DM Death Statistics in the GSD among the PDB members - Page 13

So, has the GSDM gene been identified? If so, what is it? Could it be a different form/mutated form of the SOD1 gene? Sorry if these are stupid questions, but again, just trying to understand this.

--- > So, has the GSDM gene been identified?

It way more complicated than just one gene :( I doubt there is a single factor involved, but rather, many and way more than one particular gene. On top of that, it would most likely involve rna, dark dna and impinting, as well of the matter of genes.

Thanks Marjorie, Beetree and Hexe, I use iPhone. So I can't post photo. Maybe if Marjorie has time I can send her a few. Beginning(near beginning) until end. Blade is my soulmate and best friend. It is very hard to move forward with this decision. I know I must be strong for him. I will start new topic, when I set him free. But it won't be easy. Gwen

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From the samples taken (123), the SOD1 gene was the most common factor, with something like 4 or 5 other locations of interest (I forget exactly).  Might be the SOD1 gene was just 'incedentally' present as a SNP in the SO FEW german shepherds tested.  The gene is also associated with other diseases NOT degenerative myelopathy.

What *might* be the biggest problem, is that while Coates admitted that cases of DM was more prevalent in the german shepherd breed, his study mostly consisted of samples from corgis and boxers.  When only 74 samples and 49 controls across several breeds are examined, that's not a very fair representation for our breed.

Also to note, was that it was a genome-wide association study (GWAS), rather than a Linkage study, which samples across generations and could provide some clue as to the actual mode of inheritence.

The SOD1 gene was also a major player in another neurological disease similar to ALS (Lou Gehrig's), Spinal Muscle Atrophy, which is inherited as an autosomal dominant trait in Brittany spaniels, an autosomal recessive trait in Swedish Lapland dogs, and as of yet, an unknown method of inheritance in GSD's.

Evidence suggests that the primary cause for DM is immunologic or nutritional in origin, but neither cause is clearly established.

Just a suggestion, but if you send in your dog's dna and get it genotyped and sent back to you on disc, you can compare for yourself the SNP's in relation to the canine genome sequence (est. 2005) utilizing free software provided from various sources (such as Applied Biosystems).

I would think that if DM is the canine equivalent to ALS, then human researchers would be all over it. ------Mary

"I would think that if DM is the canine equivalent to ALS, then human researchers would be all over it.------Mary"
There are presently clinical trials taking place for a potential ALS drug. They have tested it on mice and now are using dogs with DM as models. My dog is one of the test subjects.

I didn't state that, but that's what Coate's study was aimed at finding, and not necessarily for our breed's benefit.  When the studies can be convincingly shown to have the potential to aid in human medical research, the doors for funding become wider.

Quoting Coates in this description of the study sponsored by the American Boxer Charitable Foundation,

Canine DM caused by SOD1 mutations resembles some forms of human ALS - Lou Gehrig's disease. Better characterization of the clinical disease spectrum in the DM affected dog, especially the nerve and muscle pathology will assist in establishing collaborations with ALS researchers and in development of therapeutic drug trials similar to those of human ALS. We hypothesize for this proposal that the nerve and muscle deterioration of canine DM will compare to that of human ALS. We are testing our hypothesis by performing clinical studies of the nerve and muscle and studying the pathology in DM affected dogs. The investigators were successful in obtaining matching funding from the ALS Association for completion of the proposed work.

Maybe the ALS Foundation might have an interest in matching the funding for a GSD specific study?  A report describing various neurological diseases in dogs actually compares Spinal Muscle Atrophy to ALS, though, with no mention of comparing ALS in it's Degenerative Myelopathy description.

---> Maybe the ALS Foundation might have an interest in matching the funding for a GSD specific study?

I dont know why they would consider it, since ALS does not involve sensory loss and GSDM does involve sensory loss. They would, in all likelihood, feel it is a diifferent disease, especially with the polar opposite results of diagnostic tests between ALS and GSDM. The MS society would probably be a better way to go for our breed. Our breed diagnostic tests match the results of diagnostic testing in MS.

Marjorie
http://www.gsdbbr.org The German Shepherd Dog Breed Betterment Registry
BE PROACTIVE!
http://mzjf.com --> The Degenerative Myelopathy Support Group http://www.mzjf.info/hgate Heaven's Gate  

--- >So, has the GSDM gene been identified?

Dr Clemmons found an allele for GSDM, which was a marker in GSDS that had a positive test. However, other breeds do not have that allele to have a change to it.


  Marjorie
http://www.gsdbbr.org The German Shepherd Dog Breed Betterment Registry
BE PROACTIVE!
http://mzjf.com --> The Degenerative Myelopathy Support Group http://www.mzjf.info/hgate Heaven's Gate