Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Fabian Dorninger, Attila Kiss, Peter Rothauer, Alexander Stiglbauer-Tscholakoff, Stefan Kummer, Wedad Fallatah, Mireia Perera-Gonzalez, Ouafa Hamza, Theresa Koenig, Michael B. Bober, Tiscar Cavalle-Garrido, Nancy E. Braverman, Sonja Forss-Petter, Christian Pifl, Jan Bauer, Reginald E. Bittner, Thomas H. Helbich, Bruno K. Podesser, Hannes Todt, Johannes Berger
Summary: The deficiency in ether lipids can cause severe symptoms in humans and the mouse model has been used to study the pathophysiology of the disease. However, the exact role of ether lipids in the cardiac tissue is still unknown. This study found that ether lipid deficiency can lead to cardiac abnormalities in both mice and human patients, but the manifestations are heterogeneous and differ between the two.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Bianca Seminotti, Mateus Grings, Jerry Vockley, Guilhian Leipnitz
Summary: Inherited metabolic disorders (IMDs) are genetic disorders that disrupt specific metabolic pathways, leading to biochemical, clinical, and pathophysiological consequences. Secondary mitochondrial dysfunction, particularly oxidative phosphorylation impairment and elevated reactive oxygen species, has been found to play a crucial role in many of these disorders. Peroxisomal proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs), a group of nuclear hormone receptors, regulate various cellular functions and processes, including oxidative stress response, inflammation, lipid metabolism, and mitochondrial bioenergetics. Activation of PPARs has shown to improve oxidative phosphorylation and reduce reactive species levels, making pharmacological treatment with PPAR activators a promising approach for IMDs. This review summarizes preclinical and clinical data on the effects of PPARs in IMDs.
BIOCHEMICAL PHARMACOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Joseph Mole, Simon Mead, Peter Rudge, Akin Nihat, Tzehow Mok, John Collinge, Diana Caine
Summary: This study focuses on whether cognitive features anticipate the onset of symptoms in inherited prion disease, revealing the significant value of cognitive tests in predicting disease onset before symptoms occur.
Review
Cell Biology
Xue Jiang, Yihuan Chen, Xiaofeng Liu, Lingqun Ye, Miao Yu, Zhenya Shen, Wei Lei, Shijun Hu
Summary: Researchers have discovered the contribution of genetic defects to the pathogenesis of primary cardiomyopathy and tried to explain the pathogenesis of these diseases by establishing various disease models. The advent of human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) provides an unprecedented opportunity to further investigate the pathogenic mechanisms of inherited cardiomyopathies in vitro using patient-specific hiPSC-derived cardiomyocytes. The development of defects in genetically modified animal models differs notably from human diseases at the molecular level.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Adrian Dockery, Laura Whelan, Pete Humphries, G. Jane Farrar
Summary: Inherited retinal diseases (IRDs) encompass a variety of genetically diverse conditions with phenotypic variations, researchers utilize cutting-edge sequencing techniques to identify elusive causes, providing accurate diagnoses and informed prognoses for family planning and medical interventions.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Hanif Ali, Katsuya Morito, Rumana Yesmin Hasi, Mutsumi Aihara, Junji Hayashi, Ryushi Kawakami, Kaori Kanemaru, Koichiro Tsuchiya, Kazunori Sango, Tamotsu Tanaka
Summary: The study found that isopropanol can solubilize VLCFAs in aqueous medium by facilitating the formation of the VLCFA/albumin complex, enabling the examination of peroxisome's role in VLCFAs uptake and metabolism in CHO cells. Wild-type CHO cells showed extensive uptake and oxidative degradation of saturated VLCFAs, while peroxisome-deficient cells had limited uptake and lacked oxidative metabolism. Both cell types showed extensive uptake and acylation of monounsaturated VLCFAs, but only wild-type cells exhibited oxidative metabolism. This suggests that peroxisome deficiency limits intracellular S-VLCFAs by halting uptake, leading to a loss of clearance ability of extracellular S-VLCFAs.
BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-MOLECULAR AND CELL BIOLOGY OF LIPIDS
(2022)
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Manon Hustinx, Ann-Marie Shorrocks, Laurent Servais
Summary: The management of inherited neuropathies mostly relies on symptomatic treatment, but in recent years, disease-modifying therapies have been developed due to a better understanding of the pathogenic mechanisms. This systematic review focuses on the therapies emerged in the field of inherited neuropathies in the past five years. The analysis identified diseases associated with neuropathy for which approved therapies exist, but further investigations are needed to assess treatment efficacy on neuropathies using objective and consistent methods.
Review
Pediatrics
Li-Min Huang, Jian-Hua Mao
Summary: Hereditary renal tubular diseases can not only affect tubular function, but also impact glomeruli. These diseases affect glomerular podocytes through certain mechanisms, resulting in functional damage, morphological changes, and glomerular lesions.
WORLD JOURNAL OF PEDIATRICS
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Delara Akhter, Yuchan Zhang, Jianping Hu, Ronghui Pan
Summary: Protein ubiquitination plays a crucial role in regulating diverse cellular processes in eukaryotic organisms, including growth, development, and stress response. Despite its importance, the mechanisms underlying protein ubiquitination in peroxisomes, especially in plants, are poorly understood. This review provides a comprehensive summary of the current knowledge on the involvement of protein ubiquitination in peroxisome biology, focusing on plants.
JOURNAL OF INTEGRATIVE PLANT BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Hanif Ali, Miyu Kobayashi, Katsuya Morito, Rumana Yesmin Hasi, Mutsumi Aihara, Junji Hayashi, Ryushi Kawakami, Koichiro Tsuchiya, Kazunori Sango, Tamotsu Tanaka
Summary: One of the major functions of peroxisomes in mammals is to oxidize very long-chain fatty acids (VLCFAs), which if accumulated due to genetic defects in peroxisomal β-oxidation, can lead to various health problems. The biological effect of extracellular VLCFAs was characterized using a solubilizing technique in peroxisome-deficient CHO cells, PC12 cells, and IFRS1 cells. The study found that C20:0 fatty acid was the most toxic among the tested C16-C26 FAs, causing apoptosis in cells. Peroxisomes play a crucial role in detoxifying apoptotic VLCFAs by preventing their accumulation.
BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-MOLECULAR AND CELL BIOLOGY OF LIPIDS
(2023)
Article
Urology & Nephrology
Mathieu Lemaire, Damien Noone, Anne-Laure Lapeyraque, Christoph Licht, Veronique Fremeaux-Bacchi
Summary: In the past 20 years, there have been significant advances in diagnosing and treating genetic kidney diseases caused by complement dysregulation. One major area of progress has been in understanding the genetic basis and pathophysiology of aHUS and C3-dominant glomerulopathies, leading to the development of innovative therapies that have greatly improved patient outcomes. Key genes associated with these diseases have been identified, and future directions for research are being explored.
CLINICAL JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF NEPHROLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Mirco Schilff, Yelena Sargsyan, Julia Hofhuis, Sven Thoms
Summary: The study explores the impact of stop codon context on the treatment strategy for genetic premature termination codon diseases and finds that SCC plays a significant role in readthrough stimulation and drug concentration selection.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Marina Stavrou, Irene Sargiannidou, Elena Georgiou, Alexia Kagiava, Kleopas A. Kleopa
Summary: CMT disease is a genetically heterogeneous disorder affecting the peripheral nerves, with diverse molecular genetic mechanisms discovered over the past three decades. There are currently various treatment approaches in preclinical testing and clinical trials, including disease-specific targeted therapies and treatments targeting common pathways shared by different CMT types. As promising treatments advance to clinical translation, optimizing outcome measures, novel biomarkers, and appropriate trial designs are crucial to facilitate successful testing and validation of novel treatments for CMT patients.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Olivia Wagemann, Yan Li, Jason Hassenstab, Andrew J. Aschenbrenner, Nicole S. McKay, Brian A. Gordon, Tammie L. S. Benzinger, Chengjie Xiong, Carlos Cruchaga, Alan E. Renton, Richard J. Perrin, Sarah B. Berman, Jasmeer P. Chhatwal, Martin R. Farlow, Gregory S. Day, Takeshi Ikeuchi, Mathias Jucker, Francisco Lopera, Hiroshi Mori, James M. Noble, Raquel Sanchez-Valle, Peter R. Schofield, John C. Morris, Alisha Daniels, Johannes Levin, Randall J. Bateman, Eric Mcdade, Jorge J. Llibre-Guerra
Summary: Studies found that female carriers of DIAD initially show better cognitive reserve but experience a pronounced increase in neurodegeneration and worse performance on delayed recall at later stages of the disease. The study also revealed that there were no sex differences in PiB PET and established CSF AD markers.
ALZHEIMERS & DEMENTIA
(2023)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Yi-Chu Liao, Fu-Pang Chang, Han-Wei Huang, Ting-Bing Chen, Ying-Tsen Chou, Shao-Lun Hsu, Kang-Yang Jih, Yi-Hong Liu, Cheng-Tsung Hsiao, Hiromi Fukukda, Takeshi Mizuguchi, Kon-Ping Lin, Chou-Ching K. Lin, Naomichi Matsumoto, Marina Kennerson, Yi-Chung Lee
Summary: This study identifies the GGC repeat expansion in the NOTCH2NLC gene as an important cause of inherited neuropathy. Among the patients with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, 10.6% of those with axonal CMT have the GGC repeat expansion. The expansion leads to sensory predominant neuropathy with an average disease onset age of 37.1 years.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Adrienne M. Luoma, Fonghsu Kuo, Ozgur Cakici, Michelle N. Crowther, Andrew R. Denninger, Robin L. Avila, Pedro Brites, Daniel A. Kirschner
FREE RADICAL BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
(2015)
Article
Neurosciences
Fernando M. Mar, Tiago F. da Silva, Marlene M. Morgado, Lorena G. Rodrigues, Daniel Rodrigues, Marta I. L. Pereira, Ana Marques, Vera F. Sousa, Joao Coentro, Clara Sa-Miranda, Monica M. Sousa, Pedro Brites
MOLECULAR NEUROBIOLOGY
(2016)
Review
Neurosciences
Joana Nogueira-Rodrigues, Pedro Brites, Monica Mendes Sousa
JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE RESEARCH
(2016)
Article
Neurosciences
Stephanie De Munter, Simon Verheijden, Esther Vanderstuyft, Ana Rita Malheiro, Pedro Brites, David Gall, Serge N. Schiffmann, Myriam Baes
NEUROBIOLOGY OF DISEASE
(2016)
Article
Cell Biology
Sergio Carvalho Leite, Paula Sampaio, Vera Filipe Sousa, Joana Nogueira-Rodrigues, Rita Pinto-Costa, Luanne Laurel Peters, Pedro Brites, Monica Mendes Sousa
Article
Clinical Neurology
Stephanie De Munter, Dorien Bamps, Ana Rita Malheiro, Ritesh Kumar Baboota, Pedro Brites, Myriam Baes
Article
Cell Biology
Abhijit Babaji Shinde, Ritesh Kumar Baboota, Simone Denis, Ursula Loizides-Mangold, Annelies Peeters, Marc Espeel, Ana Rita Malheiro, Howard Riezman, Stefan Vinckier, Frederic M. Vaz, Pedro Brites, Sacha Ferdinandusse, Paul P. Van Veldhoven, Myriam Baes
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Ana R. Malheiro, Tiago Ferreira da Silva, Pedro Brites
JOURNAL OF INHERITED METABOLIC DISEASE
(2015)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Ana R. Malheiro, Barbara Correia, Tiago Ferreira da Silva, Diogo Bessa-Neto, Paul P. Van Veldhoven, Pedro Brites
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Rita Pinto-Costa, Sara C. Sousa, Sergio C. Leite, Joana Nogueira-Rodrigues, Tiago Ferreira da Silva, Diana Machado, Joana Marques, Ana Catarina Costa, Marcia A. Liz, Francesca Bartolini, Pedro Brites, Mercedes Costell, Reinhard Faessler, Monica M. Sousa
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL INVESTIGATION
(2020)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Cai Qi, Irena Feng, Ana Rita Costa, Rita Pinto-Costa, Jennifer E. Neil, Oana Caluseriu, Dong Li, Rebecca D. Ganetzky, Charlotte Brasch-Andersen, Christina Fagerberg, Lars Kjaersgaard Hansen, Caleb Bupp, Colleen Clarke Muraresku, Xiangbin Ruan, Bowei Kang, Kaining Hu, Rong Zhong, Pedro Brites, Elizabeth J. Bhoj, Robert Sean Hill, Marni J. Falk, Hakon Hakonarson, Kristopher T. Kahle, Monica M. Sousa, Christopher A. Walsh, Xiaochang Zhang
Summary: The study reveals that mutations in the ADD1 gene are associated with intellectual disability and brain malformations. ADD1 plays a crucial role in human and mouse neural development, and mutations in ADD1 can lead to corpus callosum dysgenesis, ventriculomegaly, and intellectual disability.
GENETICS IN MEDICINE
(2022)
Review
Neurosciences
Tiago Ferreira da Silva, Luis S. Granadeiro, Diogo Bessa-Neto, Liliana L. Luz, Boris V. Safronov, Pedro Brites
Summary: This study reveals a previously unknown mechanism that links the phospholipid composition of the neuronal membrane to the positional assembly of the AIS. Deficiency of plasmalogens is shown to displace the AIS to more distal positions and reduce excitability, leading to potential implications for neurodegenerative diseases characterized by plasmalogen defects such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. Rescuing the impaired AKT signaling pathway normalizes AIS position independently of the biochemical defect.
PROGRESS IN NEUROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Editorial Material
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Pedro Brites, Monica M. Sousa
Summary: In a mouse model, Kreher and colleagues demonstrate that neurons, not only myelinating glia, are the primary contributors to disease progression in Krabbe disease. The neuron-specific model they generated allows for investigation of the autonomous neuronal component of this disorder.
Meeting Abstract
Neurosciences
A. Malheiro, T. Silva, B. Correia, P. Brites
Article
Neurosciences
Filipa Franquinho, Joana Nogueira-Rodrigues, Joana M. Duarte, Sofia S. Esteves, Christin Carter-Su, Anthony P. Monaco, Zoltan Molnar, Antonio Velayos-Baeza, Pedro Brites, Monica M. Sousa