Asta Literature Retrieval: Pathophysiology and clinical mechanisms of Arts syndrome. Core disease mechanisms, molecular and cellular pathways, i...
This report is retrieval-only and is generated directly from Asta results.
- Papers retrieved: 19
- Snippets retrieved: 20
Relevant Papers
[1] New therapeutic targets in rare genetic skeletal diseases
- Authors: M. Briggs, Peter A. Bell, M. Wright, K. A. Pirog
- Year: 2015
- Venue: Expert Opinion on Orphan Drugs
- URL: https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/1363107f71ae6d2d60abca471cddf3da5d13644b
- DOI: 10.1517/21678707.2015.1083853
- PMID: 26635999
- PMCID: 4643203
- Citations: 37
- Influential citations: 1
- Summary: An overview of disease mechanisms that are shared amongst groups of different GSDs and potential therapeutic approaches that are under investigation are described to generate critical mass for the identification and validation of novel therapeutic targets and biomarkers.
- Evidence snippets:
- Snippet 1 (score: 0.398) > proteins of the cartilage ECM such as type II collagen [50]. However, emerging knowledge suggests that the primary genetic defect may be less important than the cells' response to the expression of the mutant gene product [107]. Moreover, the largely overlooked response of a cell (i.e. chondrocyte) to the abnormal extracellular environment is also important for disease progression as illustrated by several GSDs discussed in this review. > It is important that 'omics'-based approaches and technologies are systematically applied to the study of rare GSDs so that definitive reference profiles and disease signatures are generated for each phenotype. These can then be used in a Systems Biology approach to identify both common and dissimilar pathological signatures and disease mechanisms. This approach is entirely dependent upon relevant in vitro and in vivo models (and also novel 'disease-mechanism phenocopies' [107]) for testing new diagnostic and prognostic tools and for determining the molecular mechanisms that underpin the pathophysiology so that effective therapeutic treatments can be developed and validated. This approach will eventually lead to personalized treatments and care strategies centred on shared disease mechanisms with the use of relevant biomarkers to monitor the efficacy of treatment and disease progression. > It is vital that all relevant stakeholders are involved from the outset in defining the appropriate outcomes of any potential therapeutic regime. The perceptions of a successful therapy can differ widely between the clinical academic community and the relevant patient-support groups and it is vital that there is engagement on all these issues. > In summary, the identification of causative genes and mutations for GSDs over the last 20 years, coupled with the generation and in-depth analysis of a plethora of relevant cell and mouse models, has derived new knowledge on disease mechanisms and suggested potential therapeutic targets. The fast-evolving hypothesis that clinically disparate diseases can share common disease mechanisms is a powerful concept that will generate critical mass for the identification and validation of novel therapeutic targets and biomarkers.
[2] 18O-assisted dynamic metabolomics for individualized diagnostics and treatment of human diseases
- Authors: E. Nemutlu, Song Zhang, N. Juranic, A. Terzic, S. Macura et al.
- Year: 2012
- Venue: Croatian Medical Journal
- URL: https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/880f053c7f060db4b990e447d0a22c4b69372ddb
- DOI: 10.3325/cmj.2012.53.529
- PMID: 23275318
- PMCID: 3541579
- Citations: 28
- Summary: The potential use of dynamic phosphometabolomic platform for disease diagnostics currently under development at Mayo Clinic is described and discussed briefly.
- Evidence snippets:
- Snippet 1 (score: 0.384) > Living cells represent an integrated and interacting network of genes, transcripts, proteins, small signaling molecules, and metabolites that define cellular phenotype and function. Traditionally the focus of biomedical research was on individual genes, single protein targets, single metabolites, and metabolic or signaling pathways. This "molecular reductionist" paradigm was based on the assumption that identifying genetic variations and molecular components would lead to discovery of cures for human diseases. However, most of diseases are complex and multi-factorial and the disease phenotype is determined by the alterations of multiple genes, pathways, proteins and metabolites (at cellular, tissue, and organismal levels). Therefore, an integrated "omics" approach is more viable direction for uncovering alterations in metabolic networks, disease mechanisms, and mechanisms of drug effects. > Recent advent of large-scale metabolomics and fluxomic (metabolite dynamics and metabolic flux analysis) completed the "omics revolution" (Figure 1), where genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, and fluxomics all together complement phenotype determination of living organism. Such integrated "omics" cascades provide a framework for advances in system and network biology, integrative physiology, and system medicine as well as system pharmacology and regenerative medicine. Noteworthy is the "reverse omic" approach or "metabolomicsinformed pharmacogenomics, " where discovery of specific metabolite changes have led to discovery of genetic alterations (2). Therefore, bringing new "omics" technologies to clinical practice will improve disease diagnostics and treatment by targeting drugs and procedures for each unique transcriptomic and metabolomic profiles.
[3] Modeling psychiatric disorders: from genomic findings to cellular phenotypes
- Authors: Anna Falk, Vivi M. Heine, A. Harwood, Patrick F. Sullivan, M. Peitz et al.
- Year: 2016
- Venue: Molecular Psychiatry
- URL: https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/235b41240d78140de7ab06a3ad8a7d0b1bdff1a5
- DOI: 10.1038/mp.2016.89
- PMID: 27240529
- PMCID: 4995546
- Citations: 77
- Influential citations: 2
- Summary: The challenges for modeling of psychiatric disorders, potential solutions and how iPSC technology can be used to develop an analytical framework for the evaluation and therapeutic manipulation of fundamental disease processes are critically reviewed.
- Evidence snippets:
- Snippet 1 (score: 0.376) > The key challenge for iPSC-based disease modeling is to identify one or more relevant cellular phenotypes that accurately represent the disease pathophysiology. Increasing numbers of reports have demonstrated that for many diseases specific pathophysiology can be captured in human iPSC-based disease models. These range from cardiovascular disease, 44,45 cancer, 46,47 ocular disease, 48,49 diabetes mellitus 50,51 and neurological disorders of the brain. 52,53 Can the same approach be applied to complex psychiatric disorders? > The problem is that almost all psychiatric disorders are characterized by clinical signs and symptoms, but lack independent verification from objective biomarkers. Thus, how might these clinical phenotypes manifest themselves in terms of cell behavior? The identity of robust cellular 'readouts', which typify any psychiatric disorder, is a crucial unsolved problem and an area of intense study 54 (Table 2). When satisfactorily answered, this will herald a new degree of biological objectivity and quantification for the study of psychiatric disorders. > The aim is to find a single or small number of cell phenotypes or parameters that strongly associate with psychiatric disorders, and establish a cellular profile characteristic of cells derived from the general patient population. Although a consensus set of cellular phenotypes for psychiatric disorder is yet to be established, we can define some of their desired characteristics. First, cellular phenotypes have to relate to the biological pathways identified by genetics. Second, although there are many risk genes in disparate biological pathways, at some level, phenotypes should converge onto a much smaller grouping. Third, phenotypes need to be quantifiable. Finally, to be useful for drug development cellular phenotypes should be reversed by pharmacological treatment, although not necessarily by drugs in current use. > Although human iPSC-based approaches underrepresent the complexity of the human central nervous system, cellular phenotypes are likely to lie more proximal to molecular disease mechanisms than phenotypes seen at the level of a tissue or organism, 55 and thus may bypass compensatory homeostatic (2) Gene expression profiles of SCZ human iPSC neurons identified altered expression of many components of the cyclic AMP and WNT signaling pathways. > (3
[4] Common immunopathogenesis of central nervous system diseases: the protein-homeostasis-system hypothesis
- Authors: Kyung-Yil Lee
- Year: 2022
- Venue: Cell & Bioscience
- URL: https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/2984270ae67451b93007040848d9694d19714c9f
- DOI: 10.1186/s13578-022-00920-5
- PMID: 36384812
- PMCID: 9668226
- Citations: 9
- Influential citations: 1
- Summary: This article proposes a common immunopathogenesis of CNS diseases, including prion diseases, Alzheimer’s disease, and genetic diseases, through the PHS hypothesis, which proposes that the immune systems in the host control those substances according to the size and biochemical properties of the substances.
- Evidence snippets:
- Snippet 1 (score: 0.372) > There are hundreds of genetic diseases of the CNS. The defective proteins in genetic disorders include structural proteins for neurotransmitter receptors and other receptors or ion channels on CNS cells, and proteins involved in enzymatic process, metabolism (transport), or signal transduction pathways in various communication systems [98]. Because a discussion of each genetic disease is beyond the scope of this review, only crucial points about the pathogenesis of genetic diseases are discussed. Singlegene defect diseases of the CNS can be caused by a defective product from a gene, i.e., a protein deficiency or a malfunctioning protein. In general, autosomal dominant genetic diseases are caused by structural protein defects, and autosomal recessive diseases are caused by defects in enzymatic proteins. However, certain genetic diseases that involve an enzymatic or multifunctional protein defect can induce structural cell injury during the natural course of the illness. > Patients with genetic diseases, including HD, familial JCD, GSS, and the genetic forms of AD and PD, show different clinical manifestations from other affected people in their family, including the time of onset of neurological symptoms, speed of progression of the disease, and prognosis, suggesting that phenotypes can vary even when the genotypes are identical. Likewise, similar phenotypes of CNS symptoms can be found in different genetic diseases. In genetic animal models, the phenotypes of single gene knockout can vary by strain in mice, and the clinical manifestations of a gene defect can differ between mice and humans, and mice null for some genes have also no observable phenotypic abnormalities compared with controls [99]. These findings suggest that default of a protein might be at least partly controlled by individual's control systems and that there might exist a similar immune/repair system against cell injury in genetic diseases. > The pathophysiology of most genetic diseases in the CNS is complex because any affected gene is associated with numerous proteins and their corresponding activations of genes and epigenetic changes that occur during disease processes. Thus, the use of a genetic marker for diagnosing or predicting a prognosis remains impractical in clinical settings [100].
[5] Conceptualizing Epigenetics and the Environmental Landscape of Autism Spectrum Disorders
- Authors: G. Torres, Mervat Mourad, Saba Iqbal, Emmanuel Moses-Fynn, Ashani Pandita et al.
- Year: 2023
- Venue: Genes
- URL: https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/bf76f0682a8a1986ce889cee1fef818480abc83b
- DOI: 10.3390/genes14091734
- PMID: 37761876
- PMCID: 10531442
- Citations: 11
- Summary: The present work reviews recent evolutionary, molecular, and epigenetic mechanisms potentially linked to the etiology of autism, and presents a clinical vignette to describe clusters of maladaptive behaviors frequently diagnosed in autistic patients.
- Evidence snippets:
- Snippet 1 (score: 0.371) > Currently, there are hundreds of gene variants associated with the onset of ASD. Thus, the clinical presentation of the disease is highly variable, as one or more behavioral symptoms may be related to other comorbid conditions (e.g., anxiety disorder, seizure disorder) besides autism. In addition, antagonistic pleiotropy and dosage-sensitive genes further fragment the phenotypic characteristics of ASD. Regardless, here, we present a prototypical autism clinical vignette with five behavioral specifiers: cognitive disability; deficits in social-emotional reciprocity; repetitive or stereotyped motor behavior; improper coordinated language communication; and gastrointestinal distress. Underneath this clinical vignette, we microdissected and correlated a particular phenotype of the disease to functionally and anatomically related regions of the brain and bilateral body plan. The structural organization imposed here will not only identify a wide network of cells, but also specific clusters of genes targeting a particular symptom within behaviorally relevant regions. It is expected that such structural organization will help lay a solid foundation in psychiatry and point to more focused approaches to a deeper understanding of ASD and its individualized treatment (Table 2). Autism Spectrum Disorders can be managed with appropriate pharmacotherapy. Selective dopamine (DA) and serotonin (5HT) based drugs are the mainstay of pharmacological treatment [43,44]. Additional neurotransmitter systems (e.g., norepinephrine (NE) and histamine) are also drug targets. It is not known whether the listed drugs regulate epigenetic mechanisms to counteract autistic symptoms. What is broadly known is that atypical, typical and psychoactive drugs act on DA and 5HT signaling pathways within regions of the human brain (e.g., cortex and basal ganglia) that are behaviorally relevant to the pathophysiology of ASD. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Fragile X Syndrome are debilitating neuropsychiatric conditions commonly diagnosed in pediatric populations. Fragile X Syndrome is a monogenic inherited disease leading to cognitive disability and ASD.
[6] Drug Repurposing in Rare Diseases: An Integrative Study of Drug Screening and Transcriptomic Analysis in Nephropathic Cystinosis
- Authors: F. Bellomo, Ester De Leo, A. Taranta, L. Giaquinto, G. di Giovamberardino et al.
- Year: 2021
- Venue: International Journal of Molecular Sciences
- URL: https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/5e45caf9d574a1dc3ebf53a7fcb57c10bb2373f8
- DOI: 10.3390/ijms222312829
- PMID: 34884638
- PMCID: 8657658
- Citations: 18
- Summary: A drug repurposing strategy applied to nephropathic cystinosis, a rare inherited disorder belonging to the lysosomal storage diseases is shown, combining mechanism-based and cell-based screenings, coupled with an affordable computational analysis, which could result very useful to predict therapeutic responses at both molecular and system levels.
- Evidence snippets:
- Snippet 1 (score: 0.370) > Diagnosis and cure for rare diseases represent a great challenge for the scientific community who often comes up against the complexity and heterogeneity of clinical picture associated to a high cost and time-consuming drug development processes. Here we show a drug repurposing strategy applied to nephropathic cystinosis, a rare inherited disorder belonging to the lysosomal storage diseases. This approach consists in combining mechanism-based and cell-based screenings, coupled with an affordable computational analysis, which could result very useful to predict therapeutic responses at both molecular and system levels. Then, we identified potential drugs and metabolic pathways relevant for the pathophysiology of nephropathic cystinosis by comparing gene-expression signature of drugs that share common mechanisms of action or that involve similar pathways with the disease gene-expression signature achieved with RNA-seq.
[7] Drug repurposing in Rett and Rett-like syndromes: a promising yet underrated opportunity?
- Authors: Claudia Fuchs, P. A. ‛. ’t Hoen, A. Müller, Friederike Ehrhart, C. V. van Karnebeek
- Year: 2024
- Venue: Frontiers in Medicine
- URL: https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/b00d0859458647edeebf3cf53f9b39c79311d5ed
- DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2024.1425038
- PMID: 39135718
- PMCID: 11317438
- Citations: 1
- Summary: The potential of drug repurposing (DR) as a promising avenue for addressing the unmet medical needs of individuals with RTT and related disorders is explored and Leveraging existing drugs for new therapeutic purposes presents an attractive strategy.
- Evidence snippets:
- Snippet 1 (score: 0.369) > Rigorous preclinical and clinical studies are also crucial for better understanding the complex pathophysiology of these syndromes. To date, the precise molecular mechanisms underlying these complex disorders are still not fully understood; hindering the identification and validation of potential drug targets. This specifically applies to CDD and FOXG1-syndrome: both conditions were identified as distinct clinical entities only recently and it is understandable that research efforts initially focused primarily on "classical" RTT. This discrepancy is reflected also in the very different numbers of repurposing studies highlighted in Figure 1. Continued efforts in pre-clinical (identification of valuable cell and animal models etc.) and clinical research (better understanding of the natural history, clinical manifestations, disease progression, biomarkers etc.) will be essential for advancing our understanding and improving outcomes for individuals affected by these syndromes. In particular, better characterizing the shared symptoms and pathways across these entities, will provide valuable insights into the underlying biology and potentially uncover new common mechanisms and targeted therapies. If the disorders demonstrate convergence in their underlying molecular pathways, this provides an opportunity for designing joint DR 10.3389/fmed.2024.1425038 strategies across RTT and RTT-like disorders. This could reduce the time needed for the development of DR and increase the number of patients benefiting from the treatments, resulting in more attractive business models. > Despite promising DR results in preclinical or early-phase clinical trials for RTT and related disorders in our opinion DR is still underrated and underutilized in this kind of disorders. DR holds immense potential for addressing the unmet medical needs and therapeutic challenges posed by such complex NDDs, and recent advancements screening and computational techniques, offer the unique opportunity to predict drug-disease interactions and prioritize candidate compounds for further investigation. By leveraging existing drugs and repurposing them for new indications, this approach offers a pragmatic and efficient strategy to accelerate the development of treatments for individuals affected by these debilitating conditions.
[8] Recent advances in modelling of cerebellar ataxia using induced pluripotent stem cells
- Authors: M. M. Wong, L. Watson, Esther B. E. Becker
- Year: 2017
- Venue: Journal of neurology & neuromedicine
- URL: https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/0d962652305116e383ab260b9e82d3a5ffe1722f
- DOI: 10.29245/2572.942X/2017/7.1134
- PMID: 28825058
- PMCID: 5558869
- Citations: 9
- Summary: This review focuses on recent breakthroughs in generating human iPSC-derived Purkinje cells and highlights the future challenges that will need to be addressed in order to fully exploit these models for the modelling of the molecular mechanisms underlying cerebellar ataxias and the development of effective therapeutics.
- Evidence snippets:
- Snippet 1 (score: 0.368) > dominant polyglutamine spinocerebellar ataxias (SCAs) are the most studied forms of ataxias. Despite significant clinical and genetic heterogeneity, emerging evidence points to the existence of common pathogenic mechanisms that may be shared by several genetically distinct forms of cerebellar ataxias (reviewed in5-8). However, it is still unclear how the proposed pathological pathways ultimately result in cerebellar dysfunction and degeneration, predominantly affecting Purkinje cells. > Understanding disease mechanisms is key to treating neurodegenerative disorders. The heterogeneous nature of the cerebellar ataxias combined with the unavailability of human brain tissue and the lack of reliable disease models have, however, hampered our understanding of the molecular disease mechanisms underlying cerebellar ataxias and thus, the development of effective therapies. Although mouse models of several cerebellar ataxias, including FRDA and SCAs, have provided valuable insights into the pathophysiology of these disorders (reviewed in9), many questions remain about the observed species differences in disease phenotypes and the effectiveness of potential drugs in clinical trials. > To help translate research from animal models into novel treatments for ataxia patients, it is essential to validate findings in the relevant affected human cell types, particularly in cerebellar Purkinje cells. The current obstacles might be overcome by exploiting recently developed human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) technology and neuronal differentiation protocols.
[9] Copy number variants (CNVs): a powerful tool for iPSC-based modelling of ASD
- Authors: D. Drakulić, S. Djurovic, Y. A. Syed, Sebastiano Trattaro, N. Caporale et al.
- Year: 2020
- Venue: Molecular Autism
- URL: https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/c6cac51304043d34c93254007adca11883e387cd
- DOI: 10.1186/s13229-020-00343-4
- PMID: 32487215
- PMCID: 7268297
- Citations: 23
- Influential citations: 1
- Summary: Here, it is examined how iPSCs derived from ASD patients with an associated CNV inform the understanding of the genetic and biological mechanisms underlying the aetiology of ASD.
- Evidence snippets:
- Snippet 1 (score: 0.367) > external factors. These complications hinder identification of the basic pathophysiological mechanisms that lead to ASD and hence hamper development of effective therapies. > Molecular and cellular analysis of human patients is generally prospective with data mostly derived from post-mortem tissue. As mentioned above, such studies are subject to the confounds of secondary effects and record the outcomes of underlying disease mechanism rather than directly probe the causative mechanisms. Animal models can be highly informative for the study of a basic mechanism; however, it is difficult to directly translate between observed patient phenotype and animal models. A particular weakness is the ability to capture the phenotypic variation across the patient population. > Human stem cell models offer an opportunity to directly study the molecular and cellular mechanisms of diseases. Key to this approach is the generation of human-induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) derived from patient cells. These are generated by reprogramming of somatic cells into pluripotent stem cells from which many cell types can be differentiated, including neurons and glial cells. Importantly, they can be easily obtained in the clinic from fibroblasts (skin biopsies), keratinocytes (hair roots) [3], T lymphocytes (peripheral blood) [4,5] and exfoliated renal epithelial cells from urine samples [6,7]. Importantly, patient iPSCs enable the in vitro study of different cells types in isolation or co-culture in order to investigate cell function. Uniquely they can track the development profile of patient cell differentiation. More recently the capacity of iPSCs to form 3D organoids has opened up the possibility to investigate the interaction of multiple cell types in a more brain-like microenvironment. Methods for increasing reproducibility of brain organoid differentiation are improving substantially [8,9] and being exploited to mechanistically dissect the effect of genetic lesions causing ASD and ID [10][11][12], as well as the role of specific genes and molecular modules key to human-specific neuronal differentiation trajectories and pathophysiology [13]. > The major question is how to identify the relevant cellular phenotypes that converge on the common pathophysiological mechanisms underlying patient aeti
[10] Human Dermal Fibroblast: A Promising Cellular Model to Study Biological Mechanisms of Major Depression and Antidepressant Drug Response
- Authors: P. Mesdom, R. Colle, É. Lebigot, S. Trabado, Eric Deflesselle et al.
- Year: 2020
- Venue: Current Neuropharmacology
- URL: https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/79368e365458486de96794333613c12a6063bf54
- DOI: 10.2174/1570159X17666191021141057
- PMID: 31631822
- PMCID: 7327943
- Citations: 12
- Summary: This review highlights the great and still underused potential of HDF, which stands out as a very promising tool in the understanding of MDD and AD mechanisms of action.
- Evidence snippets:
- Snippet 1 (score: 0.364) > Background: Human dermal fibroblasts (HDF) can be used as a cellular model relatively easily and without genetic engineering. Therefore, HDF represent an interesting tool to study several human diseases including psychiatric disorders. Despite major depressive disorder (MDD) being the second cause of disability in the world, the efficacy of antidepressant drug (AD) treatment is not sufficient and the underlying mechanisms of MDD and the mechanisms of action of AD are poorly understood. Objective The aim of this review is to highlight the potential of HDF in the study of cellular mechanisms involved in MDD pathophysiology and in the action of AD response. Methods The first part is a systematic review following PRISMA guidelines on the use of HDF in MDD research. The second part reports the mechanisms and molecules both present in HDF and relevant regarding MDD pathophysiology and AD mechanisms of action. Results HDFs from MDD patients have been investigated in a relatively small number of works and most of them focused on the adrenergic pathway and metabolism-related gene expression as compared to HDF from healthy controls. The second part listed an important number of papers demonstrating the presence of many molecular processes in HDF, involved in MDD and AD mechanisms of action. Conclusion The imbalance in the number of papers between the two parts highlights the great and still underused potential of HDF, which stands out as a very promising tool in our understanding of MDD and AD mechanisms of action
[11] Recent Evidences of Epigenetic Alterations in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD): A Systematic Review
- Authors: R. Ragusa, Pasquale Bufano, A. Tognetti, M. Laurino, Chiara Caselli
- Year: 2025
- Venue: International Journal of Molecular Sciences
- URL: https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/2660cdbbe1f205c631fe890e5c6a3c8d9b81ce5f
- DOI: 10.3390/ijms26062571
- PMID: 40141213
- PMCID: 11942187
- Citations: 4
- Summary: A systematic review of the latest knowledge on epigenetic modifications that characterize COPD, summarizing epigenetic factors that could serve as potential novel biomarkers and therapeutic targets for the treatment of COPD patients.
- Evidence snippets:
- Snippet 1 (score: 0.362) > The papers included were clustered according to epigenetic mechanisms involved in COPD (molecular and cellular processes, as biomarker or therapeutic target). Tables 4-9 describe the extracted information, including the following: Study = name of first author et al., year; Country (Region) = where the study took place; Number of participants = sample size; Type of sample = biological sample employed; Gene affected = gene or group of genes whose expression can be "regulated" by epigenetic mechanisms; Epigenetic alteration = type of epigenetic alteration observed in the presence of disease; Activity in COPD = involvement of epigenetic elements in different molecular and cellular mechanisms associated with COPD; and Role of epigenetic mechanisms = epigenetic modifications that can be used to explain the pathophysiology of COPD or as biomarkers and therapeutic targets.
[12] Precision Therapeutics in Lennox–Gastaut Syndrome: Targeting Molecular Pathophysiology in a Developmental and Epileptic Encephalopathy
- Authors: Debopam Samanta
- Year: 2025
- Venue: Children
- URL: https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/455479c1bfbea7b90b73c109228f67c813d13888
- DOI: 10.3390/children12040481
- PMID: 40310132
- PMCID: 12025602
- Citations: 19
- Influential citations: 1
- Summary: A narrative review explores precision therapeutic strategies for LGS based on molecular pathophysiology, including channelopathies, receptor and ligand dysfunction, receptor and ligand dysfunction, cell signaling abnormalities, cell signaling abnormalities, synaptopathies, and the repurposing of existing medications with mechanism-specific effects.
- Evidence snippets:
- Snippet 1 (score: 0.361) > Lennox–Gastaut syndrome (LGS) is a severe childhood-onset developmental and epileptic encephalopathy characterized by multiple drug-resistant seizure types, cognitive impairment, and distinctive electroencephalographic patterns. Current treatments primarily focus on symptom management through antiseizure medications (ASMs), dietary therapy, epilepsy surgery, and neuromodulation, but often fail to address the underlying pathophysiology or improve cognitive outcomes. As genetic causes are identified in 30–40% of LGS cases, precision therapeutics targeting specific molecular mechanisms are emerging as promising disease-modifying approaches. This narrative review explores precision therapeutic strategies for LGS based on molecular pathophysiology, including channelopathies (SCN2A, SCN8A, KCNQ2, KCNA2, KCNT1, CACNA1A), receptor and ligand dysfunction (GABA/glutamate systems), cell signaling abnormalities (mTOR pathway), synaptopathies (STXBP1, IQSEC2, DNM1), epigenetic dysregulation (CHD2), and CDKL5 deficiency disorder. Treatment modalities discussed include traditional ASMs, dietary therapy, targeted pharmacotherapy, antisense oligonucleotides, gene therapy, and the repurposing of existing medications with mechanism-specific effects. Early intervention with precision therapeutics may not only improve seizure control but could also potentially prevent progression to LGS in susceptible populations. Future directions include developing computable phenotypes for accurate diagnosis, refining molecular subgrouping, enhancing drug development, advancing gene-based therapies, personalizing neuromodulation, implementing adaptive clinical trial designs, and ensuring equitable access to precision therapeutic approaches. While significant challenges remain, integrating biological insights with innovative clinical strategies offers new hope for transforming LGS treatment from symptomatic management to targeted disease modification.
- Snippet 2 (score: 0.360) > A key advantage of disease-modifying therapies is their potential to target pathogenic mechanisms early in the disease course, potentially preventing the progression of some infantile epileptic encephalopathies to LGS. > This narrative review explores precision therapeutic strategies based on specific monogenic causes and disease mechanisms relevant to LGS. A comprehensive literature search (PubMed, MEDLINE, ClinicalTrials.gov, conference abstracts from the American Academy of Neurology and American Epilepsy Society, and gray literature) was conducted through 19 February 2025 to identify established ASMs, repurposed and novel drugs, as well as various gene therapy approaches with potential relevance to LGS. Given that over 900 monogenic causes of DEEs have been identified-implicating diverse cellular components such as ion channels, receptors, synaptic proteins, signaling pathways, metabolic processes, and epigenetic regulators-this review discusses current and emerging precision therapeutics based on shared molecular mechanisms and the pathophysiology of select genes associated with LGS [17] (Table 1).
[13] Chromatin modifiers in neurodevelopment
- Authors: Sarallah Rezazadeh, H. Ji, Cecilia Giulivi
- Year: 2025
- Venue: Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience
- URL: https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/7a4d8c063c2b3a908a65bcb637cd818edad8db92
- DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2025.1551107
- PMID: 40469903
- PMCID: 12133960
- Citations: 2
- Summary: This mini review delves into key chromatin modifiers, including the histone methyl transferases NSD1 and ASH1L, the methyl-CpG-binding repressor MeCP2, and the enzymatic repressor EZH2, and spotlight their pivotal roles in early brain development and neurological disorders.
- Evidence snippets:
- Snippet 1 (score: 0.361) > Therefore, while epigenetic changes are essential for understanding specific aspects of neurodevelopmental disorders, it is crucial to view these mechanisms as part of a larger, more complex system that encompasses genetic, proteomic, and metabolic factors. Few examples underscore that while epigenetic mechanisms-such as DNA methylation and histone modificationsare essential in regulating gene expression and contribute to neurodevelopmental disorders, they do not fully explain the complex pathophysiology of these diseases. In many cases, the genetic mutations, absence of or dysfunction of protein, or toxic protein aggregation (e.g., Fragile X syndrome, HD) that occur in these disorders play a central role in the clinical phenotypes. Therefore, a comprehensive understanding of neurodevelopmental disorders must integrate epigenetic mechanisms and the broader genetic, proteomic, and cellular pathways that contribute to disease. An integrative approach that considers not only the regulation of gene expression but also the functional consequences of these changes at the protein, metabolic and cellular pathway levels will be essential for advancing our understanding of these intricate disorders and developing effective interventions and treatments. . B., Villate, O., Llano, I., Ocio, I., Martí, I., et al. (2020). Targeted next-generation sequencing in patients with suggestive X-linked intellectual disability. Genes 11:51. doi: 10.3390/genes11010051
[14] Rare Monogenic Diseases: Molecular Pathophysiology and Novel Therapies
- Authors: I. Condò
- Year: 2022
- Venue: International Journal of Molecular Sciences
- URL: https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/6aece75e6947f102b657851b74e8b96df5e654c1
- DOI: 10.3390/ijms23126525
- PMID: 35742964
- PMCID: 9223693
- Citations: 16
- Influential citations: 2
- Summary: A rare disease is defined by its low prevalence in the general population and its presence in a very small number of people.
- Evidence snippets:
- Snippet 1 (score: 0.361) > The selective expression or the particular role of specific genes in a single tissue explains the appearance of organ-specific inherited diseases. This is the case of genetic disorders of the kidney, which include dominant and recessive forms of cystic diseases, and renal tubulopathies. Mutations in polycystin-1 (PKD1) or -2 (PKD2) genes lead to autosomaldominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD), whose gender-dependent phenotype was analyzed in the study by Talbi et al. [9]. These results, obtained in mice lacking PKD1 expression, show the involvement of intracellular Ca2+ levels in the more severe phenotype affecting male ADPKD animals. Altogether, identification of the molecular mechanisms underlying enhanced Ca2+ signaling and proliferation in cells from male kidneys may contribute to develop novel therapeutics for ADPKD [9]. The autosomal-recessive form of polycystic kidney disease (ARPKD) mostly arises from defects in the gene named polycystic kidney and hepatic disease 1 (PKHD1), whereas a minority of cases is linked to a second causative gene DZIP1L. To examine the still unclear molecular pathophysiology of ARPKD, Cordido et al. recapitulate known molecular disease mechanisms and possible therapeutic approaches, from cellular and animal models to clinical trials [10]. The knowledge of ARPKD pathogenic pathways, involving the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) axis, the production of adenylyl cyclase adenosine 3 ,5 -cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) and the activation of several protein kinases, begins to stimulate possible pharmacological interventions [10]. Inherited loss of function in various electrolyte transport proteins located along the nephron leads to two types of kidney tubulopathy with overlapping clinical symptoms: Gitelman and Bartter syndromes. The review by Nuñez-Gonzalez et al. aims to explain the different molecular basis of these difficult to diagnose monogenic syndromes. Moreover, the authors provide an overview of current therapeutic approaches and highlight the presence of common and specific options for Gitelman and Bartter patients [11].
[15] Editorial: Molecular mechanisms of neuropsychiatric diseases
- Authors: M. Moreira-Rodrigues, Melanie J. Grubisha
- Year: 2022
- Venue: Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience
- URL: https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/9ea80cf42a6ccc00550e8abd24f116e79963a1c3
- DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.1102296
- PMID: 36568276
- PMCID: 9773978
- Citations: 5
- Summary: Molecular mechanisms of neuropsychiatric diseases are studied through a probabilistic approach and the results show clear patterns of disease progression that are consistent with known mechanisms of action.
- Evidence snippets:
- Snippet 1 (score: 0.360) > Neuropsychiatric disorders, such as depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), autism spectrum disorder and others are estimated to impair millions of individuals globally. Despite the high global prevalence, much remains unknown about the underlying molecular mechanisms that lead to these and other neuropsychiatric diseases. The likelihood of developing these disorders may depend on a variety of genetic, developmental and environmental factors. The molecular alterations produced by these factors may contribute to both disease onset or the persistence of a specific pathology. Identifying the molecular mechanisms of a disease will increase our understanding of the underlying pathophysiology and ultimately lead to the rational design of targeted treatments. The goal of this Research Topic was to explore fundamental molecular mechanisms underlying neuropsychiatric diseases, and how these mechanisms may be exploited for potential therapeutic benefit. > A longstanding challenge in the elucidation of molecular mechanisms underlying neuropsychiatric disease has been the initial paucity of anatomical and/or molecular findings. Distinguished American neurologist Dr. Fred Plum once referred to schizophrenia as "the graveyard of neuropathologists." This Topic features multiple papers that serve to tackle this and other challenges and link clinical entities to anatomical and molecular abnormalities. > Ren et al. showed that schizophrenia patients with auditory verbal hallucinations exhibit a decrease in cortical thickness in orbitofrontal cortices, which was negatively correlated with severity of these symptoms. Seeking to discover molecular aberrations in a depression-relevant model, Chen et al. employed a large-scale-omics approach to achieve metabolic profiling in the olfactory bulb of a chronic mild stress mouse model. They discovered an abnormal metabolism of the tryptophan pathway in the olfactory bulb, which may mediate the occurrence of a depression-like phenotype in a chronic mild stress model. On the other way, Martinho, Oliveira et al. sought to identify specific molecular abnormalities underlying contextual fear memory relevant to PTSD, and that modulating this system can reverse fear-related phenotypic changes.
[16] Novel variants in KAT6B spectrum of disorders expand our knowledge of clinical manifestations and molecular mechanisms
- Authors: M. Yabumoto, Jessica Kianmahd, Meghna Singh, Maria F. Palafox, Angela Wei et al.
- Year: 2021
- Venue: Molecular Genetics & Genomic Medicine
- URL: https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/3a47a1b1208ba7420900b090d3d7d712ed391719
- DOI: 10.1002/mgg3.1809
- PMID: 34519438
- PMCID: 8580094
- Citations: 12
- Influential citations: 2
- Summary: A range of features previously described for KAT6B‐related syndromes are identified, including concern for keratoconus, sensitivity to light or noise, recurring infections, and fractures in greater numbers than previously reported.
- Evidence snippets:
- Snippet 1 (score: 0.359) > Finally, as gene-centric models of disease have started to take hold, understanding the underlying functional mechanisms that are affected can help us elucidate the effect on molecular and cellular phenotypes that are regulated by KAT6B (Klein et al., 2019;Sheikh et al., 2012). We developed a model of KAT6B truncating variants in a human cell line to explore how these variants result in differential regulation of key transcripts. These types of approaches have been performed in a high throughput manner for tumor suppressor genes like BRCA1 (Findlay et al., 2018) and TP53 (Kotler et al., 2018) and can help identify key pathways that are dysregulated by KAT6B-related disorders and could be future targets for translational research. > Here, we analyze 20 clinical cases representing a KAT6B-related clinical spectrum across three domains: their genotype, phenotype, and experience with genetic counseling resources. Furthermore, we developed an in vitro model of KAT6B mutations using CRISPR technology to explore the effect of protein truncation on global transcriptional regulation. Here we demonstrate that the genes that drive core clinical phenotypes are enriched in our in vitro model system. Together, we show that our clinical observations parallel the transcriptional processes in our cell model systems which allow for a further understanding of the mechanisms underlying the KAT6Brelated clinical spectrum.
[17] Investigating the role of NPR1 in dilated cardiomyopathy and its potential as a therapeutic target for glucocorticoid therapy
- Authors: Yaomeng Huang, Tongxin Li, Shichao Gao, Shuyu Li, Xiaoran Zhu et al.
- Year: 2023
- Venue: Frontiers in Pharmacology
- URL: https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/be229f6f2059faab4c97ec0a04bd055adab9dfe1
- DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1290253
- PMID: 38026943
- PMCID: 10662320
- Citations: 3
- Summary: Natriuretic peptide receptor 1 (NPR1) was identified as a core gene associated with DCM through bioinformatics analysis and led to substantial improvements in cardiac and renal function, accompanied by an upregulation of NPR1 expression.
- Evidence snippets:
- Snippet 1 (score: 0.359) > Multiple pathways and molecules are involved in this process; however, the detailed underlying mechanisms remain unclear. In recent years, with the development of high-throughput sequencing and gene chip technologies, the use of bioinformatics technology to explore the occurrence, development, and prognosis of diseases has become a hot topic for scholars worldwide (Hwang et al., 2018;Nayor et al., 2019;Rinschen et al., 2019;Sturm et al., 2019;Montaner et al., 2020). > The present study aimed to use bioinformatics technology to screen for DCM-related genes and investigate their mechanisms, with the purpose of revealing the pathogenesis of DCM and seeking treatment methods. The GSE3586 dataset, containing expression profiles related to DCM, was selected from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. This study aimed to predict the core genes that may play crucial roles in disease progression at the molecular level through the enrichment of relevant molecular pathways associated with DCM. Furthermore, the phenotype of the core genes was validated to further support the results of the bioinformatics analysis through basic and clinical experiments. Additionally, the role of glucocorticoids in DCM treatment is discussed in this article with the purpose of providing a theoretical and experimental basis for exploring the pathogenesis of DCM and elucidating therapeutic methods. This study also provides a theoretical reference for the interpretation, early diagnosis, and treatment of DCM.
[18] Targeting Hepatic Stellate Cells for the Prevention and Treatment of Liver Cirrhosis and Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Strategies and Clinical Translation
- Authors: Hao Xiong, Jinsheng Guo
- Year: 2025
- Venue: Pharmaceuticals
- URL: https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/76e92127053136900f7e3f10e2c9278251ced5d2
- DOI: 10.3390/ph18040507
- PMID: 40283943
- PMCID: 12030350
- Citations: 8
- Summary: HSC-targeted approaches using specific surface markers and receptors may enable the selective delivery of drugs, oligonucleotides, and therapeutic peptides that exert optimized anti-fibrotic and anti-HCC effects.
- Evidence snippets:
- Snippet 1 (score: 0.359) > Significant progress has been made in elucidating the cellular and molecular mechanisms of liver fibrosis; however, only a few findings have been successfully translated into clinical applications. Firstly, the high cost of drug development and target validation necessitates prolonged timelines and substantial financial investment. Secondly, as regulatory requirements become more stringent, there is an increasing demand for drugs with well-defined clinical efficacy and safety profiles. Moreover, the efficacy observed in animal models often fails to fully translate to clinical settings due to differences in pharmacokinetics, extracellular matrix (ECM) cross-linking, and disease pathophysiology. Despite advancements in anti-fibrotic drug development, accurately identifying ideal noninvasive biomarkers for fibrotic activity and establishing consensus on optimal clinical endpoints remain significant challenges [113,114]. > Currently, addressing the underlying cause remains the only proven strategy to halt or reverse liver fibrosis progression, while the development of effective anti-fibrotic therapies continues to pose a major challenge in liver disease management. Over the past few decades, substantial progress has been made in elucidating the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying liver fibrosis. Liver fibrosis is a complex pathological change involving multiple cells, factors, and pathways, and the study of the cellular and molecular mechanisms of its occurrence and development provides an important theoretical basis and therapeutic target for clinical drug development. It is anticipated that improved animal models and well-designed clinical trials will facilitate the successful translation of anti-fibrotic research into effective clinical treatments in the near future.
[19] Changes in Serum Proteomic Profiles at Different Stages of Pregnancy Toxemia in Goats
- Authors: M. Uzti̇mür, C. N. Ünal, Gurler Akpinar
- Year: 2025
- Venue: Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine
- URL: https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/4b9c488b5dbd65d7b26fd2ad9aed70e8c4b59942
- DOI: 10.1111/jvim.70139
- PMID: 40492724
- PMCID: 12150350
- Summary: Understanding the serum proteome profiles of goats with pregnancy toxemia might help identify the proteomes and pathways responsible for the development of this disease and improve diagnosis and treatment.
- Evidence snippets:
- Snippet 1 (score: 0.357) > The pathophysiology and progression of this disease are not fully understood. > Traditional biomedical research has focused on the analysis of single genes, proteins, metabolites, or metabolic pathways in diseases. This molecular reductionist approach is based on the assumption that identifying genetic variations and molecular components will lead to new treatments for diseases [13][14][15][16]. However, many diseases are complex and multifactorial, and in order to determine the phenotype of such diseases, it is necessary to understand the changes that occur in more than one gene, pathway, protein, or metabolite at the cellular, tissue, and organismal levels [17][18][19]. Therefore, in recent years, proteomics, as one field of multi-omics technologies, has helped in evaluating the complex pathogenetic mechanisms of different diseases from a broad perspective and has made substantial contributions [20,21]. In veterinary medicine, proteomic analysis of metabolic diseases such as ketosis [16], hypocalcemia [22], and fatty liver [23] in dairy cows has contributed valuable insights for the definition of new pathophysiological pathways and new diagnosis and treatment protocols for these diseases. The proteomic approach can contribute importantly to a broad and detailed understanding of the changes that occur at the organismal level associated with the increase in BHBA concentration in goats with pregnancy toxemia. Our aim was to evaluate the serum protein profiles of goats with SPT or CPT using proteomic techniques to determine the proteomic profiles of these animals and to identify the relevant pathophysiological mechanisms.
Notes
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