Anatomy and Neuroscience - Research Publications

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    Psychometric deficits in autoimmune encephalitis: A retrospective study from the Australian Autoimmune Encephalitis Consortium
    Griffith, S ; Wesselingh, R ; Broadley, J ; O'Shea, M ; Kyndt, C ; Meade, C ; Long, B ; Seneviratne, U ; Reidy, N ; Bourke, R ; Buzzard, K ; D'Souza, W ; Macdonell, R ; Brodtmann, A ; Butzkueven, H ; O'Brien, TJ ; Alpitsis, R ; Malpas, CB ; Monif, M (WILEY, 2022-08)
    BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Despite the rapid increase in research examining outcomes in autoimmune encephalitis (AE) patients, there are few cohort studies examining cognitive outcomes in this population. The current study aimed to characterise psychometric outcomes in this population, and explore variables that may predict psychometric outcomes. METHODS: This retrospective observational study collected psychometric data from 59 patients across six secondary and tertiary referral centres in metropolitan hospitals in Victoria, Australia between January 2008 and July 2019. Frequency and pattern analysis were employed to define and characterize psychometric outcomes. Univariable logistic regression was performed to examine predictors of intact and pathological psychometric outcomes. RESULTS: Deficits in psychometric markers of executive dysfunction were the most common finding in this cohort, followed by deficits on tasks sensitive to memory. A total of 54.2% of patients were classified as having psychometric impairments across at least two cognitive domains. Twenty-nine patterns were observed, suggesting outcomes in AE are complex. None of the demographic data, clinical features or auxiliary examination variables were predictors of psychometric outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Cognitive outcomes in AE are complex. Further detailed and standardized cognitive testing, in combination with magnetic resonance imaging volumetrics and serum/cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers, is required to provide rigorous assessments of disease outcomes.
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    Monoclonal antibodies in the treatment of multiple sclerosis: emergence of B-cell-targeted therapies
    Ai-Lan, N ; Gresle, M ; Marshall, T ; Butzkueven, H ; Field, J (WILEY, 2017-07)
    Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the CNS, and one of the most common causes of disability in young adults. Over the last decade, new disease-modifying therapies have emerged, including monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) that provide highly targeted therapies with greater efficacy than platform therapies. In particular, monoclonal antibodies directed against CD20-positive B cells have shown remarkable results in recent clinical trials and renewed interest in the mechanism of B cell-depleting therapies to ameliorate relapse activity and progression in MS. Here, we review the mechanisms of action and clinical evidence of approved and emerging mAbs, with a focus on B cell-targeted therapies.
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    Seizures in autoimmune encephalitis: Kindling the fire
    Wesselingh, R ; Butzkueven, H ; Buzzard, K ; Tarlinton, D ; O'Brien, TJ ; Monif, M (WILEY, 2020-06)
    Epilepsy is a common neurological disorder that increases the risk of morbidity and mortality. Autoimmune epilepsy is a subset of epilepsy that occurs in the setting of autoimmunity, such as in autoimmune encephalitis (AIE). AIE is an autoimmune disorder characterized by immune-mediated neuroinflammation resulting in a variety of neurological symptoms, including psychiatric disturbance, cognitive dysfunction, and seizures. Seizures in AIE are thought to be a result of antibodies directed against neuronal cell-surface proteins involved in synaptic transmission. The role of blood-brain barrier dysfunction, myeloid cell infiltration, and the initiation of proinflammatory cascades in epileptogenesis has been shown to be important in animal models and human patients with epilepsy. Epileptogenesis in AIE is likely to arise from the synergistic effect of both innately driven neuroinflammation and antibody-induced hyperexcitability. Together, these processes produce persistent drug-resistant seizures that contribute to the morbidity seen in AIE. Understanding the proinflammatory pathways involved in this process may improve diagnostics and provide alternative treatment targets in AIE.
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    Patient Preferences for Time and Location of Infusible Therapies in Multiple Sclerosis and Neuroimmunologic Disorders.
    Rath, L ; Campagna, MP ; Stankovich, J ; Ellis, J ; Jokubaitis, V ; McCarthy, D ; Nesbitt, C ; Yeh, WZ ; Zhong, M ; Wesselingh, R ; Monif, M ; Richards, J ; Minh, VB ; Skibina, O ; Butzkueven, H ; van der Walt, A (Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers, 2021)
    BACKGROUND: People with multiple sclerosis and neuroimmunologic disorders (herein referred to as patients) are increasingly treated with infusible monoclonal antibodies. This rise in demand has placed increased loads on current infusion services and mandates careful strategic planning. This study examined patient preferences for the timing and location of infusions and their association with demographic and disease variables to facilitate patient-focused strategic planning. METHODS: Ninety-one patients receiving an infusible therapy at an infusion service during March 2019 were asked to complete a questionnaire exploring eight domains, including preferences for time of infusions and location of infusion centers. Potential access to home-based treatment was included as an option. Unstructured (free-text) feedback on current service was also obtained. RESULTS: Eighty-three patients completed the survey (mean age, 42 years; 75% women). Infusions were predominantly natalizumab (66%) and ocrelizumab (25%). Of these patients, 71% were engaged in some form of work or study, and 83% of this group had to arrange time off from work or study to attend treatment. Seventy percent of patients would prefer their infusion before noon, and 60% would consider home-based infusions. Most used a car as their transport to the infusion service. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that patients are more likely to prefer infusible treatment in the morning and are open to home-based infusions. This study provides information for health services to target service delivery at peak preference times and consider alternate ways of delivering infusible treatments.
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    Fast and safe: Optimising multiple sclerosis infusions during COVID-19 pandemic
    Rath, L ; Bui, MV ; Ellis, J ; Carey, J ; Baker, J ; Taylor, L ; Fernando, H ; Taylor, N ; Savage, P ; Richards, J ; Zhong, M ; Kalincik, T ; Skibina, O ; Wesselingh, R ; Nguyen, A-L ; Monif, M ; Butzkueven, H ; van der Walt, A (ELSEVIER SCI LTD, 2021-01)
    BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic challenges multiple sclerosis services to be innovative in delivering infusible therapies. To reduce time in clinical settings, and potential staff or space losses, we implemented rapid infusion protocols for selected patients. OBJECTIVE: To analyse the rate of infusion related reactions and patient experience of rapid infusions of natalizumab and ocrelizumab. To document time reduction patients spent in clinical settings during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: Patients with prior exposure to at least three natalizumab or two 300mg ocrelizumab infusions were approved for rapid protocols. A retrospective audit and survey were completed. RESULTS: We analysed 269 rapid natalizumab infusions and 100 rapid ocrelizumab infusions. Infusion related reactions during the natalizumab or ocrelizumab infusions occurred in two patients (1.52%) and eight patients (8%), respectively. All infusion related reactions were mild to moderate and did not require infusion discontinuation. No infusion reactions occurred during the post-infusion observation. Patient experience was positive. CONCLUSION: Frequency or severity of infusion related reactions in rapid infusions were no different compared to published data. In the setting of COVID-19, pandemic rapid infusion protocols could potentially save hospital resources and limit patient exposure to a high-risk clinical setting while still maintaining ongoing treatment of multiple sclerosis.
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    Fine-Mapping the Genetic Association of the Major Histocompatibility Complex in Multiple Sclerosis: HLA and Non-HLA Effects
    Patsopoulos, NA ; Barcellos, LF ; Hintzen, RQ ; Schaefer, C ; Van Duijn, CM ; Noble, JA ; Raj, T ; Gourraud, P-A ; Stranger, BE ; Oksenberg, J ; Olsson, T ; Taylor, BV ; Sawcer, S ; Hafler, DA ; Carrington, M ; De Jager, PL ; De Bakker, PIW ; Gibson, G (PUBLIC LIBRARY SCIENCE, 2013-11)
    The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) region is strongly associated with multiple sclerosis (MS) susceptibility. HLA-DRB1*15:01 has the strongest effect, and several other alleles have been reported at different levels of validation. Using SNP data from genome-wide studies, we imputed and tested classical alleles and amino acid polymorphisms in 8 classical human leukocyte antigen (HLA) genes in 5,091 cases and 9,595 controls. We identified 11 statistically independent effects overall: 6 HLA-DRB1 and one DPB1 alleles in class II, one HLA-A and two B alleles in class I, and one signal in a region spanning from MICB to LST1. This genomic segment does not contain any HLA class I or II genes and provides robust evidence for the involvement of a non-HLA risk allele within the MHC. Interestingly, this region contains the TNF gene, the cognate ligand of the well-validated TNFRSF1A MS susceptibility gene. The classical HLA effects can be explained to some extent by polymorphic amino acid positions in the peptide-binding grooves. This study dissects the independent effects in the MHC, a critical region for MS susceptibility that harbors multiple risk alleles.
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    Identity-by-Descent Mapping to Detect Rare Variants Conferring Susceptibility to Multiple Sclerosis
    Lin, R ; Charlesworth, J ; Stankovich, J ; Perreau, VM ; Brown, MA ; Taylor, BV ; Toland, AE (PUBLIC LIBRARY SCIENCE, 2013-03-05)
    Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified around 60 common variants associated with multiple sclerosis (MS), but these loci only explain a fraction of the heritability of MS. Some missing heritability may be caused by rare variants that have been suggested to play an important role in the aetiology of complex diseases such as MS. However current genetic and statistical methods for detecting rare variants are expensive and time consuming. 'Population-based linkage analysis' (PBLA) or so called identity-by-descent (IBD) mapping is a novel way to detect rare variants in extant GWAS datasets. We employed BEAGLE fastIBD to search for rare MS variants utilising IBD mapping in a large GWAS dataset of 3,543 cases and 5,898 controls. We identified a genome-wide significant linkage signal on chromosome 19 (LOD = 4.65; p = 1.9×10(-6)). Network analysis of cases and controls sharing haplotypes on chromosome 19 further strengthened the association as there are more large networks of cases sharing haplotypes than controls. This linkage region includes a cluster of zinc finger genes of unknown function. Analysis of genome wide transcriptome data suggests that genes in this zinc finger cluster may be involved in very early developmental regulation of the CNS. Our study also indicates that BEAGLE fastIBD allowed identification of rare variants in large unrelated population with moderate computational intensity. Even with the development of whole-genome sequencing, IBD mapping still may be a promising way to narrow down the region of interest for sequencing priority.
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    MicroRNAs miR-17 and miR-20a Inhibit T Cell Activation Genes and Are Under-Expressed in MS Whole Blood
    Cox, MB ; Cairns, MJ ; Gandhi, KS ; Carroll, AP ; Moscovis, S ; Stewart, GJ ; Broadley, S ; Scott, RJ ; Booth, DR ; Lechner-Scott, J ; Jacobson, S (PUBLIC LIBRARY SCIENCE, 2010-08-11)
    It is well established that Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is an immune mediated disease. Little is known about what drives the differential control of the immune system in MS patients compared to unaffected individuals. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding nucleic acids that are involved in the control of gene expression. Their potential role in T cell activation and neurodegenerative disease has recently been recognised and they are therefore excellent candidates for further studies in MS. We investigated the transcriptome of currently known miRNAs using miRNA microarray analysis in peripheral blood samples of 59 treatment naïve MS patients and 37 controls. Of these 59, 18 had a primary progressive, 17 a secondary progressive and 24 a relapsing remitting disease course. In all MS subtypes miR-17 and miR-20a were significantly under-expressed in MS, confirmed by RT-PCR. We demonstrate that these miRNAs modulate T cell activation genes in a knock-in and knock-down T cell model. The same T cell activation genes are also up-regulated in MS whole blood mRNA, suggesting these miRNAs or their analogues may provide useful targets for new therapeutic approaches.
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    Modeling the cumulative genetic risk for multiple sclerosis from genome-wide association data
    Wang, JH ; Pappas, D ; De Jager, PL ; Pelletier, D ; de Bakker, PIW ; Kappos, L ; Polman, CH ; Chibnik, LB ; Hafler, DA ; Matthews, PM ; Hauser, SL ; Baranzini, SE ; Oksenberg, JR (BMC, 2011)
    BACKGROUND: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the most common cause of chronic neurologic disability beginning in early to middle adult life. Results from recent genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have substantially lengthened the list of disease loci and provide convincing evidence supporting a multifactorial and polygenic model of inheritance. Nevertheless, the knowledge of MS genetics remains incomplete, with many risk alleles still to be revealed. METHODS: We used a discovery GWAS dataset (8,844 samples, 2,124 cases and 6,720 controls) and a multi-step logistic regression protocol to identify novel genetic associations. The emerging genetic profile included 350 independent markers and was used to calculate and estimate the cumulative genetic risk in an independent validation dataset (3,606 samples). Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was implemented to compare clinical characteristics of individuals with various degrees of genetic risk. Gene ontology and pathway enrichment analysis was done using the DAVID functional annotation tool, the GO Tree Machine, and the Pathway-Express profiling tool. RESULTS: In the discovery dataset, the median cumulative genetic risk (P-Hat) was 0.903 and 0.007 in the case and control groups, respectively, together with 79.9% classification sensitivity and 95.8% specificity. The identified profile shows a significant enrichment of genes involved in the immune response, cell adhesion, cell communication/signaling, nervous system development, and neuronal signaling, including ionotropic glutamate receptors, which have been implicated in the pathological mechanism driving neurodegeneration. In the validation dataset, the median cumulative genetic risk was 0.59 and 0.32 in the case and control groups, respectively, with classification sensitivity 62.3% and specificity 75.9%. No differences in disease progression or T2-lesion volumes were observed among four levels of predicted genetic risk groups (high, medium, low, misclassified). On the other hand, a significant difference (F = 2.75, P = 0.04) was detected for age of disease onset between the affected misclassified as controls (mean = 36 years) and the other three groups (high, 33.5 years; medium, 33.4 years; low, 33.1 years). CONCLUSIONS: The results are consistent with the polygenic model of inheritance. The cumulative genetic risk established using currently available genome-wide association data provides important insights into disease heterogeneity and completeness of current knowledge in MS genetics.
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    A Transcription Factor Map as Revealed by a Genome-Wide Gene Expression Analysis of Whole-Blood mRNA Transcriptome in Multiple Sclerosis
    Riveros, C ; Mellor, D ; Gandhi, KS ; McKay, FC ; Cox, MB ; Berretta, R ; Vaezpour, SY ; Inostroza-Ponta, M ; Broadley, SA ; Heard, RN ; Vucic, S ; Stewart, GJ ; Williams, DW ; Scott, RJ ; Lechner-Scott, J ; Booth, DR ; Moscato, P ; Rattray, M (PUBLIC LIBRARY SCIENCE, 2010-12-01)
    BACKGROUND: Several lines of evidence suggest that transcription factors are involved in the pathogenesis of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) but complete mapping of the whole network has been elusive. One of the reasons is that there are several clinical subtypes of MS and transcription factors that may be involved in one subtype may not be in others. We investigate the possibility that this network could be mapped using microarray technologies and contemporary bioinformatics methods on a dataset derived from whole blood in 99 untreated MS patients (36 Relapse Remitting MS, 43 Primary Progressive MS, and 20 Secondary Progressive MS) and 45 age-matched healthy controls. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We have used two different analytical methodologies: a non-standard differential expression analysis and a differential co-expression analysis, which have converged on a significant number of regulatory motifs that are statistically overrepresented in genes that are either differentially expressed (or differentially co-expressed) in cases and controls (e.g., V$KROX_Q6, p-value <3.31E-6; V$CREBP1_Q2, p-value <9.93E-6, V$YY1_02, p-value <1.65E-5). CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Our analysis uncovered a network of transcription factors that potentially dysregulate several genes in MS or one or more of its disease subtypes. The most significant transcription factor motifs were for the Early Growth Response EGR/KROX family, ATF2, YY1 (Yin and Yang 1), E2F-1/DP-1 and E2F-4/DP-2 heterodimers, SOX5, and CREB and ATF families. These transcription factors are involved in early T-lymphocyte specification and commitment as well as in oligodendrocyte dedifferentiation and development, both pathways that have significant biological plausibility in MS causation.