Hiroyuki Morino, Takashi Kurashige, Yukiko Matsuda, Maiko Ono, Naruhiko Sahara, Tomohiro Miyasaka, Yoshiyuki Soeda, Hitoshi Shimada, Yu Yamazaki, Tetsuya Takahashi, Yuishin Izumi, Hidefumi Ito, Hirofumi Maruyama, Makoto Higuchi, Koji Arihiro, Tetsuya Suhara, Akihiko Takashima and Hideshi Kawakami : Clinical and Pathological Features of FTDP-17 with MAPT p.K298_H299insQ Mutation., Movement Disorders Clinical Practice, 2024.
(Summary)
This study confirmed that the insACA mutation caused FTDP-17. The affected patients showed symptoms resembling Parkinson's disease initially and symptoms of progressive supranuclear palsy later. Despite the initial clinical diagnosis of frontotemporal dementia in the autopsy case, the spread of lesions could explain the process of progressive supranuclear palsy. The study of more cases in the future will help clarify the common pathogenesis of MAPT mutations or specific pathogeneses of each mutation.
Hidetada Yamada, Yu Yamazaki, Yoshiko Takebayashi, Kyosuke Yazawa, Miwako Sasanishi, Atsuko Motoda, Masahiro Nakamori, Hiroyuki Morino, Tetsuya Takahashi and Hirofumi Maruyama : The long-term effects of heated tobacco product exposure on the central nervous system in a mouse model of prodromal Alzheimer's disease., Scientific reports, Vol.14, No.1, 2024.
(Summary)
Heated tobacco products (HTPs) have emerged as novel alternatives to conventional cigarettes (CCs), marketed by the tobacco industry as having a reduced potential for harm. Nevertheless, a significant dearth of information remains regarding the long-term effects of HTPs on the central nervous system (CNS). Here, we sought to shed light on the repercussions of prolonged exposure to HTPs on the CNS, employing a mouse model mimicking prodromal Alzheimer's disease (AD). Our study entailed subjecting App knock-in mice to 16 weeks of HTP exposure, administered 5 days per week, with serum cotinine concentration serving as confirmation of HTP exposure within this model. Histological analysis, aimed at assessing amyloid pathology, unveiled a minimal impact attributable to HTPs. However, exploration of differentially expressed genes in the cerebral cortex, using unadjusted p values, indicated an association between HTP exposure and non-inflammatory pathways, specifically linked to neurohypophyseal and neuropeptide hormone activity within the CNS. Of note, similar results have already been observed after exposure to CCs in vivo. Our study not only contributes insights into the potential non-inflammatory effects of HTPs within the context of AD pathogenesis but also underscores the significance of continued research to comprehend the full scope of their impact on the CNS.
(Keyword)
Animals / Mice / Alzheimer Disease / Central Nervous System / Disease Models, Animal / Amyloidogenic Proteins / Tobacco Products / Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems
3'UTR was observed in two patients with familial small vessel disease and the two selected patients, thereby confirming the pontine autosomal dominant microangiopathy and leukoencephalopathy diagnosis. Furthermore, postmortem examination showed that the distribution of thickened media tunica and hyalinized vessels was different from that in lacunar infarctions. The appearance of characteristic multiple oval small infarctions in the pons, which resemble raisin bread, enable us to make a diagnosis of pontine autosomal dominant microangiopathy and leukoencephalopathy. This feature, for which we coined the name 'raisin bread sign', was also correlated to the pathological changes.
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the degeneration of motor neurons. Although repeat expansion in C9orf72 is its most common cause, the pathogenesis of ALS isn't fully clear. In this study, we show that repeat expansion in LRP12, a causative variant of oculopharyngodistal myopathy type 1 (OPDM1), is a cause of ALS. We identify CGG repeat expansion in LRP12 in five families and two simplex individuals. These ALS individuals (LRP12-ALS) have 61-100 repeats, which contrasts with most OPDM individuals with repeat expansion in LRP12 (LRP12-OPDM), who have 100-200 repeats. Phosphorylated TDP-43 is present in the cytoplasm of iPS cell-derived motor neurons (iPSMNs) in LRP12-ALS, a finding that reproduces the pathological hallmark of ALS. RNA foci are more prominent in muscle and iPSMNs in LRP12-ALS than in LRP12-OPDM. Muscleblind-like 1 aggregates are observed only in OPDM muscle. In conclusion, CGG repeat expansions in LRP12 cause ALS and OPDM, depending on the length of the repeat. Our findings provide insight into the repeat length-dependent switching of phenotypes.
Shotaro Haji, Koji Fujita, Ryosuke Oki, Yusuke Osaki, Ryosuke Miyamoto, Hiroyuki Morino, Seiichi Nagano, Naoki Atsuta, Yuki Kanazawa, Yuki Matsumoto, Atsuko Arisawa, Hisashi Kawai, Yasutaka Sato, Satoshi Sakaguchi, Kenta Yagi, Tatsuto Hamatani, Tatsuo Kagimura, Hiroaki Yanagawa, Hideki Mochizuki, Manabu Doyu, Gen Sobue, Masafumi Harada and Yuishin Izumi : An Exploratory Trial of EPI-589 in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (EPIC-ALS): Protocol for a Multicenter, Open-Labeled, 24-Week, Single-Group Study, JMIR Research Protocols, Vol.12, e42032, 2023.
(Summary)
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disorder, with its currently approved drugs, including riluzole and edaravone, showing limited therapeutic effects. Therefore, safe and effective drugs are urgently necessary. EPI-589 is an orally available, small-molecule, novel redox-active agent characterized by highly potent protective effects against oxidative stress with high blood-brain barrier permeability. Given the apparent oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction involvement in the pathogenesis of ALS, EPI-589 may hold promise as a therapeutic agent. This protocol aims to describe the design and rationale for the EPI-589 Early Phase 2 Investigator-Initiated Clinical Trial for ALS (EPIC-ALS). EPIC-ALS is an explorative, open-labeled, single-arm trial that evaluates the safety and tolerability of EPI-589 in patients with ALS. This trial consists of 12-week run-in, 24-week treatment, and 4-week follow-up periods. Patients will receive 500 mg of EPI-589 3 times daily over the 24-week treatment period. Clinical assessments include the mean monthly change of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Functional Rating Scale-Revised total score. The biomarkers are selected to analyze the effect on oxidative stress and neuronal damage. The plasma biomarkers are 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), 3-nitrotyrosine (3-NT), neurofilament light chain (NfL), phosphorylated neurofilament heavy chain (pNfH), homocysteine, and creatinine. The cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers are 8-OHdG, 3-NT, NfL, pNfH, and ornithine. The magnetic resonance biomarkers are fractional anisotropy in the corticospinal tract and N-acetylaspartate in the primary motor area. This trial began data collection in September 2021 and is expected to be completed in October 2023. This study can provide useful data to understand the characteristics of EPI-589. Japan Primary Registries Network jRCT2061210031; tinyurl.com/2p84emu6. DERR1-10.2196/42032.
Hidetada Yamada, Shuichiro Neshige, Hiroyuki Morino and Hirofumi Maruyama : Extubation failure due to atypical parkinsonism with negligible motor and variable non-motor symptoms associated with a variant of DCTN1., Internal and Emergency Medicine, 2022.
Hidetada Yamada, Masahiro Nakamori, Junichiro Kuga, Akemi Hironaka, Takamichi Sugimoto, Hiroki Ueno, Tomohiko Ohshita, Hiroyuki Morino and Hirofumi Maruyama : Nerve Ultrasonography for the Diagnosis and Evaluation of Neuralgic Amyotrophy: A Case Report., Internal Medicine, 2022.
(Summary)
Neuralgic amyotrophy (NA) is a peripheral nervous system disorder involving multifocal distribution. Although nerve ultrasonography has shown potential for detecting NA lesions, no established detection method exists for distal forearm NA. A 59-year-old man presented with weakness of the muscles innervated by the left posterior interosseous nerve (PIN), median nerve (MN), anterior interosseous nerve (AIN), and ulnar nerve (UN), following severe left shoulder pain. This case suggests that nerve ultrasonography can help accurately diagnose distal forearm NA.
Takashi Kurashige, Hiroyuki Morino, Hiroki Ueno, Tomomi Murao, Tomoaki Watanabe, Takao Hinoi, Ichizo Nishino, Tsuyoshi Torii and Hirofumi Maruyama : Gastrointestinal cancer occurs as extramuscular manifestation in FSHD1 patients., Journal of Human Genetics, 2022.
(Summary)
Facioscapulohumeral dystrophy type1 (FSHD1) patients with a shortened D4Z4 repeat containing the DUX4 gene have a broad spectrum of clinical manifestations. In addition, high expression of DUX4 protein with an aberrant C terminus is frequently identified in B cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. We investigated clinical manifestations in 31 FSHD1 patients and 30 non-affected individuals. Gastrointestinal cancers (gastric and colorectal cancers) increased after the age of 40 years and were more frequently observed in FSHD1 patients (n = 10) than in non-affected individuals (n = 2, p = 0.0217), though the incidence of cancers occurring in non-gastrointestinal tissues of FSHD1 patients was the same as that of non-affected individuals (p > 0.999). These comorbidities of FSHD1 patients were not associated with D4Z4 repeat number. Our results suggest that gastrointestinal cancers are among the extramuscular manifestations of adult FSHD1 patients, and do not depend on D4Z4 repeat number.
Takashi Kurashige, Hiroyuki Morino, Tomomi Murao, Yuishin Izumi, Tomohito Sugiura, Kazuya Kuraoka, Hideshi Kawakami, Tsuyoshi Torii and Hirofumi Maruyama : TDP-43 Accumulation Within Intramuscular Nerve Bundles of Patients With Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis., JAMA Neurology, Vol.79, No.7, 693-701, 2022.
(Summary)
Results of this dual case-control and retrospective cohort study suggest that axonal pTDP-43 accumulations may be characteristic for patients with ALS. As such findings precede clinical fulfillment of the Gold Coast criteria, TDP-43 in nerve bundles may be a novel diagnostic biomarker for ALS.
Kenichi Ishikawa, Mutsuko Araki, Yoshito Nagano, Atsuko Motoda, Takeo Shishido, Takashi Kurashige, Tetsuya Takahashi, Hiroyuki Morino, Hideshi Kawakami, Masayasu Matsumoto and Hirofumi Maruyama : Knockdown of optineurin controls C2C12 myoblast differentiation via regulating myogenin and MyoD expressions., Differentiation; Research in Biological Diversity, Vol.123, 1-8, 2021.
(Summary)
Mutations in optineurin (OPTN) have been identified in a small proportion of sporadic and familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) cases. Recent evidences suggest that OPTN would be involved in not only the pathophysiological mechanisms of motor neuron death of ALS but also myofiber degeneration of sporadic inclusion body myositis. However, the detailed role of OPTN in muscle remains unclear. Initially, we showed that OPTN expression levels were significantly increased in the denervated muscles of mice, suggesting that OPTN may be involved in muscle homeostasis. To reveal the molecular role of OPTN in muscle atrophy, we used cultured C2C12 myotubes treated with tumor necrosis factor-like inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK) as an in vitro model of muscle atrophy. Our data showed that OPTN had no effect on the process of muscle atrophy in this model. On the other hand, we found that myogenic differentiation was affected by OPTN. Immunoblotting analysis showed that OPTN protein levels gradually decreased during C2C12 differentiation. Furthermore, OPTN knockdown inhibited C2C12 differentiation, accompanied by reduction of mRNA and protein expression levels of myogenin and MyoD. These findings suggested that OPTN may have a novel function in muscle homeostasis and play a role in the pathogenesis of neuromuscular diseases.
Megumi Toko, Tomohiko Ohshita, Takashi Kurashige, Hiroyuki Morino, Kodai Kume, Hiroshi Yamashita, Gen Sobue, Yasushi Iwasaki, Jun Sone, Hideshi Kawakami and Hirofumi Maruyama : FXTAS is difficult to differentiate from neuronal intranuclear inclusion disease through skin biopsy: a case report., BMC Neurology, Vol.21, No.1, 2021.
(Summary)
For the differential diagnosis of FXTAS and NIID, a skin biopsy alone is insufficient; instead, genetic analysis, is essential. Further investigations in additional cases based on genetic analysis are needed to elucidate the clinical and pathological differences between FXTAS and NIID.
(Keyword)
Ataxia / Biopsy / Fragile X Mental Retardation Protein / Fragile X Syndrome / Humans / Intranuclear Inclusion Bodies / Neurodegenerative Diseases / Tremor
Hidetada Yamada, Shuichiro Neshige, Takeo Shishido, Hiroki Ueno, Tomohiko Ohshita, Hiroyuki Morino and Hirofumi Maruyama : Efficacy of Lacosamide in a Patient with Refractory Generalized Epilepsy Based on Video Electroencephalography., Internal Medicine, Vol.60, No.22, 3621-3624, 2021.
(Summary)
A 20-year-old man with drug-resistant generalized epilepsy (GE) was admitted for video electroencephalography (vEEG) monitoring under treatment with multiple antiepileptic drugs, including levetiracetam (3,000 mg/day), valproic acid (800 mg/day), and lacosamide (LCM) (100 mg/day). No seizures were noted after the withdrawal of levetiracetam. However, after the withdrawal of LCM, atypical absence seizures with a 2- to 2.5-Hz generalized spike and wave complex frequently appeared, followed by subsequent generalized-onset tonic-clonic seizures. After re-administration of LCM, the seizures and epileptic discharges clearly disappeared. Subsequent LCM titration was successful in achieving a seizure-free status. Our vEEG results suggest that LCM may be a worthwhile antiepileptic drug adjunct in refractory GE patients without a risk of worsening absence seizures.
(Keyword)
Adult / Anticonvulsants / Electroencephalography / Epilepsy, Generalized / Humans / Lacosamide / Male / Seizures / Young Adult
Tomoyasu Matsubara, Yuishin Izumi, Masaya Oda, Masatoshi Takahashi, Hirofumi Maruyama, Ryosuke Miyamoto, Chigusa Watanabe, Yoshiro Tachiyama, Hiroyuki Morino, Hideshi Kawakami, Yuko Saito and Shigeo Murayama : An autopsy report of a familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis case carrying VCP Arg487His mutation with a unique TDP-43 proteinopathy, Neuropathology, Vol.41, No.2, 118-126, 2021.
(Summary)
We here report an autopsy case of familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) with p.Arg487His mutation in the valosin-containing protein (VCP) gene (VCP), in which upper motor neurons (UMNs) were predominantly involved. Moreover, our patient developed symptoms of frontotemporal dementia later in life and pathologically exhibited numerous phosphorylated transactivation response DNA-binding protein of 43 kDa (p-TDP-43)-positive neuronal cytoplasmic inclusions and short dystrophic neurites with a few lentiform neuronal intranuclear inclusions, sharing the features of frontotemporal lobar degeneration with TDP-43 pathology type A pattern. A review of previous reports of ALS with VCP mutations suggests that our case is unique in terms of its UMN-predominant lesion pattern and distribution of p-TDP-43 pathology. Thus, this case report effectively expands the clinical and pathological phenotype of ALS in patients with a VCP mutation.
Hiroyuki Naito, Tomohisa Nezu, Naohisa Hosomi, Daisuke Kuzume, Shiro Aoki, Yuko Morimoto, Takeshi Yoshida, Teppei Kamimura, Yuji Shiga, Naoto Kinoshita, Hiroki Ueno, Hiroyuki Morino and Hirofumi Maruyama : Increased Serum Alkaline Phosphatase and Functional Outcome in Patients with Acute Ischemic Stroke Presenting a Low Ankle-Brachial Index., Journal of Atherosclerosis and Thrombosis, Vol.29, No.5, 719-730, 2021.
(Summary)
Increased serum ALP levels are significantly associated with a low ABI. These indicators are independent prognostic factors for poor stroke outcomes at 3 months.
(Keyword)
Alkaline Phosphatase / Ankle Brachial Index / Humans / Ischemic Stroke / Predictive Value of Tests / Risk Factors / Stroke
Y Kanaya, K Kume, Hiroyuki Morino, R Ohsawa, T Kurashige, M Kamada, T Torii, Yuishin Izumi, H Maruyama and H Kawakami : Analysis of genetic risk factors in Japanese patients with Parkinson's disease, Journal of Human Genetics, Vol.66, No.10, 957-964, 2021.
(Summary)
Parkinson's disease (PD) is caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Notably, genetic risk factors vary according to ethnicity and geographical regions, and few studies have analyzed the frequency of PD causative genes in Japanese patients. Therefore, we performed genetic analyses of Japanese patients with PD. We recruited 221 participants, including 26 patients with familial PD. Genetic risk factors were evaluated by target sequencing and gene dosage analysis. We detected the genetic risk factors in 58 cases (26.2%) and classified patients into three groups to clarify the differences in genetic risk factors by age at onset (AAO). The early-onset group (AAO < 50 years) included 18 cases (44.7%), who tended to have a larger number of genetic risk factors than the later-onset groups. Regarding the AAO for each causative gene, patients with PRKN variants were significantly younger at onset than those bearing LRRK2 variants. LRRK2 variants showed similar frequency in each AAO group. Of note, we identified two novel variants. Patients with early-onset PD have more genetic risk factors than patients with late-onset PD. In Japanese patients with PD, PRKN, and LRRK2 were the major PD-related genes. Particularly, LRRK2 was a common genetic factor in all age groups because of the presence of the Asian-specific variant such as LRRK2 p.G2385R. Accumulation of genetic and clinical data can contribute to the development of treatments for PD.
(Keyword)
Adult / Age of Onset / Asians / Female / Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Genetic Testing / Genotype / Humans / Leucine-Rich Repeat Serine-Threonine Protein Kinase-2 / Male / Middle Aged / Parkinson Disease / Risk Factors
Shuichiro Neshige, Shiro Aoki, Takeo Shishido, Hiroyuki Morino, Koji Iida and Hirofumi Maruyama : Socio-economic impact on epilepsy outside of the nation-wide COVID-19 pandemic area., Epilepsy & Behavior : E&B, Vol.117, 2021.
(Summary)
Even in the non-pandemic area, PWE had seizure exacerbation, suggesting that clinicians should screen patients' mental health before the outbreak to provide care, reduce the burden, and prevent social isolation in PWE. This should be addressed particularly in patients with medically refractory seizures with insomnia who live alone.
YAMAUCHI Shoma, Ryosuke Miyamoto, MUTO Kohei, Yuki Kuwano, KEYOUMU NAZERE, Kensei Nishida, TACHIBANA Konoka, Yuishin Izumi and Hiroyuki Morino : Search for Pathogenic Variant of ALS by Prioritization based on Phenotype, 第64回日本神経学会学術大会, Jun. 2023.
10.
橘 このか, Ryosuke Miyamoto, Hiroyuki Morino, 福本 竜也, 松本 真一, 目崎 高広, 星野 恭子, Koutaro Asanuma, Takashi Sakamoto, Ryuji Kaji, Yuishin Izumi and Consortium Dystonia Japan : Genetical and clinical features in a cohort of Japanese patients with dystonia, 第64回日本神経学会学術大会, May 2023.
Aya Gohji, Hiroyuki Morino, Asami Okada, Tatsuo Mori, Ken-ichi Suga, Yumiko Kotani, 瀬山 理惠, 内山 由理 and 松本 直通 : Coffin-siris syndrome with persistent open anterior fontanelle in a boy arising from a novel de novo ARID2 variant, 日本人類遺伝学会第67回大会, Dec. 2022.
Takashi Kurashige, Hiroyuki Morino, Hiroki Ueno, Tomomi Murao, Tomoaki Watanabe, Takao Hinoi, Ichizo Nishino, Tsuyoshi Torii and Hirofumi Maruyama : Gastrointestinal cancer occurs as extramuscular manifestation in FSHD1 patients, 日本人類遺伝学会第66回大会, Oct. 2021.
22.
原 直之, Hiroyuki Morino, 松田 由喜子, 佐藤 健一, 橋本 浩一, 丸山 博文 and 川上 秀史 : Zonisamide can ameliorate the conduction of the mutant CaV3.1 that causes spinocerebellar ataxia, 第62回日本神経学会学術大会, May 2021.
23.
松田 由喜子, Hiroyuki Morino, 外丸 祐介, 倉重 毅志, 丸山 博文 and 川上 秀史 : Transcriptomic analysis using model mice of spinocerebellar ataxia 42, 第62回日本神経学会学術大会, May 2021.
Elucidation of alpha-synuclein aggregation mechanism in Parkinson's disease and application to novel therapeutic strategies (Project/Area Number: 23K06828 )