Alexander Disease Research Update

Albee Messing
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  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Monthly discussion of recent publications from the research literature on Alexander Disease, hosted by Albee Messing from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

  1. JUL 9

    Alexander Disease Research Update – Episode #27: Genotype-phenotype association for 14 GFAP variants

    Albee Messing, Mel Feany, and Natasha Snider discuss the following recent publication:  Genotype-phenotype association for 14 GFAP variants in Alexander disease.  Neurology: Genetics. 11, e200270 (2025) [full text]   Send your questions and feedback to:  amessing@wisc.edu Help support research on Alexander Disease at the University of Wisconsin-Madison's Waisman Center:             https://alexander-disease.waisman.wisc.edu/donate/         1.      Berman RF, Matson MR, Bachman AM, Lin N-H, Coyne S, Frelka A, et al. GFAP mutation and astrocyte dysfunction lead to a neurodegenerative profile with impaired synaptic plasticity and cognitive deficits in a rat model of Alexander disease. eNeuro:(in press) (2025)   PMID: 40064497   Isolation of Intermediate Filament Proteins from Multiple Mouse Tissues to Study Aging-associated Post-translational Modifications   J Vis Exp, 18, 55655 (2017) STAT3 Drives GFAP Accumulation and Astrocyte Pathology in a Mouse Model of Alexander Disease   Cells, 12, 978 (2023) A defined roadmap of radial glia and astrocyte differentiation from human pluripotent stem cells   Stem Cell Reports, 18, 1701-1720 (2023)

    32 min

  2. APR 4

    Alexander Disease Research Update – Episode #26: Changes in gene expression and cognitive function in the rat model

    Albee Messing, Tracy Hagemann, and Rob Berman discuss the following recent publication:  [02:01]       GFAP mutation and astrocyte dysfunction lead to a neurodegenerative profile with impaired synaptic plasticity and cognitive deficits in a rat model of Alexander disease eNeuro (in press)  [full text] Send your questions and feedback to:  amessing@wisc.edu Help support research on Alexander Disease at the University of Wisconsin-Madison's Waisman Center:             https://alexander-disease.waisman.wisc.edu/donate/

    29 min

  3. JAN 22

    Alexander Disease Research Update – Episode #25: GFAP Variants in the UK Biobank - estimated prevalence of adult-onset AxD

    Albee Messing, Charlie Wade, and Mel Feany discuss the following recent publication:  [01:50]       Analysis of GFAP variants in UK Biobank suggests underdiagnosis or incomplete penetrance of adult-onset Alexander disease Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry (in press)  Please send your questions and feedback to:  amessing@wisc.edu Help support research on Alexander Disease at the University of Wisconsin-Madison's Waisman Center:            https://alexander-disease.waisman.wisc.edu/donate/

    27 min

  4. 11/25/2024

    Alexander Disease Research Update – Episode #24: 1) iPS cell model with aberrant development and 2) unusual variant in GFAP affecting the eye

    Albee Messing and Natasha Snider discuss the following recent publications:  [01:04]       Aberrant neurodevelopment in human iPS cell-derived models of Alexander disease                   Glia (2024) (in press) [16:46]       A novel GFAP frameshift variant identified in a family with optico-retinal dysplasia and vision impairment Human Molecular Genetics (2024) (in press) Send your questions and feedback to:  amessing@wisc.edu Help support research on Alexander Disease at the University of Wisconsin-Madison's Waisman Center:           https://alexander-disease.waisman.wisc.edu/donate/

    29 min

  5. 08/07/2024

    Alexander Disease Research Update - Episode #23: Albee Messing's presentation at the recent conference in Philadelphia

    Albee Messing’s presentation at the recent Alexander disease conference in Philadelphia, August 3, 2024.  Send your questions and feedback to:  amessing@wisc.edu Help support research on Alexander Disease at the University of Wisconsin-Madison's Waisman Center:             https://alexander-disease.waisman.wisc.edu/donate/

    22 min

  6. 07/07/2024

    Alexander Disease Research Update - Episode #22: 1) anesthesia and AxD, and 2) GFAP cross-linking to itself

    Albee Messing, Amy Waldman, and Natasha Snider discuss the following recent publications:  [02:07]       A retrospective observational cohort study of the anesthetic management and outcomes of pediatric patients with Alexander disease undergoing lumbar puncture or magnetic resonance imaging                   Paediatric Anesthessia (in press)  [10:17]       Glial fibrillary acidic protein is pathologically modified in Alexander disease                   Journal of Biological Chemistry (in press) [full text] Send your questions and feedback to:  amessing@wisc.edu Help support research on Alexander Disease at the University of Wisconsin-Madison's Waisman Center:           https://alexander-disease.waisman.wisc.edu/donate/       A retrospective observational cohort study of the anesthetic management and outcomes of pediatric patients with Alexander disease undergoing lumbar puncture or magnetic resonance imaging   Paediatric Anaesthesia, (in press) (2024)     Glial fibrillary acidic protein is pathologically modified in Alexander disease   Journal of Biological Chemistry, (in press) (2024)

    21 min

  7. 05/16/2024

    Alexander Disease Research Update - Episode #21: 1) Blood levels of GFAP, neurofilaments, and tau, and 2) planning for in-person conference in Philadelphia this summer.

    Albee Messing, Jenny Pearson, Natasha Snider, and Amy Waldman discuss the following recent publication and the conference planned for this summer in Philadelphia:  [02:02]       Plasma concentrations of glial fibrillary acidic protein, neurofilament light, and tau in Alexander disease          Neurological Sciences (2024)  [full text] [04:16]       Discussion about Philadelphia Conference, August 2-4, 2024    Send your questions and feedback to:  amessing@wisc.edu Help support research on Alexander Disease at the University of Wisconsin-Madison's Waisman Center:             https://alexander-disease.waisman.wisc.edu/donate/

    15 min

  8. 03/24/2024

    Alexander Disease Research Update - Episode #20: 3D bioprinting method for co-culture of neurons and astrocytes reveals new features of Alexander disease

    Albee Messing and Linghai Kong discuss the following recent publication:  [01:52]       3D bioprinting of human neural tissues with functional connectivity.  Cell Stem Cell 31:260-274.e7 (2024) [full text] Send your questions and feedback to:  amessing@wisc.edu Help support research on Alexander Disease at the University of Wisconsin-Madison's Waisman Center:           https://alexander-disease.waisman.wisc.edu/donate/         Isolation of Intermediate Filament Proteins from Multiple Mouse Tissues to Study Aging-associated Post-translational Modifications   J Vis Exp, 18, 55655 (2017) STAT3 Drives GFAP Accumulation and Astrocyte Pathology in a Mouse Model of Alexander Disease   Cells, 12, 978 (2023) A defined roadmap of radial glia and astrocyte differentiation from human pluripotent stem cells   Stem Cell Reports, 18, 1701-1720 (2023)

    16 min
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Monthly discussion of recent publications from the research literature on Alexander Disease, hosted by Albee Messing from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

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