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Galgani A, Lombardo F, Frijia F, Martini N, Tognoni G, Pavese N, Giorgi FS. The degeneration of locus coeruleus occurring during Alzheimer's disease clinical progression: a neuroimaging follow-up investigation. Brain Struct Funct 2024; 229:1317-1325. [PMID: 38625557 PMCID: PMC11147916 DOI: 10.1007/s00429-024-02797-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 03/29/2024] [Indexed: 04/17/2024]
Abstract
The noradrenergic nucleus Locus Coeruleus (LC) is precociously involved in Alzheimer's Disease (AD) pathology, and its degeneration progresses during the course of the disease. Using Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), researchers showed also in vivo in patients the disruption of LC, which can be observed both in Mild Cognitively Impaired individuals and AD demented patients. In this study, we report the results of a follow-up neuroradiological assessment, in which we evaluated the LC degeneration overtime in a group of cognitively impaired patients, submitted to MRI both at baseline and at the end of a 2.5-year follow-up. We found that a progressive LC disruption can be observed also in vivo, involving the entire nucleus and associated with clinical diagnosis. Our findings parallel neuropathological ones, which showed a continuous increase of neuronal death and volumetric atrophy within the LC with the progression of Braak's stages for neurofibrillary pathology. This supports the reliability of MRI as a tool for exploring the integrity of the central noradrenergic system in neurodegenerative disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Galgani
- Department of Translational Research and of New Surgical and Medical Technologies, University of Pisa, Via Roma 55, Pisa, 56126, Italy
| | | | - Francesca Frijia
- Bioengineering Unit, Fondazione Toscana G. Monasterio, Pisa, Italy
| | - Nicola Martini
- Bioengineering Unit, Fondazione Toscana G. Monasterio, Pisa, Italy
| | - Gloria Tognoni
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Nicola Pavese
- Clinical Ageing Research Unit, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, PET Centre, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Filippo Sean Giorgi
- Department of Translational Research and of New Surgical and Medical Technologies, University of Pisa, Via Roma 55, Pisa, 56126, Italy.
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Lagarde J, Olivieri P, Tonietto M, Noiray C, Lehericy S, Valabrègue R, Caillé F, Gervais P, Moussion M, Bottlaender M, Sarazin M. Combined in vivo MRI assessment of locus coeruleus and nucleus basalis of Meynert integrity in amnestic Alzheimer's disease, suspected-LATE and frontotemporal dementia. Alzheimers Res Ther 2024; 16:97. [PMID: 38702802 PMCID: PMC11067144 DOI: 10.1186/s13195-024-01466-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2023] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 05/06/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The locus coeruleus (LC) and the nucleus basalis of Meynert (NBM) are altered in early stages of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Little is known about LC and NBM alteration in limbic-predominant age-related TDP-43 encephalopathy (LATE) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). The aim of the present study is to investigate in vivo LC and NBM integrity in patients with suspected-LATE, early-amnestic AD and FTD in comparison with controls. METHODS Seventy-two participants (23 early amnestic-AD patients, 17 suspected-LATE, 17 FTD patients, defined by a clinical-biological diagnosis reinforced by amyloid and tau PET imaging, and 15 controls) underwent neuropsychological assessment and 3T brain MRI. We analyzed the locus coeruleus signal intensity (LC-I) and the NBM volume as well as their relation with cognition and with medial temporal/cortical atrophy. RESULTS We found significantly lower LC-I and NBM volume in amnestic-AD and suspected-LATE in comparison with controls. In FTD, we also observed lower NBM volume but a slightly less marked alteration of the LC-I, independently of the temporal or frontal phenotype. NBM volume was correlated with the global cognitive efficiency in AD patients. Strong correlations were found between NBM volume and that of medial temporal structures, particularly the amygdala in both AD and FTD patients. CONCLUSIONS The alteration of LC and NBM in amnestic-AD, presumed-LATE and FTD suggests a common vulnerability of these structures to different proteinopathies. Targeting the noradrenergic and cholinergic systems could be effective therapeutic strategies in LATE and FTD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julien Lagarde
- Department of Neurology of Memory and Language, GHU Paris Psychiatry and Neurosciences, Hôpital Sainte Anne, Paris, France.
- Université Paris-Saclay, Service Hospitalier Frédéric Joliot CEA, CNRS, Inserm, BioMaps, Orsay, F- 91401, France.
- Université Paris-Cité, Paris, France.
| | - Pauline Olivieri
- Department of Neurology of Memory and Language, GHU Paris Psychiatry and Neurosciences, Hôpital Sainte Anne, Paris, France
| | - Matteo Tonietto
- Université Paris-Saclay, Service Hospitalier Frédéric Joliot CEA, CNRS, Inserm, BioMaps, Orsay, F- 91401, France
| | - Camille Noiray
- Department of Neurology of Memory and Language, GHU Paris Psychiatry and Neurosciences, Hôpital Sainte Anne, Paris, France
| | - Stéphane Lehericy
- Centre de NeuroImagerie de Recherche - CENIR, Institut du Cerveau et de la Moelle épinière - ICM, Paris, F-75013, France
- Sorbonne Université, UPMC Univ Paris 06, UMR S 1127, Inserm U 1127, CNRS UMR 7225, ICM, Paris, F-75013, France
| | - Romain Valabrègue
- Centre de NeuroImagerie de Recherche - CENIR, Institut du Cerveau et de la Moelle épinière - ICM, Paris, F-75013, France
- Sorbonne Université, UPMC Univ Paris 06, UMR S 1127, Inserm U 1127, CNRS UMR 7225, ICM, Paris, F-75013, France
| | - Fabien Caillé
- Université Paris-Saclay, Service Hospitalier Frédéric Joliot CEA, CNRS, Inserm, BioMaps, Orsay, F- 91401, France
| | - Philippe Gervais
- Université Paris-Saclay, Service Hospitalier Frédéric Joliot CEA, CNRS, Inserm, BioMaps, Orsay, F- 91401, France
| | - Martin Moussion
- Centre d'Evaluation Troubles Psychiques et Vieillissement, GHU Paris Psychiatrie & Neurosciences, Hôpital Sainte Anne, Paris, F-75014, France
| | - Michel Bottlaender
- Université Paris-Saclay, Service Hospitalier Frédéric Joliot CEA, CNRS, Inserm, BioMaps, Orsay, F- 91401, France
- UNIACT, Neurospin, Gif-sur-Yvette, CEA, F-91191, France
| | - Marie Sarazin
- Department of Neurology of Memory and Language, GHU Paris Psychiatry and Neurosciences, Hôpital Sainte Anne, Paris, France
- Université Paris-Saclay, Service Hospitalier Frédéric Joliot CEA, CNRS, Inserm, BioMaps, Orsay, F- 91401, France
- Université Paris-Cité, Paris, France
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Lee TH, Kim SH, Neal J, Katz B, Kim IH. A collection of 157 individual neuromelanin-sensitive images accompanied by non-linear neuromelanin-sensitive atlas and a probabilistic locus coeruleus atlas. Data Brief 2024; 53:110140. [PMID: 38357452 PMCID: PMC10864836 DOI: 10.1016/j.dib.2024.110140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2023] [Revised: 01/19/2024] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024] Open
Abstract
The current dataset aims to support and enhance the research reliability of neuromelanin regions in the brainstem, such as locus coeruleus (LC), by offering raw neuromelanin-sensitive images. The dataset includes raw neuromelanin-sensitive images from 157 healthy individuals (8-64 years old). In addition, leveraging individual neuromelanin-sensitive images, a non-linear neuromelanin-sensitive atlas, generated through an iterative warping process, is included to tackle the common challenge of a limited field of view in neuromelanin-sensitive images. Finally, the dataset encompasses a probabilistic LC atlas generated through a majority voting approach with pre-existing multiple atlas-based segmentations. This process entails warping pre-existing atlases onto individual spaces and identifying voxels with a majority consensus of over 50 % across the atlases. This LC probabilistic atlas can minimize uncertainty variance associated with choosing a specific single atlas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tae-Ho Lee
- Department of Psychology, Virginia Tech, USA
- School of Neuroscience, Virginia Tech, USA
| | - Sun Hyung Kim
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, USA
| | - Joshua Neal
- Department of Psychology, Virginia Tech, USA
| | - Benjamin Katz
- Department of Human Development and Family Science, Virginia Tech, USA
- School of Neuroscience, Virginia Tech, USA
| | - Il Hwan Kim
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, USA
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4
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Galgani A, Giorgi FS. Exploring the Role of Locus Coeruleus in Alzheimer's Disease: a Comprehensive Update on MRI Studies and Implications. Curr Neurol Neurosci Rep 2023; 23:925-936. [PMID: 38064152 PMCID: PMC10724305 DOI: 10.1007/s11910-023-01324-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/11/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Performing a thorough review of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies assessing locus coeruleus (LC) integrity in ageing and Alzheimer's disease (AD), and contextualizing them with current preclinical and neuropathological literature. RECENT FINDINGS MRI successfully detected LC alterations in ageing and AD, identifying degenerative phenomena involving this nucleus even in the prodromal stages of the disorder. The degree of LC disruption was also associated with the severity of AD cortical pathology, cognitive and behavioral impairment, and the risk of clinical progression. Locus coeruleus-MRI has proved to be a useful tool to assess the integrity of the central noradrenergic system in vivo in humans. It allowed to test in patients preclinical and experimental hypothesis, thus confirming the specific and marked involvement of the LC in AD and its key pathogenetic role. Locus coeruleus-MRI-related data might represent the theoretical basis on which to start developing noradrenergic drugs to target AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Galgani
- Department of Translational Research and of New Surgical and Medical Technologies School of Medicine, University of Pisa, Via Roma 55, 56126, Pisa, Italy
| | - Filippo Sean Giorgi
- Department of Translational Research and of New Surgical and Medical Technologies School of Medicine, University of Pisa, Via Roma 55, 56126, Pisa, Italy.
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Krohn F, Lancini E, Ludwig M, Leiman M, Guruprasath G, Haag L, Panczyszyn J, Düzel E, Hämmerer D, Betts M. Noradrenergic neuromodulation in ageing and disease. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2023; 152:105311. [PMID: 37437752 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2023] [Revised: 06/29/2023] [Accepted: 07/07/2023] [Indexed: 07/14/2023]
Abstract
The locus coeruleus (LC) is a small brainstem structure located in the lower pons and is the main source of noradrenaline (NA) in the brain. Via its phasic and tonic firing, it modulates cognition and autonomic functions and is involved in the brain's immune response. The extent of degeneration to the LC in healthy ageing remains unclear, however, noradrenergic dysfunction may contribute to the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD). Despite their differences in progression at later disease stages, the early involvement of the LC may lead to comparable behavioural symptoms such as preclinical sleep problems and neuropsychiatric symptoms as a result of AD and PD pathology. In this review, we draw attention to the mechanisms that underlie LC degeneration in ageing, AD and PD. We aim to motivate future research to investigate how early degeneration of the noradrenergic system may play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of AD and PD which may also be relevant to other neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Krohn
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany; Institute of Cognitive Neurology and Dementia Research (IKND), Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - E Lancini
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany; Institute of Cognitive Neurology and Dementia Research (IKND), Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany.
| | - M Ludwig
- Institute of Cognitive Neurology and Dementia Research (IKND), Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany; CBBS Center for Behavioral Brain Sciences, University of Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - M Leiman
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany; Institute of Cognitive Neurology and Dementia Research (IKND), Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - G Guruprasath
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany; Institute of Cognitive Neurology and Dementia Research (IKND), Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - L Haag
- Institute of Cognitive Neurology and Dementia Research (IKND), Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - J Panczyszyn
- Institute of Cognitive Neurology and Dementia Research (IKND), Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - E Düzel
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany; Institute of Cognitive Neurology and Dementia Research (IKND), Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany; Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, University College London, London UK-WC1E 6BT, UK; CBBS Center for Behavioral Brain Sciences, University of Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - D Hämmerer
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany; Institute of Cognitive Neurology and Dementia Research (IKND), Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany; Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, University College London, London UK-WC1E 6BT, UK; CBBS Center for Behavioral Brain Sciences, University of Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany; Department of Psychology, University of Innsbruck, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - M Betts
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany; Institute of Cognitive Neurology and Dementia Research (IKND), Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany; CBBS Center for Behavioral Brain Sciences, University of Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
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6
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Benarroch E. What Are Current Concepts on the Functional Organization of the Locus Coeruleus and Its Role in Cognition and Neurodegeneration? Neurology 2023; 100:132-137. [PMID: 36646470 DOI: 10.1212/wnl.0000000000206736] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2022] [Accepted: 11/09/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
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7
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Galgani A, Lombardo F, Martini N, Vergallo A, Bastiani L, Hampel H, Hlavata H, Baldacci F, Tognoni G, De Marchi D, Ghicopulos I, De Cori S, Biagioni F, Busceti CL, Ceravolo R, Bonuccelli U, Chiappino D, Siciliano G, Fornai F, Pavese N, Giorgi FS. Magnetic resonance imaging Locus Coeruleus abnormality in amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment is associated with future progression to dementia. Eur J Neurol 2023; 30:32-46. [PMID: 36086917 PMCID: PMC10092028 DOI: 10.1111/ene.15556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2022] [Revised: 08/17/2022] [Accepted: 08/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Human neuropathological studies indicate that the pontine nucleus Locus Coeruleus (LC) undergoes significant and early degeneration in Alzheimer's disease. This line of evidence alongside experimental data suggests that the LC functional/structural decay may represent a critical factor for Alzheimer's disease pathophysiological and clinical progression. In the present prospective study, we used Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) with LC-sensitive sequence (LC-MRI) to investigate in vivo the LC involvement in Alzheimer's disease progression, and whether specific LC-MRI features at baseline are associated with prognosis and cognitive performance in amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment. METHODS LC-MRI parameters were measured at baseline by a template-based method on 3.0-T magnetic resonance images in 34 patients with Alzheimer's disease dementia, 73 patients with amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment, and 53 cognitively intact individuals. A thorough neurological and neuropsychological assessment was performed at baseline and 2.5-year follow-up. RESULTS In subjects with Mild Cognitive Impairment who converted to dementia (n = 32), the LC intensity and number of LC-related voxels were significantly lower than in cognitively intact individuals, resembling those observed in demented patients. Such a reduction was not detected in Mild Cognitive Impairment individuals, who remained stable at follow-up. In Mild Cognitive Impairment subjects converting to dementia, LC-MRI parameter reduction was maximal in the rostral part of the left nucleus. Structural equation modeling analysis showed that LC-MRI parameters positively correlate with cognitive performance. CONCLUSIONS Our findings highlight a potential role of LC-MRI for predicting clinical progression in Mild Cognitive Impairment and support the key role of LC degeneration in the Alzheimer clinical continuum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Galgani
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Francesco Lombardo
- Cardiovascular and Neuroradiological Multimodal Imaging Unit, G. Monasterio Foundation-National Research Council/Tuscany Region, Pisa, Italy
| | - Nicola Martini
- Deep Health Unit, G. Monasterio Foundation-National Research Council/Tuscany Region, Pisa, Italy
| | - Andrea Vergallo
- GRC No. 21, Alzheimer Precision Medicine, Public Hospital Network of Paris, Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, Sorbonne University, Paris, France
| | - Luca Bastiani
- Institute of Clinical Physiology of National Research Council, Pisa, Italy
| | - Harald Hampel
- GRC No. 21, Alzheimer Precision Medicine, Public Hospital Network of Paris, Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, Sorbonne University, Paris, France
| | - Hana Hlavata
- Cardiovascular and Neuroradiological Multimodal Imaging Unit, G. Monasterio Foundation-National Research Council/Tuscany Region, Pisa, Italy
| | - Filippo Baldacci
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Gloria Tognoni
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Daniele De Marchi
- Cardiovascular and Neuroradiological Multimodal Imaging Unit, G. Monasterio Foundation-National Research Council/Tuscany Region, Pisa, Italy
| | - Irene Ghicopulos
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Sara De Cori
- Cardiovascular and Neuroradiological Multimodal Imaging Unit, G. Monasterio Foundation-National Research Council/Tuscany Region, Pisa, Italy
| | - Francesca Biagioni
- Scientific Institute for Research and Health Care Neuromed, Pozzilli, Italy
| | | | - Roberto Ceravolo
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Ubaldo Bonuccelli
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Dante Chiappino
- Cardiovascular and Neuroradiological Multimodal Imaging Unit, G. Monasterio Foundation-National Research Council/Tuscany Region, Pisa, Italy
| | - Gabriele Siciliano
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Francesco Fornai
- Scientific Institute for Research and Health Care Neuromed, Pozzilli, Italy.,Department of Translational Research and of New Surgical and Medical Technologies, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Nicola Pavese
- Clinical Ageing Research Unit, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK.,Institute of Clinical Medicine, Positron Emission Tomography Center, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Filippo Sean Giorgi
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.,Department of Translational Research and of New Surgical and Medical Technologies, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
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Engels-Domínguez N, Koops EA, Prokopiou PC, Van Egroo M, Schneider C, Riphagen JM, Singhal T, Jacobs HIL. State-of-the-art imaging of neuromodulatory subcortical systems in aging and Alzheimer's disease: Challenges and opportunities. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2023; 144:104998. [PMID: 36526031 PMCID: PMC9805533 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2022.104998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2022] [Revised: 09/30/2022] [Accepted: 11/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Primary prevention trials have shifted their focus to the earliest stages of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Autopsy data indicates that the neuromodulatory subcortical systems' (NSS) nuclei are specifically vulnerable to initial tau pathology, indicating that these nuclei hold great promise for early detection of AD in the context of the aging brain. The increasing availability of new imaging methods, ultra-high field scanners, new radioligands, and routine deep brain stimulation implants has led to a growing number of NSS neuroimaging studies on aging and neurodegeneration. Here, we review findings of current state-of-the-art imaging studies assessing the structure, function, and molecular changes of these nuclei during aging and AD. Furthermore, we identify the challenges associated with these imaging methods, important pathophysiologic gaps to fill for the AD NSS neuroimaging field, and provide future directions to improve our assessment, understanding, and clinical use of in vivo imaging of the NSS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nina Engels-Domínguez
- Gordon Center for Medical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Alzheimer Centre Limburg, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Elouise A Koops
- Gordon Center for Medical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Prokopis C Prokopiou
- Gordon Center for Medical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Maxime Van Egroo
- Gordon Center for Medical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Alzheimer Centre Limburg, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Christoph Schneider
- Gordon Center for Medical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Joost M Riphagen
- Gordon Center for Medical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Tarun Singhal
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Heidi I L Jacobs
- Gordon Center for Medical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Alzheimer Centre Limburg, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands.
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9
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Minné D, Marnewick JL, Engel-Hills P. Early Chronic Stress Induced Changes within the Locus Coeruleus in Sporadic Alzheimer's Disease. Curr Alzheimer Res 2023; 20:301-317. [PMID: 37872793 DOI: 10.2174/1567205020666230811092956] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2023] [Revised: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 07/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/25/2023]
Abstract
Chronic exposure to stress throughout the lifespan has been the focus of many studies on Alzheimer's disease (AD) because of the similarities between the biological mechanisms involved in chronic stress and the pathophysiology of AD. In fact, the earliest abnormality associated with the disease is the presence of phosphorylated tau protein in locus coeruleus neurons, a brain structure highly responsive to stress and perceived threat. Here, we introduce allostatic load as a useful concept for understanding many of the complex, interacting neuropathological changes involved in the AD degenerative process. In response to chronic stress, aberrant tau proteins that begin to accumulate within the locus coeruleus decades prior to symptom onset appear to represent a primary pathological event in the AD cascade, triggering a wide range of interacting brain changes involving neuronal excitotoxicity, endocrine alterations, inflammation, oxidative stress, and amyloid plaque exacerbation. While it is acknowledged that stress will not necessarily be the major precipitating factor in all cases, early tau-induced changes within the locus coeruleus-norepinephrine pathway suggests that a therapeutic window might exist for preventative measures aimed at managing stress and restoring balance within the HPA axis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donné Minné
- Applied Microbial & Health Biotechnology Institute, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Cape Town, 7535, South Africa
- Faculty of Health and Wellness Sciences, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Cape Town, 7535, South Africa
| | - Jeanine L Marnewick
- Applied Microbial & Health Biotechnology Institute, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Cape Town, 7535, South Africa
| | - Penelope Engel-Hills
- Faculty of Health and Wellness Sciences, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Cape Town, 7535, South Africa
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10
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Liebe T, Dordevic M, Kaufmann J, Avetisyan A, Skalej M, Müller N. Investigation of the functional pathogenesis of mild cognitive impairment by localisation-based locus coeruleus resting-state fMRI. Hum Brain Mapp 2022; 43:5630-5642. [PMID: 36441846 PMCID: PMC9704796 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.26039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2022] [Revised: 06/27/2022] [Accepted: 07/25/2022] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Dementia as one of the most prevalent diseases urges for a better understanding of the central mechanisms responsible for clinical symptoms, and necessitates improvement of actual diagnostic capabilities. The brainstem nucleus locus coeruleus (LC) is a promising target for early diagnosis because of its early structural alterations and its relationship to the functional disturbances in the patients. In this study, we applied our improved method of localisation-based LC resting-state fMRI to investigate the differences in central sensory signal processing when comparing functional connectivity (fc) of a patient group with mild cognitive impairment (MCI, n = 28) and an age-matched healthy control group (n = 29). MCI and control participants could be differentiated in their Mini-Mental-State-Examination (MMSE) scores (p < .001) and LC intensity ratio (p = .010). In the fMRI, LC fc to anterior cingulate cortex (FDR p < .001) and left anterior insula (FDR p = .012) was elevated, and LC fc to right temporoparietal junction (rTPJ, FDR p = .012) and posterior cingulate cortex (PCC, FDR p = .021) was decreased in the patient group. Importantly, LC to rTPJ connectivity was also positively correlated to MMSE scores in MCI patients (p = .017). Furthermore, we found a hyperactivation of the left-insula salience network in the MCI patients. Our results and our proposed disease model shed new light on the functional pathogenesis of MCI by directing to attentional network disturbances, which could aid new therapeutic strategies and provide a marker for diagnosis and prediction of disease progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Liebe
- Department of PsychiatryMedical University of ViennaViennaAustria
- Department of RadiologyUniversity Hospital JenaJenaGermany
- Department of PsychiatryUniversity Hospital JenaJenaGermany
- Clinical Affective Neuroimaging LaboratoryLeibniz Institute for NeurobiologyMagdeburgGermany
| | - Milos Dordevic
- Department of Degenerative and Chronic DiseasesUniversity PotsdamPotsdamGermany
| | - Jörn Kaufmann
- Department of NeurologyUniversity Hospital MagdeburgMagdeburgGermany
| | - Araks Avetisyan
- Neuroprotection LabGerman Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE)MagdeburgGermany
| | - Martin Skalej
- Department of Neuroradiology, Clinic and Policlinic of RadiologyUniversity Hospital HalleHalleGermany
| | - Notger Müller
- Department of Degenerative and Chronic DiseasesUniversity PotsdamPotsdamGermany
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11
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Calarco N, Cassidy CM, Selby B, Hawco C, Voineskos AN, Diniz BS, Nikolova YS. Associations between locus coeruleus integrity and diagnosis, age, and cognitive performance in older adults with and without late-life depression: An exploratory study. Neuroimage Clin 2022; 36:103182. [PMID: 36088841 PMCID: PMC9474922 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2022.103182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2022] [Revised: 08/31/2022] [Accepted: 09/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Late-life depression (LLD) is a risk factor for age-dependent cognitive deterioration. Norepinephrine-related degeneration in the locus coeruleus (LC) may explain this link. To examine the LC norepinephrine system in vivo, we acquired neuromelanin-sensitive MRI (NM-MRI) in a sample of 48 participants, including 25 with LLD (18 women, age 68.08 ± 5.41) and 23 never-depressed comparison participants (ND, 12 women, age 70 ± 8.02), matched on age and cognitive status. We employed a semi-automated procedure to segment the LC into three bilateral sections along its rostro-caudal extent, and calculated relative contrast as a proxy of integrity. Then, we examined associations between integrity and LLD diagnosis, age, and cognition, as measured via the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS) and the Delis-Kaplan Executive Function System (D-KEFS). We did not identify an effect of LLD diagnosis nor age on LC integrity, but exploratory canonical correlation analysis across the combined participant sample revealed a strong (Rc = 0.853) and significant multivariate relationship between integrity and cognition (Wilks' λ = 0.03, F(84, 162.44) = 1.66, p = <.01). The first and only significant variate explained 72.83% model variance, and linked better attention and delayed memory performance, faster processing speed, and lower verbal fluency performance with higher integrity in the right rostral but lower integrity in the left caudal LC. Our results complement prior evidence of LC involvement in cognition in healthy older adults, and extend this association to individuals with LLD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Navona Calarco
- Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Clifford M. Cassidy
- The University of Ottawa Institute of Mental Health Research at the Royal, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Ben Selby
- Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Colin Hawco
- Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Aristotle N. Voineskos
- Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), Toronto, ON, Canada,Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Breno S. Diniz
- UConn Center on Aging, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT, USA,Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Connecticut, Farmington, CT, USA
| | - Yuliya S. Nikolova
- Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), Toronto, ON, Canada,Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada,Corresponding author at: Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), 250 College Street, Toronto, ON M5T 1L8, Canada.
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12
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Baytas O, Kauer JA, Morrow EM. Loss of mitochondrial enzyme GPT2 causes early neurodegeneration in locus coeruleus. Neurobiol Dis 2022; 173:105831. [PMID: 35908744 PMCID: PMC9669404 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2022.105831] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2022] [Revised: 07/06/2022] [Accepted: 07/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Locus coeruleus (LC) is among the first brain areas to degenerate in Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease; however, the underlying causes for the vulnerability of LC neurons are not well defined. Here we report a novel mechanism of degeneration of LC neurons caused by loss of the mitochondrial enzyme glutamate pyruvate transaminase 2 (GPT2). GPT2 Deficiency is a newly-recognized childhood neurometabolic disorder. The GPT2 enzyme regulates cell growth through replenishment of tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle intermediates and modulation of amino acid metabolism. In Gpt2-null mice, we observe an early loss of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)-positive neurons in LC and reduced soma size at postnatal day 18. Gpt2-null LC shows selective positive Fluoro-Jade C staining. Neuron loss is accompanied by selective, prominent microgliosis and astrogliosis in LC. We observe reduced noradrenergic projections to and norepinephrine levels in hippocampus and spinal cord. Whole cell recordings in Gpt2-null LC slices show reduced soma size and abnormal action potentials with altered firing kinetics. Strikingly, we observe early decreases in phosphorylated S6 in Gpt2-null LC, preceding prominent p62 aggregation, increased LC3B-II to LC3B-I ratio, and neuronal loss. These data are consistent with a possible mechanism involving deficiency in protein synthesis and cell growth, associated subsequently with abnormal autophagy and neurodegeneration. As compared to the few genetic animal models with LC degeneration, loss of LC neurons in Gpt2-null mice is developmentally the earliest. Early neuron loss in LC in a model of human neurometabolic disease provides important clues regarding the metabolic vulnerability of LC and may lead to new therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ozan Baytas
- Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology and Biochemistry, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA; Center for Translational Neuroscience, Carney Institute for Brain Science and Brown Institute for Translational Science, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA; Neuroscience Graduate Program, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA
| | - Julie A Kauer
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94035, USA
| | - Eric M Morrow
- Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology and Biochemistry, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA; Center for Translational Neuroscience, Carney Institute for Brain Science and Brown Institute for Translational Science, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA.
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13
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Matti N, Javanshiri K, Haglund M, Saenz-Sardá X, Englund E. Locus Coeruleus Degeneration Differs Between Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration Subtypes. J Alzheimers Dis 2022; 89:463-471. [PMID: 35871340 PMCID: PMC9535600 DOI: 10.3233/jad-220276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
Background: There are few studies on the locus coeruleus (LC) in frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) and the potential differences in the LC related to the underlying proteinopathy. Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the LC in FTLD subgroups. Methods: Neuropathological cases diagnosed with FTLD were included. The subgroups consisted of FTLD with tau, transactive response DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP) and fused in sarcoma (FUS). Micro- and macroscopical degeneration of the LC were assessed with respect to the number of neurons and the degree of depigmentation. A group of cognitively healthy subjects and a group with vascular cognitive impairment (VCI) served as comparison groups. Results: A total of 85 FTLD cases were included, of which 44 had FTLD-TDP, 38 had FTLD-tau, and three had FTLD-FUS. The groups were compared with 25 VCI cases and 41 cognitively healthy control cases (N = 151 for the entire study). All FTLD groups had a statistically higher microscopical degeneration of the LC compared to the controls, but the FTLD-tau group had greater micro- and macroscopical degeneration than the FTLD-TDP group. Age correlated positively with the LC score in the FTLD-tau group, but not in the FTLD-TDP group. Conclusion: A greater microscopical degeneration of the LC was observed in all FTLD cases compared to healthy controls and those with VCI. The LC degeneration was more severe in FTLD-tau than in FTLD-TDP. The macroscopically differential degeneration of the LC in FTLD subgroups may facilitate differential diagnostics, potentially with imaging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathalie Matti
- Division of Pathology, Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Lund University, Sweden
| | - Keivan Javanshiri
- Division of Pathology, Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Lund University, Sweden
| | - Mattias Haglund
- Division of Pathology, Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Lund University, Sweden
| | - Xavier Saenz-Sardá
- Division of Pathology, Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Lund University, Sweden
| | - Elisabet Englund
- Division of Pathology, Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Lund University, Sweden
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14
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Guzmán-Ramos K, Osorio-Gómez D, Bermúdez-Rattoni F. Cognitive impairment in alzheimer’s and metabolic diseases: A catecholaminergic hypothesis. Neuroscience 2022; 497:308-323. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2022.05.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2021] [Revised: 05/19/2022] [Accepted: 05/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
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15
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Cassidy CM, Therriault J, Pascoal TA, Cheung V, Savard M, Tuominen L, Chamoun M, McCall A, Celebi S, Lussier F, Massarweh G, Soucy JP, Weinshenker D, Tardif C, Ismail Z, Gauthier S, Rosa-Neto P. Association of locus coeruleus integrity with Braak stage and neuropsychiatric symptom severity in Alzheimer's disease. Neuropsychopharmacology 2022; 47:1128-1136. [PMID: 35177805 PMCID: PMC8938499 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-022-01293-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2021] [Revised: 01/07/2022] [Accepted: 02/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The clinical and pathophysiological correlates of locus coeruleus (LC) degeneration in Alzheimer's disease (AD) could be clarified using a method to index LC integrity in vivo, neuromelanin-sensitive MRI (NM-MRI). We examined whether integrity of the LC-norepinephrine system, assessed with NM-MRI, is associated with stage of AD and with neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS), independent of cortical pathophysiology (amyloid-β and tau burden). Cognitively normal older adults (n = 118), and individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI, n = 44), and AD (n = 28) underwent MR imaging and tau and amyloid-β positron emission tomography (with [18F]MK6240 and [18F]AZD4694, respectively). Integrity of the LC-norepinephrine system was assessed based on contrast-to-noise ratio of the LC on NM-MRI images. Braak stage of AD was derived from regional binding of [18F]MK6240. NPS were assessed with the Mild Behavioral Impairment Checklist (MBI-C). LC signal contrast was decreased in tau-positive participants (t186 = -4.00, p = 0.0001) and negatively correlated to Braak stage (Spearman ρ = -0.31, p = 0.00006). In tau-positive participants (n = 51), higher LC signal predicted NPS severity (ρ = 0.35, p = 0.019) independently of tau burden, amyloid-β burden, and cortical gray matter volume. This relationship appeared to be driven by the impulse dyscontrol domain of NPS, which was highly correlated to LC signal (ρ = 0.44, p = 0.0027). NM-MRI reveals loss of LC integrity that correlates to severity of AD. However, LC preservation in AD may also have negative consequences by conferring risk for impulse control symptoms. NM-MRI shows promise as a practical biomarker that could have utility in predicting the risk of NPS or guiding their treatment in AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clifford M. Cassidy
- grid.28046.380000 0001 2182 2255Institute of Mental Health Research, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON Canada ,grid.14709.3b0000 0004 1936 8649Translational Neuroimaging Laboratory, The McGill University Research Centre for Studies in Aging, McGill University, Montreal, QC Canada ,grid.14709.3b0000 0004 1936 8649Douglas Research Institute, Le Centre Intégré Universitaire de Santé et de Services Sociaux (CIUSSS) de l’Ouest-de-l’Île-de-Montréal, McGill University, Montreal, QC Canada
| | - Joseph Therriault
- grid.14709.3b0000 0004 1936 8649Translational Neuroimaging Laboratory, The McGill University Research Centre for Studies in Aging, McGill University, Montreal, QC Canada ,grid.14709.3b0000 0004 1936 8649Douglas Research Institute, Le Centre Intégré Universitaire de Santé et de Services Sociaux (CIUSSS) de l’Ouest-de-l’Île-de-Montréal, McGill University, Montreal, QC Canada ,grid.14709.3b0000 0004 1936 8649Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC Canada ,grid.14709.3b0000 0004 1936 8649Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, QC Canada
| | - Tharick A. Pascoal
- grid.14709.3b0000 0004 1936 8649Translational Neuroimaging Laboratory, The McGill University Research Centre for Studies in Aging, McGill University, Montreal, QC Canada ,grid.14709.3b0000 0004 1936 8649Douglas Research Institute, Le Centre Intégré Universitaire de Santé et de Services Sociaux (CIUSSS) de l’Ouest-de-l’Île-de-Montréal, McGill University, Montreal, QC Canada ,grid.14709.3b0000 0004 1936 8649Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC Canada ,grid.14709.3b0000 0004 1936 8649Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, QC Canada ,grid.14709.3b0000 0004 1936 8649Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC Canada
| | - Victoria Cheung
- grid.28046.380000 0001 2182 2255Institute of Mental Health Research, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON Canada
| | - Melissa Savard
- grid.14709.3b0000 0004 1936 8649Translational Neuroimaging Laboratory, The McGill University Research Centre for Studies in Aging, McGill University, Montreal, QC Canada ,grid.14709.3b0000 0004 1936 8649Douglas Research Institute, Le Centre Intégré Universitaire de Santé et de Services Sociaux (CIUSSS) de l’Ouest-de-l’Île-de-Montréal, McGill University, Montreal, QC Canada ,grid.14709.3b0000 0004 1936 8649Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC Canada ,grid.14709.3b0000 0004 1936 8649Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, QC Canada
| | - Lauri Tuominen
- grid.28046.380000 0001 2182 2255Institute of Mental Health Research, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON Canada
| | - Mira Chamoun
- grid.14709.3b0000 0004 1936 8649Translational Neuroimaging Laboratory, The McGill University Research Centre for Studies in Aging, McGill University, Montreal, QC Canada ,grid.14709.3b0000 0004 1936 8649Douglas Research Institute, Le Centre Intégré Universitaire de Santé et de Services Sociaux (CIUSSS) de l’Ouest-de-l’Île-de-Montréal, McGill University, Montreal, QC Canada ,grid.14709.3b0000 0004 1936 8649Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC Canada ,grid.14709.3b0000 0004 1936 8649Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, QC Canada
| | - Adelina McCall
- grid.28046.380000 0001 2182 2255Institute of Mental Health Research, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON Canada
| | - Seyda Celebi
- grid.28046.380000 0001 2182 2255Institute of Mental Health Research, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON Canada
| | - Firoza Lussier
- grid.14709.3b0000 0004 1936 8649Translational Neuroimaging Laboratory, The McGill University Research Centre for Studies in Aging, McGill University, Montreal, QC Canada ,grid.14709.3b0000 0004 1936 8649Douglas Research Institute, Le Centre Intégré Universitaire de Santé et de Services Sociaux (CIUSSS) de l’Ouest-de-l’Île-de-Montréal, McGill University, Montreal, QC Canada ,grid.14709.3b0000 0004 1936 8649Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC Canada ,grid.14709.3b0000 0004 1936 8649Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, QC Canada
| | - Gassan Massarweh
- grid.14709.3b0000 0004 1936 8649Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC Canada ,grid.14709.3b0000 0004 1936 8649Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC Canada
| | - Jean-Paul Soucy
- grid.14709.3b0000 0004 1936 8649Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC Canada ,grid.14709.3b0000 0004 1936 8649Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC Canada
| | - David Weinshenker
- grid.189967.80000 0001 0941 6502Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA USA
| | - Christine Tardif
- grid.14709.3b0000 0004 1936 8649Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC Canada ,grid.14709.3b0000 0004 1936 8649Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC Canada
| | - Zahinoor Ismail
- grid.22072.350000 0004 1936 7697Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB Canada
| | - Serge Gauthier
- grid.14709.3b0000 0004 1936 8649Translational Neuroimaging Laboratory, The McGill University Research Centre for Studies in Aging, McGill University, Montreal, QC Canada ,grid.14709.3b0000 0004 1936 8649Alzheimer’s Disease Research Unit, The McGill University Research Centre for Studies in Aging, McGill University, Montréal, QC Canada
| | - Pedro Rosa-Neto
- grid.14709.3b0000 0004 1936 8649Translational Neuroimaging Laboratory, The McGill University Research Centre for Studies in Aging, McGill University, Montreal, QC Canada ,grid.14709.3b0000 0004 1936 8649Douglas Research Institute, Le Centre Intégré Universitaire de Santé et de Services Sociaux (CIUSSS) de l’Ouest-de-l’Île-de-Montréal, McGill University, Montreal, QC Canada ,grid.14709.3b0000 0004 1936 8649Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC Canada ,grid.14709.3b0000 0004 1936 8649Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, QC Canada ,grid.14709.3b0000 0004 1936 8649Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC Canada
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16
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Giorgi FS, Martini N, Lombardo F, Galgani A, Bastiani L, Della Latta D, Hlavata H, Busceti CL, Biagioni F, Puglisi-Allegra S, Pavese N, Fornai F. Locus Coeruleus magnetic resonance imaging: a comparison between native-space and template-space approach. J Neural Transm (Vienna) 2022; 129:387-394. [PMID: 35306617 PMCID: PMC9007774 DOI: 10.1007/s00702-022-02486-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2022] [Accepted: 03/02/2022] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Locus Coeruleus (LC) is the main noradrenergic nucleus of the brain, which is involved in many physiological functions including cognition; its impairment may be crucial in the neurobiology of a variety of brain diseases. Locus Coeruleus-Magnetic Resonance Imaging (LC-MRI) allows to identify in vivo LC in humans. Thus, a variety of research teams have been using LC-MRI to estimate LC integrity in normal aging and in patients affected by neurodegenerative disorders, where LC integrity my work as a biomarker. A number of variations between LC-MRI studies exist, concerning post-acquisition analysis and whether this had been performed within MRI native space or in ad hoc-built MRI template space. Moreover, the reproducibility and reliability of this tool is still to be explored. Therefore, in the present study, we analyzed a group of neurologically healthy, cognitively intact elderly subjects, using both a native space- and a template space-based LC-MRI analysis. We found a good inter-method agreement, particularly considering the LC Contrast Ratio. The template space-based approach provided a higher spatial resolution, lower operator-dependency, and allowed the analysis of LC topography. Our ad hoc-developed LC template showed LC morphological data that were in line with templates published very recently. Remarkably, present data significantly overlapped with a recently published LC "metaMask", that had been obtained by averaging the results of a variety of previous LC-MRI studies. Thus, such a template space-based approach may pave the way to a standardized LC-MRI analysis and to be used in future clinic-anatomical correlations.
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Affiliation(s)
- F S Giorgi
- Department of Translational Research and of New Surgical and Medical Technologies, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
| | - N Martini
- Deep Health Unit, Fondazione Toscana Gabriele Monasterio, CNR-Regione Toscana, Pisa, Italy
| | - F Lombardo
- Cardiovascular and Neuroradiological Multimodal Imaging Unit, Fondazione Toscana Gabriele Monasterio, CNR-Regione Toscana, Pisa, Italy
| | - A Galgani
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - L Bastiani
- Institute of Clinical Physiology of National Research Council, Pisa, Italy
| | - D Della Latta
- Deep Health Unit, Fondazione Toscana Gabriele Monasterio, CNR-Regione Toscana, Pisa, Italy
| | - H Hlavata
- Cardiovascular and Neuroradiological Multimodal Imaging Unit, Fondazione Toscana Gabriele Monasterio, CNR-Regione Toscana, Pisa, Italy
| | | | | | | | - N Pavese
- Clinical Ageing Research Unit, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.,Institute of Clinical Medicine, PET Centre, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - F Fornai
- Department of Translational Research and of New Surgical and Medical Technologies, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy. .,IRCCS Neuromed, Pozzilli, Italy.
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17
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Varela L, Garcia-Rendueles MER. Oncogenic Pathways in Neurodegenerative Diseases. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23063223. [PMID: 35328644 PMCID: PMC8952192 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23063223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Revised: 03/14/2022] [Accepted: 03/15/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer and neurodegenerative diseases are two of the leading causes of premature death in modern societies. Their incidence continues to increase, and in the near future, it is believed that cancer will kill more than 20 million people per year, and neurodegenerative diseases, due to the aging of the world population, will double their prevalence. The onset and the progression of both diseases are defined by dysregulation of the same molecular signaling pathways. However, whereas in cancer, these alterations lead to cell survival and proliferation, neurodegenerative diseases trigger cell death and apoptosis. The study of the mechanisms underlying these opposite final responses to the same molecular trigger is key to providing a better understanding of the diseases and finding more accurate treatments. Here, we review the ten most common signaling pathways altered in cancer and analyze them in the context of different neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's (AD), Parkinson's (PD), and Huntington's (HD) diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis Varela
- Yale Center for Molecular and Systems Metabolism, Department of Comparative Medicine, School of Medicine, Yale University, 310 Cedar St. BML 330, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
- Correspondence: (L.V.); (M.E.R.G.-R.)
| | - Maria E. R. Garcia-Rendueles
- Precision Nutrition and Cancer Program, IMDEA Food Institute, Campus Excelencia Internacional UAM+CSIC, 28049 Madrid, Spain
- Correspondence: (L.V.); (M.E.R.G.-R.)
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18
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Chen Y, Chen T, Hou R. Locus coeruleus in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease: A systematic review. ALZHEIMER'S & DEMENTIA (NEW YORK, N. Y.) 2022; 8:e12257. [PMID: 35282658 PMCID: PMC8900465 DOI: 10.1002/trc2.12257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2021] [Revised: 12/19/2021] [Accepted: 12/21/2021] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
The locus coeruleus (LC) is a nucleus in the brain stem producing noradrenaline. While cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease (AD) has primarily been related to cholinergic depletion, evidence indicates extensive LC degeneration as its earliest pathological marker. The current study aimed to systematically evaluate current evidence investigating the role of the LC in the pathogenesis of AD. A systematic search of the literature was performed on electronic databases including PubMed and Web of Science. Twelve animal, human post mortem, and human imaging studies were included in this review. Screening, data extraction, and quality assessment were undertaken following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses guidelines for preferred reporting of systematic reviews. Significant associations were identified between LC changes and cognitive decline. Significant reductions in fiber density, neuronal number, and LC volume were seen to correlate with other pathological degenerative markers. Current evidence indicates an important role of the LC in pathogenesis of AD and suggests its potential in both diagnosis and treatment of AD. This systematic review advances our understanding of the role of the LC in AD by synthesizing available evidence, identifying research gaps, highlighting methodological challenges, and making recommendations for future work.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuqing Chen
- School of Clinical Medicine Addenbrooke's Hospital University of Cambridge Cambridge UK
| | - Teng Chen
- Department of Neurosurgery Qilu Hospital of Shandong University Jinan Shandong China
| | - Ruihua Hou
- Clinical and Experimental Sciences Faculty of Medicine University of Southampton Southampton UK
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19
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Kelberman MA, Anderson CR, Chlan E, Rorabaugh JM, McCann KE, Weinshenker D. Consequences of Hyperphosphorylated Tau in the Locus Coeruleus on Behavior and Cognition in a Rat Model of Alzheimer's Disease. J Alzheimers Dis 2022; 86:1037-1059. [PMID: 35147547 PMCID: PMC9007891 DOI: 10.3233/jad-215546] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The locus coeruleus (LC) is one of the earliest brain regions to accumulate hyperphosphorylated tau, but a lack of animal models that recapitulate this pathology has hampered our understanding of its contributions to Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathophysiology. OBJECTIVE We previously reported that TgF344-AD rats, which overexpress mutant human amyloid precursor protein and presenilin-1, accumulate early endogenous hyperphosphorylated tau in the LC. Here, we used TgF344-AD rats and a wild-type (WT) human tau virus to interrogate the effects of endogenous hyperphosphorylated rat tau and human tau in the LC on AD-related neuropathology and behavior. METHODS Two-month-old TgF344-AD and WT rats received bilateral LC infusions of full-length WT human tau or mCherry control virus driven by the noradrenergic-specific PRSx8 promoter. Rats were subsequently assessed at 6 and 12 months for arousal (sleep latency), anxiety-like behavior (open field, elevated plus maze, novelty-suppressed feeding), passive coping (forced swim task), and learning and memory (Morris water maze and fear conditioning). Hippocampal microglia, astrocyte, and AD pathology were evaluated using immunohistochemistry. RESULTS In general, the effects of age were more pronounced than genotype or treatment; older rats displayed greater hippocampal pathology, took longer to fall asleep, had reduced locomotor activity, floated more, and had impaired cognition compared to younger animals. TgF344-AD rats showed increased anxiety-like behavior and impaired learning and memory. The tau virus had negligible influence on most measures. CONCLUSION Effects of hyperphosphorylated tau on AD-like neuropathology and behavioral symptoms were subtle. Further investigation of different forms of tau is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael A Kelberman
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.,Neuroscience Program, Laney Graduate School, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | | | - Eli Chlan
- Neuroscience Program, Laney Graduate School, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA
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20
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Liebe T, Kaufmann J, Hämmerer D, Betts M, Walter M. In vivo tractography of human locus coeruleus-relation to 7T resting state fMRI, psychological measures and single subject validity. Mol Psychiatry 2022; 27:4984-4993. [PMID: 36117208 PMCID: PMC9763100 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-022-01761-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2022] [Revised: 08/10/2022] [Accepted: 08/18/2022] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
The locus coeruleus (LC) in the brainstem as the main regulator of brain noradrenaline gains increasing attention because of its involvement in neurologic and psychiatric diseases and its relevance in general to brain function. In this study, we created a structural connectome of the LC nerve fibers based on in vivo MRI tractography to gain an understanding into LC connectivity and its impact on LC-related psychological measures. We combined our structural results with ultra-high field resting-state functional MRI to learn about the relationship between in vivo LC structural and functional connections. Importantly, we reveal that LC brain fibers are strongly associated with psychological measures of anxiety and alertness indicating that LC-noradrenergic connectivity may have an important role on brain function. Lastly, since we analyzed all our data in subject-specific space, we point out the potential of structural LC connectivity to reveal individual characteristics of LC-noradrenergic function on the single-subject level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Liebe
- grid.9613.d0000 0001 1939 2794Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Jena, D-07743 Jena, Germany ,grid.9613.d0000 0001 1939 2794Department of Radiology, University of Jena, D-07743 Jena, Germany ,Clinical Affective Neuroimaging Laboratory (CANLAB), D-39120 Magdeburg, Germany ,grid.418723.b0000 0001 2109 6265Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology, D-39118 Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Jörn Kaufmann
- grid.5807.a0000 0001 1018 4307Department of Neurology, University of Magdeburg, D-39120 Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Dorothea Hämmerer
- grid.5771.40000 0001 2151 8122Department of Psychology, University of Innsbruck, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria ,grid.83440.3b0000000121901201Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, University College London, London, UK-WC1E 6BT UK ,grid.5807.a0000 0001 1018 4307Institute of Cognitive Neurology and Dementia Research, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, D-39120 Magdeburg, Germany ,grid.418723.b0000 0001 2109 6265CBBS Center for Behavioral Brain Sciences, D-39120 Magdeburg, Germany ,grid.424247.30000 0004 0438 0426German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), D-39120 Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Matthew Betts
- grid.5807.a0000 0001 1018 4307Institute of Cognitive Neurology and Dementia Research, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, D-39120 Magdeburg, Germany ,grid.418723.b0000 0001 2109 6265CBBS Center for Behavioral Brain Sciences, D-39120 Magdeburg, Germany ,grid.424247.30000 0004 0438 0426German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), D-39120 Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Martin Walter
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Jena, D-07743, Jena, Germany. .,Clinical Affective Neuroimaging Laboratory (CANLAB), D-39120, Magdeburg, Germany. .,Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology, D-39118, Magdeburg, Germany. .,Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Tuebingen, D-72076, Tuebingen, Germany. .,Center for Intervention and Research on adaptive and maladaptive brain Circuits underlying mental health (C-I-R-C), D-07743 Jena, Germany. .,German Center for Mental Health (DZPG), Site Jena-Magdeburg-Halle, D-07743 Jena, Germany.
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21
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Hansen N, Rediske AI. The Locus Coeruleus Noradrenaline System in Delirium. Front Aging Neurosci 2021; 13:784356. [PMID: 34955815 PMCID: PMC8692941 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2021.784356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2021] [Accepted: 11/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Delirium is a brain state involving severe brain dysfunction affecting cognitive and attentional capacities. Our opinion statement review aims to elucidate the relationship between abnormal arousal and locus coeruleus (LC) activity in cognitive dysfunction and inattention in delirium states. We propose (1) that enhanced noradrenaline release caused by altered arousal in hyperactive delirium states leads to increased noradrenergic transmission within the LC and subcortical and cortical brain regions including the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus, thus affecting how attention and cognition function. In hypoactive delirium states, however, we are presuming (2) that less arousal will cause the release of noradrenaline to diminish in the LC, followed by reduced noradrenergic transmission in cortical and subcortical brain areas concentrated within the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus, leading to deficient attention and cognitive processing. Studies addressing the measurement of noradrenaline and its derivatives in biomaterial probes regarding delirium are also covered in this article. In conclusion, the LC-NA system plays a crucial role in generating delirium. Yet there have been no large-scale studies investigating biomarkers of noradrenaline to help us draw conclusions for improving delirium's diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis, and to better understand its pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niels Hansen
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
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22
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Fatima Shad K, Soubra W, Cordato DJ. The Auditory Afferent Pathway as a Clinical Marker of Alzheimer's Disease. J Alzheimers Dis 2021; 85:47-53. [PMID: 34776450 DOI: 10.3233/jad-215206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Brain stem neural tracts and nuclei may be disturbed prior to observable neuronal atrophy in AD. In this perspective, we discuss the notion of functional deficits presenting prior to structural abnormalities in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Imaging of inferior colliculi using magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) shows significant decrease in the neuronal markers, N acetyl aspartate/creatine ratio and increase in the glial marker myo-Inositol, in subjects with Mini-Mental State Examination scores greater than 24 and with no signs of atrophy in their MRI of the medial temporal lobe. Abnormalities in components of the auditory event-related potentials (ERPs) are described in cognitive impairment including AD. We observed a significant decrease in amplitude and increase in latency during the first 10 ms of auditory evoked potentials measured on electroencephalography (EEG) indicating slow auditory response of the brainstem. EEG spectral power recorded at the cortex is also associated with neural activity at the level of the inferior colliculi. We postulate that a functional examination of auditory afferent pathways, using non-invasive techniques, such as MRS, brain stem auditory evoked potentials (BAEPs) and ERPs may improve diagnostic accuracy of AD. Functional changes precede structural changes and it is important to further understand the relationship between biochemical and electrophysiological measures such as MRS, BAEPs and EEG.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaneez Fatima Shad
- School of Life Sciences, University of Technology Sydney, NSW, Australia.,Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research, Liverpool, NSW, Australia
| | - Wissam Soubra
- A Healthy Step Clinic, NSW, Australia.,Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research, Liverpool, NSW, Australia
| | - Dennis John Cordato
- Department of Neurophysiology, Liverpool Hospital, NSW, Australia.,Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research, Liverpool, NSW, Australia
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23
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Mather M. Noradrenaline in the aging brain: Promoting cognitive reserve or accelerating Alzheimer's disease? Semin Cell Dev Biol 2021; 116:108-124. [PMID: 34099360 PMCID: PMC8292227 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2021.05.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2021] [Revised: 05/04/2021] [Accepted: 05/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Many believe that engaging in novel and mentally challenging activities promotes brain health and prevents Alzheimer's disease in later life. However, mental stimulation may also have risks as well as benefits. As neurons release neurotransmitters, they often also release amyloid peptides and tau proteins into the extracellular space. These by-products of neural activity can aggregate into the tau tangle and amyloid plaque signatures of Alzheimer's disease. Over time, more active brain regions accumulate more pathology. Thus, increasing brain activity can have a cost. But the neuromodulator noradrenaline, released during novel and mentally stimulating events, may have some protective effects-as well as some negative effects. Via its inhibitory and excitatory effects on neurons and microglia, noradrenaline sometimes prevents and sometimes accelerates the production and accumulation of amyloid-β and tau in various brain regions. Both α2A- and β-adrenergic receptors influence amyloid-β production and tau hyperphosphorylation. Adrenergic activity also influences clearance of amyloid-β and tau. Furthermore, some findings suggest that Alzheimer's disease increases noradrenergic activity, at least in its early phases. Because older brains clear the by-products of synaptic activity less effectively, increased synaptic activity in the older brain risks accelerating the accumulation of Alzheimer's pathology more than it does in the younger brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mara Mather
- Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, Department of Psychology, & Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Southern California, 3715 McClintock Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90089, United States.
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24
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Lagarde J, Olivieri P, Bottlaender M, Sarazin M. Diagnosi clinicolaboratoristica della malattia di Alzheimer. Neurologia 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/s1634-7072(21)45320-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
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25
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Plini ERG, O’Hanlon E, Boyle R, Sibilia F, Rikhye G, Kenney J, Whelan R, Melnychuk MC, Robertson IH, Dockree PM. Examining the Role of the Noradrenergic Locus Coeruleus for Predicting Attention and Brain Maintenance in Healthy Old Age and Disease: An MRI Structural Study for the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative. Cells 2021; 10:1829. [PMID: 34359997 PMCID: PMC8306442 DOI: 10.3390/cells10071829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2021] [Revised: 07/08/2021] [Accepted: 07/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The noradrenergic theory of Cognitive Reserve (Robertson, 2013-2014) postulates that the upregulation of the locus coeruleus-noradrenergic system (LC-NA) originating in the brainstem might facilitate cortical networks involved in attention, and protracted activation of this system throughout the lifespan may enhance cognitive stimulation contributing to reserve. To test the above-mentioned theory, a study was conducted on a sample of 686 participants (395 controls, 156 mild cognitive impairment, 135 Alzheimer's disease) investigating the relationship between LC volume, attentional performance and a biological index of brain maintenance (BrainPAD-an objective measure, which compares an individual's structural brain health, reflected by their voxel-wise grey matter density, to the state typically expected at that individual's age). Further analyses were carried out on reserve indices including education and occupational attainment. Volumetric variation across groups was also explored along with gender differences. Control analyses on the serotoninergic (5-HT), dopaminergic (DA) and cholinergic (Ach) systems were contrasted with the noradrenergic (NA) hypothesis. The antithetic relationships were also tested across the neuromodulatory subcortical systems. Results supported by Bayesian modelling showed that LC volume disproportionately predicted higher attentional performance as well as biological brain maintenance across the three groups. These findings lend support to the role of the noradrenergic system as a key mediator underpinning the neuropsychology of reserve, and they suggest that early prevention strategies focused on the noradrenergic system (e.g., cognitive-attentive training, physical exercise, pharmacological and dietary interventions) may yield important clinical benefits to mitigate cognitive impairment with age and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emanuele R. G. Plini
- Department of Psychology, Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College Dublin, Llyod Building, 42A Pearse St, 8PVX+GJ Dublin, Ireland; (E.O.); (R.B.); (G.R.); (J.K.); (M.C.M.); (I.H.R.); (P.M.D.)
| | - Erik O’Hanlon
- Department of Psychology, Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College Dublin, Llyod Building, 42A Pearse St, 8PVX+GJ Dublin, Ireland; (E.O.); (R.B.); (G.R.); (J.K.); (M.C.M.); (I.H.R.); (P.M.D.)
- Department of Psychiatry, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Hospital Rd, Beaumont, 9QRH+4F Dublin, Ireland
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine Dublin, Trinity College Dublin, 152-160 Pearse St, 8QV3+99 Dublin, Ireland;
| | - Rory Boyle
- Department of Psychology, Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College Dublin, Llyod Building, 42A Pearse St, 8PVX+GJ Dublin, Ireland; (E.O.); (R.B.); (G.R.); (J.K.); (M.C.M.); (I.H.R.); (P.M.D.)
| | - Francesca Sibilia
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine Dublin, Trinity College Dublin, 152-160 Pearse St, 8QV3+99 Dublin, Ireland;
| | - Gaia Rikhye
- Department of Psychology, Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College Dublin, Llyod Building, 42A Pearse St, 8PVX+GJ Dublin, Ireland; (E.O.); (R.B.); (G.R.); (J.K.); (M.C.M.); (I.H.R.); (P.M.D.)
| | - Joanne Kenney
- Department of Psychology, Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College Dublin, Llyod Building, 42A Pearse St, 8PVX+GJ Dublin, Ireland; (E.O.); (R.B.); (G.R.); (J.K.); (M.C.M.); (I.H.R.); (P.M.D.)
| | - Robert Whelan
- Department of Psychology, Global Brain Health Institute, Trinity College Dublin, Lloyd Building, 42A Pearse St, 8PVX+GJ Dublin, Ireland;
| | - Michael C. Melnychuk
- Department of Psychology, Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College Dublin, Llyod Building, 42A Pearse St, 8PVX+GJ Dublin, Ireland; (E.O.); (R.B.); (G.R.); (J.K.); (M.C.M.); (I.H.R.); (P.M.D.)
| | - Ian H. Robertson
- Department of Psychology, Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College Dublin, Llyod Building, 42A Pearse St, 8PVX+GJ Dublin, Ireland; (E.O.); (R.B.); (G.R.); (J.K.); (M.C.M.); (I.H.R.); (P.M.D.)
- Department of Psychology, Global Brain Health Institute, Trinity College Dublin, Lloyd Building, 42A Pearse St, 8PVX+GJ Dublin, Ireland;
| | - Paul M. Dockree
- Department of Psychology, Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College Dublin, Llyod Building, 42A Pearse St, 8PVX+GJ Dublin, Ireland; (E.O.); (R.B.); (G.R.); (J.K.); (M.C.M.); (I.H.R.); (P.M.D.)
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26
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Gallo A, Pillet LE, Verpillot R. New frontiers in Alzheimer's disease diagnostic: Monoamines and their derivatives in biological fluids. Exp Gerontol 2021; 152:111452. [PMID: 34182050 DOI: 10.1016/j.exger.2021.111452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2020] [Revised: 04/29/2021] [Accepted: 06/08/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Current diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) relies on a combination of neuropsychological evaluations, biomarker measurements and brain imaging. Nevertheless, these approaches are either expensive, invasive or lack sensitivity to early AD stages. The main challenge of ongoing research is therefore to identify early non-invasive biomarkers to diagnose AD at preclinical stage. Accumulating evidence support the hypothesis that initial degeneration of profound monoaminergic nuclei may trigger a transneuronal spread of AD pathology towards hippocampus and cortex. These studies aroused great interest on monoamines, i.e. noradrenaline (NA), dopamine (D) ad serotonin (5-HT), as early hallmarks of AD pathology. The present work reviews current literature on the potential role of monoamines and related metabolites as biomarkers of AD. First, morphological changes in the monoaminergic systems during AD are briefly described. Second, we focus on concentration changes of these molecules and their derivatives in biological fluids, including cerebrospinal fluid, obtained by lumbar puncture, and blood or urine, sampled via less invasive procedures. Starting from initial observations, we then discuss recent insights on metabolomics-based analysis, highlighting the promising clinical utility of monoamines for the identification of a molecular AD signature, aimed at improving early diagnosis and discrimination from other dementia.
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27
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Patthy Á, Murai J, Hanics J, Pintér A, Zahola P, Hökfelt TGM, Harkany T, Alpár A. Neuropathology of the Brainstem to Mechanistically Understand and to Treat Alzheimer's Disease. J Clin Med 2021; 10:jcm10081555. [PMID: 33917176 PMCID: PMC8067882 DOI: 10.3390/jcm10081555] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2021] [Revised: 04/01/2021] [Accepted: 04/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a devastating neurodegenerative disorder as yet without effective therapy. Symptoms of this disorder typically reflect cortical malfunction with local neurohistopathology, which biased investigators to search for focal triggers and molecular mechanisms. Cortex, however, receives massive afferents from caudal brain structures, which do not only convey specific information but powerfully tune ensemble activity. Moreover, there is evidence that the start of AD is subcortical. The brainstem harbors monoamine systems, which establish a dense innervation in both allo- and neocortex. Monoaminergic synapses can co-release neuropeptides either by precisely terminating on cortical neurons or, when being “en passant”, can instigate local volume transmission. Especially due to its early damage, malfunction of the ascending monoaminergic system emerges as an early sign and possible trigger of AD. This review summarizes the involvement and cascaded impairment of brainstem monoaminergic neurons in AD and discusses cellular mechanisms that lead to their dysfunction. We highlight the significance and therapeutic challenges of transmitter co-release in ascending activating system, describe the role and changes of local connections and distant afferents of brainstem nuclei in AD, and summon the rapidly increasing diagnostic window during the last few years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ágoston Patthy
- Department of Anatomy, Semmelweis University, H-1094 Budapest, Hungary; (Á.P.); (J.M.); (J.H.); (A.P.); (P.Z.)
| | - János Murai
- Department of Anatomy, Semmelweis University, H-1094 Budapest, Hungary; (Á.P.); (J.M.); (J.H.); (A.P.); (P.Z.)
| | - János Hanics
- Department of Anatomy, Semmelweis University, H-1094 Budapest, Hungary; (Á.P.); (J.M.); (J.H.); (A.P.); (P.Z.)
- SE NAP Research Group of Experimental Neuroanatomy and Developmental Biology, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, H-1094 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Anna Pintér
- Department of Anatomy, Semmelweis University, H-1094 Budapest, Hungary; (Á.P.); (J.M.); (J.H.); (A.P.); (P.Z.)
| | - Péter Zahola
- Department of Anatomy, Semmelweis University, H-1094 Budapest, Hungary; (Á.P.); (J.M.); (J.H.); (A.P.); (P.Z.)
| | - Tomas G. M. Hökfelt
- Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicum 7D, Karolinska Institutet, 17165 Stockholm, Sweden; (T.G.M.H.); (T.H.)
| | - Tibor Harkany
- Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicum 7D, Karolinska Institutet, 17165 Stockholm, Sweden; (T.G.M.H.); (T.H.)
- Center for Brain Research, Department of Molecular Neurosciences, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Alán Alpár
- Department of Anatomy, Semmelweis University, H-1094 Budapest, Hungary; (Á.P.); (J.M.); (J.H.); (A.P.); (P.Z.)
- SE NAP Research Group of Experimental Neuroanatomy and Developmental Biology, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, H-1094 Budapest, Hungary
- Correspondence:
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28
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Kelly SC, Nelson PT, Counts SE. Pontine Arteriolosclerosis and Locus Coeruleus Oxidative Stress Differentiate Resilience from Mild Cognitive Impairment in a Clinical Pathologic Cohort. J Neuropathol Exp Neurol 2021; 80:325-335. [PMID: 33709107 DOI: 10.1093/jnen/nlab017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Locus coeruleus (LC) neurodegeneration is associated with cognitive deterioration during the transition from normal cognition to mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer disease (AD). However, the extent to which LC degenerative processes differentiate cognitively normal, "resilient" subjects bearing a high AD pathological burden from those with MCI or AD remains unclear. We approached this problem by quantifying the number of LC neurons and the percentage of LC neurons bearing AT8 tau pathology, TDP-43 pathology, or a marker for DNA/RNA oxidative damage, in well-characterized subjects diagnosed as normal cognition-low AD pathology (NC-LP), NC-high AD pathology (NC-HP), MCI, or mild/moderate AD. In addition, the severity of pontine arteriolosclerosis in each subject was compared across the groups. There was a trend for a step-wise ∼20% loss of LC neuron number between the NC-LP, NC-HP and MCI subjects despite a successive, significant ∼80%-100% increase in tau pathology between these groups. In contrast, increasing pontine arteriolosclerosis severity scores and LC oxidative stress burden significantly separated the NC-LP/HP and MCI/AD groups via comparative, correlation, and regression analysis. Pontine perfusion, as well as LC neuronal metabolic and redox function, may impact noradrenergic LC modulation of cognition during the preclinical and prodromal stages of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah C Kelly
- From the Department of Translational Neuroscience, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, Michigan
| | - Peter T Nelson
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky.,Sanders-Brown Center on Aging, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky.,University of Kentucky Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Lexington, Kentucky
| | - Scott E Counts
- From the Department of Translational Neuroscience, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, Michigan.,Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky.,Sanders-Brown Center on Aging, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky
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29
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Bae J, Stocks J, Heywood A, Jung Y, Jenkins L, Hill V, Katsaggelos A, Popuri K, Rosen H, Beg MF, Wang L. Transfer learning for predicting conversion from mild cognitive impairment to dementia of Alzheimer's type based on a three-dimensional convolutional neural network. Neurobiol Aging 2021; 99:53-64. [PMID: 33422894 PMCID: PMC7902477 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2020.12.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2020] [Revised: 11/09/2020] [Accepted: 12/05/2020] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Dementia of Alzheimer's type (DAT) is associated with devastating and irreversible cognitive decline. Predicting which patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) will progress to DAT is an ongoing challenge in the field. We developed a deep learning model to predict conversion from MCI to DAT. Structural magnetic resonance imaging scans were used as input to a 3-dimensional convolutional neural network. The 3-dimensional convolutional neural network was trained using transfer learning; in the source task, normal control and DAT scans were used to pretrain the model. This pretrained model was then retrained on the target task of classifying which MCI patients converted to DAT. Our model resulted in 82.4% classification accuracy at the target task, outperforming current models in the field. Next, we visualized brain regions that significantly contribute to the prediction of MCI conversion using an occlusion map approach. Contributory regions included the pons, amygdala, and hippocampus. Finally, we showed that the model's prediction value is significantly correlated with rates of change in clinical assessment scores, indicating that the model is able to predict an individual patient's future cognitive decline. This information, in conjunction with the identified anatomical features, will aid in building a personalized therapeutic strategy for individuals with MCI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinhyeong Bae
- Department of Radiology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA.
| | - Jane Stocks
- Department of Psychology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Ashley Heywood
- Department of Psychology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | | | - Lisanne Jenkins
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Virginia Hill
- Department of Radiology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | | | - Karteek Popuri
- School of Engineering Science, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, Canada
| | - Howie Rosen
- School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - M Faisal Beg
- School of Engineering Science, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, Canada
| | - Lei Wang
- Department of Radiology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
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30
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Dutt S, Li Y, Mather M, Nation DA. Brainstem substructures and cognition in prodromal Alzheimer's disease. Brain Imaging Behav 2021; 15:2572-2582. [PMID: 33646514 PMCID: PMC8500899 DOI: 10.1007/s11682-021-00459-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Neuropathological research suggests the tau pathology of Alzheimer's disease may originate in brainstem nuclei, yet it remains unknown whether tau-mediated degeneration of brainstem nuclei influences cognitive impairment in prodromal Alzheimer's disease. The present study examined cognitive domains impacted in prodromal Alzheimer's disease and brainstem substructure volume in cognitively normal older adults (n = 814) and those with mild cognitive impairment (n = 542). Subsamples of cognitively normal (n = 112) and mild cognitive impairment (n = 202) also had cerebrospinal fluid Alzheimer's disease biomarker characterization. Region-of-interest and voxel-level analyses related whole brainstem, midbrain, pons, and locus coeruleus volumes to cognition with multiple linear regression models corrected for age, sex, education, apolipoprotein-ε4 carrier status, and MRI magnet strength. Within mild cognitive impairment participants, smaller midbrain and locus coeruleus volumes were significantly related to poorer performance on tests of attention and executive function, and the relationship between locus coeruleus volume and executive abilities remained significant in the mild cognitive impairment subsample with biomarker-confirmed Alzheimer's disease. A brainstem-masked voxel-wise regression further demonstrated an association between locus coeruleus volume and executive abilities. Brainstem volumes were not significantly related to memory processes. Study findings implicate midbrain and locus coeruleus volume in attention and executive deficits in mild cognitive impairment. Together with prior neuropathological studies, our data suggest a link between Alzheimer's disease-related degeneration of brainstem nuclei and cognitive deficits in prodromal Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shubir Dutt
- Department of Psychology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Yanrong Li
- Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Mara Mather
- Department of Psychology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Daniel A Nation
- Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA.
- Department of Psychological Science, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA.
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31
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Tramonti Fantozzi MP, Lazzarini G, De Cicco V, Briganti A, Argento S, De Cicco D, Barresi M, Cataldo E, Bruschini L, d'Ascanio P, Pirone A, Lenzi C, Vannozzi I, Miragliotta V, Faraguna U, Manzoni D. The path from trigeminal asymmetry to cognitive impairment: a behavioral and molecular study. Sci Rep 2021; 11:4744. [PMID: 33637775 PMCID: PMC7910455 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-82265-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2020] [Accepted: 01/15/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Trigeminal input exerts acute and chronic effects on the brain, modulating cognitive functions. Here, new data from humans and animals suggest that these effects are caused by trigeminal influences on the Locus Coeruleus (LC). In humans subjects clenching with masseter asymmetric activity, occlusal correction improved cognition, alongside with reductions in pupil size and anisocoria, proxies of LC activity and asymmetry, respectively. Notably, reductions in pupil size at rest on the hypertonic side predicted cognitive improvements. In adult rats, a distal unilateral section of the trigeminal mandibular branch reduced, on the contralateral side, the expression of c-Fos (brainstem) and BDNF (brainstem, hippocampus, frontal cortex). This counterintuitive finding can be explained by the following model: teeth contact perception loss on the lesioned side results in an increased occlusal effort, which enhances afferent inputs from muscle spindles and posterior periodontal receptors, spared by the distal lesion. Such effort leads to a reduced engagement of the intact side, with a corresponding reduction in the afferent inputs to the LC and in c-Fos and BDNF gene expression. In conclusion, acute effects of malocclusion on performance seem mediated by the LC, which could also contribute to the chronic trophic dysfunction induced by loss of trigeminal input.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Paola Tramonti Fantozzi
- Department of Translational Research and of New Surgical and Medical Technologies, University of Pisa, Via San Zeno 31, 56127, Pisa, Italy
| | - Giulia Lazzarini
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Vincenzo De Cicco
- Department of Translational Research and of New Surgical and Medical Technologies, University of Pisa, Via San Zeno 31, 56127, Pisa, Italy
| | - Angela Briganti
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Serena Argento
- Department of Translational Research and of New Surgical and Medical Technologies, University of Pisa, Via San Zeno 31, 56127, Pisa, Italy
| | - Davide De Cicco
- Department of Neurosciences, Reproductive and Odontostomatological Sciences, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples, Italy
| | - Massimo Barresi
- Department of Translational Research and of New Surgical and Medical Technologies, University of Pisa, Via San Zeno 31, 56127, Pisa, Italy
| | | | - Luca Bruschini
- Department of Surgical, Medical, Molecular Pathology and CriticalCare Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Paola d'Ascanio
- Department of Translational Research and of New Surgical and Medical Technologies, University of Pisa, Via San Zeno 31, 56127, Pisa, Italy
| | - Andrea Pirone
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Carla Lenzi
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Iacopo Vannozzi
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | | | - Ugo Faraguna
- Department of Translational Research and of New Surgical and Medical Technologies, University of Pisa, Via San Zeno 31, 56127, Pisa, Italy
- Department of Developmental Neuroscience, IRCCS Fondazione Stella Maris, Pisa, Italy
| | - Diego Manzoni
- Department of Translational Research and of New Surgical and Medical Technologies, University of Pisa, Via San Zeno 31, 56127, Pisa, Italy.
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Hou R, Beardmore R, Holmes C, Osmond C, Darekar A. A case-control study of the locus coeruleus degeneration in Alzheimer's disease. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol 2021; 43:153-159. [PMID: 33431221 DOI: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2020.12.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2020] [Revised: 12/16/2020] [Accepted: 12/31/2020] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
The locus coeruleus (LC) is the major source of noradrenaline, which plays a key role in cognition. We aimed to detect the extent of the LC signal attenuation in Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients using a neuromelanin (NM)-sensitive MRI and how it may correlate with inflammatory and autonomic measures. An individually matched case-control study design was employed. 24 patients with AD and 24 age and gender matched controls with no cognitive impairment were recruited. The primary outcome measure was the LC signal intensity indicated by the LC contrast ratio (CR) and measured by the NM-sensitive MRI. Secondary outcome measures included neuropsychometric tests of cognitive state, peripheral inflammatory and autonomic measures. Conditional logistic regression analysis revealed a significant 22% LC-CR reduction in the AD group compared with the control group. However, there was no statistical significance from inflammatory or autonomic measures. This is the largest individually-matched case-control study to visualise the LC degeneration in AD patients. The study revealed significant LC degeneration which holds promise to stratify patients who may benefit from treatment targeting noradrenergic dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruihua Hou
- Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, 4-12 Terminus Terrace, Southampton SO14 3DT, United Kingdom.
| | - Rebecca Beardmore
- Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, 4-12 Terminus Terrace, Southampton SO14 3DT, United Kingdom
| | - Clive Holmes
- Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, 4-12 Terminus Terrace, Southampton SO14 3DT, United Kingdom
| | - Clive Osmond
- Medical Research Council Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit, University of Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Angela Darekar
- Department of Medical Physics, University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton, United Kingdom
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Autophagy status as a gateway for stress-induced catecholamine interplay in neurodegeneration. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2021; 123:238-256. [PMID: 33497785 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.01.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2020] [Revised: 01/08/2021] [Accepted: 01/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The catecholamine-containing brainstem nuclei locus coeruleus (LC) and ventral tegmental area (VTA) are critically involved in stress responses. Alterations of catecholamine systems during chronic stress may contribute to neurodegeneration, including cognitive decline. Stress-related catecholamine alterations, while contributing to anxiety and depression, might accelerate neuronal degeneration by increasing the formation of toxic dopamine and norepinephrine by-products. These, in turn, may impair proteostasis within a variety of cortical and subcortical areas. In particular, the molecular events governing neurotransmission, neuroplasticity, and proteostasis within LC and VTA affect a variety of brain areas. Therefore, we focus on alterations of autophagy machinery in these nuclei as a relevant trigger in this chain of events. In fact, these catecholamine-containing areas are mostly prone to autophagy-dependent neurodegeneration. Thus, we propose a dynamic hypothesis according to which stress-induced autophagy alterations within the LC-VTA network foster a cascade towards early neurodegeneration within these nuclei.
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Matchett BJ, Grinberg LT, Theofilas P, Murray ME. The mechanistic link between selective vulnerability of the locus coeruleus and neurodegeneration in Alzheimer's disease. Acta Neuropathol 2021; 141:631-650. [PMID: 33427939 PMCID: PMC8043919 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-020-02248-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2020] [Revised: 11/20/2020] [Accepted: 11/21/2020] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is neuropathologically characterized by the intracellular accumulation of hyperphosphorylated tau and the extracellular deposition of amyloid-β plaques, which affect certain brain regions in a progressive manner. The locus coeruleus (LC), a small nucleus in the pons of the brainstem, is widely recognized as one of the earliest sites of neurofibrillary tangle formation in AD. Patients with AD exhibit significant neuronal loss in the LC, resulting in a marked reduction of its size and function. The LC, which vastly innervates several regions of the brain, is the primary source of the neurotransmitter norepinephrine (NE) in the central nervous system. Considering that NE is a major modulator of behavior, contributing to neuroprotection and suppression of neuroinflammation, degeneration of the LC in AD and the ultimate dysregulation of the LC-NE system has detrimental effects in the brain. In this review, we detail the neuroanatomy and function of the LC, its essential role in neuroprotection, and how this is dysregulated in AD. We discuss AD-related neuropathologic changes in the LC and mechanisms by which LC neurons are selectively vulnerable to insult. Further, we elucidate the neurotoxic effects of LC de-innervation both locally and at projection sites, and how this augments disease pathology, progression and severity. We summarize how preservation of the LC-NE system could be used in the treatment of AD and other neurodegenerative diseases affected by LC degeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Billie J. Matchett
- Neuropathology Laboratory, Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, 4500 San Pablo Road, Jacksonville, FL 32224 USA
| | - Lea T. Grinberg
- Memory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology, University of California, 675 Nelson Rising Lane, San Francisco, CA 94158 USA
| | - Panos Theofilas
- Memory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology, University of California, 675 Nelson Rising Lane, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA.
| | - Melissa E. Murray
- Neuropathology Laboratory, Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, 4500 San Pablo Road, Jacksonville, FL 32224 USA
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Beardmore R, Hou R, Darekar A, Holmes C, Boche D. The Locus Coeruleus in Aging and Alzheimer's Disease: A Postmortem and Brain Imaging Review. J Alzheimers Dis 2021; 83:5-22. [PMID: 34219717 PMCID: PMC8461706 DOI: 10.3233/jad-210191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The locus coeruleus (LC), a tiny nucleus in the brainstem and the principal site of noradrenaline synthesis, has a major role in regulating autonomic function, arousal, attention, and neuroinflammation. LC dysfunction has been linked to a range of disorders; however particular interest is given to the role it plays in Alzheimer's disease (AD). The LC undergoes significant neuronal loss in AD, thought to occur early in the disease process. While neuronal loss in the LC has also been suggested to occur in aging, this relationship is less clear as the findings have been contradictory. LC density has been suggested to be indicative of cognitive reserve and the evidence for these claims will be discussed. Recent imaging techniques allowing visualization of the LC in vivo using neuromelanin-sensitive MRI are developing our understanding of the role of LC in aging and AD. Tau pathology within the LC is evident at an early age in most individuals; however, the relationship between tau accumulation and neuronal loss and why some individuals then develop AD is not understood. Neuromelanin pigment accumulates within LC cells with age and is proposed to be toxic and inflammatory when released into the extracellular environment. This review will explore our current knowledge of the LC changes in both aging and AD from postmortem, imaging, and experimental studies. We will discuss the reasons behind the susceptibility of the LC to neuronal loss, with a focus on the role of extracellular neuromelanin and neuroinflammation caused by the dysfunction of the LC-noradrenaline pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Beardmore
- Clinical Neurosciences, Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
- Memory Assessment and Research Centre, Moorgreen Hospital, Southern Health Foundation Trust, Southampton, UK
| | - Ruihua Hou
- Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Angela Darekar
- Department of Medical Physics, University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton, UK
| | - Clive Holmes
- Clinical Neurosciences, Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
- Memory Assessment and Research Centre, Moorgreen Hospital, Southern Health Foundation Trust, Southampton, UK
| | - Delphine Boche
- Clinical Neurosciences, Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
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Galgani A, Lombardo F, Della Latta D, Martini N, Bonuccelli U, Fornai F, Giorgi FS. Locus Coeruleus Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Neurological Diseases. Curr Neurol Neurosci Rep 2020; 21:2. [PMID: 33313963 PMCID: PMC7732795 DOI: 10.1007/s11910-020-01087-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/17/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Locus coeruleus (LC) is the main noradrenergic nucleus of the brain, and its degeneration is considered to be key in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases. In the last 15 years,MRI has been used to assess LC in vivo, both in healthy subjects and in patients suffering from neurological disorders. In this review, we summarize the main findings of LC-MRI studies, interpreting them in light of preclinical and histopathological data, and discussing its potential role as diagnostic and experimental tool. RECENT FINDINGS LC-MRI findings were largely in agreement with neuropathological evidences; LC signal showed to be not significantly affected during normal aging and to correlate with cognitive performances. On the contrary, a marked reduction of LC signal was observed in patients suffering from neurodegenerative disorders, with specific features. LC-MRI is a promising tool, which may be used in the future to explore LC pathophysiology as well as an early biomarker for degenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Francesco Lombardo
- U.O.C. "Risonanza Magnetica Specialistica e Neuroradiologia", Fondazione "G. Monasterio"- National Research Council/Tuscany Region, Pisa, Italy
| | - Daniele Della Latta
- Deep Health Unit, Fondazione "G. Monasterio"- National Research Council/Tuscany Region, Pisa, Italy
| | - Nicola Martini
- Deep Health Unit, Fondazione "G. Monasterio"- National Research Council/Tuscany Region, Pisa, Italy
| | | | - Francesco Fornai
- Department of Translational Research and of New Surgical and Medical Technologies, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
- IRCCS Neuromed, Pozzilli, Italy
| | - Filippo Sean Giorgi
- Neurology Unit, Pisa University Hospital, Pisa, Italy.
- Department of Translational Research and of New Surgical and Medical Technologies, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
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Sun W, Tang Y, Qiao Y, Ge X, Mather M, Ringman JM, Shi Y. A probabilistic atlas of locus coeruleus pathways to transentorhinal cortex for connectome imaging in Alzheimer's disease. Neuroimage 2020; 223:117301. [PMID: 32861791 PMCID: PMC7797167 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2020.117301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2019] [Revised: 08/12/2020] [Accepted: 08/17/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
According to the latest Braak staging of Alzheimer's disease (AD), tau pathology occurs earliest in the brain in the locus coeruleus (LC) of the brainstem, then propagates to the transentorhinal cortex (TEC), and later to other neocortical regions. Recent animal and in vivo human brain imaging research also support the trans-axonal propagation of tau pathology. In addition, neurochemical studies link norepinephrine to behavioral symptoms in AD. It is thus critical to examine the integrity of the LC-TEC pathway in studying the early development of the disease, but there has been limited work in this direction. By leveraging the high-resolution and multi-shell diffusion MRI data from the Human Connectome Project (HCP), in this work we develop a novel method for the reconstruction of the LC-TEC pathway in a cohort of 40 HCP subjects carefully selected based on rigorous quality control of the residual distortion artifacts in the brainstem. A probabilistic atlas of the LC-TEC pathway of both hemispheres is then developed in the MNI152 space and distributed publicly on the NITRC website. To apply our atlas on clinical imaging data, we develop an automated approach to calculate the medial core of the LC-TEC pathway for localized analysis of connectivity changes. In a cohort of 138 subjects from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI), we demonstrate the detection of the decreased fiber integrity in the LC-TEC pathways with increasing disease severity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Sun
- USC Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, 2025 Zonal Ave., Los Angeles 90033, CA, USA
| | - Yuchun Tang
- USC Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, 2025 Zonal Ave., Los Angeles 90033, CA, USA
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Science, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Yuchuan Qiao
- USC Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, 2025 Zonal Ave., Los Angeles 90033, CA, USA
| | - Xinting Ge
- USC Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, 2025 Zonal Ave., Los Angeles 90033, CA, USA
| | - Mara Mather
- Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - John M. Ringman
- Department of Neurology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Yonggang Shi
- USC Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, 2025 Zonal Ave., Los Angeles 90033, CA, USA
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Kelberman M, Keilholz S, Weinshenker D. What's That (Blue) Spot on my MRI? Multimodal Neuroimaging of the Locus Coeruleus in Neurodegenerative Disease. Front Neurosci 2020; 14:583421. [PMID: 33122996 PMCID: PMC7573566 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2020.583421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2020] [Accepted: 09/16/2020] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The locus coeruleus (LC) has long been underappreciated for its role in the pathophysiology of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson’s disease (PD), and other neurodegenerative disorders. While AD and PD are distinct in clinical presentation, both are characterized by prodromal protein aggregation in the LC, late-stage degeneration of the LC, and comorbid conditions indicative of LC dysfunction. Many of these early studies were limited to post-mortem histological techniques due to the LC’s small size and location deep in the brainstem. Thus, there is a growing interest in utilizing in vivo imaging of the LC as a predictor of preclinical neurodegenerative processes and biomarker of disease progression. Simultaneously, neuroimaging in animal models of neurodegenerative disease holds promise for identifying early alterations to LC circuits, but has thus far been underutilized. While still in its infancy, a handful of studies have reported effects of single gene mutations and pathology on LC function in disease using various neuroimaging techniques. Furthermore, combining imaging and optogenetics or chemogenetics allows for interrogation of network connectivity in response to changes in LC activity. The purpose of this article is twofold: (1) to review what magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positron emission tomography (PET) have revealed about LC dysfunction in neurodegenerative disease and its potential as a biomarker in humans, and (2) to explore how animal models can be used to test hypotheses derived from clinical data and establish a mechanistic framework to inform LC-focused therapeutic interventions to alleviate symptoms and impede disease progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Kelberman
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Shella Keilholz
- The Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - David Weinshenker
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
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Giorgi FS, Galgani A, Puglisi-Allegra S, Limanaqi F, Busceti CL, Fornai F. Locus Coeruleus and neurovascular unit: From its role in physiology to its potential role in Alzheimer's disease pathogenesis. J Neurosci Res 2020; 98:2406-2434. [PMID: 32875628 DOI: 10.1002/jnr.24718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2020] [Revised: 06/26/2020] [Accepted: 08/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Locus coeruleus (LC) is the main noradrenergic (NA) nucleus of the central nervous system. LC degenerates early during Alzheimer's disease (AD) and NA loss might concur to AD pathogenesis. Aside from neurons, LC terminals provide dense innervation of brain intraparenchymal arterioles/capillaries, and NA modulates astrocyte functions. The term neurovascular unit (NVU) defines the strict anatomical/functional interaction occurring between neurons, glial cells, and brain vessels. NVU plays a fundamental role in coupling the energy demand of activated brain regions with regional cerebral blood flow, it includes the blood-brain barrier (BBB), plays an active role in neuroinflammation, and participates also to the glymphatic system. NVU alteration is involved in AD pathophysiology through several mechanisms, mainly related to a relative oligoemia in activated brain regions and impairment of structural and functional BBB integrity, which contributes also to the intracerebral accumulation of insoluble amyloid. We review the existing data on the morphological features of LC-NA innervation of the NVU, as well as its contribution to neurovascular coupling and BBB proper functioning. After introducing the main experimental data linking LC with AD, which have repeatedly shown a key role of neuroinflammation and increased amyloid plaque formation, we discuss the potential mechanisms by which the loss of NVU modulation by LC might contribute to AD pathogenesis. Surprisingly, thus far not so many studies have tested directly these mechanisms in models of AD in which LC has been lesioned experimentally. Clarifying the interaction of LC with NVU in AD pathogenesis may disclose potential therapeutic targets for AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Filippo Sean Giorgi
- Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.,Neurology Unit, Pisa University Hospital, Pisa, Italy
| | | | | | - Fiona Limanaqi
- Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | | | - Francesco Fornai
- Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.,I.R.C.C.S. I.N.M. Neuromed, Pozzilli, Italy
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Correlation between cognition and plasma noradrenaline level in Alzheimer's disease: a potential new blood marker of disease evolution. Transl Psychiatry 2020; 10:213. [PMID: 32620743 PMCID: PMC7335170 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-020-0841-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2019] [Revised: 04/17/2020] [Accepted: 04/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent evidence showing degeneration of the noradrenergic system in the locus coeruleus (LC) in Alzheimer's disease (AD) has motivated great interest in noradrenaline (NA) as a potential brain hallmark of the disease. Despite the current exploration of blood markers for AD, the deregulation of the plasma NA concentration ([NA]plasma) in AD is currently not well understood. This retrospective study includes a cohort of 71 patients (32 AD patients, 22 with other dementia and 17 without dementia) who were given consultations for memory complaints in the Cognitive Neurology Center of Lariboisière (Paris) between 2009 and 2014. As previously described in brain tissue, we show for the first time a linear correlation between [NA]plasma and Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) score in AD patients. We observed that high [NA]plasma in AD patients was associated with higher [Aβ1-42]CSF than in other AD patients with [NA]plasma similar to NC patients. In parallel, we observed a lower (p-Tau/Tau)CSF in AD patients with low [NA]plasma than in non-AD patients with [NA]plasma similar to [NA]plasma in NC patients. Our data suggest that [NA]plasma could be a potential biomarker of disease evolution in the context of AD and could possibly improve early diagnosis.
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Bilousova T, Simmons BJ, Knapp RR, Elias CJ, Campagna J, Melnik M, Chandra S, Focht S, Zhu C, Vadivel K, Jagodzinska B, Cohn W, Spilman P, Gylys KH, Garg NK, John V. Dual Neutral Sphingomyelinase-2/Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitors for the Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease. ACS Chem Biol 2020; 15:1671-1684. [PMID: 32352753 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.0c00311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
We report the discovery of a novel class of compounds that function as dual inhibitors of the enzymes neutral sphingomyelinase-2 (nSMase2) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE). Inhibition of these enzymes provides a unique strategy to suppress the propagation of tau pathology in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD). We describe the key SAR elements that affect relative nSMase2 and/or AChE inhibitor effects and potency, in addition to the identification of two analogs that suppress the release of tau-bearing exosomes in vitro and in vivo. Identification of these novel dual nSMase2/AChE inhibitors represents a new therapeutic approach to AD and has the potential to lead to the development of truly disease-modifying therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tina Bilousova
- Drug Discovery Laboratory, Department of Neurology, Mary S. Easton Center for Alzheimer’s Disease Research, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, United States
- School of Nursing, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, United States
| | - Bryan J. Simmons
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, United States
| | - Rachel R. Knapp
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, United States
| | - Chris J. Elias
- Drug Discovery Laboratory, Department of Neurology, Mary S. Easton Center for Alzheimer’s Disease Research, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, United States
| | - Jesus Campagna
- Drug Discovery Laboratory, Department of Neurology, Mary S. Easton Center for Alzheimer’s Disease Research, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, United States
| | - Mikhail Melnik
- School of Nursing, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, United States
| | - Sujyoti Chandra
- Drug Discovery Laboratory, Department of Neurology, Mary S. Easton Center for Alzheimer’s Disease Research, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, United States
| | - Samantha Focht
- Drug Discovery Laboratory, Department of Neurology, Mary S. Easton Center for Alzheimer’s Disease Research, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, United States
| | - Chunni Zhu
- Drug Discovery Laboratory, Department of Neurology, Mary S. Easton Center for Alzheimer’s Disease Research, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, United States
| | - Kanagasabai Vadivel
- Drug Discovery Laboratory, Department of Neurology, Mary S. Easton Center for Alzheimer’s Disease Research, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, United States
| | - Barbara Jagodzinska
- Drug Discovery Laboratory, Department of Neurology, Mary S. Easton Center for Alzheimer’s Disease Research, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, United States
| | - Whitaker Cohn
- Drug Discovery Laboratory, Department of Neurology, Mary S. Easton Center for Alzheimer’s Disease Research, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, United States
| | - Patricia Spilman
- Drug Discovery Laboratory, Department of Neurology, Mary S. Easton Center for Alzheimer’s Disease Research, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, United States
| | - Karen H. Gylys
- School of Nursing, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, United States
| | - Neil K. Garg
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, United States
| | - Varghese John
- Drug Discovery Laboratory, Department of Neurology, Mary S. Easton Center for Alzheimer’s Disease Research, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, United States
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Dutt S, Li Y, Mather M, Nation DA. Brainstem Volumetric Integrity in Preclinical and Prodromal Alzheimer's Disease. J Alzheimers Dis 2020; 77:1579-1594. [PMID: 32925030 PMCID: PMC7868064 DOI: 10.3233/jad-200187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Neuropathological studies have suggested the tau pathology observed in Alzheimer's disease (AD) originates in brainstem nuclei, but no studies to date have quantified brainstem volumes in clinical populations with biomarker-confirmed mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or dementia due to AD or determined the value of brainstem volumetrics in predicting dementia. OBJECTIVE The present study examined whether MRI-based brainstem volumes differ among cognitively normal older adults and those with MCI or dementia due to AD and whether preclinical brainstem volumes predict future progression to dementia. METHODS Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative participants (N = 1,629) underwent baseline MRI scanning with variable clinical follow-up (6-120 months). Region of interest and voxel-based morphometric methods assessed brainstem volume differences among cognitively normal (n = 814), MCI (n = 542), and AD (n = 273) participants, as well as subsets of cerebrospinal fluid biomarker-confirmed MCI (n = 203) and AD (n = 160) participants. RESULTS MCI and AD cases showed smaller midbrain volumes relative to cognitively normal participants when normalizing to whole brainstem volume, and showed smaller midbrain, locus coeruleus, pons, and whole brainstem volumes when normalizing to total intracranial volume. Cognitively normal individuals who later progressed to AD dementia diagnosis exhibited smaller baseline midbrain volumes than individuals who did not develop dementia, and voxel-wise analyses revealed specific volumetric reduction of the locus coeruleus. CONCLUSION Findings are consistent with neuropathological observations of early AD-related pathology in brainstem nuclei and further suggest the clinical relevance of brainstem substructural volumes in preclinical and prodromal AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shubir Dutt
- Department of Psychology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Yanrong Li
- Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Mara Mather
- Department of Psychology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Daniel A. Nation
- Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
- Department of Psychological Science, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
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