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Ceravolo G, Zhelcheska K, Squadrito V, Pellerin D, Gitto E, Hartley L, Houlden H. Update on leukodystrophies and developing trials. J Neurol 2024; 271:593-605. [PMID: 37755460 PMCID: PMC10770198 DOI: 10.1007/s00415-023-11996-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2023] [Revised: 09/08/2023] [Accepted: 09/10/2023] [Indexed: 09/28/2023]
Abstract
Leukodystrophies are a heterogeneous group of rare genetic disorders primarily affecting the white matter of the central nervous system. These conditions can present a diagnostic challenge, requiring a comprehensive approach that combines clinical evaluation, neuroimaging, metabolic testing, and genetic testing. While MRI is the main tool for diagnosis, advances in molecular diagnostics, particularly whole-exome sequencing, have significantly improved the diagnostic yield. Timely and accurate diagnosis is crucial to guide symptomatic treatment and assess eligibility to participate in clinical trials. Despite no specific cure being available for most leukodystrophies, gene therapy is emerging as a potential treatment avenue, rapidly advancing the therapeutic prospects in leukodystrophies. This review will explore diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for leukodystrophies, with particular emphasis on new trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giorgia Ceravolo
- Department of Neuromuscular Disorders, Institute of Neurology, University College London (UCL), London, UK.
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
| | - Kristina Zhelcheska
- Department of Neuromuscular Disorders, Institute of Neurology, University College London (UCL), London, UK
| | - Violetta Squadrito
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - David Pellerin
- Department of Neuromuscular Disorders, Institute of Neurology, University College London (UCL), London, UK
| | - Eloisa Gitto
- Neonatal and Paediatric Intensive Care Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | | | - Henry Houlden
- Department of Neuromuscular Disorders, Institute of Neurology, University College London (UCL), London, UK
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Boespflug-Tanguy O, Sevin C, Piguet F. Gene therapy for neurodegenerative disorders in children: dreams and realities. Arch Pediatr 2023; 30:8S32-8S40. [PMID: 38043981 DOI: 10.1016/s0929-693x(23)00225-7] [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] [Indexed: 12/05/2023]
Abstract
Gene therapy encompasses the administration of biological medicinal products containing recombinant nucleic acids, mainly DNA, with the aim of treating or curing diseases. This represents a unique therapeutic strategy to reach the brain, in order to prevent or halt a neurodegenerative process. During the past decade, active multidisciplinary research has started to solve many issues for gene therapy in neurodegenerative disorders in terms of vectors, modes of administration, and expression of the therapeutic DNA. The engineering of hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) with lentivirus vectors for ex vivo gene therapy has demonstrated efficiency in reaching the brain through their transformation into microglial/macrophages cells with a long-term gene expression of the therapeutic vector as an alternative to autologous HSC transplants. Two drugs based on this strategy have been approved to date. The first is for metachromatic leukodystrophy (MLD), a severe lysosomal storage disease, and provides high levels of the deficient enzyme; the second one is for cerebral forms of X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy (X-ALD), and works by halting the neuroinflammation process. However, due to the long-lasting effect of the procedure, the therapy is applicable only to pre- or pauci/oligo-symptomatic patients. In vivo gene therapy via direct injection into the brain or the cerebrospinal fluid, but also by intravenous injection, represents a more efficient approach; however, many challenges remain to be solved despite the approval of two drugs: one for the early infantile form of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), in which the gene product injected intravenously is able to prevent spinal motoneuron neurodegeneration. The second one, for aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase (AADC) deficiency, provides the defective enzyme to the basal ganglia via intraparenchymal injection. The production of vectors able to reach the brain target cells with a sufficiently high expression remains a major bottleneck. In parallel, efforts must continue in order to better define (i) the natural history and clinical outcomes of many neurodegenerative disorders with childhood onset, and (ii) the mechanisms involved in the neurodegenerative process. © 2023 Published by Elsevier Masson SAS on behalf of French Society of Pediatrics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Odile Boespflug-Tanguy
- APHP, Service de Neuropediatrie, Hôpital Robert Debré, Paris, France; Université Paris Cité, INSERM UMR 1141, Hôpital Robert Debré, Paris France.
| | - Caroline Sevin
- APHP, Service de Neuropediatrie, Hôpital du Kremlin Bicêtre, Paris, France; GENOV, Institut du Cerveau, ICM, Inserm U 1127, CNRS UMR 7225, Sorbonne Université, F-75013, Paris, France
| | - Francoise Piguet
- GENOV, Institut du Cerveau, ICM, Inserm U 1127, CNRS UMR 7225, Sorbonne Université, F-75013, Paris, France
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Heller G, Bradbury AM, Sands MS, Bongarzone ER. Preclinical studies in Krabbe disease: A model for the investigation of novel combination therapies for lysosomal storage diseases. Mol Ther 2023; 31:7-23. [PMID: 36196048 PMCID: PMC9840155 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2022.09.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2022] [Revised: 08/16/2022] [Accepted: 09/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Krabbe disease (KD) is a lysosomal storage disease (LSD) caused by mutations in the galc gene. There are over 50 monogenetic LSDs, which largely impede the normal development of children and often lead to premature death. At present, there are no cures for LSDs and the available treatments are generally insufficient, short acting, and not without co-morbidities or long-term side effects. The last 30 years have seen significant advances in our understanding of LSD pathology as well as treatment options. Two gene therapy-based clinical trials, NCT04693598 and NCT04771416, for KD were recently started based on those advances. This review will discuss how our knowledge of KD got to where it is today, focusing on preclinical investigations, and how what was discovered may prove beneficial for the treatment of other LSDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregory Heller
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, 808 S. Wood St M/C 512, Chicago, IL, USA.
| | - Allison M Bradbury
- Center for Gene Therapy, Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA; Abigail Wexner Research Institute Nationwide Children's Hospital Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University, Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH 43205, USA.
| | - Mark S Sands
- Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 South Euclid Avenue Box 8007, St. Louis, MO, USA; Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 South Euclid Avenue Box 8007, St. Louis, MO, USA.
| | - Ernesto R Bongarzone
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, 808 S. Wood St M/C 512, Chicago, IL, USA.
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Metabolic and Cellular Compartments of Acetyl-CoA in the Healthy and Diseased Brain. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms231710073. [PMID: 36077475 PMCID: PMC9456256 DOI: 10.3390/ijms231710073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2022] [Revised: 08/29/2022] [Accepted: 08/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The human brain is characterised by the most diverse morphological, metabolic and functional structure among all body tissues. This is due to the existence of diverse neurons secreting various neurotransmitters and mutually modulating their own activity through thousands of pre- and postsynaptic interconnections in each neuron. Astroglial, microglial and oligodendroglial cells and neurons reciprocally regulate the metabolism of key energy substrates, thereby exerting several neuroprotective, neurotoxic and regulatory effects on neuronal viability and neurotransmitter functions. Maintenance of the pool of mitochondrial acetyl-CoA derived from glycolytic glucose metabolism is a key factor for neuronal survival. Thus, acetyl-CoA is regarded as a direct energy precursor through the TCA cycle and respiratory chain, thereby affecting brain cell viability. It is also used for hundreds of acetylation reactions, including N-acetyl aspartate synthesis in neuronal mitochondria, acetylcholine synthesis in cholinergic neurons, as well as divergent acetylations of several proteins, peptides, histones and low-molecular-weight species in all cellular compartments. Therefore, acetyl-CoA should be considered as the central point of metabolism maintaining equilibrium between anabolic and catabolic pathways in the brain. This review presents data supporting this thesis.
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Cabanillas Stanchi KM, Böhringer J, Strölin M, Groeschel S, Lenglinger K, Treuner C, Kehrer C, Laugwitz L, Bevot A, Kaiser N, Schumm M, Lang P, Handgretinger R, Krägeloh-Mann I, Müller I, Döring M. Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation with mesenchymal stromal cells in children with metachromatic leukodystrophy. Stem Cells Dev 2022; 31:163-175. [PMID: 35323019 DOI: 10.1089/scd.2021.0352] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Metachromatic leukodystrophy (MLD) is a lysosomal storage disorder primarily affecting the white matter of the nervous system that results from a deficiency of the arylsulfatase A (ARSA). Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are able to secrete ARSA and have shown beneficial effects in MLD patients. In this retrospective analysis, 10 pediatric MLD patients (MSCG) underwent allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) and received two applications of 2 x 106 MSCs/kg bodyweight at day +30 and +60 after HSCT between 2007 and 2018. MSC safety, occurrence of graft-versus-host disease (GvHD), blood ARSA levels, chimerism, cell regeneration and engraftment, MRI changes, and the gross motor function were assessed within the first year of HSCT. The long-term data included clinical outcomes and safety aspects of MSCs. Data were compared to a control cohort of seven pediatric MLD patients (CG) who underwent HSCT only. The application of MSC in pediatric MLD patients after allogeneic HSCT was safe and well tolerated and long-term potentially MSC-related adverse effects up to 13.5 years after HSCT were not observed. Patients achieved significantly higher ARSA levels (CG: median 1.03 nmol∙10-6, range 0.41-1.73 | MSCG: median 1.58 nmol∙10-6, range 0.44-2.6; p<0.05), as well as significantly higher leukocyte (p<0.05) and thrombocyte (p<0.001) levels within 365 days of MSC application compared to CG patients. Statistically significant effects on acute GvHD, regeneration of immune cells, engraftment, MRI changes, gross motor function, and clinical outcomes were not detected. In conclusion, the application of MSCs in pediatric MLD patients after allogeneic HSCT was safe and well tolerated. The two applications of 2 x 106/kg allogeneic MSCs were followed by improved engraftment and hematopoiesis within the first year after HSCT. Larger, prospective trials are necessary to evaluate the impact of MSC application on engraftment and hematopoietic recovery.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Judith Böhringer
- University Children's Hospital Tübingen, Dpt. III - Neuropediatrics, Germany;
| | - Manuel Strölin
- University Children's Hospital Tübingen, Dpt. III - Neuropediatrics, Germany;
| | - Samuel Groeschel
- University Children's Hospital Tübingen, Dpt. III - Neuropediatrics, Germany;
| | - Katrin Lenglinger
- University Children's Hospital Tübingen, Dpt. I - General Pediatrics, Hematology and Oncology, Germany;
| | - Claudia Treuner
- University Children's Hospital Tübingen, Dpt. I - General Pediatrics, Hematology and Oncology, Germany;
| | - Christiane Kehrer
- University Children's Hospital Tübingen, Dpt. I - General Pediatrics, Hematology and Oncology, Germany;
| | - Lucia Laugwitz
- University Children's Hospital Tübingen, Dpt. III - Neuropediatrics, Germany;
| | - Andrea Bevot
- University Children's Hospital Tübingen, Dpt. III - Neuropediatrics, Germany;
| | - Nadja Kaiser
- University Children's Hospital Tübingen, Dpt. III - Neuropediatrics, Germany;
| | - Michael Schumm
- University Children's Hospital Tübingen, Dpt. I - General Pediatrics, Hematology and Oncology, Germany;
| | - Peter Lang
- University Children's Hospital Tübingen, Dpt. I - General Pediatrics, Hematology and Oncology, Germany;
| | - Rupert Handgretinger
- Children's University Hospital, Hematology/Oncology, Hoppe-Seyler-Str. 1, Tuebingen, Germany, 72076;
| | | | - Ingo Müller
- University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 37734, Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany;
| | - Michaela Döring
- University Children's Hospital Tübingen, Dpt. I - General Pediatrics, Hematology and Oncology, Germany;
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