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Institute
- Neurologische Klinik und Poliklinik (531) (remove)
Schriftenreihe
Sonstige beteiligte Institutionen
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- Institut für Musikphysiologie und Musiker-Medizin der Hochschule für Musik, Theater und Medien, Hannover (1)
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"Eignet sich die kritische Flimmerfrequenz zur Diagnose einer minimal hepatischen Enzephalopathie?"
(2024)
Korrelation und Kontingenzprüfung von Kritischer Flimmerfrequenz als diagnostischem Mittel bei minimal hepatischer Enzephalopathie mit anderen etablierten diagnostischen Mitteln und beschreibenden Parametern.
In den Ergebnissen lediglich Korrelation mit Alertness Testung in der Testbatterie.
Minimal hepatische Enzephalopathie braucht zur Diagnostik mindestens 2 verschiedene ergänzende diagnostische Verfahren (neuropsychologisch und -physiologisch), um sicher entdeckt werden zu können. Bei nur einem Testverfahren blieben zahlreiche Betroffene unentdeckt. Möglicherweise ist das verschiedenen pathophysiologischen Subgruppen geschuldet.
Glycine receptor β–targeting autoantibodies contribute to the pathology of autoimmune diseases
(2024)
Background and Objectives
Stiff-person syndrome (SPS) and progressive encephalomyelitis with rigidity and myoclonus (PERM) are rare neurologic disorders of the CNS. Until now, exclusive GlyRα subunit–binding autoantibodies with subsequent changes in function and surface numbers were reported. GlyR autoantibodies have also been described in patients with focal epilepsy. Autoimmune reactivity against the GlyRβ subunits has not yet been shown. Autoantibodies against GlyRα1 target the large extracellular N-terminal domain. This domain shares a high degree of sequence homology with GlyRβ making it not unlikely that GlyRβ-specific autoantibody (aAb) exist and contribute to the disease pathology.
Methods
In this study, we investigated serum samples from 58 patients for aAb specifically detecting GlyRβ. Studies in microarray format, cell-based assays, and primary spinal cord neurons and spinal cord tissue immunohistochemistry were performed to determine specific GlyRβ binding and define aAb binding to distinct protein regions. Preadsorption approaches of aAbs using living cells and the purified extracellular receptor domain were further used. Finally, functional consequences for inhibitory neurotransmission upon GlyRβ aAb binding were resolved by whole-cell patch-clamp recordings.
Results
Among 58 samples investigated, cell-based assays, tissue analysis, and preadsorption approaches revealed 2 patients with high specificity for GlyRβ aAb. Quantitative protein cluster analysis demonstrated aAb binding to synaptic GlyRβ colocalized with the scaffold protein gephyrin independent of the presence of GlyRα1. At the functional level, binding of GlyRβ aAb from both patients to its target impair glycine efficacy.
Discussion
Our study establishes GlyRβ as novel target of aAb in patients with SPS/PERM. In contrast to exclusively GlyRα1-positive sera, which alter glycine potency, aAbs against GlyRβ impair receptor efficacy for the neurotransmitter glycine. Imaging and functional analyses showed that GlyRβ aAbs antagonize inhibitory neurotransmission by affecting receptor function rather than localization.
Highlights
• The GLA variant S126G is not associated with Fabry symptoms in the presented case
• S126G has no effect on α-GAL A activity or Gb3 levels in this patient
• S126G sensory neurons show no electrophysiological abnormalities
Abstract
Fabry disease (FD) is a life-limiting disorder characterized by intracellular globotriaosylceramide (Gb3) accumulations. The underlying α-galactosidase A (α-GAL A) deficiency is caused by variants in the gene GLA. Variants of unknown significance (VUS) are frequently found in GLA and challenge clinical management. Here, we investigated a 49-year old man with cryptogenic lacunar cerebral stroke and the chance finding of the VUS S126G, who was sent to our center for diagnosis and initiation of a costly and life-long FD-specific treatment. We combined clinical examination with in vitro investigations of dermal fibroblasts (HDF), induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC), and iPSC-derived sensory neurons. We analyzed α-GAL A activity in iPSC, Gb3 accumulation in all three cell types, and action potential firing in sensory neurons. Neurological examination and small nerve fiber assessment was normal except for reduced distal skin innervation. S126G iPSC showed normal α-GAL A activity compared to controls and no Gb3 deposits were found in all three cell types. Baseline electrophysiological characteristics of S126G neurons showed no difference compared to healthy controls as investigated by patch-clamp recordings. We pioneer multi-level cellular characterization of the VUS S126G using three cell types derived from a patient and provide further evidence for the benign nature of S126G in GLA, which is of great importance in the management of such cases in clinical practice.
Introduction:
Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) and small fiber neuropathy (SFN) are distinct pain conditions that share commonalities and may be challenging as for differential diagnosis.
Objective:
To comprehensively investigate clinical characteristics of women with FMS and SFN to determine clinically applicable parameters for differentiation.
Methods:
We retrospectively analyzed medical records of 158 women with FMS and 53 with SFN focusing on pain-specific medical and family history, accompanying symptoms, additional diseases, and treatment. We investigated data obtained using standardized pain, depression, and anxiety questionnaires. We further analyzed test results and findings obtained in standardized small fiber tests.
Results:
FMS patients were on average ten years younger at symptom onset, described higher pain intensities requiring frequent change of pharmaceutics, and reported generalized pain compared to SFN. Pain in FMS was accompanied by irritable bowel or sleep disturbances, and in SFN by paresthesias, numbness, and impaired glucose metabolism (P < 0.01 each). Family history was informative for chronic pain and affective disorders in FMS (P < 0.001) and for neurological disorders in SFN patients (P < 0.001). Small fiber pathology in terms of skin denervation and/or thermal sensory threshold elevation was present in 110/158 (69.7 %) FMS patients and 39/53 (73.6 %) SFN patients. FMS patients mainly showed proximally reduced skin innervation and higher corneal nerve branch densities (p<0.001) whereas SFN patients were characterized by reduced cold detection and prolonged electrical A-delta conduction latencies (P < 0.05).
Conclusions:
Our data show that FMS and SFN differ substantially. Detailed pain, drug and family history, investigating blood glucose metabolism, and applying differential small fiber tests may help to improve diagnostic differentiation and targeted therapy.
Background
Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) develops after injury and is characterized by disproportionate pain, oedema, and functional loss. CRPS has clinical signs of neuropathy as well as neurogenic inflammation. Here, we asked whether skin biopsies could be used to differentiate the contribution of these two systems to ultimately guide therapy. To this end, the cutaneous sensory system including nerve fibres and the recently described nociceptive Schwann cells as well as the cutaneous immune system were analysed.
Methods
We systematically deep-phenotyped CRPS patients and immunolabelled glabrous skin biopsies from the affected ipsilateral and non-affected contralateral finger of 19 acute (< 12 months) and 6 chronic (> 12 months after trauma) CRPS patients as well as 25 sex- and age-matched healthy controls (HC). Murine foot pads harvested one week after sham or chronic constriction injury were immunolabelled to assess intraepidermal Schwann cells.
Results
Intraepidermal Schwann cells were detected in human skin of the finger—but their density was much lower compared to mice. Acute and chronic CRPS patients suffered from moderate to severe CRPS symptoms and corresponding pain. Most patients had CRPS type I in the warm category. Their cutaneous neuroglial complex was completely unaffected despite sensory plus signs, e.g. allodynia and hyperalgesia. Cutaneous innate sentinel immune cells, e.g. mast cells and Langerhans cells, infiltrated or proliferated ipsilaterally independently of each other—but only in acute CRPS. No additional adaptive immune cells, e.g. T cells and plasma cells, infiltrated the skin.
Conclusions
Diagnostic skin punch biopsies could be used to diagnose individual pathophysiology in a very heterogenous disease like acute CRPS to guide tailored treatment in the future. Since numbers of inflammatory cells and pain did not necessarily correlate, more in-depth analysis of individual patients is necessary.
Hereditary spastic paraplegias (HSPs) are genetically-determined, neurodegenerative disorders characterized by progressive weakness and spasticity of the lower limbs. Spastic paraplegia type 11 (SPG11) is a complicated form of HSP, which is caused by mutations in the SPG11 gene encoding spatacsin, a protein possibly involved in lysosomal reformation. Based on our previous studies demonstrating that secondary neuroinflammation can be a robust amplifier of various genetically-mediated diseases of both the central and peripheral nervous system, we here test the possibility that neuroinflammation may modify the disease outcome also in a mouse model for SPG11. Spg11-knockout (Spg11-/-) mice develop early walking pattern and behavioral abnormalities, at least partially reflecting motor, and behavioral changes typical for patients. Furthermore, we detected a progressive increase in axonal damage and axonal spheroid formation in the white and grey matter compartments of the central nervous system of Spg11-/- mice. This was accompanied by a concomitant substantial increase of secondary inflammation by cytotoxic CD8+ and CD4+ T-lymphocytes. We here provide evidence that disease-related changes can be ameliorated/delayed by the genetic deletion of the adaptive immune system. Accordingly, we provide evidence that repurposing clinically approved immunomodulators (fingolimod/FTY720 or teriflunomide), that are in use for treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS), also improve disease symptoms in mice, when administered in an early (before neural damage) or late (after/during neural damage) treatment regime.
This work provides strong evidence that immunomodulation can be a therapeutic option for the still untreatable SPG11, including its typical neuropsychological features. This poses the question if inflammation is not only a disease amplifier in SPG11 but can act as a unifying factor also for other genetically mediated disorders of the CNS. If true, this may pave the way to therapeutic options in a wide range of still untreatable, primarily genetic, neurological disorders by repurposing approved immunomodulators.
Safety and tolerability of SGLT2 inhibitors in cardiac amyloidosis — a clinical feasibility study
(2024)
Sodium-glucose transport protein 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) slow the progression of renal dysfunction and improve the prognosis of patients with heart failure. Amyloidosis constitutes an important subgroup for which evidence is lacking. Amyloidotic fibrils originating from misfolded transthyretin and light chains are the causal agents in ATTR and AL amyloidosis. In these most frequent subtypes, cardiac involvement is the most common organ manifestation. Because cardiac and renal function frequently deteriorate over time, even under best available treatment, SGLT2i emerge as a promising treatment option due to their reno- and cardioprotective properties. We retrospectively analyzed patients with cardiac amyloidosis, who received either dapagliflozin or empagliflozin. Out of 79 patients, 5.1% had urinary tract infections; 2 stopped SGLT2i therapy; and 2.5% died unrelated to the intake of SGLT2i. No genital mycotic infections were observed. As expected, a slight drop in the glomerular filtration rate was noted, while the NYHA functional status, cardiac and hepatic function, as well as the 6 min walk distance remained stable over time. These data provide a rationale for the use of SGLT2i in patients with amyloidosis and concomitant cardiac or renal dysfunction. Prospective randomized data are desired to confirm safety and to prove efficacy in this increasingly important group of patients.
Ischemia-reperfusion injury (I/R injury) is a common complication in ischemic stroke (IS) treatment, which is characterized by a paradoxical perpetuation of tissue damage despite the successful re-establishment of vascular perfusion. This phenomenon is known to be facilitated by the detrimental interplay of platelets and inflammatory cells at the vascular interface. However, the spatio-temporal and molecular mechanisms underlying these cellular interactions and their contribution to infarct progression are still incompletely understood. Therefore, this study intended to clarify the temporal mechanisms of infarct growth after cerebral vessel recanalization. The data presented here could show that infarct progression is driven by early blood-brain-barrier perturbation and is independent of secondary thrombus formation. Since previous studies unravelled the secretion of platelet granules as a molecular mechanism of how platelets contribute to I/R injury, special emphasis was placed on the role of platelet granule secretion in the process of barrier dysfunction. By combining an in vitro approach with a murine IS model, it could be shown that platelet α-granules exerted endothelial-damaging properties, whereas their absence (NBEAL2-deficiency) translated into improved microvascular integrity. Hence, targeting platelet α-granules might serve as a novel treatment option to reduce vascular integrity loss and diminish infarct growth despite recanalization.
Recent evidence revealed that pathomechanisms underlying I/R injury are already instrumental during large vessel occlusion. This indicates that penumbral tissue loss under occlusion and I/R injury during reperfusion share an intertwined relationship. In accordance with this notion, human observational data disclosed the presence of a neutrophil dominated immune response and local platelet activation and secretion, by the detection of the main components of platelet α-granules, within the secluded vasculature of IS patients. These initial observations of immune cells and platelets could be further expanded within this thesis by flow cytometric analysis of local ischemic blood samples. Phenotyping of immune cells disclosed a yet unknown shift in the lymphocyte population towards CD4+ T cells and additionally corroborated the concept of an immediate intravascular immune response that is dominated by granulocytes. Furthermore, this thesis provides first-time evidence for the increased appearance of platelet-leukocyte-aggregates within the secluded human vasculature. Thus, interfering with immune cells and/or platelets already under occlusion might serve as a potential strategy to diminish infarct expansion and ameliorate clinical outcome after IS.
Early-onset torsion dystonia (DYT-TOR1A, DYT1) is an inherited hyperkinetic movement disorder caused by a mutation of the TOR1A gene encoding the torsinA protein. DYT-TOR1A is characterized as a network disorder of the central nervous system (CNS), including predominantly the cortico-basal ganglia-thalamo-cortical loop resulting in a severe generalized dystonic phenotype. The pathophysiology of DYTTOR1A is not fully understood. Molecular levels up to large-scale network levels of the CNS are suggested to be affected in the pathophysiology of DYT-TOR1A. The reduced penetrance of 30% - 40% indicates a gene-environmental interaction, hypothesized as “second hit”. The lack of appropriate and phenotypic DYT-TOR1A animal models encouraged us to verify the “second hit” hypothesis through a unilateral peripheral nerve trauma of the sciatic nerve in a transgenic asymptomatic DYT-TOR1A rat model (∆ETorA), overexpressing the human mutated torsinA protein. In a multiscale approach, this animal model was characterized phenotypically and pathophysiologically.
Nerve-injured ∆ETorA rats revealed dystonia-like movements (DLM) with a partially generalized phenotype. A physiomarker of human dystonia, describing increased theta oscillation in the globus pallidus internus (GPi), was found in the entopeduncular nucleus (EP), the rodent equivalent to the human GPi, of nerve-injured ∆ETorA rats. Altered oscillation patterns were also observed in the primary motor cortex. Highfrequency stimulation (HFS) of the EP reduced DLM and modulated altered oscillatory activity in the EP and primary motor cortex in nerve-injured ∆ETorA rats. Moreover, the dopaminergic system in ∆ETorA rats demonstrated a significant increased striatal dopamine release and dopamine turnover. Whole transcriptome analysis revealed differentially expressed genes of the circadian clock and the energy metabolism, thereby pointing towards novel, putative pathways in the pathophysiology of DYTTOR1A dystonia.
In summary, peripheral nerve trauma can trigger DLM in genetically predisposed asymptomatic ΔETorA rats leading to neurobiological alteration in the central motor network on multiple levels and thereby supporting the “second hit” hypothesis. This novel symptomatic DYT-TOR1A rat model, based on a DYT-TOR1A genetic background, may prove as a valuable chance for DYT-TOR1A dystonia, to further investigate the pathomechanism in more detail and to establish new treatment strategies.
Development Of A Human iPSC-Derived Cortical Neuron Model Of Adaptor- Protein-Complex-4-Deficiency
(2024)
Adaptor-protein-4-deficiency (AP-4-deficiency) is an autosomal-recessive childhood- onset form of complicated hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP) caused by bi-allelic loss- of-function mutations in one of the four subunits of the AP-4-complex. These four conditions are named SPG47 (AP4B1, OMIM #614066), SPG50 (AP4M1, OMIM #612936), SPG51 (AP4E1, OMIM #613744) and SPG52 (AP4S1, OMIM #614067), respectively and all present with global developmental delay, progressive spasticity and seizures. Imaging features include a thinning of the corpus callosum, ventriculomegaly and white matter changes. AP-4 is a highly conserved heterotetrameric complex, which is responsible for polarized sorting of transmembrane cargo including the autophagy- related protein 9 A (ATG9A). Loss of any of the four subunits leads to an instable complex and defective sorting of AP-4-cargo. ATG9A is implicated in autophagosome formation and neurite outgrowth. It is missorted in AP-4-deficient cells and CNS-specific knockout of Atg9a in mice results in a phenotype reminiscent of AP-4-deficiency. However, the AP-4-related cellular phenotypes including ATG9A missorting have not been investigated in human neurons.
Thus, the aim of this study is to provide the first human induced pluripotent stem cell- derived (iPSC) cortical neuron model of AP-4-deficiency to explore AP-4-related phenotypes in preparation for a high-content screening. Under the hypothesis that AP-4- deficiency leads to ATG9A missorting, elevated ATG9A levels, impaired autophagy and neurite outgrowth in human iPSC-derived cortical neurons, in vitro biochemical and imaging assays including automated high-content imaging and analysis were applied. First, these phenotypes were investigated in fibroblasts from three patients with compound heterozygous mutations in the AP4B1 gene and their sex-matched parental controls. The same cell lines were used to generate iPSCs and differentiate them into human excitatory cortical neurons.
This work shows that ATG9A is accumulating in the trans-Golgi-network in AP-4- deficient human fibroblasts and that ATG9A levels are increased compared to parental controls and wild type cells suggesting a compensatory mechanism. Protein levels of the AP4E1-subunit were used as a surrogate marker for the AP-4-complex and were decreased in AP-4-deficient fibroblasts with co-immunoprecipitation confirming the instability of the complex. Lentiviral re-expression of the AP4B1-subunit rescues this corroborating the fact that a stable AP-4-complex is needed for ATG9A trafficking. Surprisingly, autophagic flux was present in AP-4-deficient fibroblasts under nutrient- rich and starvation conditions. These phenotypic markers were evaluated in iPSC-derived cortical neurons and here, a robust accumulation of ATG9A in the juxtanuclear area was seen together with elevated ATG9A protein levels. Strikingly, assessment of autophagy markers under nutrient-rich conditions showed alterations in AP-4-deficient iPSC- derived cortical neurons indicating dysfunctional autophagosome formation. These findings point towards a neuron-specific impairment of autophagy and need further investigation. Adding to the range of AP-4-related phenotypes, neurite outgrowth and branching are impaired in AP-4-deficient iPSC-derived cortical neurons as early as 24h after plating and together with recent studies point towards a distinct role of ATG9A in neurodevelopment independent of autophagy.
Together, this work provides the first patient-derived neuron model of AP-4-deficiency and shows that ATG9A is sorted in an AP-4-dependent manner. It establishes ATG9A- related phenotypes and impaired neurite outgrowth as robust markers for a high-content screening. This disease model holds the promise of providing a platform to further study AP-4-deficiency and to search for novel therapeutic targets.
In dieser Arbeit wurde durch das immunhistochemische Anfärben von nodalen (Natriumkanäle, NF), paranodalen (Caspr, NF) und internodalen (MBP) Proteinen der in Fingerhautbiopsien vorhanden Nervenfasern untersucht, ob eine Veränderung der typischen Verteilungsmuster dieser Proteine, eine demyelinisierende Polyneuropathie anzeigen kann. Dazu wurden am Universitätsklinikum Würzburg prospektiv 93 Polyneuropathie-Patienten und 25 Kontrollpersonen rekrutiert. Bei allen Patienten wurden Hautstanzbiospien am Zeigefinger durchgeführt. Bei 35 Patienten mit schweren oder unklaren Verläufen, wurden konsiliarisch Nervus suralis Biopsien durchgeführt. Aus einem Abschnitt von 27 dieser Biopsien, konnten im Rahmen dieser Arbeit Zupfnervenpräparate angefertigt und analog zu den Hautbiopsien ausgewertet werden. Aus der Routinediagnostik der Klinik flossen weiterhin die Ergebnisse der elektrophysiologischen Routinediagnostik und der Histologiebefund der Nervus suralis Biopsien in die Auswertung ein.
Zusammenfassend kamen veränderte Natriumkanalbanden in Fingerhautbiopsien signifikant häufiger bei Patienten mit elektrophysiologisch als demyelinisierend befundeten Polyneuropathien, als bei Patienten mit elektrophysiologisch als axonal befundeten Polyneuropathien vor. Vielfach fanden sich veränderte Natriumkanalbanden inmitten para- und internodal unauffälliger Schnürringe und umgekehrt. Diese Beobachtung stützt die bereits in Vorarbeiten vorgeschlagene und in der aktuellen Leitlinie zur Diagnostik für Polyneuropathien aufgegriffene Entität der Paranodopathien (Uncini, Susuki, & Yuki, 2013). Möglich wäre, dass eine veränderte Verteilung der Natriumkanäle die schnelle Leitfähigkeit beeinträchtigen und somit trotz intakter Bemarkung, elektrophysiologisch das Bild einer demyelinisierenden Neuropathie vermittelt. Ein direkter Zusammenhang zwischen dem Auftreten von doppelten und verlängerten Natriumkanalbanden und einzelnen Messwerten (z.B. Amplituden und Latenzzeiten) fand sich nicht. Auch in den Zupfnervenpräparaten der Nervus suralis Biopsien, konnten o.g. Verteilungsmuster untersucht werden. Deren Vorkommen zeigte sich als unabhängig vom elektrophysiologischen und histologischen Befund, von der Ätiologie der PNP und von den gefundenen Veränderungen in den Hautbiopsien des betreffenden Patienten.
Das mR-Paradigma beschreibt die Fähigkeit Objekte gedanklich zu drehen und erfordert dabei komplexe neuronale Prozesse. Bisherige Studien konnten nicht klären, ob es ein spezifisches Muster der Beeinträchtigung im mR-Test bei fokalen Dystonien gibt. Die übergeordnete Fragestellung der vorliegenden Arbeit war, ob eine verlangsamte Reaktion bei der mR von körperlichen Abbildungen einen stabilen Endophänotyp fokaler Dystonien darstellt. Die Zielsetzung war die Überprüfung der Hypothesen, 1) dass bisherige Ergebnisse, die eine verlängerte Reaktionszeit von CD-Patienten bei der mR von körperlichen Abbildungen aufzeigten, reproduzierbar sind und 2) dass eine erhöhte Reaktionszeit bei der mR von körperlichen Abbildungen auch bei Patienten mit BSP vorliegt. Um dabei die mR möglichst spezifisch zu untersuchen, wurden folgende sekundäre Hypothesen formuliert: a) die kognitive Leistungsfähigkeit und b) das allgemeine Reaktionsvermögen der Teilnehmer stellen potenzielle Störfaktoren für die Reaktionszeit bei der mR-Aufgabe dar. Diese wurden neben der Händigkeit und der allgemeinen Geschicklichkeit systematisch erhoben.
23 CD-Patienten und 23 gesunde Kontrollpersonen sowie 21 BSP- und 19 HFS-Patienten wurden hinsichtlich Geschlechterverteilung, Alter und Bildungsstand verglichen. Zudem wurden Händigkeit, Fingergeschicklichkeit, allgemeine Reaktionszeit und kognitiver Status jedes Teilnehmers erhoben. Im mR-Test wurden Fotos von Körperteilen (Hand, Fuß oder Kopf) und einem nicht-körperlichen Objekt (Auto) gezeigt, die in sechs verschiedene Winkelgrade um die eigene Achse in der Bildebene rotiert waren. Die Teilnehmer wurden gebeten, die Lateralität des dargestellten Bildes per Tastendruck anzugeben. Bewertet wurden sowohl Geschwindigkeit als auch Richtigkeit der Antworten.
Im Vergleich zu gesunden Kontrollpersonen schnitten CD- und HFS-Patienten bei der mR der Hände schlechter ab, während die BSP-Patienten vergleichbare Leistungen zeigten. Es bestand ein signifikanter Zusammenhang zwischen einer verlängerten mR-Reaktionszeit und reduzierten MoCA-Scores sowie einer erhöhten mR-Reaktionszeit und verlängerter allgemeiner Reaktionszeit. Nach Ausschluss der Patienten mit MCI zeigten CD-Patienten, nicht jedoch HFS-Patienten, im Vergleich zur gesunden Kontrollgruppe weiterhin verlangsamte Reaktionszeiten der Hände.
Die vorliegende Studie konnte die Frage, ob eine verlangsamte Reaktion bei der mR von körperlichen Abbildungen einen stabilen Endophänotyp fokaler Dystonien darstellt, nicht sicher beantworten. Es stellte sich jedoch heraus, dass Kognition und allgemeine Reaktionszeit starke Einflussfaktoren bei der mR-Aufgabe sind. Dies wurde in den früheren Arbeiten nicht berücksichtigt und stellt daher ein neues und wichtiges Ergebnis dar. Die verlangsamte Reaktion bei der mR der Hände bei CD-Patienten auch nach Ausschluss von Patienten mit MCI lässt ein spezifisches Defizit der Fähigkeit der mR vermuten. Das Vorliegen einer tiefergreifenden zugrundeliegenden Netzwerkstörung, die sich auf die Leistung im mR-Test auswirkt, wäre dabei denkbar.
Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) Neuropathien stellen als häufigste erblich bedingte neurologische Erkrankungen eine Gruppe genetisch heterogener, chronisch progredienter peripherer Polyneuropathien dar. Die Lebensqualität der Patienten ist bei fehlender kurativer Therapieoption vor allem durch motorische und sensorische Defizite deutlich eingeschränkt. In verschiedenen Studien konnte die pathophysiologische Relevanz einer sekundären Entzündungsreaktion, insbesondere durch Makrophagen und Lymphozyten vermittelt, in Mausmodellen dreier CMT1 Subtypen (CMT1A, CMT1B, CMT1X) aufgezeigt werden. Auch in Folge einer Läsion peripherer Nerven ist eine akute Entzündungsreaktion von entscheidender Bedeutung, wobei sich bereits Gemeinsamkeiten zwischen der postläsionalen Waller´schen Degeneration (WD) und CMT1 Neuropathien identifizieren ließen. Während die aktive Beteiligung der Autophagie Schwann´scher Zellen (hier kurz SZ Autophagie genannt) an der Myelindegradation im Falle einer WD jedoch vielfach beschrieben wurde, ist Ähnliches in CMT1 Neuropathien bisher nur unzureichend untersucht. Da in einer Studie in Cx32def Mausmodellen der CMT1X Erkrankung auch nach Reduktion endoneuraler Makrophagen anhaltende Demyelinisierung beobachtet werden konnte, sollte das Vorkommen von SZ Autophagie sowie deren mögliche Beeinflussung durch Makrophagen in diesen Myelinmutanten untersucht werden.
In der vorliegenden Arbeit wurden sowohl Wildtyp (Wt) Mäuse in ex vivo und in vivo Modellen einer WD als auch Cx32def Myelinmutanten zweier Altersstufen (4 und 12 Monate) mit einem niedermolekularen CSF1-Rezeptor-Inhibitor (CSF1RI) zur Reduktion endoneuraler Makrophagen behandelt, wobei sich vergleichende histochemische bzw. immunhistochemische Analysen peripherer Nerven behandelter und unbehandelter Tiere anschlossen.
Im Rahmen der Etablierung immunhistochemischer Methodik zeigte sich hierbei unter den kontrollierten Bedingungen einer ex vivo Ischiasnervenkultur eine vermehrte Aktivierung der SZ Autophagie in behandelten Wt Mäusen. Auch 4 Monate alte behandelte Cx32def Tiere wiesen, verglichen mit unbehandelten Myelinmutanten bzw. Wt Mäusen derselben Altersstufe, eine vermehrte autophagische Aktivität in SZ auf. Diese scheint sich jedoch im weiteren Verlauf der Erkrankung zu reduzieren, da im Falle der 12 Monate alten Cx32def Modelltiere weniger autophagisch aktive SZ Profile bzw. kaum Unterschiede zwischen behandelten und unbehandelten Tieren beobachtet werden konnten.
Die Ergebnisse lassen somit eine mögliche aktive Beteiligung von SZ Autophagie insbesondere in der Pathophysiologie der frühen Phase einer CMT1X Erkrankung sowie deren Beeinflussung durch endoneurale Makrophagen vermuten. Dies sollte vornehmlich in der Entwicklung von Therapiestrategien der CMT1X bedacht werden, da sich eine frühe Reduktion pathophysiologisch relevanter endoneuraler Makrophagen somit auch nachteilig auf die Myelinintegrität auswirken könnte.
Patients diagnosed with the rare autoimmune disease of Stiff Person Syndrome (SPS) suffer from varying motor symptoms mainly characterized by painful spasms and muscle stiffness. Among patients suffering from Stiff Person spectrum, clinical presentation, course of disease and treatment responses also differ. Regardless of disease severity, which ranges from mild and intermittent motor impairments to the most severe form progressive encephalomyelitis with rigidity and myoclonus (PERM), autoantibodies are the underlying cause. One of the autoantibody targets associated with SPS is the glycine receptor (GlyR). Functional impairment of this protein interferes with inhibitory signal transmission in the central nervous system and subsequently causes motor symptoms. Similar to functional alterations of the GlyR upon autoantibody binding, GlyR function can be altered in patients with mutations in genes encoding GlyR subunits. Such mutations underlie hereditary hyperekplexia. Understanding the GlyR physiology and how different molecular mechanisms contribute to disease pathology is crucial for development of more targeted and effective disease options.
Therefore, novel GlyR β subunit mutations identified in hyperekplexia patients were investigated towards their expression, trafficking and receptor function. The findings suggest that impaired recruitment into functional receptors at the synapses might underlie the functional alterations revealed by electrophysiological recordings for most cases.
To unravel the autoantibody-related pathology causing the highly diverse clinical appearance of the Stiff Person spectrum, antibody binding abilities were studied. Neutralization assays confirmed that presence of the entire target protein, a sub-domain or a short peptide eliminates the autoantibodies from patient samples. Epitope characterization using residue exchanges within the GlyR in cell-based assays uncovered that GlyR autoantibody epitopes are polyclonal and their combination is patient-specific. Tissue-based binding assays emphasized the high variability in autoantibody distribution within spinal cord and brain sections regardless of the patients’ primary diagnosis. The irregular binding patterns among the patient groups of SPS, PERM, epilepsy and ‘others’ reflected the variation in the symptomatic arrangement. Passive transfer of GlyR autoantibodies from patients with different courses and severity of disease similarly revealed variable effects on murine motor and anxiety-related behavior. The detected small effects on motor function and post-mortem analyses indicate glycinergic disorganization and a possible onset of compensatory mechanisms.
Altogether, this study demonstrates that GlyR impairment is patient-specific and of greater variability than expected.
Aging is known to be a risk factor for structural abnormalities and functional decline in the nervous system. Characterizing age-related changes is important to identify putative pathways to overcome deleterious effects and improve life quality for the elderly. In this study, the peripheral nervous system of 24-month-old aged C57BL/6 mice has been investigated and compared to 12-month-old adult mice. Aged mice showed pathological alterations in their peripheral nerves similar to nerve biopsies from elderly human individuals, with nerve fibers showing demyelination and axonal damage. Such changes were lacking in nerves of adult 12-month-old mice and adult, non-aged humans. Moreover, neuromuscular junctions of 24-month-old mice showed increased denervation compared to adult mice. These alterations were accompanied by elevated numbers of macrophages in the peripheral nerves of aged mice. The neuroinflammatory conditions were associated with impaired myelin integrity and with a decline of nerve conduction properties and muscle strength in aged mice.
To determine the pathological impact of macrophages in the aging mice, macrophage depletion was performed in mice by oral administration of CSF-1R specific kinase (c-FMS) inhibitor PLX5622 (300 mg/kg body weight), which reduced the number of macrophages in the peripheral nerves by 70%. The treated mice showed attenuated demyelination, less muscle denervation and preserved muscle strength. This indicates that macrophage-driven inflammation in the peripheral nerves is partially responsible for the age-related neuropathy in mice.
Based on previous observations that systemic inflammation can accelerate disease progression in mouse models of neurodegenerative diseases, it was hypothesized that systemic inflammation can exacerbate the peripheral neuropathy found in aged mice. To investigate this hypothesis, aged C57BL/6 mice were intraperitoneally injected with a single dose of lipopolysaccharide (LPS; 500 μg/kg body weight) to induce systemic inflammation by mimicking bacterial infection, mostly via activation of Toll-like receptors (TLRs). Altered endoneurial macrophage activation, highlighted by Trem2 downregulation, was found in LPS injected aged mice one month after injection. This was accompanied by a so far rarely observed form of axonal perturbation, i.e., the occurrence of “dark axons” characterized by a damaged cytoskeleton and an increased overall electron density of the axoplasm. At the same time, however, LPS injection reduced demyelination and muscle denervation in aged mice. Interestingly, TREM2 deficiency in aged mice led to similar changes to LPS injection. This suggests that LPS injection likely mitigates aging-related demyelination and muscle denervation via Trem2 downregulation.
Taken together, this study reveals the role of macrophage-driven inflammation as a pathogenic mediator in age-related peripheral neuropathy, and that targeting macrophages might be an option to mitigate peripheral neuropathies in aging individuals. Furthermore, this study shows that systemic inflammation may be an ambivalent modifier of age-related nerve damage, leading to a distinct type of axonal perturbation, but in addition to functionally counteracting, dampened demyelination and muscle denervation. Translationally, it is plausible to assume that tipping the balance of macrophage polarization to one direction or the other may determine the functional outcome in the aging peripheral nervous system of the elderly.
Neurodegeneration plays an essential role in Parkinson’s disease (PD). Several crucial neuronal pro-and antidegeneration markers were described to be altered in disease models accompanied by neurodegeneration. In the AAV1/2-A53T-aSyn PD rat model progressive time-dependent motor impairment and neurodegeneration in the nigrostriatal tract starting from 2 weeks after PD model induction could be found. Downregulation of Nrf2 in SN and nigrostriatal axon localization, a trend of Tau downregulation in SN and upregulation in axon localization in the AAV1/2-A53T-aSyn PD rat model were observed, indicating potential therapeutic value of these two molecular targets in PD. No alterations of SARM1 and NMNAT2 could be detected, indicating little relevance of these two molecules with our AAV1/2-A53T-aSyn rat model.
Die WHO definiert Gesundheit als völliges körperliches, geistiges und soziales Wohlbefinden. Während diese ganzheitliche Betrachtungsweise seit Menschengedenken nahezu weltweit das Gesundheitswesen prägt, hat die Medizin in Europa mit der naturwissenschaftlichen Erkenntnisrevolution einen Sonderweg eingeschlagen. Hier wird der kranke Organismus in erster Linie als defekter Apparat gesehen, der mit ausgeklügelter Technik zu reparieren ist. Aber auch präziseste Qualitätsarbeit stößt dabei oft an Leistungsgrenzen, weil sie als seelenlos erlebt wird. Daher sehen heute viele Fachgebiete die Notwendigkeit, ihre Behandlungskonzepte zu beseelen und ihre Behandlungserfolge auch anhand der subjektiv von Patienten empfundenen Lebensqualität zu beurteilen. Für die Ermittlung dieses PRO kommen etablierte psychometrische Testverfahren in Frage, die sich auch für routinemäßige Verlaufskontrollen eignen.
In der vorliegenden Arbeit wurde am Beispiel der mHE geprüft, welchen Nutzen eine PRO-Bestimmung bei der Verlaufskontrolle haben kann. Dazu wurde eine prospektive Studie mit anfänglich 75 Patienten durchgeführt. Alle hatten eine mHE und waren entweder alkoholbedingt oder aus anderen Gründen schwer leberkrank. An vier Terminen im Abstand von sechs Monaten wurden die kognitive Leistungsfähigkeit und der emotionale Status überprüft. Die Patienten zeigten anfänglich kognitive Einschränkungen, die sich im Verlauf der individuell abgestimmten Behandlung deutlich verbesserten oder ganz verschwanden. Die globale Testung mit dem MoCA ergab eine hochsignifikante Normalisierung im ersten Behandlungsjahr. Die MoCA-Werte am Studienanfang und -ende waren von der Erkrankungsursache unabhängig. Dieser Befund differenzierte sich in den Spezialtests TMT, PHES und NHPT. Hier zeigten die alkoholbedingt Erkrankten durchweg schlechtere Leistungen als die nicht-alkoholbedingt Erkrankten, erholten sich aber in der Regel auch deutlicher.
Die seelische Gestimmtheit gemäß BDI-II und die mit dem SF-36 MCS ermittelte psychosoziale Befindlichkeit waren in beiden Patientengruppen von Anfang an vergleichsweise günstig. Dabei hatten die alkoholbedingt Erkrankten die besseren Werte, speziell der BDI-II zeigte bei ihnen nach einem halben Jahr eine zusätzliche und bleibende Stimmungsaufhellung an. Der SF-36 PCS zum Körpererleben zeigte hingegen, dass sich die alkoholbedingt Erkrankten zu Studienbeginn in einer deutlich schlechteren Verfassung befanden. Diese verbesserte sich aber kontinuierlich, sodass nach 1,5 Jahren kein Unterschied mehr zu den nicht-alkoholbedingt Erkrankten bestand. Aus diesen Befunden und dem reichhaltigen Erfahrungsgut zur Alkoholkrankheit wird geschlossen, dass der Genesungsprozess bei alkoholbedingtem Leberversagen viel komplexer ist als bei nicht-alkoholbedingtem Leberversagen. Er könnte wesentlich mehr Zeit erfordern und wird offensichtlich anders erlebt. Dieser Patientengruppe könnten besondere physio- und gesprächstherapeutische Angebote eine große Hilfe sein.
Die Arbeit zeigt, dass es möglich ist, mit wenig Aufwand komplementär zu den klinischen Verlaufsbefunden einen informativen PRO-Bericht zu erhalten. Er hilft Angehörigen und medizinischem Personal, die persönlichen Nöte und Hoffnungen der Patienten besser zu verstehen und gegebenenfalls einen Korrekturbedarf im Umgang zu erkennen. Hinzu kam im vorliegenden Fall die Erkenntnis, dass die alkoholbedingt Erkrankten in ihrem Kranksein anders betroffen waren. Die Gründe dafür sind im Nachhinein plausibel, der Sachverhalt als solcher wäre aber ohne diese Spezialuntersuchung wohl nicht erkannt worden. Das Beispiel der PRO-Ermittlung bei der mHE macht den praktischen Wert einer Berücksichtigung des gesamtheitlichen Gesundheitskonzepts der WHO auch in der technikzentrierten „westlichen Medizin“ deutlich.
Ziel dieser Studie war es, zu untersuchen, ob dendritische Zellen eine Rolle beim ischämischen Schlaganfall spielen. Zur Beantwortung dieser Fragestellung wurde ein Mausmodell gewählt, in dem es nach Administration von Diphterietoxin zur selektiven Depletion CD11c positiver Zellen kommt (C.FVB-Tg(Itgax-DTR/EGFP)57Lan/J). Hierbei wird der Diphterietoxinrezeptor unter dem CD11c Promotor (ITGAX) exprimiert. Aufgrund der Wiederherstellung dendritischer Zellen nach ca. 24 Stunden waren wiederholte Applikationen von Diphterietoxin notwendig. Die Zusammensetzung anderer Immunzellen wurde dabei im Wesentlichen nicht geändert.
Für eine Schlaganfallinduktion wurde eine tMCAO (transient middle cerebral artery occlusion) durchgeführt. Hierbei wird durch Okklusion der A. cerebri media mittels Verschlussfilament für 30 oder 60 Minuten ein Schlaganfall im Mediastromgebiet induziert.
Es wurden unterschiedliche Verschlusszeiten, Zeitpunkte und Depletionsraten untersucht. In keinem der Versuchsansätze kam es zu einer signifikanten Veränderung des Schlaganfallvolumens nach Depletion CD11c positiver Zellen.
Mittels quantitativer real-time PCR wurde die Expression unterschiedlicher Zytokine nach tMCAO und CD11c-Depletion untersucht. An Tag 1 nach Schlaganfallinduktion und hoher Depletionsrate ergab sich eine Verminderung der Expression von IL-1β und IL-6, während an Tag 3 und niedriger Depletionsrate die Expression dieser Zytokine nach CD11c-Depletion zunahm. Grund hierfür könnte die Expression dieser Zytokine durch andere Zellen des Immunsystems, wie etwa neutrophile Granulozyten oder Mikroglia/Makrophagen sein, die möglicherweise einer regulatorischen Funktion durch die Interaktion von Dendritischen Zellen und regulatorischen T-Zellen unterliegen. Weitere experimentelle Ansätze sind notwendig, um diese Fragestellung beantworten zu können.
TGF-β zeigte durchgehend in allen Versuchsanordnungen eine verminderte Expression nach der Depletion dendritischer Zellen. Es ist naheliegend, dass dieses neuroprotektiv-regulatorische Zytokin direkt einer Produktion durch dendritische Zellen oder von nachfolgend aktivierten T-Zellen unterliegt.
In immunhistochemischen Studien konnte des Weiteren keine Änderung des Immigrationsverhaltens von CD11b+ Zellen ins Gehirn gesehen werden.
Diese Studie unterliegt jedoch einigen Limitationen. So stellte sich im Laufe der Experimente heraus, dass die wiederholte Applikation von Diphterietoxin zu einer erhöhten Mortalität der Versuchstiere führte. Nach Fertigstellung der Experimente erschien hierzu eine Publikation, welche die wiederholte Administration von DTX und die Entwicklung einer Myokarditis im gewählten Mausmodell in Zusammenhang brachte.
Die Charcot-Marie-Tooth-Neuropathie umfasst eine heterogene Gruppe von erblichen unter anderem demyelinisierenden Erkrankungen des peripheren Nervensystems. Trotz ihrer hohen Prävalenz von 1:2.500 gibt es bis dato keine kausalen Therapiemöglichkeiten. Durch den progressiven Krankheitsverlauf wird die Lebensqualität der Patienten stetig gemindert; der fortschreitende Verlust der Muskelkraft und Störungen des Gangbildes sind besonders belastend.
Ursächlich für die CMT1-Neuropathie sind unter anderem Mutationen in Genen, die für Moleküle des Myelins von Schwannzellen codieren. Diese Mutationen führen zu einer verminderten Stabilität und Funktion des Myelins und so letzten Endes zu einer Demyelinisierung und axonalen Schädigung der peripheren Nerven. Weitere Studien in CMT1-Mausmodellen zeigten jedoch, dass nicht nur die verringerte Myelinstabilität sondern auch eine durch das Immunsystem vermittelte geringgradige Entzündungsreaktion für die Symptome ursächlich sein könnte. Hier spielen vor allem Makrophagen eine zentrale Rolle. Das Zytokin CSF-1 aktiviert die Makrophagen und verursacht so eine Demyelinisierung der peripheren Nerven. In P0het und Cx32def Mausmodellen konnte nachgewiesen werden, dass eine medikamentöse Inhibition des CSF-1-Rezeptors an Makrophagen zu einem verbesserten Nervphänotypen und einer deutlichen Abmilderung des Krankheitsbildes führte.
In dieser Arbeit wurden in P0het und Cx32def Mausmodellen weiterführende Behandlungsstudien mit einem CSF-1-RI durchgeführt, die untersuchen, zu welchem Zeitpunkt innerhalb des Krankheitsverlaufs (therapeutisch oder präventiv) eine erfolgreiche Therapie noch möglich ist und ob bei einem früheren Beginn eine noch bessere Wirkung erzielt werden kann.
Abhängig von den verschiedenen Start- und Endpunkten waren unterschiedliche Ergebnisse zu beobachten: Hinsichtlich der klinischen Parameter wie der Greifkraft und der Anzahl an abnormal innervierten Synapsen zeigten die Tiere im präventiven Behandlungszweig in beiden Mausmodellen das beste Ergebnis im Vergleich zu den Kontrolltieren. Diese substantielle Verbesserung ließ sich unabhängig von einem Makrophagen-Reflux sogar noch 6 Monate nach Behandlungsabbruch nachweisen.
Bezüglich der endoneuralen Makrophagendepletion war sowohl in den P0het als auch den Cx32def Tieren im präventiven sowie im therapeutischen Behandlungszweig eine signifikante Verbesserung zu beobachten.
Diese Ergebnisse heben ein weiteres Mal die Bedeutung der Makrophagen als Teil einer Entzündungsreaktion in der Pathogenese der CMT1-Neuropathie hervor. Des Weiteren konnte die These gefestigt werden, dass eine Inhibition des CSF-1-Rezeptors zu verbesserten histopathologischen sowie funktionellen Parametern führt. Um ein gutes Ansprechen auf die Therapie zu erzielen, müssen ein möglichst früher Therapiebeginn sowie eine nachhaltige Behandlungsdauer gewährleistet sein.
Background
The role of cytokines in the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and prognosis of small fiber neuropathy (SFN) is incompletely understood. We studied expression profiles of selected pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines in RNA from white blood cells (WBC) of patients with a medical history and a clinical phenotype suggestive for SFN and compared data with healthy controls.
Methods
We prospectively recruited 52 patients and 21 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Study participants were characterized in detail and underwent complete neurological examination. Venous blood was drawn for routine and extended laboratory tests, and for WBC isolation. Systemic RNA expression profiles of the pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-1ß, IL-2, IL-8, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF) and the anti-inflammatory cytokines IL-4, IL-10, transforming growth factor beta-1 (TGF) were analyzed. Protein levels of IL-2, IL-8, and TNF were measured in serum of patients and controls. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC)-curve analysis was used to determine the accuracy of IL-2, IL-8, and TNF in differentiating patients and controls. To compare the potential discriminatory efficacy of single versus combined cytokines, equality of different AUCs was tested.
Results
WBC gene expression of IL-2, IL-8, and TNF was higher in patients compared to healthy controls (IL-2: p = 0.02; IL-8: p = 0.009; TNF: p = 0.03) and discriminated between the groups (area under the curve (AUC) ≥ 0.68 for each cytokine) with highest diagnostic accuracy reached by combining the three cytokines (AUC = 0.81, sensitivity = 70%, specificity = 86%). Subgroup analysis revealed the following differences: IL-8 and TNF gene expression levels were higher in female patients compared to female controls (IL-8: p = 0.01; TNF: p = 0.03). The combination of TNF with IL-2 and TNF with IL-2 and IL-8 discriminated best between the study groups. IL-2 was higher expressed in patients with moderate pain compared to those with severe pain (p = 0.02). Patients with acral pain showed higher IL-10 gene expression compared to patients with generalized pain (p = 0.004). We further found a negative correlation between the relative gene expression of IL-2 and current pain intensity (p = 0.02). Serum protein levels of IL-2, IL-8, and TNF did not differ between patients and controls.
Conclusions
We identified higher systemic gene expression of IL-2, IL-8, and TNF in SFN patients than in controls, which may be of potential relevance for diagnostics and patient stratification.
Die Auswirkungen der X-Inaktivierung auf den klinischen Phänotyp bei Patientinnen mit Morbus Fabry
(2023)
M. Fabry ist eine X-chromosomal vererbte Stoffwechselerkrankung. Die Mutation im α-Galactosidase A Gen führt zur reduzierten Aktivität des Enzyms und zur Akkumulation der Stoffwechselprodukte im gesamten Körper. Von der daraus resultierenden Multiorganerkrankung sind sowohl Männer, als auch Frauen betroffen. Als Grund hierfür steht eine verschobene X-Inaktivierung zur Diskussion.
In der vorliegenden Arbeit wurden 104 Frauen rekrutiert und die X-Inaktivierungsmuster in Mundschleimhautepithel, Blut und Hautfibroblasten untersucht. Es wurden umfangreiche klinische und laborchemische Untersuchungen durchgeführt, sodass von jeder Patientin ein klinischer Phänotyp vorlag, der mit Hilfe eines numerischen Scores klassifiziert wurde.
Es zeigte sich, dass Blut ein leicht zu asservierendes Biomaterial mit einer hohen Prävalenz an verschobenen X-Inaktivierungsmustern darstellt. Eine signifikante Korrelation mit dem klinischen Phänotyp konnte in keinem der drei untersuchten Gewebe nachgewiesen werden.
The present cumulative dissertation summarizes three clinical studies, which examine
subgroups of patients within the fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS). FMS entails chronic pain and
associated symptoms, and its pathophysiology is incompletely understood (1). Previous studies
show that there is a subgroup of patients with FMS with objective histological pathology of the
small nerve fibers of the peripheral nervous system (PNS). Another subgroup of FMS patients
does not show any signs of pathological changes of the small nerve fibers. The aim of this
dissertation was to compare FMS patients with healthy controls, and these two FMS subgroups
for differences in the central nervous system (CNS) in order to explore possible interactions
between PNS and the CNS. Regarding the CNS, differences of FMS patients with healthy
controls have already been found in studies with small sample sizes, but no subgroups have yet
been identified. Another aim of this thesis was to test whether the subgroups show a different
response to different classes of pain medication. The methods used in this thesis are structural
and functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), magnetic resonance diffusion imaging and
magnetic resonance spectroscopy. For the evaluation of clinical symptoms, we used
standardized questionnaires. The subgroups with and without pathologies of the PNS were
determined by skin biopsies of the right thigh and lower leg based on the intraepidermal nerve
fiber density (IENFD) of the small nerve fibers.
1) In the first MRI study, 43 female patients with the diagnosis of FMS and 40 healthy
control subjects, matched in age and body mass index, were examined with different MRI
sequences. Cortical thickness was investigated by structural T1 imaging, white matter integrity
by diffusion tensor imaging and functional connectivity within neuronal networks by functional
resting state MRI. Compared to the controls, FMS patients had a lower cortical volume in
bilateral frontotemporoparietal regions and the left insula, but a higher cortical volume in the
left pericalcarine cortex. Compared to the subgroup without PNS pathology, the subgroup with
PNS pathology had lower cortical volume in both pericalcarine cortices. Diffusion tensor
imaging revealed an increased fractional anisotropy (FA) of FMS patients in corticospinal
pathways such as the corona radiata, but also in regions of the limbic systems such as the fornix
and cingulum. Subgroup comparison again revealed lower mean FA values of the posterior
thalamic radiation and the posterior limb of the left internal capsule in the subgroup with PNS
pathology. In the functional connectivity analysis FMS patients, compared to controls, showed
a hypoconnectivity between the right median frontal gyrus and the posterior cerebellum and
the right crus cerebellum, respectively. In the subgroup comparisons, the subgroup with PNS
pathology showed a hyperconnectivity between both inferior frontal gyri, the right posterior
parietal cortex and the right angular gyrus. In summary, these results show that differences in
brain morphology and functional connectivity exist between FMS patients with and without
PNS pathology. These differences were not associated with symptom duration or severity and,
in some cases, have not yet been described in the context of FMS. The differences in brain
morphology and connectivity between subgroups could also lead to a differential response to
treatment with centrally acting drugs. Further imaging studies with FMS patients should take
into account this heterogeneity of FMS patient cohorts.
2) Following the results from the first MRI study, drug therapies of FMS patients and
their treatment response were compared between PNS subgroups. As there is no licensed drug
for FMS in Europe, the German S3 guideline recommends amitriptyline, duloxetine and
pregabalin for temporary use. In order to examine the current drug use in FMS patients in
Germany on a cross-sectional basis, 156 patients with FMS were systematically interviewed.
The drugs most frequently used to treat pain in FMS were non-steroidal anti-inflammatory
drugs (NSAIDs) (28.9%), metamizole (15.4%) and amitriptyline (8.8%). Pain relief assessed by
patients on a numerical rating scale from 0-10 averaged 2.2 points for NSAIDs, 2.0 for
metamizole and 1.5 for amitriptyline. Drugs that were discontinued for lack of efficacy and not
for side effects were acetaminophen (100%), flupirtine (91.7%), selective serotonin reuptake
inhibitors (81.8%), NSAIDs (83.7%) and weak opioids (74.1%). Patients were divided into
subgroups with and without PNS pathology as determined by skin biopsies. We found no
differences in drug use and effect between the subgroups. Taken together, these results show
that many FMS patients take medication that is not in accordance with the guidelines. The
reduction of symptoms was best achieved with metamizole and NSAIDs. Further longitudinal
studies on medication in FMS are necessary to obtain clearer treatment recommendations.
3) Derived from previous pharmacological and imaging studies (with smaller case
numbers), there is a hypothesis in the FMS literature that hyperreactivity of the insular cortex
may have an impact on FMS. The hyperreactivity seems to be due to an increased concentration
of the excitatory neurotransmitter glutamate in the insular cortex of FMS patients. The
hypothesis is supported by magnetic resonance spectroscopy studies with small number of
cases, as well as results from pharmacological studies with glutamate-inhibiting medication.
Studies from animal models have also shown that an artificially induced increase in glutamate
in the insular cortex can lead to reduced skin innervation. Therefore, the aim of this study was
to compare glutamate and GABA concentrations in the insular cortex of FMS patients with
those of healthy controls using magnetic resonance imaging. There was no significant
difference of both neurotransmitters between the groups. In addition, there was no correlation
between the neurotransmitter concentrations and the severity of clinical symptoms. There
were also no differences in neurotransmitter concentrations between the subgroups with and
without PNS pathology. In conclusion, our study could not show any evidence of a correlation
of glutamate and GABA concentrations with the symptoms of FMS or the pathogenesis of
subgroups with PNS pathologies.
Fabry disease (FD), an X-linked lysosomal storage disorder, is caused by variants in the gene α-galactosidase A (GLA). As a consequence, the encoded homonymous enzyme GLA is not produced in sufficient amount or does not function properly. Subsequently, globotriaosylceradmide (Gb3), the target substrate of GLA, starts accumulating in several cell types, especially neurons and endothelial cells. FD patients suffer from multiorgan symptoms including cardiomyopathy, nephropathy, stroke, and acral burning pain. It is suggested that the impact of pathological Gb3 accumulation, inflammatory and hypoxic processes, and vasculopathy are contributing to the specific FD pain phenotype. Thus, we investigated the role of inflammation, hypoxia, and vasculopathy on molecular level in dorsal root ganglia (DRG) of the GLA knockout (KO) mouse model. Further, we investigated pain-like characteristics of GLA KO mice at baseline (BS), after capsaicin administration, and after repeated enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) administration for a period of 1.5 years. Acquired data showed disturbances in immune response markers represented by downregulated inflammation-associated genes and lower numbers of CD206+ macrophages in DRG of GLA KO mice. Hypoxic mechanisms were active in DRG of GLA KO mice reflected by increased gene expression of hypoxia- and DNA damage-associated targets, higher numbers of hypoxia-inducible factor 1α-positive (HIF1α+) and carbonic anhydrase 9-positive (CA9+) neurons in DRG of GLA KO mice, and DRG neuronal HIF1α cytosolic-nuclear translocation in GLA KO mice. Vascularization in DRG of GLA KO mice was reduced including lower numbers of blood vessel branches and reduced total blood vessel length. Pain-like behavior of the GLA KO mouse model revealed no mechanical hypersensitivity at BS but age-dependent heat hyposensitivity, which developed also age-matched wild type (WT) mice. Capsaicin administration under isoflurane anesthesia did not elicit the development of nocifensive behavior in GLA KO mice after mechanical or heat stimulation. Repeated ERT administration did not show a clear effect in GLA KO mice in terms of restored heat hyposensitivity to BS paw withdrawal latencies. In summary, we demonstrated the impact of disturbed immune response markers, active hypoxic mechanisms, and reduced vascularization on molecular FD pathophysiology.
Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a disabling disease that affects not only the patient’s health-related quality of life (HRQoL), but also causes a high caregiver burden (CGB). The aim of this study was to evaluate HRQoL, CGB, and their predictors in SMA. In two prospective, cross-sectional, and multi-center studies, SMA patients (n = 39) and SMA patient/caregiver couples (n = 49) filled in the EuroQoL Five Dimension Five Level Scale (EQ-5D-5L) and the Short Form Health Survey 36 (SF-36). Caregivers (CGs) additionally answered the Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Patients were clustered into two groups with either low or high HRQoL (EQ-5D-5L index value <0.259 or >0.679). The latter group was mostly composed of ambulatory type III patients with higher motor/functional scores. More severely affected patients reported low physical functioning but good mental health and vitality. The CGB (mean ZBI = 22/88) correlated negatively with patients’ motor/functional scores and age. Higher CGB was associated with a lower HRQoL, higher depression and anxiety, and more health impairments of the CGs. We conclude that patient and CG well-being levels interact closely, which highlights the need to consider the health of both parties while evaluating novel treatments.
Die dem Formenkreis der Dystonien zugrundeliegenden, pathophysiologischen Grundlagen sind bislang nicht abschließend geklärt. Für die DYT-TOR1A Dystonie ist bekannt, dass eine 3-bp Deletion eines GAG-Codons im TOR1A-Gen auf Chromosom 9 einen Funktionsverlust des Proteins TorsinA bewirkt. Dieser Funktionsverlust wird als auslösender Faktor für die Entstehung der DYT-TOR1A Dystonie angenommen. Nichtsdestotrotz entwickeln lediglich circa 30% der Mutationsträger eine dystone Bewegungsstörung. Als Grund dafür wird eine Two-hit Hypothese diskutiert, die zusätzlich zur genetischen Prädisposition einen Umweltfaktor wie ein peripheres Trauma für die Entstehung von Symptomen postuliert. Durch eine standardisierte Quetschläsion des N. ischiadicus konnte mit dieser Arbeit bei DYT1KI Mäusen, die die ∆GAG-Mutation im endogenen Genom tragen, ein dystoner Phänotyp hervorgerufen werden. Mit den Aufzeichnungen der Mäuse im TST wurde ein neuronales Netzwerk mittels der Software „DeepLabCut“ trainiert, sodass die Dystonie-ähnlichen Bewegungen automatisiert erfasst und ausgewertet werden konnten. Das Netzwerk trägt dazu bei, dem vorwiegend klinischen Syndrom der Dystonie eine objektive kinematische Charakterisierung zu bieten und kann auf andere TSTs anderer Nagermodelle übertragen werden. Ferner wurde überprüft, ob die beobachteten Bewegungen durch Unterschiede in der Regeneration nach der Nervenquetschung zustande kamen. Elektroneurographien zeigten jedoch diesbezüglich keine Unterschiede zwischen wt und DYT1KI Tieren. Darüber hinaus sind mikromorphologische Prozesse im zentralen und peripheren Nervensystem Gegenstand dieser Studie. Einerseits konnten wir mittels Immunzellfärbungen von T-, B-Zellen, Makrophagen und Mikroglia feststellen, dass sowohl zentral als auch peripher kein Anhalt darauf besteht, dass die beim DYT1KI Mausmodell entstandenen Dystonie-ähnlichen Bewegungen auf einer Dysfunktion oder Aktivierung des Immunsystems, wie es bei anderen neurologischen Erkrankungen bereits nachgewiesen wurde, eine Rolle spielt. Andererseits konnte anhand stereologischer Messungen gezeigt werden, dass bei den naiven DYT1KI Tieren im Vergleich zu wt Tieren dopaminerge Neurone der SN in der Anzahl verringert und im Volumen vergrößert sind, was auf einen Endophänotypen hinweist. Bei den symptomatischen, nervengequetschten DYT1KI Mäusen zeigte sich wiederum eine weitere, signifikante Zunahme der Hypertrophie der dopaminergen Neurone als Hinweis auf eine unmittelbar mit dem dystonen Phänotypen in Zusammenhang stehende Veränderung. Zusammenfassend konnte ein symptomatisches Mausmodell von hoher translationaler Bedeutung etabliert werden, in dem sich Hinweise für eine dopaminerge Dysregulation ergaben und welches für weitere Studien, insbesondere therapeutischer Art, eingesetzt werden könnte.
Now that mechanical thrombectomy has substantially improved outcomes after large-vessel occlusion stroke in up to every second patient, futile reperfusion wherein successful recanalization is not followed by a favorable outcome is moving into focus. Unfortunately, blood-based biomarkers, which identify critical stages of hemodynamically compromised yet reperfused tissue, are lacking. We recently reported that hypoxia induces the expression of endoglin, a TGF-β co-receptor, in human brain endothelium in vitro. Subsequent reoxygenation resulted in shedding. Our cell model suggests that soluble endoglin compromises the brain endothelial barrier function. To evaluate soluble endoglin as a potential biomarker of reperfusion (-injury) we analyzed its concentration in 148 blood samples of patients with acute stroke due to large-vessel occlusion. In line with our in vitro data, systemic soluble endoglin concentrations were significantly higher in patients with successful recanalization, whereas hypoxia alone did not induce local endoglin shedding, as analyzed by intra-arterial samples from hypoxic vasculature. In patients with reperfusion, higher concentrations of soluble endoglin additionally indicated larger infarct volumes at admission. In summary, we give translational evidence that the sequence of hypoxia and subsequent reoxygenation triggers the release of vasoactive soluble endoglin in large-vessel occlusion stroke and can serve as a biomarker for severe ischemia with ensuing recanalization/reperfusion.
Gait disturbances are common manifestations of Parkinson’s disease (PD), with unmet therapeutic needs. Inertial measurement units (IMUs) are capable of monitoring gait, but they lack neurophysiological information that may be crucial for studying gait disturbances in these patients. Here, we present a machine learning approach to approximate IMU angular velocity profiles and subsequently gait events using electromyographic (EMG) channels during overground walking in patients with PD. We recorded six parkinsonian patients while they walked for at least three minutes. Patient-agnostic regression models were trained on temporally embedded EMG time series of different combinations of up to five leg muscles bilaterally (i.e., tibialis anterior, soleus, gastrocnemius medialis, gastrocnemius lateralis, and vastus lateralis). Gait events could be detected with high temporal precision (median displacement of <50 ms), low numbers of missed events (<2%), and next to no false-positive event detections (<0.1%). Swing and stance phases could thus be determined with high fidelity (median F1-score of ~0.9). Interestingly, the best performance was obtained using as few as two EMG probes placed on the left and right vastus lateralis. Our results demonstrate the practical utility of the proposed EMG-based system for gait event prediction, which allows the simultaneous acquisition of an electromyographic signal to be performed. This gait analysis approach has the potential to make additional measurement devices such as IMUs and force plates less essential, thereby reducing financial and preparation overheads and discomfort factors in gait studies.
Ureaplasma species (spp.) are considered commensals of the adult genitourinary tract, but have been associated with chorioamnionitis, preterm birth, and invasive infections in neonates, including meningitis. Data on mechanisms involved in Ureaplasma-driven neuroinflammation are scarce. The present study addressed brain inflammatory responses in preterm lambs exposed to Ureaplasma parvum (UP) in utero. 7 days after intra-amniotic injection of UP (n = 10) or saline (n = 11), lambs were surgically delivered at gestational day 128–129. Expression of inflammatory markers was assessed in different brain regions using qRT-PCR and in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) by multiplex immunoassay. CSF was analyzed for UP presence using ureB-based real-time PCR, and MRI scans documented cerebral white matter area and cortical folding. Cerebral tissue levels of atypical chemokine receptor (ACKR) 3, caspases 1-like, 2, 7, and C–X–C chemokine receptor (CXCR) 4 mRNA, as well as CSF interleukin-8 protein concentrations were significantly increased in UP-exposed lambs. UP presence in CSF was confirmed in one animal. Cortical folding and white matter area did not differ among groups. The present study confirms a role of caspases and the transmembrane receptors ACKR3 and CXCR4 in Ureaplasma-driven neuroinflammation. Enhanced caspase 1-like, 2, and 7 expression may reflect cell death. Increased ACKR3 and CXCR4 expression has been associated with inflammatory central nervous system (CNS) diseases and impaired blood–brain barrier function. According to these data and previous in vitro findings from our group, we speculate that Ureaplasma-induced caspase and receptor responses affect CNS barrier properties and thus facilitate neuroinflammation.
Background
Eye movement abnormalities are commonplace in neurological disorders. However, unaided eye movement assessments lack granularity. Although videooculography (VOG) improves diagnostic accuracy, resource intensiveness precludes its broad use. To bridge this care gap, we here validate a framework for smartphone video-based nystagmography capitalizing on recent computer vision advances.
Methods
A convolutional neural network was fine-tuned for pupil tracking using > 550 annotated frames: ConVNG. In a cross-sectional approach, slow-phase velocity of optokinetic nystagmus was calculated in 10 subjects using ConVNG and VOG. Equivalence of accuracy and precision was assessed using the “two one-sample t-test” (TOST) and Bayesian interval-null approaches. ConVNG was systematically compared to OpenFace and MediaPipe as computer vision (CV) benchmarks for gaze estimation.
Results
ConVNG tracking accuracy reached 9–15% of an average pupil diameter. In a fully independent clinical video dataset, ConVNG robustly detected pupil keypoints (median prediction confidence 0.85). SPV measurement accuracy was equivalent to VOG (TOST p < 0.017; Bayes factors (BF) > 24). ConVNG, but not MediaPipe, achieved equivalence to VOG in all SPV calculations. Median precision was 0.30°/s for ConVNG, 0.7°/s for MediaPipe and 0.12°/s for VOG. ConVNG precision was significantly higher than MediaPipe in vertical planes, but both algorithms’ precision was inferior to VOG.
Conclusions
ConVNG enables offline smartphone video nystagmography with an accuracy comparable to VOG and significantly higher precision than MediaPipe, a benchmark computer vision application for gaze estimation. This serves as a blueprint for highly accessible tools with potential to accelerate progress toward precise and personalized Medicine.
Low-frequency oscillatory patterns of pallidal local field potentials (LFPs) have been proposed as a physiomarker for dystonia and hold the promise for personalized adaptive deep brain stimulation. Head tremor, a low-frequency involuntary rhythmic movement typical of cervical dystonia, may cause movement artifacts in LFP signals, compromising the reliability of low-frequency oscillations as biomarkers for adaptive neurostimulation. We investigated chronic pallidal LFPs with the Percept\(^{TM}\) PC (Medtronic PLC) device in eight subjects with dystonia (five with head tremors). We applied a multiple regression approach to pallidal LFPs in patients with head tremors using kinematic information measured with an inertial measurement unit (IMU) and an electromyographic signal (EMG). With IMU regression, we found tremor contamination in all subjects, whereas EMG regression identified it in only three out of five. IMU regression was also superior to EMG regression in removing tremor-related artifacts and resulted in a significant power reduction, especially in the theta-alpha band. Pallido-muscular coherence was affected by a head tremor and disappeared after IMU regression. Our results show that the Percept PC can record low-frequency oscillations but also reveal spectral contamination due to movement artifacts. IMU regression can identify such artifact contamination and be a suitable tool for its removal.
Highlights
• Beta-Guided programming is an innovative approach that may streamline the programming process for PD patients with STN DBS.
• While preliminary findings from our study suggest that Beta Titration may potentially mitigate STN overstimulation and enhance symptom control,
• Our results demonstrate that beta-guided programming significantly reduces programming time, suggesting it could be efficiently integrated into routine clinical practice using a commercially available patient programmer.
Background
Subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation (STN-DBS) is an effective treatment for advanced Parkinson's disease (PD). Clinical outcomes after DBS can be limited by poor programming, which remains a clinically driven, lengthy and iterative process. Electrophysiological recordings in PD patients undergoing STN-DBS have shown an association between STN spectral power in the beta frequency band (beta power) and the severity of clinical symptoms. New commercially-available DBS devices now enable the recording of STN beta oscillations in chronically-implanted PD patients, thereby allowing investigation into the use of beta power as a biomarker for DBS programming.
Objective
To determine the potential advantages of beta-guided DBS programming over clinically and image-guided programming in terms of clinical efficacy and programming time.
Methods
We conducted a randomized, blinded, three-arm, crossover clinical trial in eight Parkinson's patients with STN-DBS who were evaluated three months after DBS surgery. We compared clinical efficacy and time required for each DBS programming paradigm, as well as DBS parameters and total energy delivered between the three strategies (beta-, clinically- and image-guided).
Results
All three programming methods showed similar clinical efficacy, but the time needed for programming was significantly shorter for beta- and image-guided programming compared to clinically-guided programming (p < 0.001).
Conclusion
Beta-guided programming may be a useful and more efficient approach to DBS programming in Parkinson's patients with STN-DBS. It takes significantly less time to program than traditional clinically-based programming, while providing similar symptom control. In addition, it is readily available within the clinical DBS programmer, making it a valuable tool for improving current clinical practice.
Background
Cognitive impairment is a major comorbidity in patients with chronic heart failure (HF) with a wide range of phenotypes. In this study, we aimed to identify and compare different clusters of cognitive deficits.
Methods
The prospective cohort study “Cognition.Matters-HF” recruited 147 chronic HF patients (aged 64.5 ± 10.8 years; 16.2% female) of any etiology. All patients underwent extensive neuropsychological testing. We performed a hierarchical cluster analysis of the cognitive domains, such as intensity of attention, visual/verbal memory, and executive function. Generated clusters were compared exploratively with respect to the results of cardiological, neurological, and neuroradiological examinations without correction for multiple testing.
Results
Dendrogram and the scree plot suggested three distinct cognitive profiles: In the first cluster, 42 patients (28.6%) performed without any deficits in all domains. Exclusively, the intensity of attention deficits was seen in the second cluster, including 55 patients (37.4%). A third cluster with 50 patients (34.0%) was characterized by deficits in all cognitive domains. Age (p = 0.163) and typical clinical markers of chronic HF, such as ejection fraction (p = 0.222), 6-min walking test distance (p = 0.138), NT-proBNP (p = 0.364), and New York Heart Association class (p = 0.868) did not differ between clusters. However, we observed that women (p = 0.012) and patients with previous cardiac valve surgery (p = 0.005) prevailed in the “global deficits” cluster and the “no deficits” group had a lower prevalence of underlying arterial hypertension (p = 0.029). Total brain volume (p = 0.017) was smaller in the global deficit cluster, and serum levels of glial fibrillary acidic protein were increased (p = 0.048).
Conclusion
Apart from cognitively healthy and globally impaired HF patients, we identified a group with deficits only in the intensity of attention. Women and patients with previous cardiac valve surgery are at risk for global cognitive impairment when suffering HF and could benefit from special multimodal treatment addressing the psychosocial condition.
Introduction
IgG4 autoantibodies against paranodal proteins are known to induce acute-onset and often severe sensorimotor autoimmune neuropathies. How autoantibodies reach their antigens at the paranode in spite of the myelin barrier is still unclear.
Methods
We performed in vitro incubation experiments with patient sera on unfixed and unpermeabilized nerve fibers and in vivo intraneural and intrathecal passive transfer of patient IgG to rats, to explore the access of IgG autoantibodies directed against neurofascin-155 and contactin-1 to the paranodes and their pathogenic effect.
Results
We found that in vitro incubation resulted in weak paranodal binding of anti-contactin-1 autoantibodies whereas anti-neurofascin-155 autoantibodies bound to the nodes more than to the paranodes. After short-term intraneural injection, no nodal or paranodal binding was detectable when using anti-neurofascin-155 antibodies. After repeated intrathecal injections, nodal more than paranodal binding could be detected in animals treated with anti-neurofascin-155, accompanied by sensorimotor neuropathy. In contrast, no paranodal binding was visible in rats intrathecally injected with anti-contactin-1 antibodies, and animals remained unaffected.
Conclusion
These data support the notion of different pathogenic mechanisms of anti-neurofascin-155 and anti-contactin-1 autoantibodies and different accessibility of paranodal and nodal structures.
Treating seronegative neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder with inebilizumab: a case report
(2023)
Background
Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) is a devastating inflammatory disease of the central nervous system that is often severely disabling from the outset. The lack of pathognomonic aquaporin 4 (AQP4) antibodies in seronegative NMOSD not only hinders early diagnosis, but also limits therapeutic options, in contrast to AQP4 antibody-positive NMOSD, where the therapeutic landscape has recently evolved massively.
Case presentation
We report a 56-year-old woman with bilateral optic neuritis and longitudinally extensive myelitis as the index events of a seronegative NMOSD, who was successfully treated with inebilizumab.
Conclusion
Treatment with inebilizumab may be considered in aggressive seronegative NMOSD. Whether broader CD19-directed B cell depletion is more effective than treatment with rituximab remains elusive.
Glycine receptor (GlyR) autoantibodies are associated with stiff-person syndrome and the life-threatening progressive encephalomyelitis with rigidity and myoclonus in children and adults. Patient histories show variability in symptoms and responses to therapeutic treatments. A better understanding of the autoantibody pathology is required to develop improved therapeutic strategies. So far, the underlying molecular pathomechanisms include enhanced receptor internalization and direct receptor blocking altering GlyR function. A common epitope of autoantibodies against the GlyRα1 has been previously defined to residues 1A-33G at the N-terminus of the mature GlyR extracellular domain. However, if other autoantibody binding sites exist or additional GlyR residues are involved in autoantibody binding is yet unknown. The present study investigates the importance of receptor glycosylation for binding of anti-GlyR autoantibodies. The glycine receptor α1 harbors only one glycosylation site at the amino acid residue asparagine 38 localized in close vicinity to the identified common autoantibody epitope. First, non-glycosylated GlyRs were characterized using protein biochemical approaches as well as electrophysiological recordings and molecular modeling. Molecular modeling of non-glycosylated GlyRα1 did not show major structural alterations. Moreover, non-glycosylation of the GlyRα1N38Q did not prevent the receptor from surface expression. At the functional level, the non-glycosylated GlyR demonstrated reduced glycine potency, but patient GlyR autoantibodies still bound to the surface-expressed non-glycosylated receptor protein in living cells. Efficient adsorption of GlyR autoantibodies from patient samples was possible by binding to native glycosylated and non-glycosylated GlyRα1 expressed in living not fixed transfected HEK293 cells. Binding of patient-derived GlyR autoantibodies to the non-glycosylated GlyRα1 offered the possibility to use purified non-glycosylated GlyR extracellular domain constructs coated on ELISA plates and use them as a fast screening readout for the presence of GlyR autoantibodies in patient serum samples. Following successful adsorption of patient autoantibodies by GlyR ECDs, binding to primary motoneurons and transfected cells was absent. Our results indicate that the glycine receptor autoantibody binding is independent of the receptor’s glycosylation state. Purified non-glycosylated receptor domains harbouring the autoantibody epitope thus provide, an additional reliable experimental tool besides binding to native receptors in cell-based assays for detection of autoantibody presence in patient sera.
Highlights
• Dopamine receptor-1 activation induces TrkB cell-surface expression in striatal neurons
• Dopaminergic deficits cause TrkB accumulation and clustering in the ER
• TrkB clusters colocalize with cargo receptor SORCS-2 in direct pathway striatal neurons
• Intracellular TrkB clusters fail to fuse with lysosomes after dopamine depletion
Summary
Disturbed motor control is a hallmark of Parkinson’s disease (PD). Cortico-striatal synapses play a central role in motor learning and adaption, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) from cortico-striatal afferents modulates their plasticity via TrkB in striatal medium spiny projection neurons (SPNs). We studied the role of dopamine in modulating the sensitivity of direct pathway SPNs (dSPNs) to BDNF in cultures of fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS)-enriched D1-expressing SPNs and 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)-treated rats. DRD1 activation causes enhanced TrkB translocation to the cell surface and increased sensitivity for BDNF. In contrast, dopamine depletion in cultured dSPN neurons, 6-OHDA-treated rats, and postmortem brain of patients with PD reduces BDNF responsiveness and causes formation of intracellular TrkB clusters. These clusters associate with sortilin related VPS10 domain containing receptor 2 (SORCS-2) in multivesicular-like structures, which apparently protects them from lysosomal degradation. Thus, impaired TrkB processing might contribute to disturbed motor function in PD.
Neuroinflammation has been suggested as a pathogenetic mechanism contributing to Parkinson’s disease (PD). However, anti-inflammatory treatment strategies have not yet been established as a therapeutic option for PD patients. We have used a human α-synuclein mouse model of progressive PD to examine the anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects of inflammasome inhibition on dopaminergic (DA) neurons in the substantia nigra (SN). As the NLRP3 (NOD-, LRR- and pyrin domain-containing 3)-inflammasome is a core interface for both adaptive and innate inflammation and is also highly druggable, we investigated the implications of its inhibition. Repeat administration of MCC950, an inhibitor of NLRP3, in a PD model with ongoing pathology reduced CD4\(^+\) and CD8\(^+\) T cell infiltration into the SN. Furthermore, the anti-inflammasome treatment mitigated microglial activation and modified the aggregation of α-synuclein protein in DA neurons. MCC950-treated mice showed significantly less neurodegeneration of DA neurons and a reduction in PD-related motor behavior. In summary, early inflammasome inhibition can reduce neuroinflammation and prevent DA cell death in an α-synuclein mouse model for progressive PD.
Introduction
In patients with peripheral neuropathies (PNP), neuropathic pain is present in 50% of the cases, independent of the etiology. The pathophysiology of pain is poorly understood, and inflammatory processes have been found to be involved in neuro-degeneration, -regeneration and pain. While previous studies have found a local upregulation of inflammatory mediators in patients with PNP, there is a high variability described in the cytokines present systemically in sera and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). We hypothesized that the development of PNP and neuropathic pain is associated with enhanced systemic inflammation.
Methods
To test our hypothesis, we performed a comprehensive analysis of the protein, lipid and gene expression of different pro- and anti-inflammatory markers in blood and CSF from patients with PNP and controls.
Results
While we found differences between PNP and controls in specific cytokines or lipids, such as CCL2 or oleoylcarnitine, PNP patients and controls did not present major differences in systemic inflammatory markers in general. IL-10 and CCL2 levels were related to measures of axonal damage and neuropathic pain. Lastly, we describe a strong interaction between inflammation and neurodegeneration at the nerve roots in a specific subgroup of PNP patients with blood-CSF barrier dysfunction.
Conclusion
In patients with PNP systemic inflammatory, markers in blood or CSF do not differ from controls in general, but specific cytokines or lipids do. Our findings further highlight the importance of CSF analysis in patients with peripheral neuropathies.
Inflammation in the brain and gut is a critical component of several neurological diseases, such as Parkinson’s disease (PD). One trigger of the immune system in PD is aggregation of the pre-synaptic protein, α-synuclein (αSyn). Understanding the mechanism of propagation of αSyn aggregates is essential to developing disease-modifying therapeutics. Using a brain-first mouse model of PD, we demonstrate αSyn trafficking from the brain to the ileum of male mice. Immunohistochemistry revealed that the ileal αSyn aggregations are contained within CD11c+ cells. Using single-cell RNA sequencing, we demonstrate that ileal CD11c\(^+\) cells are microglia-like and the same subtype of cells is activated in the brain and ileum of PD mice. Moreover, by utilizing mice expressing the photo-convertible protein, Dendra2, we show that CD11c\(^+\) cells traffic from the brain to the ileum. Together these data provide a mechanism of αSyn trafficking between the brain and gut.
Bioimages frequently exhibit low signal-to-noise ratios due to experimental conditions, specimen characteristics, and imaging trade-offs. Reliable segmentation of such ambiguous images is difficult and laborious. Here we introduce deepflash2, a deep learning-enabled segmentation tool for bioimage analysis. The tool addresses typical challenges that may arise during the training, evaluation, and application of deep learning models on ambiguous data. The tool’s training and evaluation pipeline uses multiple expert annotations and deep model ensembles to achieve accurate results. The application pipeline supports various use-cases for expert annotations and includes a quality assurance mechanism in the form of uncertainty measures. Benchmarked against other tools, deepflash2 offers both high predictive accuracy and efficient computational resource usage. The tool is built upon established deep learning libraries and enables sharing of trained model ensembles with the research community. deepflash2 aims to simplify the integration of deep learning into bioimage analysis projects while improving accuracy and reliability.
Polyneuropathy (PNP) is a term to describe diseases of the peripheral nervous system, 50% of which present with neuropathic pain. In some types of PNP, pain is restricted to the skin distally in the leg, suggesting a local regulatory process leading to pain. In this study, we proposed a pro-inflammatory pathway mediated by NF-κB that might be involved in the development of pain in patients with painful PNP. To test this hypothesis, we have collected nerve and skin samples from patients with different etiologies and levels of pain. We performed RT-qPCR to analyze the gene expression of the proposed inflammatory pathway components in sural nerve and in distal and proximal skin samples. In sural nerve, we showed a correlation of TLR4 and TNFα to neuropathic pain, and an upregulation of TNFα in patients with severe pain. Patients with an inflammatory PNP also presented a lower expression of TRPV1 and SIRT1. In distal skin, we found a reduced expression of TLR4 and miR-146-5p, in comparison to proximal skin. Our findings thus support our hypothesis of local inflammatory processes involved in pain in PNP, and further show disturbed anti-inflammatory pathways involving TRPV1 and SIRT1 in inflammatory PNP.
Seed amplification assays (SAA) are becoming commonly used in synucleinopathies to detect α-synuclein aggregates. Studies in Parkinson’s disease (PD) and isolated REM-sleep behavior disorder (iRBD) have shown a considerably lower sensitivity in the olfactory epithelium than in CSF or skin. To get an insight into α-synuclein (α-syn) distribution within the nervous system and reasons for low sensitivity, we compared SAA assessment of nasal brushings and skin biopsies in PD (n = 27) and iRBD patients (n = 18) and unaffected controls (n = 30). α-syn misfolding was overall found less commonly in the olfactory epithelium than in the skin, which could be partially explained by the nasal brushing matrix exerting an inhibitory effect on aggregation. Importantly, the α-syn distribution was not uniform: there was a higher deposition of misfolded α-syn across all sampled tissues in the iRBD cohort compared to PD (supporting the notion of RBD as a marker of a more malignant subtype of synucleinopathy) and in a subgroup of PD patients, misfolded α-syn was detectable only in the olfactory epithelium, suggestive of the recently proposed brain-first PD subtype. Assaying α-syn of diverse origins, such as olfactory (part of the central nervous system) and skin (peripheral nervous system), could increase diagnostic accuracy and allow better stratification of patients.
Topological differences and confounders of mental rotation in cervical dystonia and blepharospasm
(2023)
Mental rotation (mR) bases on imagination of actual movements. It remains unclear whether there is a specific pattern of mR impairment in focal dystonia. We aimed to investigate mR in patients with cervical dystonia (CD) and blepharospasm (BS) and to assess potential confounders. 23 CD patients and 23 healthy controls (HC) as well as 21 BS and 19 hemifacial spasm (HS) patients were matched for sex, age, and education level. Handedness, finger dexterity, general reaction time, and cognitive status were assessed. Disease severity was evaluated by clinical scales. During mR, photographs of body parts (head, hand, or foot) and a non-corporal object (car) were displayed at different angles rotated within their plane. Subjects were asked to judge laterality of the presented image by keystroke. Both speed and correctness were evaluated. Compared to HC, CD and HS patients performed worse in mR of hands, whereas BS group showed comparable performance. There was a significant association of prolonged mR reaction time (RT) with reduced MoCA scores and with increased RT in an unspecific reaction speed task. After exclusion of cognitively impaired patients, increased RT in the mR of hands was confined to CD group, but not HS. While the question of whether specific patterns of mR impairment reliably define a dystonic endophenotype remains elusive, our findings point to mR as a useful tool, when used carefully with control measures and tasks, which may be capable of identifying specific deficits that distinguish between subtypes of dystonia.
Axon degeneration and functional decline in myelin diseases are often attributed to loss of myelin but their relation is not fully understood. Perturbed myelinating glia can instigate chronic neuroinflammation and contribute to demyelination and axonal damage. Here we study mice with distinct defects in the proteolipid protein 1 gene that develop axonal damage which is driven by cytotoxic T cells targeting myelinating oligodendrocytes. We show that persistent ensheathment with perturbed myelin poses a risk for axon degeneration, neuron loss, and behavioral decline. We demonstrate that CD8\(^+\) T cell-driven axonal damage is less likely to progress towards degeneration when axons are efficiently demyelinated by activated microglia. Mechanistically, we show that cytotoxic T cell effector molecules induce cytoskeletal alterations within myelinating glia and aberrant actomyosin constriction of axons at paranodal domains. Our study identifies detrimental axon-glia-immune interactions which promote neurodegeneration and possible therapeutic targets for disorders associated with myelin defects and neuroinflammation.
Elevated and low blood pressure (BP) may lead to poor functional outcome after ischemic stroke, which is conflicting. Hence, there must be another factor—such as cerebral small vessel disease (cSVD) -interacting with BP and thus, affecting outcome. Here, we investigate the relationship between BP and cSVD regarding outcome after stroke. Data of 423/503 stroke patients were prospectively analyzed. Diastolic (DBP) and systolic BP (SBP) were collected on hospital admission (BP\(_{ad}\)) and over the first 72 h (BP\(_{72h}\)). cSVD-burden was determined on MR-scans. Good functional outcome was defined as a modified Rankin Scale score ≤ 2 at hospital discharge and 12 months thereafter. cSVD was a predictor of poor outcome (OR 2.8; p < 0.001). SBPad, DBP\(_{ad}\) and SBP\(_{72h}\) were not significantly associated with outcome at any time. A significant relationship was found between DBP\(_{72h}\), (p < 0.01), cSVD (p = 0.013) and outcome at discharge. At 12 months, we found a relationship between outcome and DBP\(_{72h}\) (p = 0.018) and a statistical tendency regarding cSVD (p = 0.08). Changes in DBP72h were significantly related with outcome. There was a U-shaped relationship between DBP\(_{72h}\) and outcome at discharge. Our results suggest an individualized stroke care by either lowering or elevating DBP depending on cSVD-burden in order to influence functional outcome.
The execution of voluntary movements is primarily governed by the cerebral hemisphere contralateral to the moving limb. Previous research indicates that the ipsilateral motor network, comprising the primary motor cortex (M1), supplementary motor area (SMA), and premotor cortex (PM), plays a crucial role in the planning and execution of limb movements. However, the precise functions of this network and its interplay in different task contexts have yet to be fully understood. Twenty healthy right-handed participants (10 females, mean age 26.1 ± 4.6 years) underwent functional MRI scans while performing biceps brachii representations such as bilateral, unilateral flexion, and bilateral flexion-extension. Ipsilateral motor evoked potentials (iMEPs) were obtained from the identical set of participants in a prior study using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) targeting M1 while employing the same motor tasks. The voxel time series was extracted based on the region of interest (M1, SMA, ventral PM and dorsal PM). Directed functinal connectivity was derived from the extracted time series using time-resolved partial directed coherence. We found increased connectivity from left-PMv to both sides M1, as well as right-PMv to both sides SMA, in unilateral flexion compared to bilateral flexion. Connectivity from left M1 to left-PMv, and left-SMA to right-PMd, also increased in both unilateral flexion and bilateral flexion-extension compared to bilateral flexion. However, connectivity between PMv and right-M1 to left-PMd decreased during bilateral flexion-extension compared to unilateral flexion. Additionally, during bilateral flexion-extension, the connectivity from right-M1 to right-SMA had a negative relationship with the area ratio of iMEP in the dominant side. Our results provide corroborating evidence for prior research suggesting that the ipsilateral motor network is implicated in the voluntary movements and underscores its involvement in cognitive processes such as movement planning and coordination. Moreover, ipsilateral connectivity from M1 to SMA on the dominant side can modulate the degree of ipsilateral M1 activation during bilateral antagonistic contraction.
Dimethyl fumarate attenuates lymphocyte infiltration and reduces infarct size in experimental stroke
(2023)
Ischemic stroke is associated with exacerbated tissue damage caused by the activation of immune cells and the initiation of other inflammatory processes. Dimethyl fumarate (DMF) is known to modulate the immune response, activate antioxidative pathways, and improve the blood–brain barrier (BBB) after stroke. However, the specific impact of DMF on immune cells after cerebral ischemia remains unclear. In our study, male mice underwent transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO) for 30 min and received oral DMF (15 mg/kg) or a vehicle immediately after tMCAO, followed by twice-daily administrations for 7 days. Infarct volume was assessed on T2-weighted magnetic resonance images on days 1 and 7 after tMCAO. Brain-infiltrating immune cells (lymphocytes, monocytes) and microglia were quantified using fluorescence-activated cell sorting. DMF treatment significantly reduced infarct volumes and brain edema. On day 1 after tMCAO, DMF-treated mice showed reduced lymphocyte infiltration compared to controls, which was not observed on day 7. Monocyte and microglial cell counts did not differ between groups on either day. In the acute phase of stroke, DMF administration attenuated lymphocyte infiltration, probably due to its stabilizing effect on the BBB. This highlights the potential of DMF as a therapeutic candidate for mitigating immune cell-driven damage in stroke.
The pathophysiology of tremor in Parkinson’s disease (PD) is evolving towards a complex alteration to monoaminergic innervation, and increasing evidence suggests a key role of the locus coeruleus noradrenergic system (LC-NA). However, the difficulties in imaging LC-NA in patients challenge its direct investigation. To this end, we studied the development of tremor in a reserpinized rat model of PD, with or without a selective lesioning of LC-NA innervation with the neurotoxin DSP-4. Eight male rats (Sprague Dawley) received DSP-4 (50 mg/kg) two weeks prior to reserpine injection (10 mg/kg) (DR-group), while seven male animals received only reserpine treatment (R-group). Tremor, rigidity, hypokinesia, postural flexion and postural immobility were scored before and after 20, 40, 60, 80, 120 and 180 min of reserpine injection. Tremor was assessed visually and with accelerometers. The injection of DSP-4 induced a severe reduction in LC-NA terminal axons (DR-group: 0.024 ± 0.01 vs. R-group: 0.27 ± 0.04 axons/um\(^2\), p < 0.001) and was associated with significantly less tremor, as compared to the R-group (peak tremor score, DR-group: 0.5 ± 0.8 vs. R-group: 1.6 ± 0.5; p < 0.01). Kinematic measurement confirmed the clinical data (tremor consistency (% of tremor during 180 s recording), DR-group: 37.9 ± 35.8 vs. R-group: 69.3 ± 29.6; p < 0.05). Akinetic–rigid symptoms did not differ between the DR- and R-groups. Our results provide preliminary causal evidence for a critical role of LC-NA innervation in the development of PD tremor and foster the development of targeted therapies for PD patients.
Autoantikörper gegen nodo-paranodale Proteine des Ranvier’schen Schnürrings wie
Neurofascin-155 (NF-155), Contactin-1 und Caspr wurden in der Literatur bei
Patienten/Patientinnen mit Immunneuropathien beschrieben. Bei zwei bis zehn Prozent
der Patienten/Patientinnen mit Immunneuropathien können Autoantikörper gegen
Isoformen des Neurofascin detektiert werden. Patienten/Patientinnen mit
Autoantikörpern gegen NF-155 weisen gemeinsame klinische Merkmale auf, unter
anderem einen schweren Verlauf mit subakutem Beginn, vorwiegend motorischen
Defiziten, Tremor und einem schlechten Ansprechen auf eine Therapie mit intravenösen
Immunglobulinen (IVIG). Ein Grund für Letzteres könnte sein, dass es sich überwiegend
um Autoantikörper der Subklasse IgG4 handelt, die als anti-inflammatorisch gelten und
kein Komplement aktivieren. Neben der IgG4-Subklasse können bei manchen
Erkrankten auch die proinflammatorischen IgG-Subklassen 1 bis 3 nachgewiesen
werden. Bei der Anti-Pan-Neurofascin (155/140/186) Polyneuropathie zeigt sich klinisch
häufig ein fulminanter Phänotyp mit IgG3 Prädominanz. Das Ziel dieser Studie war, die
Autoantikörper-induzierte Komplementablagerung zu detektieren, sowie die Rolle der
IgG Subklasse und die Effekte von IVIG auf Antikörperbindung, Komplementaktivierung
und Effektorfunktionen zu untersuchen.
Hierzu wurde das Serum von 212 Probanden/-innen mit der Verdachtsdiagnose einer
entzündlichen Neuropathie auf Autoantikörper gegen NF-155 mittels ELISA und
Bindungsversuchen an Mäusezupfnerven gescreent. Im Fall eines positiven
Ergebnisses dienten zellbasierte Bindungsversuche mit NF-155-transfizierten HEK-293-
Zellen als Bestätigungstest. Die Effekte unterschiedlicher IVIG Konzentrationen auf die
Antikörperbindung und Komplementablagerung wurden in ELISA,
Komplementbindungsassays und zellbasierten Verfahren getestet. Außerdem wurde
mithilfe von LDH-Zytotoxizitätsmessungen die Komplement-induzierte Zelllyse sowie die
Effekte von IVIG untersucht. Klinische Daten wurden retrospektiv ausgewertet.
Fünf Patienten/Patientinnen mit hohen Autoantikörpertitern gegen NF-155 und ein
Patient mit Anti-Pan-Neurofascin Autoantikörpern konnten in der Studie detektiert
werden. Der Patient mit Autoantikörpern gegen alle drei Isoformen des Neurofascins und
IgG3-Prädominanz zeigte die deutlichste Komplementablagerung. Bei drei
Patienten/Patientinnen, die IgG1, IgG2 und IgG4 aufwiesen, war eine Aktivierung des
Komplementsystems zu beobachten, während bei zwei Patienten mit prädominanter
IgG4-Antikörpersubklasse keine Komplementablagerung nachweisbar war. Bei
Letzteren war eine Therapie mit IVIG in der Vorgeschichte erfolglos, während es bei zwei
der Patienten/Patientinnen mit anderen IgG-Subklassen und Komplementbindung unter
IVIG Therapie zu einer mäßigen bis deutlichen Symptombesserung in der Akutphase
kam. Eine Koinkubation mit IVIG führte in den ELISA basierten und zellbasierten
Versuchen zu keinem Effekt auf die Autoantikörperbindung an das Zielantigen, jedoch
zu einer deutlichen Reduktion der Antikörper-vermittelten Komplementbindung. Diese
Reduktion war sowohl bei Koinkuabtion von IVIG mit dem Komplementfaktor C1q als
auch bei Präinkubation von IVIG vor C1q Gabe zu sehen. Bei zwei der
Patienten/Patientinnen mit hohen Komplementablagerungen konnte eine erhöhte
Zytotoxizität nachgewiesen werden, welche bei Zugabe von IVIG verringert wurde.
Schlussfolgernd ist die Autoantikörper-induzierte Komplementablagerung abhängig von
der prädominanten IgG Subklasse. IVIG führt zu einer deutlichen,
konzentrationsabhängigen Reduktion der Komplementablagerung, sowie möglicher
zytotoxischer Effektorfunktionen wie die Zytolyse myelinisierter Schwannzellen oder
Nervenaxonen. Darüber hinaus könnte die Subklassenanalyse von Erkrankten das
Therapieansprechen auf IVIG vorhersagen und sollte daher eine wichtige Rolle in der
Diagnostik der Nodo-Paranodopathie spielen. IVIG sowie andere über das
Komplementsystem wirkende Therapeutika können in der Behandlung der schwer
betroffenen Patienten/Patientinnen, insbesondere bei Anti-Pan-Neurofascin positiver
Neuropathie, in Betracht gezogen werden.
In dieser Arbeit wurde die Krankheitsprogression im Parkinson-Mausmodell hm2α-SYN-39 mit zunehmendem Alter charakterisiert. Die Mäuse wurden in 4 Altersgruppen (2-3, 7-8, 11-12, 16-17 Monate) mit motorischen Verhaltenstests auf einen Parkinson-Phänotyp untersucht. Zudem erfolgten Untersuchungen des dopaminergen Systems zur Detektion von neurochemischen Veränderungen und einer Neurodegeneration im nigrostriatalen Trakt. Weiterhin wurden neuroinflammatorische Prozesse des adaptiven und angeborenen IS in der SN und im Striatum mittels immunhistochemischer Färbungen beurteilt.
Ein Parkinson-Phänotyp in diesem Mausmodell zeigte sich nur leicht ausgeprägt, sodass der Rotarod- und Zylinder-Test lediglich den Hinweis auf eine nicht-signifikante Einschränkung der Motorik erbrachte. Dennoch ergab die stereologische Quantifizierung TH- und Nissl-positiver Zellen in der SNpc der hm2α-SYN-39 Mäuse eine altersabhängige, signifikant-progrediente Reduktion der dopaminergen Neurone mit zunehmendem Alter. Eine signifikant niedrigere TH-positive Zellzahl dieser tg Mäuse zeigte sich ab einem Alter von 16-17 Monaten verglichen zu gleichaltrigen wt Tieren. Dagegen war die Neurodegeneration im Striatum etwas weniger ausgeprägt. Die tg Mäuse präsentierten im Alter von 16-17 Monaten eine nicht-signifikante Erniedrigung der dopaminergen Terminalen verglichen zu gleichaltrigen wt Tieren. Ein DA-Mangel im Striatum der tg Mäuse konnte mittels HPLC bestätigt werden. Bis zum Alter von 16-17 Monaten wurde eine signifikante Reduktion der DA-Level von 23,2 % verglichen zu gleichaltrigen wt Mäusen gezeigt. Außerdem erniedrigt waren die striatalen Level von NA und 5-HAT bei tg Mäusen, passend zu den bisherigen Ergebnissen bei Parkinson-Patienten.
Immunhistochemische Untersuchungen einer Neuroinflammation im nigrostriatalen Trakt ergaben eine tendenziell erhöhte Infiltration von CD4- und CD8-positiven T-Zellen bei hm2α-SYN-39 Mäusen mit zunehmendem Alter, wobei die Infiltration CD8-positiver Zellen ausgeprägter war als bei CD4-positiven Zellen. Eine noch deutlichere neuroinflammatorische Reaktion zeigte das angeborene IS. Hierbei ergab die immunhistologische Quantifizierung CD11b-positiver mikroglialer Zellen einen hochsignifikanten Anstieg im nigrostriatalen Trakt bei hm2α-SYN-39 Mäusen schon im jungen Alter.
Zusammenfassend präsentierte dieses Parkinson-Mausmodell eine langsam-progrediente Parkinson-Pathologie mit begleitender Neuroinflammation im nigrostriatalen Trakt während des Alterns, wobei die Immunantwort der mikroglialen Zellen zu einem früheren Zeitpunkt einsetzte als die T-Zellinfiltration und Neurodegeneration. Dieses Mausmodell bietet zahlreiche Möglichkeiten zur zukünftigen Erforschung der Pathophysiologie beim MP. Generell weist diese Arbeit auf eine bedeutende Rolle neuroinflammatorischer Prozesse in der Krankheitsprogression der Parkinsonerkrankung hin und soll dazu ermutigen Neuroinflammation durchaus intensiver in tg Tiermodellen zu untersuchen.
Background
Ischemic stroke immediately evokes a strong neuro-inflammatory response within the vascular compartment, which contributes to primary infarct development under vessel occlusion as well as further infarct growth despite recanalization, referred to as ischemia/reperfusion injury. Later, in the subacute phase of stroke (beyond day 1 after recanalization), further inflammatory processes within the brain parenchyma follow. Whether this second wave of parenchymal inflammation contributes to an additional/secondary increase in infarct volumes and bears the potential to be pharmacologically targeted remains elusive. We addressed the role of the NLR-family pyrin domain-containing protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome in the subacute phase of ischemic stroke.
Methods
Focal cerebral ischemia was induced in C57Bl/6 mice by a 30-min transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO). Animals were treated with the NLRP3 inhibitor MCC950 therapeutically 24 h after or prophylactically before tMCAO. Stroke outcome, including infarct size and functional deficits as well as the local inflammatory response, was assessed on day 7 after tMCAO.
Results
Infarct sizes on day 7 after tMCAO decreased about 35% after delayed and about 60% after prophylactic NLRP3 inhibition compared to vehicle. Functionally, pharmacological inhibition of NLRP3 mitigated the local inflammatory response in the ischemic brain as indicated by reduction of infiltrating immune cells and reactive astrogliosis.
Conclusions
Our results demonstrate that the NLRP3 inflammasome continues to drive neuroinflammation within the subacute stroke phase. NLRP3 inflammasome inhibition leads to a better long-term outcome—even when administered with a delay of 1 day after stroke induction, indicating ongoing inflammation-driven infarct progression. These findings may pave the way for eagerly awaited delayed treatment options in ischemic stroke.
Sowohl neurologische Erkrankungen als auch der natürliche Alterungsprozess gehen regelhaft mit einem Untergang von Neuronen einher und bedingen neurologische Funktionsverluste. Diese mit Hilfe nicht-invasiver Techniken, beispielsweise tDCS, zu reduzieren, stellt ein wichtiges Ziel der neurowissenschaftlichen Forschung dar. Neben Arbeiten, die tDCS-Effekte auf das motorische Lernen bei Stimulation des motorischen Kortex nachweisen konnten, gibt es auch Hinweise für solche Effekte bei Stimulation des Kleinhirns. Allerdings besteht derzeit noch eine hohe Variabilität und damit einhergehend eine schlechte Vergleichbarkeit der Studien bezüglich ihrer Stimulationsbedingungen. Das Ansprechen unterschiedlicher Altersgruppen bleibt unklar.
In der vorliegenden Arbeit wurden die Effekte zerebellärer a-tDCS auf das motorische Lernen bei gesunden älteren Probanden untersucht. Im Cross-over-Design wurde zu unterschiedlichen Zeitpunkten (vor bzw. nach der motorischen Aufgabe) stimuliert und im 24-Stunden-Verlauf die Langzeitwirkung evaluiert. Gruppe A erhielt vor einer motorischen Übungsaufgabe eine zerebelläre Stimulation, entweder als a-tDCS oder Scheinstimulation, Gruppe B nach der Übungsaufgabe. Zur Überprüfung der Effekte auf das Sequenzlernen diente der Finger-Tapping-Task. Der Lernerfolg wurde anhand der Genauigkeit, der Sequenzdauer und des Skill-Index gemessen.
Die Ergebnisse deuten darauf hin, dass eine zerebelläre a-tDCS vor einer Übungsaufgabe zu einer Verbesserung der Konsolidierung der Fähigkeit, eine Zahlenfolge möglichst schnell und gleichzeitig genau einzutippen, führt, während die Stimulation nach einer Übungsaufgabe das motorische Lernen nicht zu beeinflussen scheint. Insgesamt stützen die Ergebnisse zum Teil die bisherigen Hinweise, dass eine zerebellär applizierte a-tDCS das motorische Lernen verbessern kann. Aufgrund einiger Limitationen, besonders der geringen Gruppengröße, verbleibt dieses Ergebnis jedoch vorläufig und bedarf einer Bestätigung in größeren Probandengruppen. Es bleibt von hohem Interesse, die optimalen Bedingungen für die Anwendung von tDCS am Kleinhirn zu definieren, um motorische Lernprozesse positiv zu beeinflussen. Dies ist die Voraussetzung dafür, zerebelläre tDCS mittelfristig auch zu therapeutischen Zwecken anwenden zu können.
(1) Background: The first-line treatment for patients with focal or segmental dystonia with a craniocervical distribution is still the intramuscular injection of botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT). However, some patients experience primary or secondary treatment failure from this potential immunogenic therapy. Deep brain stimulation (DBS) may then be used as a backup strategy in this situation. (2) Methods: Here, we reviewed the current study literature to answer a specific question regarding the efficacy and safety of the use of DBS, particularly for cervical dystonia (CD) and Meige syndrome (MS) in patients with documented treatment failure under BoNT. (3) Results: There are only two studies with the highest level of evidence in this area. Despite this clear limitation, in the context of the narrowly defined research question of this paper, it is possible to report 161 patients with CD or MS who were included in studies that were able to show a statistically significant reduction in dystonic symptoms using DBS. Safety and tolerability data appeared adequate. However, much of the information is based on retrospective observations. (4) Conclusions: The evidence base in this area is in need of further scientific investigation. Most importantly, more randomized, controlled and double-blind trials are needed, possibly including a head-to-head comparison of DBS and BoNT.
Background: Aging increases individual susceptibility to falls and injuries, suggesting poorer adaptation of balance responses to perturbation during locomotion, which can be measured with the locomotor adaptation task (LAT). However, it is unclear how aging and lifestyle factors affect these responses during walking. Hence, the present study investigates the relationship between balance and lifestyle factors during the LAT in healthy individuals across the adult lifespan using a correlational design. Methods: Thirty participants aged 20–78 years performed an LAT on a split-belt treadmill (SBT). We evaluated the magnitude and rate of adaptation and deadaptation during the LAT. Participants reported their lifelong physical and cognitive activity. Results: Age positively correlated with gait-line length asymmetry at the late post-adaptation phase (p = 0.007). These age-related effects were mediated by recent physical activity levels (p = 0.040). Conclusion: Our results confirm that locomotor adaptive responses are preserved in aging, but the ability to deadapt newly learnt balance responses is compromised with age. Physical activity mediates these age-related effects. Therefore, gait symmetry post-adaptation could effectively measure the risk of falling, and maintaining physical activity could protect against declines in balance.
Beim ischämischen Schlaganfall führt ein thrombotischer Verschluss von gehirnversorgenden Arterien zu einer akuten Durchblutungsstörung, mit der Folge von neurologischen Defiziten. Primäres Therapieziel ist es, diese Blutgerinnsel aufzulösen, um die Sauerstoffversorgung des Gehirns wiederherzustellen und den ischämischen Hirnschaden zu begrenzen. Dazu stehen die intravenösen Thrombolyse mit rt-PA (rekombinanter Gewebe-Plasminogen-Aktivator) sowie die endovaskuläre mechanische Thrombektomie zur Verfügung. Häufig kann ein Schlaganfall, trotz erfolgreicher Rekanalisation der Gefäße, zu einer weiteren Größenzunahme des Infarktes und neurologischen Defiziten bei den Patienten führen. Diese Größenzunahme beruht zum einen auf einem sich entwickelnden Hirnödem und zum anderen auf entzündlichen Prozessen. Zahlreiche Hinweise deuten darauf hin, dass der Schlaganfall ein Zusammenspiel aus thrombotischen und entzündlichen Ereignissen ist, ein Phänomen, das als Thromboinflammation bezeichnet wird. Aufgrund der begrenzten Behandlungsmöglichkeiten ist die Entwicklung neuer Therapieansätze für den ischämischen Schlaganfall besonders wichtig. Agaphelin und Ixolaris sind Proteine aus den Speicheldrüsen von Hämatophagen, für welche in früheren Studien eine starke antithrombotische Wirkung bei gleichzeitig geringem Blutungsrisiko nachgewiesen wurde. Diese möglichen antithrombotischen Effekte wurden in dieser Studie im Hinblick auf ihre Wirksamkeit und Sicherheit im Mausmodell der zerebralen Ischämie untersucht. Die Behandlung der Mäuse mit Agaphelin 1 Stunde nach transienter Okklusion der Arteria cerebri media (tMCAO) führte zu kleineren Schlaganfallvolumina und geringeren neurologischen Defiziten an Tag 1 nach dem Schlaganfall. Die Mortalität der Mäuse war bis Tag 7 deutlich gesunken. Aus klinischer Sicht ist ebenfalls relevant, dass der starke antithrombotische Effekt von Agaphelin im Mausmodell nicht mit einem erhöhten Risiko für intrazerebrale Blutungen einherging. Diesem protektiven Effekt von Agaphelin lagen eine verminderte intrazerebrale Thrombusbildung, eine abgeschwächte Entzündungsantwort und eine Stabilisierung der Blut-Hirn-Schranke sowie eine Reduzierung der Apoptose zugrunde. Nach der Gabe von Ixolaris 1 Stunde nach tMCAO waren zwar signifikant geringere Infarktgrößen messbar, diese führten allerdings nicht zu einer Verbesserung der neurologischen Defizite. Zudem verursachte die Gabe von Ixolaris schon 24 Stunden nach tMCAO erhebliche intrazerebrale Blutungen und auch die Mortalität der Mäuse war zu diesem Zeitpunkt bereits erhöht. Aufgrund dieser massiven Nebenwirkungen scheint Ixolaris kein geeigneter Kandidat für eine humane Anwendung zu sein. Bei Agaphelin hingegen könnte es
sich um einen vielversprechenden Kandidaten für die Behandlung des ischämischen Schlaganfalls handeln. Vor einer möglichen Testung von Agaphelin in klinischen Studien, sind weitere translationale Untersuchungen notwendig, um ein noch präziseres Verständnis für die Wirksamkeit und Sicherheit von Agaphelin zu gewinnen. Insgesamt stellt die Hemmung thromboinflammatorischer Prozesse, ohne eine Erhöhung der Blutungskomplikationen, eine vielversprechende Option zur Behandlung des ischämischen Schlaganfalls dar.
Der Verlauf der Multiplen Sklerose ist heterogener Natur; die Fähigkeit zu einem intakten adaptiven motorischen Lernen und einer intakten Konsolidierung könnten einen milden Krankheitsverlauf begünstigen.
In der vorliegenden Arbeit wurden das adaptive motorische Lernen und seine Konsolidierung bei MS-Patienten im Vergleich zu neurologisch gesunden Kontrollprobanden untersucht; außerdem wurde das Verhältnis dieser Formen des Lernens zu klinischen und apparativen Parametern des Krankheitsprogresses untersucht.
Dazu führten 20 MS-Patienten und 20 Kontrollprobanden eine visuoadaptive Lernaufgabe durch. Hierzu sollten mittels Computerbildschirm und Computermaus geradlinige Zielbewegungen zwischen einem Startpunkt und einem Zielpunkt wechselnder Lokalisation durchgeführt werden, wobei in einem Rotationsmodus eine externe Ablenkung der Zielbewegung im Uhrzeigersinn eingeführt wurde, welche auszugleichen war. Die Übungssitzung wurde nach 24 Stunden und nach 72 Stunden wiederholt. Analysiert wurden die Richtungsfehler der Zielbewegungen, die Adaptationsrate an die Ablenkung und die Retention der erlernten Adaptation bis zur Folgesitzung. Motorische Einschränkung wurde durch den EDSS-Score und den 9-Loch-Stecktest quantifiziert, zentralnervöse Läsionslast wurde mittels cMRT und MEP ermittelt.
Die Adaptation und Lernfähigkeit innerhalb einer Übungssitzung waren in der Patienten- und der Kontrollgruppe vergleichbar; jedoch zeigte sich eine signifikant verminderte Retentionsrate in der Patientengruppe an den Folgeuntersuchungstagen im Vergleich zur Kontrollgruppe. In den Korrelationsanalysen und Subgruppenvergleichen innerhalb der Patientengruppe nach Stratifizierung aufgrund von EDSS-Score, 9-Lochstecktest und zentralnervöser Läsionslast im MRT konnte kein eindeutiger Zusammenhang zwischen klinischer Beeinträchtigung bzw. zentralnervöser Läsionslast auf der einen Seite und Adaptation bzw. Konsolidierung auf der anderen Seite identifiziert werden. Jedoch zeigte sich in der Patientengruppe für den ersten Nachuntersuchungstag eine signifikant höhere Retentionsrate in der Subgruppe mit geringerer Leistung im 9-Lochsteck-Test.
Insgesamt deuten die vorliegenden Daten auf eine erhaltene Fähigkeit zu adaptivem motorischen Lernen und somit auf eine erhaltene rasch einsetzende Neuroplastizität bei leicht bis mittelgradig betroffenen MS-Patienten hin; jedoch sprechen die Daten für eine eingeschränkte Konsolidierungsfähigkeit. Zentralnervöse Läsionslast scheint Motoradaptation und Konsolidierung nicht zu verhindern. Das genaue Verhältnis der Motoradapation und Konsolidierung zum klinischen Funktionserhalt konnte nicht genauer aufgeklärt werden. Um die genaue Beziehung zwischen Motoradaptation und Konsolidierung und klinischer Beeinträchtigung bzw. ZNS-Läsionen zu eruieren, bedarf es weiterer Studien.
Background
It is unknown whether technological advancement of stent-retriever devices influences typical observational indicators of safety or effectiveness.
Methods
Observational retrospective study of APERIO® (AP) vs. new generation APERIO® Hybrid (APH) (Acandis®, Pforzheim, Germany) stent-retriever device (01/2019–09/2020) for mechanical thrombectomy (MT) in large vessel occlusion (LVO) stroke. Primary effectiveness endpoint was successful recanalization eTICI (expanded Thrombolysis In Cerebral Ischemia) ≥ 2b67, primary safety endpoint was occurrence of hemorrhagic complications after MT. Secondary outcome measures were time from groin puncture to first pass and successful reperfusion, and the total number of passes needed to achieve the final recanalization result.
Results
A total of 298 patients with LVO stroke who were treated by MT matched the inclusion criteria: 148 patients (49.7%) treated with AP vs. 150 patients (50.3%) treated with new generation APH. Successful recanalization was not statistically different between both groups: 75.7% for AP vs. 79.3% for APH; p = 0.450. Postinterventional hemorrhagic complications and particularly subarachnoid hemorrhage as the entity possibly associated with stent-retriever device type was significantly less frequent in the group treated with the APH: 29.7% for AP and 16.0% for APH; p = 0.005; however, rates of symptomatic hemorrhage with clinical deterioration and in domo mortality were not statistically different. Neither the median number of stent-retriever passages needed to achieve final recanalization, time from groin puncture to first pass, time from groin puncture to final recanalization nor the number of cases in which successful recanalization could only be achieved by using a different stent-retriever as bail-out device differed between both groups.
Conclusion
In the specific example of the APERIO® stent-retriever device, we observed that further technological developments of the new generation device were not associated with disadvantages with respect to typical observational indicators of safety or effectiveness.
Zu den häufigsten Symptomen der Neuroborreliose zählen Meningopolyradikulitis, lymphozytäre Meningitis und eine Beteiligung von Hirnnerven. Die Diagnosestellung erfolgt anhand klinischer Symptomatik, Liquoranalyse und Antikörperuntersuchungen von Liquor und Serum. Besonders in der Frühphase der Infektion gestaltet sich die Diagnosesicherung aufgrund der noch fehlenden Antikörperreaktion jedoch oftmals sehr schwierig.
Die Ergebnisse mehrerer Studien legen nahe, dass CXCL-13 einen wertvollen Beitrag leisten könnte, um diese diagnostische Lücke zu schließen. Ziel der Studie war es, die Wertigkeit des Liquorbiomarkers CXCL-13 in der Diagnostik der Neuroborreliose und anderer neuroinflammatorischer Erkrankungen anhand eines großen unselektierten Kollektivs zu ermitteln, einen cut-off Wert für die Verwendung im klinischen Alltag zu definieren und die Ergebnisse mit der bestehenden Literatur zu vergleichen.
Dafür wurden am Klinikum Wels-Grieskirchen über einen Zeitraum von 3 Jahren alle Patienten analysiert, bei denen im Rahmen einer Liquorpunktion die CXCL-13 Konzentration bestimmt wurde. Die Patienten wurden anhand der Hauptdiagnose bei Entlassung in 12 Diagnosegruppen aufgeteilt, für die Einteilung der Neuroborreliose Patienten wurden die Diagnoseleitlinien der DGN herangezogen.
Alle Liquorproben wurden routinemäßig auf Zellzahl, Gesamteiweiß und Laktat untersucht, die CXCL-13 Konzentration wurde anhand eines enzyme-linked immunsorbent assay (CXCL-13 ELISA, Euroimmun) bestimmt.
Unter den 1410 augewerteten Patienten fanden sich 29 Fälle mit gesicherter Neuroborreliose sowie 9 Fälle mit wahrscheinlicher/möglicher Neuroborreliose. Beide Neuroborreliosegruppen zeigten eine deutlich erhöhte mediane CXCL-13 Konzentration (554pg/ml bzw. 649pg/ml), in der Gruppe der bakteriellen und Pilzinfektionen (n=6) fand sich ebenfalls ein deutlich erhöhter Median von 410pg/ml. Alle anderen Gruppen wiesen signifikant niedrigere CXCL-13 Konzentrationen auf (p<0,001), lediglich bei sechs Patienten aus der Gruppe der soliden Tumore, darunter ein kutanes Lymphom und fünf hirneigene Tumore, wurden Werte über 500pg/ml gefunden.
Anhand einer ROC-Kurve wurde der ideale cut-off für die Diagnose der gesicherten Neuroborreliose errechnet. Dieser lag bei 55,5pg/ml mit einer Sensitivität von 96,6% (95% KI 80,4-99,8%) und einer Spezifität von 94,9% (95% KI 93,5-95,9%).
Bei 28 der 29 gesicherten Neuroborreliosefälle konnte ein positiver Antikörperindex nachgewiesen werden, dies entspricht einer Sensitivität von 96,6%. Der direkte Erregernachweis mittels PCR wurde bei neun Patienten durchgeführt, er war lediglich in zwei Fällen positiv, die Sensitivität lag bei 22,2%.
Bei den Patienten mit wahrscheinlicher Neuroborreliose (n=5) war eine Bestimmung des Antikörper-Index nicht möglich, da entweder nur im Serum oder im Liquor borrelienspezifische Antikörper vorlagen. Alle Patienten zeigten eine typische klinische Symptomatik, eine lymphozytäre Pleozytose und deutlich erhöhte CXCL-13 Konzentrationen. Es erfolgte eine antibiotische Therapie mit Ceftriaxon, worauf die Symptomatik rasch rückläufig war.
Die Ergebnisse der Studie bestätigen die hohe Wertigkeit von CXCL-13 für die Diagnose der Neuroborreliose und belegen die Übertragbarkeit der bisherigen Funde auf ein unselektiertes Patientenkollektiv. Die CXCL-13 Bestimmung ist dem direkten Erregernachweis deutlich überlegen, dieser ist aufgrund der niedrigen Sensitivität lediglich als Bestätigungstest geeignet. Im Vergleich zum borrelienspezifischen Antikörper-Index ist CXCL-13 als in etwa ebenbürtig anzusehen. Besonders in der Frühphase der Infektion bietet die CXCL-13 Bestimmung aufgrund der Latenzzeit bis zur Nachweisbarkeit von Antikörpern jedoch einen deutlichen Vorteil. Zusätzlich fällt die CXCL-13 Konzentration nach erfolgter Therapie rasch wieder ab, wodurch es sich auch als Verlaufsparameter eignet. Ein positiver Antikörper-Index kann über viele Jahre persistieren, weshalb eine Unterscheidung zwischen akuter und abgelaufener Infektion unmöglich ist. Am sinnvollsten erscheint eine Kombination von CXCL-13 und Antikörper-Index, in Verbindung mit der klinischen Präsentation ergibt sich so eine sehr hohe diagnostische Sicherheit in allen Stadien der Erkrankung.
Die Rehabilitation von Schlaganfallpatienten erfordert ein interdisziplinäres Vorgehen. Dies ist im klinischen Alltag oft nur schwer umsetzbar. Im Jahr 2011 wurde daher im Neurologischen Rehabilitationszentrum Quellenhof in Bad Wildbad ein spezielles Behandlungskonzept für Schlaganfallpatienten entwickelt. Mit dieser Studie sollte die Wirksamkeit dieses neuen Konzepts untersucht werden. Dabei wurde die Behandlung im Schlaganfallkonzept mit der bisher üblichen Behandlung verglichen. Zielparameter waren der Barthel-Index und die modifizierte Rankin-Skala bei Aufnahme und bei Entlassung. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass sowohl die bisherige Behandlung als auch die Behandlung im Schlaganfallkonzept effektiv sind. Im Schlaganfallkonzept konnte jedoch ein größerer Zugewinn an alltagsrelevanten Fähigkeiten erzielt werden; zudem berichteten Pflegekräfte und Therapeuten eine verbesserte Zusammenarbeit. Somit steigert das Schlaganfallkonzept nicht nur die Alltagskompetenz der Patienten, sondern auch den Wissenstransfer zwischen den Berufsgruppen und die Interdisziplinarität.
Bei einem ischämischen Schlaganfall bestehen neben dem Verlust von neuronalen Zellen auch dysfunktionale Signale, die sich pathologisch auf die tieferen motorischen Zentren des zentralen Nervensystems auswirken können. Mittels tiefer Hirnstimulation kann die Weiterleitung pathologischer Signale im Bereich des neuronalen Netzwerks unterbrochen werden. In dieser Arbeit wurde ein Tiermodell verwendet, in welchem bei insgesamt 18 Ratten ein photothrombotischer Schlaganfall des rechten sensomotorischen Kortex induziert wurde. Nachdem bei jedem Tier eine Mikroelektrode in den Bereich des pedunkulopontinen tegmentalen Nucleus implantiert worden war, wurde eine kontinuierliche tiefe Hirnstimulation über 10 Tage durchgeführt. Die Gegenüberstellung der Fall- und Kontrollgruppe im Beam-Walking- und Ladder-Rung-Walking-Test ergab hierbei keine Verbesserung der motorischen Defizite durch die Intervention. Das Ergebnis lässt sich vor dem Hintergrund neuerer Erkenntnisse einordnen, nach welchen der pedunkulopontine tegmentale Nucleus nicht für die Bewegungsinitiierung verantwortlich ist.
Fabry Disease (FD) is a genetic lysosomal storage disorder based on mutations in the gene encoding α-Galactosidase A (α-GalA) leading to accumulation of globotriaosylceramide (Gb3). Missense mutations induce an amino acid exchange (AAE) in the α-GalA. Pain is a predominant symptom in FD and the pathophysiology is unclear. Skin punch biopsies were obtained from 40 adult FD patients and ten healthy controls and dermal fibroblast cultures were generated for cell culture experiments to investigate Gb3 load, gene and protein expression patterns and ion channel activity. The 3D-structure of α-GalA was downloaded into Pymol Graphics System and the AAE was depicted and located in order to investigate the correlation between the AAE location type in the α-GalA and the clinical FD phenotype.
FD dermal fibroblasts showed high Gb3 load depending on treatment interval and expressed Kca1.1 channels. Activity was reduced in FD cells at baseline, but increased over-proportionately upon Gb3-cleavage by enzyme replacement therapy. Gene and protein expression of Kca1.1 was increased in FD cells. FD dermal fibroblasts showed higher gene expression of Notch1 and several cytokines. Further, it was shown that three different AAE location types can be differentiated: mutations in the active site (‘active site’), those buried in the core of α-GalA (‘buried’) and those at another location, mostly on the protein surface (‘other’). FD patients carrying active site or buried mutations showed a severe clinical phenotype with multi-organ manifestation and early disease onset. Patients with other mutations were less severely affected with oligo-organ manifestation sparing the nervous system and later disease onset.
These results show that dermal fibroblasts may be involved in FD-associated pain and that stratification of FD patients carrying missense mutations by AAE location type may be an advantageous parameter that can help in the management of FD patients.
There is no approved drug for fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) in Europe. In the German S3 guideline, amitriptyline, duloxetine, and pregabalin are recommended for temporary use. The aim of this study was to cross-sectionally investigate the current practice of medication in FMS patients in Germany. We systematically interviewed 156 patients with FMS, while they were participating in a larger study. The patients had been stratified into subgroups with and without a decrease in intraepidermal nerve fiber density. The drugs most commonly used to treat FMS pain were nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (41.0% of all patients), metamizole (22.4%), and amitriptyline (12.8%). The most frequent analgesic treatment regimen was “on demand” (53.9%), during pain attacks, while 35.1% of the drugs were administered daily and the remaining in other regimens. Median pain relief as self-rated by the patients on a numerical rating scale (0–10) was 2 points for NSAIDS, 2 for metamizole, and 1 for amitriptyline. Drugs that were discontinued due to lack of efficacy rather than side effects were acetaminophen, flupirtine, and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. Reduction in pain severity was best achieved by NSAIDs and metamizole. Our hypothesis that a decrease in intraepidermal nerve fiber density might represent a neuropathic subtype of FMS, which would be associated with better effectiveness of drugs targeting neuropathic pain, could not be confirmed in this cohort. Many FMS patients take “on-demand” medication that is not in line with current guidelines. More randomized clinical trials are needed to assess drug effects in FMS subgroups.
Background
Mucopolysaccharidosis type III (Sanfilippo syndrome) is a lysosomal storage disorder, caused by a deficiency in the heparan-N-sulfatase enzyme involved in the catabolism of the glycosaminoglycan heparan sulfate. It is characterized by early nonspecific neuropsychiatric symptoms, followed by progressive neurocognitive impairment in combination with only mild somatic features. In this patient group with a broad clinical spectrum a significant genotype-phenotype correlation with some mutations leading to a slower progressive, attenuated course has been demonstrated.
Case presentation
Our patient had complications in the neonatal period and was diagnosed with Mucopolysaccharidosis IIIa only at the age of 28 years. He was compound heterozygous for the variants p.R245H and p.S298P, the latter having been shown to lead to a significantly milder phenotype.
Conclusions
The diagnostic delay is even more prolonged in this patient population with comorbidities and a slowly progressive course of the disease.
We have previously shown that targeting endoneurial macrophages with the orally applied CSF-1 receptor specific kinase (c-FMS) inhibitor PLX5622 from the age of 3 months onwards led to a substantial alleviation of the neuropathy in mouse models of Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) 1X and 1B disease, which are genetically-mediated nerve disorders not treatable in humans. The same approach failed in a model of CMT1A (PMP22-overexpressing mice, line C61), representing the most frequent form of CMT. This was unexpected since previous studies identified macrophages contributing to disease severity in the same CMT1A model. Here we re-approached the possibility of alleviating the neuropathy in a model of CMT1A by targeting macrophages at earlier time points. As a proof-of-principle experiment, we genetically inactivated colony-stimulating factor-1 (CSF-1) in CMT1A mice, which resulted in lower endoneurial macrophage numbers and alleviated the neuropathy. Based on these observations, we pharmacologically ablated macrophages in newborn CMT1A mice by feeding their lactating mothers with chow containing PLX5622, followed by treatment of the respective progenies after weaning until the age of 6 months. We found that peripheral neuropathy was substantially alleviated after early postnatal treatment, leading to preserved motor function in CMT1A mice. Moreover, macrophage depletion affected the altered Schwann cell differentiation phenotype. These findings underscore the targetable role of macrophage-mediated inflammation in peripheral nerves of inherited neuropathies, but also emphasize the need for an early treatment start confined to a narrow therapeutic time window in CMT1A models and potentially in respective patients.
Introduction/Aims
Schwann cell clusters have been described at the murine dermis-epidermis border. We quantified dermal Schwann cells in the skin of patients with small-fiber neuropathy (SFN) compared with healthy controls to correlate with the clinical phenotype.
Methods
Skin punch biopsies from the lower legs of 28 patients with SFN (11 men, 17 women; median age, 54 [range, 19-73] years) and 9 healthy controls (five men, four women, median age, 34 [range, 25-69] years) were immunoreacted for S100 calcium-binding protein B as a Schwann cell marker, protein-gene product 9.5 as a pan-neuronal marker, and CD207 as a Langerhans cell marker. Intraepidermal nerve fiber density (IENFD) and subepidermal Schwann cell counts were determined.
Results
Skin samples of patients with SFN showed lower IENFD (P < .05), fewer Schwann cells per millimeter (P < .01), and fewer Schwann cell clusters per millimeter (P < .05) than controls. When comparing SFN patients with reduced (n = 13; median age, 53 [range, 19-73] years) and normal distal (n = 15, median age, 54 [range, 43-68] years) IENFD, the number of solitary Schwann cells per millimeter (p < .01) and subepidermal nerve fibers associated with Schwann cell branches (P < .05) were lower in patients with reduced IENFD. All three parameters correlated positively with distal IENFD (P < .05 to P < .01), whereas no correlation was found between Schwann cell counts and clinical pain characteristics.
Discussion
Our data raise questions about the mechanisms underlying the interdependence of dermal Schwann cells and skin innervation in SFN. The temporal course and functional impact of Schwann cell presence and kinetics need further investigation.
Background and purpose
The aim was to characterize a combined vestibular, ocular motor and postural syndrome induced by deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the subthalamic nucleus in a patient with Parkinson's disease.
Methods
In a systematic DBS programming session, eye, head and trunk position in roll and pitch plane were documented as a function of stimulation amplitude and field direction. Repeat ocular coherence tomography was used to estimate ocular torsion. The interstitial nucleus of Cajal (INC), zona incerta (ZI) and ascending vestibular fibre tracts were segmented on magnetic resonance imaging using both individual and normative structural connectomic data. Thresholded symptom-associated volumes of tissue activated (VTA) were calculated based on documented stimulation parameters.
Results
Ipsilateral ocular tilt reaction and body lateropulsion as well as contralateral torsional nystagmus were elicited by the right electrode in a current-dependent manner and subsided after DBS deactivation. With increasing currents, binocular tonic upgaze and body retropulsion were observed. Symptoms were consistent with an irritative effect on the INC. Symptom-associated VTA was found to overlap with the dorsal ZI and the ipsilateral vestibulothalamic tract, while lying rather distant to the INC proper. A ZI-to-INC ‘incerto-interstitial’ tract with contact to the medial-uppermost portion of the VTA could be traced.
Conclusion
Unilateral stimulation of INC-related circuitry induces an ipsilateral vestibular, ocular motor and postural roll-plane syndrome, which converts into a pitch-plane syndrome when functional activation expands bilaterally. In this case, tractography points to an incerto-interstitial pathway, a tract previously only characterized in non-human primates. Directional current steering proved useful in managing this rare side effect.
Background
Regulatory CD4\(^+\)CD25\(^+\)FoxP3\(^+\) T cells (Treg) are a subgroup of T lymphocytes involved in maintaining immune balance. Disturbance of Treg number and impaired suppressive function of Treg correlate with Parkinson’s disease severity. Superagonistic anti-CD28 monoclonal antibodies (CD28SA) activate Treg and cause their expansion to create an anti-inflammatory environment.
Methods
Using the AAV1/2-A53T-α-synuclein Parkinson’s disease mouse model that overexpresses the pathogenic human A53T-α-synuclein (hαSyn) variant in dopaminergic neurons of the substantia nigra, we assessed the neuroprotective and disease-modifying efficacy of a single intraperitoneal dose of CD28SA given at an early disease stage.
Results
CD28SA led to Treg expansion 3 days after delivery in hαSyn Parkinson’s disease mice. At this timepoint, an early pro-inflammation was observed in vehicle-treated hαSyn Parkinson’s disease mice with elevated percentages of CD8\(^+\)CD69\(^+\) T cells in brain and increased levels of interleukin-2 (IL-2) in the cervical lymph nodes and spleen. These immune responses were suppressed in CD28SA-treated hαSyn Parkinson’s disease mice. Early treatment with CD28SA attenuated dopaminergic neurodegeneration in the SN of hαSyn Parkinson’s disease mice accompanied with reduced brain numbers of activated CD4\(^+\), CD8\(^+\) T cells and CD11b\(^+\) microglia observed at the late disease-stage 10 weeks after AAV injection. In contrast, a later treatment 4 weeks after AAV delivery failed to reduce dopaminergic neurodegeneration.
Conclusions
Our data indicate that immune modulation by Treg expansion at a timepoint of overt inflammation is effective for treatment of hαSyn Parkinson’s disease mice and suggest that the concept of early immune therapy could pose a disease-modifying option for Parkinson’s disease patients.
Background
Chronic heart failure (HF) is known to increase the risk of developing Alzheimer’s dementia significantly. Thus, detecting and preventing mild cognitive impairment, which is common in patients with HF, is of great importance. Serum biomarkers are increasingly used in neurological disorders for diagnostics, monitoring, and prognostication of disease course. It remains unclear if neuronal biomarkers may help detect cognitive impairment in this high-risk population. Also, the influence of chronic HF and concomitant renal dysfunction on these biomarkers is not well understood.
Methods
Within the monocentric Cognition.Matters-HF study, we quantified the serum levels of phosphorylated tau protein 181 (pTau) and neurofilament light chain (NfL) of 146 extensively phenotyped chronic heart failure patients (aged 32 to 85 years; 15.1% women) using ultrasensitive bead-based single-molecule immunoassays. The clinical work-up included advanced cognitive testing and cerebral magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
Results
Serum concentrations of NfL ranged from 5.4 to 215.0 pg/ml (median 26.4 pg/ml) and of pTau from 0.51 to 9.22 pg/ml (median 1.57 pg/ml). We detected mild cognitive impairment (i.e., T-score < 40 in at least one cognitive domain) in 60% of heart failure patients. pTau (p = 0.014), but not NfL, was elevated in this group. Both NfL (ρ = − 0.21; p = 0.013) and pTau (ρ = − 0.25; p = 0.002) related to the cognitive domain visual/verbal memory, as well as white matter hyperintensity volume and cerebral and hippocampal atrophy. In multivariable analysis, both biomarkers were independently influenced by age (T = 4.6 for pTau; T = 5.9 for NfL) and glomerular filtration rate (T = − 2.4 for pTau; T = − 3.4 for NfL). Markers of chronic heart failure, left atrial volume index (T = 4.6) and NT-proBNP (T = 2.8), were further cardiological determinants of pTau and NfL, respectively. In addition, pTau was also strongly affected by serum creatine kinase levels (T = 6.5) and ferritin (T = − 3.1).
Conclusions
pTau and NfL serum levels are strongly influenced by age-dependent renal and cardiac dysfunction. These findings point towards the need for longitudinal examinations and consideration of frequent comorbidities when using neuronal serum biomarkers.
Myasthenia gravis ist eine Autoimmunerkrankung, die durch Störung der Erregungsübertragung an der neuromuskulären Endplatte zu einer Schwäche der Muskulatur führt. In dieser Arbeit wird die Rolle von Cortactin und Agrin als potentielle neue Antigene von Autoantikörpern bei Myasthenia gravis untersucht. Die detektierten Antikörper werden charakterisiert und die klinischen Merkmale der Patient*innen ausgewertet.
In der vorliegenden Studie wurden QST, QSART, Hautbiopsien und Fragebögen
genutzt, um die Beteiligung kleiner Nervenfasern bei verschiedenen Formen der
Immunneuropathien zu untersuchen. Wir konnten hierbei eine signifikante
Beeinträchtigung der thermischen Reizleitung bei CIDP- und MADSAM-Patient/-innen
nachweisen sowie eine signifikant reduzierte Schweißproduktion am distalen
Unterschenkel bei MADSAM-Patient/-innen. Diese Ergebnisse belegen in allen drei
Untergruppen der immunvermittelten Neuropathien eine Beteiligung kleiner auch
unmyelinisierter Nervenfasertypen. MADSAM- und CIDP-Patient/-innen wiesen in der
QST ein ähnliches Schädigungsmuster auf. Dagegen unterschieden sie sich signifikant
in der QSART. Diese Ergebnisse können als weiterer Hinweis auf unterschiedliche
zugrundeliegende Pathomechanismen verstanden werden. MMN-Patient/-innen wiesen
insgesamt die geringste Small-Fiber-Beteiligung in den quantitativen Testungen auf.
Auch lagen bei MMN-Patient/-innen durchschnittlich die geringsten Schmerz-Scores und
autonomen Symptome vor. Es zeigten sich wenig signifikante Unterschiede zwischen
seropositiven und seronegativen Neuropathie-Patient/-innen. Diese jedoch bestätigten
unsere Hypothese einer etwas geringeren Small-Fiber-Beteiligung bei seropositiven
Patient/-innen. Bei der Vielzahl an unterschiedlichen Pathomechanismen innerhalb der
immunvermittelten Neuropathien erscheinen weitere Subklassifizierungen für eine
optimale Diagnosestellung und Therapie unabdingbar. Diese Arbeit konnte mit den oben
genannten Untersuchungen einen weiteren Beitrag zur Identifikation von klinischen und
quantitativen Unterschieden innerhalb dieser großen Erkrankungsgruppe leisten.
Künftige, größere Studien dieser Art können möglicherweise hier nur als Tendenzen
gesehene Erkenntnisse belegen und sollten durch zusätzliche Informationen wie
Korrelation zu Krankheitsdauer, Therapie, Laborchemie und elektrophysiologischen
Untersuchen weitere interessante Erkenntnisse liefern.
Immune-mediated polyneuropathies like chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy or Guillain-Barré syndrome are rare diseases of the peripheral nervous system. A subgroup of patients harbors autoantibodies against nodal or paranodal antigens, associated with a distinct phenotype and treatment response. In a part of patients with pathologic paranodal or nodal immunoreactivity the autoantigens remain difficult or impossible to determine owing to limitations of the used detection approach - usually ELISAs (enzyme-linked-immunosorbent-assays) - and incomplete knowledge of the possible autoantigens. Due to their high-throughput, low sample consumption and high sensitivity as well as the possibility to display many putative nodal and paranodal autoantigens simultaneously, peptide microarray-based approaches are prime candidates for the discovery of novel autoantigens, point-of-care diagnostics and, in addition, monitoring of pathologic autoimmune response. Current applications of peptide microarrays are however limited by high false-positive rates and the associated need for detailed follow-up studies and validation. Here, robust peptide microarray-based detection of antibodies and the efficient validation of binding signals by on-chip neutralization is demonstrated. First, autoantigens were displayed as overlapping peptide libraries in microarray format. Copies of the biochips were used for the fine mapping of antibody epitopes. Next, binding signals were validated by antibody neutralization in solution. Since neutralizing peptides are obtained in the process of microarray fabrications, neither throughput nor costs are significantly altered. Similar in-situ validation approaches could contribute to future autoantibody characterization and detection methods as well as to therapeutic research. Areas of application could be expanded to any autoimmune-mediated neurological disease as a long-term vision.
Ranvier-Schnürringe spielen eine entscheidende Rolle bei der schnellen Weiterleitung von elektrischen Impulsen in Nervenzellen. Bei bestimmten neurologischen Erkrankungen, den Neuropathien, kann es zu Störungen in der ultrastrukturellen Organisation verschiedener Schnürring-Proteine kommen (Doppler et al., 2018, Doppler et al., 2016).
Eine detailliertere Kenntnis der genauen Anordnung dieser Schnürring-Proteine und eventueller Abweichungen von dieser Anordnung im Krankheitsfall, könnte der Schlüssel zu einer vereinfachten Diagnostik von bestimmten Neuropathie- Formen sein.
Ziel meiner Arbeit war es daher, die Untersuchung der ultrastrukturellen Architektur der (para-)nodalen Adhäsionsproteine Neurofascin-155 und Caspr1 unter Verwendung der super-hochauflösenden Mikroskopiemethode dSTORM (direct Stochastic Optical Reconstruction Microscopy) an murinen Zupfnervenpräparaten zu etablieren. Nach erster Optimierung der Probenpräparation für die 2-Farben-dSTORM sowie der korrelationsbasierten Bildanalyse, konnte ich mittels modellbasierter Simulation die zugrundeliegende Molekülorganisation identifizieren und mit Hilfe der Ergebnisse aus früheren Untersuchungen validieren. In einem translationalen Ansatz habe ich anschließend humane Zupfnervenpräparate von 14 Probanden mit unterschiedlichen Formen einer Neuropathie mikroskopiert und ausgewertet, um die Anwendbarkeit dieses Ansatzes in der Diagnostik zu testen.
Obgleich keine signifikanten Unterschiede zwischen physiologischem und pathologischem neurologischem Gewebe hinsichtlich Neurofascin-155 und Caspr1 festgestellt werden konnten, scheint der Ansatz grundsätzlich dennoch vielversprechend zu sein, bedarf jedoch noch weiteren Anstrengungen hinsichtlich Probenpräparation, Auswertungs- und Versuchsprotokollen und einer größeren Anzahl an humanen Biopsien mit homogenerem Krankheitsbild.
Die Literatur beschreibt unter Patienten mit idiopathischer Small fiber Neuro-pathie (SFN) einen Anteil von etwa ein Fünftel bis Drittel mit Variationen unkla-rer pathogenetischer Relevanz in Schmerz-assoziierten Genen. Dies bestätig-te sich im Rahmen unserer klinischen Studie: Über die Zeit von Mai 2015 bis Januar 2020 konnten bei 13 von 66 (21%) eingeschlossenen Patienten mit klinischem Verdacht auf SFN genetische Variationen in Schmerz-assoziierten Genen detektiert werden. Solche Veränderungen können über Gain- oder Loss-of-Function-Mechanismen die Funktion codierter nozizeptiver Signalpro-teine modulieren und so potentiell zur SFN-Symptomatik führen. Im Rahmen der Studie erfolgte neben der genetischen Diagnostik eine umfangreiche Un-tersuchung der Teilnehmer. In der Diagnostik stachen die potentiell geneti-schen SFN-Patienten nicht heraus und auch klinisch fielen nur dezente Unter-schiede zu den übrigen Patienten auf: Wir zeigten, dass die Betroffenen häufi-ger von äußeren Einflussfaktoren getriggerte Schmerzattacken erleiden und eine tendenziell weitläufigere Symptommanifestation aufwiesen. Dies ähnelt der Klinik anderer hereditärer neuropathischer Schmerzsyndrome wie der pa-roxysmalen extremen Schmerzstörung (PEPD) oder den familiären episodi-schen Schmerzsyndromen (FEPS). Die potentiell genetische Grundlage führte bei unseren Patienten zu einer stärkeren Limitation im täglichen und berufli-chen Alltag und minderte die Lebensqualität der Betroffenen deutlich. Mögli-che Ursache hierfür war auch die herausfordernde Therapie der Patienten mit Genvariationen: Für den gleichen Behandlungserfolg mussten die Patienten mit potentiell genetischer SFN deutlich mehr Wirkstoffe einnehmen und über-haupt versuchen. Obwohl nur minimale klinische Hinweise eine potentiell ge-netische Genese andeuten, sollten diese frühzeitig durch eine strukturierte Anamnese erkannt werden. Die Sammlung von Daten zu betroffenen Familien kann die pathogenetische Relevanz der Variationen erhärten. Auch wird im Feld der genetischen Schmerzforschung rasant an zielgerichteten Analgetika gearbeitet, die fehlregulierte Rezeptoren blockieren sollen. Damit könnte Be-troffenen künftig gezielt geholfen werden. Wir empfehlen auf Grundlage unse-rer Studie bei Vorliegen genannter hinweisender Charakteristika eine geneti-sche Testung und Beratung zusätzlich zur weiteren ätiologischen Diagnostik. Das zu untersuchende Panel sollte möglichst viele Schmerz-assoziierte Gene umfassen – vorrangig die Gene codierend für die spannungsabhängigen Nat-riumkanäle SCN9A, -10A und 11A und die TRP-Kanalproteine TRPA1, TRPV1 und -3.
Die hohe Mortalität und hohe Rate an Langzeitbehinderungen nach einem erlittenen Schlaganfall verdeutlichen die Relevanz bestmöglicher Akutversorgung bei Schlaganfallpatienten. Daher ist es unentbehrlich, dass die Akuttherapie bei Schlaganfall stets überprüft und bei Bedarf optimiert wird. Der Großteil der Studien, die sich mit Verbesserungsmaßnahmen in der akuten Schlaganfallversorgung befassen, wird in großen städtischen Krankenhäusern bzw. Universitätsklinika durchgeführt. Studien zu diesem Sachverhalt, die in ländlichen Kliniken durchgeführt wurden, sind noch begrenzt vorhanden. Mit dieser Studie evaluieren wir, ob sich durch die Implementierung neuer Optimierungsmaßnahmen Verbesserungen in den relevanten Qualitätsindikatoren ergeben. Die Ergebnisse sind daher von besonderer Bedeutung, da es für nicht-universitäre Kliniken nur eine begrenzte Anzahl an Studien gibt, die sich mit dieser Thematik beschäftigen.
Background
Troponin elevation is common in ischemic stroke (IS) patients. The pathomechanisms involved are incompletely understood and comprise coronary and non-coronary causes, e.g. autonomic dysfunction. We investigated determinants of troponin elevation in acute IS patients including markers of autonomic dysfunction, assessed by heart rate variability (HRV) time domain variables.
Methods
Data were collected within the Stroke Induced Cardiac FAILure (SICFAIL) cohort study. IS patients admitted to the Department of Neurology, Würzburg University Hospital, underwent baseline investigation including cardiac history, physical examination, echocardiography, and blood sampling. Four HRV time domain variables were calculated in patients undergoing electrocardiographic Holter monitoring. Multivariable logistic regression with corresponding odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) was used to investigate the determinants of high-sensitive troponin T (hs-TnT) levels ≥14 ng/L.
Results
We report results from 543 IS patients recruited between 01/2014–02/2017. Of those, 203 (37%) had hs-TnT ≥14 ng/L, which was independently associated with older age (OR per year 1.05; 95% CI 1.02–1.08), male sex (OR 2.65; 95% CI 1.54–4.58), decreasing estimated glomerular filtration rate (OR per 10 mL/min/1.73 m2 0.71; 95% CI 0.61–0.84), systolic dysfunction (OR 2.79; 95% CI 1.22–6.37), diastolic dysfunction (OR 2.29; 95% CI 1.29–4.02), atrial fibrillation (OR 2.30; 95% CI 1.25–4.23), and increasing levels of C-reactive protein (OR 1.48 per log unit; 95% CI 1.22–1.79). We did not identify an independent association of troponin elevation with the investigated HRV variables.
Conclusion
Cardiac dysfunction and elevated C-reactive protein, but not a reduced HRV as surrogate of autonomic dysfunction, were associated with increased hs-TnT levels in IS patients independent of established cardiovascular risk factors.
Differences in stem cell marker and osteopontin expression in primary and recurrent glioblastoma
(2022)
Background
Despite of a multimodal approach, recurrences can hardly be prevented in glioblastoma. This may be in part due to so called glioma stem cells. However, there is no established marker to identify these stem cells.
Methods
Paired samples from glioma patients were analyzed by immunohistochemistry for expression of the following stem cell markers: CD133, Musashi, Nanog, Nestin, octamer-binding transcription factor 4 (Oct4), and sex determining region Y-box 2 (Sox2). In addition, the expression of osteopontin (OPN) was investigated. The relative number of positively stained cells was determined. By means of Kaplan–Meier analysis, a possible association with overall survival by marker expression was investigated.
Results
Sixty tissue samples from 30 patients (17 male, 13 female) were available for analysis. For Nestin, Musashi and OPN a significant increase was seen. There was also an increase (not significant) for CD133 and Oct4. Patients with mutated Isocitrate Dehydrogenase-1/2 (IDH-1/2) status had a reduced expression for CD133 and Nestin in their recurrent tumors. Significant correlations were seen for CD133 and Nanog between OPN in the primary and recurrent tumor and between CD133 and Nestin in recurrent tumors. By confocal imaging we could demonstrate a co-expression of CD133 and Nestin within recurrent glioma cells. Patients with high CD133 expression had a worse prognosis (22.6 vs 41.1 months, p = 0.013). A similar trend was seen for elevated Nestin levels (24.9 vs 41.1 months, p = 0.08).
Conclusions
Most of the evaluated markers showed an increased expression in their recurrent tumor. CD133 and Nestin were associated with survival and are candidate markers for further clinical investigation.
The pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD) is closely interwoven with the process of aging. Moreover, increasing evidence from human postmortem studies and from animal models for PD point towards inflammation as an additional factor in disease development. We here assessed the impact of aging and inflammation on dopaminergic neurodegeneration in the hm\(^{2}\)α-SYN-39 mouse model of PD that carries the human, A30P/A53T double-mutated α-synuclein gene. At 2–3 months of age, no significant differences were observed comparing dopaminergic neuron numbers of the substantia nigra (SN) pars compacta of hm\(^{2}\)α-SYN-39 mice with wildtype controls. At an age of 16–17 months, however, hm\(^{2}\)α-SYN-39 mice revealed a significant loss of dopaminergic SN neurons, of dopaminergic terminals in the striatum as well as a reduction of striatal dopamine levels compared to young, 2–3 months transgenic mice and compared to 16–17 months old wildtype littermates. A significant age-related correlation of infiltrating CD4+ and CD8\(^{+}\) T cell numbers with dopaminergic terminal loss of the striatum was found in hm\(^{2}\)α-SYN-39 mice, but not in wildtype controls. In the striatum of 16–17 months old wildtype mice a slightly elevated CD8\(^{+}\) T cell count and CD11b\(^{+}\) microglia cell count was observed compared to younger aged mice. Additional analyses of neuroinflammation in the nigrostriatal tract of wildtype mice did not yield any significant age-dependent changes of CD4\(^{+}\), CD8\(^{+}\) T cell and B220\(^{+}\) B cell numbers, respectively. In contrast, a significant age-dependent increase of CD8\(^{+}\) T cells, GFAP\(^{+}\) astrocytes as well as a pronounced increase of CD11b+ microglia numbers were observed in the SN of hm\(^{2}\)α-SYN-39 mice pointing towards a neuroinflammatory processes in this genetic mouse model for PD. The findings in the hm\(^{2}\)α-SYN-39 mouse model strengthen the evidence that T cell and glial cell responses are involved in the age-related neurodegeneration in PD. The slow and age-dependent progression of neurodegeneration and neuroinflammation in the hm\(^{2}\)α-SYN-39 PD rodent model underlines its translational value and makes it suitable for studying anti-inflammatory therapies.
Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is a heterogeneous chronic pain syndrome characterized by musculoskeletal pain and other key co-morbidities including fatigue and a depressed mood. FMS involves altered functioning of the central and peripheral nervous system (CNS, PNS) and immune system, but the specific molecular pathophysiology remains unclear. Anti-cholinergic treatment is effective in FMS patient subgroups, and cholinergic signaling is a strong modulator of CNS and PNS immune processes. Therefore, we used whole blood small RNA-sequencing of female FMS patients and healthy controls to profile microRNA regulators of cholinergic transcripts (CholinomiRs). We compared microRNA profiles with those from Parkinson's disease (PD) patients with pain as disease controls. We validated the sequencing results with quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and identified cholinergic targets. Further, we measured serum cholinesterase activity in FMS patients and healthy controls. Small RNA-sequencing revealed FMS-specific changes in 19 CholinomiRs compared to healthy controls and PD patients. qRT-PCR validated miR-182-5p upregulation, distinguishing FMS patients from healthy controls. mRNA targets of CholinomiRs bone morphogenic protein receptor 2 and interleukin 6 signal transducer were downregulated. Serum acetylcholinesterase levels and cholinesterase activity in FMS patients were unchanged. Our findings identified an FMS-specific CholinomiR signature in whole blood, modulating immune-related gene expression.
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive and debilitating chronic disease that affects more than six million people worldwide, with rising prevalence. The hallmarks of PD are motor deficits, the spreading of pathological α-synuclein clusters in the central nervous system, and neuroinflammatory processes. PD is treated symptomatically, as no causally-acting drug or procedure has been successfully established for clinical use. Various pathways contributing to dopaminergic neuron loss in PD have been investigated and described to interact with the innate and adaptive immune system. We discuss the possible contribution of interconnected pathways related to the immune response, focusing on the pathophysiology and neurodegeneration of PD. In addition, we provide an overview of clinical trials targeting neuroinflammation in PD.
Diabetes Mellitus Is a Possible Risk Factor for Nodo-paranodopathy With Antiparanodal Autoantibodies
(2022)
Background and Objectives
Nodo-paranodopathies are peripheral neuropathies with dysfunction of the node of Ranvier. Affected patients who are seropositive for antibodies against adhesion molecules like contactin-1 and neurofascin show distinct clinical features and a disruption of the paranodal complex. An axoglial dysjunction is also a characteristic finding of diabetic neuropathy. Here, we aim to investigate a possible association of antibody-mediated nodo-paranodopathy and diabetes mellitus (DM).
Methods
We retrospectively analyzed clinical data of 227 patients with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy and Guillain-Barré syndrome from multiple centers in Germany who had undergone diagnostic testing for antiparanodal antibodies targeting neurofascin-155, pan-neurofascin, contactin-1–associated protein 1, and contactin-1. To study possible direct pathogenic effects of antiparanodal antibodies, we performed immunofluorescence binding assays on human pancreatic tissue sections.
Results The frequency of DM was 33.3% in seropositive patients and thus higher compared with seronegative patients (14.1%, OR = 3.04, 95% CI = 1.31–6.80). The relative risk of DM in seropositive patients was 3.4-fold higher compared with the general German population. Seropositive patients with DM most frequently harbored anti–contactin-1 antibodies and had higher antibody titers than seropositive patients without DM. The diagnosis of DM preceded the onset of neuropathy in seropositive patients. No immunoreactivity of antiparanodal antibodies against pancreatic tissue was detected.
Discussion
We report an association of nodo-paranodopathy and DM. Our results suggest that DM may be a potential risk factor for predisposing to developing nodo-paranodopathy and argue against DM being induced by the autoantibodies. Our findings set the basis for further research investigating underlying immunopathogenetic connections.
Aims
Cognitive dysfunction occurs frequently in patients with heart failure (HF), but early detection remains challenging. Serum glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) is an emerging biomarker of cognitive decline in disorders of primary neurodegeneration such as Alzheimer's disease. We evaluated the utility of serum GFAP as a biomarker for cognitive dysfunction and structural brain damage in patients with stable chronic HF.
Methods and results
Using bead-based single molecule immunoassays, we quantified serum levels of GFAP in patients with HF participating in the prospective Cognition.Matters-HF study. Participants were extensively phenotyped, including cognitive testing of five separate domains and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain. Univariable and multivariable models, also accounting for multiple testing, were run. One hundred and forty-six chronic HF patients with a mean age of 63.8 ± 10.8 years were included (15.1% women). Serum GFAP levels (median 246 pg/mL, quartiles 165, 384 pg/mL; range 66 to 1512 pg/mL) did not differ between sexes. In the multivariable adjusted model, independent predictors of GFAP levels were age (T = 5.5; P < 0.001), smoking (T = 3.2; P = 0.002), estimated glomerular filtration rate (T = −4.7; P < 0.001), alanine aminotransferase (T = −2.1; P = 0.036), and the left atrial end-systolic volume index (T = 3.4; P = 0.004). NT-proBNP but not serum GFAP explained global cerebral atrophy beyond ageing. However, serum GFAP levels were associated with the cognitive domain visual/verbal memory (T = −3.0; P = 0.003) along with focal hippocampal atrophy (T = 2.3; P = 0.025).
Conclusions
Serum GFAP levels are affected by age, smoking, and surrogates of the severity of HF. The association of GFAP with memory dysfunction suggests that astroglial pathologies, which evade detection by conventional MRI, may contribute to memory loss beyond ageing in patients with chronic HF.
During ischemic stroke, infarct growth before recanalization diminishes functional outcome. Hence, adjunct treatment options to protect the ischemic penumbra before recanalization are eagerly awaited. In experimental stroke targeting two different pathways conferred protection from penumbral tissue loss: (1) enhancement of hypoxic tolerance of neurons by deletion of the calcium channel subunit Orai2 and (2) blocking of detrimental lymphocyte–platelet responses. However, until now, no preclinical stroke study has assessed the potential of combining neuroprotective with anti-thrombo-inflammatory interventions to augment therapeutic effects. We induced focal cerebral ischemia in Orai2-deficient (Orai2\(^{-/-}\)) mice by middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). Animals were treated with anti-glycoprotein Ib alpha (GPIbα) Fab fragments (p0p/B Fab) blocking GPIbα–von Willebrand factor (vWF) interactions. Rat immunoglobulin G (IgG) Fab was used as the control treatment. The extent of infarct growth before recanalization was assessed at 4 h after MCAO. Moreover, infarct volumes were determined 6 h after recanalization (occlusion time: 4 h). Orai2 deficiency significantly halted cerebral infarct progression under occlusion. Inhibition of platelet GPIbα further reduced primary infarct growth in Orai2\(^{-/-}\) mice. During ischemia–reperfusion, upon recanalization, mice were likewise protected. All in all, we show that neuroprotection in Orai2\(^{-/-}\) mice can be augmented by targeting thrombo-inflammation. This supports the clinical development of combined neuroprotective/anti-platelet strategies in hyper-acute stroke.
Acute ischemic cardiac injury predisposes one to cognitive impairment, dementia, and depression. Pathophysiologically, recent positron emission tomography data suggest astroglial activation after experimental myocardial infarction (MI). We analyzed peripheral surrogate markers of glial (and neuronal) damage serially within 12 months after the first ST-elevation MI (STEMI). Serum levels of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and neurofilament light chain (NfL) were quantified using ultra-sensitive molecular immunoassays. Sufficient biomaterial was available from 45 STEMI patients (aged 28 to 78 years, median 56 years, 11% female). The median (quartiles) of GFAP was 63.8 (47.0, 89.9) pg/mL and of NfL 10.6 (7.2, 14.8) pg/mL at study entry 0–4 days after STEMI. GFAP after STEMI increased in the first 3 months, with a median change of +7.8 (0.4, 19.4) pg/mL (p = 0.007). It remained elevated without further relevant increases after 6 months (+11.7 (0.6, 23.5) pg/mL; p = 0.015), and 12 months (+10.3 (1.5, 22.7) pg/mL; p = 0.010) compared to the baseline. Larger relative infarction size was associated with a higher increase in GFAP (ρ = 0.41; p = 0.009). In contrast, NfL remained unaltered in the course of one year. Our findings support the idea of central nervous system involvement after MI, with GFAP as a potential peripheral biomarker of chronic glial damage as one pathophysiologic pathway.
Idiopathic Parkinson’s disease (PD) is characterized by a progredient degeneration of the brain, starting at deep subcortical areas such as the dorsal motor nucleus of the glossopharyngeal and vagal nerves (DM) (stage 1), followed by the coeruleus–subcoeruleus complex; (stage 2), the substantia nigra (SN) (stage 3), the anteromedial temporal mesocortex (MC) (stage 4), high-order sensory association areas and prefrontal fields (HC) (stage 5) and finally first-order sensory association areas, premotor areas, as well as primary sensory and motor field (FC) (stage 6). Autoimmunity might play a role in PD pathogenesis. Here we analyzed whether anti-brain autoantibodies differentially recognize different human brain areas and identified autoantigens that correlate with the above-described dissemination of PD pathology in the brain. Brain tissue was obtained from deceased individuals with no history of neurological or psychiatric disease and no neuropathological abnormalities. Tissue homogenates from different brain regions (DM, SN, MC, HC, FC) were subjected to SDS-PAGE and Western blot. Blots were incubated with plasma samples from 30 PD patients and 30 control subjects and stained with anti-IgG antibodies to detect anti-brain autoantibodies. Signals were quantified. Prominent autoantigens were identified by 2D-gel-coupled mass spectrometry sequencing. Anti-brain autoantibodies are frequent and occur both in healthy controls and individuals with PD. Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) was identified as a prominent autoantigen recognized in all plasma samples. GFAP immunoreactivity was highest in DM areas and lowest in FC areas with no significant differences in anti-GFAP autoantibody titers between healthy controls and individuals with PD. The anti-GFAP autoimmunoreactivity of different brain areas correlates with the dissemination of histopathological neurodegeneration in PD. We hypothesize that GFAP autoantibodies are physiological but might be involved as a cofactor in PD pathogenesis secondary to a leakage of the blood–brain barrier.
Aims
We aimed to analyze prevalence and predictors of NOAC off-label under-dosing in AF patients before and after the index stroke.
Methods
The post hoc analysis included 1080 patients of the investigator-initiated, multicenter prospective Berlin Atrial Fibrillation Registry, designed to analyze medical stroke prevention in AF patients after acute ischemic stroke.
Results
At stroke onset, an off-label daily dose was prescribed in 61 (25.5%) of 239 NOAC patients with known AF and CHA2DS2-VASc score ≥ 1, of which 52 (21.8%) patients were under-dosed. Under-dosing was associated with age ≥ 80 years in patients on rivaroxaban [OR 2.90, 95% CI 1.05-7.9, P = 0.04; n = 29] or apixaban [OR 3.24, 95% CI 1.04-10.1, P = 0.04; n = 22]. At hospital discharge after the index stroke, NOAC off-label dose on admission was continued in 30 (49.2%) of 61 patients. Overall, 79 (13.7%) of 708 patients prescribed a NOAC at hospital discharge received an off-label dose, of whom 75 (10.6%) patients were under-dosed. Rivaroxaban under-dosing at discharge was associated with age ≥ 80 years [OR 3.49, 95% CI 1.24-9.84, P = 0.02; n = 19]; apixaban under-dosing with body weight ≤ 60 kg [OR 0.06, 95% CI 0.01-0.47, P < 0.01; n = 56], CHA2DS2-VASc score [OR per point 1.47, 95% CI 1.08-2.00, P = 0.01], and HAS-BLED score [OR per point 1.91, 95% CI 1.28-2.84, P < 0.01].
Conclusion
At stroke onset, off-label dosing was present in one out of four, and under-dosing in one out of five NOAC patients. Under-dosing of rivaroxaban or apixaban was related to old age. In-hospital treatment after stroke reduced off-label NOAC dosing, but one out of ten NOAC patients was under-dosed at discharge.
Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum biomarkers are critical for clinical decision making in neurological diseases. In cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD), white matter hyperintensities (WMH) are an important neuroimaging biomarker, but more blood-based biomarkers capturing different aspects of CSVD pathology are needed. In 42 sporadic CSVD patients, we prospectively analysed WMH on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and the biomarkers neurofilament light chain (NfL), glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), chitinase3-like protein 1 (CHI3L1), Tau and Aβ1-42 in CSF and NfL and GFAP in serum. GFAP and CHI3L1 expression was studied in post-mortem brain tissue in additional cases. CSVD cases with higher serum NfL and GFAP levels had a higher modified Rankin Scale (mRS) and NIHSS score and lower CSF Aβ1-42 levels, whereas the CSF NfL and CHI3L1 levels were positively correlated with the WMH load. Moreover, the serum GFAP levels significantly correlated with the neurocognitive functions. Pathological analyses in CSVD revealed a high density of GFAP-immunoreactive fibrillary astrocytic processes in the periventricular white matter and clusters of CHI3L1-immunoreactive astrocytes in the basal ganglia and thalamus. Thus, besides NfL, serum GFAP is a highly promising fluid biomarker of sporadic CSVD, because it does not only correlate with the clinical severity but also correlates with the cognitive function in patients.
Recent advances in proteomic technologies now allow unparalleled assessment of the molecular composition of a wide range of sample types. However, the application of such technologies and techniques should not be undertaken lightly. Here, we describe why the design of a proteomics experiment itself is only the first step in yielding high-quality, translatable results. Indeed, the effectiveness and/or impact of the majority of contemporary proteomics screens are hindered not by commonly considered technical limitations such as low proteome coverage but rather by insufficient analyses. Proteomic experimentation requires a careful methodological selection to account for variables from sample collection, through to database searches for peptide identification to standardised post-mass spectrometry options directed analysis workflow, which should be adjusted for each study, from determining when and how to filter proteomic data to choosing holistic versus trend-wise analyses for biologically relevant patterns. Finally, we highlight and discuss the difficulties inherent in the modelling and study of the majority of progressive neurodegenerative conditions. We provide evidence (in the context of neurodegenerative research) for the benefit of undertaking a comparative approach through the application of the above considerations in the alignment of publicly available pre-existing data sets to identify potential novel regulators of neuronal stability.
Freezing of gait (FOG) is a sudden episodic inability to produce effective stepping despite the intention to walk. It typically occurs during gait initiation (GI) or modulation and may lead to falls. We studied the anticipatory postural adjustments (imbalance, unloading, and stepping phase) at GI in 23 patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD) and FOG (PDF), 20 patients with PD and no previous history of FOG (PDNF), and 23 healthy controls (HCs). Patients performed the task when off dopaminergic medications. The center of pressure (CoP) displacement and velocity during imbalance showed significant impairment in both PDNF and PDF, more prominent in the latter patients. Several measurements were specifically impaired in PDF patients, especially the CoP displacement along the anteroposterior axis during unloading. The pattern of segmental center of mass (SCoM) movements did not show differences between groups. The standing postural profile preceding GI did not correlate with outcome measurements. We have shown impaired motor programming at GI in Parkinsonian patients. The more prominent deterioration of unloading in PDF patients might suggest impaired processing and integration of somatosensory information subserving GI. The unaltered temporal movement sequencing of SCoM might indicate some compensatory cerebellar mechanisms triggering time-locked models of body mechanics in PD.
Background
Anderson–Fabry disease (FD) is an X-linked lysosomal storage disorder with varying organ involvement and symptoms, depending on the underlying mutation in the alpha-galactosidase A gene (HGNC: GLA). With genetic testing becoming more readily available, it is crucial to precisely evaluate pathogenicity of each genetic variant, in order to determine whether there is or might be not a need for FD-specific therapy in affected patients and relatives at the time point of presentation or in the future.
Methods
This case series investigates the clinical impact of the specific GLA gene variant c.376A>G (p.Ser126Gly) in five (one heterozygous and one homozygous female, three males) individuals from different families, who visited our center between 2009 and 2021. Comprehensive neurological, nephrological and cardiac examinations were performed in all cases. One patient received a follow-up examination after 12 years.
Results
Index events leading to suspicion of FD were mainly unspecific neurological symptoms. However, FD-specific biomarkers, imaging examinations (i.e., brain MRI, heart MRI), and tissue-specific diagnostics, including kidney and skin biopsies, did not reveal evidence for FD-specific symptoms or organ involvement but showed normal results in all cases. This includes findings from 12-year follow-up in one patient with renal biopsy.
Conclusion
These findings suggest that p.Ser126Gly represents a benign GLA gene variant which per se does not cause FD. Precise clinical evaluation in individuals diagnosed with genetic variations of unknown significance should be performed to distinguish common symptoms broadly prevalent in the general population from those secondary to FD.
Efficacy of transcranial direct current stimulation in people with multiple sclerosis: a review
(2022)
Background and purpose
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory disease causing a wide range of symptoms including motor and cognitive impairment, fatigue and pain. Over the last two decades, non-invasive brain stimulation, especially transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), has increasingly been used to modulate brain function in various physiological and pathological conditions. However, its experimental applications for people with MS were noted only as recently as 2010 and have been growing since then. The efficacy for use in people with MS remains questionable with the results of existing studies being largely conflicting. Hence, the aim of this review is to paint a picture of the current state of tDCS in MS research grounded on studies applying tDCS that have been done to date.
Methods
A keyword search was performed to retrieve articles from the earliest article identified until 14 February 2021 using a combination of the groups (1) ‘multiple sclerosis’, ‘MS’ and ‘encephalomyelitis’ and (2) ‘tDCS’ and ‘transcranial direct current stimulation’.
Results
The analysis of the 30 articles included in this review underlined inconsistent effects of tDCS on the motor symptoms of MS based on small sample sizes. However, tDCS showed promising benefits in ameliorating fatigue, pain and cognitive symptoms.
Conclusion
Transcranial direct current stimulation is attractive as a non-drug approach in ameliorating MS symptoms, where other treatment options remain limited. The development of protocols tailored to the individual's own neuroanatomy using high definition tDCS and the introduction of network mapping in the experimental designs might help to overcome the variability between studies.
Objective: Gait adaptation to environmental challenges is fundamental for independent and safe community ambulation. The possibility of precisely studying gait modulation using standardized protocols of gait analysis closely resembling everyday life scenarios is still an unmet need.
Methods: We have developed a fully-immersive virtual reality (VR) environment where subjects have to adjust their walking pattern to avoid collision with a virtual agent (VA) crossing their gait trajectory. We collected kinematic data of 12 healthy young subjects walking in real world (RW) and in the VR environment, both with (VR/A+) and without (VR/A-) the VA perturbation. The VR environment closely resembled the RW scenario of the gait laboratory. To ensure standardization of the obstacle presentation the starting time speed and trajectory of the VA were defined using the kinematics of the participant as detected online during each walking trial.
Results: We did not observe kinematic differences between walking in RW and VR/A-, suggesting that our VR environment per se might not induce significant changes in the locomotor pattern. When facing the VA all subjects consistently reduced stride length and velocity while increasing stride duration. Trunk inclination and mediolateral trajectory deviation also facilitated avoidance of the obstacle.
Conclusions: This proof-of-concept study shows that our VR/A+ paradigm effectively induced a timely gait modulation in a standardized immersive and realistic scenario. This protocol could be a powerful research tool to study gait modulation and its derangements in relation to aging and clinical conditions.
Background
Long-term support of stroke patients living at home is often delivered by family caregivers (FC). We identified characteristics of stroke patients being associated with receiving care by a FC 3-months (3 M) after stroke, assessed positive and negative experiences and individual burden of FC caring for stroke patients and determined factors associated with caregiving experiences and burden of FC 3 M after stroke.
Methods
Data were collected within TRANSIT-Stroke, a regional telemedical stroke-network comprising 12 hospitals in Germany. Patients with stroke/TIA providing informed consent were followed up 3 M after the index event. The postal patient-questionnaire was accompanied by an anonymous questionnaire for FC comprising information on positive and negative experiences of FC as well as on burden of caregiving operationalized by the Caregiver Reaction Assessment and a self-rated burden-scale, respectively. Multivariable logistic and linear regression analyses were performed.
Results
Between 01/2016 and 06/2019, 3532 patients provided baseline and 3 M-follow-up- data and 1044 FC responded to questionnaires regarding positive and negative caregiving experiences and caregiving burden. 74.4% of FC were older than 55 years, 70.1% were women and 67.5% were spouses. Older age, diabetes and lower Barthel-Index in patients were significantly associated with a higher probability of receiving care by a FC at 3 M. Positive experiences of FC comprised the importance (81.5%) and the privilege (70.0%) of caring for their relative; negative experiences of FC included financial difficulties associated with caregiving (20.4%). Median overall self-rated burden was 30 (IQR: 0–50; range 0–100). Older age of stroke patients was associated with a lower caregiver burden, whereas younger age of FC led to higher burden. More than half of the stroke patients in whom a FC questionnaire was completed did self-report that they are not being cared by a FC. This stroke patient group tended to be younger, more often male with less severe stroke and less comorbidities who lived more often with a partner.
Conclusions
The majority of caregivers wanted to care for their relatives but experienced burden at the same time. Elderly patients, patients with a lower Barthel Index at discharge and diabetes are at higher risk of needing care by a family caregiver.
Trial registration
The study was registered at “German Clinical Trial Register”: DRKS00011696. https://www.drks.de/drks_web/navigate.do?navigationId=trial.HTML&TRIAL_ID=DRKS00011696
Background:
Methylphenidate (MPH) is the first-line pharmacological treatment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). MPH binds to the dopamine (DA) transporter (DAT), which has high density in the striatum. Assessments of the striatal dopamine transporter by single positron emission computed tomography (SPECT) in childhood and adolescent patients are rare but can provide insight on how the effects of MPH affect DAT availability. The aim of our within-subject study was to investigate the effect of MPH on DAT availability and how responsivity to MPH in DAT availability is linked to clinical symptoms and cognitive functioning.
Methods
Thirteen adolescent male patients (9–16 years) with a diagnosis of ADHD according to the DSM-IV and long-term stimulant medication (for at least 6 months) with MPH were assessed twice within 7 days using SPECT after application of I-123-β-CIT to examine DAT binding potential (DAT BP). SPECT measures took place in an on- and off-MPH status balanced for order across participants. A virtual reality continuous performance test was performed at each time point. Further clinical symptoms were assessed for baseline off-MPH.
Results
On-MPH status was associated with a highly significant change (−29.9%) of striatal DAT BP as compared to off-MPH (t = −4.12, p = 0.002). A more pronounced change in striatal DAT BP was associated with higher off-MPH attentional and externalizing symptom ratings (Pearson r = 0.68, p = 0.01). Striatal DAT BP off-MPH, but not on-MPH, was associated with higher symptom ratings (Pearson r = 0.56, p = 0.04).
Conclusion
Our findings corroborate previous reports from mainly adult samples that MPH changes striatal DAT BP availability and suggest higher off-MPH DAT BP, likely reflecting low baseline DA levels, as a marker of symptom severity.
Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a non-invasive brain stimulation technique that has the potential to treat a variety of neurologic and psychiatric disorders. The extent of rTMS-induced neuroplasticity may be dependent on a subject’s brain state at the time of stimulation. Chronic low intensity rTMS (LI-rTMS) has previously been shown to induce beneficial structural and functional reorganisation within the abnormal visual circuits of ephrin-A2A5\(^{-/-}\) mice in ambient lighting. Here, we administered chronic LI-rTMS in adult ephrin-A2A5\(^{-/-}\) mice either in a dark environment or concurrently with voluntary locomotion. One day after the last stimulation session, optokinetic responses were assessed and fluorescent tracers were injected to map corticotectal and geniculocortical projections. We found that LI-rTMS in either treatment condition refined the geniculocortical map. Corticotectal projections were improved in locomotion+LI-rTMS subjects, but not in dark + LI-rTMS and sham groups. Visuomotor behaviour was not improved in any condition. Our results suggest that the beneficial reorganisation of abnormal visual circuits by rTMS can be significantly influenced by simultaneous, ambient visual input and is enhanced by concomitant physical exercise. Furthermore, the observed pathway-specific effects suggest that regional molecular changes and/or the relative proximity of terminals to the induced electric fields influence the outcomes of LI-rTMS on abnormal circuitry.
In large vessel occlusion stroke, recanalization to restore cerebral perfusion is essential but not necessarily sufficient for a favorable outcome. Paradoxically, in some patients, reperfusion carries the risk of increased tissue damage and cerebral hemorrhage. Experimental and clinical data suggest that endothelial cells, representing the interface for detrimental platelet and leukocyte responses, likely play a crucial role in the phenomenon referred to as ischemia/reperfusion (I/R)-injury, but the mechanisms are unknown. We aimed to determine the role of endoglin in cerebral I/R-injury; endoglin is a membrane-bound protein abundantly expressed by endothelial cells that has previously been shown to be involved in the maintenance of vascular homeostasis. We investigated the expression of membranous endoglin (using Western blotting and RT-PCR) and the generation of soluble endoglin (using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay of cell culture supernatants) after hypoxia and subsequent reoxygenation in human non-immortalized brain endothelial cells. To validate these in vitro data, we additionally examined endoglin expression in an intraluminal monofilament model of permanent and transient middle cerebral artery occlusion in mice. Subsequently, the effects of recombinant human soluble endoglin were assessed by label-free impedance-based measurement of endothelial monolayer integrity (using the xCELLigence DP system) and immunocytochemistry. Endoglin expression is highly inducible by hypoxia in human brain endothelial monolayers in vitro, and subsequent reoxygenation induced its shedding. These findings were corroborated in mice during MCAO; an upregulation of endoglin was displayed in the infarcted hemispheres under occlusion, whereas endoglin expression was significantly diminished after transient MCAO, which is indicative of shedding. Of note is the finding that soluble endoglin induced an inflammatory phenotype in endothelial monolayers. The treatment of HBMEC with endoglin resulted in a decrease in transendothelial resistance and the downregulation of VE-cadherin. Our data establish a novel mechanism in which hypoxia triggers the initial endothelial upregulation of endoglin and subsequent reoxygenation triggers its release as a vasoactive mediator that, when rinsed into adjacent vascular beds after recanalization, can contribute to cerebral reperfusion injury.