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The New England Journal of Medicine Sep 2020Sodium phenylbutyrate and taurursodiol have been found to reduce neuronal death in experimental models. The efficacy and safety of a combination of the two compounds in... (Randomized Controlled Trial)
Randomized Controlled Trial
BACKGROUND
Sodium phenylbutyrate and taurursodiol have been found to reduce neuronal death in experimental models. The efficacy and safety of a combination of the two compounds in persons with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) are not known.
METHODS
In this multicenter, randomized, double-blind trial, we enrolled participants with definite ALS who had had an onset of symptoms within the previous 18 months. Participants were randomly assigned in a 2:1 ratio to receive sodium phenylbutyrate-taurursodiol (3 g of sodium phenylbutyrate and 1 g of taurursodiol, administered once a day for 3 weeks and then twice a day) or placebo. The primary outcome was the rate of decline in the total score on the Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Functional Rating Scale-Revised (ALSFRS-R; range, 0 to 48, with higher scores indicating better function) through 24 weeks. Secondary outcomes were the rates of decline in isometric muscle strength, plasma phosphorylated axonal neurofilament H subunit levels, and the slow vital capacity; the time to death, tracheostomy, or permanent ventilation; and the time to death, tracheostomy, permanent ventilation, or hospitalization.
RESULTS
A total of 177 persons with ALS were screened for eligibility, and 137 were randomly assigned to receive sodium phenylbutyrate-taurursodiol (89 participants) or placebo (48 participants). In a modified intention-to-treat analysis, the mean rate of change in the ALSFRS-R score was -1.24 points per month with the active drug and -1.66 points per month with placebo (difference, 0.42 points per month; 95% confidence interval, 0.03 to 0.81; P = 0.03). Secondary outcomes did not differ significantly between the two groups. Adverse events with the active drug were mainly gastrointestinal.
CONCLUSIONS
Sodium phenylbutyrate-taurursodiol resulted in slower functional decline than placebo as measured by the ALSFRS-R score over a period of 24 weeks. Secondary outcomes were not significantly different between the two groups. Longer and larger trials are necessary to evaluate the efficacy and safety of sodium phenylbutyrate-taurursodiol in persons with ALS. (Funded by Amylyx Pharmaceuticals and others; CENTAUR ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT03127514.).
Topics: Aged; Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis; Disease Progression; Double-Blind Method; Drug Combinations; Female; Humans; Intention to Treat Analysis; Male; Middle Aged; Phenylbutyrates; Severity of Illness Index; Taurochenodeoxycholic Acid; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 32877582
DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa1916945 -
Cells May 2023Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a rapidly progressive neurodegenerative disorder affecting upper and lower motor neurons, with death resulting mainly from... (Review)
Review
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a rapidly progressive neurodegenerative disorder affecting upper and lower motor neurons, with death resulting mainly from respiratory failure three to five years after symptom onset. As the exact underlying causative pathological pathway is unclear and potentially diverse, finding a suitable therapy to slow down or possibly stop disease progression remains challenging. Varying by country Riluzole, Edaravone, and Sodium phenylbutyrate/Taurursodiol are the only drugs currently approved in ALS treatment for their moderate effect on disease progression. Even though curative treatment options, able to prevent or stop disease progression, are still unknown, recent breakthroughs, especially in the field of targeting genetic disease forms, raise hope for improved care and therapy for ALS patients. In this review, we aim to summarize the current state of ALS therapy, including medication as well as supportive therapy, and discuss the ongoing developments and prospects in the field. Furthermore, we highlight the rationale behind the intense research on biomarkers and genetic testing as a feasible way to improve the classification of ALS patients towards personalized medicine.
Topics: Humans; Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis; Riluzole; Motor Neurons; Biomarkers; Disease Progression
PubMed: 37296644
DOI: 10.3390/cells12111523 -
Autophagy Nov 2021Glioma is the most common primary malignant brain tumor with poor survival and limited therapeutic options. The non-psychoactive phytocannabinoid cannabidiol (CBD) has...
Glioma is the most common primary malignant brain tumor with poor survival and limited therapeutic options. The non-psychoactive phytocannabinoid cannabidiol (CBD) has been shown to be effective against glioma; however, the molecular target and mechanism of action of CBD in glioma are poorly understood. Here we investigated the molecular mechanisms underlying the antitumor effect of CBD in preclinical models of human glioma. Our results showed that CBD induced autophagic rather than apoptotic cell death in glioma cells. We also showed that CBD induced mitochondrial dysfunction and lethal mitophagy arrest, leading to autophagic cell death. Mechanistically, calcium flux induced by CBD through TRPV4 (transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily V member 4) activation played a key role in mitophagy initiation. We further confirmed TRPV4 levels correlated with both tumor grade and poor survival in glioma patients. Transcriptome analysis and other results demonstrated that ER stress and the ATF4-DDIT3-TRIB3-AKT-MTOR axis downstream of TRPV4 were involved in CBD-induced mitophagy in glioma cells. Lastly, CBD and temozolomide combination therapy in patient-derived neurosphere cultures and mouse orthotopic models showed significant synergistic effect in both controlling tumor size and improving survival. Altogether, these findings showed for the first time that the antitumor effect of CBD in glioma is caused by lethal mitophagy and identified TRPV4 as a molecular target and potential biomarker of CBD in glioma. Given the low toxicity and high tolerability of CBD, we therefore propose CBD should be tested clinically for glioma, both alone and in combination with temozolomide.: 4-PBA: 4-phenylbutyrate; AKT: AKT serine/threonine kinase; ATF4: activating transcription factor 4; Baf-A1: bafilomycin A; CANX: calnexin; CASP3: caspase 3; CAT: catalase; CBD: cannabidiol; CQ: chloroquine; DDIT3: DNA damage inducible transcript 3; ER: endoplasmic reticulum; GBM: glioblastoma multiforme; GFP: green fluorescent protein; MAP1LC3B/LC3B: microtubule associated protein 1 light chain 3 beta; MTOR: mechanistic target of rapamycin kinase; PARP1: poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase; PINK1: PTEN induced kinase 1; PRKN: parkin RBR E3 ubiquitin protein ligase; SLC8A1: solute carrier family 8 member A1; SQSTM1: sequestosome 1; TCGA: The cancer genome atlas; TEM: transmission electron microscopy; TMZ: temozolomide; TRIB3: tribbles pseudokinase 3; TRPC: transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily C; TRPV4: transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily V member 4.
Topics: Animals; Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating; Autophagic Cell Death; Biomarkers, Tumor; Cannabidiol; Cell Line, Tumor; Glioma; Humans; Male; Mice; Mice, Nude; Mitochondria; Mitophagy; Neoplasm Transplantation; TRPV Cation Channels; Temozolomide
PubMed: 33629929
DOI: 10.1080/15548627.2021.1885203 -
Cell Aug 2023The bone marrow in the skull is important for shaping immune responses in the brain and meninges, but its molecular makeup among bones and relevance in human diseases...
The bone marrow in the skull is important for shaping immune responses in the brain and meninges, but its molecular makeup among bones and relevance in human diseases remain unclear. Here, we show that the mouse skull has the most distinct transcriptomic profile compared with other bones in states of health and injury, characterized by a late-stage neutrophil phenotype. In humans, proteome analysis reveals that the skull marrow is the most distinct, with differentially expressed neutrophil-related pathways and a unique synaptic protein signature. 3D imaging demonstrates the structural and cellular details of human skull-meninges connections (SMCs) compared with veins. Last, using translocator protein positron emission tomography (TSPO-PET) imaging, we show that the skull bone marrow reflects inflammatory brain responses with a disease-specific spatial distribution in patients with various neurological disorders. The unique molecular profile and anatomical and functional connections of the skull show its potential as a site for diagnosing, monitoring, and treating brain diseases.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Mice; Bone Marrow; Brain; Carrier Proteins; Nervous System Diseases; Positron-Emission Tomography; Receptors, GABA; Skull
PubMed: 37562402
DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2023.07.009 -
Nature Reviews. Nephrology Aug 2020Hyperammonaemia in children can lead to grave consequences in the form of cerebral oedema, severe neurological impairment and even death. In infants and children, common... (Review)
Review
Hyperammonaemia in children can lead to grave consequences in the form of cerebral oedema, severe neurological impairment and even death. In infants and children, common causes of hyperammonaemia include urea cycle disorders or organic acidaemias. Few studies have assessed the role of extracorporeal therapies in the management of hyperammonaemia in neonates and children. Moreover, consensus guidelines are lacking for the use of non-kidney replacement therapy (NKRT) and kidney replacement therapies (KRTs, including peritoneal dialysis, continuous KRT, haemodialysis and hybrid therapy) to manage hyperammonaemia in neonates and children. Prompt treatment with KRT and/or NKRT, the choice of which depends on the ammonia concentrations and presenting symptoms of the patient, is crucial. This expert Consensus Statement presents recommendations for the management of hyperammonaemia requiring KRT in paediatric populations. Additional studies are required to strengthen these recommendations.
Topics: Arginine; Carnitine; Child; Child, Preschool; Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy; Delphi Technique; Diet, Protein-Restricted; Humans; Hybrid Renal Replacement Therapy; Hyperammonemia; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Parenteral Nutrition; Peritoneal Dialysis; Phenylacetates; Phenylbutyrates; Practice Guidelines as Topic; Renal Dialysis; Sodium Benzoate; Urea Cycle Disorders, Inborn; Vitamin B Complex
PubMed: 32269302
DOI: 10.1038/s41581-020-0267-8 -
Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy =... Apr 2023Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease with high mortality and morbidity rate affecting both upper and lower motor neurons (MN). Muscle force... (Review)
Review
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease with high mortality and morbidity rate affecting both upper and lower motor neurons (MN). Muscle force reduction, behavioral change, pseudobulbar affect, and cognitive impairments are the most common clinical manifestations of ALS. The main physiopathology of ALS is still unclear, though several studies have identified that oxidative stress, proteinopathies, glutamate-related excitotoxicity, microglial activation, and neuroinflammation may be involved in the pathogenesis of ALS. From 1995 until October 2022, only Riluzole, Dextromethorphan Hydrobromide (DH) with Quinidine sulfate (Q), Edaravone, and Sodium phenylbutyrate with Taurursodiol (PB/TUDCO) have achieved FDA approval for ALS treatment. Despite the use of these four approved agents, the survival rate and quality of life of ALS patients are still low. Thus, finding novel treatments for ALS patients is an urgent requirement. Masitinib, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, emphasizes the neuro-inflammatory activity of ALS by targeting macrophages, mast cells, and microglia cells. Masitinib downregulates the proinflammatory cytokines, indirectly reduces inflammation, and induces neuroprotection. Also, it was effective in phase 2/3 and 3 clinical trials (CTs) by increasing overall survival and delaying motor, bulbar, and respiratory function deterioration. This review describes the pathophysiology of ALS, focusing on Masitinib's mechanism of action and explaining why Masitinib could be a promising actor in the treatment of ALS patients. In addition, Masitinib CTs and other competitor drugs in phase 3 CTs have been discussed.
Topics: Humans; Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis; Neurodegenerative Diseases; Quality of Life; Seasons
PubMed: 36774721
DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.114378 -
Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and... May 2022Coformulated sodium phenylbutyrate/taurursodiol (PB/TURSO) was shown to prolong survival and slow functional decline in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
Effect of sodium phenylbutyrate/taurursodiol on tracheostomy/ventilation-free survival and hospitalisation in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: long-term results from the CENTAUR trial.
BACKGROUND
Coformulated sodium phenylbutyrate/taurursodiol (PB/TURSO) was shown to prolong survival and slow functional decline in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
OBJECTIVE
Determine whether PB/TURSO prolonged tracheostomy/ventilation-free survival and/or reduced first hospitalisation in participants with ALS in the CENTAUR trial.
METHODS
Adults with El Escorial Definite ALS ≤18 months from symptom onset were randomised to PB/ TURSO or placebo for 6 months. Those completing randomised treatment could enrol in an open-label extension (OLE) phase and receive PB/TURSO for ≤30 months. Times to the following individual or combined key events were compared in the originally randomised treatment groups over a period spanning trial start through July 2020 (longest postrandomisation follow-up, 35 months): death, tracheostomy, permanent assisted ventilation (PAV) and first hospitalisation.
RESULTS
Risk of any key event was 47% lower in those originally randomised to PB/TURSO (n=87) versus placebo (n=48, 71% of whom received delayed-start PB/TURSO in the OLE phase) (HR=0.53; 95% CI 0.35 to 0.81; p=0.003). Risks of death or tracheostomy/PAV (HR=0.51; 95% CI 0.32 to 0.84; p=0.007) and first hospitalisation (HR=0.56; 95% CI 0.34 to 0.95; p=0.03) were also decreased in those originally randomised to PB/TURSO.
CONCLUSIONS
Early PB/TURSO prolonged tracheostomy/PAV-free survival and delayed first hospitalisation in ALS.
TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER
NCT03127514; NCT03488524.
PubMed: 35577511
DOI: 10.1136/jnnp-2022-329024 -
Molecular Neurodegeneration May 2023Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder associated with a loss of dopaminergic (DA) neurons. Despite symptomatic therapies, there is... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder associated with a loss of dopaminergic (DA) neurons. Despite symptomatic therapies, there is currently no disease-modifying treatment to halt neuronal loss in PD. A major hurdle for developing and testing such curative therapies results from the fact that most DA neurons are already lost at the time of the clinical diagnosis, rendering them inaccessible to therapy. Understanding the early pathological changes that precede Lewy body pathology (LBP) and cell loss in PD will likely support the identification of novel diagnostic and therapeutic strategies and help to differentiate LBP-dependent and -independent alterations. Several previous studies identified such specific molecular and cellular changes that occur prior to the appearance of Lewy bodies (LBs) in DA neurons, but a concise map of such early disease events is currently missing.
METHODS
Here, we conducted a literature review to identify and discuss the results of previous studies that investigated cases with incidental Lewy body disease (iLBD), a presumed pathological precursor of PD.
RESULTS
Collectively, our review demonstrates numerous cellular and molecular neuropathological changes occurring prior to the appearance of LBs in DA neurons.
CONCLUSIONS
Our review provides the reader with a summary of early pathological events in PD that may support the identification of novel therapeutic and diagnostic targets and aid to the development of disease-modifying strategies in PD.
Topics: Humans; Parkinson Disease; Lewy Bodies; Lewy Body Disease; Nerve Degeneration; Neuropathology; alpha-Synuclein
PubMed: 37173733
DOI: 10.1186/s13024-023-00622-7 -
Muscle & Nerve Aug 2022Trials incorporating placebo-to-active treatment crossover are encouraged in fatal conditions like amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) but may underestimate active... (Randomized Controlled Trial)
Randomized Controlled Trial
INTRODUCTION/AIMS
Trials incorporating placebo-to-active treatment crossover are encouraged in fatal conditions like amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) but may underestimate active treatment survival benefit. Here, we apply methods for modeling survival without crossover, including the rank-preserving structural failure time model (RPSFTM), to data from the CENTAUR trial of sodium phenylbutyrate and taurursodiol (PB and TURSO) in ALS incorporating both randomized placebo-controlled and open-label extension (OLE) phases.
METHODS
Intent-to-treat (ITT) and RPSFTM survival analyses were performed with final data at a July 2020 cutoff date. Analyses of subgroups based on randomized treatment and OLE phase participation were also performed.
RESULTS
Hazard ratios (95% confidence intervals) of death for PB and TURSO versus participants initially on placebo were 0.57 (0.35-0.92) on ITT analysis and 0.39 (0.17-0.88) in the primary on-treatment RPSFTM analysis (p = .023). Median ITT survival duration for PB and TURSO (25.8 mo) was 6.9 mo longer than placebo (18.9 mo) on ITT analysis and 10.6 mo longer than the median RPSFTM-adjusted survival duration for placebo (15.2 mo). Median survival duration was 18.8 mo longer in the PB and TURSO-randomized subgroup who continued into the OLE phase versus the placebo-randomized subgroup who did not continue into the OLE phase (p < .0001), although OLE phase selection bias may have potentially confounded these results.
DISCUSSION
Similar to the prespecified ITT analysis, post hoc analyses adjusting for treatment crossover in CENTAUR showed a significant survival benefit for PB and TURSO. Such methods may provide clinical context for observed survival outcomes in future ALS crossover trials.
Topics: Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis; Cross-Over Studies; Double-Blind Method; Humans; Survival Analysis
PubMed: 35508892
DOI: 10.1002/mus.27569