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Human Molecular Genetics Nov 2023X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy is a severe demyelinating neurodegenerative disease mainly affecting males. The severe cerebral adrenoleukodystrophy (cALD) phenotype has a...
X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy is a severe demyelinating neurodegenerative disease mainly affecting males. The severe cerebral adrenoleukodystrophy (cALD) phenotype has a poor prognosis and underlying mechanism of onset and progression of neuropathology remains poorly understood. In this study we aim to integrate metabolomic and microRNA (miRNA) datasets to identify variances associated with cALD. Postmortem brain tissue samples from five healthy controls (CTL) and five cALD patients were utilized in this study. White matter from ALD patients was obtained from normal-appearing areas, away from lesions (NLA) and from the periphery of lesions- plaque shadow (PLS). Metabolomics was performed by gas chromatography coupled with time-of-flight mass spectrometry and miRNA expression analysis was performed by next generation sequencing (RNAseq). Principal component analysis revealed that among the three sample groups (CTL, NLA and PLS) there were 19 miRNA, including several novel miRNA, of which 17 were increased with disease severity and 2 were decreased. Untargeted metabolomics revealed 13 metabolites with disease severity-related patterns with 7 increased and 6 decreased with disease severity. Ingenuity pathway analysis of differentially altered metabolites and miRNA comparing CTL with NLA and NLA with PLS, identified several hubs of metabolite and signaling molecules and their upstream regulation by miRNA. The transomic approach to map the crosstalk between miRNA and metabolomics suggests involvement of specific molecular and metabolic pathways in cALD and offers opportunity to understand the complex underlying mechanism of disease severity in cALD.
Topics: Male; Humans; Adrenoleukodystrophy; MicroRNAs; Neurodegenerative Diseases; Brain; Phenotype; Metabolomics
PubMed: 37656183
DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddad144 -
QJM : Monthly Journal of the... Apr 2024
PubMed: 38656935
DOI: 10.1093/qjmed/hcae084 -
Archives de Pediatrie : Organe Officiel... Nov 2023Gene therapy encompasses the administration of biological medicinal products containing recombinant nucleic acids, mainly DNA, with the aim of treating or curing...
Gene therapy encompasses the administration of biological medicinal products containing recombinant nucleic acids, mainly DNA, with the aim of treating or curing diseases. This represents a unique therapeutic strategy to reach the brain, in order to prevent or halt a neurodegenerative process. During the past decade, active multidisciplinary research has started to solve many issues for gene therapy in neurodegenerative disorders in terms of vectors, modes of administration, and expression of the therapeutic DNA. The engineering of hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) with lentivirus vectors for ex vivo gene therapy has demonstrated efficiency in reaching the brain through their transformation into microglial/macrophages cells with a long-term gene expression of the therapeutic vector as an alternative to autologous HSC transplants. Two drugs based on this strategy have been approved to date. The first is for metachromatic leukodystrophy (MLD), a severe lysosomal storage disease, and provides high levels of the deficient enzyme; the second one is for cerebral forms of X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy (X-ALD), and works by halting the neuroinflammation process. However, due to the long-lasting effect of the procedure, the therapy is applicable only to pre- or pauci/oligo-symptomatic patients. In vivo gene therapy via direct injection into the brain or the cerebrospinal fluid, but also by intravenous injection, represents a more efficient approach; however, many challenges remain to be solved despite the approval of two drugs: one for the early infantile form of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), in which the gene product injected intravenously is able to prevent spinal motoneuron neurodegeneration. The second one, for aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase (AADC) deficiency, provides the defective enzyme to the basal ganglia via intraparenchymal injection. The production of vectors able to reach the brain target cells with a sufficiently high expression remains a major bottleneck. In parallel, efforts must continue in order to better define (i) the natural history and clinical outcomes of many neurodegenerative disorders with childhood onset, and (ii) the mechanisms involved in the neurodegenerative process. © 2023 Published by Elsevier Masson SAS on behalf of French Society of Pediatrics.
Topics: Humans; Child; Genetic Vectors; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation; Genetic Therapy; Neurodegenerative Diseases; DNA
PubMed: 38043981
DOI: 10.1016/S0929-693X(23)00225-7 -
Journal of Human Nutrition and... Aug 2023Adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD) is a rare X-linked metabolic disorder that causes the accumulation of very-long-chain fatty acids (VLCFAs) (C26:0) and the subsequent variety...
BACKGROUND
Adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD) is a rare X-linked metabolic disorder that causes the accumulation of very-long-chain fatty acids (VLCFAs) (C26:0) and the subsequent variety of clinical and neurological symptoms. Little is known about nutritional status and dietary habits of children affected by ALD, and so the present study aimed to assess nutritional status and food intake in children with ALD, also exploring the relationship between food intake and the consumption of disease-specific dietary supplements to reduce blood C26:0 concentrations and increase monounsaturated fatty acids (C26:1).
METHODS
All patients underwent a clinical and neurological evaluation and a comprehensive nutritional assessment. The association of VLCFA concentrations with dietary lipids was assessed.
RESULTS
Nine boys (11.49 ± 3.61 years) were enrolled in a cross-sectional study. All patients were normal weight, with normal resting energy expenditure. Only six of nine patients followed the low-fat diet and dietary supplements. An inverse association was found between the food intake of polyunsaturated lipids and C26:0; conversely, the C26:0 was positively associated with the dietary saturated lipids. When consumed, dietary supplement consumption correlated positively with C26:1 (ρ = 0.917, p = 0.029) and no correlation was found with C26:0 (ρ = 0.410, p = 0,493).
CONCLUSIONS
No children were found to be malnourished or overweight or obese; however, half of the children reported excessive body fat, probably as a result of the pharmacotherapies. A low-fat diet could be adjuvant in the management of the accumulation of VLCFAs, but poor dietary compliance to disease-specific nutritional guidelines appears to be a major problem of this condition and underlines the need for a structured and personalised nutritional management in ALD disease.
Topics: Male; Humans; Adrenoleukodystrophy; Nutritional Status; Cross-Sectional Studies; Dietary Fats; Fatty Acids
PubMed: 36991579
DOI: 10.1111/jhn.13173 -
The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology... Oct 2023Males with adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD) have an 80% lifetime risk of developing adrenal insufficiency (AI), which can be life-threatening when undetected. Newborn...
CONTEXT
Males with adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD) have an 80% lifetime risk of developing adrenal insufficiency (AI), which can be life-threatening when undetected. Newborn screening (NBS) for ALD has been implemented in 29 states, yet the impact of NBS upon clinical management has not been reported.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate whether the implementation of NBS has altered the time to diagnosis of AI in children with ALD.
DESIGN
We conducted a retrospective medical chart review of pediatric patients with ALD.
SETTING
All patients were seen in a leukodystrophy clinic in an academic medical center.
PATIENTS
We included all pediatric patients with ALD who were seen between May 2006 and January 2022. We identified 116 patients (94% boys).
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES
We extracted information about ALD diagnosis in all patients and AI surveillance, diagnosis, and treatment in boys with ALD.
RESULTS
Thirty-one (27%) patients were diagnosed with ALD by NBS, and 85 (73%) were diagnosed outside the newborn period. The prevalence of AI among boys in our patient population was 74%. AI diagnosis was made significantly earlier in boys diagnosed with ALD by NBS than in boys diagnosed outside the newborn period (median [IQR] age of diagnosis = 6.7 [3.9, 12.12] months vs 6.05 [3.74, 8.35] years) (P < .001). When maintenance dose of glucocorticoids were initiated, there were significant differences in ACTH and peak cortisol levels in patients diagnosed by NBS and outside the newborn period.
CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest that implementing NBS for ALD leads to significantly earlier detection of AI and earlier initiation of glucocorticoid supplementation in boys affected by ALD.
Topics: Male; Infant, Newborn; Humans; Child; Female; Adrenoleukodystrophy; Retrospective Studies; Neonatal Screening; Adrenal Insufficiency; Early Diagnosis
PubMed: 37220095
DOI: 10.1210/clinem/dgad286 -
Annals of Indian Academy of Neurology 2024
PubMed: 38495248
DOI: 10.4103/aian.aian_983_23 -
Molecular Therapy : the Journal of the... May 2024X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD), an inherited neurometabolic disorder caused by mutations in ABCD1, which encodes the peroxisomal ABC transporter, mainly affects the...
X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD), an inherited neurometabolic disorder caused by mutations in ABCD1, which encodes the peroxisomal ABC transporter, mainly affects the brain, spinal cord, adrenal glands, and testes. In ALD patients, very-long-chain fatty acids (VLCFAs) fail to enter the peroxisome and undergo subsequent β-oxidation, resulting in their accumulation in the body. It has not been tested whether in vivo base editing or prime editing can be harnessed to ameliorate ALD. We developed a humanized mouse model of ALD by inserting a human cDNA containing the pathogenic variant into the mouse Abcd1 locus. The humanized ALD model showed increased levels of VLCFAs. To correct the mutation, we tested both base editing and prime editing and found that base editing using ABE8e(V106W) could correct the mutation in patient-derived fibroblasts at an efficiency of 7.4%. Adeno-associated virus (AAV)-mediated systemic delivery of NG-ABE8e(V106W) enabled robust correction of the pathogenic variant in the mouse brain (correction efficiency: ∼5.5%), spinal cord (∼5.1%), and adrenal gland (∼2%), leading to a significant reduction in the plasma levels of C26:0/C22:0. This established humanized mouse model and the successful correction of the pathogenic variant using a base editor serve as a significant step toward treating human ALD disease.
PubMed: 38796705
DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2024.05.027 -
Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases Mar 2024Adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD) is a multifaceted, X-linked, neurodegenerative disorder that comprises several clinical phenotypes. ALD affects patients through a variety of...
BACKGROUND
Adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD) is a multifaceted, X-linked, neurodegenerative disorder that comprises several clinical phenotypes. ALD affects patients through a variety of physical, emotional, social, and other disease-specific factors that collectively contribute to disease burden. To facilitate clinical care and research, it is important to identify which symptoms are most common and relevant to individuals with any subtype of ALD.
METHODS
We conducted semi-structured qualitative interviews and an international cross-sectional study to determine the most prevalent and important symptoms of ALD. Our study included adult participants with a diagnosis of ALD who were recruited from national and international patient registries. Responses were categorized by age, sex, disease phenotype, functional status, and other demographic and clinical features.
RESULTS
Seventeen individuals with ALD participated in qualitative interviews, providing 1709 direct quotes regarding their symptomatic burden. One hundred and nine individuals participated in the cross-sectional survey study, which inquired about 182 unique symptoms representing 24 distinct symptomatic themes. The symptomatic themes with the highest prevalence in the overall ALD sample cohort were problems with balance (90.9%), limitations with mobility or walking (87.3%), fatigue (86.4%), and leg weakness (86.4%). The symptomatic themes with the highest impact scores (on a 0-4 scale with 4 being the most severe) were trouble getting around (2.35), leg weakness (2.25), and problems with balance (2.21). A higher prevalence of symptomatic themes was associated with functional disability, employment disruption, and speech impairment.
CONCLUSIONS
There are many patient-relevant symptoms and themes that contribute to disease burden in individuals with ALD. These symptoms, identified by those having ALD, present key targets for further research and therapeutic development.
Topics: Adult; Humans; Cross-Sectional Studies; Adrenoleukodystrophy; Phenotype; Surveys and Questionnaires; Patient Reported Outcome Measures
PubMed: 38504253
DOI: 10.1186/s13023-024-03129-6 -
European Radiology Experimental Oct 2023In adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD), contrast enhancement (CE) is a disease activity marker, but there is uncertainty about the optimal delay, if any, between contrast...
In adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD), contrast enhancement (CE) is a disease activity marker, but there is uncertainty about the optimal delay, if any, between contrast injection and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) acquisition to avoid false-negative results. We acquired axial two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) T1-weighted gradient-echo every 6 min from 0 to 36 min after contrast administration (gadobutrol 0.1 mmol/kg) in an ALD patient with enlarging white matter lesions and progressive neuropsychological symptoms, using a 3-T magnet. The image signal over time was qualitatively assessed and measured in two regions of interest. On 3D sequences, no definite CE was appreciated, whereas on 2D sequences, CE was noticed after 6 min and definitely evident after 12 min, when 73% of the maximum signal intensity was measured. In ALD subjects, contrast-enhanced 2D T1-weighted gradient-echo sequences acquired at least 10 min after contrast injection may be considered to reduce false negative results.Relevance statementOur report is the first attempt to find an optimal delay between contrast administration and T1-weighted acquisition in cALD patients in order to correctly detect disease activity and avoid false negative results.Key points• The optimal time between contrast injection and image acquisition for MRI of adrenoleukodystrophy is unknown.• Contrast enhancement predicts adrenoleukodystrophy progression and could help patient's selection for the therapy.• We acquired two post-contrast T1-GRE-2D/3D sequences several times to find the best injection-time.• T1-weighted 2D GRE resulted more sensitive than T1-weighted 3D GRE even after long intervals from injection.• A delay of about 10 min may minimize false negatives.
Topics: Humans; Contrast Media; Adrenoleukodystrophy; Magnetic Resonance Imaging
PubMed: 37782421
DOI: 10.1186/s41747-023-00373-6 -
Science China. Life Sciences Aug 2023Peroxisomal disorders (PDs) are a heterogenous group of diseases caused by defects in peroxisome biogenesis or functions. X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy is the most...
Peroxisomal disorders (PDs) are a heterogenous group of diseases caused by defects in peroxisome biogenesis or functions. X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy is the most prevalent form of PDs and results from mutations in the ABCD1 gene, which encodes a transporter mediating the uptake of very long-chain fatty acids (VLCFAs). The curative approaches for PDs are very limited. Here, we investigated whether cholesterol accumulation in the lysosomes is a biochemical feature shared by a broad spectrum of PDs. We individually knocked down fifteen PD-associated genes in cultured cells and found ten induced cholesterol accumulation in the lysosome. 2-Hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HPCD) effectively alleviated the cholesterol accumulation phenotype in PD-mimicking cells through reducing intracellular cholesterol content as well as promoting cholesterol redistribution to other cellular membranes. In ABCD1 knockdown cells, HPCD treatment lowered reactive oxygen species and VLCFA to normal levels. In Abcd1 knockout mice, HPCD injections reduced cholesterol and VLCFA sequestration in the brain and adrenal cortex. The plasma levels of adrenocortical hormones were increased and the behavioral abnormalities were greatly ameliorated upon HPCD administration. Together, our results suggest that defective cholesterol transport underlies most, if not all, PDs, and that HPCD can serve as a novel and effective strategy for the treatment of PDs.
Topics: Mice; Animals; ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters; 2-Hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin; Fatty Acids; Adrenoleukodystrophy; Cholesterol; Lysosomes; ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily D, Member 1
PubMed: 36971991
DOI: 10.1007/s11427-022-2260-4