Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0040822 (tremor)
 18,428 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Environmental toxins have been implicated in the etiology of Parkinson's disease. Recent findings of defects in the ubiquitin-proteasome system in hereditary and sporadic forms of the illness suggest that environmental proteasome inhibitors are candidate PD-inducing toxins. Here, we systemically injected six doses of naturally occurring (epoxomicin) or synthetic (Z-lle-Glu(OtBu)-Ala-Leu-al [PSI]) proteasome inhibitors into adult rats over a period of 2 weeks. After a latency of 1 to 2 weeks, animals developed progressive parkinsonism with bradykinesia, rigidity, tremor, and an abnormal posture, which improved with apomorphine treatment. Positron emission tomography demonstrated reduced carbon-11-labeled 2beta-carbomethoxy-3beta-(4-fluorophenyl)tropane (CFT) binding to dopaminergic nerve terminals in the striatum, indicative of degeneration of the nigrostriatal pathway. Postmortem analyses showed striatal dopamine depletion and dopaminergic cell death with apoptosis and inflammation in the substantia nigra pars compacta. In addition, neurodegeneration occurred in the locus coeruleus, dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus, and the nucleus basalis of Meynert. At neurodegenerative sites, intracytoplasmic, eosinophilic, alpha-synuclein/ubiquitin-containing, inclusions resembling Lewy bodies were present in some of the remaining neurons. This animal model induced by proteasome inhibitors closely recapitulates key features of PD and may be valuable in studying etiopathogenic mechanisms and putative neuroprotective therapies for the illness.
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PMID:Systemic exposure to proteasome inhibitors causes a progressive model of Parkinson's disease. 1686 91

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a common neurodegenerative disorder with clinical features of bradykinesia, rigidity and resting tremor resulting from the deficiency of dopamine in the nigrostriatal system. Recently, PARK6 was identified as a novel locus associated with autosomal recessive PD. Here we report the identification and characterization of a novel human deubiquitylating gene (USP31), which maps to the critical PARK6 region. Database analysis and 5' RACE identified a 4070bp cDNA, encoded by 27 exons spanning approximately 105kbp of genomic sequence. The predicted protein of 1035 amino acids included a conserved ubiquitin hydrolase region (Prosite profile PS50235), a DUSP (domain in ubiquitin specific proteases-Smart00695) and a ubiquitin-like domain (Prosite pattern PS00299). Northern blot analysis revealed a single USP31 transcript of approximately 4 kb, which was primarily expressed in the testis and lung.
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PMID:Identification of the human ubiquitin specific protease 31 (USP31) gene: structure, sequence and expression analysis. 1535 49

We report a review on progress in the etiology and pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD). We also report the long-term prognosis of PD patients seen in our clinic. Modern research on the pathogenesis started after the discovery of MPTP. We found inhibition of mitochondrial complex I by MPTP and MPP+. Mitochondrial respiratory failure induces oxidative damage to high molecular weight substances. Both mitochondrial failure and oxidative stress are important triggers of apoptosis. We found TUNEL positive nigral neurons in PD patients suggesting involvement of apoptosis in the pathogenesis. Interaction of genetic risk factors and environmental neurotoxins has been implicated in the etiology of PD. While we were investigating MnSOD gene polymorphism in PD patients, we found a young onset autosomal recessive PD family that was linked to the MnSOD locus. Subsequent linkage analysis on 13 families of young onset autosomal recessive families disclosed the linkage of this disease to the telomeric region of the long arm of chromosome 6 (6q25.2-27). Then we were lucky enough to find a patient who had a deletion of one of the microsatellite markers (D6S305) that we were using in the linkage analysis. We thought this marker might be located within the disease gene and this was the case. We screened the Keio BAC library with this marker, and eventually we cloned a novel gene encompassing 1.4 Mb; we named it parkin. The coding region consisted of 1,395 base pairs. The parkin protein had an unique sequence in that there was a 30% homology in the amino terminal region and two RING-finger motives on the carboxy terminal side. This unique structure suggested that the parkin protein was related to the ubiquitin-proteasome system. Parkin protein turned out to be an ubiquitin-protein ligase. Numbers of parkin-interacting proteins were reported in the literature and accumulation of parkin-substrates is likely to be the cause for the nigral neuronal death in this familial PD. Regarding the prognosis of PD, we analyzed the patients who visited our clinic from January 1, 1989 to December 31, 2002. The total of patients recruited was 1,772. The average age of onset was 57.2 years. Mean levodopa dose at the final examination was 479 mg/day. The most common initial symptom was tremor which was seen in 51% of the patients. Total percentage of patients who had tremor during the course of the disease was 75%. Long-term prognosis was evaluated on a subgroup of the patients who visited our clinic within 5 years from the onset and Hoehn and Yahr stage III or less when first seen. Analysis was done by the Kaplan-Meier survival curve. Percentages of patients who reached Hoehn and Yahr III 5, 10, and 15 years after the onset were 24%, 46%, and 65%, respectively. Percentages of patients who developed wearing off fluctuations were 5, 10, and 15 years after the start of levodopa were 18%, 46%, and 55%, respectively. Overall mortality on the total investigated patients was 7.9%. When compared to the age at death of Japanese population, mortality of men PD patients became very close to that of the general population in the year 2003. However, that in women PD patients showed significantly shorter survival compared to Japanese female population. Average ages of onset and the death were essentially similar between men and women PD patients. Survival curves to reach stage III and wearing off showed slightly but significantly faster time courses for women compared to those of men. This was an unexpected observation and its mechanism was discussed. It is our conclusion that overall prognosis of PD patients is improving and both patients and treating physicians should take an optimistic attitude to the disease.
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PMID:[Progress in the basic and clinical aspects of Parkinson's disease]. 1565 Dec 81

Carriers of premutation alleles (55-200 CGG repeats) of the fragile X mental retardation 1 (FMR1) gene are spared the major neurodevelopmental symptomatology of fragile X syndrome patients carrying a full mutation (>200 repeats). In a proportion of premutation carriers, the repeat expansion is associated with a specific neurological profile involving intention tremor, ataxia, intellectual decline compatible with dementia syndrome, Parkinsonism and autonomic dysfunction at older age, commonly referred to as fragile-X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome (FXTAS). Typical CNS changes include hyperintense signals on T2 weighted magnetic resonance images and the presence of ubiquitin-positive intranuclear neuronal inclusions. A knock-in mouse model with a (CGG)98 repeat in the premutation range has been generated and shown to exhibit elevated Fmr1 mRNA levels and ubiquitin-positive intranuclear neuronal inclusions, suggesting it may be a valid model for the human disease. Given the specific clinical profile of FXTAS patients, the expanded CGG repeat model was assessed for cognitive, behavioural and neuromotor performance at different ages (20, 52 and 72 weeks). The Morris water maze task exposed age-dependent decline of visual-spatial memory. Open field recordings revealed decreased exploration of the centre of the arena in the oldest group of expanded CGG repeat mice, potentially reflecting increased anxiety. Neuromotor tasks primarily showed decline of performance on the accelerating rotarod with age in the premutation carriers but not in control littermates. The age-dependent cognitive decline and neuromotor disturbances may be related to the progressive cognitive and behavioural difficulties observed in FXTAS patients.
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PMID:Cognitive decline, neuromotor and behavioural disturbances in a mouse model for fragile-X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome (FXTAS). 1587 60

The ataxia (ax(J)) mutation is a spontaneous recessive mutation that results in reduced expression of ubiquitin-specific protease 14, Usp14. Mice homozygous for the ax(J) mutation are retarded for growth and exhibit several behavioral disorders, including a resting tremor and hindlimb paralysis. Although pathological defects appear to be limited to the central nervous system, reduction of Usp14 expression was widespread in the ax(J) mice. Usp14 co-fractionated with proteasomes isolated from livers and brains of wild-type mice. Proteasomes isolated from the ax(J) brains still possessed deubiquitinating activity and were functionally competent to hydrolyze 20S proteasomal substrates in vitro. However, the levels of monomeric ubiquitin were reduced approximately 35% in most of the ax(J) tissues examined. These results indicate that Usp14 functions to maintain the cellular levels of monomeric ubiquitin in mammalian cells, and that alterations in the levels of ubiquitin may contribute to neurological disease.
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PMID:Loss of Usp14 results in reduced levels of ubiquitin in ataxia mice. 1619 Aug 81

Fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome (FXTAS) is a neurodegenerative disorder that affects some adult carriers of pre-mutation alleles (55-200 CGG repeats) of the fragile X mental retardation 1 (FMR1) gene. FXTAS is thought to be caused by a toxic 'gain-of-function' of the expanded CGG-repeat FMR1 mRNA, which is found in the neuronal and astrocytic intranuclear inclusions associated with the disorder. Using a reporter construct with a FMR1 5' untranslated region harboring an expanded (premutation) CGG repeat, we have demonstrated that intranuclear inclusions can be formed in both primary neural progenitor cells and established neural cell lines. As with the inclusions found in post-mortem tissue, the inclusions induced by the expanded CGG repeat are alphaB-crystallin-positive; however, inclusions in culture are not associated with ubiquitin, indicating that incorporation of ubiquitinated proteins is a later event in the disease process. The absence of ubiquitinated proteins also argues against a model in which inclusion formation is due to a failure of the proteasomal degradative machinery. The presence of the expanded CGG repeat, as RNA, results in reduced cell viability as well as the disruption of the normal architecture of lamin A/C within the nucleus. This last observation, and the findings that lamin A/C is present in both the inclusions of FXTAS patients and the inclusions in cell culture, suggests that lamin A/C dysregulation may be a component of the pathogenesis of FXTAS; in particular, the Charcot-Marie-Tooth-type neuropathy associated with FXTAS may represent a functional laminopathy.
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PMID:Induction of inclusion formation and disruption of lamin A/C structure by premutation CGG-repeat RNA in human cultured neural cells. 1623 43

Fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome (FXTAS) is a late-onset neurodegenerative disorder caused by premutation expansions (55-200 CGG repeats) in the fragile X mental retardation 1 (FMR1) gene. The pathologic hallmark of FXTAS is the ubiquitin-positive intranuclear inclusion found in neurons and astrocytes in broad distribution throughout the brain. The pathogenesis of FXTAS is likely to involve an RNA toxic gain-of-function mechanism, and the FMR1 mRNA has recently been identified within the inclusions. However, little is known about the proteins that mediate the abnormal cellular response to the expanded CGG repeat allele. As one approach to identify the protein mediators, we have endeavoured to define the protein complement of the inclusion itself. Fluorescence-activated flow-based methods have been developed for the efficient purification of inclusions from the post-mortem brain tissue of FXTAS patients. Mass spectrometric analysis of the entire protein complement of the isolated inclusions, combined with immunohistochemical analysis of both isolated nuclei and tissue sections, has been used to identify inclusion-associated proteins. More than 20 inclusion-associated proteins have been identified on the basis of combined immunohistochemical and mass spectrometric analysis, including a number of neurofilaments and lamin A/C. There is no dominant protein species in the inclusions, and ubiquitinated proteins represent only a minor component; thus, inclusion formation is not likely to reflect a breakdown in proteasomal degradation of nuclear proteins. The list of proteins includes at least two RNA binding proteins, heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein A2 and muscle blind-like protein 1, which are possible mediators of the RNA gain-of-function in FXTAS.
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PMID:Protein composition of the intranuclear inclusions of FXTAS. 1624 64

Fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome (FXTAS) is a recently identified neurodegenerative disorder affecting older adult males with premutation alleles of the fragile X mental retardation 1 (FMR1) gene. The principal clinical features of FXTAS include progressive intention tremor, gait ataxia, parkinsonism, and autonomic dysfunction. The disorder affects at least one-third of carrier males over 50 years of age and, with an estimated carrier frequency of approximately 1/800 males, is likely to be one of the most common heritable forms of tremor and ataxia among older adult males in the general population. Brains from all FXTAS cases examined to date (10/10) possess numerous ubiquitin-positive intranuclear inclusions in broad distribution throughout the cerebrum and brainstem. The absence of either the neurodegenerative disorder or inclusions among adults with fragile X syndrome (who lack the FMR1 protein), coupled with elevated FMR1 mRNA with expanded CGG repeats in premutation carriers, has led us to propose an RNA toxic gain-of-function model for FXTAS. Consistent with this model, we have now identified FMR1 mRNA within the intranuclear inclusions isolated from post-mortem (FXTAS) brain tissue.
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PMID:FMR1 RNA within the intranuclear inclusions of fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome (FXTAS). 1717 50

Spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (SCA3) is an autosomal dominantly inherited neurodegenerative disorder caused by the expansion of a CAG repeat in the MJD1 gene resulting in an expanded polyglutamine repeat in the ataxin-3 protein. To study the course of the disease, we generated transgenic mice for SCA3 using full-length ataxin-3 constructs containing 15, 70, or 148 CAG repeats, respectively. Control mice (15 CAGs) were phenotypically normal and had no neuropathological findings. However, mice transgenic for ataxin-3 with expanded polyglutamine repeats were severely affected by a strong neurological phenotype with tremor, behavioral deficits, strongly reduced motor and exploratory activity, a hunchback, and premature death at 3 to 6 months of age. Neuropathological examination by immunohistochemical staining revealed ubiquitin- and ataxin-3-positive intranuclear inclusion bodies in a multitude of neurons. Directing ataxin-3 with 148 CAGs to the nucleus revealed an even more pronounced phenotype with more inclusions and earlier death, whereas mice transgenic with the same construct but attached to a nuclear export signal developed a milder phenotype with less inclusions. These studies indicate that nuclear localization of ataxin-3 is required for the manifestation of symptoms in SCA3 in vivo.
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PMID:Nuclear localization of ataxin-3 is required for the manifestation of symptoms in SCA3: in vivo evidence. 1762 2

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by rigidity, bradykinesia, postural instability and resting tremor. The major symptoms are related to the progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta. The recent discovery of PARK genes causing familial forms of PD has led to a new approach in the study of the disease. The cause and pathogenesis of PD remains unknown; mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative damage, endoplasmic reticulum stress, failure of the ubiquitin-proteasome system, environmental factors and genetic predisposition might all be involved. Toxin-induced PD animal models and genetic mouse models that mimic familial PD have contributed to investigating the molecular pathogenesis and treatment of the disease. Recently, neurogenesis in the striatum and subventricular zones in PD animal models have been reported. This review discusses molecular pathogenesis, experimental disease models and recent cell-based therapeutic approaches for PD.
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PMID:Molecular pathogenesis, experimental models and new therapeutic strategies for Parkinson's disease. 1763 51


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