| 1. |
- Prudencio, Mercedes, et al.
(författare)
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Toward allele-specific targeting therapy and pharmacodynamic marker for spinocerebellar ataxia type 3
- 2020
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Ingår i: Science Translational Medicine. - : American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). - 1946-6242 .- 1946-6234. ; 12:566
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (SCA3), caused by a CAG repeat expansion in the ataxin-3 gene (ATXN3), is characterized by neuronal polyglutamine (polyQ) ATXN3 protein aggregates. Although there is no cure for SCA3, gene-silencing approaches to reduce toxic polyQ ATXN3 showed promise in preclinical models. However, a major limitation in translating putative treatments for this rare disease to the clinic is the lack of pharmacodynamic markers for use in clinical trials. Here, we developed an immunoassay that readily detects polyQ ATXN3 proteins in human biological fluids and discriminates patients with SCA3 from healthy controls and individuals with other ataxias. We show that polyQ ATXN3 serves as a marker of target engagement in human fibroblasts, which may bode well for its use in clinical trials. Last, we identified a single-nucleotide polymorphism that strongly associates with the expanded allele, thus providing an exciting drug target to abrogate detrimental events initiated by mutant ATXN3. Gene-silencing strategies for several repeat diseases are well under way, and our results are expected to improve clinical trial preparedness for SCA3 therapies.
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| 2. |
- Puschmann, Andreas, et al.
(författare)
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A family with parkinsonism, essential tremor, restless legs syndrome, and depression
- 2011
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Ingår i: Neurology. - 1526-632X. ; 76:19, s. 1623-1630
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Previous epidemiologic and genetic studies have suggested a link between Parkinson disease (PD), essential tremor (ET), and restless legs syndrome (RLS). Methods: We describe the clinical, PET, and pathologic characteristics of an extensive kindred from Arkansas with hereditary PD, ET, and RLS. The pedigree contains 138 individuals. Sixty-five family members were examined neurologically up to 3 times from 2004 to 2010. Clinical data were collected from medical records and questionnaires. Genetic studies were performed. Five family members underwent multitracer PET. Two individuals with PD were examined postmortem. Results: Eleven family members had PD with generally mild and slowly progressive symptoms. Age at onset was between 39 and 74 years (mean 59.1, SD 13.4). All individuals treated with L-dopa responded positively. Postural or action tremor was present in 6 individuals with PD, and in 19 additional family members. Fifteen persons reported symptoms of RLS. PET showed reduced presynaptic dopamine function typical of sporadic PD in a patient with PD and ET, but not in persons with ET or RLS. The inheritance pattern was autosomal dominant for PD and RLS. No known pathogenic mutation in PD-related genes was found. Fourteen of the family members with PD, ET, or RLS had depression. Neuropathologic examination revealed pallidonigral pigment spheroid degeneration with ubiquitin-positive axonal spheroids, TDP43-positive pathology in the basal ganglia, hippocampus, and brainstem, and only sparse Lewy bodies. Conclusion: Familial forms of PD, ET, RLS, and depression occur in this family. The genetic cause remains to be elucidated. Neurology (R) 2011; 76: 1623-1630
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| 3. |
- Puschmann, Andreas, et al.
(författare)
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Olfactory Dysfunction.
- 2013
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Ingår i: Parkinson's Disease and Nonmotor Dysfunction. - 9781607614296 - 9781607614289 ; , s. 335-348
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Bokkapitel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Olfactory dysfunction is well documented as an early nonmotor manifestation of Parkinson’s disease (PD). This chapter outlines the anatomy and physiology of the olfactory system and summarizes the pathological changes in the olfactory system in PD. We review the occurrence of olfactory dysfunction in parkinsonian syndromes and familial parkinsonism. Different methods to assess olfactory function are presented. Their usefulness in routine clinical situations is limited to special diagnostic situations. However, these methods have provided important insights into the pathophysiology of parkinsonism and can help to identify at-risk groups for future neuroprotective trials. Several lines of evidence now suggest that olfactory disturbance reflects Lewy pathology more closely than it reflects striatonigral dopamine deficiency.
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| 4. |
- Theuns, J., et al.
(författare)
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Global investigation and meta-analysis of the C9orf72 (G4C2)n repeat in Parkinson disease
- 2014
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Ingår i: Neurology. - : Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health). - 1526-632X .- 0028-3878. ; 83:21, s. 13-1906
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study is to clarify the role of (G4C2)n expansions in the etiology of Parkinson disease (PD) in the worldwide multicenter Genetic Epidemiology of Parkinson's Disease (GEO-PD) cohort. METHODS: C9orf72 (G4C2)n repeats were assessed in a GEO-PD cohort of 7,494 patients diagnosed with PD and 5,886 neurologically healthy control individuals ascertained in Europe, Asia, North America, and Australia. RESULTS: A pathogenic (G4C2)n>60 expansion was detected in only 4 patients with PD (4/7,232; 0.055%), all with a positive family history of neurodegenerative dementia, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or atypical parkinsonism, while no carriers were detected with typical sporadic or familial PD. Meta-analysis revealed a small increase in risk of PD with an increasing number of (G4C2)n repeats; however, we could not detect a robust association between the C9orf72 (G4C2)n repeat and PD, and the population attributable risk was low. CONCLUSIONS: Together, these findings indicate that expansions in C9orf72 do not have a major role in the pathogenesis of PD. Testing for C9orf72 repeat expansions should only be considered in patients with PD who have overt symptoms of frontotemporal lobar degeneration/amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or apparent family history of neurodegenerative dementia or motor neuron disease.
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