ALS

1: CNS Drugs 2002;16(5):339-52

The role of iron and copper in the aetiology of neurodegenerative disorders: therapeutic implications.

Perry G, Sayre LM, Atwood CS, Castellani RJ, Cash AD, Rottkamp CA, Smith MA.

Institute of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio 44106, USA. Diese E-Mail-Adresse ist vor Spambots geschützt! Zur Anzeige muss JavaScript eingeschaltet sein!

Abnormalities in the metabolism of the transition metals iron and copper have been demonstrated to play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of various neurodegenerative diseases. Metal homeostasis as it pertains to alterations in brain function in neurodegenerative diseases is reviewed in this article in depth. While there is documented evidence for alterations in the homeostasis, redox-activity and localisation of transition metals, it is also important to realise that alterations in specific copper- and iron-containing metalloenzymes appear to play a crucial role in the neurodegenerative process. These changes provide the opportunity to identify pathways where modification of the disease process can occur, potentially offering opportunities for clinical intervention. As understanding of disease aetiology evolves, so do the tools with which diseases are treated. In this article, we examine not only the possible mechanism of disease but also how pharmaceuticals may intervene, from direct and indirect antioxidant therapy to strategies involving gene therapy.

Publication Types: Review Review, Tutorial

PMID: 11994023 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

1: Cell Mol Life Sci 1999 Nov 15;56(7-8):626-33

Diagnostic and therapeutic applications of azulenyl nitrone spin traps.

Becker DA.

Department of Chemistry, Florida International University, University Park Miami, 33199, USA. Diese E-Mail-Adresse ist vor Spambots geschützt! Zur Anzeige muss JavaScript eingeschaltet sein!

Azulenyl nitrones have been recently demonstrated to constitute a new class of nitrone-based spin traps with the unprecedented capacity to tag free radicals by yielding characteristically colored and highly visible diamagnetic (and paramagnetic) spin adducts. In addition, a comparison of the oxidation potentials of azulenyl nitrones such as 1 and congeners to those of conventional nitrone spin traps previously investigated as potential antioxidant therapeutics such as N-tert-butyl-alpha-phenylnitrone and its related ortho-sodium sulfonate reveals that the azulene-derived spin traps are far more readily oxidized. These special features render azulenyl nitrones of interest with regard to both their distinct ability to engender the convenient use of colorimetric detection to monitor free radical-mediated oxidative stress in biological systems, and to their potentially enhanced efficacy as neuroprotective antioxidants vs. those conventional nitrone spin traps earlier examined as such. Herein is reported an overview of recent developments pertaining to the use of azulenyl nitrones in the detection of oxidative stress in animal models of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and stroke, and to their neuroprotective activity in animal models of Parkinson's disease, stroke and neurodegeneration within the retina.

Publication Types: Review Review, Tutorial

PMID: 11212310 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

1: Amyotroph Lateral Scler Other Motor Neuron Disord 2001 Mar;2(1):9-18

A double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial of alpha-tocopherol (vitamin E) in the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. ALS riluzole-tocopherol Study Group.

Desnuelle C, Dib M, Garrel C, Favier A.

Service Medecine Physique et de Readaptation, Maladies Neuromusculaires, CHU de Nice Hjpital, France. Diese E-Mail-Adresse ist vor Spambots geschützt! Zur Anzeige muss JavaScript eingeschaltet sein!

INTRODUCTION: Increasing evidence suggests that oxidative stress may be involved in the pathogenesis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The antioxidant vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) has been shown to slow down the onset and progression of paralysis in transgenic mice expressing a mutation in superoxide dismutase found in certain forms of familial ALS. The current study was designed to determine whether alpha-tocopherol (500 mg b.i.d.) may be efficacious in the treatment of ALS. METHODS: Two hundred and eighty-nine patients with ALS of less than 5 years duration, treated with riluzole, were enrolled in this study, and were randomly assigned to receive either alpha-tocopherol or placebo daily for one year. The primary outcome measure was the rate of deterioration of function assessed by the modified Norris limb scale. Patients were assessed at entry, and every 3 months thereafter during the study period. Survival was also recorded. Biochemical markers of oxidative stress were measured in a subset of patients on entry and after 3 months of treatment. RESULTS: After 12 months of treatment, alpha-tocopherol had no effect on the primary outcome measure. Survival was not influenced by treatment. Among secondary outcome measures, patients given alpha-tocopherol were less likely to progress from the milder state A to the more severe state B (P=0.046) of the ALS Health State scale. After 3 months treatment, analysis of oxidative stress markers showed an increase in glutathione peroxidase activity in plasma (P = 0.0389) and a decrease in plasma levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive species (P = 0.0055) in the group of patients given alpha-tocopherol in combination with riluzole. CONCLUSION: Although alpha-tocopherol did not appear to affect the survival and motor function in ALS, patients receiving riluzole plus alpha-tocopherol remained longer in the milder states of the ALS Health State scale and showed, after 3 months, changes in biochemical markers of oxidative stress. Further studies are required to confirm the greater sensitivity of the ALS Health State scale over other clinical endpoints.

Publication Types: Clinical Trial Randomized Controlled Trial

PMID: 11465936 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

1: FASEB J 1999 Dec;13(15):2318-28

The roles of free radicals in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: reactive oxygen species and elevated oxidation of protein, DNA, and membrane phospholipids.

Liu D, Wen J, Liu J, Li L.

Department of Neurology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas 77555-0653, USA. Diese E-Mail-Adresse ist vor Spambots geschützt! Zur Anzeige muss JavaScript eingeschaltet sein!

To explore whether reactive oxygen species (ROS) play a role in the pathogenesis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a unique microdialysis or microcannula sampling technique was used in mice transfected with a mutant Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase (SOD1) gene from humans with familial ALS, mice transfected with the normal human SOD1 gene, and normal mice. We demonstrate for the first time that the levels of hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) and the hydroxyl radical ((.)OH) are significantly higher, and the level of the superoxide anion (O(2)(.-)) is significantly lower in ALS mutant mice than in controls, supporting by in vivo evidence the hypothesis that the mutant enzyme catalyzes (.)OH formation by the sequence: O(2)(.-) --> H(2)O(2) --> (.)OH. This removes doubts regarding the relevance of elevated ROS in FALS raised by in vitro experiments. The levels of oxidation products are also significantly higher in the mutant mice than in controls, consistent with some previous reports. Only the superoxide concentration differs between two controls among all the measurements. Our findings correlate in vivo a gene mutation to both elevated H(2)O(2) and (.)OH and increased oxidation of cellular constituents. The elevated H(2)O(2) in mutant mice indicates impairment of its detoxification pathways, perhaps by changed interactions between SOD1 and H(2)O(2) detoxification enzymes.-Liu, D., Wen, J., Liu, J., Li, L. The roles of free radicals in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: reactive oxygen species and elevated oxidation of protein, DNA, and membrane phospholipids.

PMID: 10593879 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

1: J Neurol Sci 2000 Sep 1;178(1):57-62

Blood oxidative stress in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Bonnefont-Rousselot D, Lacomblez L, Jaudon M, Lepage S, Salachas F, Bensimon G, Bizard C, Doppler V, Delattre J, Meininger V.

Biochemistry Laboratory, Hopital de la Salpetriere, 47 boulevard de l'Hopital, 75651 Cedex 13, Paris, France. Diese E-Mail-Adresse ist vor Spambots geschützt! Zur Anzeige muss JavaScript eingeschaltet sein!

It has been suggested that amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a neurodegenerative disorder resulting in motor neuron death, is associated with oxidative damage induced by free radicals. Our study aimed to get an assessment of the blood oxidative stress status in a population of 167 ALS patients (aged 59+/-13 years), treated or not with riluzole, compared with 62 age-matched healthy control subjects (aged 60+/-11 years) simultaneously included in the study. We determined the level of plasma lipid peroxidation (thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances, TBARS); the status of the major lipophilic plasma antioxidant defenses (vitamin E, vitamin A and beta-carotene); the activities of erythrocyte Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase (Cu,Zn-SOD) and of plasma and erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px). Plasma selenium was also determined as a trace element essential to the activity of the GSH-Px. In comparison with controls, we observed in ALS patients (mean+/-S.D.) significantly higher TBARS values (ALS=1.34+/-0.28 micromol/l; controls=1.11+/-0. 20 micromol/l) and a significant enhancement of the erythrocyte SOD activity (ALS=710+/-114 U/g Hb; controls=667+/-93 U/g Hb). No differences were observed for selenium level, GSH-Px activity, plasma vitamin E, beta-carotene and vitamin A concentrations. These data confirm the presence of an oxidative stress in blood of ALS patients. The elevated plasma TBARS, without any deficiency in plasma lipophilic antioxidants such as vitamin E, vitamin A and beta-carotene, suggest an enhancement in the production of free radicals. No correlation was found in our study between the level of any of the blood oxidative stress markers and the disease duration. Comparison between patients treated or not with riluzole did not display any modification of the plasma TBARS concentration, but we observed a slight decrease of erythrocyte SOD activity in treated patients (treated=705+/-113 U/g Hb; not treated=725+/-118 U/g Hb), suggesting a possible activity of riluzole on the oxygenated free radical production.

Publication Types: Clinical Trial

PMID: 11018250 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

1: Biochim Biophys Acta 2000 Dec 15;1524(2-3):162-70

Enhanced oxidative damage by the familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis-associated Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase mutants.

Kang JH, Eum WS.

Department of Genetic Engineering, Division of Natural Sciences, Chongju University, 360-764, Chongju, South Korea. Diese E-Mail-Adresse ist vor Spambots geschützt! Zur Anzeige muss JavaScript eingeschaltet sein!

Some cases of familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (FALS), a degenerative disorder of motor neurons, is associated with mutation in the Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase (SOD) gene SOD1. The purified FALS mutant and wild-type Cu,Zn-SODs expressed in Escherichia coli cells have identical dismutation activity whereas the hydroxyl radical formation of FALS mutants was enhanced relative to that of the wild-type enzyme. These higher free radical-generating activities of mutants facilitated the release of copper ions from their own molecules. The reaction of the mutants with hydrogen peroxide enhanced DNA strand breaks and lipid peroxidation. The results suggested that the enhanced oxidative damage of macromolecules is mediated in the Cu,Zn-SOD mutants and hydrogen peroxide system via the generation of hydroxyl radicals by a combination of the higher free radical-generating activities of mutants and a Fenton-like reaction of copper ions released from oxidatively damaged Cu,Zn-SODs. Carnosine has been proposed to act as antioxidant in vivo. We investigated whether carnosine could protect the oxidative damage induced by FALS mutants. Carnosine effectively inhibited the DNA cleavage and lipid peroxidation. These results suggest that the higher free radical-generating function of FALS mutants can lead to increased oxidative damage of macromolecules which further implicates free radical-mediated motor neuronal injury in the pathogenesis of FALS and carnosine may be explored as potential therapeutic agents for FALS patients.

PMID: 11113563 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

1: J Neurol Sci 2001 Oct 15;191(1-2):139-44

Effects of creatine supplementation on exercise performance and muscular strength in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: preliminary results.

Mazzini L, Balzarini C, Colombo R, Mora G, Pastore I, De Ambrogio R, Caligari M.

Department of Neurology, San Giovanni Bosco Hospital, Largo Donatore di sangue 3, 10154, Torino, Italy

Creatine supplementation in humans has been reported to enhance power and strength both in normal subjects and in patients with various neuromuscular diseases. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of supplementation on exercise performance and maximal voluntary isometric muscular contraction (MVIC) in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) patients.We report the results obtained in 28 patients with probable/definite ALS. In each patient we acquired the dynamometric measurement of MVIC in 10 muscle groups of upper and lower limbs and a measure of fatigue by means of an high-intensity intermittent protocol in elbow flexors and knee extensors muscles. All patients completed the protocols at the baseline and after supplementation of 20 g per day for 7 days and after supplementation of 3 g per day for 3 and 6 months. MVIC increased after 7 days of supplementation in 20 patients (70%) in knee extensors and in 15 (53%) of them also in elbow flexors. A statistically significant difference between pre and post-treatment mean values of MVIC was found both in elbow flexors (P<0.05) and knee extensors (p<0.04). The analysis of the slopes of fatigue test showed a statistically significant improvement after 7 days of supplementation in 11 patients (39%) in elbow flexors and in 9 patients (32%) also in knee extensors muscles. During the 6-month follow-up period all the examined parameters showed a linear progressive decline.In conclusion, our preliminary results have demonstrated that supplementation temporary increases maximal isometric power in ALS patients so it may be of potential benefit in situations such as high intensity activity and it can be proposed as a symptomatic treatment.

PMID: 11677005 [PubMed - in process]

1: Amyotroph Lateral Scler Other Motor Neuron Disord 2000 Dec;1 Suppl 4:17-20

Creatine and coenzyme Q10 in the treatment of ALS.

Strong MJ, Pattee GL.

University Campus, LHSC, 339 Windermere Road, London, Ontario, Canada, N6A 5A5. Diese E-Mail-Adresse ist vor Spambots geschützt! Zur Anzeige muss JavaScript eingeschaltet sein!

Publication Types: Review Review Literature

PMID: 11466954 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

1: Amyotroph Lateral Scler Other Motor Neuron Disord 2000 Dec;1 Suppl 4:5-12; discussion 13-5

Antioxidant therapy in ALS.

Pioro EP.

Center for ALS and Related Disorders, Section of Neuromuscular Diseases and EMG, Department of Neurology, S90, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA. Diese E-Mail-Adresse ist vor Spambots geschützt! Zur Anzeige muss JavaScript eingeschaltet sein!

Publication Types: Review Review Literature

PMID: 11466960 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

1: Ann N Y Acad Sci 2001 Jun;939:366-80

Methamphetamine-induced dopaminergic neurotoxicity: role of peroxynitrite and neuroprotective role of antioxidants and peroxynitrite decomposition catalysts.

Imam SZ, el-Yazal J, Newport GD, Itzhak Y, Cadet JL, Slikker W Jr, Ali SF.

Neurochemistry Laboratory Division of Neurotoxicology, HFT-132, National Center for Toxicological Research/FDA, 3900 NCTR Rd., Jefferson, AR 72079, USA.

Oxidative stress, reactive oxygen (ROS), and nitrogen (RNS) species have been known to be involved in a multitude of neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson's disease (PD), Alzheimer's disease (AD), and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Both ROS and RNS have very short half-lives, thereby making their identification very difficult as a specific cause of neurodegeneration. Recently, we have developed a high performance liquid chromatography/electrochemical detection (HPLC/EC) method to identify 3-nitrotyrosine (3-NT), an in vitro and in vivo biomarker of peroxynitrite production, in cell cultures and brain to evaluate if an agent-driven neurotoxicity is produced by the generation of peroxynitrite. We show that a single or multiple injections of methamphetamine (METH) produced a significant increase in the formation of 3-NT in the striatum. This formation of 3-NT correlated with the striatal dopamine depletion caused by METH administration. We also show that PC12 cells treated with METH has significantly increased formation of 3-NT and dopamine depletion. Furthermore, we report that pretreatment with antioxidants such as selenium and melatonin can completely protect against the formation of 3-NT and depletion of striatal dopamine. We also report that pretreatment with peroxynitrite decomposition catalysts such as 5, 10,15,20-tetrakis(N-methyl-4'-pyridyl)porphyrinato iron III (FeTMPyP) and 5, 10, 15, 20-tetrakis (2,4,6-trimethyl-3,5-sulfonatophenyl) porphinato iron III (FETPPS) significantly protect against METH-induced 3-NT formation and striatal dopamine depletion. We used two different approaches, pharmacological manipulation and transgenic animal models, in order to further investigate the role of peroxynitrite. We show that a selective neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) inhibitor, 7-nitroindazole (7-NI), significantly protect against the formation of 3-NT as well as striatal dopamine depletion. Similar results were observed with nNOS knockout and copper zinc superoxide dismutase (CuZnSOD)-overexpressed transgenic mice models. Finally, using the protein data bank crystal structure of tyrosine hydroxylase, we postulate the possible nitration of specific tyrosine moiety in the enzyme that can be responsible for dopaminergic neurotoxicity. Together, these data clearly support the hypothesis that the reactive nitrogen species, peroxynitrite, plays a major role in METH-induced dopaminergic neurotoxicity and that selective antioxidants and peroxynitrite decomposition catalysts can protect against METH-induced neurotoxicity. These antioxidants and decomposition catalysts may have therapeutic potential in the treatment of psychostimulant addictions.

Publication Types: Review Review Literature

PMID: 11462792 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

1: Neurosci Lett 2001 May 25;304(3):157-60

Synthetic superoxide dismutase/catalase mimetics reduce oxidative stress and prolong survival in a mouse amyotrophic lateral sclerosis model.

Jung C, Rong Y, Doctrow S, Baudry M, Malfroy B, Xu Z.

Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 55 Lake Ave North, 01655, Worcester, MA, USA

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disorder that causes motoneuron degeneration, paralysis and death. Mutations in Cu, Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD1) are one cause of this disease. It is widely suspected that increased reactive oxidative species (ROS) is involved in motoneuron degeneration but whether such an involvement plays a role in ALS progression in vivo is uncertain. We treated mice expressing human mutant SOD1 G93A with EUK-8 and EUK-134, two synthetic SOD/catalase mimetics that have shown efficacy in several animal models of human diseases. These treatments reduced levels of oxidative stress and prolonged survival. The results suggest that oxidative stress plays an active role in ALS and illustrate the potential for treatment strategies aimed specifically against ROS.

PMID: 11343826 [PubMed - in process]

1: Cell Mol Life Sci 1999 Nov 15;56(7-8):626-33

Diagnostic and therapeutic applications of azulenyl nitrone spin traps.

Becker DA.

Department of Chemistry, Florida International University, University Park Miami, 33199, USA. Diese E-Mail-Adresse ist vor Spambots geschützt! Zur Anzeige muss JavaScript eingeschaltet sein!

Azulenyl nitrones have been recently demonstrated to constitute a new class of nitrone-based spin traps with the unprecedented capacity to tag free radicals by yielding characteristically colored and highly visible diamagnetic (and paramagnetic) spin adducts. In addition, a comparison of the oxidation potentials of azulenyl nitrones such as 1 and congeners to those of conventional nitrone spin traps previously investigated as potential antioxidant therapeutics such as N-tert-butyl-alpha-phenylnitrone and its related ortho-sodium sulfonate reveals that the azulene-derived spin traps are far more readily oxidized. These special features render azulenyl nitrones of interest with regard to both their distinct ability to engender the convenient use of colorimetric detection to monitor free radical-mediated oxidative stress in biological systems, and to their potentially enhanced efficacy as neuroprotective antioxidants vs. those conventional nitrone spin traps earlier examined as such. Herein is reported an overview of recent developments pertaining to the use of azulenyl nitrones in the detection of oxidative stress in animal models of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and stroke, and to their neuroprotective activity in animal models of Parkinson's disease, stroke and neurodegeneration within the retina.

Publication Types: Review Review, tutorial

PMID: 11212310 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

1: Trends Biochem Sci 2000 Oct;25(10):502-8

Mitochondria, oxygen free radicals, disease and ageing.

Raha S, Robinson BH.

Metabolism Research Programme, The Research Institute, The Hospital for Sick Children, 555 University Ave., M5G 1X8, Toronto, Canada.

Superoxide is generated by the mitochondrial respiratory chain. The transformation of this superoxide into hydrogen peroxide and, under certain conditions, then into hydroxyl radicals is important in diseases where respiratory chain function is abnormal or where superoxide dismutase function is altered, as in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. In addition, these reactive oxygen species can influence the ageing process through mechanisms involving mutagenesis of mtDNA or increased rates of shortening of telomeric DNA.

Publication Types: Review Review, tutorial

PMID: 11050436 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

1: J Neurol Sci 2000 Sep 1;178(1):57-62

Blood oxidative stress in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Bonnefont-Rousselot D, Lacomblez L, Jaudon M, Lepage S, Salachas F, Bensimon G, Bizard C, Doppler V, Delattre J, Meininger V.

Biochemistry Laboratory, Hopital de la Salpetriere, 47 boulevard de l'Hopital, 75651 Cedex 13, Paris, France. Diese E-Mail-Adresse ist vor Spambots geschützt! Zur Anzeige muss JavaScript eingeschaltet sein!

It has been suggested that amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a neurodegenerative disorder resulting in motor neuron death, is associated with oxidative damage induced by free radicals. Our study aimed to get an assessment of the blood oxidative stress status in a population of 167 ALS patients (aged 59+/-13 years), treated or not with riluzole, compared with 62 age-matched healthy control subjects (aged 60+/-11 years) simultaneously included in the study. We determined the level of plasma lipid peroxidation (thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances, TBARS); the status of the major lipophilic plasma antioxidant defenses (vitamin E, vitamin A and beta-carotene); the activities of erythrocyte Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase (Cu,Zn-SOD) and of plasma and erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px). Plasma selenium was also determined as a trace element essential to the activity of the GSH-Px. In comparison with controls, we observed in ALS patients (mean+/-S.D.) significantly higher TBARS values (ALS=1.34+/-0.28 micromol/l; controls=1.11+/-0. 20 micromol/l) and a significant enhancement of the erythrocyte SOD activity (ALS=710+/-114 U/g Hb; controls=667+/-93 U/g Hb). No differences were observed for selenium level, GSH-Px activity, plasma vitamin E, beta-carotene and vitamin A concentrations. These data confirm the presence of an oxidative stress in blood of ALS patients. The elevated plasma TBARS, without any deficiency in plasma lipophilic antioxidants such as vitamin E, vitamin A and beta-carotene, suggest an enhancement in the production of free radicals. No correlation was found in our study between the level of any of the blood oxidative stress markers and the disease duration. Comparison between patients treated or not with riluzole did not display any modification of the plasma TBARS concentration, but we observed a slight decrease of erythrocyte SOD activity in treated patients (treated=705+/-113 U/g Hb; not treated=725+/-118 U/g Hb), suggesting a possible activity of riluzole on the oxygenated free radical production.

Publication Types: Clinical trial

PMID: 11018250 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

1: Biochem Biophys Res Commun 1980 Feb 27;92(4):1202-7

Adrenomyeloneuropathy: increased accumulation of very long chain fatty acid in cultured skeletal muscle.

McLaughlin J, Askanas V, Engel WK.

PMID: 6245648 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

1: Annu Rev Pharmacol Toxicol 1996;36:83-106

Oxidative stress in neurodegenerative diseases.

Simonian NA, Coyle JT.

Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, USA.

Oxidative stress refers to the cytopathologic consequences of a mismatch between the production of free radicals and the ability of the cell to defend against them. Growing data from experimental models and human brain studies suggest oxidative stress may play an important role in neuronal degeneration in diseases such as Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Mitochondrial oxidative metabolism, nitric oxide, phospholipid metabolism, and proteolytic pathways are potential sources of intracellular free radicals. Alterations in free radical defense systems may also contribute to oxidative stress. A net increase in reactive oxygen species can produce damage to lipids, proteins, and DNA and induce necrosis or apoptosis. Elucidating the pathways important in the production of and defense from free radicals may be important in devising new pharmacologic strategies to slow or halt neuronal degeneration.

Publication Types: Review Review, tutorial

PMID: 8725383 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

1: Neurology 1996 Dec;47(6):1383-8

Placebo-controlled trial of gabapentin in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. WALS Study Group. Western Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Study Group.

Miller RG, Moore D, Young LA, Armon C, Barohn RJ, Bromberg MB, Bryan WW, Gelinas DF, Mendoza MC, Neville HE, Parry GJ, Petajan JH, Ravits JM, Ringel SP, Ross MA.

Department of Neurology, California Pacific Medical Center, San Francisco 94115, USA.

We designed a phase II trial to evaluate the efficacy of gabapentin in slowing the rate of decline in muscle strength of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and to assess safety and tolerability. Gabapentin (800 mg) or placebo was administered t.i.d. in a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, trial for 6 months. We enrolled 152 patients at eight sites in the United States. The primary outcome measure was the slope of the arm megascore, the average maximum voluntary isometric strength from eight arm muscles standardized against a reference ALS population. A secondary outcome measure was forced vital capacity. Slopes of arm megascores for patients on gabapentin were compared with slopes of those taking placebo using a two-way ANOVA. We observed a nonstatistically significant trend (p = 0.057-0.08) toward slower decline of arm strength in patients taking gabapentin compared with those taking placebo (mean difference 24%, median 37%). We observed no treatment effect on forced vital capacity. Gabapentin was well tolerated by patients with ALS. These results suggest that further studies of gabapentin in ALS are warranted.

Publication Types: Clinical trial Randomized controlled trial

PMID: 8960715 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

1: Mol Pharmacol 1997 Jul;52(1):6-15

High affinity glutamate transporters: regulation of expression and activity.

Gegelashvili G, Schousboe A.

PharmaBiotec Research Center, Department of Biological Sciences, Royal Danish School of Pharmacy, Copenhagen.

L-Glutamic acid is a major excitatory neurotransmitter in the mammalian central nervous system. The termination of the glutamatergic transmission and the clearance of the excessive, neurotoxic concentrations of glutamate is ensured by a high affinity glutamate uptake system. Four homologous types of Na/K-dependent high affinity glutamate transporters, glutamate/aspartate transporter, glutamate transporter 1, excitatory amino acid carrier 1, and excitatory amino acid transporter 4, have recently been cloned and were assigned to a separate gene family, together with two neutral amino acid carriers, alanine/serine/cysteine transporter 1/serine/alanine/threonine transporter and adipocyte amino acid transporter. The genomic organization of these transporters is still under investigation. Very little is known about the nature of the factors and molecular mechanisms that regulate developmental, regional, and cell type-specific expression of the glutamate transporters and their aberrant functioning in neurodegenerative diseases (e.g., amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and Alzheimer's disease). Some experimental conditions (e.g., ischemia, corticostriatal lesions, hyperosmolarity, culturing conditions) and several naturally occurring and synthetic compounds (e.g., glutamate receptor agonists, dopamine, alpha1- and beta-adrenergic agonists, cAMP, phorbol esters, arachidonic acid, nitric oxide, oxygen free radicals, amyloid beta-peptide, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, glucocorticosteroids, unidentified neuronal factors) affect the molecular expression and activity of glutamate transporters. Further elucidation of the molecular events that link epigenetic signals with transcriptional and post-transcriptional mechanisms (e.g., alternative splicing, translation and post-translational modifications) is crucial for the development of selective pharmacological tools and strategies interfering with the expression of the individual glutamate transporters.

Publication Types: Review Review, tutorial

PMID: 9224806 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

1: J Neurol Sci 1998 Oct;160 Suppl 1:S57-63

The natural history and the effects of gabapentin in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Mazzini L, Mora G, Balzarini C, Brigatti M, Pirali I, Comazzi F, Pastore E.

Fondazione Salvatore Maugeri, Institute of Care and Research (IRCCS), Medical Centre of Rehabilitation, Veruno (No), Italy.

Glutamate excitotoxicity seems to play an important role in the aetiopathogenesis and progression of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). Gabapentin is a modulator of the glutamatergic system and has been shown to prolong survival in the transgenic model of familial ALS. It has also been demonstrated to slow the decline of arm strength in human sporadic cases. The aim of our study was to assess the effects of different dosages and duration of treatment of gabapentin on the natural history and survival of ALS patients. A total of 110 patients affected by definite ALS entered the study. After a 6-12 month period of observation, patients were randomly assigned to receive oral gabapentin 500 mg/day (Group A) or 1000 mg/day (Group B) for 6 months. In addition a group of patients received gabapentin 500 mg/day for 6 months and 1000 mg/day for a further 6 months (Group C). A group of 121 patients referred to our Institute, who received only symptomatic treatment, was considered as the control group (Group D). Each patient was seen at entry and every 3 months. All average slopes were negative but the comparison of all slopes showed a trend toward a slower rate of decline of muscle strength loss in all treated groups of patients compared with the control group. The differences were statistically significant. Analysis between the pretreatment and treatment period showed a statistically significant decrease of the decline of muscle strength and Norris score during the treatment period. Survival analysis showed a significantly longer survival in treated patients of Groups B and C. Our study suggests that gabapentin may be an effective drug for ALS; hence a controlled trial involving a sufficient large number of patients is warranted.

Publication Types: Clinical trial Randomized controlled trial

PMID: 9851651 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

1: Muscle Nerve 1998 Dec;21(12):1775-8

Effect of ultrahigh-dose methylcobalamin on compound muscle action potentials in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: a double-blind controlled study.

Kaji R, Kodama M, Imamura A, Hashida T, Kohara N, Ishizu M, Inui K, Kimura J

Department of Neurology, Kyoto University School of Medicine, Japan.

To develop a symptomatic treatment for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, we compared the effects of ultrahigh-dose and low-dose (25 and 0.5 mg/day, intramuscularly, for 14 days) methylcobalamin on averaged compound muscle action potential amplitudes (CMAPs) in a double-blind trial. No significant changes in CMAP amplitude were found in 12 patients who had the low-dose treatment at either 2 or 4 weeks after start of treatment. By contrast, 12 patients assigned to the ultrahigh-dose group demonstrated a significant increase at 4 weeks. This method may provide a clinically useful measure to improve or retard muscle wasting, if a larger extended trial fulfills its promise.

Publication Types: Clinical trial Randomized controlled trial

PMID: 9843082

1: J Neurosci Res 1998 Dec 15;54(6):778-86

Oxidant treatment causes a dose-dependent phenotype of apoptosis in cultured motoneurons.

Kaal EC, Veldman H, Sodaar P, Joosten EA, Dop Bar PR

Department of Neurology, Utrecht University, The Netherlands.

Evidence is growing that reactive oxygen species (ROS), by-products of (normal) cellular aerobic metabolism, are involved in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases. One of these diseases is amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), in which motoneurons die, leading to paralysis and death. It remains uncertain whether ROS are the cause of (apoptotic) motoneuron death in ALS. To further understand the role of ROS in motoneuron death, we investigated the effects of ROS on isolated spinal rat motoneurons in culture. ROS were generated with a combination of iron(III) and ascorbate, or with hydrogen peroxide. Both toxic treatments resulted in a dose-dependent motoneuron death. Iron(III)/ascorbate toxicity was completely prevented with the hydrogen peroxide detoxifying enzyme catalase and partially prevented with the antioxidant vitamin E. SOD1, the enzyme that removes superoxide, did not protect against iron(III)/ascorbate toxicity. ROS treatment caused apoptotic motoneuron death: low doses of iron(III)/ ascorbate or hydrogen peroxide resulted in complete apoptosis ending in nuclear fragmentation, while high doses of ROS resulted in incomplete apoptosis (nuclear condensation). Thus, depending on the dose of ROS, the motoneurons complete the apoptotic pathway (low dose) or are stopped somewhere during this route (high dose).

PMID: 9856861