Search

Autophagy is a self-degradation system for recycling to maintain homeostasis. p62/sequestosome-1 (p62) is an autophagy receptor that accumulates in neuroglia in neurodegenerative diseases. The objective of this study was to determine the elevation of plasma p62 protein levels in patients with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease 1A (CMT1A) for its clinical usefulness to assess disease severity. We collected blood samples from 69 CMT1A patients and 59 healthy controls. Plasma concentrations of p62 were analyzed by ELISA, and we compared them with Charcot-Marie-Tooth neuropathy score version 2 (CMTNSv2). A mouse CMT1A model (C22) was employed to determine the source and mechanism of plasma p62 elevation. Plasma p62 was detected in healthy controls with median value of 1978 pg/ml, and the levels were significantly higher in CMT1A (2465 pg/ml, p < 0.001). The elevated plasma p62 levels were correlated with CMTNSv2 (r = 0.621, p < 0.0001), motor nerve conduction velocity (r =  - 0.490, p < 0.0001) and disease duration (r = 0.364, p < 0.01). In C22 model, increased p62 expression was observed not only in pathologic Schwann cells but also in plasma. Our findings indicate that plasma p62 measurement could be a valuable tool for evaluating CMT1A severity and Schwann cell pathology., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background and Purpose: Elevated plasma concentrations of neural cell adhesion molecule 1 (NCAM1) and p75 neurotrophin receptor (p75) in patients with peripheral neuropathy have been reported. This study aimed to determine the specificity of plasma concentration elevation of either NCAM1 or p75 in a subtype of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT) and its correlation with pathologic nerve status and disease severity., Methods: Blood samples were collected from 138 patients with inherited peripheral neuropathy and 51 healthy controls. Disease severity was measured using Charcot-Marie-Tooth Neuropathy Score version 2 (CMTNSv2), and plasma concentrations of NCAM1 and p75 were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Eight sural nerves from CMT patients were examined to determine the relation of histopathology and plasma NCAM1 levels., Results: Plasma concentration of NCAM1, but not p75, was specifically increased in demyelinating subtypes of CMT (median = 7100 pg/mL, p < 0.001), including CMT1A, but not in axonal subtype (5964 pg/mL, p > 0.05), compared to the control (3859 pg/mL). CMT1A patients with mild or moderate severity (CMTNSv2 < 20) showed higher levels of plasma NCAM1 than healthy controls. Immunofluorescent NCAM1 staining for the sural nerves of CMT patients showed that NCAM1-positive onion bulb cells and possible demyelinating Schwann cells might be associated with the specific increase of plasma NCAM1 in demyelinating CMT., Conclusions: The plasma NCAM1 levels in demyelinating CMT might be a surrogate biomarker reflecting pathological Schwann cell status and disease progression., (© 2023 European Academy of Neurology.)