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Original research
Persistent neuromuscular junction transmission defects in adults with spinal muscular atrophy treated with nusinersen
  1. W David Arnold1,
  2. Steven Severyn2,
  3. Songzhu Zhao3,
  4. David Kline3,
  5. Matthew Linsenmayer4,
  6. Kristina Kelly1,
  7. Marco Tellez1,
  8. Amy Bartlett1,
  9. Sarah Heintzman1,
  10. Jerry Reynolds1,
  11. Gary Sterling1,
  12. Tristan Weaver2,
  13. Kiran Rajneesh1,
  14. Arthur H M Burghes5,
  15. Stephen J Kolb1,5 and
  16. Bakri Elsheikh1
  1. 1Neurology, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio, USA
  2. 2Anesthesiology, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio, USA
  3. 3Biomedical Informatics and Center for Biostatistics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
  4. 4Assistive Technology Department, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio, USA
  5. 5Department of Biological Chemistry and Pharmacology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
  1. Correspondence to Dr Bakri Elsheikh; Bakri.elsheikh{at}osumc.edu

Abstract

Objective Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a motor neuron disease caused by low levels of survival motor neuron (SMN) protein. Prior work in models and patients has demonstrated electrophysiological and morphological defects at the neuromuscular junction (NMJ). Therapeutic development has resulted in clinically available therapies to increase SMN protein levels in patients and improve muscle function. Here we aimed to investigate the effect of SMN restoration (via nusinersen) on NMJ transmission in adults with SMA.

Methods Participants undergoing nusinersen treatment underwent 3 Hz repetitive nerve stimulation (RNS) of the spinal accessory nerve to assess compound muscle action potential amplitude decrement. Maximum voluntary isometric contraction (MVICT), Revised Upper Limb Module (RULM), and 6 min walk test (6MWT) were assessed for correlations with decrement.

Results Data from 13 ambulatory (7 men/6 women, mean age 40±11 years) and 11 non-ambulatory (3 men/8 women, mean age 38±12 years) participants were analysed. Cross-sectional analyses of RNS decrement were similar at 14 months of nusinersen (−14.2%±11.5%, n=17) vs baseline (−11.9%±8.3%, n=15) (unpaired t-test, p=0.5202). Longitudinal comparison of decrement in eight participants showed no change at 14 months (−13.9%±6.7%) vs baseline (−16.9%±13.4%) (paired t-test, p=0.5863). Decrement showed strong correlations with measures of MVICT, RULM and 6MWT but not age or disease duration.

Conclusion Adults with SMA had significant NMJ transmission defects that were not corrected with 14 months of nusinersen treatment. NMJ defects were negatively associated with physical function, and thus may represent a promising target for additive or combinatorial treatments.

  • spinal muscular atrophy
  • neuromuscular
  • EMG

Data availability statement

We will make all data available to qualified investigators upon reasonable request.

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/

This is an open access article distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited, appropriate credit is given, any changes made indicated, and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/.

https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjno-2021-000164

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    Background

    Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is an autosomal recessive disorder of the alpha motor neuron that results in muscle atrophy, weakness and fatigue.1 2 SMA is caused by homozygous loss or mutation of the SMN1 gene. The low levels of full-length survival motor neuron (SMN) protein produced by SMN2 are insufficient for motor neuron survival and normal motor function.3 SMN2 copy number varies, and patients with more SMN2 copies usually have less severe muscle weakness and later clinical onset.4–6 Progress in the field of SMA has resulted in the clinical implementation of three different therapeutics that can increase SMN protein. Nusinersen (Spinraza) is an antisense oligonucleotide therapy that is delivered intrathecally to increase full-length SMN protein production from the SMN2 gene.7–11 Onasemnogene abeparvovec-xioi (Zolgensma) is an adeno-associated subtype 9 viral delivery of the SMN cDNA to express full-length SMN protein.12 Risdiplam (EVRYSDI) is a small molecule drug that is delivered orally to increase full-length SMN protein production from SMN2.13 14 While these SMN-restoring treatments can result in dramatic, positive clinical responses, the therapeutic effects correlate negatively with delayed intervention (ie, after motor neuron dysfunction).7–12 Thus, there are ongoing needs for additional therapeutic options for patients treated at later stages of disease progression.

    Prior preclinical and clinical studies have shown that neuromuscular junction (NMJ) transmission defects are evident in animal models of SMA and patients affected by SMA, but the impact of SMN restoration on these defects is less clear, particularly in patients.15–18 The objective of this study was to perform a secondary analysis in a subset of 24 participants with SMA who underwent repetitive nerve stimulation (RNS) assessment of NMJ transmission as part of a pair of prospective, open-label studies that investigated the effects of nusinersen in non-ambulatory and ambulatory adults with SMA when administered in the symptomatic phase.

    Methods

    Study overview

    This substudy was performed as part of two prospective, open-label studies (clinicaltrials.gov: NCT04139343 and NCT04591678) that were conducted at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Centre between June 2017 and January 2020.19 20 Data collection for this substudy was conducted between May 2019 and October 2020. All procedures were approved by the institutional review board, and before enrolment, written informed consent was obtained. Inclusion criteria included age 18 or older, genetically confirmed 5q SMA, and insurance approval for treatment with nusinersen or qualification for free drug. Exclusion criteria included history of bacterial meningitis or encephalitis, investigational treatment for SMA in the last 6 months, treatment with gene therapy, stem cell or antisense oligonucleotide and investigator opinion that the participant was mentally or legally unable to provide informed consent.

    The outcome assessment of primary interest in this analysis was per cent (%) compound muscle action potential (CMAP) amplitude decrement during RNS of the spinal accessory nerve at 3 Hz. Participants were seen at a screening baseline assessment to determine eligibility and to obtain outcome assessments prior to initiation of nusinersen treatment. This baseline assessment was performed within 4 weeks of starting nusinersen therapy. Following determination of eligibility, participants were enrolled and completed induction of intrathecal nusinersen treatment on days 1, 15, 29 and 60 followed by maintenance doses every 4 months. Participants underwent repeated outcome assessments at 2, 6, 10 and 14 months of nusinersen treatment. In a subset of participants, RNS was performed at baseline and 14 months postnusinersen treatment, and other outcome assessments obtained at baseline and 14 months were also analysed in this study.

    Procedures and outcome measures

    The primary outcome assessment for this study was % CMAP amplitude decrement during RNS of the spinal accessory nerve at 3 Hz. RNS was performed by recording CMAP amplitude from the trapezius muscle during at train of 10 supramaximal stimuli delivered to the spinal accessory nerve.16 17 CMAP decrement was calculated as follows: CMAP decrement %=(fourth CMAP–first CMAP amplitude)/(first CMAP amplitude)×100%. A decrement of CMAP amplitude of 10% or more was considered abnormal.21

    Other outcome measures analysed included maximum voluntary isometric contraction testing (MVICT) of bilateral elbow flexion and extension, hand grip, key pinch, and knee flexion and extension, which were averaged for a single value for each joint movement, 6 min walk test (6MWT) total distance and fatigue (fatigue ratio: distance during the final minute divided by the first minute=6 min distance/1 min distance),1 22 Hammersmith Functional Rating Scale Expanded (HFMSE) score,23 Revised Upper Limb Module (RULM),24 ulnar CMAP amplitude, ulnar single motor unit potential (SMUP) amplitude and motor unit number estimation (MUNE). Testing methodologies for strength measurement and functional assessments were consistent with prior published trials.25 Ulnar CMAP amplitude was assessed using standard techniques.25 Multipoint incremental MUNE technique is used to obtain the SMUP and MUNE.8

    Statistical analysis

    Descriptive statistics were performed to characterise the study population and demographics. As spinal accessory RNS and CMAP were only obtained at the baseline and 14-month visits in a subset of participants, these data were analysed in two ways: cross-sectional (all participants, regardless if data was only obtained at one visit) and longitudinal (only participants with both baseline and month 14 data). Spinal accessory RNS decrement and CMAP amplitude were compared cross-sectionally using unpaired t-test between all untreated participants who underwent testing versus all participants who underwent testing following 14 months of treatment. In a proportion of patients, RNS and CMAP amplitude testing were obtained both at baseline (pretreatment) and following 14 months of treatment, and in these participants, RNS decrement and CMAP amplitude were compared using paired t-tests. Assumptions required for a t-test were checked and verified.

    Pearson correlation coefficients between spinal accessory RNS decrement and CMAP amplitude (in all patients at 14 months of nusinersen treatment) were calculated versus age and disease duration. Additionally, spinal accessory RNS decrement and CMAP amplitudes were compared between ambulatory and non-ambulatory patients at 14 months of treatment with nusinersen using unpaired t-test. SMN2 copy number was compared in participants with and without >10% CMAP amplitude loss (decrement) on RNS using unpaired t-test.

    Associations between muscle strength and physical function were investigated in ambulatory patients (following 14 months of nusinersen treatment) by calculating Pearson correlation coefficients between RNS % CMAP decrement versus electrophysiological testing, MVICT testing, 6MWT distance, 6MWT fatigue, RULM and HFMSE score. For all comparisons, p<0.05 was considered significant. Statistical analyses were performed with GraphPad Prism V.8.4.3 (GraphPad Software, San Diego, California, USA).

    Results

    Cohort description

    Data from 24 participants were analysed (figure 1) . Of these, 13 were ambulatory (7 men/6 women, mean age 40±11 years, mean SMN2 copy number 3.8±0.6 (3 copies, n=4, 31%; four copies, n=8, 62%; five copies=1, 8%)) and 11 were non-ambulatory (3 men/8 women, mean age 38±12 years, mean SMN2 copy number 3.2±0.4 (3 copies, n=9, 82%; four copies, n=2, 18%)). RNS assessments were initiated as a substudy following the enrolment of some participants, baseline RNS values were not obtained in a proportion of participants. Additionally, COVID-19-related restrictions led to missing RNS data at the month 14 visit in a proportion of participants. A total of 17 participants (7 ambulatory) were assessed at baseline, and a total of 15 participants (9 ambulatory) were assessed at 14 months of nusinersen treatment. Of the 24 participants, a total of 8 (3 ambulatory) underwent NMJ assessment both prior to nusinersen treatment and also at 14 months of nusinersen treatment. A total of 16 participants lacked longitudinal data (data at baseline and month 14 visits). Eight participants did not have baseline assessments as they had already initiated nusinersen at the start of this substudy. Five participants lacked month 14 visit data (two due to COVID-19 restrictions and three for study withdrawal). In three participants, the month 14 visit occurred after data lock and analyses (10/2020). One participant was taking oral albuterol 4 mg/day. No other participants were taking any agents that might impact NMJ transmission including pyridostigmine or 3,4-diaminopyridine.

    Figure 1
    Figure 1

    Study timeline and participant recruitment.

    Impact of nusinersen on CMAP decrement and CMAP amplitude

    Spinal accessory CMAP decrement during RNS and CMAP amplitude were analysed cross-sectionally (all participants with assessment at baseline and/or month 14) and longitudinally (only participants with assessments at baseline and month 14), pre-14 months and post-14 months of nusinersen treatment (figure 2A,B). Accordingly, there were no significant changes in severity of CMAP amplitude decrement following treatment. After 14 months of nusinersen treatment, 9 of 15 (60%) participants had >10% CMAP amplitude decrement.

    Figure 2
    Figure 2

    Nusinersen does not result in overt improvement of CMAP decrement during RNS but does improve CMAP amplitude. (A) Cross-sectional analysis of CMAP decrement demonstrated no significant difference in assessments after 14 months of nusinersen (14 months of nusinersen treatment: −11.9%±8.3%, n=15, nine ambulatory) vs assessments prior to treatment (−14.2%±11.5% decrement, n=17, seven ambulatory) (unpaired t-test, p=0.5202). (B) Similarly, longitudinal assessment of a subset of participants (n=8, three ambulatory) demonstrated that CMAP amplitude decrement following 14 months of treatment (−13.9%±6.7%) was similar to baseline (−16.9%±13.4%) (paired t-test, p=0.5863). (C) Cross-sectional analysis of CMAP amplitude demonstrated no significant difference after 14 months of treatment (4.3±2.4 mV, n=15, nine ambulatory) vs assessments prior to treatment (4.3±3.4 mV, n=17, seven ambulatory) (unpaired t-test, p=0.9871). (D) In contrast, CMAP amplitude was significantly improved with nusinersen when analysed in a subset of participants (n=8, three ambulatory) that underwent assessment prior to treatment (2.6±2.0 mV) and after 14 months of nusinersen (4.2±2.8 mV) (paired t-test, p=0.0383). CMAP, compound muscle action potential; RNS, repetitive nerve stimulation.

    In contrast, longitudinal CMAP amplitude was significantly increased at 14 months compared with baseline (figure 2C,D), and increases in CMAP were seen in all participants except one non-ambulatory participant who showed a reduction from 2.0 mV at baseline to 1.8 mV at 14 months. In two participants studied longitudinally (both ambulatory), CMAP amplitude decrement worsened (baseline to 14 months: +4.4% to −17.8% and −11.6% to −21.2%), but interestingly, both of these participants showed increases in CMAP amplitude (baseline to 14 months: 5.4 mV to 6.5 mV and 3.4 mV to 4.3 mV, respectively). In the ambulatory participants who were studied longitudinally, there was a variable increase in 6MWT distance at 14 months compared with baseline (baseline to 14 months: 374 m to 380 m, 404 m to 500 m, and 121 m to 132 m; paired t-test; p=0.3261).

    Impact of age, disease duration and ambulatory ability on CMAP decrement and amplitude

    Correlation analysis between CMAP decrement versus both age and disease duration demonstrated no significant associations (figure 3A,B). Mean SMN2 copy number in participants with abnormal decrement (−10% or more) after 14 months of nusinersen treatment was similar to those with normal RNS findings (abnormal RNS decrement: 3.4±0.5 SMN2 copies vs normal RNS: 3.6±0.5 SMN2 copies; unpaired t-test, p=0.4829) (data not shown). Furthermore, CMAP decrement was similar in non-ambulatory and ambulatory participants (all assessed following 14 months of nusinersen treatment). Similarly, CMAP amplitude did not show significant correlations with age or disease duration, but CMAP was significantly different between ambulatory and non-ambulatory patients (all at 14 months of nusinersen treatment) (figure 4A–C). CMAP amplitude was also significantly different between ambulatory and non-ambulatory patients at baseline prior to nusinersen treatment (ambulatory, n=7: mean=7.2±2.8 mV vs non-ambulatory, n=10: mean=2.2±2.0 mV; unpaired t-test, p=0.0005) (data not shown).

    Figure 3
    Figure 3

    At 14 months of nusinersen treatment, CMAP decrement was not associated with age or disease duration and was similar when stratified by ambulatory ability. CMAP decrement was not associated with (A) age (r2=0.0256, p=0.9364, n=15) or (B) disease duration (r2=0.03323, p=0.5328, n=14). (C) When stratified by ambulatory ability, CMAP decrement was not significantly different in ambulatory (−11.8%±9.5%, n=9) versus non-ambulatory (11.9%±7.0%, n=6) participants following 14 months of nusinersen treatment (unpaired t-test, p=0.9943). CMAP decrement for analyses obtained in participants at 14 months of nusinersen. R2 is the square of Pearson correlation coefficients. CMAP, compound muscle action potential.

    Figure 4
    Figure 4

    At 14 months of nusinersen treatment, CMAP amplitude did not significantly correlate with age or disease duration, but was different between groups when stratified by ambulatory ability. CMAP amplitude was not associated with (A) age (r2=0.1681, p=0.1290, n=15) or (B) disease duration (r2=0.05957, p=0.4004, n=14). (C) When stratified by ambulatory ability, CMAP amplitude was significantly higher in ambulatory (5.3±2.1 mV, n=9) versus non-ambulatory (2.7±2.1 mV, n=6) participants following 14 months of nusinersen treatment (unpaired t-test, p=0.0326). CMAP amplitudes for analyses obtained in participants at 14 months of nusinersen. R2 is the square of Pearson correlation coefficients. CMAP, compound muscle action potential.

    Muscle strength and function are associated with CMAP decrement in ambulatory participants with SMA

    To understand the associations between NMJ transmission defects and function in a uniform population, rather than across subtypes of SMA, correlation coefficients were analysed in ambulatory participants after 14 months of nusinersen treatment. Another rationale for analysing the ambulatory participant group was that the majority of the participants in this group could perform all outcome assessments (in contrast to the non-ambulatory cohort where some assessments were not possible). CMAP decrement showed associations with measures of upper and lower limb muscle strength on MVICT (figure 5A–F). Similarly, CMAP decrement was associated with upper limb function as assessed by RULM (figure 6A). Similar to that which has been shown in untreated ambulatory patients, CMAP decrement was associated with 6MWT distance and fatigue on the 6MWT as quantified as a ratio between the distance walked for 6 min vs 1 min of the test (figure 6B,C).17 CMAP decrement (not shown) showed no significant associations with ulnar nerve motor unit electrophysiological testing including abductor digiti minimi CMAP amplitude (r2=0.1094, p=0.3846), average SMUP (r2=0.3053, p=0.1229) or MUNE (r2=0.3715, p=0.0814).

    Figure 5
    Figure 5

    CMAP decrement showed significant associations with upper limb and lower limb strengths. (A) Hand grip (r2=0.6599, p=0.0143), (B) key pinch (r2=0.7080, p=0.0088), (C) elbow flexion (r2=0.6893, p=0.0107), (D) elbow extension (r2=0.7201, p=0.0077), (E) shoulder abduction (r2=0.9064, p=0.0003) and hip flexion (r2=0.6863, p=0.0111) showed significant correlations, whereas knee extension (r2=0.2623, p=0.1944) and knee flexion (r2=0.2865, p=0.1716) were not significantly correlated (not shown). R2 is the square of Pearson correlation coefficients. n=8 ambulatory participants at 14 months of treatment with nusinersen (four women and four men). CMAP, compound muscle action potential.

    Figure 6
    Figure 6

    CMAP decrement showed significant associations with upper limb and lower limb functions. (A) Revised Upper Limb Module score (r2=0.7631, p=0.0021), (B) 6MWT distance (r2=0.5012, p=0.0328) and (C) fatigue on the 6MWT (ratio of the distance walked during min 6 divided by the distance walked during min 1) (r2=0.6410, p=0.0095). CMAP decrement did not show a significant correlation with Hammersmith Functional Rating Scale Expanded score (r2=0.1679, p=0.2735) (not shown). R2 is the square of Pearson correlation coefficients. n=9 ambulatory participants at 14 months of treatment with nusinersen (four women and five men). 6MWT, 6 min walk test; CMAP, compound muscle action potential.

    Discussion

    In the current study, we found a high frequency of NMJ transmission abnormalities (as measured with RNS CMAP amplitude decrement) in adult participants with SMA. Similar to prior studies, NMJ transmission defects were prevalent in our cohort of untreated SMA.17 26 Importantly, we showed that nusinersen treatment did not impact NMJ transmission defects. Furthermore, the NMJ defects that persisted following treatment were similar between groups of adult patients with differing severities, did not appear linked to SMN2 copy number, and were not related to age and disease duration. Yet, when we investigated the relationships between NMJ transmission defects and measures of muscle strength and function in a more uniform group, we found surprisingly strong associations.

    Nusinersen improves neuromuscular function but not NMJ transmission defects

    Prior studies in infants, children and adults have shown that nusinersen results in consistent improvements in neuromuscular function as measured by motor outcomes and electrophysiological measures such as CMAP amplitude.10 11 27–32 We found robust effects of nusinersen when analysing trapezius CMAP amplitude following 14 months of nusinersen. In fact, all but one non-ambulatory participant showed increased CMAP amplitude. In our cohort, a total of 16 participants were analysed prior to nusinersen treatment, and as a group had a mean decrement of >10% in the trapezius muscle. In these 16 participants assessed prior to treatment, 9 had >10% decrement, and decrement of >10% amplitude is generally considered pathological and indicative of NMJ transmission defects.21 These findings are similar to prior studies that have investigated NMJ transmission using RNS assessment in untreated patients with SMA.16 17 Wadman and colleagues reported that roughly half of the patients with type II and III SMA in their study had pathological levels of CMAP decrement (>10%).16 Following nusinersen treatment, we found no evidence for significant improvements in RNS CMAP amplitude decrement following nusinersen treatment. In two participants, both ambulatory, we observed worsening of RNS CMAP amplitude decrement, but in both of these participants, CMAP amplitude increased. When analysed cross-sectionally and longitudinally, we found no clear evidence that SMN restoration (via nusinersen for 14 months) impacted RNS CMAP decrement. Therefore, our study supports the findings of prior studies that have shown that NMJ transmission defects are common in untreated patients with SMA. Furthermore, our study supports that nusinersen does not impact NMJ transmission.

    SMN therapeutic interventions: importance of timing and distribution?

    The current study was a substudy of two open-label studies that were designed to assess the tolerability and impact of nusinersen in ambulatory and non-ambulatory adults with SMA. There is building evidence that SMN restoration, even in later-onset SMA and at late-symptomatic stages of disease, contributes to improvements in patients.10 11 27–32 However, it is clear based on preclinical and clinical data that earlier SMN interventions have resulted in greater impact on SMA disease phenotype.12 18 Here we investigated SMN restoration at very late stages in the disease course, yet, similar to other studies in adult patients with SMA, we saw favourable response on CMAP amplitudes and other outcomes, although less robust compared with those seen in infants and children.7 10–12 27–32

    Similarly, we saw improvements of CMAP amplitude in the current study supporting improvement of neuromuscular function. These improvements did not extend to NMJ transmission as measured by RNS in the spinal accessory nerve. While we saw no significant impact on NMJ transmission in the current study, we would predict that earlier interventions would result in greater motor neuron preservation, as measured by CMAP and MUNE, and thus may have impact on NMJ function. This is an unanswered question that deserves further attention.

    Another aspect that deserves additional attention in future studies is where SMN protein restoration is required for adequate NMJ transmission. There are mainly preclinical data and very limited or indirect clinical evidence that high levels of SMN are needed in extraneuronal tissues, but this topic is highly debated.33 The distribution of SMN restoration effects following nusinersen, risdiplam and onasemnogene abeparvovec-xioi vary, and thus this will likely result in varied tissue distribution of SMN-level increases.13 Nusinersen is intrathecally delivered and significant SMN increases are not expected in the periphery. Thus, it is possible that increasing SMN levels at the NMJ (disease-modifying agents that act systemically to increase SMN protein) may have more impact on NMJ transmission reliability in patients with SMA.

    Persistent NMJ defects are linked to physical function but not linked to SMA phenotype

    Prior studies in untreated patients with SMA of relatively uniform severity have demonstrated that RNS decrement is associated with physical function and fatigue during sustained tasks.17 We were interested in investigating these associations in ambulatory participants following 14 months of nusinersen treatment. We analysed the associations between other outcomes including ulnar motor unit electrophysiology, muscle strength and physical function versus RNS CMAP decrement. We found strong associations between muscle strength and function versus the CMAP amplitude decrement on RNS. This suggests that NMJ transmission defects may contribute to functional impairment in patients with SMA even following SMN restoration with nusinersen. Our study in treated ambulatory participants with SMA, similar to prior studies in untreated patients wtih SMA, demonstrated associations between NMJ transmission defects and fatigability on the 6MWT.17

    A more recent study in children and adults showed that while fatigue is linked to SMA phenotype, findings of NMJ transmission failure on RNS were not, but notably, this study assessed a relatively heterogeneous cohort of SMA compared with our study and others.34 Our correlation analyses, and prior studies, showed strong correlations when assessed in more uniform populations with regard to physical function, namely, ambulatory patients, and thus, this may explain the difference between studies.17 34

    A primary role of SMN protein at the NMJ during development, maintenance and repair has been proposed.35 Interestingly, we did not see any differences in RNS decrement between non-ambulatory and ambulatory patients. This is similar to the study by Wadman et al16 in that they saw no associations with disease duration or clinical scores when analysing type II, III and IV patients together. This supports that NMJ transmission defects are not primarily related to SMA pathogenesis but are a secondary effect of motor neuron and motor unit loss and compensatory remodelling at the NMJ.

    Whether NMJ defects are primary to SMN deficiency or secondary to motor neuron degeneration and associated collateral sprouting and remodelling requires further study. In support of the possibility of secondary process, prior studies in other motor neuron disorders including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, poliomyelitis/postpolio syndrome and Kennedy disease have shown striking NMJ transmission defects in each of these disorders.36–38 It is possible that an individual’s ability to maintain connectivity (via compensation/sprouting) at the NMJ irrespective of SMA severity is an SMN independent modifier of phenotype related to other intrinsic factors within individuals. In other words, the ability of an individual’s neuromuscular system to maintain NMJ transmission in the face of motor neuron loss may be a modifier of SMA severity. Yet, possibly arguing against this is the fact that we also did not see significant correlations between RNS decrement versus motor unit numbers (MUNE) and average motor unit size (SMUP), but these measurements were performed in a different muscle.

    Regardless of whether NMJ defects are primary or secondary to SMA pathogenesis, the strong association between NMJ transmission defects and function suggests that modulation of NMJ transmission using agents used in myasthenic disorders may be of benefit in patients in SMA. Interestingly, there is some evidence that salbutamol, an agent commonly used in congenital myasthenic disorders, is beneficial in SMA.39 Additionally, there are studies with pending results that have investigated other agents such as pyridostigmine.40 Thus, NMJ transmission modulation may be a promising additive therapeutic target in SMA. Additional study is needed to understand if the SMA-related NMJ transmission defects, which are most likely related to motor neuron loss and NMJ remodelling, will respond in a similar manner as compared with primary disorders of the NMJ.

    Conclusions

    Our results suggest that a high percentage of adults with SMA have NMJ transmission defects as measured by RNS at 3 Hz stimulation of the spinal accessory nerve. The findings of significant correlations between RNS and other functional assessments including measures of muscle strength and mobility suggest that NMJ transmission contributes to physical function impairment. Our preliminary data suggest that NMJ transmission defects may persist despite treatment with nusinersen, but our findings should be considered in the context of the small sample size and short duration of the study. Additionally, the effect of other therapeutic strategies and earlier intervention deserve additional attention and study. This study provides the first data in humans in support of NMJ modulation as a possible SMN-independent target for additive pharmacological interventions.

    Data availability statement

    We will make all data available to qualified investigators upon reasonable request.

    Ethics statements

    Ethics approval

    Ethics approval was obtained from the The Ohio State University Institutional Review Board (2006H0207).

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    Footnotes

    • Twitter @davearnoldlab

    • Contributors Conception and design of the study: WDA, AHMB, SK and BE; acquisition and analysis of data: WDA, SS, SZ, DK, ML, KK, MT, AHMB, SH, JR, GS, TW, KR and BE; drafting of a significant portion ofthe manuscript or figures: WDA, AHMB, SJK and BE.

    • Funding The study was funded by a grant from Cure SMA (ELS1819) to BHE.

    • Competing interests BHE received compensation for consulting from Biogen, Genentech, Argenx and Stealth Bio-therapeutics. TW received compensation for consulting from Medtronic, Inc, and PainTeq. SK received compensation for consulting from Genentech, AveXis and Biogen. WDA received compensation for consulting for La Hoffmann Roche, Cadent Therapeutics, Novartis and Genentech. AHMB received compensation from AveXis for consulting. All the other authors report no disclosures.

    • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.