.5, E15.5) and postnatal (P1, P7, P14, P21 and P60) mouse and rat brain development. We finely quantified the expression of several Dp71 transcripts by RT-PCR and cloning assays in samples from whole-brain and distinct brain structures. The following Dp71 transcripts were detected: Dp71d, Dp71d∆71, Dp71d∆74, Dp71d∆71,74, Dp71d∆71-74, Dp71f, Dp71f∆71, Dp71f∆74, Dp71f∆71,74, and Dp71fΔ71-74. We found that the Dp71f isoform is the main transcript expressed at E10.5 (> 80%), while its expression is then progressively reduced and replaced by the expression of isoforms of the Dp71d group from E15.5 to postnatal and adult ages. This major finding was confirmed by third-generation nanopore sequencing. In addition, we found that the level of expression of specific Dp71 isoforms varies as a function of postnatal stages and brain structure. Our results suggest that Dp71 isoforms have different and complementary roles during embryonic and postnatal brain development, likely taking part in a variety of maturation processes in distinct cell types.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mayram González-Reyes
- Departamento de Genética y Biología Molecular, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional (CINVESTAV), Mexico City, Mexico
- Institut des Neurosciences Paris Saclay, Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, Saclay, 91400, France
| | - Jorge Aragón
- Departamento de Genética y Biología Molecular, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional (CINVESTAV), Mexico City, Mexico
- Institut de la Vision, Sorbonne Université-INSERM-CNRS, 17 rue Moreau, Paris, 75012, France
| | - Alejandra Sánchez-Trujillo
- Departamento de Genética y Biología Molecular, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional (CINVESTAV), Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Griselda Rodríguez-Martínez
- Departamento de Genética y Biología Molecular, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional (CINVESTAV), Mexico City, Mexico
- Laboratorio de Investigación en Inmunología y Proteómica, Hospital Infantil de México Federico Gómez, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Kevin Duarte
- Institut des Neurosciences Paris Saclay, Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, Saclay, 91400, France
| | - Evangelia Eleftheriou
- Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Gif-sur-Yvette, 91198, France
| | - Jean-Vianney Barnier
- Institut des Neurosciences Paris Saclay, Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, Saclay, 91400, France
| | - Delphine Naquin
- Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Gif-sur-Yvette, 91198, France
| | - Claude Thermes
- Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Gif-sur-Yvette, 91198, France
| | - José Romo-Yáñez
- Departamento de Genética y Biología Molecular, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional (CINVESTAV), Mexico City, Mexico
- Institut de la Vision, Sorbonne Université-INSERM-CNRS, 17 rue Moreau, Paris, 75012, France
- Coordinación de Endocrinología Ginecológica y Perinatal, Instituto Nacional de Perinatología, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Jérome E Roger
- Institut des Neurosciences Paris Saclay, Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, Saclay, 91400, France
- CERTO-Retina France, Saclay, 91400, France
| | - Alvaro Rendon
- Institut de la Vision, Sorbonne Université-INSERM-CNRS, 17 rue Moreau, Paris, 75012, France
| | - Cyrille Vaillend
- Institut des Neurosciences Paris Saclay, Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, Saclay, 91400, France.
| | - Cecilia Montanez
- Departamento de Genética y Biología Molecular, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional (CINVESTAV), Mexico City, Mexico.
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Peruzzo D, Ciceri T, Mascheretti S, Lampis V, Arrigoni F, Agarwal N, Giubergia A, Villa FM, Crippa A, Nobile M, Mani E, Russo A, D'Angelo MG. Brain Alteration Patterns in Children with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy: A Machine Learning Approach to Magnetic Resonance Imaging. J Neuromuscul Dis 2024:JND230075. [PMID: 38578898 DOI: 10.3233/jnd-230075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/07/2024]
Abstract
Background Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) is a genetic disease in which lack of the dystrophin protein causes progressive muscular weakness, cardiomyopathy and respiratory insufficiency. DMD is often associated with other cognitive and behavioral impairments, however the correlation of abnormal dystrophin expression in the central nervous system with brain structure and functioning remains still unclear. Objective To investigate brain involvement in patients with DMD through a multimodal and multivariate approach accounting for potential comorbidities. Methods We acquired T1-weighted and Diffusion Tensor Imaging data from 18 patients with DMD and 18 age- and sex-matched controls with similar cognitive and behavioral profiles. Cortical thickness, structure volume, fractional anisotropy and mean diffusivity measures were used in a multivariate analysis performed using a Support Vector Machine classifier accounting for potential comorbidities in patients and controls. Results the classification experiment significantly discriminates between the two populations (97.2% accuracy) and the forward model weights showed that DMD mostly affects the microstructural integrity of long fiber bundles, in particular in the cerebellar peduncles (bilaterally), in the posterior thalamic radiation (bilaterally), in the fornix and in the medial lemniscus (bilaterally). We also reported a reduced cortical thickness, mainly in the motor cortex, cingulate cortex, hippocampal area and insula. Conclusions Our study identified a small pattern of alterations in the CNS likely associated with the DMD diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Denis Peruzzo
- Neuroimaging Unit,Scientific Institute, IRCCS Eugenio Medea, Bosisio Parini, Italy
| | - Tommaso Ciceri
- Neuroimaging Unit,Scientific Institute, IRCCS Eugenio Medea, Bosisio Parini, Italy
| | - Sara Mascheretti
- Child Psychopathology Unit,Scientific Institute, IRCCS Eugenio Medea, Bosisio Parini, Italy
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia (PV), Italy
| | - Valentina Lampis
- Child Psychopathology Unit,Scientific Institute, IRCCS Eugenio Medea, Bosisio Parini, Italy
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia (PV), Italy
| | - Filippo Arrigoni
- Neuroimaging Unit,Scientific Institute, IRCCS Eugenio Medea, Bosisio Parini, Italy
- Paediatric Radiology and Neuroradiology Department, V. Buzzi Children's Hospital, Milan, Italy
| | - Nivedita Agarwal
- Diagnostic Imaging and Neuroradiology Unit, Scientific Institute IRCCS Eugenio Medea, Bosisio Parini, Italy
| | - Alice Giubergia
- Neuroimaging Unit,Scientific Institute, IRCCS Eugenio Medea, Bosisio Parini, Italy
| | - Filippo Maria Villa
- Child Psychopathology Unit,Scientific Institute, IRCCS Eugenio Medea, Bosisio Parini, Italy
| | - Alessandro Crippa
- Child Psychopathology Unit,Scientific Institute, IRCCS Eugenio Medea, Bosisio Parini, Italy
| | - Maria Nobile
- Child Psychopathology Unit,Scientific Institute, IRCCS Eugenio Medea, Bosisio Parini, Italy
| | - Elisa Mani
- Child Psychopathology Unit,Scientific Institute, IRCCS Eugenio Medea, Bosisio Parini, Italy
| | - Annamaria Russo
- Unit of Rehabilitation of Rare Diseases of the Central and Peripheral Nervous System, Scientific Institute, IRCCS Eugenio Medea, Bosisio Parini, Italy
| | - Maria Grazia D'Angelo
- Unit of Rehabilitation of Rare Diseases of the Central and Peripheral Nervous System, Scientific Institute, IRCCS Eugenio Medea, Bosisio Parini, Italy
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3
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Gregg J, Wilson C, Curran D, Hanna D. Neurocognitive functioning among children and young people with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Clin Neuropsychol 2024:1-28. [PMID: 38509463 DOI: 10.1080/13854046.2024.2324500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2023] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024]
Abstract
Objective: The neurocognitive aspects of DMD have received less attention than the physiological sequalae. This study conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of available literature on the neurocognitive profile of children and young people with DMD. Method: Five databases (EMBASE, Medline, PsycInfo, Scopus and Web of Science) and the grey literature was searched on 27th January 2023. Eligible articles were available in English and reported neurocognitive outcomes. Neurocognitive domains reported in a comparable way across a minimum of three studies were included. The neurocognitive domains of Full-Scale IQ (FSIQ), Verbal IQ (VIQ), Performance IQ (PIQ) and Working memory (WMI) derived from Wechsler scales and receptive vocabulary ability derived from the Peabody Picture Verbal Test (PPVT) were included. A single mean meta-analysis was completed. Results: Relevant data was extracted and presented for 38 eligible studies; 2 of which are from grey literature. Results suggest children with DMD perform around 1SD below non-clinical norms for FSIQ, PIQ, VIQ and WMI. Unlike VIQ, scores derived from the PPVT were within the non-clinical norms. Studies were of moderate - high quality, there was significant heterogeneity and no publication bias. Conclusion: A systematic review of working memory has not previously been completed, it appears that children with DMD perform around 1SD below the mean, like FSIQ, PIQVIQ and WMI. The PPVT is a measure of receptive verbal ability and caution is recommended around the interchangeability of PPVT scores and the wider construct of verbal intelligence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jayne Gregg
- Regional Neurosciences, Royal Victoria Hospital
| | - Colin Wilson
- Regional Acquired Brain Injury Unit, Musgrave Park Hospital, Belfast HSC Trust
| | - David Curran
- School of Psychology, Queens University Belfast/Northern HSC Trust
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4
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Zhang XF, Luo YY, Jiang L, Hong SQ. Clinical study on cognitive impairment in Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Neuromuscul Disord 2023; 33:596-604. [PMID: 37385106 DOI: 10.1016/j.nmd.2023.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2022] [Revised: 05/29/2023] [Accepted: 06/01/2023] [Indexed: 07/01/2023]
Abstract
Our study aimed to explore the intellectual function of patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) in China and examine the correlation of full-scale intelligence quotient (FSIQ) with age, mutation locations, mutation class, and dystrophin isoforms. We assessed 64 boys with DMD using The Wechsler Intelligence Scales for Children-Fourth Edition and compared intellectual function at enrollment and follow-up in the 15 patients who completed the follow-up. Our findings confirm that boys with DMD may exhibit cognitive impairment, with the Working Memory Index being the most impaired. There was no significant correlation between FSIQ and age; however, a positive correlation was noted between age and the Verbal Comprehension Index. FSIQ was not associated with mutation class, the number of affected mutated exons, or mutation locations. However, there was a significant difference in FSIQ between the groups with intact and deficient Dp140. Fifteen participants adhered to glucocorticoid therapy throughout the two-year follow-up period, and eleven of them showed an improvement in FSIQ compared to their initial scores, with improvement ranging from 2 to 20. In conclusion, patients with the cumulative loss of isoforms in the brain are at a higher risk of cognitive deficits and may require early cognitive interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Fang Zhang
- Department of Neurology Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, China International Science and Technology Cooperation base of Child development and Critical Disorders, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Pediatrics, Chongqing, China
| | - Yuan-Yuan Luo
- Department of Neurology Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, China International Science and Technology Cooperation base of Child development and Critical Disorders, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Pediatrics, Chongqing, China
| | - Li Jiang
- Department of Neurology Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, China International Science and Technology Cooperation base of Child development and Critical Disorders, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Pediatrics, Chongqing, China
| | - Si-Qi Hong
- Department of Neurology Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, China International Science and Technology Cooperation base of Child development and Critical Disorders, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Pediatrics, Chongqing, China.
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5
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Dystrophin Short Product, Dp71, Interacts with AQP4 and Kir4.1 Channels in the Mouse Cerebellar Glial Cells in Contrast to Dp427 at Inhibitory Postsynapses in the Purkinje Neurons. Mol Neurobiol 2023; 60:3664-3677. [PMID: 36918517 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-023-03296-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2022] [Accepted: 03/01/2023] [Indexed: 03/16/2023]
Abstract
Dystrophin is the causative gene for Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophy (DMD/BMD), and it produces full-length and short dystrophin, Dp427 and Dp71, respectively, in the brain. The existence of the different dystrophin molecular complexes has been known for a quarter century, so it is necessary to derive precise expression profiles of the molecular complexes in the brain to elucidate the mechanism of cognitive symptoms in DMD/BMD patients. In order to investigate the Dp71 expression profile in cerebellum, we employed Dp71-specific tag-insertion mice, which allowed for the specific detection of endogenous Dp71 in the immunohistochemical analysis and found its expressions in the glial cells, Bergmann glial (BG) cells, and astrocytes, whereas Dp427 was exclusively expressed in the inhibitory postsynapses within cerebellar Purkinje cells (PCs). Interestingly, we found different cell-type dependent dystrophin molecular complexes; i.e., glia-associated Dp71 was co-expressed with dystroglycan (DG) and dystrobrevinα, whereas synapse-associated Dp427 was co-expressed with DG and dystrobrevinβ. Furthermore, we investigated the molecular relationship of Dp71 to the AQP4 water channel and the Kir4.1 potassium channel, and found biochemical associations of Dp71 with AQP4 and Kir4.1 in both the cerebellum and cerebrum. Immunohistochemical and cytochemical investigations revealed partial co-localizations of Dp71 with AQP4 and Kir4.1 in the glial cells, indicating Dp71 interactions with the channels in the BG cells and astrocytes. Taken together, different cell-types, glial cells and Purkinje neurons, in the cerebellum express different dystrophin molecular complexes, which may contribute to pathological and physiological processes through the regulation of the water/ion channel and inhibitory postsynapses.
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6
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Zweyer M, Ohlendieck K, Swandulla D. Verification of Protein Changes Determined by 2D-DIGE Based Proteomics Using Immunofluorescence Microscopy. Methods Mol Biol 2023; 2596:445-464. [PMID: 36378456 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2831-7_30] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Fluorescence two-dimensional difference gel electrophoresis (2D-DIGE) is a key biochemical method for the comparative analysis of complex protein mixtures. The technique focuses on the identification and characterization of individual protein species following gel electrophoretic separation making it an important analytical tool of top-down proteomics. In order to verify changes in the expression levels of a particular protein, as determined by 2D-DIGE analysis, and evaluate the subcellular localization of the proteoform of interest, immunofluorescence microscopy is very well suited. This chapter describes in detail the preparation of tissue specimens and the process of cryo-sectioning, as well as incubation with primary antibodies and fluorescently labeled secondary antibodies, followed by image analysis. As illustrative examples, the co-detection of immuno-labeled dystrophin and the Y-chromosome in skeletal muscle are shown, and the localization of calbindin in the cerebellum is presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margit Zweyer
- Department of Neonatology and Pediatric Intensive Care, Children's Hospital, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
- Deutsches Zentrum für Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen (DZNE), Bonn, Germany
| | - Kay Ohlendieck
- Department of Biology, Maynooth University, National University of Ireland, Maynooth, Co. Kildare, Ireland
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7
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Pascual-Morena C, Cavero-Redondo I, Álvarez-Bueno C, Jiménez-López E, Saz-Lara A, Martínez-García I, Martínez-Vizcaíno V. Global prevalence of intellectual developmental disorder in dystrophinopathies: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Dev Med Child Neurol 2022; 65:734-744. [PMID: 36440509 DOI: 10.1111/dmcn.15481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2022] [Revised: 09/16/2022] [Accepted: 11/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
AIM To estimate the global prevalence of intellectual developmental disorder (IDD) and the IDD prevalence-genotype association in Becker muscular dystrophy (BMD) or Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) according to the affected isoforms of the DMD gene: Dp427, Dp140, Dp71. METHOD Systematic searches in MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library were conducted from inception of each database to March 2022. Observational studies that determined the prevalence of IDD in the population with BMD or DMD were included. Meta-analyses of IDD prevalence and prevalence ratios of the IDD-genotype association were conducted. RESULTS Forty-nine studies were included. The prevalence of IDD in BMD was 8.0% (95% confidence interval 5.0-11.0), and in DMD it was 22.0% (18.0-27.0). Meta-analyses of IDD-genotype association showed a deleterious association between IDD and the number of isoforms affected in DMD, with a prevalence ratio = 0.43 (0.28-0.64) and 0.17 (0.09-0.34) for Dp140+ /Dp71+ versus Dp140- /Dp71+ and Dp140+ /Dp71+ versus Dp140- /Dp71- comparisons respectively. However, in BMD, there was no association for Dp140+ /Dp71+ versus Dp140- /Dp71+ . INTERPRETATION There is a high prevalence of IDD in BMD and DMD. Moreover, the number of isoforms affected is strongly and negatively associated with the prevalence of IDD in DMD.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Iván Cavero-Redondo
- Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Autónoma de Chile, Talca, Chile
| | - Celia Álvarez-Bueno
- Health and Social Research Center, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, Cuenca, Spain.,Universidad Politécnica y Artística del Paraguay, Asunción, Paraguay
| | - Estela Jiménez-López
- Health and Social Research Center, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, Cuenca, Spain
| | - Alicia Saz-Lara
- Health and Social Research Center, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, Cuenca, Spain
| | | | - Vicente Martínez-Vizcaíno
- Health and Social Research Center, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, Cuenca, Spain.,Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Autónoma de Chile, Talca, Chile
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8
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Jackson T, Seifi M, Górecki DC, Swinny JD. Specific Dystrophins Selectively Associate with Inhibitory and Excitatory Synapses of the Mouse Cerebellum and their Loss Alters Expression of P2X7 Purinoceptors and Pro-Inflammatory Mediators. Cell Mol Neurobiol 2022; 42:2357-2377. [PMID: 34101068 PMCID: PMC9418305 DOI: 10.1007/s10571-021-01110-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2020] [Accepted: 05/27/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) patients, having mutations of the DMD gene, present with a range of neuropsychiatric disorders, in addition to the quintessential muscle pathology. The neurobiological basis remains poorly understood because the contributions of different DMD gene products (dystrophins) to the different neural networks underlying such symptoms are yet to be fully characterised. While full-length dystrophin clusters in inhibitory synapses, with inhibitory neurotransmitter receptors, the precise subcellular expression of truncated DMD gene products with excitatory synapses remains unresolved. Furthermore, inflammation, involving P2X purinoceptor 7 (P2RX7) accompanies DMD muscle pathology, yet any association with brain dystrophins is yet to be established. The aim of this study was to investigate the comparative expression of different dystrophins, alongside ionotropic glutamate receptors and P2RX7s, within the cerebellar circuitry known to express different dystrophin isoforms. Immunoreactivity for truncated DMD gene products was targeted to Purkinje cell (PC) distal dendrites adjacent to, or overlapping with, signal for GluA1, GluA4, GluN2A, and GluD2 receptor subunits. P2X7R immunoreactivity was located in Bergmann glia profiles adjacent to PC-dystrophin immunoreactivity. Ablation of all DMD gene products coincided with decreased mRNA expression for Gria2, Gria3, and Grin2a and increased GluD2 immunoreactivity. Finally, dystrophin-null mice showed decreased brain mRNA expression of P2rx7 and several inflammatory mediators. The data suggest that PCs target different dystrophin isoforms to molecularly and functionally distinct populations of synapses. In contrast to muscle, dystrophinopathy in brain leads to the dampening of the local immune system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Torquil Jackson
- School of Pharmacy & Biomedical Sciences, University of Portsmouth, St Michael's Building, White Swan Road, Portsmouth, PO12DT, UK
| | - Mohsen Seifi
- Leicester School of Pharmacy, De Montfort University, Leicester, LE1 9BH, UK
| | - Dariusz C Górecki
- School of Pharmacy & Biomedical Sciences, University of Portsmouth, St Michael's Building, White Swan Road, Portsmouth, PO12DT, UK
- Military Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Kozielska 4, 01-001, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Jerome D Swinny
- School of Pharmacy & Biomedical Sciences, University of Portsmouth, St Michael's Building, White Swan Road, Portsmouth, PO12DT, UK.
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9
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Bombonato C, Casalini C, Pecini C, Angelucci G, Vicari S, Podda I, Cipriani P, Chilosi AM, Menghini D. Implicit learning in children with Childhood Apraxia of Speech. RESEARCH IN DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES 2022; 122:104170. [PMID: 35030467 DOI: 10.1016/j.ridd.2021.104170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2021] [Revised: 12/29/2021] [Accepted: 12/30/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Childhood Apraxia of Speech is a severe and persistent clinical subtype of Speech Sound Disorder. Given the difficulties in the acquisition, programming and control of the movements underlying speech and the slowdown in a wide range of non-linguistic skills, the difficulty in implicit learning of sequential information could play a role in the disorder, contributing to understand its etiopathological mechanisms and behavioral manifestations. AIMS The present study was aimed at investigating implicit learning in children with Childhood Apraxia of Speech. METHODS AND PROCEDURES Twenty-five children with Childhood Apraxia of Speech, aged between 4 and 12 years, were matched for IQ and age to a control group of 25 typically developing children. Implicit learning of participants was assessed by Serial Reaction Time Task. OUTCOME AND RESULTS Children with Childhood Apraxia of Speech did not show implicit learning, as documented by the absence of differences between reaction times in the sequenced block and the random block, usually considered as a measure of implicit learning effect. CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS Our results underline an implicit learning deficit in children with Childhood Apraxia of Speech, supporting the concept of a disorder not only confined to the speech domain, but also involving non-linguistic skills, in a composite and complex picture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clara Bombonato
- Department of Developmental Neuroscience, IRCCS Stella Maris Foundation, Pisa, Italy; Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health (NEUROFARBA), Florence, Italy.
| | - Claudia Casalini
- Department of Developmental Neuroscience, IRCCS Stella Maris Foundation, Pisa, Italy
| | - Chiara Pecini
- Department of Education, Languages, Intercultures, Literatures and Psychology (FORLIPSI), University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Giulia Angelucci
- Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Neurological and Psychiatric Science, Bambin Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Stefano Vicari
- Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Neurological and Psychiatric Science, Bambin Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy; Department of Life Science and Public Health, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Irina Podda
- Parole al Centro Studio di Logopedia e Neuropsicomotricità, Genova, Italy
| | - Paola Cipriani
- Department of Developmental Neuroscience, IRCCS Stella Maris Foundation, Pisa, Italy
| | - Anna M Chilosi
- Department of Developmental Neuroscience, IRCCS Stella Maris Foundation, Pisa, Italy
| | - Deny Menghini
- Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Neurological and Psychiatric Science, Bambin Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy
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10
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Handberg C, Werlauff U, Højberg AL. Perspectives on Everyday Life Challenges of Danish Young People With Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) on Corticosteroids. Glob Qual Nurs Res 2022; 9:23333936221094858. [PMID: 35493771 PMCID: PMC9052227 DOI: 10.1177/23333936221094858] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2021] [Revised: 03/22/2022] [Accepted: 03/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
This study aimed to investigate perspectives on everyday life challenges of young persons with Duchenne muscular dystrophy in Denmark treated with corticosteroids perceived by young persons and their parents to improve rehabilitation interventions. Nineteen semi-structured interviews were conducted: 10 individual interviews with 10 persons with DMD and six individual interviews with parents (five mothers and one father) and three couple interviews (three mothers and three fathers). The analysis was guided by interpretive description methodology and Antonovsky’s Sense of Coherence theory. The results indicated that persons with Duchenne muscular dystrophy existed in a flux between experiencing greater Sense of Coherence revolving around normality and less Sense of Coherence exposing their vulnerability which unfolded in four opposing themes: (1) bodily ability and disability, (2) content and anxious, (3) sociable and lonely, and (4) independent and dependent. Future rehabilitation should aim at supporting resistance resources promoting bodily ability, being content, sociable, and independent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlotte Handberg
- National Rehabilitation Center for Neuromuscular Diseases, Aarhus, Denmark.,Department of Public Health, Faculty of Health, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Ulla Werlauff
- National Rehabilitation Center for Neuromuscular Diseases, Aarhus, Denmark
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11
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Specht S, Straub V. Intellectual disability in paediatric patients with genetic muscle diseases. Neuromuscul Disord 2021; 31:988-997. [PMID: 34736636 DOI: 10.1016/j.nmd.2021.08.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2021] [Revised: 08/26/2021] [Accepted: 08/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
The differential diagnosis of genetic muscle disease has become increasingly difficult due to the rapid progress in genetic medicine in recent years. Where classifications based on the clinical picture were attributed to one gene only a few years ago, today we know that a variety of clinical presentations can result from the same mutation and, conversely, various genes are associated with a similar phenotype. A significant consideration in assessing a patient with muscle weakness is the presence or absence of intellectual disability, thus narrowing the differential diagnostic approach in any child with an as yet undiagnosed muscle disease. Intellectual disability in neuromuscular diseases is often associated with behavioural disorders and may be correlated with abnormal brain imaging. Conversely, brain involvement can sometimes be seen without intellectual disability, but may be associated with an epilepsy risk and is helpful for the differential diagnosis. This review focuses on the three most common causes of paediatric muscle diseases with intellectual disability, dystrophinopathies, myotonic dystrophy type 1 and dystroglycanopathies. It also summarises differential diagnostic considerations when assessing a child with a genetic muscle disease and intellectual disability. The recent scientific literature on this topic is reviewed, the frequency of intellectual disability assessed, and specific clinical features are described. Where available, data on disease onset, progression and serum creatine kinase levels are presented and the pattern of muscle involvement described in an algorithm. Central nervous involvement and brain imaging analysis was reviewed and included.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabine Specht
- John Walton Muscular Dystrophy Research Centre, Newcastle University and Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle, UK
| | - Volker Straub
- John Walton Muscular Dystrophy Research Centre, Newcastle University and Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle, UK.
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12
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Implicit and Explicit Memory in Youths with High-Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Case-Control Study. J Clin Med 2021; 10:jcm10184283. [PMID: 34575393 PMCID: PMC8464918 DOI: 10.3390/jcm10184283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2021] [Revised: 09/09/2021] [Accepted: 09/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) usually manifest heterogeneous impairments in their higher cognitive functions, including their implicit memory (IM) and explicit memory (EM). However, the findings on IM and EM in youths with ASD remain debated. The aim of this study was to clarify such conflicting results by examining IM and EM using two comparable versions of the Serial Reaction Time Task (SRTT) in the same group of children and adolescents with ASD. Twenty-five youths with high-functioning ASD and 29 age-matched and IQ-matched typically developing youths undertook both tasks. The ability to implicitly learn the temporal sequence of events across the blocks in the SRTT was intact in the youths with ASD. When they were tested for EM, the participants with ASD did not experience a significant reduction in their reaction times during the blocks with the previously learned sequence, suggesting an impairment in EM. Moreover, the participants with ASD were less accurate and made more omissions than the controls in the EM task. The implications of these findings for the establishment of tailored educational programs for children with high-functioning ASD are discussed.
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13
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Biagi L, Lenzi S, Cipriano E, Fiori S, Bosco P, Cristofani P, Astrea G, Pini A, Cioni G, Mercuri E, Tosetti M, Battini R. Neural substrates of neuropsychological profiles in dystrophynopathies: A pilot study of diffusion tractography imaging. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0250420. [PMID: 33939732 PMCID: PMC8092766 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0250420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2020] [Accepted: 04/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Cognitive difficulties and neuropsychological alterations in Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophy (DMD, BMD) boys are not yet sufficiently explored, although this topic could have a relevant impact, finding novel biomarkers of disease both at genetics and neuroimaging point of view. The current study aims to: 1) analyze the neuropsychological profile of a group of DMD and BMD boys without cognitive impairment with an assessment of their executive functions; 2) explore the structural connectivity in DMD, BMD, and age-matched controls focusing on cortico-subcortical tracts that connect frontal cortex, basal ganglia, and cerebellum via the thalamus; 3) explore possible correlations between altered structural connectivity and clinical neuropsychological measures. Materials and methods This pilot study included 15 boys (5 DMD subjects, 5 BMD subjects, and 5 age-matched typically developing, TD). They were assessed using a neuropsychological assessment protocol including cognitive and executive functioning assessment and performed a 1.5T MRI brain exam including advance Diffusion Weighted Imaging (DWI) method for tractography. Structural connectivity measurements were extracted along three specific tracts: Cortico-Ponto-Cerebellar Tract (CPCT), Cerebellar-Thalamic Tract (CTT), and Superior Longitudinal Fasciculus (SLF). Cortical-Spinal Tract (CST) was selected for reference, as control tract. Results Regarding intellectual functioning, a major impairment in executive functions compared to the general intellectual functioning was observed both for DMD (mean score = 86.20; SD = 11.54) and for BMD children (mean score = 88; SD = 3.67). Mean FA resulted tendentially always lower in DMD compared to both BMD and TD groups for all the examined tracts. The differences in FA were statistically significant for the right CTT (DMD vs BMD, p = 0.002, and DMD vs TD, p = 0.0015) and the right CPCT (DMD vs TD, p = 0.008). Concerning DMD, significant correlations emerged between FA-R-CTT and intellectual quotients (FIQ, p = 0.044; ρs = 0.821), and executive functions (Denomination Total, p = 0.044, ρs = 0.821; Inhibition Total, p = 0.019, ρs = 0.900). BMD showed a significant correlation between FA-R-CPCT and working memory index (p = 0.007; ρs = 0.949). Discussion and conclusion In this pilot study, despite the limitation of sample size, the findings support the hypothesis of the involvement of a cerebellar-thalamo-cortical loop for the neuropsychological profile of DMD, as the CTT and the CPCT are involved in the network and the related brain structures are known to be implied in executive functions. Our results suggest that altered WM connectivity and reduced fibre organization in cerebellar tracts, probably due to the lack of dystrophin in the brain, may render less efficient some neuropsychological functions in children affected by dystrophinopathies. The wider multicentric study could help to better establish the role of cerebellar connectivity in neuropsychological profile for dystrophinopathies, identifying possible novel diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Biagi
- Laboratory of Medical Physics and Magnetic Resonance, IRCCS Fondazione Stella Maris, Calambrone, Pisa, Italy
| | - Sara Lenzi
- Department of Developmental Neuroscience, IRCCS Stella Maris, Calambrone, Pisa, Italy
| | - Emilio Cipriano
- Laboratory of Medical Physics and Magnetic Resonance, IRCCS Fondazione Stella Maris, Calambrone, Pisa, Italy
- Department of Physics, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Simona Fiori
- Department of Developmental Neuroscience, IRCCS Stella Maris, Calambrone, Pisa, Italy
| | - Paolo Bosco
- Laboratory of Medical Physics and Magnetic Resonance, IRCCS Fondazione Stella Maris, Calambrone, Pisa, Italy
| | - Paola Cristofani
- Department of Developmental Neuroscience, IRCCS Stella Maris, Calambrone, Pisa, Italy
| | - Guia Astrea
- Department of Developmental Neuroscience, IRCCS Stella Maris, Calambrone, Pisa, Italy
| | - Antonella Pini
- Department of Developmental Neuroscience, IRCCS Stella Maris, Calambrone, Pisa, Italy
| | - Giovanni Cioni
- Department of Developmental Neuroscience, IRCCS Stella Maris, Calambrone, Pisa, Italy
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Eugenio Mercuri
- Pediatric Neurology Unit, Catholic University and Nemo Center, Policlinico Universitario Gemelli, Rome, Italy
| | - Michela Tosetti
- Laboratory of Medical Physics and Magnetic Resonance, IRCCS Fondazione Stella Maris, Calambrone, Pisa, Italy
| | - Roberta Battini
- Department of Developmental Neuroscience, IRCCS Stella Maris, Calambrone, Pisa, Italy
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
- * E-mail:
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14
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Battini R, Lenzi S, Lucibello S, Chieffo D, Moriconi F, Cristofani P, Bulgheroni S, Cumbo F, Pane M, Baranello G, Alfieri P, Astrea G, Cioni G, Vicari S, Mercuri E. Longitudinal data of neuropsychological profile in a cohort of Duchenne muscular dystrophy boys without cognitive impairment. Neuromuscul Disord 2021; 31:319-327. [PMID: 33658162 DOI: 10.1016/j.nmd.2021.01.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2020] [Revised: 01/24/2021] [Accepted: 01/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
The aim of the study was to re-assess neuropsychological profile in a group of boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy without intellectual disability and neuropsychiatric disorder three years apart from a previous evaluation, to establish possible changes over time. We were also interested in defining more in detail correlation between genotype and neuropsychological phenotype. Thirty-three of the previous 40 subjects (mean age at follow up: 10 years and 7 months) agreed to participate in the follow up study and to perform the new assessment. The results confirm a typical neuropsychological profile, with difficulty in the manipulation of stored information, poor abstract reasoning and planning capacity and impulsiveness, supporting the involvement of a cerebellar striatal cortical network for these children. The more detailed description of subgroups of subjects, according to the real expression of Dp140, let to reveal possible genotype-neuropsychological phenotype correlations, and a more general neuropsychological impairment emerged in boys without Dp140 expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Battini
- Department of Developmental Neuroscience, IRCCS Fondazione Stella Maris, Viale del Tirreno 341/ ABC, Calambrone, Pisa 56128, Italy; Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Via Savi10, 56126 Pisa, Italy.
| | - S Lenzi
- Department of Developmental Neuroscience, IRCCS Fondazione Stella Maris, Viale del Tirreno 341/ ABC, Calambrone, Pisa 56128, Italy
| | - S Lucibello
- Pediatric Neurology Unit, Catholic University and Nemo Center, Policlinico Universitario Gemelli Largo Agostino Gemelli, 8. Rome, Italy
| | - D Chieffo
- Pediatric Neurology Unit, Catholic University and Nemo Center, Policlinico Universitario Gemelli Largo Agostino Gemelli, 8. Rome, Italy
| | - F Moriconi
- Pediatric Neurology Unit, Catholic University and Nemo Center, Policlinico Universitario Gemelli Largo Agostino Gemelli, 8. Rome, Italy
| | - P Cristofani
- Department of Developmental Neuroscience, IRCCS Fondazione Stella Maris, Viale del Tirreno 341/ ABC, Calambrone, Pisa 56128, Italy
| | - S Bulgheroni
- Developmental Neurology Division, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Via Celoria 11, Milan, Italy
| | - F Cumbo
- Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Neurological and Psychiatric Science, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Piazza di Sant'Onofrio, 4. Rome 00165, Italy
| | - M Pane
- Pediatric Neurology Unit, Catholic University and Nemo Center, Policlinico Universitario Gemelli Largo Agostino Gemelli, 8. Rome, Italy
| | - G Baranello
- Developmental Neurology Division, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Via Celoria 11, Milan, Italy
| | - P Alfieri
- Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Neurological and Psychiatric Science, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Piazza di Sant'Onofrio, 4. Rome 00165, Italy
| | - G Astrea
- Department of Developmental Neuroscience, IRCCS Fondazione Stella Maris, Viale del Tirreno 341/ ABC, Calambrone, Pisa 56128, Italy
| | - G Cioni
- Department of Developmental Neuroscience, IRCCS Fondazione Stella Maris, Viale del Tirreno 341/ ABC, Calambrone, Pisa 56128, Italy; Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Via Savi10, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - S Vicari
- Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Neurological and Psychiatric Science, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Piazza di Sant'Onofrio, 4. Rome 00165, Italy; Department of Life Sciences and Public Health, Catholic University, Largo Agostino Gemelli, 8, Rome, Italy
| | - E Mercuri
- Pediatric Neurology Unit, Catholic University and Nemo Center, Policlinico Universitario Gemelli Largo Agostino Gemelli, 8. Rome, Italy
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15
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Tyagi R, Aggarwal P, Mohanty M, Dutt V, Anand A. Computational cognitive modeling and validation of Dp140 induced alteration of working memory in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. Sci Rep 2020; 10:11989. [PMID: 32686699 PMCID: PMC7371893 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-68381-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2020] [Accepted: 06/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy has emerged as a model to assess cognitive domains. The DMD gene variant location and its association with variable degrees of cognitive impairment necessitate identification of a common denominator. Computer architectures provide a framework to delineate the mechanisms involved in the cognitive functioning of the human brain. Copy number variations in the 79 exons of DMD gene were screened in 84 DMD subjects by Multiplex Ligation-dependent Probe Amplification (MLPA). DMD subjects were categorized based on the presence or absence of DP140 isoform. The cognitive and neuropsychological assessments were carried out as per inclusion criteria using standard scales. Instance-based learning theory (IBLT) based on the partial matching process was developed to mimic Stroop Color and Word Task (SCWT) performance on Adaptive Control of Thought-Rational (ACT-R) cognitive architecture based on IBLT. Genotype-phenotype correlation was conducted based on the mutation location in DMD gene. Assessment of specific cognitive domains in DP140 - ve group corresponded to the involvement of multiple brain lobes including temporal (verbal and visual learning and memory), parietal (visuo-conceptual and visuo-constructive abilities) and frontal (sustained and focused attention, verbal fluency, cognitive control). Working memory axis was found to be the central domain through tasks including RAVLT trial 1, recency effect, digit span backward, working memory index, arithmetic subtests in the Dp140 - ve group. IBLT validated the non-reliance of DMD subjects on recency indicating affected working memory domain. Modeling strategy revealed altered working memory processes in DMD cases with affected Dp140 isoform. DMD brain was observed to rely on primacy than the recency suggesting alterations in working memory capacity. Modeling revealed lowered activation of DMD brain with Dp140 - ve in order to retrieve the instances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rahul Tyagi
- Neuroscience Research Lab, Department of Neurology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India
| | - Palvi Aggarwal
- Indian Institute of Technology, Mandi, Himachal Pradesh, India
| | - Manju Mohanty
- Department of Neurosurgery, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India
| | - Varun Dutt
- Indian Institute of Technology, Mandi, Himachal Pradesh, India
| | - Akshay Anand
- Neuroscience Research Lab, Department of Neurology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India.
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16
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Doorenweerd N. Combining genetics, neuropsychology and neuroimaging to improve understanding of brain involvement in Duchenne muscular dystrophy - a narrative review. Neuromuscul Disord 2020; 30:437-442. [PMID: 32522501 DOI: 10.1016/j.nmd.2020.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2020] [Revised: 04/30/2020] [Accepted: 05/04/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Duchenne muscular dystrophy is a multifactorial disease including a cognitive phenotype. It is caused by mutations in the X-chromosomal DMD gene from which dystrophin is synthesized. Multiple isoforms of dystrophin have been identified. The full length dystrophin isoform Dp427m is expressed predominantly in muscle. Other isoforms include: Dp427c, Dp427p, Dp260, Dp140, Dp116, Dp71 and Dp40. The majority of these isoforms are expressed in brain and several hypotheses exist on their role in subtypes of neurons and astrocytes. However, their function in relation to cognition remains unclear. Unlike progressive muscle wasting, cognitive involvement is not seen in all DMD patients and the severity varies greatly. To achieve a better understanding of brain involvement in DMD, a multidisciplinary approach is required. Here, we review the latest findings on dystrophin isoform expression in the brain; specific DMD-associated learning and behavioural difficulties; and imaging and spectroscopy findings relating to brain structure, networks, perfusion and metabolism. The main challenge lies in determining links between these different findings. If we can determine which factors play a role in the differentiation between severe and minor cognitive problems in DMD in the near future, we can both provide better advise for the patients and also develop targeted therapeutic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathalie Doorenweerd
- C.J. Gorter Center for High Field MRI, Department of Radiology, Leiden University Medical Center, C-03-Q, P.O. Box 9600, 2300 RC Leiden, The Netherlands; John Walton Muscular Dystrophy Research Centre, Newcastle University and Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle Upon Tyne, United Kingdom.
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17
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Nizamis K, Schutte W, Grutters JJ, Goseling J, Rijken NHM, Koopman BFJM. Evaluation of the cognitive-motor performance of adults with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy in a hand-related task. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0228128. [PMID: 32004329 PMCID: PMC6993979 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0228128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2018] [Accepted: 01/08/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Duchenne muscular Dystrophy (DMD) is a progressive degenerative muscle disease, affecting, among others, the upper extremities. Effective hand rehabilitation can improve the hand function of people with DMD. To reach this goal, we first need to gain more insight into the hand cognitive-motor performance of people with DMD. This is the first study employing a systematic analysis on multi-finger, cognitive-motor performance of people with DMD. For this purpose, we propose an active dynamic visuo-motor task. The task employed six visual stimuli, a subset of which was activated at each trial. The stimuli were activated with a frequency of 1, 2, 3 and 4 Hz. Eight healthy participants and three participants with DMD performed the task. Additionally, the healthy participants performed seven sessions, and we assessed the training effects. Task-related cognitive-motor performance was evaluated using information transfer rate (ITR) and perceived workload. Regarding ITR, healthy participants performed significantly better than DMD participants; however, this was more evident for trials involving more than three fingers. Workload showed no difference between the healthy and the DMD groups. Healthy participants significantly improved their performance during training. Our results suggest that hand rehabilitation of people with DMD should consider multi-finger dynamic training. However, additional research with more people with DMD is needed for further generalization of our conclusions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kostas Nizamis
- Department of Biomechanical Engineering, Technical Medical Centre, University of Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands
| | - Wouter Schutte
- Department of Biomechanical Engineering, Technical Medical Centre, University of Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands
| | - Jan J. Grutters
- Department of Biomechanical Engineering, Technical Medical Centre, University of Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands
| | - Jasper Goseling
- Stochastic Operations Group and the Data Science Group, University of Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands
| | - Noortje H. M. Rijken
- Department of Rehabilitation, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Centre, GC Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Bart F. J. M. Koopman
- Department of Biomechanical Engineering, Technical Medical Centre, University of Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands
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18
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Peptide-conjugate antisense based splice-correction for Duchenne muscular dystrophy and other neuromuscular diseases. EBioMedicine 2019; 45:630-645. [PMID: 31257147 PMCID: PMC6642283 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2019.06.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2019] [Revised: 05/31/2019] [Accepted: 06/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is an X-linked disorder characterized by progressive muscle degeneration, caused by the absence of dystrophin. Exon skipping by antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) has recently gained recognition as therapeutic approach in DMD. Conjugation of a peptide to the phosphorodiamidate morpholino backbone (PMO) of ASOs generated the peptide-conjugated PMOs (PPMOs) that exhibit a dramatically improved pharmacokinetic profile. When tested in animal models, PPMOs demonstrate effective exon skipping in target muscles and prolonged duration of dystrophin restoration after a treatment regime. Herein we summarize the main pathophysiological features of DMD and the emergence of PPMOs as promising exon skipping agents aiming to rescue defective gene expression in DMD and other neuromuscular diseases. The listed PPMO laboratory findings correspond to latest trends in the field and highlight the obstacles that must be overcome prior to translating the animal-based research into clinical trials tailored to the needs of patients suffering from neuromuscular diseases.
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Aartsma-Rus A, Hegde M, Ben-Omran T, Buccella F, Ferlini A, Gallano P, Howell RR, Leturcq F, Martin AS, Potulska-Chromik A, Saute JA, Schmidt WM, Sejersen T, Tuffery-Giraud S, Uyguner ZO, Witcomb LA, Yau S, Nelson SF. Evidence-Based Consensus and Systematic Review on Reducing the Time to Diagnosis of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. J Pediatr 2019; 204:305-313.e14. [PMID: 30579468 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2018.10.043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2018] [Revised: 09/27/2018] [Accepted: 10/24/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Annemieke Aartsma-Rus
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Madhuri Hegde
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine/School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology/Perkin Elmer Genetics, Atlanta, GA
| | - Tawfeg Ben-Omran
- Clinical and Metabolic Genetics, Department of Pediatrics, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
| | | | | | - Pia Gallano
- U705 CIBERER, Servei de Genetica, Hospital de Sant Pau, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - France Leturcq
- Department of Genetics and Molecular Biology, Hospitalier Universitaire Paris Centre, Cochin Hospital, Paris, France
| | - Ann S Martin
- Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy, Hackensack, NJ
| | | | - Jonas A Saute
- Medical Genetics and Neurology Services, Hospital de Clinicas de Porto Alegre/Internal Medicine Department, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Wolfgang M Schmidt
- Neuromuscular Research Department, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Thomas Sejersen
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institute/Astrid Lindgrens Barnsjukhus, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Sylvie Tuffery-Giraud
- Laboratory of Rare Genetic Diseases (LGMR), University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Zehra Oya Uyguner
- Department of Medical Genetics, Istanbul Medical Faculty, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | | | - Shu Yau
- Viapath Analytics, Guy's Hospital, London, United Kingdom
| | - Stanley F Nelson
- Department of Human Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, CA.
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