Skip to main content
Top
Published in: Current Diabetes Reports 1/2016

Open Access 01-01-2016 | Other Forms of Diabetes (JJ Nolan, Section Editor)

Wolfram Syndrome: Diagnosis, Management, and Treatment

Author: Fumihiko Urano

Published in: Current Diabetes Reports | Issue 1/2016

Login to get access

Abstract

Wolfram syndrome is a rare genetic disorder characterized by juvenile-onset diabetes mellitus, diabetes insipidus, optic nerve atrophy, hearing loss, and neurodegeneration. Although there are currently no effective treatments that can delay or reverse the progression of Wolfram syndrome, the use of careful clinical monitoring and supportive care can help relieve the suffering of patients and improve their quality of life. The prognosis of this syndrome is currently poor, and many patients die prematurely with severe neurological disabilities, raising the urgency for developing novel treatments for Wolfram syndrome. In this article, we describe natural history and etiology, provide recommendations for diagnosis and clinical management, and introduce new treatments for Wolfram syndrome.
Literature
1.
go back to reference Wolfram DJ, Wagener HP. Diabetes mellitus and simple optic atrophy among siblings: report of four cases. Mayo Clin Proc. 1938;1:715–8. Wolfram DJ, Wagener HP. Diabetes mellitus and simple optic atrophy among siblings: report of four cases. Mayo Clin Proc. 1938;1:715–8.
2.
go back to reference Kinsley BT, Swift M, Dumont RH, et al. Morbidity and mortality in the Wolfram syndrome. Diabetes Care. 1995;18(12):1566–70.CrossRefPubMed Kinsley BT, Swift M, Dumont RH, et al. Morbidity and mortality in the Wolfram syndrome. Diabetes Care. 1995;18(12):1566–70.CrossRefPubMed
3.
go back to reference Barrett TG, Bundey SE, Macleod AF. Neurodegeneration and diabetes: UK nationwide study of Wolfram (DIDMOAD) syndrome. Lancet. 1995;346(8988):1458–63.CrossRefPubMed Barrett TG, Bundey SE, Macleod AF. Neurodegeneration and diabetes: UK nationwide study of Wolfram (DIDMOAD) syndrome. Lancet. 1995;346(8988):1458–63.CrossRefPubMed
7.
go back to reference Swift RG, Sadler DB, Swift M. Psychiatric findings in Wolfram syndrome homozygotes. Lancet. 1990;336(8716):667–9.CrossRefPubMed Swift RG, Sadler DB, Swift M. Psychiatric findings in Wolfram syndrome homozygotes. Lancet. 1990;336(8716):667–9.CrossRefPubMed
8.
go back to reference Swift RG, Perkins DO, Chase CL, et al. Psychiatric disorders in 36 families with Wolfram syndrome. Am J Psychiatry. 1991;148(6):775–9.CrossRefPubMed Swift RG, Perkins DO, Chase CL, et al. Psychiatric disorders in 36 families with Wolfram syndrome. Am J Psychiatry. 1991;148(6):775–9.CrossRefPubMed
9.
go back to reference Inoue H, Tanizawa Y, Wasson J, et al. A gene encoding a transmembrane protein is mutated in patients with diabetes mellitus and optic atrophy (Wolfram syndrome). Nat Genet. 1998;20(2):143–8.CrossRefPubMed Inoue H, Tanizawa Y, Wasson J, et al. A gene encoding a transmembrane protein is mutated in patients with diabetes mellitus and optic atrophy (Wolfram syndrome). Nat Genet. 1998;20(2):143–8.CrossRefPubMed
11.
go back to reference Bespalova IN, Van Camp G, Bom SJ, et al. Mutations in the Wolfram syndrome 1 gene (WFS1) are a common cause of low frequency sensorineural hearing loss. Hum Mol Genet. 2001;10(22):2501–8.CrossRefPubMed Bespalova IN, Van Camp G, Bom SJ, et al. Mutations in the Wolfram syndrome 1 gene (WFS1) are a common cause of low frequency sensorineural hearing loss. Hum Mol Genet. 2001;10(22):2501–8.CrossRefPubMed
12.
go back to reference Lesperance MM, Hall 3rd JW, San Agustin TB, et al. Mutations in the Wolfram syndrome type 1 gene (WFS1) define a clinical entity of dominant low-frequency sensorineural hearing loss. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2003;129(4):411–20. doi:10.1001/archotol.129.4.411.CrossRefPubMed Lesperance MM, Hall 3rd JW, San Agustin TB, et al. Mutations in the Wolfram syndrome type 1 gene (WFS1) define a clinical entity of dominant low-frequency sensorineural hearing loss. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2003;129(4):411–20. doi:10.​1001/​archotol.​129.​4.​411.CrossRefPubMed
15.
go back to reference Tekgul S, Oge O, Simsek E, et al. Urological manifestations of the Wolfram syndrome: observations in 14 patients. J Urol. 1999;161(2):616–7.CrossRefPubMed Tekgul S, Oge O, Simsek E, et al. Urological manifestations of the Wolfram syndrome: observations in 14 patients. J Urol. 1999;161(2):616–7.CrossRefPubMed
17.
19.••
go back to reference Lu S, Kanekura K, Hara T, et al. A calcium-dependent protease as a potential therapeutic target for Wolfram syndrome. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2014;111(49):E5292–301. doi:10.1073/pnas.1421055111. This article describes that the leakage of endoplasmic reticulum calcium to the cytosol and subsequent activation of calpain 2 are the key molecular events leading to cell death in Wolfram syndrome. The article further reports that dantrolene, a FDA-approved drug targeting ryanodine receptor localized to the ER, is a potential drug for Wolfram syndrome.PubMedCentralCrossRefPubMed Lu S, Kanekura K, Hara T, et al. A calcium-dependent protease as a potential therapeutic target for Wolfram syndrome. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2014;111(49):E5292–301. doi:10.​1073/​pnas.​1421055111. This article describes that the leakage of endoplasmic reticulum calcium to the cytosol and subsequent activation of calpain 2 are the key molecular events leading to cell death in Wolfram syndrome. The article further reports that dantrolene, a FDA-approved drug targeting ryanodine receptor localized to the ER, is a potential drug for Wolfram syndrome.PubMedCentralCrossRefPubMed
20.
go back to reference Higashi K. Otologic findings of DIDMOAD syndrome. Am J Otol. 1991;12(1):57–60.PubMed Higashi K. Otologic findings of DIDMOAD syndrome. Am J Otol. 1991;12(1):57–60.PubMed
23.
go back to reference Cryns K, Sivakumaran TA, Van den Ouweland JM, et al. Mutational spectrum of the WFS1 gene in Wolfram syndrome, nonsyndromic hearing impairment, diabetes mellitus, and psychiatric disease. Hum Mutat. 2003;22(4):275–87.CrossRefPubMed Cryns K, Sivakumaran TA, Van den Ouweland JM, et al. Mutational spectrum of the WFS1 gene in Wolfram syndrome, nonsyndromic hearing impairment, diabetes mellitus, and psychiatric disease. Hum Mutat. 2003;22(4):275–87.CrossRefPubMed
24.
go back to reference Swift M, Swift RG. Wolframin mutations and hospitalization for psychiatric illness. Mol Psychiatry. 2005;10(8):799–803.CrossRefPubMed Swift M, Swift RG. Wolframin mutations and hospitalization for psychiatric illness. Mol Psychiatry. 2005;10(8):799–803.CrossRefPubMed
26.
go back to reference Ishihara H, Takeda S, Tamura A, et al. Disruption of the WFS1 gene in mice causes progressive beta-cell loss and impaired stimulus-secretion coupling in insulin secretion. Hum Mol Genet. 2004;13(11):1159–70.CrossRefPubMed Ishihara H, Takeda S, Tamura A, et al. Disruption of the WFS1 gene in mice causes progressive beta-cell loss and impaired stimulus-secretion coupling in insulin secretion. Hum Mol Genet. 2004;13(11):1159–70.CrossRefPubMed
27.
go back to reference Riggs AC, Bernal-Mizrachi E, Ohsugi M, et al. Mice conditionally lacking the Wolfram gene in pancreatic islet beta cells exhibit diabetes as a result of enhanced endoplasmic reticulum stress and apoptosis. Diabetologia. 2005;48(11):2313–21.CrossRefPubMed Riggs AC, Bernal-Mizrachi E, Ohsugi M, et al. Mice conditionally lacking the Wolfram gene in pancreatic islet beta cells exhibit diabetes as a result of enhanced endoplasmic reticulum stress and apoptosis. Diabetologia. 2005;48(11):2313–21.CrossRefPubMed
28.
go back to reference Fonseca SG, Fukuma M, Lipson KL, et al. WFS1 is a novel component of the unfolded protein response and maintains homeostasis of the endoplasmic reticulum in pancreatic {beta}-cells. J Biol Chem. 2005;280(47):39609–15.CrossRefPubMed Fonseca SG, Fukuma M, Lipson KL, et al. WFS1 is a novel component of the unfolded protein response and maintains homeostasis of the endoplasmic reticulum in pancreatic {beta}-cells. J Biol Chem. 2005;280(47):39609–15.CrossRefPubMed
35.
38.•
go back to reference Shang L, Hua H, Foo K, et al. β-cell dysfunction due to increased ER stress in a stem cell model of wolfram syndrome. Diabetes. 2014;63(3):923–33. doi:10.2337/db13-0717. This article reports the establishment of iPS models of Wolfram syndrome that can be utilized to determine drugs for the treatment of Wolfram syndrome.PubMedCentralCrossRefPubMed Shang L, Hua H, Foo K, et al. β-cell dysfunction due to increased ER stress in a stem cell model of wolfram syndrome. Diabetes. 2014;63(3):923–33. doi:10.​2337/​db13-0717. This article reports the establishment of iPS models of Wolfram syndrome that can be utilized to determine drugs for the treatment of Wolfram syndrome.PubMedCentralCrossRefPubMed
40.
go back to reference Cardozo AK, Ortis F, Storling J, et al. Cytokines downregulate the sarcoendoplasmic reticulum pump Ca2+ ATPase 2b and deplete endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+, leading to induction of endoplasmic reticulum stress in pancreatic beta-cells. Diabetes. 2005;54(2):452–61.CrossRefPubMed Cardozo AK, Ortis F, Storling J, et al. Cytokines downregulate the sarcoendoplasmic reticulum pump Ca2+ ATPase 2b and deplete endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+, leading to induction of endoplasmic reticulum stress in pancreatic beta-cells. Diabetes. 2005;54(2):452–61.CrossRefPubMed
41.
go back to reference Zatyka M, Da Silva Xavier G, Bellomo EA, et al. Sarco(endo)plasmic reticulum ATPase is a molecular partner of Wolfram syndrome 1 protein, which negatively regulates its expression. Hum Mol Genet. 2014. doi:10.1093/hmg/ddu499.PubMed Zatyka M, Da Silva Xavier G, Bellomo EA, et al. Sarco(endo)plasmic reticulum ATPase is a molecular partner of Wolfram syndrome 1 protein, which negatively regulates its expression. Hum Mol Genet. 2014. doi:10.​1093/​hmg/​ddu499.PubMed
43.•
go back to reference Urano F. Wolfram syndrome iPS cells: the first human cell model of endoplasmic reticulum disease. Diabetes. 2014;63(3):844–6. doi:10.2337/db13-1809. This article articulates a new strategy for the development of novel treatments for Wolfram syndrome.PubMedCentralCrossRefPubMed Urano F. Wolfram syndrome iPS cells: the first human cell model of endoplasmic reticulum disease. Diabetes. 2014;63(3):844–6. doi:10.​2337/​db13-1809. This article articulates a new strategy for the development of novel treatments for Wolfram syndrome.PubMedCentralCrossRefPubMed
44.
go back to reference Petrova P, Raibekas A, Pevsner J, et al. MANF: a new mesencephalic, astrocyte-derived neurotrophic factor with selectivity for dopaminergic neurons. J Mol Neurosci. 2003;20(2):173–88.CrossRefPubMed Petrova P, Raibekas A, Pevsner J, et al. MANF: a new mesencephalic, astrocyte-derived neurotrophic factor with selectivity for dopaminergic neurons. J Mol Neurosci. 2003;20(2):173–88.CrossRefPubMed
Metadata
Title
Wolfram Syndrome: Diagnosis, Management, and Treatment
Author
Fumihiko Urano
Publication date
01-01-2016
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Current Diabetes Reports / Issue 1/2016
Print ISSN: 1534-4827
Electronic ISSN: 1539-0829
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11892-015-0702-6

Other articles of this Issue 1/2016

Current Diabetes Reports 1/2016 Go to the issue

Diabetes and Pregnancy (CJ Homko, Section Editor)

Is There a Role for HbA1c in Pregnancy?

Diabetes Epidemiology (NM Maruthur, Section Editor)

Does Metformin Reduce Cancer Risks? Methodologic Considerations

Psychosocial Aspects (S Jaser and KK Hood, Section Editors)

Diabetes Distress Among Adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes: a Systematic Review

Hospital Management of Diabetes (GE Umpierrez, Section Editor)

Hyperglycemia and Acute Kidney Injury During the Perioperative Period

Live Webinar | 27-06-2024 | 18:00 (CEST)

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Live: Thursday 27th June 2024, 18:00-19:30 (CEST)

WHO estimates that half of all patients worldwide are non-adherent to their prescribed medication. The consequences of poor adherence can be catastrophic, on both the individual and population level.

Join our expert panel to discover why you need to understand the drivers of non-adherence in your patients, and how you can optimize medication adherence in your clinics to drastically improve patient outcomes.

Prof. Kevin Dolgin
Prof. Florian Limbourg
Prof. Anoop Chauhan
Developed by: Springer Medicine
Obesity Clinical Trial Summary

At a glance: The STEP trials

A round-up of the STEP phase 3 clinical trials evaluating semaglutide for weight loss in people with overweight or obesity.

Developed by: Springer Medicine

Highlights from the ACC 2024 Congress

Year in Review: Pediatric cardiology

Watch Dr. Anne Marie Valente present the last year's highlights in pediatric and congenital heart disease in the official ACC.24 Year in Review session.

Year in Review: Pulmonary vascular disease

The last year's highlights in pulmonary vascular disease are presented by Dr. Jane Leopold in this official video from ACC.24.

Year in Review: Valvular heart disease

Watch Prof. William Zoghbi present the last year's highlights in valvular heart disease from the official ACC.24 Year in Review session.

Year in Review: Heart failure and cardiomyopathies

Watch this official video from ACC.24. Dr. Biykem Bozkurt discusses last year's major advances in heart failure and cardiomyopathies.