Takeaway
In a postmortem study, protein arginine methyltransferase-1 (PRMT1), which facilitates arginine methylation and accounts for >90% of production of asymmetric dimethyl -arginine (ADMA), was increased in spinal motor neurons (SMNs) of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (pwALS).
Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) ADMA/-arginine ratio (ARR) had a closer relationship with survival and ALS progression than functional scores at baseline exam did; ARR was a more sensitive marker of survival than forced vital capacity (%FVC), a predictor of survival.
Why this matters ?
ARR was identified as a highly sensitive biomarker for early stages of ALS.
Dysregulated ADMA and -arginine levels could be novel therapeutic targets for ALS.