Recent advances in the genetics of distal hereditary motor neuropathy give insight to a disease mechanism involving copper homeostasis that may extend to other motor neuron disorders

Clin Genet. 2011 Jan;79(1):23-34. doi: 10.1111/j.1399-0004.2010.01591.x.

Abstract

Distal hereditary motor neuropathy (dHMN) is a sub-group of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT), the most common peripheral neuropathy, that affects only motor neurons. The recent observation of ATP7A mutations in dHMN provides insight for a common disease mechanism that may involve copper homeostasis. Functionally, diverse proteins were previously shown to underlie dHMN and a convergent link is destined to unfold for some of these. We propose connections between copper and known dHMN genes that overlap also with the causative genes of other motor neuron disorders (MNDs).

MeSH terms

  • Adenosine Triphosphatases / genetics
  • Adenosine Triphosphatases / metabolism
  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Cation Transport Proteins / genetics
  • Cation Transport Proteins / metabolism
  • Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease / diagnosis
  • Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease / genetics*
  • Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease / metabolism*
  • Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease / physiopathology
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Copper* / metabolism
  • Copper-Transporting ATPases
  • Genetic Predisposition to Disease*
  • Homeostasis
  • Humans
  • Motor Neuron Disease / diagnosis
  • Motor Neuron Disease / genetics*
  • Motor Neuron Disease / metabolism*
  • Motor Neuron Disease / physiopathology
  • Motor Neurons / metabolism*
  • Motor Neurons / pathology
  • Mutation
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Cation Transport Proteins
  • Copper
  • Adenosine Triphosphatases
  • ATP7A protein, human
  • Copper-Transporting ATPases