Project description:This SuperSeries is composed of the following subset Series: GSE39642: NanoString nCounter immune-related gene expression in blood sorted CD14+CD16- monocytes from sALS, fALS and HC subjects GSE39643: NanoString miRNA profiling of peripheral blood sorted CD14+CD16- monocytes from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, multiple sclerosis and healthy control subjects Refer to individual Series
Project description:Identification of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) associated genes. Post mortem spinal cord grey matter from sporadic and familial ALS patients compared with controls. Keywords: other
Project description:ObjectiveTo evaluate the combined blood expression of neuromuscular and inflammatory biomarkers as predictors of disease progression and prognosis in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).MethodsLogistic regression adjusted for markers of the systemic inflammatory state and principal component analysis were carried out on plasma levels of creatine kinase (CK), ferritin, and 11 cytokines measured in 95 patients with ALS and 88 healthy controls. Levels of circulating biomarkers were used to study survival by Cox regression analysis and correlated with disease progression and neurofilament light chain (NfL) levels available from a previous study. Cytokines expression was also tested in blood samples longitudinally collected for up to 4 years from 59 patients with ALS.ResultsSignificantly higher levels of CK, ferritin, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-2, IL-8, IL-12p70, IL-4, IL-5, IL-10, and IL-13 and lower levels of interferon (IFN)-γ were found in plasma samples from patients with ALS compared to controls. IL-6, TNF-α, and IFN-γ were the most highly regulated markers when all explanatory variables were jointly analyzed. High ferritin and IL-2 levels were predictors of poor survival. IL-5 levels were positively correlated with CK, as was TNF-α with NfL. IL-6 was strongly associated with CRP levels and was the only marker showing increasing expression towards end-stage disease in the longitudinal analysis.ConclusionsNeuromuscular pathology in ALS involves the systemic regulation of inflammatory markers mostly active on T-cell immune responses. Disease stratification based on the prognostic value of circulating inflammatory markers could improve clinical trials design in ALS.
Project description:IntroductionAmyotrophic lateral sclerosis is a rare progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects the brain and spinal cord nerve cells. The study highlights the role of early diagnosis and prognosis of bulbar onset ALS.Case presentationWe present a case of 60 years old female who presented with slurring of speech with a deviation of tongue and progressive dysphagia. With the role of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Electromyography (EMG) and Nerve Conduction Study (NCS), a diagnosis of ALS was made.Clinical discussionALS is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder, and the presence of genioglossus muscle involvement at diagnosis implies a shorter survival. It mandates multidisciplinary aspects requiring a professional opinion from neurologists, speech therapists, otolaryngologists, and electrophysiologists for effective treatment. Edaravone has antioxidant properties which counteract oxidative stress leading to neuronal injury in patients with ALS.ConclusionALS with bulbar onset can have a grave prognosis and hence requires a multidisciplinary approach toward effective treatment.
Project description:ObjectiveWhile the hallmark of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is corticospinal tract in combination with lower motor neuron degeneration, the clinical involvement of both compartments is characteristically variable and the site of onset debated. We sought to establish whether there is a consistent signature of cerebral white matter abnormalities in heterogeneous ALS cases.MethodsIn this observational study, diffusion tensor imaging was applied in a whole-brain analysis of 24 heterogeneous patients with ALS and well-matched healthy controls. Tract-based spatial statistics were used, with optimized voxel-based morphometry of T1 images to determine any associated gray matter involvement.ResultsA consistent reduction in fractional anisotropy was demonstrated in the corpus callosum of the ALS group, extending rostrally and bilaterally to the region of the primary motor cortices, independent of the degree of clinical upper motor neuron involvement. Matched regional radial diffusivity increase supported the concept of anterograde degeneration of callosal fibers observed pathologically. Gray matter reductions were observed bilaterally in primary motor and supplementary motor regions, and also in the anterior cingulate and temporal lobe regions. A post hoc group comparison model incorporating significant values for fractional anisotropy, radial diffusivity, and gray matter was 92% sensitive, 88% specific, with an accuracy of 90%.ConclusionCallosal involvement is a consistent feature of ALS, independent of clinical upper motor neuron involvement, and may reflect independent bilateral cortical involvement or interhemispheric spread of pathology. The predominantly rostral corticospinal tract involvement further supports the concept of independent cortical degeneration even in those patients with ALS with predominantly lower motor neuron involvement clinically.
Project description:Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease that causes degeneration of the lower and upper motor neurons and is the most prevalent motor neuron disease. This disease is characterized by muscle weakness, stiffness, and hyperreflexia. Patients survive for a short period from the onset of the disease. Most cases are sporadic, with only 10% of the cases being genetic. Many genes are now known to be involved in familial ALS cases, including some of the sporadic cases. It has also been observed that, in addition to genetic factors, there are numerous molecular mechanisms involved in these pathologies, such as excitotoxicity, mitochondrial disorders, alterations in axonal transport, oxidative stress, accumulation of misfolded proteins, and neuroinflammation. This pathology affects the motor neurons, the spinal cord, the cerebellum, and the brain, but recently, it has been shown that it also affects the visual system. This impact occurs not only at the level of the oculomotor system but also at the retinal level, which is why the retina is being proposed as a possible biomarker of this pathology. The current review discusses the main aspects mentioned above related to ALS, such as the main genes involved, the most important molecular mechanisms that affect this pathology, its ocular involvement, and the possible usefulness of the retina as a biomarker.
Project description:BackgroundHypothalamic dysregulation plays an established role in eating abnormalities in behavioural variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Its contribution to cognitive and behavioural impairments, however, remains unexplored.MethodsCorrelation between hypothalamic subregion atrophy and cognitive and behavioural impairments was examined in a large sample of 211 participants (52 pure ALS, 42 mixed ALS-FTD, 59 bvFTD, and 58 age- and education- matched healthy controls).ResultsGraded variation in hypothalamic involvement but relative sparing of the inferior tuberal region was evident across all patient groups. Bilateral anterior inferior, anterior superior, and posterior hypothalamic subregions were selectively implicated in memory, fluency and processing speed impairments in addition to apathy and abnormal eating habits, taking into account disease duration, age, sex, total intracranial volume, and acquisition parameters (all p ≤ .001).ConclusionsThese findings revealed that subdivisions of the hypothalamus are differentially affected in the ALS-FTD spectrum and contribute to canonical cognitive and behavioural disturbances beyond eating abnormalities. The anterior superior and superior tuberal subregions containing the paraventricular nucleus (housing oxytocin-producing neurons) displayed the greatest volume loss in bvFTD and ALS-FTD, and ALS, respectively. Importantly, the inferior tuberal subregion housing the arcuate nucleus (containing different groups of neuroendocrine neurons) was selectively preserved across the ALS-FTD spectrum, supporting pathophysiological findings of discrete neuropeptide expression abnormalities that may underlie the pathogenesis of autonomic and metabolic abnormalities and potentially certain cognitive and behavioural symptom manifestations, representing avenues for more refined symptomatic treatment targets.
Project description:ObjectiveTo understand the progressive nature of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) by investigating differential brain patterns of gray and white matter involvement in clinically or genetically defined subgroups of patients using cross-sectional, longitudinal, and multimodal MRI.MethodsWe assessed cortical thickness, subcortical volumes, and white matter connectivity from T1-weighted and diffusion-weighted MRI in 292 patients with ALS (follow-up: n = 150) and 156 controls (follow-up: n = 72). Linear mixed-effects models were used to assess changes in structural brain measurements over time in patients compared to controls.ResultsPatients with a C9orf72 mutation (n = 24) showed widespread gray and white matter involvement at baseline, and extensive loss of white matter integrity in the connectome over time. In C9orf72-negative patients, we detected cortical thinning of motor and frontotemporal regions, and loss of white matter integrity of connections linked to the motor cortex. Patients with spinal onset displayed widespread white matter involvement at baseline and gray matter atrophy over time, whereas patients with bulbar onset started out with prominent gray matter involvement. Patients with unaffected cognition or behavior displayed predominantly motor system involvement, while widespread cerebral changes, including frontotemporal regions with progressive white matter involvement over time, were associated with impaired behavior or cognition. Progressive loss of gray and white matter integrity typically occurred in patients with shorter disease durations (<13 months), independent of progression rate.ConclusionsHeterogeneity of phenotype and C9orf72 genotype relates to distinct patterns of cerebral degeneration. We demonstrate that imaging studies have the potential to monitor disease progression and early intervention may be required to limit cerebral degeneration.
Project description:Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is a fatal CNS neurodegenerative disease. Despite intensive research, current management of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis remains suboptimal from diagnosis to prognosis. Recognition of the phenotypic heterogeneity of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, global CNS dysfunction, genetic architecture, and development of novel diagnostic criteria is clarifying the spectrum of clinical presentation and facilitating diagnosis. Insights into the pathophysiology of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, identification of disease biomarkers and modifiable risks, along with new predictive models, scales, and scoring systems, and a clinical trial pipeline of mechanism-based therapies, are changing the prognostic landscape. Although most recent advances have yet to translate into patient benefit, the idea of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis as a complex syndrome is already having tangible effects in the clinic. This Seminar will outline these insights and discuss the status of the management of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis for the general neurologist, along with future prospects that could improve care and outcomes for patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.