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Shin-Yi Lin C, Howells J, Rutkove S, Nandedkar S, Neuwirth C, Noto YI, Shahrizaila N, Whittaker RG, Bostock H, Burke D, Tankisi H. Neurophysiological and imaging biomarkers of lower motor neuron dysfunction in motor neuron diseases/amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: IFCN handbook chapter. Clin Neurophysiol 2024; 162:91-120. [PMID: 38603949 DOI: 10.1016/j.clinph.2024.03.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2023] [Revised: 02/07/2024] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024]
Abstract
This chapter discusses comprehensive neurophysiological biomarkers utilised in motor neuron disease (MND) and, in particular, its commonest form, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). These encompass the conventional techniques including nerve conduction studies (NCS), needle and high-density surface electromyography (EMG) and H-reflex studies as well as novel techniques. In the last two decades, new methods of assessing the loss of motor units in a muscle have been developed, that are more convenient than earlier methods of motor unit number estimation (MUNE),and may use either electrical stimulation (e.g. MScanFit MUNE) or voluntary activation (MUNIX). Electrical impedance myography (EIM) is another novel approach for the evaluation that relies upon the application and measurement of high-frequency, low-intensity electrical current. Nerve excitability techniques (NET) also provide insights into the function of an axon and reflect the changes in resting membrane potential, ion channel dysfunction and the structural integrity of the axon and myelin sheath. Furthermore, imaging ultrasound techniques as well as magnetic resonance imaging are capable of detecting the constituents of morphological changes in the nerve and muscle. The chapter provides a critical description of the ability of each technique to provide neurophysiological insight into the complex pathophysiology of MND/ALS. However, it is important to recognise the strengths and limitations of each approach in order to clarify utility. These neurophysiological biomarkers have demonstrated reliability, specificity and provide additional information to validate and assess lower motor neuron dysfunction. Their use has expanded the knowledge about MND/ALS and enhanced our understanding of the relationship between motor units, axons, reflexes and other neural circuits in relation to clinical features of patients with MND/ALS at different stages of the disease. Taken together, the ultimate goal is to aid early diagnosis, distinguish potential disease mimics, monitor and stage disease progression, quantify response to treatment and develop potential therapeutic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cindy Shin-Yi Lin
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, Central Clinical School, Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney 2006, Australia.
| | - James Howells
- Central Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Seward Rutkove
- Department of Neurology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Sanjeev Nandedkar
- Natus Medical Inc, Middleton, Wisconsin, USA and Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA
| | - Christoph Neuwirth
- Neuromuscular Diseases Unit/ALS Clinic, Kantonsspital, St. Gallen, Switzerland
| | - Yu-Ichi Noto
- Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Nortina Shahrizaila
- Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia
| | - Roger G Whittaker
- Newcastle University Translational and Clinical Research Institute (NUTCRI), Newcastle University., Newcastle Upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Hugh Bostock
- Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, WC1N 3BG, London, United Kingdom
| | - David Burke
- Central Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Hatice Tankisi
- Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, Aarhus University Hospital and Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.
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Masegosa VM, Navarro X, Herrando-Grabulosa M. ICA-27243 improves neuromuscular function and preserves motoneurons in the transgenic SOD1 G93A mice. Neurotherapeutics 2024; 21:e00319. [PMID: 38262101 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurot.2024.e00319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 01/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease characterized by the death of upper and lower motor neurons (MNs). Excessive neuronal excitability has been implicated in MN degeneration; thus, modulation of hyperexcitability appears as a promising therapeutic strategy. Potassium channels are attractive targets since they can be activated at subthreshold voltages and can regulate neuronal excitability. In this study, we assayed the effects of N-(6-Chloro-pyridin-3-yl)-3,4-difluorobenzamide compound, known as ICA-27243, as a potential treatment for ALS. ICA-27243 is a highly selective Kv7.2/7.3 opener used mainly in epilepsy models. In the in vitro model of spinal cord organotypic cultures (SCOCs) exposed to acute excitotoxicity, ICA-27243 prevented MN degeneration at a dose-of 10 μM. Administration of ICA-27243 to transgenic SOD1G93A ALS mice improved the decline of neuromuscular function, maintained locomotion and coordination in the rotarod, decreased spinal MN death and attenuated glial reactivity. In conclusion, we report here for the first time that ICA-27243 is an effective treatment for ALS, emphasizing the potential of targeting Kv channels to reduce neuronal hyperexcitability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vera M Masegosa
- Department of Cell Biology, Physiology and Immunology, Institute of Neuroscience, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Degenerativas (CIBERNED), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Xavier Navarro
- Department of Cell Biology, Physiology and Immunology, Institute of Neuroscience, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Degenerativas (CIBERNED), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Mireia Herrando-Grabulosa
- Department of Cell Biology, Physiology and Immunology, Institute of Neuroscience, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Degenerativas (CIBERNED), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.
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Lugg A, Schindle M, Sivak A, Tankisi H, Jones KE. Nerve excitability measured with the TROND protocol in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Neurophysiol 2023; 130:1480-1491. [PMID: 37910562 DOI: 10.1152/jn.00174.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2023] [Revised: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023] Open
Abstract
This meta-analysis assessed the 30+ nerve excitability indices generated by the TROND protocol to identify potential biomarkers for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). A comprehensive search was conducted in multiple databases to identify human studies that tested median motor axons. Forest plot analyses were performed using a random-effects model to determine the pooled effect (Z-score), heterogeneity (I2), and Cohen's d for potential biomarker identification. Out of 2,866 studies, 23 studies met the inclusion criteria, incorporating data from 719 controls and 942 patients with ALS. Seven indices emerged as potential biomarkers: depolarizing threshold electrotonus (TEd) 90-100 ms, strength-duration time constant (SDTC), superexcitability, TEd 40-60 ms, resting I/V slope, 50% depolarizing I/V, and subexcitability (ranked by the magnitude of the difference between patients and controls from largest to smallest). In a sensitivity analysis focusing on patients with larger compound muscle action potentials (CMAPs), only four indices were potential biomarkers: TEd 10-20 ms, TEd 90-100 ms, superexcitability, and SDTC. Among the extensive range of 30+ excitability indices generated by the TROND protocol, we have identified seven indices that effectively differentiate patients with ALS from healthy controls. Furthermore, a smaller subset of four indices shows promise as potential biomarkers when the CMAP remains relatively large. However, most studies were considered to be at moderate risk of bias due to case-control designs and absence of sensitivity and specificity calculations, underscoring the need for more prospective diagnostic test-accuracy studies with appropriate disease controls.NEW & NOTEWORTHY This meta-analysis uncovers seven potential axonal excitability biomarkers for lower motor neuron pathology in ALS, shedding light on ion channel dysfunction. The identified dysfunction aligns with the primary pathology-protein homeostasis disruption. These biomarkers could fill a gap to detect presymptomatic spread of the disease in the spinal cord and monitor treatments targeting protein homeostasis and limiting spread, toward enhancing patient care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Lugg
- Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Mason Schindle
- Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Allison Sivak
- University of Alberta Library, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Hatice Tankisi
- Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Kelvin E Jones
- Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
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Stikvoort García DJL, Sleutjes BTHM, van Schelven LJ, Goedee HS, van den Berg LH. Diagnostic accuracy of nerve excitability and compound muscle action potential scan derived biomarkers in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Eur J Neurol 2023; 30:3068-3078. [PMID: 37354059 DOI: 10.1111/ene.15954] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2023] [Revised: 06/19/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 06/26/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The lack of reliable early biomarkers still causes substantial diagnostic delays in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The aim was to assess the diagnostic accuracy of a novel electrophysiological protocol in patients with suspected motor neuron disease (MND). METHODS Consecutive patients with suspected MND were prospectively recruited at our tertiary referral centre for MND in Utrecht, The Netherlands. Procedures were performed in accordance with the Standards for Reporting of Diagnostic Accuracy. In addition to the standard diagnostic workup, an electrophysiological protocol of compound muscle action potential (CMAP) scans and nerve excitability tests was performed on patients' thenar muscles. The combined diagnostic yield of nerve excitability and CMAP scan based motor unit number estimation was compared to the Awaji and Gold Coast criteria and their added value was determined. RESULTS In all, 153 ALS or progressive muscular atrophy patients, 63 disease controls and 43 healthy controls were included. Our electrophysiological protocol had high diagnostic accuracy (area under the curve [AUC] 0.85, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 0.80-0.90), even in muscles with undetectable axon loss (AUC 0.78, 95% CI 0.70-0.85) and in bulbar-onset patients (AUC 0.85, 95% CI 0.73-0.95). Twenty-four of 33 (73%) ALS patients who could not be diagnosed during the same visit were correctly identified, as well as 8/13 (62%) ALS patients not meeting the Gold Coast criteria and 49/59 (83%) ALS patients not meeting the Awaji criteria during this first visit. CONCLUSIONS Our practical and non-invasive electrophysiological protocol may improve early diagnosis in clinically challenging patients with suspected ALS. Routine incorporation may boost early diagnosis, enhance patient selection and generate baseline measures for clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- D J L Stikvoort García
- Department of Neurology, Brain Center Utrecht, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - B T H M Sleutjes
- Department of Neurology, Brain Center Utrecht, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - L J van Schelven
- Department of Medical Technology and Clinical Physics, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - H S Goedee
- Department of Neurology, Brain Center Utrecht, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - L H van den Berg
- Department of Neurology, Brain Center Utrecht, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
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Welby E, Ebert AD. Diminished motor neuron activity driven by abnormal astrocytic EAAT1 glutamate transporter activity in spinal muscular atrophy is not fully restored after lentiviral SMN delivery. Glia 2023; 71:1311-1332. [PMID: 36655314 DOI: 10.1002/glia.24340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2022] [Revised: 01/05/2023] [Accepted: 01/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is characterized by the loss of the lower spinal motor neurons due to survival motor neuron (SMN) deficiency. The motor neuron cell autonomous and non-cell autonomous disease mechanisms driving early glutamatergic dysfunction, a therapeutically targetable phenotype prior to motor neuron cell loss, remain unclear. Using microelectrode array analysis, we demonstrate that the secretome and cell surface proteins needed for proper synaptic modulation are likely disrupted in human SMA astrocytes and lead to diminished motor neuron activity. While healthy astrocyte conditioned media did not improve SMA motor neuron activity, SMA motor neurons robustly responded to healthy astrocyte neuromodulation in direct contact cultures. This suggests an important role of astrocyte synaptic-associated plasma membrane proteins and contact-mediated cellular interactions for proper motor neuron function in SMA. Specifically, we identified a significant reduction of the glutamate Na+ dependent excitatory amino acid transporter EAAT1 within human SMA astrocytes and SMA lumbar spinal cord tissue. The selective inhibition of EAAT1 in healthy co-cultures phenocopied the diminished neural activity observed in SMA astrocyte co-cultures. Caveolin-1, an SMN-interacting protein previously associated with local translation at the plasma membrane, was abnormally elevated in human SMA astrocytes. Although lentiviral SMN delivery to SMA astrocytes partially rescued EAAT1 expression, limited activity of healthy motor neurons was still observed in SMN-transduced SMA astrocyte co-cultures. Together, these data highlight the detrimental impact of astrocyte-mediated disease mechanisms on motor neuron function in SMA and that SMN delivery may be insufficient to fully restore astrocyte function at the synapse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily Welby
- Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Anatomy, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Allison D Ebert
- Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Anatomy, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
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Katiyar D, Singhal S, Bansal P, Nagarajan K, Grover P. Nutraceuticals and phytotherapeutics for holistic management of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. 3 Biotech 2023; 13:62. [PMID: 36714551 PMCID: PMC9880136 DOI: 10.1007/s13205-023-03475-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2022] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis" (ALS) is a progressive neuronal disorder that affects sensory neurons in the brain and spinal cord, causing loss of muscle control. Moreover, additional neuronal subgroups as well as glial cells such as microglia, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes are also thought to play a role in the aetiology. The disease affects upper motor neurons and lowers motor neurons and leads to that either lead to muscle weakness and wasting in the arms, legs, trunk and periventricular area. Oxidative stress, excitotoxicity, programmed cell death, altered neurofilament activity, anomalies in neurotransmission, abnormal protein processing and deterioration, increased inflammation, and mitochondrial dysfunction may all play a role in the progression of ALS. There are presently hardly FDA-approved drugs used to treat ALS, and they are only beneficial in slowing the progression of the disease and enhancing functions in certain individuals with ALS, not really in curing or preventing the illness. These days, researchers focus on understanding the pathogenesis of the disease by targeting several mechanisms aiming to develop successful treatments for ALS. This review discusses the epidemiology, risk factors, diagnosis, clinical features, pathophysiology, and disease management. The compilation focuses on alternative methods for the management of symptoms of ALS with nutraceuticals and phytotherapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deepti Katiyar
- KIET School of Pharmacy, KIET Group of Institutions, Delhi-NCR, Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh 201206 India
| | - Shipra Singhal
- KIET School of Pharmacy, KIET Group of Institutions, Delhi-NCR, Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh 201206 India
| | - Priya Bansal
- KIET School of Pharmacy, KIET Group of Institutions, Delhi-NCR, Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh 201206 India
| | - K. Nagarajan
- KIET School of Pharmacy, KIET Group of Institutions, Delhi-NCR, Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh 201206 India
| | - Parul Grover
- KIET School of Pharmacy, KIET Group of Institutions, Delhi-NCR, Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh 201206 India
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Ruijs TQ, Koopmans IW, de Kam ML, van Esdonk MJ, Koltzenburg M, Groeneveld GJ, Heuberger JA. Effects of Mexiletine and Lacosamide on Nerve Excitability in Healthy Subjects: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Crossover Study. Clin Pharmacol Ther 2022; 112:1008-1019. [PMID: 35762293 PMCID: PMC9795956 DOI: 10.1002/cpt.2694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2022] [Accepted: 06/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Selective voltage-gated sodium channel blockers are of growing interest as treatment for pain. For drug development of such compounds, it would be critical to have a biomarker that can be used for proof-of-mechanism. We aimed to evaluate whether drug-induced changes in sodium conductance can be detected in the peripheral nerve excitability profile in 18 healthy subjects. In a randomized, double-blind, 3-way crossover study, effects of single oral doses of 333 mg mexiletine and 300 mg lacosamide were compared with placebo. On each study visit, motor and sensory nerve excitability measurements of the median nerve were performed (predose; and 3 and 6 hours postdose) using Qtrac. Treatment effects were calculated using an analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) with baseline as covariate. Mexiletine and lacosamide had significant effects on multiple motor and sensory nerve excitability variables. Depolarizing threshold electrotonus (TEd40 (40-60 ms)) decreased by mexiletine (estimated difference (ED) -1.37% (95% confidence interval (CI): -2.20, -0.547; P = 0.002) and lacosamide (ED -1.27%, 95% CI: -2.10, -0.443; P = 0.004) in motor nerves. Moreover, mexiletine and lacosamide decreased superexcitability (less negative) in motor nerves (ED 1.74%, 95% CI: 0.615, 2.87; P = 0.004, and ED 1.47%, 95% CI: 0.341, 2.60; P = 0.013, respectively). Strength-duration time constant decreased after lacosamide in motor- (ED -0.0342 ms, 95% CI: -0.0571, -0.0112; P = 0.005) and sensory nerves (ED -0.0778 ms, 95% CI: -0.116, -0.0399; P < 0.001). Mexiletine and lacosamide significantly decrease excitability of motor and sensory nerves, in line with their suggested mechanism of action. Results of this study indicate that nerve excitability threshold tracking can be an effective pharmacodynamic biomarker. The method could be a valuable tool in clinical drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Titia Q. Ruijs
- Centre for Human Drug ResearchLeidenThe Netherlands,Leiden University Medical CentreLeidenThe Netherlands
| | - Ingrid W. Koopmans
- Centre for Human Drug ResearchLeidenThe Netherlands,Leiden University Medical CentreLeidenThe Netherlands
| | | | | | | | - Geert Jan Groeneveld
- Centre for Human Drug ResearchLeidenThe Netherlands,Leiden University Medical CentreLeidenThe Netherlands
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Sleutjes BTHM, Stikvoort García DJL, Kovalchuk MO, Heuberger JAAC, Groeneveld GJ, Franssen H, van den Berg LH. Acute retigabine-induced effects on myelinated motor axons in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Pharmacol Res Perspect 2022; 10:e00983. [PMID: 35881020 PMCID: PMC9318643 DOI: 10.1002/prp2.983] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2021] [Revised: 06/11/2022] [Accepted: 06/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Altered motor neuron excitability in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) has been suggested to be an early pathophysiological mechanism associated with motor neuron death. Compounds that affect membrane excitability may therefore have disease‐modifying effects. Through which mechanism(s), these compounds modulate membrane excitability is mostly provided by preclinical studies, yet remains challenging to verify in clinical studies. Here, we investigated how retigabine affects human myelinated motor axons by applying computational modeling to interpret the complex excitability changes in a recent trial involving 18 ALS patients. Compared to baseline, the post‐dose excitability differences were modeled well by a hyperpolarizing shift of the half‐activation potential of slow potassium (K+)‐channels (till 2 mV). These findings verify that retigabine targets slow K+‐channel gating and highlight the usefulness of computational models. Further developments of this approach may facilitate the identification of early target engagement and ultimately aid selecting responders leading to more personalized treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Boudewijn T H M Sleutjes
- Department of Neurology, Brain Center Utrecht, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | | | - Maria O Kovalchuk
- Department of Neurology, Brain Center Utrecht, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | | | | | - Hessel Franssen
- Department of Neurology, Brain Center Utrecht, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Leonard H van den Berg
- Department of Neurology, Brain Center Utrecht, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
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Ahmed N, Baker MR, Bashford J. The landscape of neurophysiological outcome measures in ALS interventional trials: A systematic review. Clin Neurophysiol 2022; 137:132-141. [PMID: 35313253 PMCID: PMC10166714 DOI: 10.1016/j.clinph.2022.02.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2021] [Revised: 02/11/2022] [Accepted: 02/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE We collated all interventional clinical trials in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), which utilised at least one neurophysiological technique as a primary or secondary outcome measure. By identifying the strengths and limitations of these studies, we aim to guide study design in future trials. METHODS We conducted and reported this systematic review according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Eight databases were searched from inception. In total, 703 studies were retrieved for screening and eligibility assessment. RESULTS Dating back to 1986, 32 eligible interventional clinical trials were identified, recruiting a median of 30 patients per completed trial. The most widely employed neurophysiological techniques were electromyography, motor unit number estimation (including motor unit number index), neurophysiological index and transcranial magnetic stimulation (including resting motor threshold and short-interval intracortical inhibition). Almost 40% of trials reported a positive outcome with respect to at least one neurophysiological measure. The interventions targeted either ion channels, immune mechanisms or neuronal metabolic pathways. CONCLUSIONS Neurophysiology offers many promising biomarkers that can be utilised as outcome measures in interventional clinical trials in ALS. When selecting the most appropriate technique, key considerations include methodological standardisation, target engagement and logistical burden. SIGNIFICANCE Future trial design in ALS would benefit from a standardised, updated and easily accessible repository of neurophysiological outcome measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Ahmed
- GKT School of Medical Education, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, King's College London, UK
| | - M R Baker
- Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK
| | - J Bashford
- UK Dementia Research Institute, Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, UK.
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Abstract
Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a leading cause of disability worldwide and less than one-third of patients with MDD achieve stable remission of symptoms, despite currently available treatments. Although MDD represents a serious health problem, a complete understanding of the neurobiological mechanisms underlying this condition continues to be elusive. Accumulating evidence from preclinical and animal studies provides support for the antidepressant potential of modulators of KCNQ voltage-gated potassium (K+) channels. KCNQ K+ channels, through regulation of neuronal excitability and activity, contribute to neurophysiological mechanisms underlying stress resilience, and represent potential targets of drug discovery for depression. The present article focuses on the pharmacology and efficacy of KCNQ2/3 K+ channel openers as novel therapeutic agents for depressive disorders from initial studies conducted on animal models showing depressive-like behaviors to recent work in humans that examines the potential for KCNQ2/3 channel modulators as novel antidepressants. Data from preclinical work suggest that KCNQ-type K+ channels are an active mediator of stress resilience and KCNQ2/3 K+ channel openers show antidepressant efficacy. Similarly, evidence from clinical trials conducted in patients with MDD using the KCNQ2/3 channel opener ezogabine (retigabine) showed significant improvements in depressive symptoms and anhedonia. Overall, KCNQ channel openers appear a promising target for the development of novel therapeutics for the treatment of psychiatric disorders and specifically for MDD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Costi
- Depression and Anxiety Center for Discovery and Treatment, Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, Box 1230, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Ming-Hu Han
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.,Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.,Center for Affective Neuroscience, Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.,Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.,Department of Mental Health and Public Health, Faculty of Life and Health Sciences, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China
| | - James W Murrough
- Depression and Anxiety Center for Discovery and Treatment, Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, Box 1230, New York, NY, 10029, USA. .,Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA. .,Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
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Nochi Z, Pia H, Bloms-Funke P, Boesl I, Caspani O, Chapman SC, Fardo F, Genser B, Goetz M, Kostenko AV, Leone C, Li T, Mouraux A, Pelz B, Pogatzki-Zahn E, Schilder A, Schnetter E, Schubart K, Stouffs A, Tracey I, Troconiz IF, Truini A, Van Niel J, Vela JM, Vincent K, Vollert J, Wanigasekera V, Wittayer M, Tankisi H, Finnerup NB, Phillips KG, Treede RD. IMI2-PainCare-BioPain-RCT1: study protocol for a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover, multi-center trial in healthy subjects to investigate the effects of lacosamide, pregabalin, and tapentadol on biomarkers of pain processing observed by peripheral nerve excitability testing (NET). Trials 2022; 23:163. [PMID: 35183242 PMCID: PMC8857873 DOI: 10.1186/s13063-022-06087-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2021] [Accepted: 02/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Background
Few new drugs have been developed for chronic pain. Drug development is challenged by uncertainty about whether the drug engages the human target sufficiently to have a meaningful pharmacodynamic effect. IMI2-PainCare-BioPain-RCT1 is one of four similarly designed studies that aim to link different functional biomarkers of drug effects on the nociceptive system that could serve to accelerate the future development of analgesics. This study focusses on biomarkers derived from nerve excitability testing (NET) using threshold tracking of the peripheral nervous system.
Methods
This is a multisite single-dose, subject and assessor-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, 4-period, 4-way crossover, pharmacodynamic (PD), and pharmacokinetic (PK) study in healthy subjects. Biomarkers derived from NET of large sensory and motor fibers and small sensory fibers using perception threshold tracking will be obtained before and three times after administration of three medications known to act on the nociceptive system (lacosamide, pregabalin, tapentadol) and placebo, given as a single oral dose with at least 1 week apart. Motor and sensory NET will be assessed on the right wrist in a non-sensitized normal condition while perception threshold tracking will be performed bilaterally on both non-sensitized and sensitized forearm skin. Cutaneous high-frequency electrical stimulation is used to induce hyperalgesia. Blood samples will be taken for pharmacokinetic purposes and pain ratings as well as predictive psychological traits will be collected. A sequentially rejective multiple testing approach will be used with overall alpha error of the primary analysis split across the two primary outcomes: strength-duration time constant (SDTC; a measure of passive membrane properties and nodal persistent Na+ conductance) of large sensory fibers and SDTC of large motor fibers comparing lacosamide and placebo. The key secondary endpoint is the SDTC measured in small sensory fibers. Remaining treatment arm effects on key NET outcomes and PK modelling are other prespecified secondary or exploratory analyses.
Discussion
Measurements of NET using threshold tracking protocols are sensitive to membrane potential at the site of stimulation. Sets of useful indices of axonal excitability collectively may provide insights into the mechanisms responsible for membrane polarization, ion channel function, and activity of ionic pumps during the process of impulse conduction. IMI2-PainCare-BioPain-RCT1 hypothesizes that NET can serve as biomarkers of target engagement of analgesic drugs in this compartment of the nociceptive system for future Phase 1 clinical trials. Phase 2 and 3 clinical trials could also benefit from these tools for patient stratification.
Trial registration
This trial was registered 25/06/2019 in EudraCT (2019-000942-36).
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12
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Takahashi S, Mashima K. Neuroprotection and Disease Modification by Astrocytes and Microglia in Parkinson Disease. Antioxidants (Basel) 2022; 11:antiox11010170. [PMID: 35052674 PMCID: PMC8773262 DOI: 10.3390/antiox11010170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2021] [Revised: 01/03/2022] [Accepted: 01/13/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Oxidative stress and neuroinflammation are common bases for disease onset and progression in many neurodegenerative diseases. In Parkinson disease, which is characterized by the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons resulting in dopamine depletion, the pathogenesis differs between hereditary and solitary disease forms and is often unclear. In addition to the pathogenicity of alpha-synuclein as a pathological disease marker, the involvement of dopamine itself and its interactions with glial cells (astrocyte or microglia) have attracted attention. Pacemaking activity, which is a hallmark of dopaminergic neurons, is essential for the homeostatic maintenance of adequate dopamine concentrations in the synaptic cleft, but it imposes a burden on mitochondrial oxidative glucose metabolism, leading to reactive oxygen species production. Astrocytes provide endogenous neuroprotection to the brain by producing and releasing antioxidants in response to oxidative stress. Additionally, the protective function of astrocytes can be modified by microglia. Some types of microglia themselves are thought to exacerbate Parkinson disease by releasing pro-inflammatory factors (M1 microglia). Although these inflammatory microglia may further trigger the inflammatory conversion of astrocytes, microglia may induce astrocytic neuroprotective effects (A2 astrocytes) simultaneously. Interestingly, both astrocytes and microglia express dopamine receptors, which are upregulated in the presence of neuroinflammation. The anti-inflammatory effects of dopamine receptor stimulation are also attracting attention because the functions of astrocytes and microglia are greatly affected by both dopamine depletion and therapeutic dopamine replacement in Parkinson disease. In this review article, we will focus on the antioxidative and anti-inflammatory effects of astrocytes and their synergism with microglia and dopamine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shinichi Takahashi
- Department of Neurology and Stroke, Saitama Medical University International Medical Center, 1397-1 Yamane, Hidaka-shi 350-1298, Japan
- Department of Physiology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +81-42-984-4111 (ext. 7412); Fax: +81-42-984-0664
| | - Kyoko Mashima
- Department of Physiology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan;
- Department of Neurology, Tokyo Saiseikai Central Hospital, 1-4-17 Mita, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-0073, Japan
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13
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Sadr AS, Abdollahpour Z, Aliahmadi A, Eslahchi C, Nekouei M, Kiaei L, Kiaei M, Ghassempour A. Detection of structural and conformational changes in ALS-causing mutant profilin-1 with hydrogen/deuterium exchange mass spectrometry and bioinformatics techniques. Metab Brain Dis 2022; 37:229-241. [PMID: 34302583 DOI: 10.1007/s11011-021-00763-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2021] [Accepted: 06/06/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
The hydrogen/deuterium exchange (HDX) is a reliable method to survey the dynamic behavior of proteins and epitope mapping. Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization-Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) is a quantifying tool to assay for HDX in the protein of interest. We combined HDX-MALDI-TOF MS and molecular docking/MD simulation to identify accessible amino acids and analyze their contribution into the structural changes of profilin-1 (PFN-1). The molecular docking/MD simulations are computational tools for enabling the analysis of the type of amino acids that may be involved via HDX identified under the lowest binding energy condition. Glycine to valine amino acid (G117V) substitution mutation is linked to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). This mutation is found to be in the actin-binding site of PFN-1 and prevents the dimerization/polymerization of actin and invokes a pathologic toxicity that leads to ALS. In this study, we sought to understand the PFN-1 protein dynamic behavior using purified wild type and mutant PFN-1 proteins. The data obtained from HDX-MALDI-TOF MS for PFN-1WT and PFN-1G117V at various time intervals, from seconds to hours, revealed multiple peaks corresponding to molecular weights from monomers to multimers. PFN-1/Benzaldehyde complexes identified 20 accessible amino acids to HDX that participate in the docking simulation in the surface of WT and mutant PFN-1. Consistent results from HDX-MALDI-TOF MS and docking simulation predict candidate amino acid(s) involved in the dimerization/polymerization of PFNG117V. This information may shed critical light on the structural and conformational changes with details of amino acid epitopes for mutant PFN-1s' dimerization, oligomerization, and aggregation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmad Shahir Sadr
- Medicinal Plants and Drugs Research Institute, Shahid Beheshti University, G.C., Evin, Tehran, Iran
- Computer Science Department, Mathematical Sciences Faculty, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Zahra Abdollahpour
- Medicinal Plants and Drugs Research Institute, Shahid Beheshti University, G.C., Evin, Tehran, Iran
| | - Atousa Aliahmadi
- Medicinal Plants and Drugs Research Institute, Shahid Beheshti University, G.C., Evin, Tehran, Iran
| | - Changiz Eslahchi
- Computer Science Department, Mathematical Sciences Faculty, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran
- School of Biological Sciences, Institute for Research in Fundamental Sciences (IPM), Tehran, Iran
| | - Mina Nekouei
- Medicinal Plants and Drugs Research Institute, Shahid Beheshti University, G.C., Evin, Tehran, Iran
| | - Lily Kiaei
- RockGen Therapeutics, LLC, Little Rock, AR, 72205, USA
| | - Mahmoud Kiaei
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, 72205, USA.
- Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, 72205, USA.
- Department of Geriatrics, College of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, 72205, USA.
- RockGen Therapeutics, LLC, Little Rock, AR, 72205, USA.
| | - Alireza Ghassempour
- Medicinal Plants and Drugs Research Institute, Shahid Beheshti University, G.C., Evin, Tehran, Iran.
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14
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Trudler D, Ghatak S, Lipton SA. Emerging hiPSC Models for Drug Discovery in Neurodegenerative Diseases. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:8196. [PMID: 34360966 PMCID: PMC8347370 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22158196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2021] [Revised: 07/26/2021] [Accepted: 07/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases affect millions of people worldwide and are characterized by the chronic and progressive deterioration of neural function. Neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and Huntington's disease (HD), represent a huge social and economic burden due to increasing prevalence in our aging society, severity of symptoms, and lack of effective disease-modifying therapies. This lack of effective treatments is partly due to a lack of reliable models. Modeling neurodegenerative diseases is difficult because of poor access to human samples (restricted in general to postmortem tissue) and limited knowledge of disease mechanisms in a human context. Animal models play an instrumental role in understanding these diseases but fail to comprehensively represent the full extent of disease due to critical differences between humans and other mammals. The advent of human-induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC) technology presents an advantageous system that complements animal models of neurodegenerative diseases. Coupled with advances in gene-editing technologies, hiPSC-derived neural cells from patients and healthy donors now allow disease modeling using human samples that can be used for drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dorit Trudler
- Neurodegeneration New Medicines Center and Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA; (D.T.); (S.G.)
| | - Swagata Ghatak
- Neurodegeneration New Medicines Center and Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA; (D.T.); (S.G.)
| | - Stuart A. Lipton
- Neurodegeneration New Medicines Center and Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA; (D.T.); (S.G.)
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
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15
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Huang X, Roet KCD, Zhang L, Brault A, Berg AP, Jefferson AB, Klug-McLeod J, Leach KL, Vincent F, Yang H, Coyle AJ, Jones LH, Frost D, Wiskow O, Chen K, Maeda R, Grantham A, Dornon MK, Klim JR, Siekmann MT, Zhao D, Lee S, Eggan K, Woolf CJ. Human amyotrophic lateral sclerosis excitability phenotype screen: Target discovery and validation. Cell Rep 2021; 35:109224. [PMID: 34107252 PMCID: PMC8209673 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.109224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2020] [Revised: 10/14/2020] [Accepted: 05/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Drug development is hampered by poor target selection. Phenotypic screens using neurons differentiated from patient stem cells offer the possibility to validate known and discover novel disease targets in an unbiased fashion. To identify targets for managing hyperexcitability, a pathological feature of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), we design a multi-step screening funnel using patient-derived motor neurons. High-content live cell imaging is used to evaluate neuronal excitability, and from a screen against a chemogenomic library of 2,899 target-annotated compounds, 67 reduce the hyperexcitability of ALS motor neurons carrying the SOD1(A4V) mutation, without cytotoxicity. Bioinformatic deconvolution identifies 13 targets that modulate motor neuron excitability, including two known ALS excitability modulators, AMPA receptors and Kv7.2/3 ion channels, constituting target validation. We also identify D2 dopamine receptors as modulators of ALS motor neuron excitability. This screen demonstrates the power of human disease cell-based phenotypic screens for identifying clinically relevant targets for neurological disorders. Motor neuron hyperexcitability is observed in both ALS patients and their iPSC-derived neurons. Combining a high-content live imaging excitability phenotypic assay, high-throughput screening against a cross-annotated chemogenomic library, and bioinformatic enrichment analysis, Huang et al. identify targets modulating the hyperexcitability of ALS patient-derived motor neurons in an unbiased manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuan Huang
- F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital, and Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Kasper C D Roet
- F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital, and Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Liying Zhang
- Medicine Design, Pfizer, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Amy Brault
- Medicine Design, Pfizer, Groton, CT 06340, USA
| | - Allison P Berg
- Rare Disease Research Unit, Pfizer, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Anne B Jefferson
- Pfizer Centers for Therapeutic Innovation (CTI), San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | | | - Karen L Leach
- Pfizer Centers for Therapeutic Innovation (CTI), Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | | | - Hongying Yang
- Pfizer Centers for Therapeutic Innovation (CTI), Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Anthony J Coyle
- Pfizer Centers for Therapeutic Innovation (CTI), Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Lyn H Jones
- Medicine Design, Pfizer, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Devlin Frost
- F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital, and Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Ole Wiskow
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Kuchuan Chen
- F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital, and Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Rie Maeda
- F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital, and Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Alyssa Grantham
- F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital, and Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Mary K Dornon
- F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital, and Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Joseph R Klim
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Marco T Siekmann
- F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital, and Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Dongyi Zhao
- F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital, and Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Seungkyu Lee
- F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital, and Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Kevin Eggan
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Clifford J Woolf
- F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital, and Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
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16
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Abstract
The rising interest in Kv7 modulators originates from their ability to evoke fundamental electrophysiological perturbations in a tissue-specific manner. A large number of therapeutic applications are, in part, based on the clinical experience with two broad-spectrum Kv7 agonists, flupirtine and retigabine. Since precise molecular structures of human Kv7 channel subtypes in closed and open states have only very recently started to emerge, computational studies have traditionally been used to analyze binding modes and direct the development of more potent and selective Kv7 modulators with improved safety profiles. Herein, the synthetic and medicinal chemistry of small molecule modulators and the representative biological properties are summarized. Furthermore, new therapeutic applications supported by in vitro and in vivo assay data are suggested.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matteo Borgini
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh PA 15260 USA
| | - Pravat Mondal
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh PA 15260 USA
| | - Ruiting Liu
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh PA 15260 USA
| | - Peter Wipf
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh PA 15260 USA
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17
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Varghese N, Lauritano A, Taglialatela M, Tzingounis AV. KCNQ3 is the principal target of retigabine in CA1 and subicular excitatory neurons. J Neurophysiol 2021; 125:1440-1449. [PMID: 33729829 DOI: 10.1152/jn.00564.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Retigabine is a first-in-class potassium channel opener approved for patients with epilepsy. Unfortunately, several side effects have limited its use in clinical practice, overshadowing its beneficial effects. Multiple studies have shown that retigabine acts by enhancing the activity of members of the voltage-gated KCNQ (Kv7) potassium channel family, particularly the neuronal KCNQ channels KCNQ2-KCNQ5. However, it is currently unknown whether retigabine's action in neurons is mediated by all KCNQ neuronal channels or by only a subset. This knowledge is necessary to elucidate retigabine's mechanism of action in the central nervous system and its adverse effects and to design more effective and selective retigabine analogs. In this study, we show that the action of retigabine in excitatory neurons strongly depends on the presence of KCNQ3 channels. Deletion of Kcnq3 severely limited the ability of retigabine to reduce neuronal excitability in mouse CA1 and subiculum excitatory neurons. In addition, we report that in the absence of KCNQ3 channels, retigabine can enhance CA1 pyramidal neuron activity, leading to a greater number of action potentials and reduced spike frequency adaptation; this finding further supports a key role of KCNQ3 channels in mediating the action of retigabine. Our work provides new insight into the action of retigabine in forebrain neurons, clarifying retigabine's action in the nervous system.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Retigabine has risen to prominence as a first-in-class potassium channel opener approved by the Food and Drug Administration, with potential for treating multiple neurological disorders. Here, we demonstrate that KCNQ3 channels are the primary target of retigabine in excitatory neurons, as deleting these channels greatly diminishes the effect of retigabine in pyramidal neurons. Our data provide the first indication that retigabine controls neuronal firing properties primarily through KCNQ3 channels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nissi Varghese
- Department of Physiology and Neurobiology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut
| | - Anna Lauritano
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
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18
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Wainger BJ, Macklin EA, Vucic S, McIlduff CE, Paganoni S, Maragakis NJ, Bedlack R, Goyal NA, Rutkove SB, Lange DJ, Rivner MH, Goutman SA, Ladha SS, Mauricio EA, Baloh RH, Simmons Z, Pothier L, Kassis SB, La T, Hall M, Evora A, Klements D, Hurtado A, Pereira JD, Koh J, Celnik PA, Chaudhry V, Gable K, Juel VC, Phielipp N, Marei A, Rosenquist P, Meehan S, Oskarsson B, Lewis RA, Kaur D, Kiskinis E, Woolf CJ, Eggan K, Weiss MD, Berry JD, David WS, Davila-Perez P, Camprodon JA, Pascual-Leone A, Kiernan MC, Shefner JM, Atassi N, Cudkowicz ME. Effect of Ezogabine on Cortical and Spinal Motor Neuron Excitability in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Neurol 2021; 78:186-196. [PMID: 33226425 DOI: 10.1001/jamaneurol.2020.4300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Importance Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease of the motor nervous system. Clinical studies have demonstrated cortical and spinal motor neuron hyperexcitability using transcranial magnetic stimulation and threshold tracking nerve conduction studies, respectively, although metrics of excitability have not been used as pharmacodynamic biomarkers in multi-site clinical trials. Objective To ascertain whether ezogabine decreases cortical and spinal motor neuron excitability in ALS. Design, Setting, and Participants This double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 2 randomized clinical trial sought consent from eligible participants from November 3, 2015, to November 9, 2017, and was conducted at 12 US sites within the Northeast ALS Consortium. Participants were randomized in equal numbers to a higher or lower dose of ezogabine or to an identical matched placebo, and they completed in-person visits at screening, baseline, week 6, and week 8 for clinical assessment and neurophysiological measurements. Interventions Participants were randomized to receive 600 mg/d or 900 mg/d of ezogabine or a matched placebo for 10 weeks. Main Outcomes and Measures The primary outcome was change in short-interval intracortical inhibition (SICI; SICI-1 was used in analysis to reflect stronger inhibition from an increase in amplitude) from pretreatment mean at screening and baseline to the full-dose treatment mean at weeks 6 and 8. The secondary outcomes included levels of cortical motor neuron excitability (including resting motor threshold) measured by transcranial magnetic stimulation and spinal motor neuron excitability (including strength-duration time constant) measured by threshold tracking nerve conduction studies. Results A total of 65 participants were randomized to placebo (23), 600 mg/d of ezogabine (23), and 900 mg/d of ezogabine (19 participants); 45 were men (69.2%) and the mean (SD) age was 58.3 (8.8) years. The SICI-1 increased by 53% (mean ratio, 1.53; 95% CI, 1.12-2.09; P = .009) in the 900-mg/d ezogabine group vs placebo group. The SICI-1 did not change in the 600-mg/d ezogabine group vs placebo group (mean ratio, 1.15; 95% CI, 0.87-1.52; P = .31). The resting motor threshold increased in the 600-mg/d ezogabine group vs placebo group (mean ratio, 4.61; 95% CI, 0.21-9.01; P = .04) but not in the 900-mg/d ezogabine group vs placebo group (mean ratio, 1.95; 95% CI, -2.64 to 6.54; P = .40). Ezogabine caused a dose-dependent decrease in excitability by several other metrics, including strength-duration time constant in the 900-mg/d ezogabine group vs placebo group (mean ratio, 0.73; 95% CI, 0.60 to 0.87; P < .001). Conclusions and Relevance Ezogabine decreased cortical and spinal motor neuron excitability in participants with ALS, suggesting that such neurophysiological metrics may be used as pharmacodynamic biomarkers in multisite clinical trials. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02450552.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian J Wainger
- The Sean M. Healey and AMG Center for ALS and the Neurological Clinical Research Institute, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston.,Department of Anesthesia, Critical Care & Pain Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston.,Harvard Medical School, Boston MA.,Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge.,Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge
| | - Eric A Macklin
- Harvard Medical School, Boston MA.,Biostatistics Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Steve Vucic
- Department of Neurology, Westmead Hospital, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Courtney E McIlduff
- Harvard Medical School, Boston MA.,Department of Neurology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Sabrina Paganoni
- The Sean M. Healey and AMG Center for ALS and the Neurological Clinical Research Institute, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston.,Harvard Medical School, Boston MA.,Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
| | | | - Richard Bedlack
- Department of Neurology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Namita A Goyal
- Department of Neurology, University of California Irvine, Irvine
| | - Seward B Rutkove
- Harvard Medical School, Boston MA.,Department of Neurology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Dale J Lange
- Department of Neurology, Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, New York
| | - Michael H Rivner
- Department of Neurology, Augusta University Medical Center, Augusta, Georgia
| | | | - Shafeeq S Ladha
- Department of Neurology, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, Arizona
| | | | - Robert H Baloh
- Department of Neurology, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California
| | - Zachary Simmons
- Department of Neurology, Penn State Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, Pennsylvania
| | - Lindsay Pothier
- The Sean M. Healey and AMG Center for ALS and the Neurological Clinical Research Institute, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston
| | - Sylvia Baedorf Kassis
- The Sean M. Healey and AMG Center for ALS and the Neurological Clinical Research Institute, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston
| | - Thuong La
- The Sean M. Healey and AMG Center for ALS and the Neurological Clinical Research Institute, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston
| | - Meghan Hall
- Department of Neurology, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, Arizona
| | - Armineuza Evora
- The Sean M. Healey and AMG Center for ALS and the Neurological Clinical Research Institute, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston
| | - David Klements
- The Sean M. Healey and AMG Center for ALS and the Neurological Clinical Research Institute, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston
| | - Aura Hurtado
- Harvard Medical School, Boston MA.,Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston
| | - Joao D Pereira
- The Sean M. Healey and AMG Center for ALS and the Neurological Clinical Research Institute, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston.,Harvard Medical School, Boston MA
| | - Joan Koh
- The Sean M. Healey and AMG Center for ALS and the Neurological Clinical Research Institute, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston
| | - Pablo A Celnik
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Vinay Chaudhry
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Karissa Gable
- Department of Neurology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Vern C Juel
- Department of Neurology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Nicolas Phielipp
- Department of Neurology, University of California Irvine, Irvine
| | - Adel Marei
- Department of Neurology, Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, New York
| | - Peter Rosenquist
- Department of Psychiatry, Augusta University Medical Center, Augusta, Georgia
| | - Sean Meehan
- School of Kinesiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
| | | | - Richard A Lewis
- Department of Neurology, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California
| | - Divpreet Kaur
- Department of Neurology, Penn State Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, Pennsylvania
| | | | - Clifford J Woolf
- Harvard Medical School, Boston MA.,Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Kevin Eggan
- The Sean M. Healey and AMG Center for ALS and the Neurological Clinical Research Institute, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston.,Harvard Medical School, Boston MA.,Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge.,Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge.,Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | | | - James D Berry
- The Sean M. Healey and AMG Center for ALS and the Neurological Clinical Research Institute, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston.,Harvard Medical School, Boston MA
| | - William S David
- The Sean M. Healey and AMG Center for ALS and the Neurological Clinical Research Institute, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston.,Harvard Medical School, Boston MA
| | - Paula Davila-Perez
- Harvard Medical School, Boston MA.,Department of Neurology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Joan A Camprodon
- The Sean M. Healey and AMG Center for ALS and the Neurological Clinical Research Institute, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston.,Harvard Medical School, Boston MA.,Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston
| | - Alvaro Pascual-Leone
- Harvard Medical School, Boston MA.,Marcus Institute and Center for Memory Health, Hebrew SeniorLife, Boston, Massachusetts.,Institut Guttmann, Universitat Autonoma, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Matthew C Kiernan
- Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,Department of Neurology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Jeremy M Shefner
- Department of Neurology, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, Arizona
| | - Nazem Atassi
- The Sean M. Healey and AMG Center for ALS and the Neurological Clinical Research Institute, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston.,Harvard Medical School, Boston MA
| | - Merit E Cudkowicz
- The Sean M. Healey and AMG Center for ALS and the Neurological Clinical Research Institute, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston.,Harvard Medical School, Boston MA
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19
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Zwierzyńska E, Krupa-Burtnik A, Pietrzak B. Beneficial effect of retigabine on memory in rats receiving ethanol. Pharmacol Rep 2021; 73:480-489. [PMID: 33385172 PMCID: PMC7994244 DOI: 10.1007/s43440-020-00205-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2020] [Revised: 11/14/2020] [Accepted: 11/29/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Background Retigabine belongs to the novel generation of antiepileptic drugs but its complex mechanism of action causes that the drug might be effective in other diseases, for instance, alcohol dependence. It is known that ethanol abuse impaired the function of brain structures associated with memory and learning such as the hippocampus. In our previous study, retigabine reduced hippocampal changes induced by ethanol in the EEG rhythms in rabbits. This study is focused on the impact of retigabine on memory processes in male rats receiving alcohol. Methods Memory was evaluated in various experimental models: Morris water maze, Contextual, and Cued Fear Conditioning tests. Retigabine was administered for 3 weeks directly to the stomach via oral gavage at a dose of 10 mg/kg. Rats received also 20% ethanol (5 g/kg/day in two doses) via oral gavage for 3 weeks and had free access to 5% ethanol in the afternoon and at night. Morris water maze was performed after 1 and 3 weeks of ethanol administration and after 1 week from the discontinuation of ethanol administration. Contextual and Cued Fear Conditioning tests were carried out after 24 h and 72 h of alcohol discontinuation. Results The drug significantly decreased ethanol-induced memory disturbances during alcohol administration as well as slightly improved learning processes after the discontinuation of ethanol administration. Conclusions This beneficial effect of retigabine-ethanol interaction on memory may be a relevant element of the drug’s impact on the development of addiction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ewa Zwierzyńska
- Department of Pharmacodynamics, Medical University of Lodz, Muszyńskiego 1, 90-151, Łódź, Poland.
| | - Agata Krupa-Burtnik
- Department of Pharmacodynamics, Medical University of Lodz, Muszyńskiego 1, 90-151, Łódź, Poland
| | - Bogusława Pietrzak
- Department of Pharmacodynamics, Medical University of Lodz, Muszyńskiego 1, 90-151, Łódź, Poland
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20
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Rivetti di Val Cervo P, Besusso D, Conforti P, Cattaneo E. hiPSCs for predictive modelling of neurodegenerative diseases: dreaming the possible. Nat Rev Neurol 2021; 17:381-92. [PMID: 33658662 DOI: 10.1038/s41582-021-00465-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/27/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) were first generated in 2007, but the full translational potential of this valuable tool has yet to be realized. The potential applications of hiPSCs are especially relevant to neurology, as brain cells from patients are rarely available for research. hiPSCs from individuals with neuropsychiatric or neurodegenerative diseases have facilitated biological and multi-omics studies as well as large-scale screening of chemical libraries. However, researchers are struggling to improve the scalability, reproducibility and quality of this descriptive disease modelling. Addressing these limitations will be the first step towards a new era in hiPSC research - that of predictive disease modelling - involving the correlation and integration of in vitro experimental data with longitudinal clinical data. This approach is a key element of the emerging precision medicine paradigm, in which hiPSCs could become a powerful diagnostic and prognostic tool. Here, we consider the steps necessary to achieve predictive modelling of neurodegenerative disease with hiPSCs, using Huntington disease as an example.
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21
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Beutel T, Dzimiera J, Kapell H, Engelhardt M, Gass A, Schirmer L. Cortical projection neurons as a therapeutic target in multiple sclerosis. Expert Opin Ther Targets 2020; 24:1211-1224. [PMID: 33103501 DOI: 10.1080/14728222.2020.1842358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory-demyelinating disease of the central nervous system associated with lesions of the cortical gray matter and subcortical white matter. Recently, cortical lesions have become a major focus of research because cortical pathology and neuronal damage are critical determinants of irreversible clinical progression. Recent transcriptomic studies point toward cell type-specific changes in cortical neurons in MS with a selective vulnerability of excitatory projection neuron subtypes. AREAS COVERED We discuss the cortical mapping and the molecular properties of excitatory projection neurons and their role in MS lesion pathology while placing an emphasis on their subtype-specific transcriptomic changes and levels of vulnerability. We also examine the latest magnetic resonance imaging techniques to study cortical MS pathology as a key tool for monitoring disease progression and treatment efficacy. Finally, we consider possible therapeutic avenues and novel strategies to protect excitatory cortical projection neurons. Literature search methodology: PubMed articles from 2000-2020. EXPERT OPINION Excitatory cortical projection neurons are an emerging therapeutic target in the treatment of progressive MS. Understanding neuron subtype-specific molecular pathologies and their exact spatial mapping will help establish starting points for the development of novel cell type-specific therapies and biomarkers in MS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatjana Beutel
- Department of Neurology, Medical Faculty Mannheim, MCTN, Heidelberg University , Mannheim, Germany
| | - Julia Dzimiera
- Department of Neurology, Medical Faculty Mannheim, MCTN, Heidelberg University , Mannheim, Germany
| | - Hannah Kapell
- Department of Neurology, Medical Faculty Mannheim, MCTN, Heidelberg University , Mannheim, Germany
| | - Maren Engelhardt
- Institute of Neuroanatomy, Medical Faculty Mannheim, MCTN, Heidelberg University , Mannheim, Germany.,Interdisciplinary Center for Neurosciences, Heidelberg University , Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Achim Gass
- Department of Neurology, Medical Faculty Mannheim, MCTN, Heidelberg University , Mannheim, Germany
| | - Lucas Schirmer
- Department of Neurology, Medical Faculty Mannheim, MCTN, Heidelberg University , Mannheim, Germany.,Interdisciplinary Center for Neurosciences, Heidelberg University , Heidelberg, Germany
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22
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Pasteuning-Vuhman S, de Jongh R, Timmers A, Pasterkamp RJ. Towards Advanced iPSC-based Drug Development for Neurodegenerative Disease. Trends Mol Med 2020; 27:263-279. [PMID: 33121873 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmed.2020.09.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2020] [Revised: 09/27/2020] [Accepted: 09/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs) are a heterogeneous group of diseases that are characterized by the progressive loss of neurons leading to motor, sensory, and/or cognitive defects. Currently, NDDs are not curable and treatment focuses on alleviating symptoms and halting disease progression. Phenotypic heterogeneity between individual NDD patients, lack of robust biomarkers, the limited translational potential of experimental models, and other factors have hampered drug development for the treatment of NDDs. This review summarizes and discusses the use of induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) approaches for improving drug discovery and testing. It highlights challenges associated with iPSC modeling and also discusses innovative approaches such as brain organoids and microfluidic-based technology which will improve drug development for NDDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Svetlana Pasteuning-Vuhman
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, University Medical Center Utrecht Brain Center, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Rianne de Jongh
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, University Medical Center Utrecht Brain Center, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Annabel Timmers
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, University Medical Center Utrecht Brain Center, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - R Jeroen Pasterkamp
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, University Medical Center Utrecht Brain Center, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
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23
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Sato M, Nakamura T, Nagashima K, Fujita Y, Ikeda Y. Prolonged distal latency of the median motor nerve is associated with poor prognosis in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Neurol Res 2020; 43:191-198. [PMID: 33054692 DOI: 10.1080/01616412.2020.1834291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
A nerve conduction study (NCS) is routinely undertaken for the differential diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Prolonged median motor distal latency (MMDL) has been reported in a subset of patients with ALS. This study aimed to investigate the clinical importance of NCS characteristics in patients with ALS. A total of 75 patients who underwent NCS were enrolled in this study. The frequency of ALS patients with prolonged motor DL was higher in the median than ulnar NCS. The multivariate analysis revealed that shorter diagnostic latency, prolonged MMDL, and higher disease progression rate were significantly associated with poor prognosis. When ALS patients were divided into two groups according to the cut-off value (4.2 ms) of the MMDL, the group with prolonged MMDL had lower ALS functional rating scale and frontal assessment battery scores, upper limbs subscore, and shorter survival time than the group with shorter MMDL. In conclusion, patients with ALS that have prolonged MMDL may have upper limb dysfunction and shorter survival. MMDL can be a useful prognostic marker for patients with ALS. Abbreviations: ADM = abductor digiti minimi; APB = abductor pollicis brevis; ALS = amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; ALSFRS-R = revised ALS Functional Rating Scale; CI = confidence interval; CMAP = compound muscle action potential; CTS = carpal tunnel syndrome; DL = distal latency; ΔFS = disease progression rate; FAB = frontal assessment battery; FVC = forced vital capacity; HR = hazard ratio; MCV = motor nerve conduction velocity; MMDL = median motor distal latency; MMSE = mini-mental state examination; NCS = nerve conduction study; PaCO2 = partial pressure of arterial carbon dioxide; SBMA = spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy; SCV = sensory nerve conduction velocity; SD = standard deviation; SMA = spinal muscular atrophy; SNAP = sensory nerve action potential; SOD1 = superoxide dismutase 1; UMDL = ulnar motor distal latency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masayuki Sato
- Department of Neurology, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine , Maebashi, Japan
| | - Takumi Nakamura
- Department of Neurology, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine , Maebashi, Japan
| | - Kazuaki Nagashima
- Department of Neurology, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine , Maebashi, Japan
| | - Yukio Fujita
- Department of Neurology, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine , Maebashi, Japan
| | - Yoshio Ikeda
- Department of Neurology, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine , Maebashi, Japan
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24
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Obrador E, Salvador R, López-Blanch R, Jihad-Jebbar A, Vallés SL, Estrela JM. Oxidative Stress, Neuroinflammation and Mitochondria in the Pathophysiology of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Antioxidants (Basel) 2020; 9:antiox9090901. [PMID: 32971909 PMCID: PMC7555310 DOI: 10.3390/antiox9090901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2020] [Revised: 09/18/2020] [Accepted: 09/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive motor neuron (MN) disease. Its primary cause remains elusive, although a combination of different causal factors cannot be ruled out. There is no cure, and prognosis is poor. Most patients with ALS die due to disease-related complications, such as respiratory failure, within three years of diagnosis. While the underlying mechanisms are unclear, different cell types (microglia, astrocytes, macrophages and T cell subsets) appear to play key roles in the pathophysiology of the disease. Neuroinflammation and oxidative stress pave the way leading to neurodegeneration and MN death. ALS-associated mitochondrial dysfunction occurs at different levels, and these organelles are involved in the mechanism of MN death. Molecular and cellular interactions are presented here as a sequential cascade of events. Based on our present knowledge, the discussion leads to the idea that feasible therapeutic strategies should focus in interfering with the pathophysiology of the disease at different steps.
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25
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Kukharsky MS, Skvortsova VI, Bachurin SO, Buchman VL. In a search for efficient treatment for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: Old drugs for new approaches. Med Res Rev 2020; 41:2804-2822. [DOI: 10.1002/med.21725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2020] [Revised: 07/23/2020] [Accepted: 08/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Michail S. Kukharsky
- Faculty of Medical Biology Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University Moscow Russian Federation
- Institute of Physiologically Active Compounds Russian Academy of Sciences Moscow Region Russian Federation
| | - Veronika I. Skvortsova
- Faculty of Medical Biology Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University Moscow Russian Federation
| | - Sergey O. Bachurin
- Institute of Physiologically Active Compounds Russian Academy of Sciences Moscow Region Russian Federation
| | - Vladimir L. Buchman
- Institute of Physiologically Active Compounds Russian Academy of Sciences Moscow Region Russian Federation
- School of Biosciences Cardiff University Cardiff United Kingdom
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26
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van Eijk RP, Kliest T, McDermott CJ, Roes KC, Van Damme P, Chio A, Weber M, Ingre C, Corcia P, Povedano M, Reviers E, van Es MA, Al-Chalabi A, Hardiman O, van den Berg LH. TRICALS: creating a highway toward a cure. Amyotroph Lateral Scler Frontotemporal Degener 2020; 21:496-501. [DOI: 10.1080/21678421.2020.1788092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ruben P.A. van Eijk
- Department of Neurology, UMC Utrecht Brain Centre, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
- Biostatistics & Research Support, Julius Centre for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Tessa Kliest
- Department of Neurology, UMC Utrecht Brain Centre, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Christopher J. McDermott
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Sheffield, Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience, Sheffield, UK
| | - Kit C.B. Roes
- Department of Health Evidence, Section Biostatistics, Radboud Medical Centre Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Philip Van Damme
- Department of Neurosciences, Laboratory for Neurobiology, KU Leuven and Center for Brain & Disease Research, VIB, Leuven Brain Institute, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Adriano Chio
- Rita Levi Montalcini’ Department of Neuroscience, ALS Centre, University of Torino, Turin, Italy
- Azienda Ospedaliera Città della Salute e della Scienza, Turin, Italy
| | - Markus Weber
- Neuromoscular Disease Unit/ALS Clinic, Cantonal Hospital St. Gallen, St. Gallen, Switzerland
| | - Caroline Ingre
- Department of Neurology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Philippe Corcia
- Centre Constitutif SLA, CHRU de Tours - Fédération des centres SLA Tours-Limoges, LitORALS, Tours, France
| | - Mònica Povedano
- Functional Unit of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (UFELA), Service of Neurology, Bellvitge University Hospital, Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain
| | - Evy Reviers
- European Organization for Professionals and Patients with ALS (EUpALS), Leuven, Belgium
| | - Michael A. van Es
- Department of Neurology, UMC Utrecht Brain Centre, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Ammar Al-Chalabi
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute and United Kingdom Dementia Research Institute Centre, King’s College London, London, UK
- Department of Neurology, King’s College Hospital, London, UK
| | - Orla Hardiman
- Department of Neurology, National Neuroscience Centre, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Ireland, and
- FutureNeuro SFI Research Centre, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Leonard H. van den Berg
- Department of Neurology, UMC Utrecht Brain Centre, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
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27
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Wobst HJ, Mack KL, Brown DG, Brandon NJ, Shorter J. The clinical trial landscape in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis-Past, present, and future. Med Res Rev 2020; 40:1352-1384. [PMID: 32043626 PMCID: PMC7417284 DOI: 10.1002/med.21661] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2019] [Revised: 12/08/2019] [Accepted: 01/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease marked by progressive loss of muscle function. It is the most common adult-onset form of motor neuron disease, affecting about 16 000 people in the United States alone. The average survival is about 3 years. Only two interventional drugs, the antiglutamatergic small-molecule riluzole and the more recent antioxidant edaravone, have been approved for the treatment of ALS to date. Therapeutic strategies under investigation in clinical trials cover a range of different modalities and targets, and more than 70 different drugs have been tested in the clinic to date. Here, we summarize and classify interventional therapeutic strategies based on their molecular targets and phenotypic effects. We also discuss possible reasons for the failure of clinical trials in ALS and highlight emerging preclinical strategies that could provide a breakthrough in the battle against this relentless disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heike J Wobst
- Neuroscience, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Korrie L Mack
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Merck & Co, Inc, Kenilworth, New Jersey
| | - Dean G Brown
- Hit Discovery, Discovery Sciences, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Nicholas J Brandon
- Neuroscience, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - James Shorter
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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28
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Goyal NA, Berry JD, Windebank A, Staff NP, Maragakis NJ, van den Berg LH, Genge A, Miller R, Baloh RH, Kern R, Gothelf Y, Lebovits C, Cudkowicz M. Addressing heterogeneity in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis CLINICAL TRIALS. Muscle Nerve 2020; 62:156-166. [PMID: 31899540 PMCID: PMC7496557 DOI: 10.1002/mus.26801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2019] [Revised: 12/30/2019] [Accepted: 12/31/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a debilitating neurodegenerative disorder with complex biology and significant clinical heterogeneity. Many preclinical and early phase ALS clinical trials have yielded promising results that could not be replicated in larger phase 3 confirmatory trials. One reason for the lack of reproducibility may be ALS biological and clinical heterogeneity. Therefore, in this review, we explore sources of ALS heterogeneity that may reduce statistical power to evaluate efficacy in ALS trials. We also review efforts to manage clinical heterogeneity, including use of validated disease outcome measures, predictive biomarkers of disease progression, and individual clinical risk stratification. We propose that personalized prognostic models with use of predictive biomarkers may identify patients with ALS for whom a specific therapeutic strategy may be expected to be more successful. Finally, the rapid application of emerging clinical and biomarker strategies may reduce heterogeneity, increase trial efficiency, and, in turn, accelerate ALS drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - James D Berry
- Healey Center at Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
| | | | | | | | | | - Angela Genge
- Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Robert Miller
- California Pacific Medical Center, San Francisco, California
| | - Robert H Baloh
- Robert H. Baloh, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, California, Los Angeles
| | - Ralph Kern
- Brainstorm Cell Therapeutics, New York, New York
| | - Yael Gothelf
- Brainstorm Cell Therapeutics, New York, New York
| | | | - Merit Cudkowicz
- Healey Center at Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
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29
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Okano H, Yasuda D, Fujimori K, Morimoto S, Takahashi S. Ropinirole, a New ALS Drug Candidate Developed Using iPSCs. Trends Pharmacol Sci 2020; 41:99-109. [PMID: 31926602 DOI: 10.1016/j.tips.2019.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2019] [Revised: 11/28/2019] [Accepted: 12/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) are increasingly used in the study of disease mechanisms and the development of effective disease-modifying therapies for neurodegenerative diseases, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Recently, three candidate anti-ALS drugs - ropinirole (ROPI), retigabine, and bosutinib - have been identified in iPSC-based drug screens and are now being evaluated in clinical trials for safety and effectiveness. We review the preclinical data, clinical research design, and rationale for ROPI as an anti-ALS drug candidate compared with those of the other two drugs. We also discuss the use of iPSCs for understanding and monitoring treatment response as well as for new insights into the development of new drugs and therapeutic interventions for major neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hideyuki Okano
- Department of Physiology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
| | - Daisuke Yasuda
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, Keio University, 1-5-30 Shibakoen, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Koki Fujimori
- Department of Physiology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Satoru Morimoto
- Department of Physiology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shinichi Takahashi
- Department of Physiology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan; Department of Neurology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan; Department of Neurology and Stroke, Saitama Medical University International Medical Center, 1397-1 Yamane, Hidaka-shi, Saitama, Japan
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30
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Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is a devastating neurodegenerative disease with a median survival of 3 years from symptom onset. Accessible and reliable biomarkers of motor neuron decline are urgently needed to quicken the pace of drug discovery. Fasciculations represent an early pathophysiological hallmark of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and can be reliably detected by high-density surface electromyography. We set out to quantify fasciculation potentials prospectively over 14 months, seeking comparisons with established markers of disease progression. Twenty patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and five patients with benign fasciculation syndrome underwent up to seven assessments each. At each assessment, we performed the amyotrophic lateral sclerosis-functional rating scale, sum power score, slow vital capacity, 30-min high-density surface electromyography recordings from biceps and gastrocnemius and the motor unit number index. We employed the Surface Potential Quantification Engine, which is an automated analytical tool to detect and characterize fasciculations. Linear mixed-effect models were employed to account for the pseudoreplication of serial measurements. The amyotrophic lateral sclerosis-functional rating scale declined by 0.65 points per month (P < 0.0001), 35% slower than average. A total of 526 recordings were analysed. Compared with benign fasciculation syndrome, biceps fasciculation frequency in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis was 10 times greater in strong muscles and 40 times greater in weak muscles. This was coupled with a decline in fasciculation frequency among weak muscles of -7.6/min per month (P = 0.003), demonstrating the rise and fall of fasciculation frequency in biceps muscles. Gastrocnemius behaved differently, whereby strong muscles in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis had fasciculation frequencies five times greater than patients with benign fasciculation syndrome while weak muscles were increased by only 1.5 times. Gastrocnemius demonstrated a significant decline in fasciculation frequency in strong muscles (2.4/min per month, P < 0.0001), which levelled off in weak muscles. Fasciculation amplitude, an easily quantifiable surrogate of the reinnervation process, was highest in the biceps muscles that transitioned from strong to weak during the study. Pooled analysis of >900 000 fasciculations revealed inter-fasciculation intervals <100 ms in the biceps of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, particularly in strong muscles, consistent with the occurrence of doublets. We hereby present the most comprehensive longitudinal quantification of fasciculation parameters in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, proposing a unifying model of the interactions between motor unit loss, muscle power and fasciculation frequency. The latter showed promise as a disease biomarker with linear rates of decline in strong gastrocnemius and weak biceps muscles, reflecting the motor unit loss that drives clinical progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- James A Bashford
- UK Dementia Research Institute, Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, UK
- Correspondence to: James A. Bashford, MRCP, PhD UK Dementia Research Institute, Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, 5 Cutcombe Road, King’s College London, London SE5 9RT, UK E-mail:
| | - Aidan Wickham
- Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Raquel Iniesta
- Department of Biostatistics and Health Informatics, King’s College London, London, UK
| | | | | | - Kerry R Mills
- UK Dementia Research Institute, Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, UK
| | - Chris E Shaw
- UK Dementia Research Institute, Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, UK
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31
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Hawrot J, Imhof S, Wainger BJ. Modeling cell-autonomous motor neuron phenotypes in ALS using iPSCs. Neurobiol Dis 2019; 134:104680. [PMID: 31759135 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2019.104680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2019] [Revised: 10/29/2019] [Accepted: 11/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is an aggressive and uniformly fatal degenerative disease of the motor nervous system. In order to understand underlying disease mechanisms, researchers leverage a host of in vivo and in vitro models, including yeast, worms, flies, zebrafish, mice, and more recently, human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) derived from ALS patients. While mouse models have been the main workhorse of preclinical ALS research, the development of iPSCs provides a new opportunity to explore molecular phenotypes of ALS within human cells. Importantly, this technology enables modeling of both familial and sporadic ALS in the relevant human genetic backgrounds, as well as a personalized or targeted approach to therapy development. Harnessing these powerful tools requires addressing numerous challenges, including different variance components associated with iPSCs and motor neurons as well as concomitant limits of reductionist approaches. In order to overcome these obstacles, optimization of protocols and assays, confirmation of phenotype robustness at scale, and validation of findings in human tissue and genetics will cement the role for iPSC models as a valuable complement to animal models in ALS and more broadly among neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- James Hawrot
- Departments of Neurology and Anesthesia, Critical Care & Pain Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Sophie Imhof
- Departments of Neurology and Anesthesia, Critical Care & Pain Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA; University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Brian J Wainger
- Departments of Neurology and Anesthesia, Critical Care & Pain Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA; Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA; Broad Institute of Harvard University and MIT, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA.
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Peikert K, Naumann M, Günther R, Wegner F, Hermann A. Off-Label Treatment of 4 Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Patients With 4-Aminopyridine. J Clin Pharmacol 2019; 59:1400-1404. [PMID: 31038230 DOI: 10.1002/jcph.1437] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2019] [Accepted: 04/11/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal disorder characterized by degeneration of the upper and lower motor neuron. Among the at least 25 known genes associated with familial (hereditary) and sporadic ALS, mutations in fused-in-sarcoma (FUS) and superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) have been extensively investigated in the past years, with emphasis on altered excitability of affected neurons. Recently, we reported on hypoexcitability and increased cell death in a FUS/SOD1-ALS-induced pluripotent stem cell-derived motor neuron model, which was partly reversible by a treatment with the potassium channel blocker 4-aminopyridine (4-AP). Based on this study, we aimed to examine this US Food and Drug Administration-approved drug as a potential individualized treatment for patients with ALS. We therefore retrospectively investigated 4 FUS/SOD1-ALS patients who were prescribed 4-AP. Two patients expressed an improved quality of life due to regain of facial muscle motor function and decreased disease progression rate, respectively. Together with recent pathophysiologic findings, this case series supports the need for clinical trials to examine the efficacy of this potential treatment in distinct ALS subgroups and disease stages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin Peikert
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Marcel Naumann
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany.,DZNE, German Centre for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Research Site Dresden, Dresden, Germany.,Translational Neurodegeneration Section Albrecht Kossel, Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Rostock, University of Rostock, Rostock, Germany
| | - René Günther
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany.,DZNE, German Centre for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Research Site Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Florian Wegner
- Department of Neurology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Andreas Hermann
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany.,DZNE, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Research Site Rostock/Greifswald, Rostock, Germany.,Translational Neurodegeneration Section Albrecht Kossel, Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Rostock, University of Rostock, Rostock, Germany.,Center for Transdisciplinary Neurosciences Rostock (CTNR), University Medical Center Rostock, University of Rostock, Rostock, Germany
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