1
|
Kumar A, Pal A, Singh P, Rani I, Tondolo V, Rongioletti M, Squitti R. Might Diet, APOE-APOA1 Axis, and Iron Metabolism Provide Clues About the Discrepancy in Alzheimer's Disease Occurrence Between Humans and Chimpanzees? A Bioinformatics-Based Re-Analysis of Gene Expression Data on Mice Fed with Human and Chimpanzee Diets. Biol Trace Elem Res 2024; 202:3750-3759. [PMID: 37938458 DOI: 10.1007/s12011-023-03932-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 11/09/2023]
Abstract
The emergence of conflicting reports on the natural occurrence of Alzheimer's disease (AD) in non-human primates has prompted research on the comparison of the role of diet-associated changes in gene expression between humans and non-human primates. This article analyzes the effects of different human and chimpanzee diets and their link with apolipoproteins, lipid, and iron (Fe) metabolism, starting from available data, to find out any gap in the existing knowledge. By using a system biology approach, we have re-analyzed the liver and brain RNA seq data of mice fed with either human or chimpanzee diet for 2 weeks to look for genetic differences that may explain the differences in AD occurrence between those two classes. In liver samples of mice fed with the chimpanzee diet in comparison to the human diet, apolipoprotein A-1, ceruloplasmin, and 10 other genes were upregulated while 21 genes were downregulated. However, brain apolipoprotein E4 gene expression was not changed upon diet. Genetic, structural, and functional differences in apolipoprotein E protein, along with differences in Fe metabolisms and a longer lifespan of humans during evolution may account for the observed disparity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ashok Kumar
- Centre for Systems Biology and Bioinformatics, Panjab University, Chandigarh, India
| | - Amit Pal
- Department of Biochemistry, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Kalyani, West Bengal, 741245, India.
| | - Parminder Singh
- Centre for Systems Biology and Bioinformatics, Panjab University, Chandigarh, India
| | - Isha Rani
- Department of Biochemistry, Maharishi Markandeshwar College of Medical Sciences and Research (MMCMSR), Sadopur, Ambala, India
| | - Vincenzo Tondolo
- Digestive and Colorectal Surgery, Ospedale Isola Tiberina, Gemelli Isola, 00186, Rome, Italy
- Digestive Surgery Unit, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Largo Agostino Gemelli 8, 00168, Rome, Italy
| | - Mauro Rongioletti
- Department of Laboratory Science, Ospedale Isola Tiberina, Gemelli Isola, 00186, Rome, Italy
| | - Rosanna Squitti
- Department of Laboratory Science, Ospedale Isola Tiberina, Gemelli Isola, 00186, Rome, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Ferrer I. Alzheimer's Disease Neuropathological Change in Aged Non-Primate Mammals. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:8118. [PMID: 39125687 PMCID: PMC11311584 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25158118] [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: 06/05/2024] [Revised: 07/18/2024] [Accepted: 07/23/2024] [Indexed: 08/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Human brain aging is characterized by the production and deposition of β-amyloid (Aβ) in the form of senile plaques and cerebral amyloid angiopathy and the intracellular accumulation of hyper-phosphorylated tau (Hp-tau) to form neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) and dystrophic neurites of senile plaques. The process progresses for years and eventually manifests as cognitive impairment and dementia in a subgroup of aged individuals. Aβ is produced and deposited first in the neocortex in most aged mammals, including humans; it is usually not accompanied by altered behavior and cognitive impairment. Hp-tau is less frequent than Aβ pathology, and NFTs are rare in most mammals. In contrast, NFTs are familiar from middle age onward in humans; NFTs first appear in the paleocortex and selected brain stem nuclei. NFTs precede for decades or years Aβ deposition and correlate with dementia in about 5% of individuals at the age of 65 and 25% at the age of 85. Based on these comparative data, (a) Aβ deposition is the most common Alzheimer's disease neuropathological change (ADNC) in the brain of aged mammals; (b) Hp-tau is less common, and NFTs are rare in most aged mammals; however, NFTs are the principal cytoskeletal pathology in aged humans; (c) NFT in aged humans starts in selected nuclei of the brain stem and paleocortical brain regions progressing to the most parts of the neocortex and other regions of the telencephalon; (d) human brain aging is unique among mammalian species due to the early appearance and dramatic progression of NFTs from middle age onward, matching with cognitive impairment and dementia in advanced cases; (e) neither mammalian nor human brain aging supports the concept of the amyloid cascade hypothesis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Isidro Ferrer
- Department of Pathology and Experimental Therapeutics, University of Barcelona, carrer Feixa Llarga sn, 08907 Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain;
- Reial Acadèmia de Medicina de Catalunya, carrer del Carme 47, 08001 Barcelona, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Zhang C, Jia Q, Zhu L, Hou J, Wang X, Li D, Zhang J, Zhang Y, Yang S, Tu Z, Yan XX, Yang W, Li S, Li XJ, Yin P. Suppressing UBE2N ameliorates Alzheimer's disease pathology through the clearance of amyloid beta. Alzheimers Dement 2024. [PMID: 39015037 DOI: 10.1002/alz.14122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2024] [Revised: 05/28/2024] [Accepted: 06/13/2024] [Indexed: 07/18/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Aging is one of the risk factors for the early onset of Alzheimer's disease (AD). We previously discovered that the age-dependent increase in Ubiquitin Conjugating Enzyme E2 N (UBE2N) plays a role in the accumulation of misfolded proteins through K63 ubiquitination, which has been linked to AD pathogenesis. However, the impact of UBE2N on amyloid pathology and clearance has remained unknown. RESULTS We observed the elevated UBE2N during the amyloid beta (Aβ) generation in the brains of 5×FAD, APP/PS1 mice, and patients with AD, in comparison to healthy individuals. UBE2N overexpression exacerbated amyloid deposition in 5×FAD mice and senescent monkeys, whereas knocking down UBE2N via CRISPR/Cas9 reduced Aβ generation and cognitive deficiency. Moreover, pharmacological inhibition of UBE2N ameliorated Aβ pathology and subsequent transcript defects in 5×FAD mice. DISCUSSION We have discovered that age-dependent expression of UBE2N is a critical regulator of AD pathology. Our findings suggest that UBE2N could serve as a potential pharmacological target for the advancement of AD therapeutics. HIGHLIGHTS Ubiquitin Conjugating Enzyme E2 N (UBE2N) level was elevated during amyloid beta (Aβ) deposition in AD mouse and patients' brains. UBE2N exacerbated Aβ generation in the AD mouse and senescent monkey. Drug inhibition of UBE2N ameliorated Aβ pathology and cognitive deficiency.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chen Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules and Druggability Assessment, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-human Primate Research, Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Qingqing Jia
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules and Druggability Assessment, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-human Primate Research, Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Longhong Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules and Druggability Assessment, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-human Primate Research, Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Junqi Hou
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules and Druggability Assessment, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-human Primate Research, Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiang Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules and Druggability Assessment, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-human Primate Research, Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Dandan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules and Druggability Assessment, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-human Primate Research, Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jiawei Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules and Druggability Assessment, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-human Primate Research, Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yiran Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules and Druggability Assessment, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-human Primate Research, Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Su Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules and Druggability Assessment, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-human Primate Research, Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhuchi Tu
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules and Druggability Assessment, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-human Primate Research, Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiao-Xin Yan
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Weili Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules and Druggability Assessment, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-human Primate Research, Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shihua Li
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules and Druggability Assessment, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-human Primate Research, Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiao-Jiang Li
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules and Druggability Assessment, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-human Primate Research, Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Peng Yin
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules and Druggability Assessment, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-human Primate Research, Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Pan MT, Zhang H, Li XJ, Guo XY. Genetically modified non-human primate models for research on neurodegenerative diseases. Zool Res 2024; 45:263-274. [PMID: 38287907 PMCID: PMC11017080 DOI: 10.24272/j.issn.2095-8137.2023.197] [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: 11/25/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 01/31/2024] Open
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) are a group of debilitating neurological disorders that primarily affect elderly populations and include Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), Huntington's disease (HD), and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Currently, there are no therapies available that can delay, stop, or reverse the pathological progression of NDs in clinical settings. As the population ages, NDs are imposing a huge burden on public health systems and affected families. Animal models are important tools for preclinical investigations to understand disease pathogenesis and test potential treatments. While numerous rodent models of NDs have been developed to enhance our understanding of disease mechanisms, the limited success of translating findings from animal models to clinical practice suggests that there is still a need to bridge this translation gap. Old World non-human primates (NHPs), such as rhesus, cynomolgus, and vervet monkeys, are phylogenetically, physiologically, biochemically, and behaviorally most relevant to humans. This is particularly evident in the similarity of the structure and function of their central nervous systems, rendering such species uniquely valuable for neuroscience research. Recently, the development of several genetically modified NHP models of NDs has successfully recapitulated key pathologies and revealed novel mechanisms. This review focuses on the efficacy of NHPs in modeling NDs and the novel pathological insights gained, as well as the challenges associated with the generation of such models and the complexities involved in their subsequent analysis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ming-Tian Pan
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-human Primate Research, Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510632, China
| | - Han Zhang
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-human Primate Research, Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510632, China
| | - Xiao-Jiang Li
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-human Primate Research, Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510632, China
| | - Xiang-Yu Guo
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-human Primate Research, Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510632, China. E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Ferrer I. Amyloid-β Pathology Is the Common Nominator Proteinopathy of the Primate Brain Aging. J Alzheimers Dis 2024; 100:S153-S164. [PMID: 39031364 DOI: 10.3233/jad-240389] [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] [Indexed: 07/22/2024]
Abstract
Senile plaques, mainly diffuse, and cerebral amyloid-β (Aβ) angiopathy are prevalent in the aging brain of non-human primates, from lemurs to non-human Hominidae. Aβ but not hyper-phosphorylated tau (HPtau) pathology is the common nominator proteinopathy of non-human primate brain aging. The abundance of Aβ in the aging primate brain is well tolerated, and the impact on cognitive functions is usually limited to particular tasks. In contrast, human brain aging is characterized by the early appearance of HPtau pathology, mainly forming neurofibrillary tangles, dystrophic neurites of neuritic plaques, and neuropil threads, preceding Aβ deposits by several decades and by its severity progressing from selected nuclei of the brain stem, entorhinal cortex, and hippocampus to the limbic system, neocortex, and other brain regions. Neurofibrillary tangles correlate with cognitive impairment and dementia in advanced cases. Aβ pathology is linked in humans to altered membrane protein and lipid composition, particularly involving lipid rafts. Although similar membrane alterations are unknown in non-human primates, membrane senescence is postulated to cause the activated β-amyloidogenic pathway, and Aβ pathology is the prevailing signature of non-human and human primate brain aging.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Isidro Ferrer
- Department of Pathology and Experimental Therapeutics, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Rodriguez RD, Tavares MC, Brucki SM, Takada LT, Otaduy MC, da Graça Morais Martin M, Suemoto C, Grinberg L, Leite C, Tomaz C, Nitrini R. Bearded capuchin monkey as a model for Alzheimer's disease research. RESEARCH SQUARE 2023:rs.3.rs-3495799. [PMID: 38106066 PMCID: PMC10723548 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-3495799/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
The absence of a natural animal model is one of the main challenges in Alzheimer's disease research. Despite the challenges of using non-human primates in studies, they can bridge mouse models and humans, as non-human primates are phylogenetically close to humans and can spontaneously develop AD-type pathology. The capuchin monkey, a New World primate, has recently attracted attention due to its skill in creating and using instruments. We analyzed three capuchin brains using structural 7T MRI and neuropathological evaluation. Alzheimer-type pathology was found in one case. Widespread β-amyloid pathology mainly in the form of focal deposits with variable morphology and high density of mature plaques. Noteworthy, plaque-associated dystrophic neurites, associated with disrupted of axonal transport and early cytoskeletal alteration, were frequently found. Unlike other species of New World monkeys, cerebral arterial angiopathy was not the predominant form of β-amyloid pathology. Additionally, abnormal aggregates of hyperphosphorylated tau, resembling neurofibrillary pathology, were observed in the temporal and frontal cortex. Besides, astrocyte hypertrophy surrounding plaques was found, suggesting a neuroinflammatory response. Aged capuchin monkeys can spontaneously develop Alzheimer-type pathology, indicating that they may be an advantageous animal model for research in Alzheimer's disease.
Collapse
|
7
|
Rothwell ES, Carp SB, Bliss-Moreau E. The importance of social behavior in nonhuman primate studies of aging: A mini-review. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2023; 154:105422. [PMID: 37806369 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105422] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2023] [Revised: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023]
Abstract
Social behavior plays an important role in supporting both psychological and physical health across the lifespan. People's social lives change as they age, and the nature of these changes differ based on whether people are on healthy aging trajectories or are experiencing neurodegenerative diseases that cause dementia, such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. Nonhuman primate models of aging have provided a base of knowledge comparing aging trajectories in health and disease, but these studies rarely emphasize social behavior changes as a consequence of the aging process. What data exist hold particular value, as negative effects of disease and aging on social behavior are likely to have disproportionate impacts on quality of life. In this mini review, we examine the literature on nonhuman primate models of aging with a focus on social behavior, in the context of both health and disease. We propose that adopting a greater focus on social behavior outcomes in nonhuman primates will improve our understanding of the intersection of health, aging and sociality in humans.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Emily S Rothwell
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Medicine University of Pittsburgh, 3501 Fifth Avenue, Biomedical Science Tower 3, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.
| | - Sarah B Carp
- Neuroscience & Behavior Unit, California National Primate Research Center, University of California Davis, County Road 98 at Hutchinson Drive, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Eliza Bliss-Moreau
- Neuroscience & Behavior Unit, California National Primate Research Center, University of California Davis, County Road 98 at Hutchinson Drive, Davis, CA 95616, USA; Department of Psychology, University of California Davis, County Road 98 at Hutchinson Drive, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Freire-Cobo C, Rothwell ES, Varghese M, Edwards M, Janssen WGM, Lacreuse A, Hof PR. Neuronal vulnerability to brain aging and neurodegeneration in cognitively impaired marmoset monkeys (Callithrix jacchus). Neurobiol Aging 2023; 123:49-62. [PMID: 36638681 PMCID: PMC9892246 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2022.12.001] [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: 09/05/2022] [Revised: 12/01/2022] [Accepted: 12/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
The investigation of neurobiological and neuropathological changes that affect synaptic integrity and function with aging is key to understanding why the aging brain is vulnerable to Alzheimer's disease. We investigated the cellular characteristics in the cerebral cortex of behaviorally characterized marmosets, based on their trajectories of cognitive learning as they transitioned to old age. We found increased astrogliosis, increased phagocytic activity of microglial cells and differences in resting and reactive microglial cell phenotypes in cognitively impaired compared to nonimpaired marmosets. Differences in amyloid beta deposition were not related to cognitive trajectory. However, we found age-related changes in density and morphology of dendritic spines in pyramidal neurons of layer 3 in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and the CA1 field of the hippocampus between cohorts. Overall, our data suggest that an accelerated aging process, accompanied by neurodegeneration, that takes place in cognitively impaired aged marmosets and affects the plasticity of dendritic spines in cortical areas involved in cognition and points to mechanisms of neuronal vulnerability to aging.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Carmen Freire-Cobo
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA; Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Emily S Rothwell
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, USA
| | - Merina Varghese
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA; Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Mélise Edwards
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, USA
| | - William G M Janssen
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA; Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Agnès Lacreuse
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, USA
| | - Patrick R Hof
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA; Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA; Ronald M. Loeb Center for Alzheimer's Disease, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Rigby Dames BA, Kilili H, Charvet CJ, Díaz-Barba K, Proulx MJ, de Sousa AA, Urrutia AO. Evolutionary and genomic perspectives of brain aging and neurodegenerative diseases. PROGRESS IN BRAIN RESEARCH 2023; 275:165-215. [PMID: 36841568 PMCID: PMC11191546 DOI: 10.1016/bs.pbr.2022.10.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
This chapter utilizes genomic concepts and evolutionary perspectives to further understand the possible links between typical brain aging and neurodegenerative diseases, focusing on the two most prevalent of these: Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. Aging is the major risk factor for these neurodegenerative diseases. Researching the evolutionary and molecular underpinnings of aging helps to reveal elements of the typical aging process that leave individuals more vulnerable to neurodegenerative pathologies. Very little is known about the prevalence and susceptibility of neurodegenerative diseases in nonhuman species, as only a few individuals have been observed with these neuropathologies. However, several studies have investigated the evolution of lifespan, which is closely connected with brain size in mammals, and insights can be drawn from these to enrich our understanding of neurodegeneration. This chapter explores the relationship between the typical aging process and the events in neurodegeneration. First, we examined how age-related processes can increase susceptibility to neurodegenerative diseases. Second, we assessed to what extent neurodegeneration is an accelerated form of aging. We found that while at the phenotypic level both neurodegenerative diseases and the typical aging process share some characteristics, at the molecular level they show some distinctions in their profiles, such as variation in genes and gene expression. Furthermore, neurodegeneration of the brain is associated with an earlier onset of cellular, molecular, and structural age-related changes. In conclusion, a more integrative view of the aging process, both from a molecular and an evolutionary perspective, may increase our understanding of neurodegenerative diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Brier A Rigby Dames
- Department of Computer Science, University of Bath, Bath, United Kingdom; Department of Psychology, University of Bath, Bath, United Kingdom.
| | - Huseyin Kilili
- Milner Centre for Evolution, Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Bath, Bath, United Kingdom
| | - Christine J Charvet
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Pharmacology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, United States
| | - Karina Díaz-Barba
- Licenciatura en Ciencias Genómicas, UNAM, CP62210, Cuernavaca, México; Instituto de Ecología, UNAM, Ciudad Universitaria, CP04510, Ciudad de México, México
| | - Michael J Proulx
- Department of Psychology, University of Bath, Bath, United Kingdom
| | | | - Araxi O Urrutia
- Milner Centre for Evolution, Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Bath, Bath, United Kingdom; Licenciatura en Ciencias Genómicas, UNAM, CP62210, Cuernavaca, México; Instituto de Ecología, UNAM, Ciudad Universitaria, CP04510, Ciudad de México, México.
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Golub EM, Conner B, Edwards M, Gilllis L, Lacreuse A. Potential trade-off between olfactory and visual discrimination learning in common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus): Implications for the assessment of age-related cognitive decline. Am J Primatol 2022; 84:e23427. [PMID: 35942572 PMCID: PMC9444974 DOI: 10.1002/ajp.23427] [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: 02/07/2022] [Revised: 06/17/2022] [Accepted: 07/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Olfactory dysfunction has been identified as an early biomarker for dementia risk but has rarely been assessed in nonhuman primate models of human aging. To better characterize common marmosets as such models, we assessed olfactory discrimination performance in a sample of 10 animals (5 females), aged 2.5-8.9 years old. The monkeys were proficient in the discrimination and reversal of visual stimuli but naïve to odor stimuli. For olfactory discrimination, the monkeys performed a series of six discriminations of increasing difficulty between two odor stimuli. We found no evidence for an age-related decline as both young and older individuals were able to perform the discriminations in roughly the same number of trials. In addition, the older monkeys had faster responses than the younger animals. However, we noted that when adjusted for age, the speed of acquisition of the first discrimination in the olfactory modality was inversely correlated to the speed of acquisition of their first discrimination of two visual stimuli months earlier. These results suggest that marmosets may compensate for sensory deficits in one modality with higher sensory performance in another. These data have broad implications for the assessment of age-related cognitive decline and the categorization of animals as impaired or nonimpaired.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Bryce Conner
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Massachusetts Amherst MA
| | - Mélise Edwards
- Neuroscience and Behavior Program, University of Massachusetts Amherst MA
| | - Lacey Gilllis
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Massachusetts Amherst MA
| | - Agnès Lacreuse
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Massachusetts Amherst MA
- Neuroscience and Behavior Program, University of Massachusetts Amherst MA
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Guevara EE, Hopkins WD, Hof PR, Ely JJ, Bradley BJ, Sherwood CC. Epigenetic aging of the prefrontal cortex and cerebellum in humans and chimpanzees. Epigenetics 2022; 17:1774-1785. [PMID: 35603816 DOI: 10.1080/15592294.2022.2080993] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Epigenetic age has emerged as an important biomarker of biological aging. It has revealed that some tissues age faster than others, which is vital to understanding the complex phenomenon of aging and developing effective interventions. Previous studies have demonstrated that humans exhibit heterogeneity in pace of epigenetic aging among brain structures that are consistent with differences in structural and microanatomical deterioration. Here, we add comparative data on epigenetic brain aging for chimpanzees, humans' closest relatives. Such comparisons can further our understanding of which aspects of human aging are evolutionarily conserved or specific to our species, especially given that humans are distinguished by a long lifespan, large brain, and, potentially, more severe neurodegeneration with age. Specifically, we investigated epigenetic aging of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and cerebellum, of humans and chimpanzees by generating genome-wide CpG methylation data and applying established epigenetic clock algorithms to produce estimates of biological age for these tissues. We found that both species exhibit relatively slow epigenetic aging in the brain relative to blood. Between brain structures, humans show a faster rate of epigenetic aging in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex compared to the cerebellum, which is consistent with previous findings. Chimpanzees, in contrast, show comparable rates of epigenetic aging in the two brain structures. Greater epigenetic change in the human dorsolateral prefrontal cortex compared to the cerebellum may reflect both the protracted development of this structure in humans and its greater age-related vulnerability to neurodegenerative pathology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Elaine E Guevara
- Department of Anthropology, University of North Carolina Wilmington, Wilmington, NC 28403, USA.,Department of Anthropology and Center for the Advanced Study of Human Paleobiology, The George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052, USA.,Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, Duke University, Durham, NC, 27708, USA
| | - William D Hopkins
- Keeling Center for Comparative Medicine and Research, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Bastrop, TX 78602, USA
| | - Patrick R Hof
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Friedman Brain Institute, and Ronald M. Loeb Center for Alzheimer's Disease, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA.,New York Consortium in Evolutionary Primatology, New York, NY 10124, USA
| | - John J Ely
- Department of Anthropology and Center for the Advanced Study of Human Paleobiology, The George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052, USA.,MAEBIOS, Alamogordo, NM 88310, USA
| | - Brenda J Bradley
- Department of Anthropology and Center for the Advanced Study of Human Paleobiology, The George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052, USA
| | - Chet C Sherwood
- Department of Anthropology and Center for the Advanced Study of Human Paleobiology, The George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052, USA
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Chan AWS, Cho IK, Li CX, Zhang X, Patel S, Rusnak R, Raper J, Bachevalier J, Moran SP, Chi T, Cannon KH, Hunter CE, Martin RC, Xiao H, Yang SH, Gumber S, Herndon JG, Rosen RF, Hu WT, Lah JJ, Levey AI, Smith Y, Walker LC. Cerebral Aβ deposition in an Aβ-precursor protein-transgenic rhesus monkey. AGING BRAIN 2022; 2:100044. [PMID: 36589695 PMCID: PMC9802652 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbas.2022.100044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
With the ultimate goal of developing a more representative animal model of Alzheimer's disease (AD), two female amyloid-β-(Aβ) precursor protein-transgenic (APPtg) rhesus monkeys were generated by lentiviral transduction of the APP gene into rhesus oocytes, followed by in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer. The APP-transgene included the AD-associated Swedish K670N/M671L and Indiana V717F mutations (APPSWE/IND) regulated by the human polyubiquitin-C promoter. Overexpression of APP was confirmed in lymphocytes and brain tissue. Upon sacrifice at 10 years of age, one of the monkeys had developed Aβ plaques and cerebral Aβ-amyloid angiopathy in the occipital, parietal, and caudal temporal neocortices. The induction of Aβ deposition more than a decade prior to its usual emergence in the rhesus monkey supports the feasibility of creating a transgenic nonhuman primate model for mechanistic analyses and preclinical testing of treatments for Alzheimer's disease and cerebrovascular amyloidosis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anthony W S Chan
- Emory National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA.,Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - In Ki Cho
- Emory National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA
| | - Chun-Xia Li
- Emory National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA
| | - Xiaodong Zhang
- Emory National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA
| | - Sudeep Patel
- Emory National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA
| | - Rebecca Rusnak
- Emory National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA
| | - Jessica Raper
- Emory National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Jocelyne Bachevalier
- Emory National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA.,Department of Psychology, Emory College, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Sean P Moran
- Emory National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA
| | - Tim Chi
- Emory National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA
| | - Katherine H Cannon
- Emory National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA
| | - Carissa E Hunter
- Emory National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA
| | - Ryan C Martin
- Emory National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA
| | - Hailian Xiao
- Department of Neurology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Shang-Hsun Yang
- Emory National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA.,Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Sanjeev Gumber
- Emory National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA
| | - James G Herndon
- Emory National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA
| | - Rebecca F Rosen
- Emory National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA
| | - William T Hu
- Department of Neurology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - James J Lah
- Department of Neurology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Allan I Levey
- Department of Neurology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Yoland Smith
- Emory National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA.,Department of Neurology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Lary C Walker
- Emory National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA.,Department of Neurology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Geerts H, van der Graaf P. Computational Approaches for Supporting Combination Therapy in the Post-Aducanumab Era in Alzheimer’s Disease. J Alzheimers Dis Rep 2021; 5:815-826. [PMID: 34966890 PMCID: PMC8673549 DOI: 10.3233/adr-210039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2021] [Accepted: 10/14/2021] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
With the approval of aducanumab on the “Accelerated Approval Pathway” and the recognition of amyloid load as a surrogate marker, new successful therapeutic approaches will be driven by combination therapy as was the case in oncology after the launch of immune checkpoint inhibitors. However, the sheer number of therapeutic combinations substantially complicates the search for optimal combinations. Data-driven approaches based on large databases or electronic health records can identify optimal combinations and often using artificial intelligence or machine learning to crunch through many possible combinations but are limited to the pharmacology of existing marketed drugs and are highly dependent upon the quality of the training sets. Knowledge-driven in silico modeling approaches use multi-scale biophysically realistic models of neuroanatomy, physiology, and pathology and can be personalized with individual patient comedications, disease state, and genotypes to create ‘virtual twin patients’. Such models simulate effects on action potential dynamics of anatomically informed neuronal circuits driving functional clinical readouts. Informed by data-driven approaches this knowledge-driven modeling could systematically and quantitatively simulate all possible target combinations for a maximal synergistic effect on a clinically relevant functional outcome. This approach seamlessly integrates pharmacokinetic modeling of different therapeutic modalities. A crucial requirement to constrain the parameters is the access to preferably anonymized individual patient data from completed clinical trials with various selective compounds. We believe that the combination of data- and knowledge driven modeling could be a game changer to find a cure for this devastating disease that affects the most complex organ of the universe.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hugo Geerts
- Certara UK-SimCyp, Canterbury Innovation Centre, University Road, Canterbury, United Kingdom
| | - Piet van der Graaf
- Certara UK-SimCyp, Canterbury Innovation Centre, University Road, Canterbury, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|