Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0002736 (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis)
 19,048 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

We describe a 52-year-old man with body weight loss and bulbar palsy, who exhibited muscle atrophy and weakness with fasciculation especially in the respiratory muscles 4 years prior to death, necessitating respiratory support for 4 years, but who was able to walk until the end-stage. He had no significant family history. Neuropathological examination revealed severe loss of motor neurons in the spinal cord and brainstem, and ubiquitin-positive skein-like inclusions and Bunina bodies in the remaining neurons. In addition, prominent degeneration of the anterolateral funiculus and severe loss of neurons in the intermediate zone of the spinal cord were evident, without marked alteration of the corticospinal tracts. Degeneration of the subthalamic nucleus, increased iron deposition in the substantia nigra, and axonal swelling, residual nodules and acidophilic granules in the spinal ganglia were found. The patient's condition was considered to have been a forme fruste or incipient form of widespread-type amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) or motor neuron disease (MND) with pallido-nigro-luysian atrophy (PNLA). The neuropathological features of the present case appear to be important for understanding the nature of widespread-type ALS and MND with PNLA.
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PMID:Forme fruste or incipient form of widespread-type amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or motor neuron disease with pallido-nigro-luysian atrophy? An autopsy case report. 1817 5

An abnormal accumulation and distribution of brain iron are common to different neurodegenerative disorders, including Parkinson's disease (PD), and alteration of genes involved in iron metabolism cause neurodegeneration with brain iron accumulation. HFE participates in the regulation of iron metabolism, its mutations are primary cause of hereditary hemochromatosis and appear to be more frequent in neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. However, conflicting results were obtained in previous studies aimed to verify if nucleotide variations in HFE gene act as risk modifiers for PD. We used denaturing HPLC for scanning DNA sequence variations in exon 2 and 4 of HFE gene in a cohort of 475 Italian PD patients. We identified the most common H63D, C282Y and S65C, and also other 4 rare mutation types (R66H, R224W, E277K, and T281M). The allele frequency of H63D and C282Y was not statistically different from that of 2 control groups with similar mean age or of a large cohort of the same geographical area. In addition we could not find statistical differences in the clinical phenotypes of patients carrying at least one mutated HFE allele from those with the normal allele. We conclude that in the Italian population, the most common HFE mutations, H63D and C282Y are not associated with the individual risk to develop PD, nor have specific influence on the clinical features of the disease.
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PMID:HFE gene mutations in a population of Italian Parkinson's disease patients. 1832 20

Iron misregulation promotes oxidative stress, a proposed pathological mechanism in neurodegenerative disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate serum iron metabolism indicators in 60 amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients and 44 age matched controls. Serum ferritin levels were significantly increased in ALS patients compared to controls (p < 0.001), while no differences in the levels of serum iron, transferrin, iron saturation or total iron binding capacity were found. Likewise no differences in C reactive protein (CRP) or caeruloplasmin were detected, suggesting that the elevated ferritin levels in ALS did not merely indicate an acute phase response. The increased ferritin level may reflect a general increase in stored iron or be a consequence of ongoing muscle degeneration.
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PMID:Increased serum ferritin levels in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients. 1924 Sep 52

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), characterized by degeneration of spinal motor neurons, consists of sporadic and familial forms. One cause of familial ALS is missense mutations in the superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) gene. Iron accumulation occurs in the CNS of both forms of ALS; however, its contribution to the pathogenesis of ALS is not known. We examined the role of iron in a transgenic mouse line overexpressing the human SOD1(G37R) mutant. We show that multiple mechanisms may underlie the iron accumulation in neurons and glia in SOD1(G37R) transgenic mice. These include dysregulation of proteins involved in iron influx and sensing of intracellular iron; iron accumulation in ventral motor neurons secondary to blockage of anterograde axonal transport; and increased mitochondrial iron load in neurons and glia. We also show that treatment of SOD1(G37R) mice with an iron chelator extends life span by 5 weeks, accompanied by increased survival of spinal motor neurons and improved locomotor function. These data suggest that iron chelator therapy might be useful for the treatment of ALS.
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PMID:Dysregulation of iron homeostasis in the CNS contributes to disease progression in a mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. 1915 88

Metal toxicity has been identified as a possible risk factor for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and other neurodegenerative disorders. We conducted a retrospective chart review of urinary, hair and blood metal levels and serum ferritin in 321 people with ALS seen over a ten-year period at the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH). We found that hair lead levels and serum ferritin levels were elevated in ALS patients compared to published normal values. Metal levels of arsenic, lead, mercury, cadmium, thallium, cobalt and aluminum in 24-hour urine specimens and lead, mercury and arsenic in serum were within the normal range. We conclude that twenty-four hour urine or blood testing for metals is not warranted as part of the evaluation of ALS. Elevated levels of serum ferritin in ALS population could reflect an underlying perturbation in iron metabolism.
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PMID:Serum ferritin and metal levels as risk factors for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. 1945 11

We describe a case of late onset neurodegeneration with brain iron accumulation (NBIA) presenting as frontotemporal dementia (FTD) with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). A male patient presented at age 66 with change of personality: disinhibition, emotional blunting, and socially inappropriate behavior, coupled with dysarthria, dystonia, and corticospinal tract involvement. Magnetic resonance imaging showed general cortical atrophy, iron deposits in the globus pallidus, and the "eye of the tiger" sign. Neuropsychologic performance was globally reduced, especially executive functions. Fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography showed hypometabolism predominantly in frontal and temporal areas. Repeated neurophysiologic examinations showed signs of chronic denervation. The patient was diagnosed with NBIA but fulfilled consensus criteria for FTD and had a clinical picture of ALS, without neurophysiologic confirmation. Our finding introduces NBIA as a possible cause of FTD and as a differential diagnosis of the FTD-ALS complex.
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PMID:Frontotemporal dementia-amyotrophic lateral sclerosis complex is simulated by neurodegeneration with brain iron accumulation. 1956 52

The anti-Parkinson iron chelator-monoamine oxidase inhibitor M30 [5-(N-methyl-N-propargyaminomethyl)-8-hydroxyquinoline] was shown to possess neuroprotective activities in vitro and in vivo, against several insults applicable to several neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and ALS. In the present study we sought to examine the effect of M30 on a pre-existing lesion induced by the parkinsonism-inducing toxin, MPTP (N-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine). In this neurorescue paradigm, M30 orally administered to mice for 14 days (2.5 mg/kg/day) following MPTP was shown to significantly elevate striatal dopamine levels, reduce its metabolism, and elevate tyrosine-hydroxylase protein levels (from 25.86 +/- 5.10 to 68.35 +/- 10.67% of control) and activity (from 7.52 +/- 0.98 to 16.33 +/- 2.92 pmol/mg protein/min). Importantly, M30 elevated MPTP-reduced dopaminergic (from 62.8 +/- 4.1 to 84.2 +/- 5.9% of control) and transferrin receptor (from 31.3 +/- 2.6 to 80.4 +/- 7.6% of control) cell count in the SNpc. Finally, M30 was shown to decrease mitosis, thus providing additional protection. These findings suggest that brain-permeable M30 may clearly be of clinical importance for the treatment of PD.
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PMID:Restoration of nigrostriatal dopamine neurons in post-MPTP treatment by the novel multifunctional brain-permeable iron chelator-monoamine oxidase inhibitor drug, M30. 1960 32

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are produced at low levels in mammalian cells by various metabolic processes, such as oxidative phosphorylation by the mitochondrial respiratory chain, NAD(P)H oxidases, and arachidonic acid oxidative metabolism. To maintain physiological redox balance, cells have endogenous antioxidant defenses regulated at the transcriptional level by Nrf2/ARE. Oxidative stress results when ROS production exceeds the cell's ability to detoxify ROS. Overproduction of ROS damages cellular components, including lipids, leading to decline in physiological function and cell death. Reaction of ROS with lipids produces oxidized phospholipids, which give rise to 4-hydroxynonenal, 4-oxo-2-nonenal, and acrolein. The brain is susceptible to oxidative damage due to its high lipid content and oxygen consumption. Neurodegenerative diseases (AD, ALS, bipolar disorder, epilepsy, Friedreich's ataxia, HD, MS, NBIA, NPC, PD, peroxisomal disorders, schizophrenia, Wallerian degeneration, Zellweger syndrome) and CNS traumas (stroke, TBI, SCI) are problems of vast clinical importance. Free iron can react with H(2)O(2) via the Fenton reaction, a primary cause of lipid peroxidation, and may be of particular importance for these CNS injuries and disorders. Cholesterol is an important regulator of lipid organization and the precursor for neurosteroid biosynthesis. Atherosclerosis, the major risk factor for ischemic stroke, involves accumulation of oxidized LDL in the arteries, leading to foam cell formation and plaque development. This review will discuss the role of lipid oxidation/peroxidation in various CNS injuries/disorders.
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PMID:Lipid oxidation and peroxidation in CNS health and disease: from molecular mechanisms to therapeutic opportunities. 1962 72

Novel therapeutic approaches for the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders comprise drug candidates designed specifically to act on multiple central nervous system targets. We have recently synthesized multifunctional, nontoxic, brain-permeable iron-chelating drugs, M30 and HLA20, possessing the N-propargylamine neuroprotective moiety of rasagiline (Azilect) and the iron-chelating moiety of VK28. The present study demonstrates that M30 and HLA20 possess a wide range of pharmacological activities in mouse NSC-34 motor neuron cells, including neuroprotective effects against hydrogen peroxide- and 3-morpholinosydnonimine-induced neurotoxicity, induction of differentiation, and up-regulation of hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1alpha and HIF-target genes (enolase1 and vascular endothelial growth factor). Both compounds induced NSC-34 neuritogenesis, accompanied by a marked increase in the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor and growth-associated protein-43, which was inhibited by PD98059 and GF109203X, indicating the involvement of mitogen-activated protein kinase and protein kinase C pathways. A major finding was the ability of M30 to significantly extend the survival of G93A-SOD1 amyotrophic lateral sclerosis mice and delay the onset of the disease. These properties of the novel multimodal iron-chelating drugs possessing neuroprotective/neuritogenic activities may offer future therapeutic possibilities for motor neurodegenerative diseases.
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PMID:Neuroprotective and neuritogenic activities of novel multimodal iron-chelating drugs in motor-neuron-like NSC-34 cells and transgenic mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. 1963 99

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is primarily an autoimmune disorder of unknown origin. This review focuses iron overload and oxidative stress as surrounding cause that leads to immunomodulation in chronic MS. Iron overload has been demonstrated in MS lesions, as a feature common with other neurodegenerative disorders. However, the recent description of chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency (CCSVI) associated to MS, with significant anomalies in cerebral venous outflow hemodynamics, permit to propose a parallel with chronic venous disorders (CVDs) in the mechanism of iron deposition. Abnormal cerebral venous reflux is peculiar to MS, and was not found in a miscellaneous of patients affected by other neurodegenerative disorders characterized by iron stores, such as Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Several recently published studies support the hypothesis that MS progresses along the venous vasculature. The peculiarity of CCSVI-related cerebral venous blood flow disturbances, together with the histology of the perivenous spaces and recent findings from advanced magnetic resonance imaging techniques, support the hypothesis that iron deposits in MS are a consequence of altered cerebral venous return and chronic insufficient venous drainage.
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PMID:Anomalous venous blood flow and iron deposition in multiple sclerosis. 1972 86


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