Retinal neurodegeneration and an innovative nanostructured approach in an iron overload in vivo model

Expression of vesicle-associated membrane-protein-associated protein B cleavage products in peripheral blood leukocytes and cerebrospinal fluid of patients with sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Background and purpose Vesicle-associated membrane-protein-associated protein B (VAPB) is an endoplasmic reticulum (ER) resident protein participating in ER function, vesicle trafficking, calcium homeostasis and lipid transport. Its N-terminal domain, named MSP, is cleaved and secreted, serving as an extracellular ligand. VAPB mutations are linked to autosomal-dominant motor neuron diseases, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) type 8. An altered VAPB function is also suspected in sporadic ALS (SALS). Methods The expression pattern of VAPB cleavage and secreted products in the peripheral blood leukocytes (PBL) and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of SALS patients and neurological controls…