The Role of TAR DNA Binding Protein 43 (TDP-43) as a CandiDate Biomarker of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

• Published in: Diagnostics (Basel) Vol. 13; no. 3; p. 416
• Main Authors: Gambino, Caterina Maria, Ciaccio, Anna Maria, Lo Sasso, Bruna, Giglio, Rosaria Vincenza, Vidali, Matteo, Agnello, Luisa, Ciaccio, Marcello
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 23-01-2023; MDPI
• Subjects: Accuracy; ALS; Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; Bias; Biological markers; biomarker; Biomarkers; Case reports; Cytoplasm; Diagnosis; Disease; DNA binding proteins; Genetic aspects; Health aspects; Maximum likelihood method; Meta-analysis; Mutation; Patients; Proteins; Systematic Review; TDP-43; Italy; ALS; diagnosis; biomarker; TDP-43
• ISSN: 2075-4418; 2075-4418
• DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics13030416

TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43) aggregation in neuronal cells is recognized as a hallmark of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Although the literature strongly supports the pathogenetic role of TDP-43 in ALS pathogenesis, the role of TDP-43 as a biomarker of ALS is controversial. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the diagnostic performance of TDP-43 for ALS.
Relevant publications were identified by a systematic literature search on PubMed and Web of Science from their inception to 8 April 2022.
Seven studies, including 472 individuals, of whom 254 had ALS according to the Revised Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Functional Rating Scale, met the inclusion criteria for our meta-analysis. According to the random-effects model, CSF TDP-43 levels are higher in ALS patients compared with control groups.
CSF TDP-43 could represent a biomarker of ALS, but further studies are mandatory before drawing conclusions.