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Extracts of muscle biopsies from patients with spinal muscular atrophies inhibit neurite outgrowth from spinal neurons.

Preparations derived from embryonic and neonatal chick muscle enhance neurite outgrowth when added to cultures of embryonic chick spinal neurons. In the presence of soluble extracts of biopsied muscle from 15 of 20 patients with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), the in vitro neurite-promoting activity of neonatal chick muscle was inhibited. There was no comparable inhibition using extracts from 20 age-matched pathologic or morphologically normal controls. The neurite-promoting activity in media conditioned by embryonic myotubes was not inhibited by extracts of the SMA group.

Animals↗

Characterization of Ighmbp2 in motor neurons and implications for the pathomechanism in a mouse model of human spinal muscular atrophy with respiratory distress type 1 (SMARD1).

Spinal muscular atrophy with respiratory distress type 1 (SMARD1) is caused by recessive mutations of the IGHMBP2 gene. The role of IGHMBP2 (immunoglobulin mu-binding protein 2) in the pathomechanism of motor neuron disease is unknown. We have generated antibodies against Ighmbp2 and showed that low levels of Ighmbp2 immunoreactivity are present in the nucleus of spinal motor neurons and high levels in cell bodies, axons and growth cones. Ighmbp2 protein levels are strongly reduced in neuromuscular degeneration (nmd) mice, the mouse model of SMARD1. Mutant mice show severe motor neuron degeneration before first clinical symptoms become apparent. The loss of motor neuron cell bodies in lumbar spinal cord is followed by axonal degeneration in corresponding nerves such as the femoral quadriceps and sciatic nerve and loss of axon terminals at motor endplates. Motor neuron degeneration and clinical symptoms then slowly progress until the mice die at the age of 3-4 months. In addition, myopathic changes seem to contribute to muscle weakness and especially to respiratory failure, which is characteristic of the disorder in humans. Cultured motor neurons from embryonic nmd mice did not show any abnormality with respect to survival, axonal growth or growth cone size, thus differing from motor neurons derived from, e.g. Smn (survival motor neuron) deficient mice, the model of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). Our data suggest that the pathomechanism in SMARD1 is clearly distinct from other motor neuron diseases such as classic SMA.

Action Potentials↗

A modified Hammersmith functional motor scale for use in multi-center research on spinal muscular atrophy.

The Hammersmith functional motor scale for children with spinal muscular atrophy was modified to establish a standard measure of functional ability in children with non-ambulant spinal muscular atrophy types 2 and 3 in a longitudinal multi-center clinical trial. This study assessed the intra- and interrater reliability and the test-retest stability of a modified version of the scale. Both intra- and interrater reliability were established. Results indicate that the scale is reliable and stable over a 6 month period. Reliability was maintained when patient sample criteria were expanded to include children younger than 30 months and children with popliteal angles greater than 20 degrees . These data establish the modified Hammersmith functional motor scale for children with spinal muscular atrophy as a reliable instrument for use in multi-center treatment trials in non-ambulant spinal muscular atrophy children. Our data provides additional support for the use of original scale items in terms of ease of administration, usefulness and reliability, while incorporating modifications to optimize its use in a multi-center clinical research setting.

Child, Preschool↗

[Computed tomographic analyses on skeletal muscles in bulbar spinal muscular atrophy].

We analysed the patterns of skeletal muscular involvement in 18 patients with bulbar-spinal muscular atrophy (BSMA) of the Kennedy-Alter-Sung type by using the computed tomographic scanner. Fatty infiltrations were prominent in various skeletal muscles of extremities and trunk, and its degree was severe in the following numerical orders; the gluteal muscles, flexors of the thighs, flexors of the lower extremities, extensors and the adductors of the thighs, the paraspinal muscles, and extensors of the lower extremities. There was statistically significant correlation between fatty infiltrations in flexors of the lower extremities and duration of illness. And were noted findings that the skeletal muscle lesion progressed with the preserved fasciae and sectional areas, fatty infiltrations in the lower extremities were more conspicuous in flexors than in extensors, and compensatory hypertrophic muscles in the thigh were apparent in 50% of cases. In conclusions, the computed tomographic analyses on skeletal muscle of BSMA may be useful to detect distributions, progression of the muscle lesion, in addition to a profile of the myopathic alterations of the disease.

Adult↗

Adult spinal muscular atrophy. A report of four cases.

Four cases of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) are reported, 3 with detailed autopsy findings. These are compared with 2 cases of typical amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) with neuropathological data. The 3 autopsy cases of SMA only showed decreased numbers of anterior horn cells in the spinal cord, with no change in the cortical pyramidal cells, including the Betz cells, and no degeneration of the pyramidal tracts, while the ALS cases showed loss both of lower and upper motor neurons and degeneration of the pyramidal tracts. In our opinion, the infantile, juvenile, adult, and late-life forms of SMA are really a single disease entity that occurs at varying ages and is separate from ALS. The term lower motor neuron disease would be preferable because the lesions are not limited to the spinal cord, but also occur in the brain stem.

Adult↗

Spinal muscular atrophy in childhood.

Diagnosis and classification of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) in childhood are based on clinical, electrophysiological, and histological studies. The concept of maturational arrest of motoneurons and their targets (muscle cells in SMA type I) is documented by ultrastructural and immunohistochemical data. The prolongated or markedly delayed process of muscle cell and motoneuron elimination by apoptosis seen in SMA type I is discussed according to the new finding of a gene for a neuronal apoptosis inhibitory protein that is partially deleted in children with spinal muscular atrophy.

Adolescent↗

Autosomal dominant distal spinal muscular atrophy: an Italian family not linked to 12q24 and 7p14.

Distal spinal muscular atrophy is genetically heterogeneous, as sporadic cases and both autosomal dominant and recessive inheritance have been described. An autosomal dominant distal spinal muscular atrophy with upper limb predominance has been mapped to chromosome 7p, and more recently, an autosomal dominant distal spinal muscular atrophy with lower limb predominance has been linked to chromosome 12q24. We describe a four generation Italian family with autosomal dominant distal spinal muscular atrophy starting between 8 and 30 years with weakness and atrophy of distal leg muscles. The older patients also presented sensorineural deafness. We performed genetic linkage analysis with microsatellite markers D12S366, D12S349, D12S86, D12S321, D12S1612, D12S1349, D12S342, PLA2A on chromosome 12q24 and D7S516, D7S2496, D7S632, D7S2252 on chromosome 7p14. No support for linkage to chromosome 12q24 and 7p14 was found in our family, confirming a genetic heterogeneity within autosomal dominant distal spinal muscular atrophy.

Adolescent↗

Severe spinal muscular atrophy variant associated with congenital bone fractures.

Infantile autosomal recessive spinal muscular atrophy (type I) represents a lethal disorder leading to progressive symmetric muscular atrophy of limb and trunk muscles. Ninety-six percent cases of spinal muscular atrophy type I are caused by deletions or mutations in the survival motoneuron gene (SMNI) on chromosome 5q11.2-13.3. However, a number of chromosome 5q-negative patients with additional clinical features (respiratory distress, cerebellar hypoplasia) have been designated in the literature as infantile spinal muscular atrophy plus forms. In addition, the combination of severe spinal muscular atrophy and neurogenic arthrogryposis has been described. We present clinical, molecular, and autopsy findings of a newborn boy presenting with generalized muscular atrophy in combination with congenital bone fractures and extremely thin ribs but without contractures.

Bone and Bones↗

Muscle biopsy and the clinical course of infantile spinal muscular atrophy.

Eight infants with severe early infantile spinal muscular atrophy diagnosed by clinical presentation and muscle biopsy were studied. The extent of alterations in muscle histology, histochemistry, and ultrastructure did not reflect the relative severity of the clinical presentation or the course of the illness. In seven biopsies, ultrastructural studies demonstrated empty sleeves of basal lamina projecting from the surface of small myofibers. We conclude that severe infantile spinal muscular atrophy often results in myofiber atrophy similar to that found in other motor neuron diseases, and it is not solely a hypotrophic process. Muscle biopsy findings are important because they help to establish the diagnosis, but they do not help predict the severity of disease among infants with this condition.

Basement Membrane↗

Hexosaminidase A deficiency manifesting as spinal muscular atrophy of late onset.

Proximal lower limb weakness and fasciculations were the only clinical manifestations of hexosaminidase A (Hex A) deficiency in a 39-year-old woman. Hex A activity in serum and leukocytes was 0 to 4% by standard heat inactivation fluorogenic substrate methods, and 5% when Hex A isoenzymes were fractionated by diethylaminoethanol cellulose chromatography. Computed tomography of the brain showed cerebellar atrophy. We suggest that Hex A activity studies be done in patients with typical as well as atypical spinal muscular atrophy.

Adult↗

Localisation of the gene for a dominant congenital spinal muscular atrophy predominantly affecting the lower limbs to chromosome 12q23-q24.

Spinal muscular atrophies are a heterogeneous group of disorders. They differ in time of onset, clinical presentation, progression, severity and mode of inheritance. In 1985 a Dutch family was described with a dominant, non-progressive spinal muscular atrophy presenting at birth with arthrogryposis (MIM 600175). Linkage analysis was performed in this family. After having excluded the loci for Werdnig-Hoffmann's disease and for dominant distal spinal muscular atrophy with upper limb predominance, we were able to localise the gene to a 10 cM interval between the markers D12S78 and D12S1646 on chromosome 12q23-q24. Recently, dominant scapuloperoneal spinal muscular atrophy has been localised to an overlapping interval. However, the clinical appearances of scapuloperoneal spinal muscular atrophy and the present disorder make allelism unlikely. In 1994, a second Dutch family with a disorder similar to the present one was described. We excluded linkage to markers of the 12q23-q24 region in this family and thereby proved genetic heterogeneity of this type of dominant, congenital and nonprogressive spinal muscular atrophy.

Chromosome Mapping↗

Motor nerve conduction studies on children with spinal muscular atrophy.

Median and posterior tibial motor nerve conduction studies were performed on 10 children with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). Three patients with SMA type I, in whom rapid deterioration occurred, showed reduced motor nerve conduction velocity and a remarkably low M-wave amplitude in both nerves. In type II and III patients, the motor nerve conduction velocity was normal in the median nerve, although the M-wave amplitude was small in the tibial nerve. In four patients, a reduction of the M-wave amplitude was observed as clinical symptoms advanced. These findings may suggest that motor conduction studies in spinal muscular atrophy provide complementary information for understanding the pathogenesis and are also useful to clarify the heterogeneity of this disease.

Child↗

Focal spinal muscular atrophy in two German shepherd pups.

Focal spinal muscular atrophy evolved rapidly in two German Shepherd pups 2 weeks after birth. By 1 month, the male and female littermates had developed a valgus deformity of the right forelimb, a flexed carpus, and arm and forearm muscle weakness and atrophy. In the male, less severe left forelimb weakness and wasting also occurred, and bilateral forelimb denervation potentials were recorded. Postmortem study of the male revealed asymmetric loss and degeneration of motoneurons in the cervical spinal cord intumescence. Degenerating neurons appeared vacuolated or chromatolytic. Chromatolysis was often peripheral and resulted from dispersion and loss of the free and attached ribosomes which normally from Nissl bodies. Although this focal neuronopathy was unlike motoneuron diseases described previously in animals, it resembled the asymmetric and unilateral, benign spinal muscular atrophies found in humans.

Animals↗

Spinal muscular atrophy among the Roma (Gypsies) in Bulgaria and Hungary.

Spinal muscular atrophy is one of the most common autosomal recessive disorders, classified into three major clinical forms. It is caused mainly by deletions or gene conversions of the telomeric survival motor neuron gene (SMN1) on human chromosome 5. We have conducted molecular studies of the disorder in genetically isolated Romani (Gypsy) communities in Bulgaria and Hungary, where spinal muscular atrophy appears to have different prevalence and both mild and severe spinal muscular atrophy phenotypes have been diagnosed. We have observed three distinct genetic defects which, in different combinations, lead to different forms of the disease. The similar chromosomal background on which the different mutations occur suggests a common origin and founder effect, with rearrangements of a single ancestral chromosome resulting in a diversity of molecular defects.

Bulgaria↗