Open AccessSmads as muscle biomarkers in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Author(s) -
Si Ying,
Cui Xianqin,
Kim Soojin,
Wians Robert,
Sorge Robert,
Oh Shin J.,
Kwan Thaddeus,
AlSharabati Mohammad,
Lu Liang,
Claussen Gwen,
Anderson Tina,
Yu Shaohua,
Morgan Dylan,
Kazamel Mohamed,
King Peter H.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
annals of clinical and translational neurology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.824
H-Index - 42
ISSN - 2328-9503
DOI - 10.1002/acn3.117
Subject(s) - amyotrophic lateral sclerosis , medicine , reinnervation , sod1 , sciatic nerve , smad , pathology , skeletal muscle , disease , anatomy , transforming growth factor
Objective To identify molecular signatures in muscle from patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis ( ALS ) that could provide insight into the disease process and serve as biomarkers. Methods RNA sequencing was performed on ALS and control muscle samples to identify Smad family members as potential markers of disease. Validation studies were performed in a cohort of 27 ALS patients and 33 controls. The markers were assessed in the G93A superoxide dismutase ( SOD )1 mouse at different stages of disease and in a model of sciatic nerve injury. Results Smad8, and to a lesser extent Smad1 and 5, mRNA s were significantly elevated in human ALS muscle samples. The markers displayed a remarkably similar pattern in the G93A SOD1 mouse model of ALS with increases detected at preclinical stages. Expression at the RNA and protein levels as well as protein activation (phosphorylation) significantly increased with disease progression in the mouse. The markers were also elevated to a lesser degree in gastrocnemius muscle following sciatic nerve injury, but then reverted to baseline during the muscle reinnervation phase. Interpretation These data indicate that Smad1, 5, 8 mRNA and protein levels, as well as Smad phosphorylation, are elevated in ALS muscle and could potentially serve as markers of disease progression or regression.