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2. Splicing Defects of the Profilin Gene Alter Actin Dynamics in an S. pombe SMN Mutant

Author

Antoine, Marie, Patrick, Kristin L, Soret, Johann, Duc, Pauline, Rage, Florence, Cacciottolo, Rebecca, Nissen, Kelly E, Cauchi, Ruben J, Krogan, Nevan J, Guthrie, Christine, Gachet, Yannick, and Bordonné, Rémy

Subjects
Neurodegenerative, Pediatric, Spinal Muscular Atrophy, Genetics, Rare Diseases, Neurosciences, Neurological, Biological Sciences, Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, Molecular Genetics
Abstract

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a devastating motor neuron disorder caused by mutations in the survival motor neuron (SMN) gene. It remains unclear how SMN deficiency leads to the loss of motor neurons. By screening Schizosaccharomyces pombe, we found that the growth defect of an SMN mutant can be alleviated by deletion of the actin-capping protein subunit gene acp1+. We show that SMN mutated cells have splicing defects in the profilin gene, which thus directly hinder actin cytoskeleton homeostasis including endocytosis and cytokinesis. We conclude that deletion of acp1+ in an SMN mutant background compensates for actin cytoskeleton alterations by restoring redistribution of actin monomers between different types of cellular actin networks. Our data reveal a direct correlation between an impaired function of SMN in snRNP assembly and defects in actin dynamics. They also point to important common features in the pathogenic mechanism of SMA and ALS.

Published
2020

6. Common and rare variant association analyses in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis identify 15 risk loci with distinct genetic architectures and neuron-specific biology

Author

van Rheenen, Wouter, van der Spek, Rick A. A., Bakker, Mark K., van Vugt, Joke J. F. A., Hop, Paul J., Zwamborn, Ramona A. J., de Klein, Niek, Westra, Harm-Jan, Bakker, Olivier B., Deelen, Patrick, Shireby, Gemma, Hannon, Eilis, Moisse, Matthieu, Baird, Denis, Restuadi, Restuadi, Dolzhenko, Egor, Dekker, Annelot M., Gawor, Klara, Westeneng, Henk-Jan, Tazelaar, Gijs H. P., van Eijk, Kristel R., Kooyman, Maarten, Byrne, Ross P., Doherty, Mark, Heverin, Mark, Al Khleifat, Ahmad, Iacoangeli, Alfredo, Shatunov, Aleksey, Ticozzi, Nicola, Cooper-Knock, Johnathan, Smith, Bradley N., Gromicho, Marta, Chandran, Siddharthan, Pal, Suvankar, Morrison, Karen E., Shaw, Pamela J., Hardy, John, Orrell, Richard W., Sendtner, Michael, Meyer, Thomas, Başak, Nazli, van der Kooi, Anneke J., Ratti, Antonia, Fogh, Isabella, Gellera, Cinzia, Lauria, Giuseppe, Corti, Stefania, Cereda, Cristina, Sproviero, Daisy, D’Alfonso, Sandra, Sorarù, Gianni, Siciliano, Gabriele, Filosto, Massimiliano, Padovani, Alessandro, Chiò, Adriano, Calvo, Andrea, Moglia, Cristina, Brunetti, Maura, Canosa, Antonio, Grassano, Maurizio, Beghi, Ettore, Pupillo, Elisabetta, Logroscino, Giancarlo, Nefussy, Beatrice, Osmanovic, Alma, Nordin, Angelica, Lerner, Yossef, Zabari, Michal, Gotkine, Marc, Baloh, Robert H., Bell, Shaughn, Vourc’h, Patrick, Corcia, Philippe, Couratier, Philippe, Millecamps, Stéphanie, Meininger, Vincent, Salachas, François, Mora Pardina, Jesus S., Assialioui, Abdelilah, Rojas-García, Ricardo, Dion, Patrick A., Ross, Jay P., Ludolph, Albert C., Weishaupt, Jochen H., Brenner, David, Freischmidt, Axel, Bensimon, Gilbert, Brice, Alexis, Durr, Alexandra, Payan, Christine A. M., Saker-Delye, Safa, Wood, Nicholas W., Topp, Simon, Rademakers, Rosa, Tittmann, Lukas, Lieb, Wolfgang, Franke, Andre, Ripke, Stephan, Braun, Alice, Kraft, Julia, Whiteman, David C., Olsen, Catherine M., Uitterlinden, Andre G., Hofman, Albert, Rietschel, Marcella, Cichon, Sven, Nöthen, Markus M., Amouyel, Philippe, Traynor, Bryan J., Singleton, Andrew B., Mitne Neto, Miguel, Cauchi, Ruben J., Ophoff, Roel A., Wiedau-Pazos, Martina, Lomen-Hoerth, Catherine, van Deerlin, Vivianna M., Grosskreutz, Julian, Roediger, Annekathrin, Gaur, Nayana, Jörk, Alexander, Barthel, Tabea, Theele, Erik, Ilse, Benjamin, Stubendorff, Beatrice, Witte, Otto W., Steinbach, Robert, Hübner, Christian A., Graff, Caroline, Brylev, Lev, Fominykh, Vera, Demeshonok, Vera, Ataulina, Anastasia, Rogelj, Boris, Koritnik, Blaž, Zidar, Janez, Ravnik-Glavač, Metka, Glavač, Damjan, Stević, Zorica, Drory, Vivian, Povedano, Monica, Blair, Ian P., Kiernan, Matthew C., Benyamin, Beben, Henderson, Robert D., Furlong, Sarah, Mathers, Susan, McCombe, Pamela A., Needham, Merrilee, Ngo, Shyuan T., Nicholson, Garth A., Pamphlett, Roger, Rowe, Dominic B., Steyn, Frederik J., Williams, Kelly L., Mather, Karen A., Sachdev, Perminder S., Henders, Anjali K., Wallace, Leanne, de Carvalho, Mamede, Pinto, Susana, Petri, Susanne, Weber, Markus, Rouleau, Guy A., Silani, Vincenzo, Curtis, Charles J., Breen, Gerome, Glass, Jonathan D., Brown, Jr., Robert H., Landers, John E., Shaw, Christopher E., Andersen, Peter M., Groen, Ewout J. N., van Es, Michael A., Pasterkamp, R. Jeroen, Fan, Dongsheng, Garton, Fleur C., McRae, Allan F., Davey Smith, George, Gaunt, Tom R., Eberle, Michael A., Mill, Jonathan, McLaughlin, Russell L., Hardiman, Orla, Kenna, Kevin P., Wray, Naomi R., Tsai, Ellen, Runz, Heiko, Franke, Lude, Al-Chalabi, Ammar, Van Damme, Philip, van den Berg, Leonard H., and Veldink, Jan H.

Published
2021
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10. An activator of voltage-gated K + channels Kv1.1 as a therapeutic candidate for episodic ataxia type 1

Author

Servettini, Ilenio, primary, Talani, Giuseppe, additional, Megaro, Alfredo, additional, Setzu, Maria Dolores, additional, Biggio, Francesca, additional, Briffa, Michelle, additional, Guglielmi, Luca, additional, Savalli, Nicoletta, additional, Binda, Francesca, additional, Delicata, Francis, additional, Bru–Mercier, Gilles, additional, Vassallo, Neville, additional, Maglione, Vittorio, additional, Cauchi, Ruben J., additional, Di Pardo, Alba, additional, Collu, Maria, additional, Imbrici, Paola, additional, Catacuzzeno, Luigi, additional, D’Adamo, Maria Cristina, additional, Olcese, Riccardo, additional, and Pessia, Mauro, additional

Published
2023
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11. Author Correction: Common and rare variant association analyses in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis identify 15 risk loci with distinct genetic architectures and neuron-specific biology

Author

van Rheenen, Wouter, van der Spek, Rick A. A., Bakker, Mark K., van Vugt, Joke J. F. A., Hop, Paul J., Zwamborn, Ramona A. J., de Klein, Niek, Westra, Harm-Jan, Bakker, Olivier B., Deelen, Patrick, Shireby, Gemma, Hannon, Eilis, Moisse, Matthieu, Baird, Denis, Restuadi, Restuadi, Dolzhenko, Egor, Dekker, Annelot M., Gawor, Klara, Westeneng, Henk-Jan, Tazelaar, Gijs H. P., van Eijk, Kristel R., Kooyman, Maarten, Byrne, Ross P., Doherty, Mark, Heverin, Mark, Al Khleifat, Ahmad, Iacoangeli, Alfredo, Shatunov, Aleksey, Ticozzi, Nicola, Cooper-Knock, Johnathan, Smith, Bradley N., Gromicho, Marta, Chandran, Siddharthan, Pal, Suvankar, Morrison, Karen E., Shaw, Pamela J., Hardy, John, Orrell, Richard W., Sendtner, Michael, Meyer, Thomas, Başak, Nazli, van der Kooi, Anneke J., Ratti, Antonia, Fogh, Isabella, Gellera, Cinzia, Lauria, Giuseppe, Corti, Stefania, Cereda, Cristina, Sproviero, Daisy, D’Alfonso, Sandra, Sorarù, Gianni, Siciliano, Gabriele, Filosto, Massimiliano, Padovani, Alessandro, Chiò, Adriano, Calvo, Andrea, Moglia, Cristina, Brunetti, Maura, Canosa, Antonio, Grassano, Maurizio, Beghi, Ettore, Pupillo, Elisabetta, Logroscino, Giancarlo, Nefussy, Beatrice, Osmanovic, Alma, Nordin, Angelica, Lerner, Yossef, Zabari, Michal, Gotkine, Marc, Baloh, Robert H., Bell, Shaughn, Vourc’h, Patrick, Corcia, Philippe, Couratier, Philippe, Millecamps, Stéphanie, Meininger, Vincent, Salachas, François, Mora Pardina, Jesus S., Assialioui, Abdelilah, Rojas-García, Ricardo, Dion, Patrick A., Ross, Jay P., Ludolph, Albert C., Weishaupt, Jochen H., Brenner, David, Freischmidt, Axel, Bensimon, Gilbert, Brice, Alexis, Durr, Alexandra, Payan, Christine A. M., Saker-Delye, Safa, Wood, Nicholas W., Topp, Simon, Rademakers, Rosa, Tittmann, Lukas, Lieb, Wolfgang, Franke, Andre, Ripke, Stephan, Braun, Alice, Kraft, Julia, Whiteman, David C., Olsen, Catherine M., Uitterlinden, Andre G., Hofman, Albert, Rietschel, Marcella, Cichon, Sven, Nöthen, Markus M., Amouyel, Philippe, Traynor, Bryan J., Singleton, Andrew B., Mitne Neto, Miguel, Cauchi, Ruben J., Ophoff, Roel A., Wiedau-Pazos, Martina, Lomen-Hoerth, Catherine, van Deerlin, Vivianna M., Grosskreutz, Julian, Roediger, Annekathrin, Gaur, Nayana, Jörk, Alexander, Barthel, Tabea, Theele, Erik, Ilse, Benjamin, Stubendorff, Beatrice, Witte, Otto W., Steinbach, Robert, Hübner, Christian A., Graff, Caroline, Brylev, Lev, Fominykh, Vera, Demeshonok, Vera, Ataulina, Anastasia, Rogelj, Boris, Koritnik, Blaž, Zidar, Janez, Ravnik-Glavač, Metka, Glavač, Damjan, Stević, Zorica, Drory, Vivian, Povedano, Monica, Blair, Ian P., Kiernan, Matthew C., Benyamin, Beben, Henderson, Robert D., Furlong, Sarah, Mathers, Susan, McCombe, Pamela A., Needham, Merrilee, Ngo, Shyuan T., Nicholson, Garth A., Pamphlett, Roger, Rowe, Dominic B., Steyn, Frederik J., Williams, Kelly L., Mather, Karen A., Sachdev, Perminder S., Henders, Anjali K., Wallace, Leanne, de Carvalho, Mamede, Pinto, Susana, Petri, Susanne, Weber, Markus, Rouleau, Guy A., Silani, Vincenzo, Curtis, Charles J., Breen, Gerome, Glass, Jonathan D., Brown, Jr., Robert H., Landers, John E., Shaw, Christopher E., Andersen, Peter M., Groen, Ewout J. N., van Es, Michael A., Pasterkamp, R. Jeroen, Fan, Dongsheng, Garton, Fleur C., McRae, Allan F., Davey Smith, George, Gaunt, Tom R., Eberle, Michael A., Mill, Jonathan, McLaughlin, Russell L., Hardiman, Orla, Kenna, Kevin P., Wray, Naomi R., Tsai, Ellen, Runz, Heiko, Franke, Lude, Al-Chalabi, Ammar, Van Damme, Philip, van den Berg, Leonard H., and Veldink, Jan H.

Published
2022
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13. Molecular and genetic studies of Gemin3 using Drosophila melanosgastee

Author

Cauchi, Ruben J.

Subjects
616.744
Abstract

The survival motor neuron (SMN) complex is a macromolecular structure composed of SMN, Gemin2-8 and Unrip. The best-documented function of the SMN complex concerns the assembly of the spliceosome building blocks, uridine-rich small nuclear ribonucleoproteins (UsnRNPs). SMN deficiency results in Spinal Muscular Atrophy, a disorder characterised by degeneration of spinal cord motor neurons and progressive muscular weakness.

Published
2008

15. SOD1 D91A variant in the southernmost tip of Europe: a heterozygous ALS patient resident on the island of Gozo

Author

Farrugia Wismayer, Maia, Farrugia Wismayer, Andrew, Pace, Adrian, Vassallo, Neville, and Cauchi, Ruben J.

Abstract

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is frequently caused by mutations in the SOD1gene. Here, we report the first SOD1variant in Malta, an archipelago of three inhabited islands in southern Europe. We describe a patient with a sporadic form of ALS living on the island of Gozo in which the heterozygous SOD1c.272A>C; p.(Asp91Ala) variant was detected. The patient had a late onset (79 years), sensory impairments and rapid disease progression culminating in respiratory failure. ALS has not yet developed in any of the three additional family members in which the D91A variant was identified. None of the healthy controls from the Maltese population were found to carry this variant. This report underscores the high prevalence of the D91A variant in Europe, despite the presence of a North-South gradient in its frequency, and confirms that this variant can be associated with dominant cases in Mediterranean countries.

Published
2024
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17. An activator of voltage-gated K+ channels Kv1.1 as a therapeutic candidate for episodic ataxia type 1.

Author

Servettini, Ilenio, Talani, Giuseppe, Megaro, Alfredo, Setzu, Maria Dolores, Biggio, Francesca, Briffa, Michelle, Guglielmi, Luca, Savalli, Nicoletta, Binda, Francesca, Delicata, Francis, Bru-Mercier, Gilles, Vassallo, Neville, Maglione, Vittorio, Cauchi, Ruben J., Di Pardo, Alba, Collu, Maria, Imbrici, Paola, Catacuzzeno, Luigi, D'Adamo, Maria Cristina, and Olcese, Riccardo

Subjects
ATAXIA, DRUG discovery, NEUROMUSCULAR transmission, DROSOPHILA melanogaster, PURKINJE cells, PEOPLE with epilepsy, GENETIC counseling
Abstract

Loss-of-function mutations in the KCNA1(Kv1.1) gene cause episodic ataxia type 1 (EA1), a neurological disease characterized by cerebellar dysfunction, ataxic attacks, persistent myokymia with painful cramps in skeletal muscles, and epilepsy. Precision medicine for EA1 treatment is currently unfeasible, as no drug that can enhance the activity of Kv1.1-containing channels and offset the functional defects caused by KCNA1 mutations has been clinically approved. Here, we uncovered that niflumic acid (NFA), a currently prescribed analgesic and anti-inflammatory drug with an excellent safety profile in the clinic, potentiates the activity of Kv1.1 channels. NFA increased Kv1.1 current amplitudes by enhancing the channel open probability, causing a hyperpolarizing shift in the voltage dependence of both channel opening and gating charge movement, slowing the OFF-gating current decay. NFA exerted similar actions on both homomeric Kv1.2 and heteromeric Kv1.1/Kv1.2 channels, which are formed in most brain structures. We show that through its potentiating action, NFA mitigated the EA1 mutation-induced functional defects in Kv1.1 and restored cerebellar synaptic transmission, Purkinje cell availability, and precision of firing. In addition, NFA ameliorated the motor performance of a knock-in mouse model of EA1 and restored the neuromuscular transmission and climbing ability in Shaker (Kv1.1) mutant Drosophila melanogaster flies (Sh5). By virtue of its multiple actions, NFA has strong potential as an efficacious single-molecule-based therapeutic agent for EA1 and serves as a valuable model for drug discovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Published
2023
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20. Genome-wide study of DNA methylation shows alterations in metabolic, inflammatory, and cholesterol pathways in ALS

Author

Hop, Paul J., Zwamborn, Ramona A. J., Hannon, Eilis, Shireby, Gemma L., Nabais, Marta F., Walker, Emma M., van Rheenen, Wouter, van Vugt, Joke J. F. A., Dekker, Annelot M., Westeneng, Henk-Jan, Tazelaar, Gijs H. P., Slagboom, P. Eline, Beekman, Marian, Deelen, Joris, van Heemst, Diana, Veldink, Jan H., van den Berg, Leonard H., van Duijn, Cornelia M., Hofman, Bert A., Isaacs, Aaron, Uitterlinden, Andre G., van Eijk, Kristel R., van Meurs, Joyce, Jhamai, P. Mila, Verbiest, Michael, Suchiman, H. Eka D., Verkerk, Marijn, van der Breggen, Ruud, van Rooij, Jeroen, Lakenberg, Nico, Mei, Hailiang, van Iterson, Maarten, Moisse, Matthieu, van Galen, Michiel, Bot, Jan, Zhernakova, Dasha V., Jansen, Rick, van ‘t Hof, Peter, Deelen, Patrick, Nooren, Irene, t Hoen, Peter A. C., Heijmans, Bastiaan T., Moed, Matthijs, Baird, Denis, Franke, Lude, Vermaat, Martijn, Luijk, Rene, Jan Bonder, Marc, van Dijk, Freerk, Arindrarto, Wibowo, Al Khleifat, Ahmad, Kielbasa, Szymon M., Swertz, Morris A., van Zwet, Erik W., Al-Chalabi, Ammar, Wray, Naomi R., Bensimon, Gilbert, Hardiman, Orla, Iacoangeli, Alfredo, Chio, Adriano, Smith, George Davey, Mill, Jonathan, Ticozzi, Nicola, Ratti, Antonia, Cooper-Knock, Jonathan, Morrison, Karen E., Shaw, Pamela J., Basak, A. Nazli, Chiò, Adriano, Calvo, Andrea, Moglia, Cristina, Canosa, Antonio, Brunetti, Maura, Grassano, Maurizio, Gotkine, Marc, Lerner, Yossef, Zabari, Michal, Vourc’h, Patrick, Corcia, Philippe, Couratier, Philippe, Mora Pardina, Jesus S., Salas, Teresa, Dion, Patrick, Ross, Jay P., Henderson, Robert D., Mathers, Susan, McCombe, Pamela A., Needham, Merrilee, Nicholson, Garth, Rowe, Dominic B., Pamphlett, Roger, Mather, Karen A., Sachdev, Perminder S., Furlong, Sarah, Garton, Fleur C., Henders, Anjali K., Lin, Tian, Ngo, Shyuan T., Steyn, Frederik J., Wallace, Leanne, Williams, Kelly L., Neto, Miguel Mitne, Cauchi, Ruben J., Blair, Ian P., Kiernan, Matthew C., Drory, Vivian, Povedano, Monica, Carvalho, Mamede, Pinto, Susana, Weber, Markus, Rouleau, Guy A., Silani, Vincenzo, Landers, John E., Shaw, Christopher E., Andersen, Peter M., McRae, Allan F., van Es, Michael A., Pasterkamp, R. Jeroen, McLaughlin, Russell L., Kenna, Kevin P., Tsai, Ellen, Runz, Heiko, Van Damme, Philip, Boomsma, Dorret I., Pool, Rene, van Dongen, Jenny, Hottenga, Joukje J., van Greevenbroek, Marleen M. J., Stehouwer, Coen D.A., van der Kallen, Carla J.H., Schalkwijk, Casper G., Wijmenga, Cisca, Zhernakova, Sasha, Tigchelaar, Ettje F., Stem Cell Aging Leukemia and Lymphoma (SALL), Groningen Institute for Gastro Intestinal Genetics and Immunology (3GI), Translational Immunology Groningen (TRIGR), Psychiatry, Amsterdam Neuroscience - Complex Trait Genetics, Laboratory Medicine, APH - Mental Health, Internal Medicine, Epidemiology, and Repositório da Universidade de Lisboa

Subjects
Cholesterol, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, Humans, Neurodegenerative Diseases, General Medicine, DNA Methylation, Nanomedicine Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences [Radboudumc 19], Article, Epigenesis, Genetic, Genome-Wide Association Study
Abstract

Copyright © 2022 The Authors, some rights reserved; exclusive licensee American Association for the Advancement of Science. No claim to original U.S. Government Works., Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease with an estimated heritability between 40 and 50%. DNA methylation patterns can serve as proxies of (past) exposures and disease progression, as well as providing a potential mechanism that mediates genetic or environmental risk. Here, we present a blood-based epigenome-wide association study meta-analysis in 9706 samples passing stringent quality control (6763 patients, 2943 controls). We identified a total of 45 differentially methylated positions (DMPs) annotated to 42 genes, which are enriched for pathways and traits related to metabolism, cholesterol biosynthesis, and immunity. We then tested 39 DNA methylation-based proxies of putative ALS risk factors and found that high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, body mass index, white blood cell proportions, and alcohol intake were independently associated with ALS. Integration of these results with our latest genome-wide association study showed that cholesterol biosynthesis was potentially causally related to ALS. Last, DNA methylation at several DMPs and blood cell proportion estimates derived from DNA methylation data were associated with survival rate in patients, suggesting that they might represent indicators of underlying disease processes potentially amenable to therapeutic interventions., The research reported in this publication was supported by grants from The Dutch Research Council (NWO) (VENI scheme grant 09150161810018 to W.v.R.) and Prinses Beatrix Spierfond (neuromuscular fellowship grant W.F19-03 to W.v.R.), The Prinses Beatrix Spierfonds (W.OR20-08 to J.J.F.A.v.V. and J.H.V.), The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (FRN 159279 to J.P.R.), The Dutch Research Council (NWO) (VIDI grant 91719350 to K.P.K.), The European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program (grant agreement no. 772376-EScORIAL to J.H.V.), the Swedish Brain Foundation (grant nos. 2012-0262, 2012-0305, 2013-0279, 2016-0303, 2018-0310, and 2020-0353 to P.M.A.), the Swedish Research Council (grant nos. 2012-3167 and 2017-03100 to P.M.A.), the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation (grant nos. 2012.0091, 2014.0305, and 2020.0232 to P.M.A.), the Ulla-Carin Lindquist Foundation and the Västerbotten County Council (grant no. 56103-7002829 to P.M.A.), and King Gustaf V’s and Queen Victoria’s Freemason’s Foundation. This is an EU Joint Programme–Neurodegenerative Disease Research (JPND) project. The project is supported through the following funding organizations under the aegis of JPND (www.jpnd.eu) [United Kingdom, Medical Research Council (MR/L501529/1; MR/R024804/1) and Economic and Social Research Council (ES/L008238/1)] and through the Motor Neurone Disease Association (MNDA). This study represents independent research part funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Biomedical Research Centre at South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and King’s College London. A.A.-C. is supported by an NIHR Senior Investigator Award. Samples used in this research were entirely/in part obtained from the U.K. National DNA Bank for MND Research, funded by the MND Association and the Wellcome Trust. We would like to thank people with MND and their families for their participation in this project. We acknowledge sample management undertaken by Biobanking Solutions funded by the Medical Research Council at the Centre for Integrated Genomic Medical Research, University of Manchester. R.J.P. is funded through the Gravitation program of the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture, and Science and the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (BRAINSCAPES). G.L.S. was supported by a PhD studentship from the Alzheimer’s Society. S.T.N. acknowledges support through a FightMND Mid-Career Fellowship. V.S. is supported by the Italian Ministry of Health, AriSLA, and E-Rare Joint Transnational Call. A.A.K. is funded by the MNDA and NIHR Maudsley Biomedical Research Centre. D.B., E.T., and H.R. are employees of Biogen. L.H.v.d.B. reports grants from the Netherlands ALS Foundation, grants from The Netherlands Organization for Health Research and Development (Vici scheme), grants from The European Community’s Health Seventh Framework Programme [grant agreement no. 259867 (EuroMOTOR) to L.H.v.d.B.], and grants from The Netherlands Organization for Health Research and Development (the STRENGTH project, funded through the EU Joint Programme–Neurodegenerative Disease Research, JPND), during the conduct of the study. Project MinE Belgium was supported by a grant from IWT (no. 140935), the ALS Liga België, the National Lottery of Belgium, and the KU Leuven Opening the Future Fund. P.V.D. holds a senior clinical investigatorship of FWO-Vlaanderen and is supported by the E. von Behring Chair for Neuromuscular and Neurodegenerative Disorders, the ALS Liga België, and the KU Leuven funds “Een Hart voor ALS”, “Laeversfonds voor ALS Onderzoek”, and the “Valéry Perrier Race against ALS Fund”. This work was supported by the Italian Ministry of Health (Ministero della Salute, Ricerca Sanitaria Finalizzata, grant RF-2016-02362405 to A. Chiò), the Progetti di Rilevante Interesse Nazionale program of the Ministry of Education, University and Research (grant 2017SNW5MB to A. Chiò); the European Commission’s Health Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007-2013 under grant agreement 259867 to A. Chiò), and the Joint Programme–Neurodegenerative Disease Research (Strength, ALS-Care and Brain-Mend projects), granted by Italian Ministry of Education, University, and Research. This study was performed under the Department of Excellence grant of the Italian Ministry of Education, University and Research to the “Rita Levi Montalcini” Department of Neuroscience, University of Torino, Italy. We acknowledge funding from the Australian National Health and Medical Research (NHMRC) Council: 1151854, 1083187, 1173790, 1078901, 1113400, 1095215, and 1176913 Enabling Grant #402703 to N.R.W. Additional funding was provided by the Motor Neurone Disease Research Institute of Australia Ice Bucket Challenge grant for the SALSA-SGC consortium. The OATS (used for controls) was facilitated through Twins Research Australia, a national resource in part supported by a Centre for Research Excellence from the Australian NHMRC Council (NHMRC 1079102 to N.R.W.). Funding for this study was awarded by the (NHMRC)/Australian Research Council Strategic Award (grant 401162 to N.R.W.) and NHMRC grants (1405325, 1024224, 1025243, 1045325, 1085606, 568969, and 1093083 to N.R.W.). The collaboration project is cofunded by the PPP Allowance made available by Health~Holland, Top Sector Life Sciences & Health, to stimulate public-private partnerships. This study was supported by the ALS Foundation Netherlands. This work was sponsored by NWO Domain Science for the use of the national computer facilities. A.N.B. is grateful to the Suna and Inan Kirac Foundation and Koc University for the excellent research environment created and for financial support. G.A.R. is supported by the Canadian Institutes of Health. Several authors of this publication are members of the Netherlands Neuromuscular Center (NL-NMD) and the European Reference Network for rare neuromuscular diseases EURO-NMD. French ALS patients of the Pitié-Salpêtrière hospital (Paris) have been collected with ARSla funding support.

Published
2022

22. Common and rare variant association analyses in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis identify 15 risk loci with distinct genetic architectures and neuron-specific biology

Author

Rheenen, Wouter van, Spek, Rick A. A. van der, Bakker, Mark K., Vugt, Joke J. F. A. van, Hop, Paul J., Zwamborn, Ramona A. J., Klein, Niek de, Westra, Harm Jan, Bakker, Olivier B., Deelen, Patrick, Shireby, Gemma, Needham, Merrilee, Ceroni, Mauro, Simoncini, Costanza, Gagliardi, Stella, Corrado, Lucia, Garton, Fleur C., Mazzini, Letizia, Westeneng, Henk Jan, Ross, Jay P., Valluzzi, Francesco, Aguggia, Marco, Raggi, Flavia, Rini, Augusto, Traynor, Bryan J., Singleton, Andrew B., Ngo, Shyuan T., Corcia, Philippe, Olsen, Catherine M., Hofman, Albert, Van Eijk, Kristel R., Pasterkamp, R. Jeroen, Tittmann, Lukas, Iacoangeli, Alfredo, Mitne Neto, Miguel, Sproviero, Daisy, Cauchi, Ruben J., Ophoff, Roel A., Wiedau Pazos, Martina, Lomen-Hoerth, Catherine, Deerlin, Vivianna M. van, Nicholson, Garth A., Brylev, Lev, Whiteman, David C., Grosskreutz, Julian, Fan, Dongsheng, Couratier, Philippe, Roediger, Annekathrin, Gaur, Nayana, D’alfonso, Sandra, Uitterlinden, André G., Pamphlett, Roger, Fominykh, Vera, Byrne, Ross P., Lieb, Wolfgang, Iazzolino, Barbara, Dekker, Annelot M., Slap Consortium, Demeshonok, Vera, Millecamps, Stéphanie, Ataulina, Anastasia, Rogelj, Boris, Koritnik, Blaž, Zidar, Janez, Ravnik-Glavač, Metka, Franke, Andre, Mcrae, Allan F., Rowe, Dominic B., Peotta, Laura, Cooper-Knock, Johnathan, Glavač, Damjan, Doherty, Mark, Rietschel, Marcella, Stević, Zorica, Drory, Vivian, Meininger, Vincent, Zarrelli, Michele, Povedano, Monica, Gaunt, Tom R., Steyn, Frederik J., Williams, Kelly L., Smith, Bradley N., Cugnasco, Paolo, Papurello, Diego Maria, Nozzoli, Cecilia, Sorarù, Gianni, Mather, Karen A., Ripke, Stephan, Nöthen, Markus M., Sachdev, Perminder S., Henders, Anjali K., Wallace, Leanne, Carvalho, Mamede de, Gromicho, Marta, Pinto, Susana, Marco, Giovanni de, Al Khleifat, Ahmad, Eberle, Michael A., Braun, Alice, Gusmaroli, Graziano, Siciliano, Gabriele, Petri, Susanne, Breen, Gerome, Weber, Markus, Rouleau, Guy A., Rojas García, Ricardo, Silani, Vincenzo, Amouyel, Philippe, Ghiglione, Paolo, Davey Smith, George, Curtis, Charles J., Shatunov, Aleksey, Mill, Jonathan, Mclaughlin, Russell L., Filosto, Massimiliano, Comi, Cristoforo, Gerfo, Annalisa lo, Ferlini, Alessandra, Riva, Nilo, Mora Pardina, Jesus S., Chiveri, Luca, Hardiman, Orla, Torrieri, Maria Claudia, Kenna, Kevin P., Wray, Naomi R., Tsai, Ellen, Runz, Heiko, Franke, Lude, Padovani, Alessandro, Chandran, Siddharthan, Al Chalabi, Ammar, Assialioui, Abdelilah, Labate, Carmelo, Damme, Philip van, Ticozzi, Nicola, Palumbo, Francesca, Inghilleri, Maurizio, Chiò, Adriano, Pal, Suvankar, Lunetta, Christian, Jörk, Alexander, Cichon, Sven, Kraft, Julia, Morrison, Karen E., Ruiz, Luigi, Shaw, Pamela J., Hardy, John, Orrell, Richard W., Sendtner, Michael, Meyer, Thomas, Dion, Patrick A., Calvo, Andrea, Kooyman, Maarten, Başak, Nazli, Gerardi, Francesca, Simone, Isabella L., Kooi, Anneke J. van der, Ratti, Antonia, Ferrandi, Delfina, Fogh, Isabella, Ludolph, Albert C., Moglia, Cristina, Brunetti, Maura, Diamanti, Luca, Barthel, Tabea, Blair, Ian P., Es, Michael A. van, Gallone, Salvatore, Canosa, Antonio, Guerra, Vito, Grassano, Maurizio, Beghi, Ettore, Pupillo, Elisabetta, Logroscino, Giancarlo, Ferrarese, Carlo, Nefussy, Beatrice, Theele, Erik, Rinaldi, Fabrizio, Weishaupt, Jochen H., Kiernan, Matthew C., Barberis, Marco, Osmanovic, Alma, Baloh, Robert H., Nordin, Angelica, Lerner, Yossef, Vito, Nicoletta di, Zabari, Michal, Zoccolella, Stefano, Heverin, Mark, Gotkine, Marc, Guaita, Maria Cristina, Brenner, David, Freischmidt, Axel, Sbaiz, Luca, Benyamin, Beben, Glass, Jonathan D., Landers, John E., Tazelaar, Gijs H. P., Rota, Eugenia, Bensimon, Gilbert, Ilse, Benjamin, Brice, Alexis, Durr, Alexandra, Payan, Christine A. M., Saker-Delye, Safa, Wood, Nicholas W., Gentile, Salvatore, Moisse, Matthieu, Topp, Simon, Henderson, Robert D., Rademakers, Rosa, Perrone, Patrizia, Stubendorff, Beatrice, Brown, Robert H., Restuadi, Restuadi, Tremolizzo, Lucio, Mundi, Ciro, Berg, Leonard H. van den, Passarella, Bruno, Delodovici, Maria Luisa, Furlong, Sarah, Bono, Giorgio, Manera, Umberto, Vasta, Rosario, Bombaci, Alessandro, Meineri, Piero, Mauro, Alessandro, Hannon, Eilis, Casale, Federico, Leone, Maurizio, Shaw, Christopher E., Fuda, Giuseppe, Salamone, Paolina, Mathers, Susan, Baird, Denis, Launaro, Nicola, Marchi, Fabiola de, Veldink, Jan H., Gellera, Cinzia, Salachas, François, Witte, Otto W., Andersen, Peter M., Bertolotto, Antonio, Gionco, Maurizio, Leotta, Daniela, Odddenino, Enrico, Slalom Consortium, Tamma, Filippo, Dotta, Michele, Lauria, Giuseppe, Steinbach, Robert, Imperiale, Daniele, Geda, Claudio, Dolzhenko, Egor, Cavallo, Roberto, Pignatta, Pietro, Groen, Ewout J. N., Cotelli, Maria Sofia, Mattei, Marco de, Calabrese, Gianluigi, Sapio, Alessia di, Giardini, Guido, Hübner, Christian A., Corti, Stefania, Bell, Shaughn, Comi, Giancarlo, Mccombe, Pamela A., Tiloca, Cinzia, Parals Consortium, Gawor, Klara, Peverelli, Silvia, Taroni, Franco, Pensato, Viviana, Castellotti, Barbara, Graff, Caroline, Comi, Giacomo P., Cereda, Cristina, Bo, Roberto del, Boero, Giovanni, Slagen Consortium, Vourc’h, Patrick, Stem Cell Aging Leukemia and Lymphoma (SALL), Groningen Institute for Gastro Intestinal Genetics and Immunology (3GI), van Rheenen, Wouter, van der Spek, Rick AA, Bakker, Mark K, van Vugt, Joke JFA, Benyamin, Beben, Veldink, Jan H, SLALOM Consortium, PARALS Consortium, SLAGEN Consortium, SLAP Consortium, van Rheenen, W, van der Spek, R, Bakker, M, van Vugt, J, Hop, P, Zwamborn, R, de Klein, N, Westra, H, Bakker, O, Deelen, P, Shireby, G, Hannon, E, Moisse, M, Baird, D, Restuadi, R, Dolzhenko, E, Dekker, A, Gawor, K, Westeneng, H, Tazelaar, G, van Eijk, K, Kooyman, M, Byrne, R, Doherty, M, Heverin, M, Al Khleifat, A, Iacoangeli, A, Shatunov, A, Ticozzi, N, Cooper-Knock, J, Smith, B, Gromicho, M, Chandran, S, Pal, S, Morrison, K, Shaw, P, Hardy, J, Orrell, R, Sendtner, M, Meyer, T, Basak, N, van der Kooi, A, Ratti, A, Fogh, I, Gellera, C, Lauria, G, Corti, S, Cereda, C, Sproviero, D, D'Alfonso, S, Soraru, G, Siciliano, G, Filosto, M, Padovani, A, Chio, A, Calvo, A, Moglia, C, Brunetti, M, Canosa, A, Grassano, M, Beghi, E, Pupillo, E, Logroscino, G, Nefussy, B, Osmanovic, A, Nordin, A, Lerner, Y, Zabari, M, Gotkine, M, Baloh, R, Bell, S, Vourc'H, P, Corcia, P, Couratier, P, Millecamps, S, Meininger, V, Salachas, F, Mora Pardina, J, Assialioui, A, Rojas-Garcia, R, Dion, P, Ross, J, Ludolph, A, Weishaupt, J, Brenner, D, Freischmidt, A, Bensimon, G, Brice, A, Durr, A, Payan, C, Saker-Delye, S, Wood, N, Topp, S, Rademakers, R, Tittmann, L, Lieb, W, Franke, A, Ripke, S, Braun, A, Kraft, J, Whiteman, D, Olsen, C, Uitterlinden, A, Hofman, A, Rietschel, M, Cichon, S, Nothen, M, Amouyel, P, Traynor, B, Singleton, A, Mitne Neto, M, Cauchi, R, Ophoff, R, Wiedau-Pazos, M, Lomen-Hoerth, C, van Deerlin, V, Grosskreutz, J, Roediger, A, Gaur, N, Jork, A, Barthel, T, Theele, E, Ilse, B, Stubendorff, B, Witte, O, Steinbach, R, Hubner, C, Graff, C, Brylev, L, Fominykh, V, Demeshonok, V, Ataulina, A, Rogelj, B, Koritnik, B, Zidar, J, Ravnik-Glavac, M, Glavac, D, Stevic, Z, Drory, V, Povedano, M, Blair, I, Kiernan, M, Benyamin, B, Henderson, R, Furlong, S, Mathers, S, Mccombe, P, Needham, M, Ngo, S, Nicholson, G, Pamphlett, R, Rowe, D, Steyn, F, Williams, K, Mather, K, Sachdev, P, Henders, A, Wallace, L, de Carvalho, M, Pinto, S, Petri, S, Weber, M, Rouleau, G, Silani, V, Curtis, C, Breen, G, Glass, J, Brown, R, Landers, J, Shaw, C, Andersen, P, Groen, E, van Es, M, Pasterkamp, R, Fan, D, Garton, F, Mcrae, A, Davey Smith, G, Gaunt, T, Eberle, M, Mill, J, Mclaughlin, R, Hardiman, O, Kenna, K, Wray, N, Tsai, E, Runz, H, Franke, L, Al-Chalabi, A, Van Damme, P, van den Berg, L, Veldink, J, Ferrarese, C, Neurology, ANS - Neuroinfection & -inflammation, APH - Methodology, APH - Quality of Care, EURO-NMD, Internal Medicine, Epidemiology, Başak, Ayşe Nazlı (ORCID 0000-0001-9257-3540 & YÖK ID 1512), van Rheenen, W., Van der Spek, R.A.A., Bakker, M.K., van Vugt, J.J.F.A., Hop, P.J., Zwamborn, R.A.J., de Klein, N., Westra, H.J., Bakker, O.B., Deelen, P., Shireby, G., Hannon, E., Moisse, M., Baird, D., Restuadi, R., Dolzhenko, E., Dekker, A.M., Gawor, K., Westeneng, H.J., Tazelaar, G.H.P., van Eijk, K.R., Kooyman, M., Byrne, R.P., Doherty, M., Heverin, M., Al Khleifat, A., Iacoangeli, A., Shatunov, A., Ticozzi, N., Cooper-Knock, J., Smith, B.N., Gromicho, M., Chandran, S., Pal, S., Morrison, K.E., Shaw, P.J., Hardy, J., Orrell, R.W., Sendtner, M., Meyer, T., van der Kooi, A.J., Ratti, A., Fogh, I., Gellera, C., Lauria, G., Corti, S., Cereda, C., Sproviero, D., D'Alfonso, S., Sorarù, G., Siciliano, G., Filosto, M., Padovani, A., Chiò, A., Calvo, A., Moglia, C., Brunetti, M., Canosa, A., Grassano, M., Beghi, E., Pupillo, E., Logroscino, G., Nefussy, B., Osmanovic, A., Nordin, A., Lerner, Y., Zabari, M., Gotkine, M., Baloh, R.H., Bell, S., Vourc'h, P., Corcia, P., Couratier, P., Millecamps, S., Meininger, V., Salachas, F., Mora Pardina, J.S., Assialioui, A., Rojas-García, R., Dion, P.A., Ross, J.P., Ludolph, A.C., Weishaupt, J.H., Brenner, D., Freischmidt, A., Bensimon, G., Brice, A., Durr, A., Payan, C.A.M., Saker-Delye, S., Wood, N.W., Topp, S., Rademakers, R., Tittmann, L., Lieb, W., Franke, A., Ripke, S., Kraft, J.,Whiteman, David C., Olsen, Catherine M., Uitterlinden, A.G., Hofman, A., Rietschel, M., Cichon, S., Nothen, M.M., Amouyel, P., Comi, G., Riva, N., Lunetta, C., Gerardi, F., Cotelli, M.S., Rinaldi, F., Chiveri, L., Guaita, M.C., Perrone, P., Ceroni, M., Diamanti, L., Ferrarese, C., Tremolizzo, L., Delodovici, M.L., Bono, G., Manera, U., Vasta, R., Bombaci, A., Casale, F., Fuda, G., Salamone, P., Iazzolino, B., Peotta, L., Cugnasco, P., De Marco, G., Torrieri, M.C., Palumbo, F., Gallone, S., Barberis, M., Sbaiz, L., Gentile, S., Mauro, A., Mazzini, L., De Marchi, F., Corrado, L., Bertolotto, A., Gionco, M., Leotta, D., Odddenino, E., Imperiale, D., Cavallo, R., Pignatta, P., De Mattei, M., Geda, C., Papurello, D.M., Gusmaroli, G., Comi, C., Labate, C., Ruiz, L., Ferrandi, D., Rota, E., Aguggia, M., Di Vito, N., Meineri, P., Ghiglione, P., Launaro, N., Dotta, M., Di Sapio, A., Giardini, G., Tiloca, C., Peverelli, S., Taroni, F., Pensato, V., Castellotti, B., Comi, G.P., Del Bo, R., Gagliardi, S., Raggi, F., Simoncini, C., Lo Gerfo, A., Inghilleri, M., Ferlini, A., Simone, I.L., Passarella, B., Guerra, V., Zoccolella, S., Nozzoli, C., Mundi, C., Leone, M., Zarrelli, M., Tamma, F., Valluzzi, F., Calabrese, G., Boero, G., Rini, A., Traynor, B.J., Singleton, A.B., Neto, M.M., Cauchi, R.J., Ophoff, R.A., Wiedau-Pazos, M., Lomen-Hoerth, C., van Deerlin, V.M., Grosskreutz, J., Roediger, A., Gaur, N., Jork, A., Barthel, T., Theele, E., Ilse, B., Stubendorff, B., Witte, O.W., Steinbach, R., Hubner, C.A., Graff, C., Brylev, L., Fominykh, V., Demeshonok, V., Ataulina, A., Rogelj, B., Koritnik, B., Zidar, J., Ravnik-Glavac, M., Glavac, D., Stevic, Z., Drory, V., Povedano, M., Blair, I.P., Kiernan, M.C., Benyamin, B., Henderson, R.D., Furlong, S., Mathers, S., McCombe, P.A, Needham, M., Ngo, S.T., Nicholson, G.A., Pamphlett, R., Rowe, D.B., Steyn, F.J., Williams, K.L., Mather, K.A., Sachdev, P.S., Henders, A.K., Wallace, L., de Carvalho, M., Pinto, S., Petri, S., Weber, M., Rouleau, G.A., Silani, V., Curtis, C.J., Breen, G., Glass, J.D., Brown, R.H., Landers, J.E., Shaw, C.E., Andersen, P.M., Groen, E.J.N, van Es, M.A., Pasterkamp, R.J., Fan, D.S., Garton, F.C., McRae, A.F., Smith, G.D., Gaunt, T.R., Eberle, M.A., Mill, J., McLaughlin, R.L., Hardiman, O., Kenna, K.P., Wray, N.R., Tsai, E.L., Runz, H., Franke, L., Al-Chalabi, A., Van Damme, P., van den Berg, L.H., Veldink, J.H., Koç University Research Center for Translational Medicine (KUTTAM) / Koç Üniversitesi Translasyonel Tıp Araştırma Merkezi (KUTTAM), and School of Medicine

Subjects
Male, Genetics and heredity, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Neurologi, Glutamine, Medizin, Genome-wide association study, Disease, SUSCEPTIBILITY, Genome-wide association studies, DISEASE, Genètica mèdica, 0302 clinical medicine, neurodegenerative disease, genome-wide association study, ALS, gene, autophagy, Risk Factors, amyotrophic lateral sclerosi, RNA-Seq, Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, disease-modifying therapies, blood [Cholesterol], Genetics, Genetics & Heredity, Neurons, 0303 health sciences, Medical genetics, Neurodegenerative diseases, Genome-wide association, Mendelian randomization, Frontotemporal dementia, Hexanucleotide repeat, Mutant SOD1, Metaanalysis, ALS, Susceptibility, Identification, Brain, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, Cholesterol, Disease Progression, Female, Humans, Mendelian Randomization Analysis, Microsatellite Repeats, Neurodegenerative Diseases, Quantitative Trait Loci, Genome-Wide Association Study, Mutation, MUTANT SOD1, genetics [Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis], medicine.anatomical_structure, Neurology, risk factor, metabolism [Neurons], MENDELIAN RANDOMIZATION, nerve cell, Life Sciences & Biomedicine, quantitative trait locu, Biology, 03 medical and health sciences, Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis -- Diagnosis, blood, ddc:570, medicine, degenerative disease, Motor neuron disease, human, Genomes, GENOME-WIDE ASSOCIATION, gene, Gene, metabolism [Glutamine], METAANALYSIS, 030304 developmental biology, Mendelian randomization analysi, Science & Technology, HEXANUCLEOTIDE REPEAT, meta analysi, IDENTIFICATION, metabolism [Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis], FRONTOTEMPORAL DEMENTIA, medicine.disease, metabolism [Brain], genetics [Neurodegenerative Diseases], Expression quantitative trait loci, disease exacerbation, Neuron, gemone, genetic, Vesicle-mediated transport, metabolism, Nervous system -- Degeneration, Esclerosi lateral amiotròfica, 030217 neurology & neurosurgery
Abstract

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease with a lifetime risk of one in 350 people and an unmet need for disease-modifying therapies. We conducted a cross-ancestry genome-wide association study (GWAS) including 29,612 patients with ALS and 122,656 controls, which identified 15 risk loci. When combined with 8,953 individuals with whole-genome sequencing (6,538 patients, 2,415 controls) and a large cortex-derived expression quantitative trait locus (eQTL) dataset (MetaBrain), analyses revealed locus-specific genetic architectures in which we prioritized genes either through rare variants, short tandem repeats or regulatory effects. ALS-associated risk loci were shared with multiple traits within the neurodegenerative spectrum but with distinct enrichment patterns across brain regions and cell types. Of the environmental and lifestyle risk factors obtained from the literature, Mendelian randomization analyses indicated a causal role for high cholesterol levels. The combination of all ALS-associated signals reveals a role for perturbations in vesicle-mediated transport and autophagy and provides evidence for cell-autonomous disease initiation in glutamatergic neurons., Dutch Research Council (NWO); VENI Scheme Grant; VIDI Grant; Prinses Beatrix Spierfonds; Neuromuscular Fellowship Grant; Medical Research Council (MRC); Clinical Infrastructure Award; Epidemiology Unit; Integrative Epidemiology Unit; Canadian Institutes of Health Research; IWT; National Institute on Aging; National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC); Enabling Grant; NHMRC/Australian Research Council Strategic Award; NHMRC; NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence Grant; National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia (NHMRC) Research Fellowship; United Kingdom, Medical Research Council; Economic and Social Research Council; European Union (EU); Horizon 2020; European Community's Health Seventh Framework Programme; EuroMOTOR; European Research Council (ERC); Research and Innovation Programme; EScORIAL; ALS Foundation Netherlands; Alzheimer’s Society PhD Studentship; ARSla Funding; Biogen; University of Bristol; Motor Neurone Disease Association (MNDA); NIHR Maudsley Biomedical Research Centre; Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture, and Science; Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO; BRAINSCAPES); Gravitation Program; ALS Liga België; National Lottery of Belgium; KU Leuven Opening the Future Fund; KU Leuven Funds, “Een Hart voor ALS”, “Laeversfonds voor ALS Onderzoek” and the “Valéry Perrier Race against ALS Fund”; E. von Behring Chair for Neuromuscular and Neurodegenerative Disorders; ALS Liga België; “Live now” Charity Foundation; Moscow ALS palliative Care Service; Canadian Institutes of Health; Research Australia; Ice Bucket Challenge Grant; NIH Intramural Research Programs; FightMND Mid-Career Fellowship; NIHR Senior Investigator; Sheffield NIHR Biomedical Research Centre; Motor Neurone Disease Association; National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Biomedical Research Centre; Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust; King’s College London; NIHR Senior Investigator Award; Netherlands Organization for Health Research and Development; Vici Scheme; Netherlands Organization for Health Research and Development STRENGTH Project; PPP Allowance

Published
2021

25. Author Correction: Common and rare variant association analyses in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis identify 15 risk loci with distinct genetic architectures and neuron-specific biology

Author

van Rheenen, Wouter, van der Spek, Rick A A, Shireby, Gemma, Whiteman, David C, Olsen, Catherine M, Uitterlinden, Andre G, Hofman, Albert, Rietschel, Marcella, Cichon, Sven, Nöthen, Markus M., Amouyel, Philippe, Consortium, SLALOM, Consortium, PARALS, Hannon, Eilis, Consortium, SLAGEN, Consortium, SLAP, Traynor, Bryan J, Singleton, Andrew B, Mitne Neto, Miguel, Cauchi, Ruben J, Ophoff, Roel A, Wiedau-Pazos, Martina, Lomen-Hoerth, Catherine, van Deerlin, Vivianna M, Moisse, Matthieu, Grosskreutz, Julian, Roediger, Annekathrin, Gaur, Nayana, Jörk, Alexander, Barthel, Tabea, Theele, Erik, Ilse, Benjamin, Stubendorff, Beatrice, Witte, Otto W, Steinbach, Robert, Baird, Denis, Hübner, Christian A, Graff, Caroline, Brylev, Lev, Fominykh, Vera, Demeshonok, Vera, Ataulina, Anastasia, Rogelj, Boris, Koritnik, Blaž, Zidar, Janez, Ravnik-Glavač, Metka, Restuadi, Restuadi, Glavač, Damjan, Stević, Zorica, Drory, Vivian, Povedano, Monica, Blair, Ian P, Kiernan, Matthew C, Benyamin, Beben, Henderson, Robert D, Furlong, Sarah, Mathers, Susan, Dolzhenko, Egor, McCombe, Pamela A, Needham, Merrilee, Ngo, Shyuan T, Nicholson, Garth A, Pamphlett, Roger, Rowe, Dominic B, Steyn, Frederik J, Williams, Kelly L, Mather, Karen A, Sachdev, Perminder S, Dekker, Annelot M, Henders, Anjali K, Wallace, Leanne, de Carvalho, Mamede, Pinto, Susana, Petri, Susanne, Weber, Markus, Rouleau, Guy A, Silani, Vincenzo, Curtis, Charles J, Breen, Gerome, Gawor, Klara, Glass, Jonathan D, Brown, Robert H, Landers, John E, Shaw, Christopher E, Andersen, Peter M, Groen, Ewout J N, van Es, Michael A, Pasterkamp, R Jeroen, Fan, Dongsheng, Garton, Fleur C, Westeneng, Henk-Jan, McRae, Allan F, Davey Smith, George, Gaunt, Tom R, Eberle, Michael A, Mill, Jonathan, McLaughlin, Russell L, Hardiman, Orla, Kenna, Kevin P, Wray, Naomi R, Tsai, Ellen, Tazelaar, Gijs H P, Runz, Heiko, Franke, Lude, Al-Chalabi, Ammar, Van Damme, Philip, van den Berg, Leonard H, Veldink, Jan H, Comi, Giancarlo, Riva, Nilo, Lunetta, Christian, Gerardi, Francesca, Bakker, Mark K, van Eijk, Kristel R, Cotelli, Maria Sofia, Rinaldi, Fabrizio, Chiveri, Luca, Guaita, Maria Cristina, Perrone, Patrizia, Ceroni, Mauro, Diamanti, Luca, Ferrarese, Carlo, Tremolizzo, Lucio, Delodovici, Maria Luisa, Kooyman, Maarten, Bono, Giorgio, Canosa, Antonio, Manera, Umberto, Vasta, Rosario, Bombaci, Alessandro, Casale, Federico, Fuda, Giuseppe, Salamone, Paolina, Iazzolino, Barbara, Peotta, Laura, Byrne, Ross P, Cugnasco, Paolo, De Marco, Giovanni, Torrieri, Maria Claudia, Palumbo, Francesca, Gallone, Salvatore, Barberis, Marco, Sbaiz, Luca, Gentile, Salvatore, Mauro, Alessandro, Mazzini, Letizia, Doherty, Mark, De Marchi, Fabiola, Corrado, Lucia, D'Alfonso, Sandra, Bertolotto, Antonio, Gionco, Maurizio, Leotta, Daniela, Odddenino, Enrico, Imperiale, Daniele, Cavallo, Roberto, Pignatta, Pietro, Heverin, Mark, De Mattei, Marco, Geda, Claudio, Papurello, Diego Maria, Gusmaroli, Graziano, Comi, Cristoforo, Labate, Carmelo, Ruiz, Luigi, Ferrandi, Delfina, Rota, Eugenia, Aguggia, Marco, Al Khleifat, Ahmad, Di Vito, Nicoletta, Meineri, Piero, Ghiglione, Paolo, Launaro, Nicola, Dotta, Michele, Di Sapio, Alessia, Giardini, Guido, Tiloca, Cinzia, Peverelli, Silvia, Taroni, Franco, Iacoangeli, Alfredo, Pensato, Viviana, Castellotti, Barbara, Comi, Giacomo P, Del Bo, Roberto, Gagliardi, Stella, Raggi, Flavia, Simoncini, Costanza, Shatunov, Aleksey, Lo Gerfo, Annalisa, Inghilleri, Maurizio, Ferlini, Alessandra, Simone, Isabella L, Passarella, Bruno, Guerra, Vito, Zoccolella, Stefano, Nozzoli, Cecilia, Mundi, Ciro, Leone, Maurizio, Ticozzi, Nicola, Zarrelli, Michele, Tamma, Filippo, Valluzzi, Francesco, Calabrese, Gianluigi, Boero, Giovanni, Rini, Augusto, Cooper-Knock, Johnathan, van Vugt, Joke J F A, Smith, Bradley N, Gromicho, Marta, Chandran, Siddharthan, Pal, Suvankar, Morrison, Karen E, Shaw, Pamela J, Hardy, John, Orrell, Richard W, Sendtner, Michael, Meyer, Thomas, Hop, Paul J, Başak, Nazli, van der Kooi, Anneke J, Ratti, Antonia, Fogh, Isabella, Gellera, Cinzia, Lauria, Giuseppe, Corti, Stefania, Cereda, Cristina, Sproviero, Daisy, Zwamborn, Ramona A J, Sorarù, Gianni, Siciliano, Gabriele, Filosto, Massimiliano, Padovani, Alessandro, Chiò, Adriano, Calvo, Andrea, Moglia, Cristina, Brunetti, Maura, Grassano, Maurizio, de Klein, Niek, Beghi, Ettore, Pupillo, Elisabetta, Logroscino, Giancarlo, Nefussy, Beatrice, Osmanovic, Alma, Nordin, Angelica, Lerner, Yossef, Zabari, Michal, Gotkine, Marc, Baloh, Robert H, Westra, Harm-Jan, Bell, Shaughn, Vourc'h, Patrick, Corcia, Philippe, Couratier, Philippe, Millecamps, Stéphanie, Meininger, Vincent, Salachas, François, Mora Pardina, Jesus S, Assialioui, Abdelilah, Rojas-García, Ricardo, Bakker, Olivier B, Dion, Patrick A, Ross, Jay P, Ludolph, Albert, Weishaupt, Jochen H, Brenner, David, Freischmidt, Axel, Bensimon, Gilbert, Brice, Alexis, Dürr, Alexandra, Payan, Christine A M, Deelen, Patrick, Saker-Delye, Safa, Wood, Nicholas W, Topp, Simon, Rademakers, Rosa, Tittmann, Lukas, Lieb, Wolfgang, Franke, Andre, Ripke, Stephan, Braun, Alice, and Kraft, Julia

Subjects
ddc:570, Genetics, Medizin
Abstract

In the version of this article initially published, the affiliation for Nazli Başak appeared incorrectly. Nazli Başak is at Koç University, School of Medicine, KUTTAM-NDAL, Istanbul, Turkey, and not Bogazici University. The error has been corrected in the HTML and PDF versions of the article.

Published
2021

30. Tau-induced mitochondrial membrane perturbation is dependent upon cardiolipin

Author

Camilleri, Angelique, primary, Ghio, Stephanie, additional, Caruana, Mario, additional, Weckbecker, Daniel, additional, Schmidt, Felix, additional, Kamp, Frits, additional, Leonov, Andrei, additional, Ryazanov, Sergey, additional, Griesinger, Christian, additional, Giese, Armin, additional, Cauchi, Ruben J., additional, and Vassallo, Neville, additional

Published
2020
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33. Conserved requirement for DEAD-box RNA helicase Gemin3 in Drosophila oogenesis

Author

Cauchi Ruben J

Subjects
Drosophila, Gemin3, Germline, Oogenesis, Spinal muscular atrophy, Survival of motor neurons, Medicine, Biology (General), QH301-705.5, Science (General), Q1-390
Abstract

Abstract Background DEAD-box RNA helicase Gemin3 is an essential protein since its deficiency is lethal in both vertebrates and invertebrates. In addition to playing a role in transcriptional regulation and RNA silencing, as a core member of the SMN (survival of motor neurons) complex, Gemin3 is required for the biogenesis of spliceosomal snRNPs (small nuclear ribonucleoproteins), and axonal mRNA metabolism. Studies in the mouse and C. elegans revealed that loss of Gemin3 function has a negative impact on ovarian physiology and development. Findings This work reports on the generation and characterisation of gemin3 mutant germline clones in Drosophila adult females. Gemin3 was found to be required for the completion of oogenesis and its loss led to egg polarity defects, oocyte mislocalisation, and abnormal chromosome morphology. Canonical Cajal bodies were absent in the majority of gemin3 mutant egg chambers and histone locus bodies displayed an atypical morphology. snRNP distribution was perturbed so that on gemin3 loss, snRNP cytoplasmic aggregates (U bodies) were only visible in wild type. Conclusions These findings establish a conserved requirement for Gemin3 in Drosophila oogenesis. Furthermore, in view of the similarity to the phenotypes described previously in smn mutant germ cells, the present results confirm the close functional relationship between SMN and Gemin3 on a cellular level.

Published
2012
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34. Cardiolipin Promotes Pore-Forming Activity of Alpha-Synuclein Oligomers in Mitochondrial Membranes

Author

Ghio, Stephanie, primary, Camilleri, Angelique, additional, Caruana, Mario, additional, Ruf, Viktoria C., additional, Schmidt, Felix, additional, Leonov, Andrei, additional, Ryazanov, Sergey, additional, Griesinger, Christian, additional, Cauchi, Ruben J., additional, Kamp, Frits, additional, Giese, Armin, additional, and Vassallo, Neville, additional

Published
2019
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36. Tourette syndrome : do reduced histamine levels induce an increase in spontaneous repetitive behaviour?

Author

Aquilina, Beppe and Cauchi, Ruben J.

Subjects
Tourette syndrome -- Pathogenesis, fungi, Animal grooming, Drosophila, Histamine -- Physiological effect
Abstract

Gilles de la Tourette syndrome (TS) is a disabling neuropsychiatric disorder characterised by persistent motor and vocal tics. Comorbidity of TS with other neuropsychiatric conditions such as obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism is frequent. TS has a significant genetic contribution and, in this regard, several susceptibility loci have been identified including the histidine decarboxylase (HDC ) gene, which encodes an enzyme that is essential for histamine synthesis. Animal models of human disease are key to identify genetic and, importantly, pharmacological modifiers of phenotypes that mimic those present in the human condition. HDC is highly conserved throughout different species including the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster. Aiming at uncovering TS-like phenotypes, in the present study we investigated repetitive grooming behaviour in flies that have reduced histamine levels as a result of a mutation in the hdc-encoding gene. We find that histamine deficiency in Drosophila is not associated with an increase in spontaneous repetitive grooming behaviour but rather a decrease. We speculate that the grooming behaviour in Drosophila hdc knockouts is not a translationally relevant TS phenotype. Future work should investigate whether stereotypy can be induced in the same mutants after pharmacological challenge or stress induction., peer-reviewed

Published
2017

41. Drosophila Melanogaster Models of Motor Neuron Disease

Author

Cauchi, Ruben J. and Cauchi, Ruben J.

Subjects
Drosophila melanogaster, Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Motor neurons--Models
Abstract

Motor neuron diseases are the most catastrophic of neurodegenerative disorders. The cognitive function is spared, but the motor neuron degeneration translates into progressive muscle weakness and paralysis that propel the afflicted patient to eventual death. Neurodegenerative disorders constitute one of the major challenges of modern medicine in view of the current lack of effective therapies. The fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, has a distinguished history as an important model organism capable of shaping our fundamental understanding of life. Remarkably, the vast majority of all known human disease genes have a similar fly counterpart and at the molecular and physiological level, the basic principles of neuromuscular function are amazingly conserved between humans and Drosophila. Combine this with the presence of numerous genetic tools developed over the last century allowing genes and the proteins they encode to be manipulated swiftly to decipher their in vivo function and you have a superb genetic animal model organism of disease. This publication singles out the past and recent accomplishments of Drosophila in modelling motor neuron disease including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig's disease), hereditary spastic paraplegias, Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy (Kennedy's disease) and spinal muscular atrophy. The emphasis is on recent developments including the emerging molecular pathways underpinning these disorders. Genetic screens aimed at identifying novel genes that cause motor neuron degeneration or finding modifiers of the phenotype resulting from the disruption of disease-causative genes are also tackled. Importantly, this collection provides an inspiring look at the indispensability of the fruit fly, and of model organisms in general, to neuroscience research.

Published
2013

42. A fruitful fly forward : the role of the fly in drug discovery for neurodegeneration

Author

Briffa, Michelle, Vassallo, Neville, and Cauchi, Ruben J.

Subjects
Parkinson's disease, mental disorders, Drosophila, Huntington's disease, Drug development, Alzheimer's disease, Nervous system -- Diseases, Fruit-flies, Nervous system -- Degeneration, nervous system diseases
Abstract

AD, Alzheimer’s disease; APP, amyloid precursor protein; BBB, blood brain barrier; GFP, green fluorescent protein; HTS, high-throughput screening; HD, Huntington’s disease; LB, Lewy bodies; PD, Parkinson’s disease; PolyQ, Polyglutamine; RNAi, RNA interference; SNCA, α-synuclein gene; UAS, Upstream Activating Sequence., peer-reviewed

Published
2014

43. Flying in the face of neurodegeneration

Author

Cauchi, Ruben J.

Subjects
fungi, Genetics, Neurosciences, Brain, natural sciences, Flying, Fruit-flies, Nervous system -- Degeneration
Abstract

Fruit flies are not human. Yet they are close enough to have been used for over 100 years by scientists to find out more about humans. Dr Ruben J. Cauchi writes about his relationship with the fly. He uses it to find out how to stop Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and Motor Neuron Disease that affect tens of millions. http://www.um.edu.mt/think/flying-in-the-face-of-neurodegeneration/, N/A

Published
2014

46. Genome-wide expression analysis of a spinal muscular atrophy model : towards discovery of new drug targets

Author

Lee, Sheena, Sayin, Arzu, Cauchi, Ruben J., Grice, Stuart, Burdett, Howard, Baban, Dilair, and van den Heuvel, Marcel

Subjects
Oligonucleotides, lcsh:Medicine, SMN1, Molecular Biology/RNA Splicing, Nucleic acid hybridization, Polymerase Chain Reaction, 0302 clinical medicine, Gene expression, lcsh:Science, Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein, Genetics and Genomics/Genetics of Disease, Neurological Disorders/Movement Disorders, Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis, Motor neurons, Regulation of gene expression, Genetics, Genetics and Genomics/Medical Genetics, 0303 health sciences, Multidisciplinary, Genome, RNA-Binding proteins, Nucleic Acid Hybridization, RNA-Binding Proteins, Genetics and Genomics/Gene Expression, SMN Complex Proteins, Diseases -- Animal models, SMA, Phenotype, 3. Good health, Polymerase chain reaction, Genetics and Genomics/Gene Function, Survival of Motor Neuron 2 Protein, Genetics and Genomics/Gene Discovery, Research Article, Nerve Tissue Proteins, Neurological Disorders/Neuromuscular Diseases, Biology, Muscular Atrophy, Spinal, 03 medical and health sciences, Nerve tissue proteins, medicine, Animals, Humans, Genomes, Gene, 030304 developmental biology, Diptera, lcsh:R, Proteins, Spinal muscular atrophy, medicine.disease, Survival of Motor Neuron 1 Protein, nervous system diseases, Disease Models, Animal, Genetics and Genomics/Disease Models, Neurological Disorders/Neurogenetics, nervous system, lcsh:Q, 030217 neurology & neurosurgery
Abstract

Spinal Muscular Atrophy is a recessive genetic disease and affects lower motor neurones and muscle tissue. A single gene is disrupted in SMA: SMN1 activity is abolished but a second copy of the gene (SMN2) provides limited activity. While the SMN protein has been shown to function in the assembly of RNA-protein complexes, it is unclear how the overall reduction in SMN activity specifically results in the neuromuscular phenotypes. Similar to humans, reduced smn activity in the fly causes earliest phenotypes in neuromuscular tissues. To uncover the effects of reduced SMN activity, we have studied gene expression in control and diseased fly tissues using whole genome micro-arrays. A number of gene expression changes are recovered and independently validated. Identified genes show trends in their predicted function: several are consistent with the function of SMN, in addition some uncover novel pathways. This and subsequent genetic analysis in the fly indicates some of the identified genes could be taken for further studies as potential drug targets for SMA and other neuromuscular disorders., peer-reviewed

Published
2008

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