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Li CW, Osman R, Menconi F, Hou H, Schechter C, Kozhakhmetova A, Tomer Y. Effective Inhibition of Thyroid Antigen Presentation Using Retro-Inverso Peptides in Experimental Autoimmune Thyroiditis: A Pathway Toward Immune Therapies of Thyroid Autoimmunity. Thyroid 2023; 33:492-500. [PMID: 36762945 PMCID: PMC10325802 DOI: 10.1089/thy.2022.0511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/11/2023]
Abstract
Background: Autoimmune thyroid diseases (AITD) represent the most common autoimmune diseases. However, current therapies focus on relieving the symptoms instead of curing AITD, and new therapies to reverse the autoimmune attack on the thyroid are needed. HLA-DRβ1-Arg74 is the key HLA class II allele that triggers AITD by presenting pathogenic thyroglobulin (Tg) peptides that activate thyroid self-reactive T cells. We hypothesized that blocking the presentation of Tg peptides to T cells within the HLA-DRβ1-Arg74 peptide binding cleft could reverse the autoimmune response to the thyroid in AITD. Methods: The approach we used to block Tg peptide presentation within HLA-DRβ1-Arg74 is to design retro-inverso D-amino acid (RID) peptides that have high affinity to the HLA-DRβ1-Arg74 peptide binding pocket. Results: By using computational approaches and molecular dynamics simulations, we designed two RID peptides, RT-15 and VT-15, that blocked peptide binding to recombinant HLA-DRβ1-Arg74 molecule, as well as T cell activation in vitro. Furthermore, RT-15 and VT-15 blocked in vivo T cell activation by thyroglobulin in humanized NOD-DR3 mice induced with experimental autoimmune thyroiditis. Conclusions: In summary, we discovered two RID peptides that block thyroglobulin peptide binding to HLA-DRβ1-Arg74 and their presentation to T cells in AITD. These findings set the stage for a personalized medicine therapeutic approach for AITD patients who carry the DRβ1-Arg74 allele. This antigen-specific therapeutic strategy can potentially be extended to other autoimmune diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheuk Wun Li
- The Fleischer Institute for Diabetes and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, USA
| | - Roman Osman
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Francesca Menconi
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Endocrinology Unit II, University of Pisa and University Hospital of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Hanxi Hou
- The Fleischer Institute for Diabetes and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, USA
| | - Clyde Schechter
- Department of Family and Social Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, USA
| | - Aizhan Kozhakhmetova
- The Fleischer Institute for Diabetes and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, USA
| | - Yaron Tomer
- The Fleischer Institute for Diabetes and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, USA
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Russ H, Mazzanti M, Parsons C, Riemann K, Gebauer A, Rammes G. The Small Molecule GAL-201 Efficiently Detoxifies Soluble Amyloid β Oligomers: New Approach towards Oral Disease-Modifying Treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23105794. [PMID: 35628602 PMCID: PMC9144469 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23105794] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2022] [Revised: 05/17/2022] [Accepted: 05/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Soluble amyloid β (Aβ) oligomers have been shown to be highly toxic to neurons and are considered to be a major cause of the neurodegeneration underlying Alzheimer’s disease (AD). That makes soluble Aβ oligomers a promising drug target. In addition to eliminating these toxic species from the patients’ brain with antibody-based drugs, a new class of drugs is emerging, namely Aβ aggregation inhibitors or modulators, which aim to stop the formation of toxic Aβ oligomers at the source. Here, pharmacological data of the novel Aβ aggregation modulator GAL-201 are presented. This small molecule (288.34 g/mol) exhibits high binding affinity to misfolded Aβ1-42 monomers (KD = 2.5 ± 0.6 nM). Pharmacokinetic studies in rats using brain microdialysis are supportive of its oral bioavailability. The Aβ oligomer detoxifying potential of GAL-201 has been demonstrated by means of single cell recordings in isolated hippocampal neurons (perforated patch experiments) as well as in vitro and in vivo extracellular monitoring of long-term potentiation (LTP, in rat transverse hippocampal slices), a cellular correlate for synaptic plasticity. Upon preincubation, GAL-201 efficiently prevented the detrimental effect on LTP mediated by Aβ1-42 oligomers. Furthermore, the potential to completely reverse an already established neurotoxic process could also be demonstrated. Of particular note in this context is the self-propagating detoxification potential of GAL-201, leading to a neutralization of Aβ oligomer toxicity even if GAL-201 has been stepwise removed from the medium (serial dilution), likely due to prion-like conformational changes in Aβ1-42 monomer aggregates (trigger effect). The authors conclude that the data presented strongly support the further development of GAL-201 as a novel, orally available AD treatment with potentially superior clinical profile.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hermann Russ
- Galimedix Therapeutics Inc., 2704 Calvend Lane, Kensington, MD 20895, USA; (C.P.); (A.G.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +41-79-876-3519
| | - Michele Mazzanti
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Department of Biosciences, University of Milano, Via Celoria 26, 20133 Milano, Italy;
| | - Chris Parsons
- Galimedix Therapeutics Inc., 2704 Calvend Lane, Kensington, MD 20895, USA; (C.P.); (A.G.)
| | - Katrin Riemann
- Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Technical University Munich, Ismaningerstr. 22, 81675 Munich, Germany; (K.R.); (G.R.)
| | - Alexander Gebauer
- Galimedix Therapeutics Inc., 2704 Calvend Lane, Kensington, MD 20895, USA; (C.P.); (A.G.)
| | - Gerhard Rammes
- Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Technical University Munich, Ismaningerstr. 22, 81675 Munich, Germany; (K.R.); (G.R.)
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Falkenstein M, Reiner-Link D, Zivkovic A, Gering I, Willbold D, Stark H. Histamine H 3 receptor antagonists with peptidomimetic (keto)piperazine structures to inhibit Aβ oligomerisation. Bioorg Med Chem 2021; 50:116462. [PMID: 34695709 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2021.116462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2021] [Revised: 09/30/2021] [Accepted: 10/01/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Alzheimeŕs disease (AD) is the most prominent neurodegenerative disorder with high medical need. Protein-protein-interactions (PPI) interactions have a critical role in AD where β-amyloid structures (Aβ) build toxic oligomers. Design of disease modifying multi target directed ligand (MTDL) has been performed, which disable PPI on the one hand and on the other hand, act as procognitive antagonists at the histamine H3 receptor (H3R). The synthetized compounds are structurally based on peptidomimetic amino acid-like structures mainly as keto, diketo-, or acyl variations of a piperazine moiety connected to an H3R pharmacophore. Most of them showed low nanomolar affinities at H3R and some with promising affinity to Aβ-monomers. The structure-activity relationships (SAR) described offer new possibilities for MTDL with an optimized profile combining symptomatic and potential causal therapeutic approaches in AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Markus Falkenstein
- Institute of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Universitaetsstr. 1, 40225 Duesseldorf, Germany
| | - David Reiner-Link
- Institute of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Universitaetsstr. 1, 40225 Duesseldorf, Germany
| | - Aleksandra Zivkovic
- Institute of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Universitaetsstr. 1, 40225 Duesseldorf, Germany
| | - Ian Gering
- Institute of Biological Information Processing, Structural Biochemistry (IBI-7), Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany
| | - Dieter Willbold
- Institute of Biological Information Processing, Structural Biochemistry (IBI-7), Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany; Institute of Physical Biology, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, 40225 Duesseldorf, Germany
| | - Holger Stark
- Institute of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Universitaetsstr. 1, 40225 Duesseldorf, Germany.
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Post J, Schaffrath A, Gering I, Hartwig S, Lehr S, Shah NJ, Langen KJ, Willbold D, Kutzsche J, Willuweit A. Oral Treatment with RD2RD2 Impedes Development of Motoric Phenotype and Delays Symptom Onset in SOD1 G93A Transgenic Mice. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22137066. [PMID: 34209129 PMCID: PMC8269060 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22137066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2021] [Revised: 06/25/2021] [Accepted: 06/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuroinflammation is a pathological hallmark of several neurodegenerative disorders and plays a key role in the pathogenesis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). It has been implicated as driver of disease progression and is observed in ALS patients, as well as in the transgenic SOD1G93A mouse model. Here, we explore and validate the therapeutic potential of the d-enantiomeric peptide RD2RD2 upon oral administration in SOD1G93A mice. Transgenic mice were treated daily with RD2RD2 or placebo for 10 weeks and phenotype progression was followed with several behavioural tests. At the end of the study, plasma cytokine levels and glia cell markers in brain and spinal cord were analysed. Treatment resulted in a significantly increased performance in behavioural and motor coordination tests and a decelerated neurodegenerative phenotype in RD2RD2-treated SOD1G93A mice. Additionally, we observed retardation of the average disease onset. Treatment of SOD1G93A mice led to significant reduction in glial cell activation and a rescue of neurons. Analysis of plasma revealed normalisation of several cytokines in samples of RD2RD2-treated SOD1G93A mice towards the levels of non-transgenic mice. In conclusion, these findings qualify RD2RD2 to be considered for further development and testing towards a disease modifying ALS treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Post
- Institute of Biological Information Processing, Structural Biochemistry (IBI-7), Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany; (J.P.); (A.S.); (I.G.)
| | - Anja Schaffrath
- Institute of Biological Information Processing, Structural Biochemistry (IBI-7), Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany; (J.P.); (A.S.); (I.G.)
| | - Ian Gering
- Institute of Biological Information Processing, Structural Biochemistry (IBI-7), Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany; (J.P.); (A.S.); (I.G.)
| | - Sonja Hartwig
- Institute for Clinical Biochemistry and Pathobiochemistry, German Diabetes Center, Leibniz Center for Diabetes Research at Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany; (S.H.); (S.L.)
- German Center for Diabetes Research, Partner Düsseldorf, 85764 München-Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Stefan Lehr
- Institute for Clinical Biochemistry and Pathobiochemistry, German Diabetes Center, Leibniz Center for Diabetes Research at Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany; (S.H.); (S.L.)
- German Center for Diabetes Research, Partner Düsseldorf, 85764 München-Neuherberg, Germany
| | - N. Jon Shah
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine, Medical Imaging Physics (INM-4), Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany; (N.J.S.); (K.-J.L.)
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine 11, INM-11, JARA, Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany
- JARA-Brain-Translational Medicine, 52062 Aachen, Germany
- Department of Neurology, RWTH Aachen University, 52062 Aachen, Germany
| | - Karl-Josef Langen
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine, Medical Imaging Physics (INM-4), Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany; (N.J.S.); (K.-J.L.)
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, RWTH Aachen University, 52062 Aachen, Germany
| | - Dieter Willbold
- Institute of Biological Information Processing, Structural Biochemistry (IBI-7), Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany; (J.P.); (A.S.); (I.G.)
- Institut für Physikalische Biologie, Heinrich-Heine-Universität, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
- Correspondence: (D.W.); (J.K.); (A.W.); Tel.: +49-2461-612100 (D.W.); +49-2461-619496 (J.K.); +49-2461-6196358 (A.W.); Fax: +49-2461-612023 (D.W.); +49-2461-619497 (J.K.); +49-2461-612302 (A.W.)
| | - Janine Kutzsche
- Institute of Biological Information Processing, Structural Biochemistry (IBI-7), Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany; (J.P.); (A.S.); (I.G.)
- Correspondence: (D.W.); (J.K.); (A.W.); Tel.: +49-2461-612100 (D.W.); +49-2461-619496 (J.K.); +49-2461-6196358 (A.W.); Fax: +49-2461-612023 (D.W.); +49-2461-619497 (J.K.); +49-2461-612302 (A.W.)
| | - Antje Willuweit
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine, Medical Imaging Physics (INM-4), Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany; (N.J.S.); (K.-J.L.)
- Correspondence: (D.W.); (J.K.); (A.W.); Tel.: +49-2461-612100 (D.W.); +49-2461-619496 (J.K.); +49-2461-6196358 (A.W.); Fax: +49-2461-612023 (D.W.); +49-2461-619497 (J.K.); +49-2461-612302 (A.W.)
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5
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In Vitro and In Vivo Efficacies of the Linear and the Cyclic Version of an All-d-Enantiomeric Peptide Developed for the Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22126553. [PMID: 34207233 PMCID: PMC8234218 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22126553] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2021] [Revised: 06/11/2021] [Accepted: 06/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Multiple sources of evidence suggest that soluble amyloid β (Aβ)-oligomers are responsible for the development and progression of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). In order to specifically eliminate these toxic Aβ-oligomers, our group has developed a variety of all-d-peptides over the past years. One of them, RD2, has been intensively studied and showed such convincing in vitro and in vivo properties that it is currently in clinical trials. In order to further optimize the compounds and to elucidate the characteristics of therapeutic d-peptides, several rational drug design approaches have been performed. Two of these d-peptides are the linear tandem (head-to-tail) d-peptide RD2D3 and its cyclized form cRD2D3. Tandemization and cyclization should result in an increased in vitro potency and increase pharmacokinetic properties, especially crossing the blood–brain-barrier. In comparison, cRD2D3 showed a superior pharmacokinetic profile to RD2D3. This fact suggests that higher efficacy can be achieved in vivo at equally administered concentrations. To prove this hypothesis, we first established the in vitro profile of both d-peptides here. Subsequently, we performed an intraperitoneal treatment study. This study failed to provide evidence that cRD2D3 is superior to RD2D3 in vivo as in some tests cRD2D3 failed to show equal or higher efficacy.
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6
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Armiento V, Spanopoulou A, Kapurniotu A. Peptide-Based Molecular Strategies To Interfere with Protein Misfolding, Aggregation, and Cell Degeneration. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2020; 59:3372-3384. [PMID: 31529602 PMCID: PMC7064928 DOI: 10.1002/anie.201906908] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Protein misfolding into amyloid fibrils is linked to more than 40 as yet incurable cell- and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and type 2 diabetes. So far, however, only one of the numerous anti-amyloid molecules has reached patients. This Minireview gives an overview of molecular strategies and peptide chemistry "tools" to design, develop, and discover peptide-based molecules as anti-amyloid drug candidates. We focus on two major inhibitor rational design strategies: 1) the oldest and most common strategy, based on molecular recognition elements of amyloid self-assembly, and 2) a more recent approach, based on cross-amyloid interactions. We discuss why peptide-based amyloid inhibitors, in particular their advanced generations, can be promising leads or candidates for anti-amyloid drugs as well as valuable tools for deciphering amyloid-mediated cell damage and its link to disease pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Armiento
- Division of Peptide BiochemistryTUM School of Life SciencesTechnische Universität MünchenEmil-Erlenmeyer-Forum 585354FreisingGermany
| | - Anna Spanopoulou
- Division of Peptide BiochemistryTUM School of Life SciencesTechnische Universität MünchenEmil-Erlenmeyer-Forum 585354FreisingGermany
- Current address: Coriolis Pharma Research GmbHFraunhoferstrasse 18B82152PlaneggGermany
| | - Aphrodite Kapurniotu
- Division of Peptide BiochemistryTUM School of Life SciencesTechnische Universität MünchenEmil-Erlenmeyer-Forum 585354FreisingGermany
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7
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Armiento V, Spanopoulou A, Kapurniotu A. Peptid‐basierte molekulare Strategien zum Einsatz bei Proteinfehlfaltung, Proteinaggregation und Zelldegeneration. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2019. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.201906908] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Armiento
- Fachgebiet PeptidbiochemieTUM School of Life SciencesTechnische Universität München Emil-Erlenmeyer-Forum 5 85354 Freising Deutschland
| | - Anna Spanopoulou
- Fachgebiet PeptidbiochemieTUM School of Life SciencesTechnische Universität München Emil-Erlenmeyer-Forum 5 85354 Freising Deutschland
- Aktuelle Adresse: Coriolis Pharma Research GmbH Fraunhoferstraße 18B 82152 Planegg Deutschland
| | - Aphrodite Kapurniotu
- Fachgebiet PeptidbiochemieTUM School of Life SciencesTechnische Universität München Emil-Erlenmeyer-Forum 5 85354 Freising Deutschland
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8
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MacDougall G, Anderton RS, Mastaglia FL, Knuckey NW, Meloni BP. Mitochondria and neuroprotection in stroke: Cationic arginine-rich peptides (CARPs) as a novel class of mitochondria-targeted neuroprotective therapeutics. Neurobiol Dis 2018; 121:17-33. [PMID: 30218759 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2018.09.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2018] [Revised: 08/26/2018] [Accepted: 09/11/2018] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Stroke is the second leading cause of death globally and represents a major cause of devastating long-term disability. Despite sustained efforts to develop clinically effective neuroprotective therapies, presently there is no clinically available neuroprotective agent for stroke. As a central mediator of neurodamaging events in stroke, mitochondria are recognised as a critical neuroprotective target, and as such, provide a focus for developing mitochondrial-targeted therapeutics. In recent years, cationic arginine-rich peptides (CARPs) have been identified as a novel class of neuroprotective agent with several demonstrated mechanisms of action, including their ability to target mitochondria and exert positive effects on the organelle. This review provides an overview on neuronal mitochondrial dysfunction in ischaemic stroke pathophysiology and highlights the potential beneficial effects of CARPs on mitochondria in the ischaemic brain following stroke.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriella MacDougall
- Centre for Neuromuscular and Neurological Disorders, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Australia; Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational Science, Nedlands, Australia; School of Heath Sciences, and Institute for Health Research, The University Notre Dame Australia, Fremantle, Australia.
| | - Ryan S Anderton
- Centre for Neuromuscular and Neurological Disorders, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Australia; Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational Science, Nedlands, Australia; School of Heath Sciences, and Institute for Health Research, The University Notre Dame Australia, Fremantle, Australia
| | - Frank L Mastaglia
- Centre for Neuromuscular and Neurological Disorders, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Australia; Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational Science, Nedlands, Australia
| | - Neville W Knuckey
- Centre for Neuromuscular and Neurological Disorders, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Australia; Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational Science, Nedlands, Australia; Department of Neurosurgery, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, QEII Medical Centre, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Bruno P Meloni
- Centre for Neuromuscular and Neurological Disorders, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Australia; Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational Science, Nedlands, Australia; Department of Neurosurgery, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, QEII Medical Centre, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia
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