Differential Vulnerability of Oculomotor Versus Hypoglossal Nucleus During ALS: Involvement of PACAP.

ABSTRACT: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive multifactorial disease characterized by the loss of motor neurons (MNs). Not all MNs undergo degeneration: neurons of the oculomotor nucleus, which regulate eye movements, are less vulnerable compared to hypoglossal nucleus MNs. Several molecular studies have been performed to understand the different vulnerability of these MNs. By analyzing postmortem samples from ALS patients to other unrelated decedents, the differential genomic pattern between the two nuclei has been profiled. Among identified genes, adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide 1 (ADCYAP1) gene, encoding for pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP), was found significantly up-regulated in the oculomotor versus hypoglossal nucleus suggesting that it coul

SUBMITTER: Maugeri G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7432287 | biostudies-literature | 2020

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature