ERBB4 mutations that disrupt the neuregulin-ErbB4 pathway cause amyotrophic lateral sclerosis type 19.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a devastating neurological disorder characterized by the degeneration of motor neurons and typically results in death within 3-5 years from onset. Familial ALS (FALS) comprises 5%-10% of ALS cases, and the identification of genes associated with FALS is indispensable to elucidating the molecular pathogenesis. We identified a Japanese family affected by late-onset, autosomal-dominant ALS in which mutations in genes known to be associated with FALS were excluded. A whole- genome sequencing and parametric linkage analysis under the assumption of an autosomal-dominant mode of inheritance with incomplete penetrance revealed the mutation c.2780G>A (p. Arg927Gln) in ERBB4. An extensive mutational analysis revealed the same mutation in a Canadian individual with familial ALS and a de novo mutation, c.3823C>T (p. Arg1275Trp), in a Japanese simplex case. These amino acid substitutions involve amino acids highly conserved among species, are predicted as probably damaging, and are located within a tyrosine kinase domain (p. Arg927Gln) or a C-terminal domain (p. Arg1275Trp), both of which mediate essential functions of ErbB4 as a receptor tyrosine kinase. Functional analysis revealed that these mutations led to a reduced autophosphorylation of ErbB4 upon neuregulin-1 (NRG-1) stimulation. Clinical presentations of the individuals with mutations were characterized by the involvement of both upper and lower motor neurons, a lack of obvious cognitive dysfunction, and relatively slow progression. This study indicates that disruption of the neuregulin-ErbB4 pathway is involved in the pathogenesis of ALS and potentially paves the way for the development of innovative therapeutic strategies such using NRGs or their agonists to upregulate ErbB4 functions.

Effect of renal impairment on the pharmacokinetics of memantine.

The effect of renal impairment on the pharmacokinetics of a single oral dose of memantine (10 mg) was determined in Japanese subjects. Subjects were assigned to four groups based on baseline creatinine clearance (CL(CR)): normal renal function (> 80 mL/min, n = 6), and mild (50 to ≤ 80 mL/min, n = 6), moderate (30 to < 50 mL/min, n = 6), and severe renal impairment (5 to < 30 mL/min, n = 7). Mean memantine maximum plasma concentration (C(max)) was similar in the groups (12.66, 17.25, 15.75, and 15.83 ng/mL, respectively), as was mean time to C(max) (6.2, 5.2, 4.3, and 5.4 h, respectively). However, exposure to memantine determined from mean area under the plasma concentration-time curve was 1.62-, 1.97-, and 2.33-times higher in subjects with mild, moderate, and severe renal impairment, respectively, as compared to controls with normal renal function. Mean memantine plasma elimination half-life increased according to increasing renal impairment (61.15, 83.00, 100.13, and 124.31 h, respectively), while mean cumulative urinary recovery of unchanged memantine in 72 h after dosing decreased according to increasing renal impairment (33.68%, 33.47%, 23.60%, and 16.17%, respectively). These results are the same as those in the previous study on caucasian individuals, when compared per body weight. It is suggested that the dose of memantine should be halved in patients with renal impairment.

Inter- and intra-individual variation in L-dopa pharmacokinetics in the treatment of Parkinson's disease.

Parkinson's disease is a neurodegenerative, slowly progressive, age-related disorder. Numerous medications have been developed for its treatment and the prognosis of the disorder has improved greatly over recent years. However, the effects of medicines are variable among patients, and there are also daily fluctuations in the effects of medications in the same person. The factors that cause individual variations in the effects of medicines, the causes, and strategies to cope with these fluctuations are reviewed.

Effect of clarithromycin on the pharmacokinetics of cabergoline in healthy controls and in patients with Parkinson's disease.

Cabergoline is used in the treatment of Parkinson's disease (PD). Clarithromycin is a potent inhibitor of CYP3A4 and P-glycoprotein and is often co-administered with cabergoline in usual clinical practice. We studied the effect of clarithromycin co-administration on the blood concentration of cabergoline in healthy male volunteers and in PD patients. Study 1: Ten healthy male volunteers were enrolled and were randomized to take a single oral dose of cabergoline (1 mg/day) for 6 days or a single oral dose of cabergoline plus clarithromycin (400 mg/day) for 6 days. Study 2: Seven PD patients receiving stable cabergoline doses were enrolled. They were evaluated for the plasma cabergoline concentration before and after the addition of clarithromycin 400 mg/day for 6 days, and again 1 month after discontinuation of clarithromycin. The dose and duration of clarithromycin were decided according to usual clinical practice. In healthy male volunteers, mean Cmax and AUC(0-10 h) of cabergoline increased to a similar degree during co-administration of clarithromycin. Mean plasma cabergoline concentration over 10 h post-dosing increased 2.6-fold with clarithromycin co-administration. In PD patients, plasma cabergoline concentration increased 1.7-fold during clarithromycin co-administration. Co-administration with clarithromycin may increase the blood concentration of cabergoline in healthy volunteers and in PD patients.

[Inter- and intraindividual pharmacokinetic variations in the treatment of Parkinson's disease].

In the treatment of Parkinson's disease, levodopa, DCI, MAO-B inhibitor, COMT inhibitors, dopamine receptor agonists, amantadine, anticholinergics have been applied and new drugs are being developed. Levodopa is still the golden standard in the treatment of Parkinson's disease. The study on levodopa bioavailability showed 3-4 times differences in individual patients. Drug-food interactions are prominent in levodopa. Low protein food increased levodopa bioavailability and improved no ON or delayed ON in the treatment of Parkinson's disease. Vitamine C or magnesium did not alter the bioavailability of levodopa. The bioavailability of levodopa between the levodopa/carbidioa (100/12.5) group and the levodopa/benserazide (100/25) group was studied in patients with Parkinson's disease by population PK study. C(max) of levodopa in levodeopa/benserazide group was twice as high as in levodopa/carbidopa group. Domperidone, a dopamine receptor antagonist applied as an antiemetic inceases vowel movement. The effect of domperidone on levodopa bioavailability was studied, and the combination of domperidone with levodopa increased AUC of levodopa. Clarythromycin or grape fruit juice inhibits both of CYP3A4 and P-glycoprotein which work on metabolism and absorption of drugs. Coadministration of clarythromycin with ergot alkaloids such as cabergoline or bromocriptine increased the AUC up to 2-3 times. Amantadine is excreted through kidney without being metabolized and renal function is the most important factor in the blood concentration of amantadine. In elder women with the body weight of 50 kg or less, creatinine clearance is less than 50 ml/min even though the serum creatinine is within the normal range. Selegiline is metabolized through CYP2D6 and 3A4. Coadministration of qunidine, cimetidine, maclorides, antifungals, grape fruit juice increase the bioavailability of selegiline and may augment the antiparkinsonian effect.