Role of EphA4 in Mediating Motor Neuron Death in MND.
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ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Zhao J
PROVIDER: S-EPMC8430883 | biostudies-literature |
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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Project description:Dysphagia in motor neuron diseases (MNDs) is highly complex, affecting all stages of swallowing and leading to impaired swallowing safety and efficiency. In order to explore the degree to which research is capturing the symptom of dysphagia in MND, we conducted a scoping review of the existing literature. The primary aims of this review were to identify common themes within the literature on dysphagia in MND, explore patterns and trends in research focus, and identify if any imbalances exist between the research themes related to dysphagia description and management. A comprehensive search strategy yielded 1690 unique articles for review. Following relevance screening, a total of 157 articles were included in the synthesis. Relevant data and keywords were extracted from each article and grouped into themes. Frequency estimates were calculated for each theme to identify trends across research literature. Swallowing impairment in MNDs is described in a variety of ways across current research. The most commonly reported theme was Aspiration/Penetration, mentioned in 73.2% of all included articles; a significant imbalance was identified between reports of swallowing safety and efficiency (p = 0.008). The most frequently reported theme related to dysphagia management was Enteral Nutrition, and very few studies have reported on the efficacy of Rehabilitation/Compensatory recommendations. It is suggested that researchers and clinicians remain mindful of imbalances and gaps in research, and aim to characterize dysphagia in MNDs in a comprehensive manner. Further research investigating discrete, measureable changes in swallowing pathophysiology would be beneficial to delineate the key factors contributing to impaired swallowing safety and efficiency.
| S-EPMC5724560 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundMND-SMART is a platform, multi-arm, multi-stage, multi-centre, randomised controlled trial recruiting people with motor neuron disease. Initially, the treatments memantine and trazodone will each be compared against placebo, but other investigational treatments will be introduced into the trial later. The co-primary outcomes are the Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Functional Rating Scale Revised (ALS-FRS-R) functional outcome, which is assessed longitudinally, and overall survival.MethodsInitially in MND-SMART, participants are randomised 1:1:1 via a minimisation algorithm to receive placebo or one of the two investigational treatments with up to 531 to be randomised in total. The comparisons between each research arm and placebo will be conducted in four stages, with the opportunity to cease further randomisations to poorly performing research arms at the end of stages 1 or 2. The final ALS-FRS-R analysis will be at the end of stage 3 and final survival analysis at the end of stage 4. The estimands for the co-primary outcomes are described in detail. The primary analysis of ALS-FRS-R at the end of stages 1 to 3 will involve fitting a normal linear mixed model to the data to calculate a mean difference in rate of ALS-FRS-R change between each research treatment and placebo. The pairwise type 1 error rate will be controlled, because each treatment comparison will generate its own distinct and separate interpretation. This publication is based on a formal statistical analysis plan document that was finalised and signed on 18 May 2022.DiscussionIn developing the statistical analysis plan, we had to carefully consider several issues such as multiple testing, estimand specification, interim analyses, and statistical analysis of the repeated measurements of ALS-FRS-R. This analysis plan attempts to balance multiple factors, including minimisation of bias, maximising power and precision, and deriving clinically interpretable summaries of treatment effects.Trial registrationEudraCT Number, 2019-000099-41. Registered 2 October 2019, https://www.clinicaltrialsregister.eu/ctr-search/search?query=mnd-smart ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04302870 . Registered 10 March 2020.
| S-EPMC9843918 | biostudies-literature
Project description:The Nogo-66 receptor (NgR) plays a critical role in restricting axon regeneration in the central nervous system. This inhibitory action is in part mediated by a neuronal receptor complex containing p75NTR, a multifunctional receptor also well known to trigger cell death upon binding to neurotrophins such as NGF. In the present study, we show that Pep4 and NEP1-40, which are two peptides derived from the Nogo-66 sequence that modulate NgR-mediated neurite outgrowth inhibition, prevent NGF-stimulated p75NTR-dependent death of cultured embryonic motor neurons. They also confer protection on spinal cord motor neurons after neonatal sciatic nerve axotomy. These findings demonstrate an as-yet-unknown function of NgR in maintaining neuronal survival that may be relevant for motor neuron development and degeneration.
| S-EPMC2206606 | biostudies-literature
Project description:IntroductionMotor neuron disease (MND) is a rapidly progressive and fatal neurodegenerative disorder with limited treatment options. The Motor Neuron Disease Systematic Multi-Arm Randomised Adaptive Trial (MND-SMART) is a multisite UK trial seeking to address the paucity in effective disease-modifying drugs for people with MND (pwMND). Historically, neurological trials have been plagued by suboptimal recruitment and high rates of attrition. Failure to recruit and/or retain participants can cause insufficiently representative samples, terminated trials or invalid conclusions. This study investigates patient-specific factors affecting recruitment and retention of pwMND to MND-SMART. Improved understanding of these factors may improve trial protocol design, optimise recruitment and retention.Methods and analysisPwMND on the Scottish MND Register, Clinical Audit Research and Evaluation of MND (CARE-MND), will be invited to participate in a prospective observational cohort study that investigates factors affecting trial participation and attrition. We hypothesise that patient-specific factors will significantly affect trial recruitment and retention. Participants will complete the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, 9-Item Patient Health Questionnaire and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-Form Y to evaluate neuropsychiatric symptoms, the ALS-Specific Quality of Life Questionnaire-Brief Form and Centre for Disease Control and Prevention-Health-Related Quality of Life for quality of life and a novel study-specific questionnaire on Attitudes towards Clinical Trial Participation (ACT-Q). Clinical data on phenotype, cognition (Edinburgh Cognitive and Behavioural ALS Screen) and physical functioning (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Functional Rating Scale-Revised) will also be collated. Caregivers will complete the Brief Dimensional Apathy Scale. After 12 months, a data request to MND-SMART will evaluate recruitment and retention. Descriptive statistics will summarise and compare assessments and participants reaching impairment thresholds. Variable groupings: attitudes, quality of life, cognition, behaviour, physical functioning, neuropsychiatric and phenotype. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression will explore association with participation/withdrawal in MND-SMART; presented as ORs and 95% CIs.Ethics and disseminationEthical approval was provided by the West of Scotland Research Ethics Committee 3 (20/WS/0067) on 12 May 2020. The results of this study will be published in a peer-reviewed journal, presented at academic conferences and disseminated to participants and the public.
| S-EPMC7993162 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a degenerative disease that progressively destroys motor neurons (MNs). Earlier studies identified EphA4, a receptor tyrosine kinase, as a possible disease-modifying gene. The complex interplay between the EphA4 receptor and its ephrin ligands in motor neurons and astrocytes has not yet been fully elucidated and includes a putative pro-apoptotic activity of the unbound receptor compared to ephrin-bound receptor. We recently reported that astrocytes from patients with ALS induce cell death in co-cultured MNs. Here we found that first-generation synthetic EphA4 agonistic agent 123C4, effectively protected MNs when co-cultured with reactive astrocytes from patients with ALS from multiple subgroups (sALS and mutant SOD1). Newer generation and more potent EphA4 agonistic agents 150D4, 150E8, and 150E7 provided effective protection at a lower therapeutic dose. Combined, the data suggest that the development of EphA4 agonistic agents provides potentially a promising therapeutic strategy for patients with ALS.
| S-EPMC9404653 | biostudies-literature
Project description:IntroductionMotor neuron disease (MND) is a rapidly fatal neurodegenerative disease. Despite decades of research and clinical trials there remains no cure and only one globally approved drug, riluzole, which prolongs survival by 2-3 months. Recent improved mechanistic understanding of MND heralds a new translational era with many potential targets being identified that are ripe for clinical trials. Motor Neuron Disease Systematic Multi-Arm Adaptive Randomised Trial (MND-SMART) aims to evaluate the efficacy of drugs efficiently and definitively in a multi-arm, multi-stage, adaptive trial. The first two drugs selected for evaluation in MND-SMART are trazodone and memantine.Methods and analysisInitially, up to 531 participants (177/arm) will be randomised 1:1:1 to oral liquid trazodone, memantine and placebo. The coprimary outcome measures are the Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Functional Rating Scale Revised (ALSFRS-R) and survival. Comparisons will be conducted in four stages. The decision to continue randomising to arms after each stage will be made by the Trial Steering Committee who receive recommendations from the Independent Data Monitoring Committee. The primary analysis of ALSFRS-R will be conducted when 150 participants/arm, excluding long survivors, have completed 18 months of treatment; if positive the survival effect will be inferentially analysed when 113 deaths have been observed in the placebo group. The trial design ensures that other promising drugs can be added for evaluation in planned trial adaptations. Using this novel trial design reduces time, cost and number of participants required to definitively (phase III) evaluate drugs and reduces exposure of participants to potentially ineffective treatments.Ethics and disseminationMND-SMART was approved by the West of Scotland Research Ethics Committee on 2 October 2019. (REC reference: 19/WS/0123) Results of the study will be submitted for publication in a peer-reviewed journal and a summary provided to participants.Trial registration numbersEuropean Clinical Trials Registry (2019-000099-41); NCT04302870.
| S-EPMC9263927 | biostudies-literature
Project description:The multifunctional Survival Motor Neuron (SMN) protein is required for the survival of all organisms of the animal kingdom. SMN impacts various aspects of RNA metabolism through the formation and/or interaction with ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complexes. SMN regulates biogenesis of small nuclear RNPs, small nucleolar RNPs, small Cajal body-associated RNPs, signal recognition particles and telomerase. SMN also plays an important role in DNA repair, transcription, pre-mRNA splicing, histone mRNA processing, translation, selenoprotein synthesis, macromolecular trafficking, stress granule formation, cell signaling and cytoskeleton maintenance. The tissue-specific requirement of SMN is dictated by the variety and the abundance of its interacting partners. Reduced expression of SMN causes spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), a leading genetic cause of infant mortality. SMA displays a broad spectrum ranging from embryonic lethality to an adult onset. Aberrant expression and/or localization of SMN has also been associated with male infertility, inclusion body myositis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and osteoarthritis. This review provides a summary of various SMN functions with implications to a better understanding of SMA and other pathological conditions.
| S-EPMC5325804 | biostudies-literature
Project description:ObjectiveThere is an immense socioeconomic burden for both the patients with motor neuron disease (MND) and their families. The aim of this study is to evaluate the extent to which the provision offered by the Motor Neurone Disease Association is distributed among patients with MND living in the ethnically and socially diverse area of Greater London, according to the patients' socioeconomic situation and needs.SettingGreater London, where age and sex-adjusted prevalence rates of MND in 2016 were calculated.ParticipantsPrevalent MND cases in Greater London, using anonymised data extracted from the Association's database.ExposureDemographic and socioeconomic characteristics PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: Receiving a Motor Neurone Disease Association grant, and the amount of money received.Results396 individuals with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis were detected, the age-specific and sex-specific prevalence of MND was 4.02 per 100 000 inhabitants, higher among men (5.13 per 100 000) than women (3.01 per 100 000). Men were statistically significantly 40% less likely to receive a grant compared with women; among grant recipients, the younger the age of the participant, the higher the size of the grant received. The Index of Multiple Deprivation was not associated with either receiving a grant nor the amount of money received, among recipients.ConclusionFinancial support by the Motor Neurone Disease Association is provided across individuals and across boroughs regardless of their socioeconomic circumstances. Differences that benefits women and younger patients were detected.
| S-EPMC6377508 | biostudies-literature
Project description:It is well established that motor neurons depend for their survival on many trophic factors. In this study, we show that the precursor form of NGF (pro-NGF) can induce the death of motor neurons via engagement of the p75 neurotrophin receptor. The pro-apoptotic activity was dependent upon the presence of sortilin, a p75 co-receptor expressed on motor neurons. One potential source of pro-NGF is reactive astrocytes, which up-regulate the levels of pro-NGF in response to peroxynitrite, an oxidant and producer of free radicals. Indeed, motor neuron viability was sensitive to conditioned media from cultured astrocytes treated with peroxynitrite and this effect could be reversed using a specific antibody against the pro-domain of pro-NGF. These results are consistent with a role for activated astrocytes and pro-NGF in the induction of motor neuron death and suggest a possible therapeutic target for the treatment of motor neuron disease.
| S-EPMC2570110 | biostudies-literature
Project description:DNA methylation is an epigenetic mechanism for gene silencing engaged by DNA methyltransferase (Dnmt)-catalyzed methyl group transfer to cytosine residues in gene-regulatory regions. It is unknown whether aberrant DNA methylation can cause neurodegeneration. We tested the hypothesis that Dnmts can mediate neuronal cell death. Enforced expression of Dnmt3a induced degeneration of cultured NSC34 cells. During apoptosis of NSC34 cells induced by camptothecin, levels of Dnmt1 and Dnmt3a increased fivefold and twofold, respectively, and 5-methylcytosine accumulated in nuclei. Truncation mutation of the Dnmt3a catalytic domain and Dnmt3a RNAi blocked apoptosis of cultured neurons. Inhibition of Dnmt catalytic activity with RG108 and procainamide protected cultured neurons from excessive DNA methylation and apoptosis. In vivo, Dnmt1 and Dnmt3a are expressed differentially during mouse brain and spinal cord maturation and in adulthood when Dnmt3a is abundant in synapses and mitochondria. Dnmt1 and Dnmt3a are expressed in motor neurons of adult mouse spinal cord, and, during their apoptosis induced by sciatic nerve avulsion, nuclear and cytoplasmic 5-methylcytosine immunoreactivity, Dnmt3a protein levels and Dnmt enzyme activity increased preapoptotically. Inhibition of Dnmts with RG108 blocked completely the increase in 5-methycytosine and the apoptosis of motor neurons in mice. In human amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), motor neurons showed changes in Dnmt1, Dnmt3a, and 5-methylcytosine similar to experimental models. Thus, motor neurons can engage epigenetic mechanisms to drive apoptosis, involving Dnmt upregulation and increased DNA methylation. These cellular mechanisms could be relevant to human ALS pathobiology and disease treatment.
| S-EPMC3238138 | biostudies-literature