scholarly journals Preclinical Research in Glycogen Storage Diseases: A Comprehensive Review of Current Animal Models

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (24) ◽  
pp. 9621
Author(s):  
Aitana Almodóvar-Payá ◽  
Mónica Villarreal-Salazar ◽  
Noemí de Luna ◽  
Gisela Nogales-Gadea ◽  
Alberto Real-Martínez ◽  
...  

GSD are a group of disorders characterized by a defect in gene expression of specific enzymes involved in glycogen breakdown or synthesis, commonly resulting in the accumulation of glycogen in various tissues (primarily the liver and skeletal muscle). Several different GSD animal models have been found to naturally present spontaneous mutations and others have been developed and characterized in order to further understand the physiopathology of these diseases and as a useful tool to evaluate potential therapeutic strategies. In the present work we have reviewed a total of 42 different animal models of GSD, including 26 genetically modified mouse models, 15 naturally occurring models (encompassing quails, cats, dogs, sheep, cattle and horses), and one genetically modified zebrafish model. To our knowledge, this is the most complete list of GSD animal models ever reviewed. Importantly, when all these animal models are analyzed together, we can observe some common traits, as well as model specific differences, that would be overlooked if each model was only studied in the context of a given GSD.

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yu Hu ◽  
Zhen Ye ◽  
Mingquan Wu ◽  
Yingqi She ◽  
Linzhen Li ◽  
...  

Ulcerative Colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease. The prolonged course of UC and the lack of effective treatment management make it difficult to cure, affecting the health and life safety of patients. Although UC has received more attention, the etiology and pathogenesis of UC are still unclear. Therefore, it is urgent to establish an updated and comprehensive understanding of UC and explore effective treatment strategies. Notably, sufficient evidence shows that the intestinal microbiota plays an important role in the pathogenesis of UC, and the treating method aimed at improving the balance of the intestinal microbiota exhibits a therapeutic potential for UC. This article reviews the relationship between the genetic, immunological and microbial risk factors with UC. At the same time, the UC animal models related to intestinal microbiota dysbiosis induced by chemical drugs were evaluated. Finally, the potential value of the therapeutic strategies for restoring intestinal microbial homeostasis and treating UC were also investigated. Comprehensively, this study may help to carry out preclinical research, treatment theory and methods, and health management strategy of UC, and provide some theoretical basis for TCM in the treatment of UC.


Author(s):  
Evans J. Christopher ◽  
Brigitte L. Kieffer ◽  
David Jentsch ◽  
Rafael J. Maldonado

Drug addiction, now officially diagnosed as substance use disorder (SUD), is a chronic brain syndrome characterized by the compulsive use of drugs, loss of control over drug taking in spite of its adverse consequences, and relapse even after long periods of drug abstinence. Animal models have played a critical role in our understanding of the molecules, circuits, and behaviors associated with substance use disorders. This chapter reviews animal models that have been widely used to assess all stages of the addiction cycle: from drug initiation, through drug seeking, to withdrawal and relapse. We discuss the power of genetics, especially in generating rodent models for the discovery of essential proteins and pathways regulating behaviors exhibited during the different stages of the addiction cycle. Preclinical research in animal models will undoubtedly continue to reveal therapeutic strategies for substance use disorders.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 53
Author(s):  
Giuseppe Tardiolo ◽  
Pina Brianti ◽  
Daniela Sapienza ◽  
Pia dell’Utri ◽  
Viviane Di Dio ◽  
...  

The Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a new pathogen agent causing the coronavirus infectious disease (COVID-19). This novel virus originated the most challenging pandemic in this century, causing economic and social upheaval internationally. The extreme infectiousness and high mortality rates incentivized the development of vaccines to control this pandemic to prevent further morbidity and mortality. This international scenario led academic scientists, industries, and governments to work and collaborate strongly to make a portfolio of vaccines available at an unprecedented pace. Indeed, the robust collaboration between public systems and private companies led to resolutive actions for accelerating therapeutic interventions and vaccines mechanism. These strategies contributed to rapidly identifying safe and effective vaccines as quickly and efficiently as possible. Preclinical research employed animal models to develop vaccines that induce protective and long-lived immune responses. A spectrum of vaccines is worldwide under investigation in various preclinical and clinical studies to develop both individual protection and safe development of population-level herd immunity. Companies employed and developed different technological approaches for vaccines production, including inactivated vaccines, live-attenuated, non-replicating viral vector vaccines, as well as acid nucleic-based vaccines. In this view, the present narrative review provides an overview of current vaccination strategies, taking into account both preclinical studies and clinical trials in humans. Furthermore, to better understand immunization, animal models on SARS-CoV-2 pathogenesis are also briefly discussed.


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. 1954
Author(s):  
Riccardo Vio ◽  
Annalisa Angelini ◽  
Cristina Basso ◽  
Alberto Cipriani ◽  
Alessandro Zorzi ◽  
...  

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and primary restrictive cardiomyopathy (RCM) have a similar genetic background as they are both caused mainly by variants in sarcomeric genes. These “sarcomeric cardiomyopathies” also share diastolic dysfunction as the prevalent pathophysiological mechanism. Starting from the observation that patients with HCM and primary RCM may coexist in the same family, a characteristic pathophysiological profile of HCM with restrictive physiology has been recently described and supports the hypothesis that familiar forms of primary RCM may represent a part of the phenotypic spectrum of HCM rather than a different genetic cardiomyopathy. To further complicate this scenario some infiltrative (amyloidosis) and storage diseases (Fabry disease and glycogen storage diseases) may show either a hypertrophic or restrictive phenotype according to left ventricular wall thickness and filling pattern. Establishing a correct etiological diagnosis among HCM, primary RCM, and hypertrophic or restrictive phenocopies is of paramount importance for cascade family screening and therapy.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zahra Beyzaei ◽  
Fatih Ezgu ◽  
Bita Geramizadeh ◽  
Mohammad Hadi Imanieh ◽  
Mahmood Haghighat ◽  
...  

AbstractGlycogen storage diseases (GSDs) are known as complex disorders with overlapping manifestations. These features also preclude a specific clinical diagnosis, requiring more accurate paraclinical tests. To evaluate the patients with particular diagnosis features characterizing GSD, an observational retrospective case study was designed by performing a targeted gene sequencing (TGS) for accurate subtyping. A total of the 15 pediatric patients were admitted to our hospital and referred for molecular genetic testing using TGS. Eight genes namely SLC37A4, AGL, GBE1, PYGL, PHKB, PGAM2, and PRKAG2 were detected to be responsible for the onset of the clinical symptoms. A total number of 15 variants were identified i.e. mostly loss-of-function (LoF) variants, of which 10 variants were novel. Finally, diagnosis of GSD types Ib, III, IV, VI, IXb, IXc, X, and GSD of the heart, lethal congenital was made in 13 out of the 14 patients. Notably, GSD-IX and GSD of the heart-lethal congenital (i.e. PRKAG2 deficiency) patients have been reported in Iran for the first time which shown the development of liver cirrhosis with novel variants. These results showed that TGS, in combination with clinical, biochemical, and pathological hallmarks, could provide accurate and high-throughput results for diagnosing and sub-typing GSD and related diseases.


2007 ◽  
Vol 30 (3) ◽  
pp. 350-357 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Bhattacharya ◽  
R. C. Orton ◽  
X. Qi ◽  
H. Mundy ◽  
D. W. Morley ◽  
...  

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vjekoslav Krželj ◽  
Ivana Čulo Čagalj

Inherited metabolic disorders can cause heart diseases, cardiomyopathy in particular, as well as cardiac arrhythmias, valvular and coronary diseases. More than 40 different inherited metabolic disorders can provoke cardiomyopathy, including lysosomal storage disorders, fatty acid oxidation defects, organic acidemias, amino acidopathies, glycogen storage diseases, congenital disorders of glycosylation as well as peroxisomal and mitochondrial disorders. If identified and diagnosed on time, some of congenital metabolic diseases could be successfully treated. It is important to assume them in cases when heart diseases are etiologically undefined. Rapid technological development has made it easier to establish the diagnosis of these diseases. This article will focus on common inherited metabolic disorders that cause heart diseases, as well as on diseases that might be possible to treat.


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