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Lazarova M, Tsvetanova E, Georgieva A, Stefanova M, Uzunova D, Denev P, Vassileva V, Tasheva K. Extracts of Sideritis scardica and Clinopodium vulgare Alleviate Cognitive Impairments in Scopolamine-Induced Rat Dementia. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:1840. [PMID: 38339117 PMCID: PMC10855470 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25031840] [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: 01/04/2024] [Revised: 01/30/2024] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Sideritis scardica Griseb. and Clinopodium vulgare L., belonging to the Lamiaceae family, are rich in terpenoids and phenolics and exhibit various pharmacological effects, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer activities. While the memory-enhancing impacts of S. scardica are well documented, the cognitive benefits of C. vulgare remain unexplored. This study assessed the potential effect of C. vulgare on learning and memory in healthy and scopolamine (Sco)-induced memory-impaired male Wistar rats, comparing it with the effects of S. scardica. Over a 21-day period, rats orally received extracts of cultivated S. scardica (200 mg/kg) and C. vulgare (100 mg/kg), either individually or in combination, with administration starting 10 days before and continuing 11 days simultaneously with Sco injection at a dose of 2 mg/kg intraperitoneally. The results showed that both extracts effectively mitigated Sco-induced memory impairment. Their combination significantly improved recognition memory and maintained monoaminergic function. S. scardica excelled in preserving spatial working memory, while C. vulgare exhibited comparable retention of recognition memory, robust antioxidant activity and acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity. The extracts alleviated Sco-induced downregulation of p-CREB/BDNF signaling, suggesting neuroprotective mechanisms. The extract combination positively affected most of the Sco-induced impairments, underscoring the potential for further investigation of these extracts for therapeutic development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Lazarova
- Institute of Neurobiology, Bulgarian Academy of Science, 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria; (M.L.); (E.T.); (A.G.); (M.S.); (D.U.)
| | - Elina Tsvetanova
- Institute of Neurobiology, Bulgarian Academy of Science, 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria; (M.L.); (E.T.); (A.G.); (M.S.); (D.U.)
| | - Almira Georgieva
- Institute of Neurobiology, Bulgarian Academy of Science, 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria; (M.L.); (E.T.); (A.G.); (M.S.); (D.U.)
| | - Miroslava Stefanova
- Institute of Neurobiology, Bulgarian Academy of Science, 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria; (M.L.); (E.T.); (A.G.); (M.S.); (D.U.)
| | - Diamara Uzunova
- Institute of Neurobiology, Bulgarian Academy of Science, 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria; (M.L.); (E.T.); (A.G.); (M.S.); (D.U.)
| | - Petko Denev
- Laboratory of Biologically Active Substances, Institute of Organic Chemistry with Centre of Phytochemistry, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 4000 Plovdiv, Bulgaria
| | - Valya Vassileva
- Institute of Plant Physiology and Genetics, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Acad. Georgi Bonchev Str., Block 21, 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria;
| | - Krasimira Tasheva
- Institute of Plant Physiology and Genetics, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Acad. Georgi Bonchev Str., Block 21, 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria;
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2
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Young AL, Oxtoby NP, Garbarino S, Fox NC, Barkhof F, Schott JM, Alexander DC. Data-driven modelling of neurodegenerative disease progression: thinking outside the black box. Nat Rev Neurosci 2024; 25:111-130. [PMID: 38191721 DOI: 10.1038/s41583-023-00779-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024]
Abstract
Data-driven disease progression models are an emerging set of computational tools that reconstruct disease timelines for long-term chronic diseases, providing unique insights into disease processes and their underlying mechanisms. Such methods combine a priori human knowledge and assumptions with large-scale data processing and parameter estimation to infer long-term disease trajectories from short-term data. In contrast to 'black box' machine learning tools, data-driven disease progression models typically require fewer data and are inherently interpretable, thereby aiding disease understanding in addition to enabling classification, prediction and stratification. In this Review, we place the current landscape of data-driven disease progression models in a general framework and discuss their enhanced utility for constructing a disease timeline compared with wider machine learning tools that construct static disease profiles. We review the insights they have enabled across multiple neurodegenerative diseases, notably Alzheimer disease, for applications such as determining temporal trajectories of disease biomarkers, testing hypotheses about disease mechanisms and uncovering disease subtypes. We outline key areas for technological development and translation to a broader range of neuroscience and non-neuroscience applications. Finally, we discuss potential pathways and barriers to integrating disease progression models into clinical practice and trial settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra L Young
- UCL Centre for Medical Image Computing, Department of Computer Science, University College London, London, UK.
- Department of Neuroimaging, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.
| | - Neil P Oxtoby
- UCL Centre for Medical Image Computing, Department of Computer Science, University College London, London, UK.
| | - Sara Garbarino
- Life Science Computational Laboratory, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genova, Italy
| | - Nick C Fox
- Dementia Research Centre, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Frederik Barkhof
- UCL Centre for Medical Image Computing, Department of Computer Science, University College London, London, UK
- Department of Radiology & Nuclear Medicine, Amsterdam University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Jonathan M Schott
- Dementia Research Centre, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Daniel C Alexander
- UCL Centre for Medical Image Computing, Department of Computer Science, University College London, London, UK
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Jazaeri SZ, Taghizadeh G, Babaei JF, Goudarzi S, Saadatmand P, Joghataei MT, Khanahmadi Z. Aquaporin 4 beyond a water channel; participation in motor, sensory, cognitive and psychological performances, a comprehensive review. Physiol Behav 2023; 271:114353. [PMID: 37714320 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2023.114353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2023] [Revised: 08/15/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 09/17/2023]
Abstract
Aquaporin 4 (AQP4) is a protein highly expressed in the central nervous system (CNS) and peripheral nervous system (PNS) as well as various other organs, whose different sites of action indicate its importance in various functions. AQP4 has a variety of essential roles beyond water homeostasis. In this article, we have for the first time summarized different roles of AQP4 in motor and sensory functions, besides cognitive and psychological performances, and most importantly, possible physiological mechanisms by which AQP4 can exert its effects. Furthermore, we demonstrated that AQP4 participates in pathology of different neurological disorders, various effects depending on the disease type. Since neurological diseases involve a spectrum of dysfunctions and due to the difficulty of obtaining a treatment that can simultaneously affect these deficits, it is therefore suggested that future studies consider the role of this protein in different functional impairments related to neurological disorders simultaneously or separately by targeting AQP4 expression and/or polarity modulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seyede Zohreh Jazaeri
- Department of Neuroscience, Faculty of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Division of Neuroscience, Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ghorban Taghizadeh
- Department of Occupational Therapy, School of Rehabilitation Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Javad Fahanik Babaei
- Electrophysiology Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Sepideh Goudarzi
- Experimental Medicine Research Center, Tehran University of medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Pegah Saadatmand
- Department of Medical Physics, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Taghi Joghataei
- Department of Neuroscience, Faculty of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Division of Neuroscience, Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Department of Innovation in Medical Education, Faculty of Medicine, Ottawa University, Ottawa, Canada.
| | - Zohreh Khanahmadi
- Department of Occupational Therapy, School of Rehabilitation Services, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
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Vogel JW, Corriveau-Lecavalier N, Franzmeier N, Pereira JB, Brown JA, Maass A, Botha H, Seeley WW, Bassett DS, Jones DT, Ewers M. Connectome-based modelling of neurodegenerative diseases: towards precision medicine and mechanistic insight. Nat Rev Neurosci 2023; 24:620-639. [PMID: 37620599 DOI: 10.1038/s41583-023-00731-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/26/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023]
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases are the most common cause of dementia. Although their underlying molecular pathologies have been identified, there is substantial heterogeneity in the patterns of progressive brain alterations across and within these diseases. Recent advances in neuroimaging methods have revealed that pathological proteins accumulate along specific macroscale brain networks, implicating the network architecture of the brain in the system-level pathophysiology of neurodegenerative diseases. However, the extent to which 'network-based neurodegeneration' applies across the wide range of neurodegenerative disorders remains unclear. Here, we discuss the state-of-the-art of neuroimaging-based connectomics for the mapping and prediction of neurodegenerative processes. We review findings supporting brain networks as passive conduits through which pathological proteins spread. As an alternative view, we also discuss complementary work suggesting that network alterations actively modulate the spreading of pathological proteins between connected brain regions. We conclude this Perspective by proposing an integrative framework in which connectome-based models can be advanced along three dimensions of innovation: incorporating parameters that modulate propagation behaviour on the basis of measurable biological features; building patient-tailored models that use individual-level information and allowing model parameters to interact dynamically over time. We discuss promises and pitfalls of these strategies for improving disease insights and moving towards precision medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob W Vogel
- Department of Clinical Sciences, SciLifeLab, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.
| | - Nick Corriveau-Lecavalier
- Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Nicolai Franzmeier
- Institute for Stroke and Dementia Research (ISD), University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
- Munich Cluster for Systems Neurology (SyNergy), Munich, Germany
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, The Sahlgrenska Acadamy, University of Gothenburg, Mölndal and Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Joana B Pereira
- Clinical Memory Research Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden
- Neuro Division, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Jesse A Brown
- Memory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Anne Maass
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Hugo Botha
- Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - William W Seeley
- Memory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Pathology, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Dani S Bassett
- Departments of Bioengineering, Electrical and Systems Engineering, Physics and Astronomy, Neurology and Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Santa Fe Institute, Santa Fe, NM, USA
| | - David T Jones
- Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
- Department of Radiology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Michael Ewers
- Institute for Stroke and Dementia Research (ISD), University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany.
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Rahman MM, Islam MR, Supti FA, Dhar PS, Shohag S, Ferdous J, Shuvo SK, Akter A, Hossain MS, Sharma R. Exploring the Therapeutic Effect of Neurotrophins and Neuropeptides in Neurodegenerative Diseases: at a Glance. Mol Neurobiol 2023:10.1007/s12035-023-03328-5. [PMID: 37052791 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-023-03328-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/22/2023] [Indexed: 04/14/2023]
Abstract
Neurotrophins and neuropeptides are the essential regulators of peripheral nociceptive nerves that help to induce, sensitize, and maintain pain. Neuropeptide has a neuroprotective impact as it increases trophic support, regulates calcium homeostasis, and reduces excitotoxicity and neuroinflammation. In contrast, neurotrophins target neurons afflicted by ischemia, epilepsy, depression, and eating disorders, among other neuropsychiatric conditions. Neurotrophins are reported to inhibit neuronal death. Strategies maintained for "brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) therapies" are to upregulate BDNF levels using the delivery of protein and genes or compounds that target BDNF production and boosting BDNF signals by expanding with BDNF mimetics. This review discusses the mechanisms of neurotrophins and neuropeptides against acute neural damage as well as highlighting neuropeptides as a potential therapeutic agent against Parkinson's disease (PD), Huntington's disease (HD), Alzheimer's disease (AD), and Machado-Joseph disease (MJD), the signaling pathways affected by neurotrophins and their receptors in both standard and diseased CNS systems, and future perspectives that can lead to the potent application of neurotrophins and neuropeptides in neurodegenerative diseases (NDs).
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Affiliation(s)
- Md Mominur Rahman
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Daffodil International University, Dhaka, 1207, Bangladesh
| | - Md Rezaul Islam
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Daffodil International University, Dhaka, 1207, Bangladesh
| | - Fatema Akter Supti
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Daffodil International University, Dhaka, 1207, Bangladesh
| | - Puja Sutro Dhar
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Daffodil International University, Dhaka, 1207, Bangladesh
| | - Sheikh Shohag
- Department of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Faculty of Earth and Ocean Science, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Maritime University, Mirpur 12, Dhaka, 1216, Bangladesh
| | - Jannatul Ferdous
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Daffodil International University, Dhaka, 1207, Bangladesh
| | - Shakil Khan Shuvo
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Daffodil International University, Dhaka, 1207, Bangladesh
| | - Aklima Akter
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Daffodil International University, Dhaka, 1207, Bangladesh
| | - Md Sarowar Hossain
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Daffodil International University, Dhaka, 1207, Bangladesh
| | - Rohit Sharma
- Department of Rasa Shastra & Bhaishajya Kalpana, Faculty of Ayurveda, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, 221005, Uttar Pradesh, India.
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Gray JP, Manuello J, Alexander-Bloch AF, Leonardo C, Franklin C, Choi KS, Cauda F, Costa T, Blangero J, Glahn DC, Mayberg HS, Fox PT. Co-alteration Network Architecture of Major Depressive Disorder: A Multi-modal Neuroimaging Assessment of Large-scale Disease Effects. Neuroinformatics 2022; 21:443-455. [PMID: 36469193 DOI: 10.1007/s12021-022-09614-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Major depressive disorder (MDD) exhibits diverse symptomology and neuroimaging studies report widespread disruption of key brain areas. Numerous theories underpinning the network degeneration hypothesis (NDH) posit that neuropsychiatric diseases selectively target brain areas via meaningful network mechanisms rather than as indistinct disease effects. The present study tests the hypothesis that MDD is a network-based disorder, both structurally and functionally. Coordinate-based meta-analysis and Activation Likelihood Estimation (CBMA-ALE) were used to assess the convergence of findings from 92 previously published studies in depression. An extension of CBMA-ALE was then used to generate a node-and-edge network model representing the co-alteration of brain areas impacted by MDD. Standardized measures of graph theoretical network architecture were assessed. Co-alteration patterns among the meta-analytic MDD nodes were then tested in independent, clinical T1-weighted structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and resting-state functional (rs-fMRI) data. Differences in co-alteration profiles between MDD patients and healthy controls, as well as between controls and clinical subgroups of MDD patients, were assessed. A 65-node 144-edge co-alteration network model was derived for MDD. Testing of co-alteration profiles in replication data using the MDD nodes provided distinction between MDD and healthy controls in structural data. However, co-alteration profiles were not distinguished between patients and controls in rs-fMRI data. Improved distinction between patients and healthy controls was observed in clinically homogenous MDD subgroups in T1 data. MDD abnormalities demonstrated both structural and functional network architecture, though only structural networks exhibited between-groups differences. Our findings suggest improved utility of structural co-alteration networks for ongoing biomarker development.
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7
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Alfonsetti M, d’Angelo M, Castelli V. Neurotrophic factor-based pharmacological approaches in neurological disorders. Neural Regen Res 2022; 18:1220-1228. [PMID: 36453397 PMCID: PMC9838155 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.358619] [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] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Aging is a physiological event dependent on multiple pathways that are linked to lifespan and processes leading to cognitive decline. This process represents the major risk factor for aging-related diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and ischemic stroke. The incidence of all these pathologies increases exponentially with age. Research on aging biology has currently focused on elucidating molecular mechanisms leading to the development of those pathologies. Cognitive deficit and neurodegeneration, common features of aging-related pathologies, are related to the alteration of the activity and levels of neurotrophic factors, such as brain-derived neurotrophic factor, nerve growth factor, and glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor. For this reason, treatments that modulate neurotrophin levels have acquired a great deal of interest in preventing neurodegeneration and promoting neural regeneration in several neurological diseases. Those treatments include both the direct administration of neurotrophic factors and the induced expression with viral vectors, neurotrophins' binding with biomaterials or other molecules to increase their bioavailability but also cell-based therapies. Considering neurotrophins' crucial role in aging pathologies, here we discuss the involvement of several neurotrophic factors in the most common brain aging-related diseases and the most recent therapeutic approaches that provide direct and sustained neurotrophic support.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margherita Alfonsetti
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L’Aquila, L’Aquila, Italy
| | - Michele d’Angelo
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L’Aquila, L’Aquila, Italy
| | - Vanessa Castelli
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L’Aquila, L’Aquila, Italy,Correspondence to: Vanessa Castelli, .
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Amyloidogenesis and Neurotrophic Dysfunction in Alzheimer’s Disease: Do They have a Common Regulating Pathway? Cells 2022; 11:cells11203201. [PMID: 36291068 PMCID: PMC9600014 DOI: 10.3390/cells11203201] [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] [Received: 09/12/2022] [Revised: 10/07/2022] [Accepted: 10/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The amyloid cascade hypothesis has predominately been used to describe the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) for decades, as Aβ oligomers are thought to be the prime cause of AD. Meanwhile, the neurotrophic factor hypothesis has also been proposed for decades. Accumulating evidence states that the amyloidogenic process and neurotrophic dysfunction are mutually influenced and may coincidently cause the onset and progress of AD. Meanwhile, there are intracellular regulators participating both in the amyloidogenic process and neurotrophic pathways, which might be the common original causes of amyloidogenesis and neurotrophic dysfunction. In this review, the current understanding regarding the role of neurotrophic dysfunction and the amyloidogenic process in AD pathology is briefly summarized. The mutual influence of these two pathogenesis pathways and their potential common causal pathway are further discussed. Therapeutic strategies targeting the common pathways to simultaneously prevent amyloidogenesis and neurotrophic dysfunction might be anticipated for the disease-modifying treatment of AD.
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9
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CRISPR/dCas9-Dnmt3a-mediated targeted DNA methylation of APP rescues brain pathology in a mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease. Transl Neurodegener 2022; 11:41. [PMID: 36109806 PMCID: PMC9476342 DOI: 10.1186/s40035-022-00314-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Accepted: 08/19/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Aberrant DNA methylation patterns have been observed in neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease (AD), and dynamic changes in DNA methylation are closely associated with the onset and progression of these diseases. Particularly, hypomethylation of the amyloid precursor protein gene (APP) has been reported in patients with AD. Methods In this study, we used catalytically inactivated Cas9 (dCas9) fused with Dnmt3a for targeted DNA methylation of APP, and showed that the CRISPR/dCas9-Dnmt3a-mediated DNA methylation system could efficiently induce targeted DNA methylation of APP both in vivo and in vitro. Results We hypothesized that the targeted methylation of the APP promoter might rescue AD-related neuronal cell death by reducing APP mRNA expression. The cultured APP-KI mouse primary neurons exhibited an altered DNA-methylation pattern on the APP promoter after dCas9-Dnmt3a treatment. Likewise, the APP mRNA level was significantly reduced in the dCas9-Dnmt3a-treated wild-type and APP-KI mouse primary neurons. We also observed decreased amyloid-beta (Aβ) peptide level and Aβ42/40 ratio in the dCas9-Dnmt3a-treated APP-KI mouse neurons compared to the control APP-KI mouse neurons. In addition, neuronal cell death was significantly decreased in the dCas9-Dnmt3a-treated APP-KI mouse neurons. Furthermore, the in vivo methylation of APP in the brain via dCas9-Dnmt3a treatment altered Aβ plaques and attenuated cognitive and behavioral impairments in the APP-KI mouse model. Conclusions These results suggest that the targeted methylation of APP via dCas9-Dnmt3a treatment can be a potential therapeutic strategy for AD. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s40035-022-00314-0.
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Development and Biological Characterization of a Novel Selective TrkA Agonist with Neuroprotective Properties against Amyloid Toxicity. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10030614. [PMID: 35327415 PMCID: PMC8945229 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10030614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2022] [Revised: 02/23/2022] [Accepted: 03/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurotrophins are growth factors that exert important neuroprotective effects by preventing neuronal death and synaptic loss. Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) acts through the activation of its high-affinity, pro-survival TrkA and low-affinity, pro-apoptotic p75NTR receptors. NGF has been shown to slow or prevent neurodegenerative signals in Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) progression. However, its low bioavailability and its blood–brain-barrier impermeability limit the use of NGF as a potential therapeutic agent against AD. Based on our previous findings on synthetic dehydroepiandrosterone derivatives, we identified a novel NGF mimetic, named ENT-A013, which selectively activates TrkA and exerts neuroprotective, anti-amyloid-β actions. We now report the chemical synthesis, in silico modelling, metabolic stability, CYP-mediated reaction phenotyping and biological characterization of ENT-A013 under physiological and neurodegenerative conditions. We show that ENT-A013 selectively activates the TrkA receptor and its downstream kinases Akt and Erk1/2 in PC12 cells, protecting these cells from serum deprivation-induced cell death. Moreover, ENT-A013 promotes survival of primary Dorsal Root Ganglion (DRG) neurons upon NGF withdrawal and protects hippocampal neurons against Amyloid β-induced apoptosis and synaptic loss. Furthermore, this neurotrophin mimetic partially restores LTP impairment. In conclusion, ENT-A013 represents a promising new lead molecule for developing therapeutics against neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer’s Disease, selectively targeting TrkA-mediated pro-survival signals.
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11
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OUP accepted manuscript. Brain 2022; 145:2250-2275. [DOI: 10.1093/brain/awac096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2021] [Revised: 01/21/2022] [Accepted: 01/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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12
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Sexton C, Snyder H, Beher D, Boxer AL, Brannelly P, Brion JP, Buée L, Cacace AM, Chételat G, Citron M, DeVos SL, Diaz K, Feldman HH, Frost B, Goate AM, Gold M, Hyman B, Johnson K, Karch CM, Kerwin DR, Koroshetz WJ, Litvan I, Morris HR, Mummery CJ, Mutamba J, Patterson MC, Quiroz YT, Rabinovici GD, Rommel A, Shulman MB, Toledo-Sherman LM, Weninger S, Wildsmith KR, Worley SL, Carrillo MC. Current directions in tau research: Highlights from Tau 2020. Alzheimers Dement 2021; 18:988-1007. [PMID: 34581500 DOI: 10.1002/alz.12452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2021] [Revised: 07/07/2021] [Accepted: 07/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Studies supporting a strong association between tau deposition and neuronal loss, neurodegeneration, and cognitive decline have heightened the allure of tau and tau-related mechanisms as therapeutic targets. In February 2020, leading tau experts from around the world convened for the first-ever Tau2020 Global Conference in Washington, DC, co-organized and cosponsored by the Rainwater Charitable Foundation, the Alzheimer's Association, and CurePSP. Representing academia, industry, government, and the philanthropic sector, presenters and attendees discussed recent advances and current directions in tau research. The meeting provided a unique opportunity to move tau research forward by fostering global partnerships among academia, industry, and other stakeholders and by providing support for new drug discovery programs, groundbreaking research, and emerging tau researchers. The meeting also provided an opportunity for experts to present critical research-advancing tools and insights that are now rapidly accelerating the pace of tau research.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Adam L Boxer
- Memory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Pat Brannelly
- Alzheimer's Disease Data Initiative, Kirkland, WI, USA
| | - Jean-Pierre Brion
- Laboratory of Histology, Neuroanatomy and Neuropathology, Faculty of Medicine, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Luc Buée
- Univ Lille, Inserm, CHU-Lille, Lille Neuroscience and Cognition, Place de Verdun, Lille, France
| | | | - Gaël Chételat
- Normandie Univ, UNICAEN, INSERM, U1237, PhIND "Physiopathology and Imaging of Neurological Disorders", Institut Blood and Brain @ Caen-Normandie, Cyceron, Caen, France
| | - Martin Citron
- Neuroscience TA, Braine l'Alleud, UCB Biopharma, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Sarah L DeVos
- Translational Sciences, Denali Therapeutics, San Francisco, California, USA
| | | | - Howard H Feldman
- Alzheimer's Disease Cooperative Study, Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Bess Frost
- Sam & Ann Barshop Institute for Longevity and Aging Studies, Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer's & Neurodegenerative Disorders, Department of Cell Systems & Anatomy, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, USA
| | - Alison M Goate
- Ronald M. Loeb Center for Alzheimer's Disease, Department of Neuroscience, Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Michael Gold
- AbbVie, Neurosciences Development, North Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Bradley Hyman
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Keith Johnson
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Celeste M Karch
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Diana R Kerwin
- Kerwin Medical Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Walter J Koroshetz
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Irene Litvan
- Parkinson and Other Movement Disorders Center, Department of Neurosciences, University of California San Diego, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Huw R Morris
- Department of Clinical and Movement Neuroscience, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | - Catherine J Mummery
- Dementia Research Centre, National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, University College London, London, UK
| | | | - Marc C Patterson
- Departments of Neurology, Pediatrics and Medical Genetics, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
| | - Yakeel T Quiroz
- Departments of Neurology and Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Gil D Rabinovici
- Memory & Aging Center, Departments of Neurology, Radiology & Biomedical Imaging, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Amy Rommel
- Tau Consortium, Rainwater Charitable Foundation, Fort Worth, Texas, USA
| | - Melanie B Shulman
- Neurodegeneration Development Unit, Biogen, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | | | | | - Kristin R Wildsmith
- Department of Biomarker Development, Genentech, South San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Susan L Worley
- Independent science writer, Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, USA
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13
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Dobryakova YV, Zaichenko MI, Spivak YS, Stepanichev MY, Markevich VA, Bolshakov AP. Overexpression of Nerve Growth Factor in the Hippocampus Induces Behavioral Changes in Rats with 192IgG-Saporin-Induced Cholinergic Deficit. NEUROCHEM J+ 2021. [DOI: 10.1134/s1819712421030028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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Genetic deletion of α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors induces an age-dependent Alzheimer's disease-like pathology. Prog Neurobiol 2021; 206:102154. [PMID: 34453977 DOI: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2021.102154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2021] [Revised: 05/29/2021] [Accepted: 08/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The accumulation of amyloid-beta peptide (Aβ) and the failure of cholinergic transmission are key players in Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, in the healthy brain, Aβ contributes to synaptic plasticity and memory acting through α7 subtype nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (α7nAChRs). Here, we hypothesized that the α7nAChR deletion blocks Aβ physiological function and promotes a compensatory increase in Aβ levels that, in turn, triggers an AD-like pathology. To validate this hypothesis, we studied the age-dependent phenotype of α7 knock out mice. We found that α7nAChR deletion caused an impairment of hippocampal synaptic plasticity and memory at 12 months of age, paralleled by an increase of Amyloid Precursor Protein expression and Aβ levels. This was accompanied by other classical AD features such as a hyperphosphorylation of tau at residues Ser 199, Ser 396, Thr 205, a decrease of GSK-3β at Ser 9, the presence of paired helical filaments and neurofibrillary tangles, neuronal loss and an increase of GFAP-positive astrocytes. Our findings suggest that α7nAChR malfunction might precede Aβ and tau pathology, offering a different perspective to interpret the failure of anti-Aβ therapies against AD and to find novel therapeutical approaches aimed at restoring α7nAChRs-mediated Aβ function at the synapse.
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15
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Do Carmo S, Kannel B, Cuello AC. Nerve Growth Factor Compromise in Down Syndrome. Front Aging Neurosci 2021; 13:719507. [PMID: 34434101 PMCID: PMC8381049 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2021.719507] [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: 06/02/2021] [Accepted: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The basal forebrain cholinergic system relies on trophic support by nerve growth factor (NGF) to maintain its phenotype and function. In Alzheimer's disease (AD), basal forebrain cholinergic neurons (BFCNs) undergo progressive atrophy, suggesting a deficit in NGF trophic support. Within the central nervous system, NGF maturation and degradation are tightly regulated by an activity-dependent metabolic cascade. Here, we present a brief overview of the characteristics of Alzheimer's pathology in Down syndrome (DS) with an emphasis on this NGF metabolic pathway's disruption during the evolving Alzheimer's pathology. Such NGF dysmetabolism is well-established in Alzheimer's brains with advanced pathology and has been observed in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and non-demented individuals with elevated brain amyloid levels. As individuals with DS inexorably develop AD, we then review findings that support the existence of a similar NGF dysmetabolism in DS coinciding with atrophy of the basal forebrain cholinergic system. Lastly, we discuss the potential of NGF-related biomarkers as indicators of an evolving Alzheimer's pathology in DS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonia Do Carmo
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Benjamin Kannel
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - A Claudio Cuello
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Department of Pharmacology, Oxford University, Oxford, United Kingdom
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16
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Importance of Different Characteristic of the Corticospinal Tract Based on DTI and Cadaveric Microdissection. JOURNAL OF BASIC AND CLINICAL HEALTH SCIENCES 2021. [DOI: 10.30621/jbachs.904035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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17
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Kanu LN, Ciolino JB. Nerve Growth Factor as an Ocular Therapy: Applications, Challenges, and Future Directions. Semin Ophthalmol 2021; 36:224-231. [PMID: 33641595 DOI: 10.1080/08820538.2021.1890793] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Nerve growth factor (NGF), the prototypical neurotrophin first discovered in the 1950s, has recently garnered increased interest as a therapeutic agent promoting neuronal health and regeneration. After gaining orphan drug status within the last decade, NGF-related research and drug development has accelerated. The purpose of this article is to review the preclinical and clinical evidence of NGF in various applications, including central and peripheral nervous system, skin, and ophthalmic disorders. We focus on the ophthalmic applications including not only the FDA-approved indication of neurotrophic keratitis but also retinal disease and glaucoma. NGF represents a promising therapy whose therapeutic profile is evolving. The challenges related to this therapy are reviewed, along with possible solutions and future directions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Levi N Kanu
- 1. Department of Ophthalmology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Joseph B Ciolino
- 1. Department of Ophthalmology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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18
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Kambey PA, Kanwore K, Ayanlaja AA, Nadeem I, Du Y, Buberwa W, Liu W, Gao D. Failure of Glial Cell-Line Derived Neurotrophic Factor (GDNF) in Clinical Trials Orchestrated By Reduced NR4A2 (NURR1) Transcription Factor in Parkinson's Disease. A Systematic Review. Front Aging Neurosci 2021; 13:645583. [PMID: 33716718 PMCID: PMC7943926 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2021.645583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2020] [Accepted: 01/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is one of the most common neurodegenerative maladies with unforeseen complex pathologies. While this neurodegenerative disorder’s neuropathology is reasonably well known, its etiology remains a mystery, making it challenging to aim therapy. Glial cell-line derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) remains an auspicious therapeutic molecule for treating PD. Neurotrophic factor derived from glial cell lines is effective in rodents and nonhuman primates, but clinical findings have been equivocal. Laborious exertions have been made over the past few decades to improve and assess GDNF in treating PD (clinical studies). Definitive clinical trials have, however, failed to demonstrate a survival advantage. Consequently, there seemed to be a doubt as to whether GDNF has merit in the potential treatment of PD. The purpose of this cutting edge review is to speculate as to why the clinical trials have failed to meet the primary endpoint. We introduce a hypothesis, “Failure of GDNF in clinical trials succumbed by nuclear receptor-related factor 1 (Nurr1) shortfall.” We demonstrate how Nurr1 binds to GDNF to induce dopaminergic neuron synthesis. Due to its undisputable neuro-protection aptitude, we display Nurr1 (also called Nr4a2) as a promising therapeutic target for PD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Piniel Alphayo Kambey
- Xuzhou Key Laboratory of Neurobiology, Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China
| | - Kouminin Kanwore
- Xuzhou Key Laboratory of Neurobiology, Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China
| | - Abiola Abdulrahman Ayanlaja
- Xuzhou Key Laboratory of Neurobiology, Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China
| | - Iqra Nadeem
- Xuzhou Key Laboratory of Neurobiology, Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China
| | - YinZhen Du
- Xuzhou Key Laboratory of Neurobiology, Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China
| | | | - WenYa Liu
- Xuzhou Key Laboratory of Neurobiology, Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China
| | - Dianshuai Gao
- Xuzhou Key Laboratory of Neurobiology, Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China
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19
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Indication of retrograde tau spreading along Braak stages and functional connectivity pathways. Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging 2021; 48:2272-2282. [PMID: 33462630 DOI: 10.1007/s00259-020-05183-1] [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] [Received: 09/07/2020] [Accepted: 12/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Tau pathology progression in Alzheimer's disease (AD) is explained through the network degeneration hypothesis and the neuropathological Braak stages; however, the compatibility of these models remains unclear. METHODS We utilized [18F]AV-1451 tau-PET scans of 39 subjects with AD and 39 sex-matched amyloid-negative healthy controls (HC) in the ADNI (Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative) dataset. The peak cluster of tau-tracer uptake was identified in each Braak stage of neuropathological tau deposition and used to create a seed-based functional connectivity network (FCN) using 198 HC subjects, to identify healthy networks unaffected by neurodegeneration. RESULTS Voxel-wise tau deposition was both significantly higher inside relative to outside FCNs and correlated significantly and positively with levels of healthy functional connectivity. Within many isolated Braak stages and regions, the correlation between tau and intrinsic functional connectivity was significantly stronger than it was across the whole brain. In this way, each peak cluster of tau was related to multiple Braak stages traditionally associated with both earlier and later stages of disease. CONCLUSION We show specificity of healthy FCN topography for AD-pathological tau as well as positive voxel-by-voxel correlations between pathological tau and healthy functional connectivity. We propose a model of "up- and downstream" functional tau progression, suggesting that tau pathology evolves along functional connectivity networks not only "downstream" (i.e., along the expected sequence of the established Braak stages) but also in part "upstream" or "retrograde" (i.e., against the expected sequence of the established Braak stages), with pathology in earlier Braak stages intensified by its functional relationship to later disease stages.
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Triaca V, Ruberti F, Canu N. NGF and the Amyloid Precursor Protein in Alzheimer's Disease: From Molecular Players to Neuronal Circuits. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2021; 1331:145-165. [PMID: 34453297 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-74046-7_10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD), one of the most common causes of dementia in elderly people, is characterized by progressive impairment in cognitive function, early degeneration of basal forebrain cholinergic neurons (BFCNs), abnormal metabolism of the amyloid precursor protein (APP), amyloid beta-peptide (Aβ) depositions, and neurofibrillary tangles. According to the cholinergic hypothesis, dysfunction of acetylcholine-containing neurons in the basal forebrain contributes markedly to the cognitive decline observed in AD. In addition, the neurotrophic factor hypothesis posits that the loss nerve growth factor (NGF) signalling in AD may account for the vulnerability to atrophy of BFCNs and consequent impairment of cholinergic functions. Though acetylcholinesterase inhibitors provide only partial and symptomatic relief to AD patients, emerging data from in vivo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positron emission tomography (PET) studies in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and AD patients highlight the early involvement of BFCNs in MCI and the early phase of AD. These data support the cholinergic and neurotrophic hypotheses of AD and suggest new targets for AD therapy.Different mechanisms account for selective vulnerability of BFCNs to AD pathology, with regard to altered metabolism of APP and tau. In this review, we provide a general overview of the current knowledge of NGF and APP interplay, focusing on the role of APP in regulating NGF receptors trafficking/signalling and on the involvement of NGF in modulating phosphorylation of APP, which in turn controls APP intracellular trafficking and processing. Moreover, we highlight the consequences of APP interaction with p75NTR and TrkA receptor, which share the same binding site within the APP juxta-membrane domain. We underline the importance of insulin dysmetabolism in AD pathology, in the light of our recent data showing that overlapping intracellular signalling pathways stimulated by NGF or insulin can be compensatory. In particular, NGF-based signalling is able to ameliorates deficiencies in insulin signalling in the medial septum of 3×Tg-AD mice. Finally, we present an overview of NGF-regulated microRNAs (miRNAs). These small non-coding RNAs are involved in post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression , and we focus on a subset that are specifically deregulated in AD and thus potentially contribute to its pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viviana Triaca
- Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology (IBBC), National Research Council (CNR), Campus A. Buzzati-Traverso, Monterotondo, RM, Italy
| | - Francesca Ruberti
- Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology (IBBC), National Research Council (CNR), Campus A. Buzzati-Traverso, Monterotondo, RM, Italy
| | - Nadia Canu
- Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology (IBBC), National Research Council (CNR), Campus A. Buzzati-Traverso, Monterotondo, RM, Italy. .,Department of System Medicine, Section of Physiology, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Rome, Italy.
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21
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The search for novel targets in Alzheimer's disease-The 90s redux. PROGRESS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCE 2020; 177:123-135. [PMID: 33453938 DOI: 10.1016/bs.pmbts.2020.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a complex disease of the brain. Despite over 100 years of basic and clinical research, significantly intensified in the last three decades, the exact cause of this neurodegeneration is still an enigma. Based on neuroanatomical, experimental, and clinical findings, a series of hypotheses on AD pathogenesis have evolved. Among them, the "amyloid cascade hypothesis" has been most prominent. Clinical efforts targeting the biochemistry of amyloid β-protein (Aβ) as causal therapy have all failed so far, which may mean that the pathogenic mechanism of AD is less straightforward than initially thought. While there was good scientific reason to support this hypothesis before, the exclusive concentration on it may have impeded a more objective look and prevented the pursuit of alternative approaches to decipher the cause of AD. Here, a few key hypotheses of AD are summarized, and it is proposed that our view of the cause (or causes) of this detrimental disease be widened. This includes looking back, reactivating, and revisiting findings that were ignored over the last decades. Alternative and amyloid-independent ways to explain AD pathogenesis should receive more attention and are appearing.
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22
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Catanesi M, d'Angelo M, Antonosante A, Castelli V, Alfonsetti M, Benedetti E, Desideri G, Ferri C, Cimini A. Neuroprotective potential of choline alfoscerate against β-amyloid injury: Involvement of neurotrophic signals. Cell Biol Int 2020; 44:1734-1744. [PMID: 32343461 DOI: 10.1002/cbin.11369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2020] [Revised: 04/10/2020] [Accepted: 04/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease represents the most prevalent neurodegeneration worldwide, clinically characterized by cognitive and memory impairment. New therapeutic approaches are extremely important to counteract this disorder. This research is focused on the potential use of choline alfoscerate in preventing neuronal death using in vitro models of Alzheimer's disease, representing the early stage of the disease, treated before or after the insult with glycerylphosphorylcholine. On the light of the results collected, we can postulate that choline alfoscerate, by the activation of the neurotrophin survival pathway, was able to counteract the detrimental effect of β-amyloid in both in vitro models, reducing apoptotic cell death and preserving the neuronal morphology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariano Catanesi
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Michele d'Angelo
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Andrea Antonosante
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Vanessa Castelli
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Margherita Alfonsetti
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Benedetti
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Giovambattista Desideri
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Claudio Ferri
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Annamaria Cimini
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy.,Sbarro Institute for Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine, Center for Biotechnology, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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23
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Kosenko E, Tikhonova L, Alilova G, Urios A, Montoliu C. The Erythrocytic Hypothesis of Brain Energy Crisis in Sporadic Alzheimer Disease: Possible Consequences and Supporting Evidence. J Clin Med 2020; 9:jcm9010206. [PMID: 31940879 PMCID: PMC7019250 DOI: 10.3390/jcm9010206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2019] [Revised: 01/09/2020] [Accepted: 01/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a fatal form of dementia of unknown etiology. Although amyloid plaque accumulation in the brain has been the subject of intensive research in disease pathogenesis and anti-amyloid drug development; the continued failures of the clinical trials suggest that amyloids are not a key cause of AD and new approaches to AD investigation and treatment are needed. We propose a new hypothesis of AD development based on metabolic abnormalities in circulating red blood cells (RBCs) that slow down oxygen release from RBCs into brain tissue which in turn leads to hypoxia-induced brain energy crisis; loss of neurons; and progressive atrophy preceding cognitive dysfunction. This review summarizes current evidence for the erythrocytic hypothesis of AD development and provides new insights into the causes of neurodegeneration offering an innovative way to diagnose and treat this systemic disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Kosenko
- Institute of Theoretical and Experimental Biophysics of Russian Academy of Sciences, Pushchino 142290, Russia; (L.T.); (G.A.)
- Correspondence: or ; Tel.: +7-4967-73-91-68
| | - Lyudmila Tikhonova
- Institute of Theoretical and Experimental Biophysics of Russian Academy of Sciences, Pushchino 142290, Russia; (L.T.); (G.A.)
| | - Gubidat Alilova
- Institute of Theoretical and Experimental Biophysics of Russian Academy of Sciences, Pushchino 142290, Russia; (L.T.); (G.A.)
| | - Amparo Urios
- Hospital Clinico Research Foundation, INCLIVA Health Research Institute, 46010 Valencia, Spain; (A.U.); (C.M.)
| | - Carmina Montoliu
- Hospital Clinico Research Foundation, INCLIVA Health Research Institute, 46010 Valencia, Spain; (A.U.); (C.M.)
- Pathology Department, Faculty of Medicine, University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain
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24
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Garbarino S, Lorenzi M, Oxtoby NP, Vinke EJ, Marinescu RV, Eshaghi A, Ikram MA, Niessen WJ, Ciccarelli O, Barkhof F, Schott JM, Vernooij MW, Alexander DC. Differences in topological progression profile among neurodegenerative diseases from imaging data. eLife 2019; 8:e49298. [PMID: 31793876 PMCID: PMC6922631 DOI: 10.7554/elife.49298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2019] [Accepted: 12/02/2019] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The spatial distribution of atrophy in neurodegenerative diseases suggests that brain connectivity mediates disease propagation. Different descriptors of the connectivity graph potentially relate to different underlying mechanisms of propagation. Previous approaches for evaluating the influence of connectivity on neurodegeneration consider each descriptor in isolation and match predictions against late-stage atrophy patterns. We introduce the notion of a topological profile - a characteristic combination of topological descriptors that best describes the propagation of pathology in a particular disease. By drawing on recent advances in disease progression modeling, we estimate topological profiles from the full course of pathology accumulation, at both cohort and individual levels. Experimental results comparing topological profiles for Alzheimer's disease, multiple sclerosis and normal ageing show that topological profiles explain the observed data better than single descriptors. Within each condition, most individual profiles cluster around the cohort-level profile, and individuals whose profiles align more closely with other cohort-level profiles show features of that cohort. The cohort-level profiles suggest new insights into the biological mechanisms underlying pathology propagation in each disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Garbarino
- Centre for Medical Image Computing, Department of Computer ScienceUniversity College LondonLondonUnited Kingdom
- Université Côte d’Azur, Inria, Epione Research ProjectSophia AntipolisFrance
| | - Marco Lorenzi
- Université Côte d’Azur, Inria, Epione Research ProjectSophia AntipolisFrance
| | - Neil P Oxtoby
- Centre for Medical Image Computing, Department of Computer ScienceUniversity College LondonLondonUnited Kingdom
| | - Elisabeth J Vinke
- Department of EpidemiologyErasmus Medical CenterRotterdamNetherlands
| | - Razvan V Marinescu
- Centre for Medical Image Computing, Department of Computer ScienceUniversity College LondonLondonUnited Kingdom
| | - Arman Eshaghi
- Centre for Medical Image Computing, Department of Computer ScienceUniversity College LondonLondonUnited Kingdom
- Queen Square Multiple Sclerosis Centre, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, Faculty of Brain SciencesUniversity College LondonLondonUnited Kingdom
| | - M Arfan Ikram
- Department of EpidemiologyErasmus Medical CenterRotterdamNetherlands
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear medicineErasmus MCRotterdamNetherlands
| | - Wiro J Niessen
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear medicineErasmus MCRotterdamNetherlands
| | - Olga Ciccarelli
- Queen Square Multiple Sclerosis Centre, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, Faculty of Brain SciencesUniversity College LondonLondonUnited Kingdom
| | - Frederik Barkhof
- Centre for Medical Image Computing, Department of Computer ScienceUniversity College LondonLondonUnited Kingdom
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear medicineVUmcAmsterdamNetherlands
| | - Jonathan M Schott
- Dementia Research Centre, Institute of NeurologyUniversity College LondonLondonUnited Kingdom
| | - Meike W Vernooij
- Department of EpidemiologyErasmus Medical CenterRotterdamNetherlands
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear medicineErasmus MCRotterdamNetherlands
| | - Daniel C Alexander
- Centre for Medical Image Computing, Department of Computer ScienceUniversity College LondonLondonUnited Kingdom
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25
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Pascual B, Funk Q, Zanotti-Fregonara P, Pal N, Rockers E, Yu M, Spann B, Román GC, Schulz PE, Karmonik C, Appel SH, Masdeu JC. Multimodal 18F-AV-1451 and MRI Findings in Nonfluent Variant of Primary Progressive Aphasia: Possible Insights on Nodal Propagation of Tau Protein Across the Syntactic Network. J Nucl Med 2019; 61:263-269. [PMID: 31350322 DOI: 10.2967/jnumed.118.225508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2019] [Accepted: 07/06/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Although abnormally folded tau protein has been found to self-propagate from neuron to connected neuron, similar propagation through human brain networks has not been fully documented. We studied tau propagation in the left hemispheric syntactic network, which comprises an anterior frontal node and a posterior temporal node connected by the white matter of the left arcuate fasciculus. This network is affected in the nonfluent variant of primary progressive aphasia, a neurodegenerative disorder with tau accumulation. Methods: Eight patients with the nonfluent variant of primary progressive aphasia (age, 67.0 ± 7.4 y; 4 women) and 8 healthy controls (age, 69.6 ± 7.0 y; 4 women) were scanned with 18F-AV-1451 tau PET to determine tau deposition in the brain and with MRI to determine the fractional anisotropy of the arcuate fasciculus. Normal syntactic network characteristics were confirmed with structural MRI diffusion imaging in our healthy controls and with blood oxygenation level-dependent functional imaging in 35 healthy participants from the Alzheimer Disease Neuroimaging Initiative database. Results: Language scores in patients indicated dysfunction of the anterior node. 18F-AV-1451 deposition was greatest in the 2 nodes of the syntactic network. The left arcuate fasciculus had decreased fractional anisotropy, particularly near the anterior node. Normal MRI structural connectivity from an area similar to the one containing tau in the anterior frontal node projected to an area similar to the one containing tau in the patients in the posterior temporal node. Conclusion: Tau accumulation likely started in the more affected anterior node and, at the disease stage at which we studied these patients, appeared as well in the brain region (in the temporal lobe) spatially separate from but most connected with it. The arcuate fasciculus, connecting both of them, was most severely affected anteriorly, as would correspond to a loss of axons from the anterior node. These findings are suggestive of tau propagation from node to connected node in a natural human brain network and support the idea that neurons that wire together die together.
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Affiliation(s)
- Belen Pascual
- Nantz National Alzheimer Center, Stanley H. Appel Department of Neurology, Houston Methodist Neurological Institute, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Quentin Funk
- Nantz National Alzheimer Center, Stanley H. Appel Department of Neurology, Houston Methodist Neurological Institute, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Paolo Zanotti-Fregonara
- Nantz National Alzheimer Center, Stanley H. Appel Department of Neurology, Houston Methodist Neurological Institute, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Neha Pal
- Nantz National Alzheimer Center, Stanley H. Appel Department of Neurology, Houston Methodist Neurological Institute, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Elijah Rockers
- Nantz National Alzheimer Center, Stanley H. Appel Department of Neurology, Houston Methodist Neurological Institute, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Meixiang Yu
- Cyclotron and Radiopharmaceutical Core, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Bryan Spann
- Nantz National Alzheimer Center, Stanley H. Appel Department of Neurology, Houston Methodist Neurological Institute, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Gustavo C Román
- Nantz National Alzheimer Center, Stanley H. Appel Department of Neurology, Houston Methodist Neurological Institute, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | | | - Christof Karmonik
- MRI Core, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, Houston, Texas; and
| | - Stanley H Appel
- Stanley H. Appel Department of Neurology, Houston Methodist Neurological Institute, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Joseph C Masdeu
- Nantz National Alzheimer Center, Stanley H. Appel Department of Neurology, Houston Methodist Neurological Institute, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, Houston, Texas
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Isomerization of Asp7 in Beta-Amyloid Enhances Inhibition of the α7 Nicotinic Receptor and Promotes Neurotoxicity. Cells 2019; 8:cells8080771. [PMID: 31349637 PMCID: PMC6721525 DOI: 10.3390/cells8080771] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2019] [Revised: 07/19/2019] [Accepted: 07/23/2019] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Cholinergic dysfunction in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) can be mediated by the neuronal α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7nAChR). Beta-amyloid peptide (Aβ) binds to the α7nAChR, disrupting the receptor’s function and causing neurotoxicity. In vivo not only Aβ but also its modified forms can drive AD pathogenesis. One of these forms, iso-Aβ (containing an isomerized Asp7 residue), shows an increased neurotoxicity in vitro and stimulates amyloidogenesis in vivo. We suggested that such effects of iso-Aβ are α7nAChR-dependent. Here, using calcium imaging and electrophysiology, we found that iso-Aβ is a more potent inhibitor of the α7nAChR-mediated calcium current than unmodified Aβ. However, Asp7 isomerization eliminated the ability of Aβ to decrease the α7nAChR levels. These data indicate differences in the interaction of the peptides with the α7nAChR, which we demonstrated using computer modeling. Neither Aβ nor iso-Aβ competed with 125I-α-bungarotoxin for binding to the orthosteric site of the receptor, suggesting the allosteric binging mode of the peptides. Further we found that increased neurotoxicity of iso-Aβ was mediated by the α7nAChR. Thus, the isomerization of Asp7 enhances the inhibitory effect of Aβ on the functional activity of the α7nAChR, which may be an important factor in the disruption of the cholinergic system in AD.
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Perez de la Mora M, Hernandez-Mondragon C, Crespo-Ramirez M, Rejon-Orantes J, Borroto-Escuela DO, Fuxe K. Conventional and Novel Pharmacological Approaches to Treat Dopamine-Related Disorders: Focus on Parkinson's Disease and Schizophrenia. Neuroscience 2019; 439:301-318. [PMID: 31349007 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2019.07.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2019] [Revised: 06/25/2019] [Accepted: 07/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
The dopaminergic system integrated by cell groups distributed in several brain regions exerts a modulatory role in brain. Particularly important for this task are the mesencephalic dopamine neurons, which from the substantia nigra and ventral tegmental area project to the dorsal striatum and the cortical/subcortical limbic systems, respectively. Dopamine released from these neurons operates mainly via the short distance extrasynaptic volume transmission and activates five different dopaminergic receptor subtypes modulating synaptic GABA and glutamate transmission. To accomplish this task dopaminergic neurons keep mutual modulating interactions with neurons of other neurotransmitter systems, including allosteric receptor-receptor interactions in heteroreceptor complexes. As a result of its modulatory role dopaminergic mechanisms are involved in either the etiology or physiopathology of many brain diseases such as Parkinsońs disease and schizophrenia. The aim of this work is to review some novel and conventional approaches that either have been used or are currently employed to treat these diseases. Particular attention is paid to the approaches derived from the knowledge recently acquired in the realm of receptor-receptor interactions taking place through multiple dopamine heteroreceptor complexes in the plasma membrane. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Honoring Ricardo Miledi - outstanding neuroscientist of XX-XXI centuries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel Perez de la Mora
- Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico.
| | | | - Minerva Crespo-Ramirez
- Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - José Rejon-Orantes
- Pharmacobiology Experimental laboratory, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad Autónoma de Chiapas
| | | | - Kjell Fuxe
- Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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28
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Chen XQ, Mobley WC. Exploring the Pathogenesis of Alzheimer Disease in Basal Forebrain Cholinergic Neurons: Converging Insights From Alternative Hypotheses. Front Neurosci 2019; 13:446. [PMID: 31133787 PMCID: PMC6514132 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2019.00446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 103] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2019] [Accepted: 04/18/2019] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer disease (AD) represents an oncoming epidemic that without an effective treatment promises to exact extraordinary financial and emotional burdens (Apostolova, 2016). Studies of pathogenesis are essential for defining critical molecular and cellular events and for discovering therapies to prevent or mitigate their effects. Through studies of neuropathology, genetic and cellular, and molecular biology recent decades have provided many important insights. Several hypotheses have been suggested. Documentation in the 1980s of selective loss of cholinergic neurons of the basal forebrain, followed by clinical improvement in those treated with inhibitors of acetylycholinesterase, supported the “cholinergic hypothesis of age-related cognitive dysfunction” (Bartus et al., 1982). A second hypothesis, prompted by the selective loss of cholinergic neurons and the discovery of central nervous system (CNS) neurotrophic factors, including nerve growth factor (NGF), prompted the “deficient neurotrophic hypothesis” (Chen et al., 2018). The most persuasive hypothesis, the amyloid cascade hypothesis first proposed more than 25 years ago (Selkoe and Hardy, 2016), is supported by a wealth of observations. Genetic studies were exceptionally important, pointing to increased dose of the gene for the amyloid precursor protein (APP) in Down syndrome (DS) and a familial AD (FAD) due to duplication of APP and to mutations in APP and in the genes for Presenilin 1 and 2 (PSEN1, 2), which encode the γ-secretase enzyme that processes APP (Dorszewska et al., 2016). The “tau hypothesis” noted the prominence of tau-related pathology and its correlation with dementia (Kametani and Hasegawa, 2018). Recent interest in induction of microglial activation in the AD brain, as well as other manifestations of inflammation, supports the “inflammatory hypothesis” (Mcgeer et al., 2016). We place these findings in the context of the selective, but by no means unique, involvement of BFCNs and their trophic dependence on NGF signaling and speculate as to how pathogenesis in these neurons is initiated, amplified and ultimately results in their dysfunction and death. In so doing we attempt to show how the different hypotheses for AD may interact and reinforce one another. Finally, we address current attempts to prevent and/or treat AD in light of advances in understanding pathogenetic mechanisms and suggest that studies in the DS population may provide unique insights into AD pathogenesis and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xu-Qiao Chen
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - William C Mobley
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
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The potential roles of aquaporin 4 in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Neurol Sci 2019; 40:1541-1549. [PMID: 30980198 DOI: 10.1007/s10072-019-03877-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2019] [Accepted: 03/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Aquaporin 4 (AQP4) is a primary water channel found on astrocytes in the central nervous system (CNS). Besides its function in water and ion homeostasis, AQP4 has also been documented to be involved in a myriad of acute and chronic cerebral pathologies, including autoimmune neurodegenerative diseases. AQP4 has been postulated to be associated with the incidence of a progressive neurodegenerative disorder known as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a disease that targets the motor neurons, causing muscle weakness and eventually paralysis. Raised AQP4 levels were noted in association with vessels surrounded with swollen astrocytic processes as well as in the brainstem, cortex, and gray matter in patients with terminal ALS. AQP4 depolarization may lead to motor neuron degeneration in ALS via GLT-1. Besides, alterations in AQP4 expression in ALS may result in the loss of blood-brain barrier (BBB) integrity. Changes in AQP4 function may also disrupt K+ homeostasis and cause connexin dysregulation, the latter of which is associated to ALS disease progression. Furthermore, AQP4 suppression augments recovery in motor function in ALS, a phenomenon thought to be associated to NGF. No therapeutic drug targeting AQP4 has been developed to date. Nevertheless, the plethora of suggestive experimental results underscores the significance of further exploration into this area.
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30
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Fahnestock M, Shekari A. ProNGF and Neurodegeneration in Alzheimer's Disease. Front Neurosci 2019; 13:129. [PMID: 30853882 PMCID: PMC6395390 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2019.00129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2018] [Accepted: 02/05/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Profound and early basal forebrain cholinergic neuron (BFCN) degeneration is a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Loss of synapses between basal forebrain and hippocampal and cortical target tissue correlates highly with the degree of dementia and is thought to be a major contributor to memory loss. BFCNs depend for their survival, connectivity and function on the neurotrophin nerve growth factor (NGF) which is retrogradely transported from its sites of synthesis in the cortex and hippocampus. The form of NGF found in human brain is proNGF. ProNGF binds to the NGF receptors TrkA and p75NTR, but it binds more strongly to p75NTR and more weakly to TrkA than does mature NGF. This renders proNGF more sensitive to receptor balance than mature NGF. In the healthy brain, where BFCNs express both TrkA and p75NTR, proNGF is neurotrophic, activating TrkA-dependent signaling pathways such as MAPK and Akt-mTOR and eliciting cell survival and neurite outgrowth. However, if TrkA is lost or if p75NTR is increased, proNGF activates p75NTR-dependent apoptotic pathways such as JNK. This receptor sensitivity serves as a neurotrophic/apoptotic switch that eliminates BFCNs that cannot maintain TrkA/p75NTR balance and therefore synaptic connections with their targets. TrkA is increasingly lost in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and AD. In addition, proNGF accumulates at BFCN terminals in cortex and hippocampus, reducing the amount of trophic factor that reaches BFCN cell bodies. The loss of TrkA and accumulation of proNGF occur early in MCI and correlate with cognitive impairment. Increased levels of proNGF and reduced levels of TrkA lead to BFCN neurodegeneration and eventual p75NTR-dependent apoptosis. In addition, in AD BFCNs suffer from reduced TrkA-dependent retrograde transport which reduces neurotrophic support. Thus, BFCNs are particularly vulnerable to AD due to their dependence upon retrograde trophic support from proNGF signaling and transport.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margaret Fahnestock
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Arman Shekari
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
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31
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Cuello AC, Pentz R, Hall H. The Brain NGF Metabolic Pathway in Health and in Alzheimer's Pathology. Front Neurosci 2019; 13:62. [PMID: 30809111 PMCID: PMC6379336 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2019.00062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2018] [Accepted: 01/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Emerging research has re-emphasized the role of the cortical cholinergic system in the symptomology and progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Basal forebrain (BF) cholinergic nuclei depend on target-derived NGF for survival during development and for the maintenance of a classical cholinergic phenotype during adulthood. In AD, BF cholinergic neurons lose their cholinergic phenotype and function, suggesting an impairment in NGF-mediated trophic support. We propose that alterations to the enzymatic pathway that controls the maturation of proNGF to mature NGF and the latter's ulterior degradation underlie this pathological process. Indeed, the NGF metabolic pathway has been demonstrated to be impaired in AD and other amyloid pathologies, and pharmacological manipulation of NGF metabolism has consequences in vivo for both levels of proNGF/NGF and the phenotype of BF cholinergic neurons. The NGF pathway may also have potential as a biomarker of cognitive decline in AD, as its changes can predict future cognitive decline in patients with Down syndrome as they develop preclinical Alzheimer's pathology. New evidence suggests that the cholinergic system, and by extension NGF, may have a greater role in the progression of AD than previously realized, as changes to the BF precede and predict changes to the entorhinal cortex, as anticholinergic drugs increase odds of developing AD, and as the use of donepezil can reduce rates of hippocampal and cortical thinning. These findings suggest that new, more sophisticated cholinergic therapies should be capable of preserving the basal forebrain thus having profound positive effects as treatments for AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- A. Claudio Cuello
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Rowan Pentz
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Hélène Hall
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
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32
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Valko K, Ciesla L. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. PROGRESS IN MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY 2019; 58:63-117. [DOI: 10.1016/bs.pmch.2018.12.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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33
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Shah SH, Goldberg JL. The Role of Axon Transport in Neuroprotection and Regeneration. Dev Neurobiol 2018; 78:998-1010. [PMID: 30027690 DOI: 10.1002/dneu.22630] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Retinal ganglion cells and other central nervous system neurons fail to regenerate after injury. Understanding the obstacles to survival and regeneration, and overcoming them, is key to preserving and restoring function. While comparisons in the cellular changes seen in these non-regenerative cells with those that do have intrinsic regenerative ability has yielded many candidate genes for regenerative therapies, complete visual recovery has not yet been achieved. Insights gained from neurodegenerative diseases, like glaucoma, underscore the importance of axonal transport of organelles, mRNA, and effector proteins in injury and disease. Targeting molecular motor networks, and their cargoes, may be necessary for realizing complete axonal regeneration and vision restoration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sahil H Shah
- Byers Eye Institute, Stanford University, Palo Alto, California.,Neurosciences Graduate Program, University of California, San Diego, California.,Medical Scientist Training Program, University of California, San Diego, California
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34
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Wang W, Wen D, Duan W, Yin J, Cui C, Wang Y, Li Z, Liu Y, Li C. Systemic administration of scAAV9-IGF1 extends survival in SOD1G93A ALS mice via inhibiting p38 MAPK and the JNK-mediated apoptosis pathway. Brain Res Bull 2018; 139:203-210. [DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2018.02.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2017] [Revised: 01/19/2018] [Accepted: 02/13/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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35
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Cope TE, Rittman T, Borchert RJ, Jones PS, Vatansever D, Allinson K, Passamonti L, Vazquez Rodriguez P, Bevan-Jones WR, O'Brien JT, Rowe JB. Tau burden and the functional connectome in Alzheimer's disease and progressive supranuclear palsy. Brain 2018; 141:550-567. [PMID: 29293892 PMCID: PMC5837359 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awx347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 162] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2017] [Revised: 10/25/2017] [Accepted: 10/29/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease and progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) represent neurodegenerative tauopathies with predominantly cortical versus subcortical disease burden. In Alzheimer's disease, neuropathology and atrophy preferentially affect 'hub' brain regions that are densely connected. It was unclear whether hubs are differentially affected by neurodegeneration because they are more likely to receive pathological proteins that propagate trans-neuronally, in a prion-like manner, or whether they are selectively vulnerable due to a lack of local trophic factors, higher metabolic demands, or differential gene expression. We assessed the relationship between tau burden and brain functional connectivity, by combining in vivo PET imaging using the ligand AV-1451, and graph theoretic measures of resting state functional MRI in 17 patients with Alzheimer's disease, 17 patients with PSP, and 12 controls. Strongly connected nodes displayed more tau pathology in Alzheimer's disease, independently of intrinsic connectivity network, validating the predictions of theories of trans-neuronal spread but not supporting a role for metabolic demands or deficient trophic support in tau accumulation. This was not a compensatory phenomenon, as the functional consequence of increasing tau burden in Alzheimer's disease was a progressive weakening of the connectivity of these same nodes, reducing weighted degree and local efficiency and resulting in weaker 'small-world' properties. Conversely, in PSP, unlike in Alzheimer's disease, those nodes that accrued pathological tau were those that displayed graph metric properties associated with increased metabolic demand and a lack of trophic support rather than strong functional connectivity. Together, these findings go some way towards explaining why Alzheimer's disease affects large scale connectivity networks throughout cortex while neuropathology in PSP is concentrated in a small number of subcortical structures. Further, we demonstrate that in PSP increasing tau burden in midbrain and deep nuclei was associated with strengthened cortico-cortical functional connectivity. Disrupted cortico-subcortical and cortico-brainstem interactions meant that information transfer took less direct paths, passing through a larger number of cortical nodes, reducing closeness centrality and eigenvector centrality in PSP, while increasing weighted degree, clustering, betweenness centrality and local efficiency. Our results have wide-ranging implications, from the validation of models of tau trafficking in humans to understanding the relationship between regional tau burden and brain functional reorganization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas E Cope
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Timothy Rittman
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Robin J Borchert
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - P Simon Jones
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Deniz Vatansever
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Department of Psychology, University of York, York, UK
- Division of Anaesthesia, Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Kieren Allinson
- Department of Pathology, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge, UK
| | - Luca Passamonti
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | | | - W Richard Bevan-Jones
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - John T O'Brien
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - James B Rowe
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Medical Research Council Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, Cambridge, UK
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36
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Manuello J, Nani A, Premi E, Borroni B, Costa T, Tatu K, Liloia D, Duca S, Cauda F. The Pathoconnectivity Profile of Alzheimer's Disease: A Morphometric Coalteration Network Analysis. Front Neurol 2018; 8:739. [PMID: 29472885 PMCID: PMC5810291 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2017.00739] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2017] [Accepted: 12/21/2017] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Gray matter alterations are typical features of brain disorders. However, they do not impact on the brain randomly. Indeed, it has been suggested that neuropathological processes can selectively affect certain assemblies of neurons, which typically are at the center of crucial functional networks. Because of their topological centrality, these areas form a core set that is more likely to be affected by neuropathological processes. In order to identify and study the pattern formed by brain alterations in patients’ with Alzheimer’s disease (AD), we devised an innovative meta-analytic method for analyzing voxel-based morphometry data. This methodology enabled us to discover that in AD gray matter alterations do not occur randomly across the brain but, on the contrary, follow identifiable patterns of distribution. This alteration pattern exhibits a network-like structure composed of coaltered areas that can be defined as coatrophy network. Within the coatrophy network of AD, we were able to further identify a core subnetwork of coaltered areas that includes the left hippocampus, left and right amygdalae, right parahippocampal gyrus, and right temporal inferior gyrus. In virtue of their network centrality, these brain areas can be thought of as pathoconnectivity hubs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jordi Manuello
- GCS-fMRI, Department of Psychology, Koelliker Hospital, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.,FOCUS Laboratory, Department of Psychology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Andrea Nani
- GCS-fMRI, Department of Psychology, Koelliker Hospital, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.,FOCUS Laboratory, Department of Psychology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.,Michael Trimble Neuropsychiatry Research Group, Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Enrico Premi
- Neurology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Barbara Borroni
- Neurology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Tommaso Costa
- GCS-fMRI, Department of Psychology, Koelliker Hospital, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.,FOCUS Laboratory, Department of Psychology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Karina Tatu
- GCS-fMRI, Department of Psychology, Koelliker Hospital, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.,FOCUS Laboratory, Department of Psychology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Donato Liloia
- FOCUS Laboratory, Department of Psychology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Sergio Duca
- GCS-fMRI, Department of Psychology, Koelliker Hospital, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Franco Cauda
- GCS-fMRI, Department of Psychology, Koelliker Hospital, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.,FOCUS Laboratory, Department of Psychology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
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37
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Cauda F, Nani A, Costa T, Palermo S, Tatu K, Manuello J, Duca S, Fox PT, Keller R. The morphometric co-atrophy networking of schizophrenia, autistic and obsessive spectrum disorders. Hum Brain Mapp 2018; 39:1898-1928. [PMID: 29349864 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.23952] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2017] [Revised: 12/19/2017] [Accepted: 12/28/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
By means of a novel methodology that can statistically derive patterns of co-alterations distribution from voxel-based morphological data, this study analyzes the patterns of brain alterations of three important psychiatric spectra-that is, schizophrenia spectrum disorder (SCZD), autistic spectrum disorder (ASD), and obsessive-compulsive spectrum disorder (OCSD). Our analysis provides five important results. First, in SCZD, ASD, and OCSD brain alterations do not distribute randomly but, rather, follow network-like patterns of co-alteration. Second, the clusters of co-altered areas form a net of alterations that can be defined as morphometric co-alteration network or co-atrophy network (in the case of gray matter decreases). Third, within this network certain cerebral areas can be identified as pathoconnectivity hubs, the alteration of which is supposed to enhance the development of neuronal abnormalities. Fourth, within the morphometric co-atrophy network of SCZD, ASD, and OCSD, a subnetwork composed of eleven highly connected nodes can be distinguished. This subnetwork encompasses the anterior insulae, inferior frontal areas, left superior temporal areas, left parahippocampal regions, left thalamus and right precentral gyri. Fifth, the co-altered areas also exhibit a normal structural covariance pattern which overlaps, for some of these areas (like the insulae), the co-alteration pattern. These findings reveal that, similarly to neurodegenerative diseases, psychiatric disorders are characterized by anatomical alterations that distribute according to connectivity constraints so as to form identifiable morphometric co-atrophy patterns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franco Cauda
- GCS-FMRI, Koelliker Hospital and Department of Psychology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.,Focus Lab, Department of Psychology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Andrea Nani
- GCS-FMRI, Koelliker Hospital and Department of Psychology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.,Focus Lab, Department of Psychology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.,Michael Trimble Neuropsychiatry Research Group, University of Birmingham and BSMHFT, Birmingham, UK
| | - Tommaso Costa
- GCS-FMRI, Koelliker Hospital and Department of Psychology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.,Focus Lab, Department of Psychology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Sara Palermo
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Karina Tatu
- GCS-FMRI, Koelliker Hospital and Department of Psychology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.,Focus Lab, Department of Psychology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Jordi Manuello
- GCS-FMRI, Koelliker Hospital and Department of Psychology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.,Focus Lab, Department of Psychology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Sergio Duca
- GCS-FMRI, Koelliker Hospital and Department of Psychology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Peter T Fox
- Research Imaging Institute, University of Texas Health Science Center At San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas.,South Texas Veterans Health Care System, San Antonio, Texas
| | - Roberto Keller
- Adult Autism Center, DSM Local Health Unit ASL Citta' Di Torino, Turin, Italy
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38
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Zhou J, Liu S, Ng KK, Wang J. Applications of Resting-State Functional Connectivity to Neurodegenerative Disease. Neuroimaging Clin N Am 2017; 27:663-683. [DOI: 10.1016/j.nic.2017.06.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
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39
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Forostyak S, Sykova E. Neuroprotective Potential of Cell-Based Therapies in ALS: From Bench to Bedside. Front Neurosci 2017; 11:591. [PMID: 29114200 PMCID: PMC5660803 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2017.00591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2017] [Accepted: 10/09/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Motor neurons (MN) degeneration is a main feature of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a neurological disorder with a progressive course. The diagnosis of ALS is essentially a clinical one. Most common symptoms include a gradual neurological deterioration that reflect the impairment and subsequent loss of muscle functions. Up-to-date ALS has no therapy that would prevent or cure a disease. Modern therapeutic strategies comprise of neuroprotective treatment focused on antiglutamatergic, antioxidant, antiapoptotic, and anti-inflammatory molecules. Stem cells application and gene therapy has provided researchers with a powerful tool for discovery of new mechanisms and therapeutic agents, as well as opened new perspectives for patients and family members. Here, we review latest progress made in basic, translational and clinical stem cell research related to the ALS. We overviewed results of preclinical and clinical studies employing cell-based therapy to treat neurodegenerative disorders. A special focus has been made on the neuroprotective properties of adult mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) application into ALS patients. Finally, we overviewed latest progress in the field of embryonic and induced pluripotent stem cells used for the modeling and application during neurodegeneration in general and in ALS in particular.
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Affiliation(s)
- Serhiy Forostyak
- Centre of Reconstructive Neuroscience, Institute of Experimental Medicine (ASCR), Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czechia.,Department of Neuroscience, 2nd Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
| | - Eva Sykova
- Department of Neuroscience, 2nd Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czechia.,Institute of Neuroimmunology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia
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Abstract
Brain networks have been of long-standing interest to neurodegeneration researchers, including but not limited to investigators focusing on conventional prion diseases, which are known to propagate along neural pathways. Tools for human network mapping, however, remained inadequate, limiting our understanding of human brain network architecture and preventing clinical research applications. Until recently, neuropathological studies were the only viable approach to mapping disease onset and progression in humans but required large autopsy cohorts and laborious methods for whole-brain sectioning and staining. Despite important advantages, postmortem studies cannot address in vivo, physiological, or longitudinal questions and have limited potential to explore early-stage disease except for the most common disorders. Emerging in vivo network-based neuroimaging strategies have begun to address these issues, providing data that complement the neuropathological tradition. Overall, findings to date highlight several fundamental principles of neurodegenerative disease anatomy and pathogenesis, as well as some enduring mysteries. These principles and mysteries provide a road map for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- William W Seeley
- Memory and Aging Center, Departments of Neurology and Pathology, University of California, San Francisco, California 94143
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW This article argues that the time is approaching for data-driven disease modelling to take centre stage in the study and management of neurodegenerative disease. The snowstorm of data now available to the clinician defies qualitative evaluation; the heterogeneity of data types complicates integration through traditional statistical methods; and the large datasets becoming available remain far from the big-data sizes necessary for fully data-driven machine-learning approaches. The recent emergence of data-driven disease progression models provides a balance between imposed knowledge of disease features and patterns learned from data. The resulting models are both predictive of disease progression in individual patients and informative in terms of revealing underlying biological patterns. RECENT FINDINGS Largely inspired by observational models, data-driven disease progression models have emerged in the last few years as a feasible means for understanding the development of neurodegenerative diseases. These models have revealed insights into frontotemporal dementia, Huntington's disease, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease and other conditions. For example, event-based models have revealed finer graded understanding of progression patterns; self-modelling regression and differential equation models have provided data-driven biomarker trajectories; spatiotemporal models have shown that brain shape changes, for example of the hippocampus, can occur before detectable neurodegeneration; and network models have provided some support for prion-like mechanistic hypotheses of disease propagation. The most mature results are in sporadic Alzheimer's disease, in large part because of the availability of the Alzheimer's disease neuroimaging initiative dataset. Results generally support the prevailing amyloid-led hypothetical model of Alzheimer's disease, while revealing finer detail and insight into disease progression. SUMMARY The emerging field of disease progression modelling provides a natural mechanism to integrate different kinds of information, for example from imaging, serum and cerebrospinal fluid markers and cognitive tests, to obtain new insights into progressive diseases. Such insights include fine-grained longitudinal patterns of neurodegeneration, from early stages, and the heterogeneity of these trajectories over the population. More pragmatically, such models enable finer precision in patient staging and stratification, prediction of progression rates and earlier and better identification of at-risk individuals. We argue that this will make disease progression modelling invaluable for recruitment and end-points in future clinical trials, potentially ameliorating the high failure rate in trials of, e.g., Alzheimer's disease therapies. We review the state of the art in these techniques and discuss the future steps required to translate the ideas to front-line application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neil P Oxtoby
- Centre for Medical Image Computing, Department of Computer Science, University College London, London, UK
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Zilony N, Rosenberg M, Holtzman L, Schori H, Shefi O, Segal E. Prolonged controlled delivery of nerve growth factor using porous silicon nanostructures. J Control Release 2017; 257:51-59. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2016.12.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2016] [Revised: 11/30/2016] [Accepted: 12/08/2016] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
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Ramaswamy S, Shannon KM, Kordower JH. Huntington's Disease: Pathological Mechanisms and Therapeutic Strategies. Cell Transplant 2017; 16:301-12. [PMID: 17503740 DOI: 10.3727/000000007783464687] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is a devastating neurodegenerative disorder that occurs in patients with a mutation in the huntingtin or IT15 gene. Patients are plagued by early cognitive signs, motor deficits, and psychiatric disturbances. Symptoms are attributed to cell death in the striatum and disruption of cortical–striatal circuitry. Mechanisms of cell death are unclear, but processes involving mitochondrial abnormalities, excitotoxicity, and abnormal protein degradation have been implicated. Many factors likely contribute to neuron death and dysfunction, and this has made it difficult to systematically address the pathology in HD. Pharmaceutical therapies are commonly used in patients to treat disease symptoms. These have limited benefit and do not address the inexorable disease progression. Several neuroprotective therapies are being evaluated in animal models of HD as well as in clinical trials. Similarly, cell replacement strategies such as fetal transplantation have been used in the clinic with minimal success, making future cell replacement strategies such as stem cell therapy uncertain. This review describes the disease pathology in HD and addresses many of the past and emerging therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shilpa Ramaswamy
- Department of Neuroscience, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
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Abstract
Three neurodegenerative diseases [Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), Parkinson's disease (PD) and Alzheimer's disease (AD)] have many characteristics like pathological mechanisms and genes. In this sense some researchers postulate that these diseases share the same alterations and that one alteration in a specific protein triggers one of these diseases. Analyses of gene expression may shed more light on how to discover pathways, pathologic mechanisms associated with the disease, biomarkers and potential therapeutic targets. In this review, we analyze four microarrays related to three neurodegenerative diseases. We will systematically examine seven genes (CHN1, MDH1, PCP4, RTN1, SLC14A1, SNAP25 and VSNL1) that are altered in the three neurodegenerative diseases. A network was built and used to identify pathways, miRNA and drugs associated with ALS, AD and PD using Cytoscape software an interaction network based on the protein interactions of these genes. The most important affected pathway is PI3K-Akt signalling. Thirteen microRNAs (miRNA-19B1, miRNA-107, miRNA-124-1, miRNA-124-2, miRNA-9-2, miRNA-29A, miRNA-9-3, miRNA-328, miRNA-19B2, miRNA-29B2, miRNA-124-3, miRNA-15A and miRNA-9-1) and four drugs (Estradiol, Acetaminophen, Resveratrol and Progesterone) for new possible treatments were identified.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Marcelo Alarcón
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry and Immunohematology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad de Talca, Talca 3460000, Chile; Interdisciplinary Excellence Research Program on Healthy Aging (PIEI-ES), Universidad de Talca, Talca 3460000, Chile.
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Pathological TDP-43 changes in Betz cells differ from those in bulbar and spinal α-motoneurons in sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Acta Neuropathol 2017; 133:79-90. [PMID: 27757524 PMCID: PMC5209403 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-016-1633-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2016] [Revised: 09/22/2016] [Accepted: 10/10/2016] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Two nerve cells types, Betz cells in layer Vb of the primary motor neocortex and α-motoneurons of the lower brainstem and spinal cord, become involved at the beginning of the pathological cascade underlying sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (sALS). In both neuronal types, the cell nuclei forfeit their normal (non-phosphorylated) expression of the 43-kDa transactive response DNA-binding protein (TDP-43). Here, we present initial evidence that in α-motoneurons the loss of normal nuclear TDP-43 expression is followed by the formation of phosphorylated TDP-43 aggregates (pTDP-43) within the cytoplasm, whereas in Betz cells, by contrast, the loss of normal nuclear TDP-43 expression remains mostly unaccompanied by the development of cytoplasmic aggregations. We discuss some implications of this phenomenon of nuclear clearing in the absence of cytoplasmic inclusions, namely, abnormal but soluble (and, thus, probably toxic) cytoplasmic TDP-43 could enter the axoplasm of Betz cells, and following its transmission to the corresponding α-motoneurons in the lower brainstem and spinal cord, possibly contribute in recipient neurons to the dysregulation of the normal nuclear protein. Because the cellular mechanisms that possibly inhibit the aggregation of TDP-43 in the cytoplasm of involved Betz cells are unknown, insight into such mechanisms could disclose a pathway by which the development of aggregates in this cell population could be accelerated, thereby opening an avenue for a causally based therapy.
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Abstract
The neurovascular unit, which consists of astrocytic end-feet, neurons, pericytes, and endothelial cells, plays a key role in maintaining brain homeostasis by forming the blood-brain barrier and carefully controlling local cerebral blood flow. When the blood-brain barrier is disrupted, blood components can leak into the brain, damage the surrounding tissue and lead to cognitive impairment. This disruption in the blood-brain barrier and subsequent impairment in cognition are common after stroke and during cerebral amyloid angiopathy and Alzheimer's disease. Matrix metalloproteinases are proteases that degrade the extracellular matrix as well as tight junctions between endothelial cells and have been implicated in blood-brain barrier breakdown in neurodegenerative diseases. This review will focus on the roles of MMP2 and MMP9 in dementia, primarily post-stroke events that lead to dementia, cerebral amyloid angiopathy, and Alzheimer's disease.
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Echeverria V, Yarkov A, Aliev G. Positive modulators of the α7 nicotinic receptor against neuroinflammation and cognitive impairment in Alzheimer's disease. Prog Neurobiol 2016; 144:142-57. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2016.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2015] [Revised: 11/07/2015] [Accepted: 01/06/2016] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
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Wang TT, Tian C, Sun J, Wang H, Zhang BY, Chen C, Wang J, Xiao K, Chen LN, Lv Y, Gao C, Shi Q, Xin Y, Dong XP. Down-regulation of brain-derived neurotrophic factor and its signaling components in the brain tissues of scrapie experimental animals. Int J Biochem Cell Biol 2016; 79:318-326. [PMID: 27590859 DOI: 10.1016/j.biocel.2016.08.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2016] [Revised: 08/11/2016] [Accepted: 08/29/2016] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Prion is a unique nucleic acid-free pathogen that causes human and animal fatal neurodegenerative diseases. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a prototypic neurotrophin that helps to support the survival of existing neurons, and encourage the growth and differentiation of new neurons and synapses through axonal and dendritic sprouting. There are two distinct classes of glycosylated receptors, neurotrophin receptor p75 (p75NTR) and tropomyosin-related kinase (Trk), that can bind to BDNF. To obtain insights into the possible alterations of brain BDNF and its signaling pathway in prion disease, the levels of BDNF and several molecules in the BDNF pathway in the brain tissues of scrapie agents 263K-infected hamsters were separately evaluated. Western blots and/or immunohistochemical (IHC) assays revealed that BDNF, TrkB, GRB2 and p75NTR, were significantly downregulated in the brain tissues of scrapie-infected rodents at terminal stage. Double-stained immunofluorescent assay (IFA) demonstrated that BDNF and phospho-TrkB predominately expressed in neurons. Dynamic analyses of the brain samples collected at the different time-points during the incubation period illustrated continuous decreases of BDNF, TrkB, phospho-TrkB, GRB2 and p75NTR, which correlated well with neuron loss. However, these proteins remained almost unchanged in the prion infected cell line SMB-S15 compared with those of its normal cell line SMB-PS. These data suggest that the BDNF signaling pathway is severely hindered in the brains of prion disease, which may contribute, at least partially, to the neuron death.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ting-Ting Wang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Inner Mongolia Medical University, Jinshan Development Zone, Hohhot 010110, People's Republic of China; State Key Laboratory for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases (Zhejiang University), National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 155 Changbai Rd, Beijing 102206, People's Republic of China
| | - Chan Tian
- State Key Laboratory for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases (Zhejiang University), National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 155 Changbai Rd, Beijing 102206, People's Republic of China; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, 100191, People's Republic of China
| | - Jing Sun
- State Key Laboratory for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases (Zhejiang University), National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 155 Changbai Rd, Beijing 102206, People's Republic of China
| | - Hui Wang
- State Key Laboratory for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases (Zhejiang University), National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 155 Changbai Rd, Beijing 102206, People's Republic of China
| | - Bao-Yun Zhang
- State Key Laboratory for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases (Zhejiang University), National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 155 Changbai Rd, Beijing 102206, People's Republic of China
| | - Cao Chen
- State Key Laboratory for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases (Zhejiang University), National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 155 Changbai Rd, Beijing 102206, People's Republic of China
| | - Jing Wang
- State Key Laboratory for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases (Zhejiang University), National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 155 Changbai Rd, Beijing 102206, People's Republic of China
| | - Kang Xiao
- State Key Laboratory for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases (Zhejiang University), National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 155 Changbai Rd, Beijing 102206, People's Republic of China
| | - Li-Na Chen
- State Key Laboratory for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases (Zhejiang University), National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 155 Changbai Rd, Beijing 102206, People's Republic of China
| | - Yan Lv
- State Key Laboratory for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases (Zhejiang University), National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 155 Changbai Rd, Beijing 102206, People's Republic of China
| | - Chen Gao
- State Key Laboratory for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases (Zhejiang University), National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 155 Changbai Rd, Beijing 102206, People's Republic of China
| | - Qi Shi
- State Key Laboratory for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases (Zhejiang University), National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 155 Changbai Rd, Beijing 102206, People's Republic of China
| | - Yan Xin
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Inner Mongolia Medical University, Jinshan Development Zone, Hohhot 010110, People's Republic of China.
| | - Xiao-Ping Dong
- State Key Laboratory for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases (Zhejiang University), National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 155 Changbai Rd, Beijing 102206, People's Republic of China; Chinese Academy of Sciences Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, People's Republic of China.
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Josephy-Hernandez S, Jmaeff S, Pirvulescu I, Aboulkassim T, Saragovi HU. Neurotrophin receptor agonists and antagonists as therapeutic agents: An evolving paradigm. Neurobiol Dis 2016; 97:139-155. [PMID: 27546056 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2016.08.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2015] [Revised: 08/10/2016] [Accepted: 08/16/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurodegenerative disorders are prevalent, complex and devastating conditions, with very limited treatment options currently available. While they manifest in many forms, there are commonalities that link them together. In this review, we will focus on neurotrophins - a family of related factors involved in neuronal development and maintenance. Neurodegenerative diseases often present with a neurotrophin imbalance, in which there may be decreases in trophic signaling through Trk receptors for example, and/or increases in pro-apoptotic activity through p75. Clinical trials with neurotrophins have continuously failed due to their poor pharmacological properties as well as the unavoidable activation of p75. Thus, there is a need for drugs without such setbacks. Small molecule neurotrophin mimetics are favorable options since they can selectively activate Trks or inactivate p75. In this review, we will initially present a brief outline of how these molecules are synthesized and their mechanisms of action; followed by an update in the current state of neurotrophins and small molecules in major neurodegenerative diseases. Although there has been significant progress in the development of potential therapeutics, more studies are needed to establish clear mechanisms of action and target specificity in order to transition from animal models to the assessment of safety and use in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sylvia Josephy-Hernandez
- Lady Davis Institute, Jewish General Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Integrated Program in Neuroscience, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Sean Jmaeff
- Lady Davis Institute, Jewish General Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Iulia Pirvulescu
- Lady Davis Institute, Jewish General Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Tahar Aboulkassim
- Lady Davis Institute, Jewish General Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - H Uri Saragovi
- Lady Davis Institute, Jewish General Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Integrated Program in Neuroscience, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
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Liu M, Huo YR, Wang J, Liu S, Liu S, Wang C, Wang J, Ji Y. Polymorphisms of the neurotrophic factor-3 (NTF-3) in Alzheimer's disease: rs6332 associated with onset time and rs6489630 T allele exhibited a protective role. J Neurogenet 2016; 29:183-7. [PMID: 26814132 DOI: 10.3109/01677063.2015.1099651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Because of its implications in neuroprotection, formation of long lasting memories and a disturbed function in Alzheimer's disease (AD), neurotrophin-3 (NTF-3) may represent an appropriate candidate gene conferring risk to AD. Recently, two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (rs6489630 and rs6332) within the NTF-3 gene have been associated with AD in a Japanese population. Because of the importance of this finding, we analyzed the NTF-3 polymorphism in a Han Chinese sample consisting of 138 AD patients and 115 age-matched normal controls (NCs). In ApoE-ɛ4 non-carriers, a negative gene dose-association was found between the A allele of rs6332 and the onset time of AD. Individuals homozygous for the A allele developed AD significantly earlier than those homozygous for the G allele (mean age ± SD: 63.72 ± 9.08 versus 69.75 ± 6.03, p = 0.023). Moreover, in male subjects, we found the rs6489630 T allele to be protective against AD (OR 0.494; 95% CI 0.274-0.891; p value = 0.018) compared to C allele carriers. Due to a small number of patients showing homozygosity for the T allele in rs6489630 (n = 5), all of which were normal subjects, the result needs to be confirmed in a larger sample. The results suggest a gene dose-association between the A allele of rs6332 and the onset of AD in ɛ4 non-carriers, as well as the NTF-3 rs6489630 polymorphism being a relevant risk factor for AD in patients lacking the ApoE-ɛ4 allele in this Chinese sample.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengyuan Liu
- a Department of Neurology .,b Tianjin Key Laboratory of Cerebral Vascular and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Tianjin HuanHu Hospital , Tianjin , China , and
| | - Ya Ruth Huo
- c School of Medicine, University of New South Wales , Kensington , NSW , Australia
| | | | | | | | | | - Jinhuan Wang
- a Department of Neurology .,b Tianjin Key Laboratory of Cerebral Vascular and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Tianjin HuanHu Hospital , Tianjin , China , and
| | - Yong Ji
- a Department of Neurology .,b Tianjin Key Laboratory of Cerebral Vascular and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Tianjin HuanHu Hospital , Tianjin , China , and
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