The intricacies of Alzheimer’s disease pathogenesis are being increasingly illuminated by the exploration of epigenetic mechanisms,particularly DNA methylation.This review comprehensively surveys recent human-centere...The intricacies of Alzheimer’s disease pathogenesis are being increasingly illuminated by the exploration of epigenetic mechanisms,particularly DNA methylation.This review comprehensively surveys recent human-centered studies that investigate whole genome DNA methylation in Alzheimer’s disease neuropathology.The examination of various brain regions reveals distinctive DNA methylation patterns that associate with the Braak stage and Alzheimer’s disease progression.The entorhinal cortex emerges as a focal point due to its early histological alterations and subsequent impact on downstream regions like the hippocampus.Notably,ANK1 hypermethylation,a protein implicated in neurofibrillary tangle formation,was recurrently identified in the entorhinal cortex.Further,the middle temporal gyrus and prefrontal cortex were shown to exhibit significant hypermethylation of genes like HOXA3,RHBDF2,and MCF2L,potentially influencing neuroinflammatory processes.The complex role of BIN1 in late-onset Alzheimer’s disease is underscored by its association with altered methylation patterns.Despite the disparities across studies,these findings highlight the intricate interplay between epigenetic modifications and Alzheimer’s disease pathology.Future research efforts should address methodological variations,incorporate diverse cohorts,and consider environmental factors to unravel the nuanced epigenetic landscape underlying Alzheimer’s disease progression.展开更多
Among patients with frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD), the respective frequencies of dominant 17q21-linked tau-negative FTLD (with unidentified molecular defect) and 17q21-linked tau-positive FTLD (due to MAPT ...Among patients with frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD), the respective frequencies of dominant 17q21-linked tau-negative FTLD (with unidentified molecular defect) and 17q21-linked tau-positive FTLD (due to MAPT mutations) remain unknown. Here, in a series of 98 genealogically unrelated Belgian FTLD patients, we identified an ancestral 8 cM MAPT containing haplotype in two patients belonging to multiplex families DR2 and DR8, without demonstrable MAPT mutations, in which FTLD was conclusively linked to 17q21 [maximum summed log of the odds (LOD) score of 5.28 at D17S931]. Interestingly, the same DR2-DR8 ancestral haplotype was observed in five additional familial FTLD patients, indicative of a founder effect. In the FTLD series, the DR2-DR8 ancestral haplotype explained 7%(7 out of 98) of FTLD and 17%(7 out of 42) of familial FTLD and was seven times more frequent than MAPT mutations (1 out of 98 or 1%). Clinically, DR2-DR8 haplotype carriers presented with FTLD often characterized by language impairment, and in one carrier the neuropathological diagnosis was FTLD with rare tau-negative ubiquitin-positive inclusions. Together, these results strongly suggest that the DR2-DR8 founder haplotype at 17q21 harbours a tau-negative FTLD causing mutation that is a much more frequent cause of FTLD in Belgium than MAPT mutations.展开更多
The problems associated with the pharmacological treatment of the later stages of Parkinson’s disease(PD)remain those seen over many years.These centre on a loss of drug effect(‘wearing off’)with disease progressio...The problems associated with the pharmacological treatment of the later stages of Parkinson’s disease(PD)remain those seen over many years.These centre on a loss of drug effect(‘wearing off’)with disease progression,the occurrence of dyskinesia,notably with L-dopa use and the appearance of non-motor symptoms that are largely refractory to dopaminergic medication.Treatment strategies in late PD have been dominated by the use of drug combinations and the subtle manipulation of drug dosage.However,change is occurring as the understanding of the basis of motor complications and fluctuations and non-motor symptoms improves.New pharmacological options are expanding with the advent of longer acting versions of existing dopaminergic drugs,new drug delivery systems and the introduction of non-dopaminergic agents able to manipulate motor function both within the basal ganglia and in other brain regions.Non-dopaminergic agents are also being investigated for the treatment of dyskinesia and for the relief of non-motor symptoms.However,while therapy continues to improve,the treatment of late stage PD remains problematic with non-motor symptoms dominating the unmet need in this patient group.展开更多
文摘The intricacies of Alzheimer’s disease pathogenesis are being increasingly illuminated by the exploration of epigenetic mechanisms,particularly DNA methylation.This review comprehensively surveys recent human-centered studies that investigate whole genome DNA methylation in Alzheimer’s disease neuropathology.The examination of various brain regions reveals distinctive DNA methylation patterns that associate with the Braak stage and Alzheimer’s disease progression.The entorhinal cortex emerges as a focal point due to its early histological alterations and subsequent impact on downstream regions like the hippocampus.Notably,ANK1 hypermethylation,a protein implicated in neurofibrillary tangle formation,was recurrently identified in the entorhinal cortex.Further,the middle temporal gyrus and prefrontal cortex were shown to exhibit significant hypermethylation of genes like HOXA3,RHBDF2,and MCF2L,potentially influencing neuroinflammatory processes.The complex role of BIN1 in late-onset Alzheimer’s disease is underscored by its association with altered methylation patterns.Despite the disparities across studies,these findings highlight the intricate interplay between epigenetic modifications and Alzheimer’s disease pathology.Future research efforts should address methodological variations,incorporate diverse cohorts,and consider environmental factors to unravel the nuanced epigenetic landscape underlying Alzheimer’s disease progression.
文摘Among patients with frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD), the respective frequencies of dominant 17q21-linked tau-negative FTLD (with unidentified molecular defect) and 17q21-linked tau-positive FTLD (due to MAPT mutations) remain unknown. Here, in a series of 98 genealogically unrelated Belgian FTLD patients, we identified an ancestral 8 cM MAPT containing haplotype in two patients belonging to multiplex families DR2 and DR8, without demonstrable MAPT mutations, in which FTLD was conclusively linked to 17q21 [maximum summed log of the odds (LOD) score of 5.28 at D17S931]. Interestingly, the same DR2-DR8 ancestral haplotype was observed in five additional familial FTLD patients, indicative of a founder effect. In the FTLD series, the DR2-DR8 ancestral haplotype explained 7%(7 out of 98) of FTLD and 17%(7 out of 42) of familial FTLD and was seven times more frequent than MAPT mutations (1 out of 98 or 1%). Clinically, DR2-DR8 haplotype carriers presented with FTLD often characterized by language impairment, and in one carrier the neuropathological diagnosis was FTLD with rare tau-negative ubiquitin-positive inclusions. Together, these results strongly suggest that the DR2-DR8 founder haplotype at 17q21 harbours a tau-negative FTLD causing mutation that is a much more frequent cause of FTLD in Belgium than MAPT mutations.
文摘The problems associated with the pharmacological treatment of the later stages of Parkinson’s disease(PD)remain those seen over many years.These centre on a loss of drug effect(‘wearing off’)with disease progression,the occurrence of dyskinesia,notably with L-dopa use and the appearance of non-motor symptoms that are largely refractory to dopaminergic medication.Treatment strategies in late PD have been dominated by the use of drug combinations and the subtle manipulation of drug dosage.However,change is occurring as the understanding of the basis of motor complications and fluctuations and non-motor symptoms improves.New pharmacological options are expanding with the advent of longer acting versions of existing dopaminergic drugs,new drug delivery systems and the introduction of non-dopaminergic agents able to manipulate motor function both within the basal ganglia and in other brain regions.Non-dopaminergic agents are also being investigated for the treatment of dyskinesia and for the relief of non-motor symptoms.However,while therapy continues to improve,the treatment of late stage PD remains problematic with non-motor symptoms dominating the unmet need in this patient group.
