Deep clinical, genetic, and serum biomarker profiling indicates glial and neuronal pathology in primary brain calcification.
| Title: | Deep clinical, genetic, and serum biomarker profiling indicates glial and neuronal pathology in primary brain calcification. |
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| Authors: | Schwahn J; Division of Neurodegeneration, Department of Neurology, Mannheim Center for Translational Neurosciences, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim 68167, Germany.; Hebestreit S; Division of Neurodegeneration, Department of Neurology, Mannheim Center for Translational Neurosciences, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim 68167, Germany.; Kosche O; Division of Neurodegeneration, Department of Neurology, Mannheim Center for Translational Neurosciences, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim 68167, Germany.; Steinacker P; Department of Neurology, Martin-Luther-University of Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale) 06120, Germany.; Sandikci V; Department of Neurology, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim 68167, Germany.; Winzer I; Division of Neurodegeneration, Department of Neurology, Mannheim Center for Translational Neurosciences, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim 68167, Germany.; Hesebeck-Brinckmann J; Division of Neurodegeneration, Department of Neurology, Mannheim Center for Translational Neurosciences, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim 68167, Germany.; Department of Neurology, University of Ulm, Ulm 89081, Germany.; Bachhuber F; Department of Neurology, University of Ulm, Ulm 89081, Germany.; Valkadinov I; Division of Neurodegeneration, Department of Neurology, Mannheim Center for Translational Neurosciences, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim 68167, Germany.; Nittka S; Institute for Clinical Chemistry, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim 68167, Germany.; Mesin L; Division of Neurodegeneration, Department of Neurology, Mannheim Center for Translational Neurosciences, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim 68167, Germany.; Brauner M; Division of Neurodegeneration, Department of Neurology, Mannheim Center for Translational Neurosciences, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim 68167, Germany.; von Arnim C; Department of Geriatrics, University of Göttingen Medical Center, Göttingen 37075, Germany.; Santhanam N; Department of Biomedical Informatics, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim 68167, Germany.; Spreyer M; Division of Neurodegeneration, Department of Neurology, Mannheim Center for Translational Neurosciences, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim 68167, Germany.; Sackmaier R; Department of Neurology, Elisabethinen Clinic, Graz 8020, Austria.; Knehr A; Division of Neurodegeneration, Department of Neurology, Mannheim Center for Translational Neurosciences, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim 68167, Germany.; Department of Neurology, University of Ulm, Ulm 89081, Germany.; Barthel P; Division of Neurodegeneration, Department of Neurology, Mannheim Center for Translational Neurosciences, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim 68167, Germany.; Bähr O; Department of Neurology, Aschaffenburg-Alzenau Clinic, Aschaffenburg 63739, Germany.; Gruber H; Department of Neurology, Aschaffenburg-Alzenau Clinic, Aschaffenburg 63739, Germany.; Stallforth S; Department of Molecular Neurology, University Hospital Erlangen, Erlangen 91054, Germany.; Regensburger M; Department of Molecular Neurology, University Hospital Erlangen, Erlangen 91054, Germany.; Winkler J; Department of Molecular Neurology, University Hospital Erlangen, Erlangen 91054, Germany.; Yilmaz R; Division of Neurodegeneration, Department of Neurology, Mannheim Center for Translational Neurosciences, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim 68167, Germany.; Neumaier M; Institute for Clinical Chemistry, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim 68167, Germany.; Tumani H; Department of Neurology, University of Ulm, Ulm 89081, Germany.; Maros ME; Department of Biomedical Informatics, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim 68167, Germany.; Department of Neuroradiology, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim 68167, Germany.; Wenz H; Department of Neuroradiology, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim 68167, Germany.; Brenner D; Division of Neurodegeneration, Department of Neurology, Mannheim Center for Translational Neurosciences, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim 68167, Germany.; Department of Neurology, University of Ulm, Ulm 89081, Germany.; Otto M; Department of Neurology, Martin-Luther-University of Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale) 06120, Germany.; Ebert A; Department of Neurology, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim 68167, Germany.; Conrad J; Division of Neurodegeneration, Department of Neurology, Mannheim Center for Translational Neurosciences, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim 68167, Germany.; Weishaupt JH; Division of Neurodegeneration, Department of Neurology, Mannheim Center for Translational Neurosciences, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim 68167, Germany.; Department of Neurology, University of Ulm, Ulm 89081, Germany. |
| Source: | Brain communications [Brain Commun] 2025 Oct 07; Vol. 7 (6), pp. fcaf388. Date of Electronic Publication: 2025 Oct 07 (Print Publication: 2025). |
| Publication Type: | Journal Article |
| Language: | English |
| Journal Info: | Publisher: Oxford University Press Country of Publication: England NLM ID: 101755125 Publication Model: eCollection Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 2632-1297 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 26321297 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Brain Commun Subsets: PubMed not MEDLINE |
| Imprint Name(s): | Original Publication: [Oxford] : Oxford University Press, [2019]- |
| Abstract: | Primary brain calcification (primary familial brain calcification in inherited cases) is an often-genetic condition characterized by symmetrical brain calcifications and neuropsychiatric symptoms. The calcifications can also occur without overt clinical symptoms. Identifying laboratory biomarkers in primary brain calcification and their association with imaging, genetic, and clinical data will be crucial for a deeper understanding of primary brain calcification causation and progression and the planning of therapeutic trials. The serum biomarkers for neuronal degeneration (phosphorylated tau, neuron-specific enolase, neurofilament light- and heavy chain) and glial activation (glial fibrillary acidic protein, S100 calcium-binding protein B) were measured in 101 probands (41 controls and 60 probands with primary brain calcification). The deep phenotyping protocol of the German Fahr-NET register included neurological and neuropsychological examination, routine laboratory workup, and whole exome sequencing. We also performed and analyzed 45 cranial CT scans using the total calcification score. While mild pallidal calcifications were observed early in young, asymptomatic primary brain calcification mutation carriers, individuals with calcifications extending beyond the pallidum were symptomatic. Individuals with primary brain calcification had elevated serum glial fibrillary acidic protein and neurofilament light chain levels. Serum biomarkers correlated with both the extent of calcifications and the clinical impairment. Elevated parathyroid hormone levels distinguished the primary brain calcification group without identified mutation from both genetic primary brain calcification and control groups. Our results define a practical imaging cut-off indicating the presence of primary brain calcification symptoms. Elevated parathyroid hormone levels in primary brain calcification without identified mutation, but not in primary brain calcification with a monogenic cause, suggest abortive calcium regulation defects as a pathogenic factor specifically for primary brain calcification without identified mutation. Elevated glial fibrillary acidic protein and neurofilament concentrations in individuals with primary brain calcification indicate early, chronic astrocytosis and neuronal impairment, respectively. The significant association of neurofilament light chain with clinical scores and brain imaging results will be relevant for future therapeutic studies.; (© The Author(s) 2025. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Guarantors of Brain.) |
| Competing Interests: | The authors report no competing interests. |
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| Contributed Indexing: | Keywords: basal ganglia calcification; biomarker; movement disorder; neurogenetics; primary brain calcification |
| Entry Date(s): | Date Created: 20251103 Date Completed: 20251103 Latest Revision: 20251130 |
| Update Code: | 20260130 |
| PubMed Central ID: | PMC12574706 |
| DOI: | 10.1093/braincomms/fcaf388 |
| PMID: | 41180951 |
| Database: | MEDLINE |
Journal Article