Pathology of three ALS patients with FUS variants, including one likely benign Q23L variant lacking FUS inclusionsVisa övriga samt affilieringar
2025 (Engelska)Ingår i: Human Molecular Genetics, ISSN 0964-6906, E-ISSN 1460-2083, Vol. 34, nr 18, s. 1553-1562Artikel i tidskrift (Refereegranskat) Published
Abstract [en]
Fused in sarcoma (FUS) is an RNA-binding protein implicated in juvenile amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Mutations in the FUS gene, particularly those affecting the nuclear localization signal (NLS), impair nuclear import and lead to cytoplasmic accumulation of FUS inclusions in motor neurons. However, the pathological and clinical significance of FUS variants outside the NLS remains less understood. Here, we describe clinical and histopathological findings from three ALS patients carrying FUS variants: two with NLS-region variants (R495X and P525L), and one with a variant in the N-terminal region outside the NLS (Q23L). The patients carrying NLS variants presented with aggressive, juvenile-onset spinal and bulbar ALS, characterized primarily by lower motor neuron involvement and rapid disease progression. In contrast, the Q23L patient exhibited a slowly progressive disease course, with predominantly upper motor neuron signs. Neuropathological analysis revealed cytoplasmic FUS inclusions in motor neurons of patients with NLS variants, consistent with typical FUS pathology. In contrast, the Q23L patient lacked FUS inclusions and instead displayed pTDP-43 pathology in the hippocampus, neocortex (including the motor cortex), nucleus olivaris, lentiform nucleus, striatum, and some lower motor neurons. Taken together, these results suggest that Q23L is most likely a benign variant. As antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) targeting FUS are currently being explored in clinical trials, further neuropathological investigations are needed to determine whether ASO-mediated FUS silencing would be effective for patients carrying FUS variants outside the NLS region.
Ort, förlag, år, upplaga, sidor
Oxford University Press, 2025. Vol. 34, nr 18, s. 1553-1562
Nyckelord [en]
amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Neuropathology, Fused in sarcoma, de novo, genetics
Nationell ämneskategori
Neurologi Neurovetenskaper
Identifikatorer
URN: urn:nbn:se:umu:diva-243142DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddaf119ISI: 001528115500001PubMedID: 40659544Scopus ID: 2-s2.0-105015180484OAI: oai:DiVA.org:umu-243142DiVA, id: diva2:1989808
Forskningsfinansiär
Hjärnfonden, FO2023–0088Hjärnfonden, FO2024–0232Ulla-Carin Lindquist Stiftelse för ALS-forskning, 2023.10Ulla-Carin Lindquist Stiftelse för ALS-forskning, 2023.16Region Västerbotten, RV-1005785Region Västerbotten, RV-1013622Region Västerbotten, RV-993493Region Västerbotten, RV-996234Region Västerbotten, RV-1014212Region Västerbotten, RV-9961402025-08-182025-08-182025-09-30Bibliografiskt granskad