Search

Neurological biomarkers are particularly valuable to clinicians as they can be used for diagnosis, prognosis, or response to treatment. This field of neurology has evolved considerably in recent years with the improvement of analytical methods, allowing the detection of biomarkers not only in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) but also in less invasive fluids like blood. These advances greatly facilitate the repeated quantification of biomarkers, including at asymptomatic stages of the disease. Among the various informative biomarkers of neurological disorders, neurofilaments (NfL) have proven to be of particular interest in many contexts, such as neurodegenerative diseases, traumatic brain injury, multiple sclerosis, stroke, and cancer. Here we discuss these different pathologies and the potential value of NfL assay in the management of these patients, both for diagnosis and prognosis. We also describe the added value of NfL compared to other biomarkers currently used to monitor the diseases described in this review.

Cell polarity is crucial for almost every cell in our body to establish distinct structural and functional domains. Polarized cells have an asymmetrical morphology and therefore their proteins need to be asymmetrically distributed to support their function. Subcellular protein distribution is typically achieved by localization peptides within the protein sequence. However, protein delivery to distinct cellular compartments can rely, not only on the transport of the protein itself but also on the transport of the mRNA that is then translated at target sites. This phenomenon is known as local protein synthesis. Local protein synthesis relies on the transport of mRNAs to subcellular domains and their translation to proteins at target sites by the also localized translation machinery. Neurons and glia specially depend upon the accurate subcellular distribution of their proteome to fulfil their polarized functions. In this sense, local protein synthesis has revealed itself as a crucial mechanism that regulates proper protein homeostasis in subcellular compartments. Thus, deregulation of mRNA transport and/or of localized translation can lead to neurological and neurodegenerative diseases. Local translation has been more extensively studied in neurons than in glia. In this review article, we will summarize the state-of-the art research on local protein synthesis in neuronal function and dysfunction, and we will discuss the possibility that local translation in glia and deregulation thereof contributes to neurological and neurodegenerative diseases. This paper was partially funded by grants awarded to J.B. (MICINN grants SAF2016-76347-R, RYC-2016-19837 and PID2019-110721RB-I00; The Alzheimer’s Association grant AARG-19-618303) and E.A. (MICINN grant PID2019-108465RB-I00; Basque Government grant PIBA-2020-1-0012). M.B.-U. is a UPV/EHU fellow; A.G.-B. is a FPU (FPU17/04891) fellow; M.G. and A.d.l.C. are GV fellows.

Capgras Syndrome is a subcategory of delusional disorder. People affected by this syndrome believe that a close associate such as a friend or family member has been replaced by an identical imposter. This case report describes a 23-year-old woman with no prior psychiatric history, whom developed Capgras syndrome, via folie a deux, in the setting of poly-substance use. In this patient, a combination of Aripiprazole 10 mg daily and Escitalopram 10 mg daily were effective in resolving symptoms. Clonazepam was utilized for anxiety and Omega-3 fatty acids 1 g for anti-oxidative effects. Further studies are needed to investigate the effects of a variety of causes and treatments for Capgras Syndrome.