scholarly journals Clinical and Molecular Landscape of ALS Patients with SOD1 Mutations: Novel Pathogenic Variants and Novel Phenotypes. A Single ALS Center Study

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (18) ◽  
pp. 6807
Author(s):  
Emilien Bernard ◽  
Antoine Pegat ◽  
Juliette Svahn ◽  
Françoise Bouhour ◽  
Pascal Leblanc ◽  
...  

Mutations in the copper zinc superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) gene are the second most frequent cause of familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Nearly 200 mutations of this gene have been described so far. We report all SOD1 pathogenic variants identified in patients followed in the single ALS center of Lyon, France, between 2010 and 2020. Twelve patients from 11 unrelated families are described, including two families with the not yet described H81Y and D126N mutations. Splice site mutations were detected in two families. We discuss implications concerning genetic screening of SOD1 gene in familial and sporadic ALS.

2011 ◽  
Vol 2011 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pamela Milani ◽  
Stella Gagliardi ◽  
Emanuela Cova ◽  
Cristina Cereda

Copper-zinc superoxide dismutase (SOD1) is a detoxifying enzyme localized in the cytosol, nucleus, peroxisomes, and mitochondria. The discovery that mutations inSOD1gene cause a subset of familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (FALS) has attracted great attention, and studies to date have been mainly focused on discovering mutations in the coding region and investigation at protein level. Considering that changes in SOD1 mRNA levels have been associated with sporadic ALS (SALS), a molecular understanding of the processes involved in the regulation ofSOD1gene expression could not only unravel novel regulatory pathways that may govern cellular phenotypes and changes in diseases but also might reveal therapeutic targets and treatments. This review seeks to provide an overview ofSOD1gene structure and of the processes through which SOD1 transcription is controlled. Furthermore, we emphasize the importance to focus future researches on investigating posttranscriptional mechanisms and their relevance to ALS.


2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Taisei Ito ◽  
Masatoshi Inden ◽  
Tomoyuki Ueda ◽  
Yuta Asaka ◽  
Hisaka Kurita ◽  
...  

AbstractAmyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease characterized by the selective and progressive loss of motor neurons. Although many drugs have entered clinical trials, few have shown effectiveness in the treatment of ALS. Other studies have shown that the stimulation of α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) can have neuroprotective effects in some models of neurodegenerative disease, as well as prevent glutamate-induced motor neuronal death. However, the effect of α7 nAChR agonists on ALS-associated mutant copper–zinc superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) aggregates in motor neurons remains unclear. In the present study, we examined whether α7 nAChR activation had a neuroprotective effect against SOD1G85R-induced toxicity in a cellular model for ALS. We found that α7 nAChR activation by PNU282987, a selective agonist of α7 nAChR, exhibited significant neuroprotective effects against SOD1G85R-induced toxicity via the reduction of intracellular protein aggregates. This reduction also correlated with the activation of autophagy through the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK)–mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway. Furthermore, the activation of α7 nAChRs was found to increase the biogenesis of lysosomes by inducing translocation of the transcription factor EB (TFEB) into the nucleus. These results support the therapeutic potential of α7 nAChR activation in diseases that are characterized by SOD1G85R aggregates, such as ALS.


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