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Thiankhaw K, Chattipakorn N, Chattipakorn SC. How calcineurin inhibitors affect cognition. Acta Physiol (Oxf) 2024; 240:e14161. [PMID: 38747643 DOI: 10.1111/apha.14161] [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: 11/18/2023] [Revised: 04/23/2024] [Accepted: 04/24/2024] [Indexed: 06/09/2024]
Abstract
AIMS With a focus on the discrepancy between preclinical and clinical findings, this review will gather comprehensive information about the effects of calcineurin inhibitors (CNI) on cognitive function and related brain pathology from in vitro, in vivo, and clinical studies. We also summarize the potential mechanisms that underlie the pathways related to CNI-induced cognitive impairment. METHODS We systematically searched articles in PubMed using keywords 'calcineurin inhibitor*' and 'cognition' to identify related articles, which the final list pertaining to underlying mechanisms of CNI on cognition. RESULTS Several studies have reported an association between calcineurin and the neuropathology of Alzheimer's disease (AD). AD is the most common neurocognitive disorder associated with amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles in the brain, leading to cognitive impairment. CNI, including tacrolimus and cyclosporin A, are commonly prescribed for patients with transplantation of solid organs such as kidney, liver, or heart, those drugs are currently being used as long-term immunosuppressive therapy. Although preclinical models emphasize the favorable effects of CNI on the restoration of brain pathology due to the impacts of calcineurin on the alleviation of amyloid-beta deposition and tau hyperphosphorylation, or rescuing synaptic and mitochondrial functions, treatment-related neurotoxicity, resulting in cognitive dysfunctions has been observed in clinical settings of patients who received CNI. CONCLUSION Inconsistent results of CNI on cognition from clinical studies have been observed due to impairment of the blood-brain barrier, neuroinflammation mediated by reactive oxygen species, and alteration in mitochondrial fission, and extended research is required to confirm its promising use in cognitive impairment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kitti Thiankhaw
- Division of Neurology, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
| | - Nipon Chattipakorn
- Neurophysiology Unit, Cardiac Electrophysiology Research and Training Center, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
- Center of Excellence in Cardiac Electrophysiology Research, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
| | - Siripron C Chattipakorn
- Neurophysiology Unit, Cardiac Electrophysiology Research and Training Center, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
- Center of Excellence in Cardiac Electrophysiology Research, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
- Department of Oral Biology and Diagnostic Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
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Zeng J, Hu XF, Sun DS, Hong XY, Ma JZ, Feng Q. Alzheimer-like behavior and synaptic dysfunction in 3 × Tg-AD mice are reversed with calcineurin inhibition. Exp Brain Res 2024; 242:1507-1515. [PMID: 38719948 DOI: 10.1007/s00221-024-06841-8] [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: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 04/19/2024] [Indexed: 05/23/2024]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by impairments in synaptic plasticity and cognitive performance. Current treatments are unable to achieve satisfactory therapeutic effects or reverse the progression of the disease. Calcineurin has been implicated as part of a critical signaling pathway for learning and memory, and neuronal calcineurin may be hyperactivated in AD. To investigate the effects and underlying mechanisms of FK506, a calcineurin inhibitor, on Alzheimer-like behavior and synaptic dysfunction in the 3 × Tg-AD transgenic mouse model of Alzheimer's disease, we investigated the effect of FK506 on cognitive function and synaptic plasticity in the 3 × Tg-AD transgenic mouse model of Alzheimer's disease. The results showed that FK506 treatment ameliorated cognitive deficits, as indicated by the decreased latency in the water maze, and attenuated tau hyperphosphorylation in 3 × Tg-AD mice. Treatment with FK506 also reduced the levels of certain markers of postsynaptic deficits, including PSD-95 and NR2B, and reversed the long-term potentiation deficiency and dendritic spine impairments in 3 × Tg-AD mice. These findings suggest that treatment with calcineurin inhibitors such as FK506 can be an effective therapeutic strategy to rescue synaptic deficit and cognitive impairment in familial Alzheimer's disease and related tauopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Zeng
- Department of Pathology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Xian-Feng Hu
- Department of General Practice, Wuhan Fourth Hospital, Wuhan, China
| | - Dong-Sheng Sun
- Department of Pathophysiology, Key Laboratory of Neurological Diseases of Chinese Ministry of Education, The School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiao-Yue Hong
- Department of Pathophysiology, Key Laboratory of Neurological Diseases of Chinese Ministry of Education, The School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Jun-Zheng Ma
- Department of Burn and Plastic Surgery, Taihe Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, China
| | - Qiong Feng
- Department of Pathology, Wuhan Children's Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
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Tapella L, Dematteis G, La Vitola P, Leva S, Tonelli E, Raddi M, Delconti M, Dacomo L, La Macchia A, Murari E, Talmon M, Malecka J, Chrostek G, Grilli M, Colombo L, Salmona M, Forloni G, Genazzani AA, Balducci C, Lim D. Genetic deletion of astrocytic calcineurin B1 prevents cognitive impairment and neuropathology development in acute and chronic mouse models of Alzheimer's disease. Glia 2024; 72:899-915. [PMID: 38288580 DOI: 10.1002/glia.24509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2023] [Revised: 01/15/2024] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 03/20/2024]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) represents an urgent yet unmet challenge for modern society, calling for exploration of innovative targets and therapeutic approaches. Astrocytes, main homeostatic cells in the CNS, represent promising cell-target. Our aim was to investigate if deletion of the regulatory CaNB1 subunit of calcineurin in astrocytes could mitigate AD-related memory deficits, neuropathology, and neuroinflammation. We have generated two, acute and chronic, AD mouse models with astrocytic CaNB1 ablation (ACN-KO). In the former, we evaluated the ability of β-amyloid oligomers (AβOs) to impair memory and activate glial cells once injected in the cerebral ventricle of conditional ACN-KO mice. Next, we generated a tamoxifen-inducible astrocyte-specific CaNB1 knock-out in 3xTg-AD mice (indACNKO-AD). CaNB1 was deleted, by tamoxifen injection, in 11.7-month-old 3xTg-AD mice for 4.4 months. Spatial memory was evaluated using the Barnes maze; β-amyloid plaques burden, neurofibrillary tangle deposition, reactive gliosis, and neuroinflammation were also assessed. The acute model showed that ICV injected AβOs in 2-month-old wild type mice impaired recognition memory and fostered a pro-inflammatory microglia phenotype, whereas in ACN-KO mice, AβOs were inactive. In indACNKO-AD mice, 4.4 months after CaNB1 depletion, we found preservation of spatial memory and cognitive flexibility, abolishment of amyloidosis, and reduction of neurofibrillary tangles, gliosis, and neuroinflammation. Our results suggest that ACN is crucial for the development of cognitive impairment, AD neuropathology, and neuroinflammation. Astrocyte-specific CaNB1 deletion is beneficial for both the abolishment of AβO-mediated detrimental effects and treatment of ongoing AD-related pathology, hence representing an intriguing target for AD therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Tapella
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Università del Piemonte Orientale, Novara, Italy
| | - Giulia Dematteis
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Università del Piemonte Orientale, Novara, Italy
| | - Pietro La Vitola
- Department of Neuroscience, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Milano, Italy
| | - Susanna Leva
- Department of Neuroscience, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Milano, Italy
| | - Elisa Tonelli
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Università del Piemonte Orientale, Novara, Italy
| | - Marco Raddi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Università del Piemonte Orientale, Novara, Italy
| | - Marta Delconti
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Università del Piemonte Orientale, Novara, Italy
| | - Letizia Dacomo
- Department of Neuroscience, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Milano, Italy
| | - Alberto La Macchia
- Department of Neuroscience, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Milano, Italy
| | - Elisa Murari
- Department of Neuroscience, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Milano, Italy
| | - Maria Talmon
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Università del Piemonte Orientale, Novara, Italy
| | - Justyna Malecka
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Università del Piemonte Orientale, Novara, Italy
| | - Gabriela Chrostek
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Università del Piemonte Orientale, Novara, Italy
| | - Mariagrazia Grilli
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Università del Piemonte Orientale, Novara, Italy
| | - Laura Colombo
- Department of Neuroscience, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Milano, Italy
| | - Mario Salmona
- Department of Neuroscience, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Milano, Italy
| | - Gianluigi Forloni
- Department of Neuroscience, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Milano, Italy
| | - Armando A Genazzani
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Università del Piemonte Orientale, Novara, Italy
| | - Claudia Balducci
- Department of Neuroscience, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Milano, Italy
| | - Dmitry Lim
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Università del Piemonte Orientale, Novara, Italy
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Zhang H, Knight C, Chen SRW, Bezprozvanny I. A Gating Mutation in Ryanodine Receptor Type 2 Rescues Phenotypes of Alzheimer's Disease Mouse Models by Upregulating Neuronal Autophagy. J Neurosci 2023; 43:1441-1454. [PMID: 36627208 PMCID: PMC9987572 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1820-22.2022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2022] [Revised: 11/26/2022] [Accepted: 12/19/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
It is well established that ryanodine receptors (RyanRs) are overactive in Alzheimer's disease (AD), and it has been suggested that inhibition of RyanR is potentially beneficial for AD treatment. In the present study, we explored a potential connection between basal RyanR activity and autophagy in neurons. Autophagy plays an important role in clearing damaged organelles and long-lived protein aggregates, and autophagy dysregulation occurs in both AD patients and AD animal models. Autophagy is known to be regulated by intracellular calcium (Ca2+) signals, and our results indicated that basal RyanR2 activity in hippocampal neurons inhibited autophagy through activation of calcineurin and the resulting inhibition of the AMPK (AMP-activated protein kinase)-ULK1 (unc-51-like autophagy-activating kinase 1) pathway. Thus, we hypothesized that increased basal RyanR2 activity in AD may lead to the inhibition of neuronal autophagy and accumulation of β-amyloid. To test this hypothesis, we took advantage of the RyanR2-E4872Q knock-in mouse model (EQ) in which basal RyanR2 activity is reduced because of shortened channel open time. We discovered that crossing EQ mice with the APPKI and APPPS1 mouse models of AD (both males and females) rescued amyloid accumulation and LTP impairment in these mice. Our results revealed that reduced basal activity of RyanR2-EQ channels disinhibited the autophagic pathway and led to increased amyloid clearance in these models. These data indicated a potential pathogenic outcome of RyanR2 overactivation in AD and also provided additional targets for therapeutic intervention in AD. Basal activity of ryanodine receptors controls neuronal autophagy and contributes to development of the AD phenotype.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT It is well established that neuronal autophagy is impaired in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Our results suggest that supranormal calcium (Ca2+) release from endoplasmic reticulum contributes to the inhibition of autophagy in AD and that reduction in basal activity of type 2 ryanodine receptors disinhibits the neuronal autophagic pathway and leads to increased amyloid clearance in AD models. Our findings directly link neuronal Ca2+ dysregulation with autophagy dysfunction in AD and point to additional targets for therapeutic intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hua Zhang
- Department of Physiology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390
| | - Caitlynn Knight
- Department of Physiology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390
| | - S R Wayne Chen
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Ilya Bezprozvanny
- Department of Physiology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390
- Laboratory of Molecular Neurodegeneration, St. Petersburg State Polytechnical Universty, St. Petersburg 195251, Russian Federation
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Near-infrared light reduces glia activation and modulates neuroinflammation in the brains of diet-induced obese mice. Sci Rep 2022; 12:10848. [PMID: 35761012 PMCID: PMC9237037 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-14812-8] [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: 10/15/2021] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuroinflammation is a key event in neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) and characterizes metabolic pathologies like obesity and type 2 diabetes (T2D). Growing evidence in humans shows that obesity increases the risk of developing AD by threefold. Hippocampal neuroinflammation in rodents correlates with poor memory performance, suggesting that it contributes to cognitive decline. Here we propose that reducing obesity/T2D-driven neuroinflammation may prevent the progression of cognitive decline associated with AD-like neurodegenerative states. Near-infrared light (NIR) has attracted increasing attention as it was shown to improve learning and memory in both humans and animal models. We previously reported that transcranial NIR delivery reduced amyloid beta and Tau pathology and improved memory function in mouse models of AD. Here, we report the effects of NIR in preventing obesity-induced neuroinflammation in a diet-induced obese mouse model. Five-week-old wild-type mice were fed a high-fat diet (HFD) for 13 weeks to induce obesity prior to transcranial delivery of NIR for 4 weeks during 90-s sessions given 5 days a week. After sacrifice, brain slices were subjected to free-floating immunofluorescence for microglia and astrocyte markers to evaluate glial activation and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to evaluate expression levels of inflammatory cytokines and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). The hippocampal and cortical regions of the HFD group had increased expression of the activated microglial marker CD68 and the astrocytic marker glial fibrillary acidic protein. NIR-treated HFD groups showed decreased levels of these markers. PCR revealed that hippocampal tissue from the HFD group had increased levels of pro-inflammatory interleukin (IL)-1β and tumor necrosis factor-α. Interestingly, the same samples showed increased levels of the anti-inflammatory IL-10. All these changes were attenuated by NIR treatment. Lastly, hippocampal levels of the neurotrophic factor BDNF were increased in NIR-treated HFD mice, compared to untreated HFD mice. The marked reductions in glial activation and pro-inflammatory cytokines along with elevated BDNF provide insights into how NIR could reduce neuroinflammation. These results support the use of NIR as a potential non-invasive and preventive therapeutic approach against chronic obesity-induced deficits that are known to occur with AD neuropathology.
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Marcatti M, Fracassi A, Montalbano M, Natarajan C, Krishnan B, Kayed R, Taglialatela G. Aβ/tau oligomer interplay at human synapses supports shifting therapeutic targets for Alzheimer's disease. Cell Mol Life Sci 2022; 79:222. [PMID: 35377002 PMCID: PMC8979934 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-022-04255-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2021] [Revised: 03/08/2022] [Accepted: 03/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by progressive cognitive decline due to accumulating synaptic insults by toxic oligomers of amyloid beta (AβO) and tau (TauO). There is growing consensus that preventing these oligomers from interacting with synapses might be an effective approach to treat AD. However, recent clinical trial failures suggest low effectiveness of targeting Aβ in late-stage AD. Researchers have redirected their attention toward TauO as the levels of this species increase later in disease pathogenesis. Here we show that AβO and TauO differentially target synapses and affect each other's binding dynamics. METHODS Binding of labeled, pre-formed Aβ and tau oligomers onto synaptosomes isolated from the hippocampus and frontal cortex of mouse and postmortem cognitively intact elderly human brains was evaluated using flow-cytometry and western blot analyses. Binding of labeled, pre-formed Aβ and tau oligomers onto mouse primary neurons was assessed using immunofluorescence assay. The synaptic dysfunction was measured by fluorescence analysis of single-synapse long-term potentiation (FASS-LTP) assay. RESULTS We demonstrated that higher TauO concentrations effectively outcompete AβO and become the prevailing synaptic-associated species. Conversely, high concentrations of AβO facilitate synaptic TauO recruitment. Immunofluorescence analyses of mouse primary cortical neurons confirmed differential synaptic binding dynamics of AβO and TauO. Moreover, in vivo experiments using old 3xTgAD mice ICV injected with either AβO or TauO fully supported these findings. Consistent with these observations, FASS-LTP analyses demonstrated that TauO-induced suppression of chemical LTP was exacerbated by AβO. Finally, predigestion with proteinase K abolished the ability of TauO to compete off AβO without affecting the ability of high AβO levels to increase synaptic TauO recruitment. Thus, unlike AβO, TauO effects on synaptosomes are hampered by the absence of protein substrate in the membrane. CONCLUSIONS These results introduce the concept that TauO become the main synaptotoxic species at late AD, thus supporting the hypothesis that TauO may be the most effective therapeutic target for clinically manifest AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michela Marcatti
- Department of Neurology, Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555 USA
| | - Anna Fracassi
- Department of Neurology, Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555 USA
| | - Mauro Montalbano
- Department of Neurology, Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555 USA
| | - Chandramouli Natarajan
- Department of Neurology, Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555 USA
| | - Balaji Krishnan
- Department of Neurology, Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555 USA
| | - Rakez Kayed
- Department of Neurology, Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555 USA
| | - Giulio Taglialatela
- Department of Neurology, Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555 USA
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Presto P, Ji G, Junell R, Griffin Z, Neugebauer V. Fear Extinction-Based Inter-Individual and Sex Differences in Pain-Related Vocalizations and Anxiety-like Behaviors but Not Nocifensive Reflexes. Brain Sci 2021; 11:brainsci11101339. [PMID: 34679403 PMCID: PMC8533751 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci11101339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2021] [Revised: 10/05/2021] [Accepted: 10/06/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Inter-individual and sex differences in pain responses are recognized but their mechanisms are not well understood. This study was intended to provide the behavioral framework for analyses of pain mechanisms using fear extinction learning as a predictor of phenotypic and sex differences in sensory (mechanical withdrawal thresholds) and emotional-affective aspects (open field tests for anxiety-like behaviors and audible and ultrasonic components of vocalizations) of acute and chronic pain. In acute arthritis and chronic neuropathic pain models, greater increases in vocalizations were found in females than males and in females with poor fear extinction abilities than females with strong fear extinction, particularly in the neuropathic pain model. Female rats showed higher anxiety-like behavior than males under baseline conditions but no inter-individual or sex differences were seen in the pain models. No inter-individual and sex differences in mechanosensitivity were observed. The data suggest that vocalizations are uniquely suited to detect inter-individual and sex differences in pain models, particularly in chronic neuropathic pain, whereas no such differences were found for mechanosensitivity, and baseline differences in anxiety-like behaviors disappeared in the pain models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peyton Presto
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, 3601 4th St, Lubbock, TX 79430-6592, USA; (P.P.); (G.J.); (R.J.); (Z.G.)
| | - Guangchen Ji
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, 3601 4th St, Lubbock, TX 79430-6592, USA; (P.P.); (G.J.); (R.J.); (Z.G.)
- Center of Excellence for Translational Neuroscience and Therapeutics, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430-6592, USA
| | - Riley Junell
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, 3601 4th St, Lubbock, TX 79430-6592, USA; (P.P.); (G.J.); (R.J.); (Z.G.)
| | - Zach Griffin
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, 3601 4th St, Lubbock, TX 79430-6592, USA; (P.P.); (G.J.); (R.J.); (Z.G.)
| | - Volker Neugebauer
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, 3601 4th St, Lubbock, TX 79430-6592, USA; (P.P.); (G.J.); (R.J.); (Z.G.)
- Center of Excellence for Translational Neuroscience and Therapeutics, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430-6592, USA
- Garrison Institute on Aging, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430-6592, USA
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-806-743-3880; Fax: +1-806-732-2744
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Depichering the Effects of Astragaloside IV on AD-Like Phenotypes: A Systematic and Experimental Investigation. OXIDATIVE MEDICINE AND CELLULAR LONGEVITY 2021; 2021:1020614. [PMID: 34616501 PMCID: PMC8487832 DOI: 10.1155/2021/1020614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2021] [Revised: 08/14/2021] [Accepted: 08/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Astragaloside IV (AS-IV) is an active component in Astragalus membranaceus with the potential to treat neurodegenerative diseases, especially Alzheimer's diseases (ADs). However, its mechanisms are still not known. Herein, we aimed to explore the systematic pharmacological mechanism of AS-IV for treating AD. Drug prediction, network pharmacology, and functional bioinformatics analyses were conducted. Molecular docking was applied to validate reliability of the interactions and binding affinities between AS-IV and related targets. Finally, experimental verification was carried out in AβO infusion produced AD-like phenotypes to investigate the molecular mechanisms. We found that AS-IV works through a multitarget synergistic mechanism, including inflammation, nervous system, cell proliferation, apoptosis, pyroptosis, calcium ion, and steroid. AS-IV highly interacted with PPARγ, caspase-1, GSK3Β, PSEN1, and TRPV1 after docking simulations. Meanwhile, PPARγ interacts with caspase-1, GSK3Β, PSEN1, and TRPV1. In vivo experiments showed that AβO infusion produced AD-like phenotypes in mice, including impairment of fear memory, neuronal loss, tau hyperphosphorylation, neuroinflammation, and synaptic deficits in the hippocampus. Especially, the expression of PPARγ, as well as BDNF, was also reduced in the hippocampus of AD-like mice. Conversely, AS-IV improved AβO infusion-induced memory impairment, inhibited neuronal loss and the phosphorylation of tau, and prevented the synaptic deficits. AS-IV prevented AβO infusion-induced reduction of PPARγ and BDNF. Moreover, the inhibition of PPARγ attenuated the effects of AS-IV on BDNF, neuroflammation, and pyroptosis in AD-like mice. Taken together, AS-IV could prevent AD-like phenotypes and reduce tau hyperphosphorylation, synaptic deficits, neuroinflammation, and pyroptosis, possibly via regulating PPARγ.
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Sanderson JL, Freund RK, Gorski JA, Dell'Acqua ML. β-Amyloid disruption of LTP/LTD balance is mediated by AKAP150-anchored PKA and Calcineurin regulation of Ca 2+-permeable AMPA receptors. Cell Rep 2021; 37:109786. [PMID: 34610314 PMCID: PMC8530450 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.109786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2021] [Revised: 07/02/2021] [Accepted: 09/10/2021] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Regulated insertion and removal of postsynaptic AMPA glutamate receptors (AMPARs) mediates hippocampal long-term potentiation (LTP) and long-term depression (LTD) synaptic plasticity underlying learning and memory. In Alzheimer’s disease β-amyloid (Aβ) oligomers may impair learning and memory by altering AMPAR trafficking and LTP/LTD balance. Importantly, Ca2+-permeable AMPARs (CP-AMPARs) assembled from GluA1 subunits are excluded from hippocampal synapses basally but can be recruited rapidly during LTP and LTD to modify synaptic strength and signaling. By employing mouse knockin mutations that disrupt anchoring of the kinase PKA or phosphatase Calcineurin (CaN) to the postsynaptic scaffold protein AKAP150, we find that local AKAP-PKA signaling is required for CP-AMPAR recruitment, which can facilitate LTP but also, paradoxically, prime synapses for Aβ impairment of LTP mediated by local AKAP-CaN LTD signaling that promotes subsequent CP-AMPAR removal. These findings highlight the importance of PKA/CaN signaling balance and CP-AMPARs in normal plasticity and aberrant plasticity linked to disease. In Alzheimer’s disease, Aβ oligomers disrupt hippocampal neuronal plasticity and cognition. Sanderson et al. show how the postsynaptic scaffold protein AKAP150 coordinates PKA and Calcineurin regulation of Ca2+-permeable AMPA-type glutamate receptors to mediate disruption of synaptic plasticity by Aβ oligomers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer L Sanderson
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Ronald K Freund
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Jessica A Gorski
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Mark L Dell'Acqua
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA; University of Colorado Alzheimer's and Cognition Center, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA; Linda Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA.
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10
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Sompol P, Gollihue JL, Kraner SD, Artiushin IA, Cloyd RA, Chishti EA, Koren SA, Nation GK, Abisambra JF, Huzian O, Nagy LI, Santha M, Hackler L, Puskas LG, Norris CM. Q134R: Small chemical compound with NFAT inhibitory properties improves behavioral performance and synapse function in mouse models of amyloid pathology. Aging Cell 2021; 20:e13416. [PMID: 34117818 PMCID: PMC8282246 DOI: 10.1111/acel.13416] [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: 09/11/2020] [Revised: 03/30/2021] [Accepted: 05/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Inhibition of the protein phosphatase calcineurin (CN) ameliorates pathophysiologic and cognitive changes in aging rodents and mice with aging-related Alzheimer's disease (AD)-like pathology. However, concerns over adverse effects have slowed the transition of common CN-inhibiting drugs to the clinic for the treatment of AD and AD-related disorders. Targeting substrates of CN, like the nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFATs), has been suggested as an alternative, safer approach to CN inhibitors. However, small chemical inhibitors of NFATs have only rarely been described. Here, we investigate a newly developed neuroprotective hydroxyquinoline derivative (Q134R) that suppresses NFAT signaling, without inhibiting CN activity. Q134R partially inhibited NFAT activity in primary rat astrocytes, but did not prevent CN-mediated dephosphorylation of a non-NFAT target, either in vivo, or in vitro. Acute (≤1 week) oral delivery of Q134R to APP/PS1 (12 months old) or wild-type mice (3-4 months old) infused with oligomeric Aβ peptides led to improved Y maze performance. Chronic (≥3 months) oral delivery of Q134R appeared to be safe, and, in fact, promoted survival in wild-type (WT) mice when given for many months beyond middle age. Finally, chronic delivery of Q134R to APP/PS1 mice during the early stages of amyloid pathology (i.e., between 6 and 9 months) tended to reduce signs of glial reactivity, prevented the upregulation of astrocytic NFAT4, and ameliorated deficits in synaptic strength and plasticity, without noticeably altering parenchymal Aβ plaque pathology. The results suggest that Q134R is a promising drug for treating AD and aging-related disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pradoldej Sompol
- Sanders‐Brown Center on Aging University of Kentucky College of Medicine Lexington KY USA
| | - Jenna L. Gollihue
- Sanders‐Brown Center on Aging University of Kentucky College of Medicine Lexington KY USA
| | - Susan D. Kraner
- Sanders‐Brown Center on Aging University of Kentucky College of Medicine Lexington KY USA
| | - Irina A. Artiushin
- Sanders‐Brown Center on Aging University of Kentucky College of Medicine Lexington KY USA
| | - Ryan A. Cloyd
- Sanders‐Brown Center on Aging University of Kentucky College of Medicine Lexington KY USA
| | - Emad A. Chishti
- Sanders‐Brown Center on Aging University of Kentucky College of Medicine Lexington KY USA
| | - Shon A. Koren
- Sanders‐Brown Center on Aging University of Kentucky College of Medicine Lexington KY USA
| | - Grant K. Nation
- Sanders‐Brown Center on Aging University of Kentucky College of Medicine Lexington KY USA
| | - Jose F. Abisambra
- Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease University of Florida Gainesville FL USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Christopher M. Norris
- Sanders‐Brown Center on Aging University of Kentucky College of Medicine Lexington KY USA
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11
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Camargo LC, Schöneck M, Sangarapillai N, Honold D, Shah NJ, Langen KJ, Willbold D, Kutzsche J, Schemmert S, Willuweit A. PEAβ Triggers Cognitive Decline and Amyloid Burden in a Novel Mouse Model of Alzheimer's Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22137062. [PMID: 34209113 PMCID: PMC8267711 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22137062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2021] [Revised: 06/25/2021] [Accepted: 06/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding the physiopathology of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) has improved substantially based on studies of mouse models mimicking at least one aspect of the disease. Many transgenic lines have been established, leading to amyloidosis but lacking neurodegeneration. The aim of the current study was to generate a novel mouse model that develops neuritic plaques containing the aggressive pyroglutamate modified amyloid-β (pEAβ) species in the brain. The TAPS line was developed by intercrossing of the pEAβ-producing TBA2.1 mice with the plaque-developing line APPswe/PS1ΔE9. The phenotype of the new mouse line was characterized using immunostaining, and different cognitive and general behavioral tests. In comparison to the parental lines, TAPS animals developed an earlier onset of pathology and increased plaque load, including striatal pEAβ-positive neuritic plaques, and enhanced neuroinflammation. In addition to abnormalities in general behavior, locomotion, and exploratory behavior, TAPS mice displayed cognitive deficits in a variety of tests that were most pronounced in the fear conditioning paradigm and in spatial learning in comparison to the parental lines. In conclusion, the combination of a pEAβ- and a plaque-developing mouse model led to an accelerated amyloid pathology and cognitive decline in TAPS mice, qualifying this line as a novel amyloidosis model for future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luana Cristina Camargo
- Institute of Biological Information Processing, Structural Biochemistry (IBI-7), Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany; (L.C.C.); (D.H.); (D.W.); (J.K.); (S.S.)
- Institut für Physikalische Biologie, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Michael Schöneck
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine, Medical Imaging Physics (INM-4), Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany; (M.S.); (N.S.); (N.J.S.); (K.-J.L.)
| | - Nivethini Sangarapillai
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine, Medical Imaging Physics (INM-4), Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany; (M.S.); (N.S.); (N.J.S.); (K.-J.L.)
| | - Dominik Honold
- Institute of Biological Information Processing, Structural Biochemistry (IBI-7), Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany; (L.C.C.); (D.H.); (D.W.); (J.K.); (S.S.)
| | - N. Jon Shah
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine, Medical Imaging Physics (INM-4), Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany; (M.S.); (N.S.); (N.J.S.); (K.-J.L.)
- JARA-Brain-Translational Medicine, JARA Institute Molecular Neuroscience and Neuroimaging, 52062 Aachen, Germany
- Department of Neurology, RWTH Aachen University, 52062 Aachen, Germany
| | - Karl-Josef Langen
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine, Medical Imaging Physics (INM-4), Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany; (M.S.); (N.S.); (N.J.S.); (K.-J.L.)
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, RWTH Aachen University, 52062 Aachen, Germany
| | - Dieter Willbold
- Institute of Biological Information Processing, Structural Biochemistry (IBI-7), Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany; (L.C.C.); (D.H.); (D.W.); (J.K.); (S.S.)
- Institut für Physikalische Biologie, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Janine Kutzsche
- Institute of Biological Information Processing, Structural Biochemistry (IBI-7), Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany; (L.C.C.); (D.H.); (D.W.); (J.K.); (S.S.)
| | - Sarah Schemmert
- Institute of Biological Information Processing, Structural Biochemistry (IBI-7), Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany; (L.C.C.); (D.H.); (D.W.); (J.K.); (S.S.)
| | - Antje Willuweit
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine, Medical Imaging Physics (INM-4), Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany; (M.S.); (N.S.); (N.J.S.); (K.-J.L.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +49-2461-6196358
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12
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Amal H, Barak B, Bhat V, Gong G, Joughin BA, Wang X, Wishnok JS, Feng G, Tannenbaum SR. Shank3 mutation in a mouse model of autism leads to changes in the S-nitroso-proteome and affects key proteins involved in vesicle release and synaptic function. Mol Psychiatry 2020; 25:1835-1848. [PMID: 29988084 PMCID: PMC6614015 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-018-0113-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2017] [Revised: 05/14/2018] [Accepted: 06/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Mutation in the SHANK3 human gene leads to different neuropsychiatric diseases including Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), intellectual disabilities and Phelan-McDermid syndrome. Shank3 disruption in mice leads to dysfunction of synaptic transmission, behavior, and development. Protein S-nitrosylation, the nitric oxide (NO•)-mediated posttranslational modification (PTM) of cysteine thiols (SNO), modulates the activity of proteins that regulate key signaling pathways. We tested the hypothesis that Shank3 mutation would generate downstream effects on PTM of critical proteins that lead to modification of synaptic functions. SNO-proteins in two ASD-related brain regions, cortex and striatum of young and adult InsG3680(+/+) mice (a human mutation-based Shank3 mouse model), were identified by an innovative mass spectrometric method, SNOTRAP. We found changes of the SNO-proteome in the mutant compared to WT in both ages. Pathway analysis showed enrichment of processes affected in ASD. SNO-Calcineurin in mutant led to a significant increase of phosphorylated Synapsin1 and CREB, which affect synaptic vesicle mobilization and gene transcription, respectively. A significant increase of 3-nitrotyrosine was found in the cortical regions of the adult mutant, signaling both oxidative and nitrosative stress. Neuronal NO• Synthase (nNOS) was examined for levels and localization in neurons and no significant difference was found in WT vs. mutant. S-nitrosoglutathione concentrations were higher in mutant mice compared to WT. This is the first study on NO•-related molecular changes and SNO-signaling in the brain of an ASD mouse model that allows the characterization and identification of key proteins, cellular pathways, and neurobiological mechanisms that might be affected in ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haitham Amal
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA.
| | - Boaz Barak
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Massachusetts
Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | | | - Guanyu Gong
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts
Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Brian A. Joughin
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts
Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA,Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research,
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Xin Wang
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts
Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - John S. Wishnok
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts
Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Guoping Feng
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Massachusetts
Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Steven R. Tannenbaum
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts
Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA,Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of
Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
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13
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Kim B, Shin J, Kim Y, Choi JH. Destruction of ERP responses to deviance in an auditory oddball paradigm in amyloid infusion mice with memory deficits. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0230277. [PMID: 32160242 PMCID: PMC7065782 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0230277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2019] [Accepted: 02/25/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The amyloid-β (Aβ) oligomer is considered one of the major pathogens responsible for neuronal and synaptic loss in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) brains. Although the neurotoxic mechanisms of Aβ have been widely investigated, experimental evidence for the direct linkage between neural signaling and cognitive impairments in association with peptide oligomers is lacking. Here, we conducted an auditory oddball paradigm utilizing an Aβ-infused Alzheimer’s disease mouse model and interpreted the results based on Y-maze behavioral tests. We acutely injected Aβ oligomers into the intracerebroventricular brain region of normal mice to induce Aβ-associated cognitive impairments. During the auditory oddball paradigm, electroencephalograms (EEG) were recorded from frontal and parietal cortex of Aβ-infused and control mice. The event-related potentials (ERPs) elicited by auditory stimuli showed no significant difference in Aβ-infused mice compared to control mice. On the other hand, the differential ERP signature elicited by oddball sound stimuli was destructed in the Aβ-infused mice group. We noticed that ERP traces to standard and deviant tones were not significantly different in the Aβ group, while the control group showed differences in the amplitude of ERP components. In particular, the difference in the first negative component (N1) between standard and deviant tone, which indexes the sensory memory system, was significantly reduced in the parietal cortex of Aβ-infused mice. These findings demonstrate the direct influence of Aβ oligomers on the functional integrity of cortical areas in vivo. Furthermore, the N1 amplitude difference may provide a potential marker of sensory memory deficits in a mouse model of AD and yield additional targets for drug assessment in AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bowon Kim
- Center for Neuroscience, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Division of Bio-Medical Science & Technology, KIST School, Korea University of Science and Technology, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Jisu Shin
- Department of Pharmacy, Yonsei University, Incheon, Republic of Korea
- Yonsei Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, Yonsei University, Incheon, Republic of Korea
| | - YoungSoo Kim
- Department of Pharmacy, Yonsei University, Incheon, Republic of Korea
- Yonsei Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, Yonsei University, Incheon, Republic of Korea
- Integrated Science and Engineering Division, Yonsei University, Incheon, Republic of Korea
- * E-mail: (YK); (JHC)
| | - Jee Hyun Choi
- Center for Neuroscience, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Division of Bio-Medical Science & Technology, KIST School, Korea University of Science and Technology, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- * E-mail: (YK); (JHC)
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14
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Roy J, Cyert MS. Identifying New Substrates and Functions for an Old Enzyme: Calcineurin. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Biol 2020; 12:a035436. [PMID: 31308145 PMCID: PMC7050593 DOI: 10.1101/cshperspect.a035436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Biological processes are dynamically regulated by signaling networks composed of protein kinases and phosphatases. Calcineurin, or PP3, is a conserved phosphoserine/phosphothreonine-specific protein phosphatase and member of the PPP family of phosphatases. Calcineurin is unique, however, in its activation by Ca2+ and calmodulin. This ubiquitously expressed phosphatase controls Ca2+-dependent processes in all human tissues, but is best known for driving the adaptive immune response by dephosphorylating the nuclear factor of the activated T-cells (NFAT) family of transcription factors. Therefore, calcineurin inhibitors, FK506 (tacrolimus), and cyclosporin A serve as immunosuppressants. We describe some of the adverse effects associated with calcineurin inhibitors that result from inhibition of calcineurin in nonimmune tissues, illustrating the many functions of this enzyme that have yet to be elucidated. In fact, calcineurin has essential roles beyond the immune system, from yeast to humans, but since its discovery more than 30 years ago, only a small number of direct calcineurin substrates have been shown (∼75 proteins). This is because of limitations in current methods for identification of phosphatase substrates. Here we discuss recent insights into mechanisms of calcineurin activation and substrate recognition that have been critical in the development of novel approaches for identifying its targets systematically. Rather than comprehensively reviewing known functions of calcineurin, we highlight new approaches to substrate identification for this critical regulator that may reveal molecular mechanisms underlying toxicities caused by calcineurin inhibitor-based immunosuppression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jagoree Roy
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305-5020
| | - Martha S Cyert
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305-5020
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15
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Li L, Lai M, Cole S, Le Novère N, Edelstein SJ. Neurogranin stimulates Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent kinase II by suppressing calcineurin activity at specific calcium spike frequencies. PLoS Comput Biol 2020; 16:e1006991. [PMID: 32049957 PMCID: PMC7041932 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1006991] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2019] [Revised: 02/25/2020] [Accepted: 11/18/2019] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Calmodulin sits at the center of molecular mechanisms underlying learning and memory. Its complex and sometimes opposite influences, mediated via the binding to various proteins, are yet to be fully understood. Calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) and calcineurin (CaN) both bind open calmodulin, favoring Long-Term Potentiation (LTP) or Depression (LTD) respectively. Neurogranin binds to the closed conformation of calmodulin and its impact on synaptic plasticity is less clear. We set up a mechanistic computational model based on allosteric principles to simulate calmodulin state transitions and its interactions with calcium ions and the three binding partners mentioned above. We simulated calcium spikes at various frequencies and show that neurogranin regulates synaptic plasticity along three modalities. At low spike frequencies, neurogranin inhibits the onset of LTD by limiting CaN activation. At intermediate frequencies, neurogranin facilitates LTD, but limits LTP by precluding binding of CaMKII with calmodulin. Finally, at high spike frequencies, neurogranin promotes LTP by enhancing CaMKII autophosphorylation. While neurogranin might act as a calmodulin buffer, it does not significantly preclude the calmodulin opening by calcium. On the contrary, neurogranin synchronizes the opening of calmodulin's two lobes and promotes their activation at specific frequencies. Neurogranin suppresses basal CaN activity, thus increasing the chance of CaMKII trans-autophosphorylation at high-frequency calcium spikes. Taken together, our study reveals dynamic regulatory roles played by neurogranin on synaptic plasticity, which provide mechanistic explanations for opposing experimental findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lu Li
- Babraham Institute, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Massimo Lai
- Quantitative Systems Pharmacology, CERTARA, Canterbury, United Kingdom
| | - Stephen Cole
- Cambridge Systems Biology Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
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16
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Selected microRNAs Increase Synaptic Resilience to the Damaging Binding of the Alzheimer's Disease Amyloid Beta Oligomers. Mol Neurobiol 2020; 57:2232-2243. [PMID: 31997075 PMCID: PMC7170988 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-020-01868-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2019] [Accepted: 01/06/2020] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is marked by synaptic loss (at early stages) and neuronal death (at late stages). Amyloid beta (Aβ) and tau oligomers can target and disrupt synapses thus driving cognitive decay. Non-demented individuals with Alzheimer’s neuropathology (NDAN) are capable of withstanding Aβ and tau toxicity, thus remaining cognitively intact despite presence of AD neuropathology. Understanding the involved mechanism(s) would lead to development of novel effective therapeutic strategies aimed at promoting synaptic resilience to amyloid toxicity. NDAN have a unique hippocampal post-synaptic proteome when compared with AD and control individuals. Potential upstream modulators of such unique proteomic profile are miRNA-485, miRNA-4723 and miRNA-149, which we found differentially expressed in AD and NDAN vs. control. We thus hypothesized that these miRNAs play an important role in promoting either synaptic resistance or sensitization to Aβ oligomer binding. Using an in vivo mouse model, we found that administration of these miRNAs affected key synaptic genes and significantly decreased Aβ binding to the synapses. Our findings suggest that miRNA regulation and homeostasis are crucial for Aβ interaction with synaptic terminals and support that a unique miRNA regulation could be driving synaptic resistance to Aβ toxicity in NDAN, thus contributing to their preserved cognitive abilities.
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17
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Suppressing aberrant phospholipase D1 signaling in 3xTg Alzheimer's disease mouse model promotes synaptic resilience. Sci Rep 2019; 9:18342. [PMID: 31797996 PMCID: PMC6892889 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-54974-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2019] [Accepted: 11/21/2019] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Current approaches in treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is focused on early stages of cognitive decline. Identifying therapeutic targets that promote synaptic resilience during early stages may prevent progressive memory deficits by preserving memory mechanisms. We recently reported that the inducible isoform of phospholipase D (PLD1) was significantly increased in synaptosomes from post-mortem AD brains compared to age-matched controls. Using mouse models, we reported that the aberrantly elevated neuronal PLD1 is key for oligomeric amyloid driven synaptic dysfunction and underlying memory deficits. Here, we demonstrate that chronic inhibition using a well-tolerated PLD1 specific small molecule inhibitor is sufficient to prevent the progression of synaptic dysfunction during early stages in the 3xTg-AD mouse model. Firstly, we report prevention of cognitive decline in the inhibitor-treated group using novel object recognition (NOR) and fear conditioning (FC). Secondly, we provide electrophysiological assessment of better synaptic function in the inhibitor-treated group. Lastly, using Golgi staining, we report that preservation of dendritic spine integrity as one of the mechanisms underlying the action of the small molecule inhibitor. Collectively, these studies provide evidence for inhibition of PLD1 as a potential therapeutic strategy in preventing progression of cognitive decline associated with AD and related dementia.
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18
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Bohush A, Bieganowski P, Filipek A. Hsp90 and Its Co-Chaperones in Neurodegenerative Diseases. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20204976. [PMID: 31600883 PMCID: PMC6834326 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20204976] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2019] [Revised: 10/03/2019] [Accepted: 10/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Proper folding is crucial for proteins to achieve functional activity in the cell. However, it often occurs that proteins are improperly folded (misfolded) and form aggregates, which are the main hallmark of many diseases including cancers, neurodegenerative diseases and many others. Proteins that assist other proteins in proper folding into three-dimensional structures are chaperones and co-chaperones. The key role of chaperones/co-chaperones is to prevent protein aggregation, especially under stress. An imbalance between chaperone/co-chaperone levels has been documented in neurons, and suggested to contribute to protein misfolding. An essential protein and a major regulator of protein folding in all eukaryotic cells is the heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90). The function of Hsp90 is tightly regulated by many factors, including co-chaperones. In this review we summarize results regarding the role of Hsp90 and its co-chaperones in neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), Huntington's disease (HD), and prionopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anastasiia Bohush
- Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, 3 Pasteur Street, 02-093 Warsaw, Poland.
| | - Paweł Bieganowski
- Mossakowski Medical Research Centre, Polish Academy of Sciences, 5 Pawińskiego Street, 02-106 Warsaw, Poland.
| | - Anna Filipek
- Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, 3 Pasteur Street, 02-093 Warsaw, Poland.
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19
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Wang LS, Tao X, Liu XM, Zhou YF, Zhang MD, Liao YH, Pan RL, Chang Q. Cajaninstilbene Acid Ameliorates Cognitive Impairment Induced by Intrahippocampal Injection of Amyloid-β 1-42 Oligomers. Front Pharmacol 2019; 10:1084. [PMID: 31680939 PMCID: PMC6798059 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2019.01084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2019] [Accepted: 08/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyloid-β1-42 (Aβ1-42) oligomers play an important role at the early stage of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and have been a vital target in the development of therapeutic drugs for AD. Cajaninstilbene acid (CSA), a major bioactive stilbene isolated from pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan) leaves, exerted the neuroprotective property in our previous studies. The present study utilized a validated mouse model of early-stage AD induced by bilateral injection of Aβ1-42 oligomers into hippocampal CA1 regions (100 pmol/mouse) to investigate the cognitive enhancing effects of CSA and the underlying mechanism, by a combination of animal behavioral tests, immunohistochemistry, liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry analysis, and Western blot methods. Intragastric administration of CSA (7.5, 15, and 30 mg/kg) attenuated the impairment of learning and memory induced by Aβ1-42 oligomers. CSA stimulated Aβ clearance and prevented microglial activation and astrocyte reactivity in the hippocampus of model mice. It also decreased the high levels of Glu but increased the low levels of GABA. In addition, CSA inhibited excessive expression of GluN2B-containing NMDARs and upregulated the downstream PKA/CREB/BDNF/TrkB signaling pathway. These results suggest that CSA could be a potential therapeutic agent at the early stage of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li-Sha Wang
- Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Xue Tao
- Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Xin-Min Liu
- Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.,National Key Laboratory of Human Factors Engineering and the State Key Laboratory of Space Medicine Fundamentals and Application, China Astronaut Research and Training Center, Beijing, China
| | - Yun-Feng Zhou
- Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Meng-Di Zhang
- Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Yong-Hong Liao
- Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Rui-Le Pan
- Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Qi Chang
- Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
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20
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Zolochevska O, Bjorklund N, Woltjer R, Wiktorowicz JE, Taglialatela G. Postsynaptic Proteome of Non-Demented Individuals with Alzheimer's Disease Neuropathology. J Alzheimers Dis 2019; 65:659-682. [PMID: 30103319 PMCID: PMC6130411 DOI: 10.3233/jad-180179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Some individuals, here referred to as Non-Demented with Alzheimer’s Neuropathology (NDAN), retain their cognitive function despite the presence of amyloid plaques and tau tangles typical of symptomatic Alzheimer’s disease (AD). In NDAN, unlike AD, toxic amyloid-β oligomers do not localize to the postsynaptic densities (PSDs). Synaptic resistance to amyloid-β in NDAN may thus enable these individuals to remain cognitively intact despite the AD-like pathology. The mechanism(s) responsible for this resistance remains unresolved and understanding such protective biological processes could reveal novel targets for the development of effective treatments for AD. The present study uses a proteomic approach to compare the hippocampal postsynaptic densities of NDAN, AD, and healthy age-matched persons to identify protein signatures characteristic for these groups. Subcellular fractionation followed by 2D gel electrophoresis and mass spectrometry were used to analyze the PSDs. We describe fifteen proteins which comprise the unique proteomic signature of NDAN PSDs, thus setting them apart from control subjects and AD patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olga Zolochevska
- Department of Neurology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
| | - Nicole Bjorklund
- Department of Neurology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
| | - Randall Woltjer
- Department of Pathology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - John E Wiktorowicz
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Sealy Center for Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
| | - Giulio Taglialatela
- Department of Neurology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
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21
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Acquarone E, Argyrousi EK, van den Berg M, Gulisano W, Fà M, Staniszewski A, Calcagno E, Zuccarello E, D’Adamio L, Deng SX, Puzzo D, Arancio O, Fiorito J. Synaptic and memory dysfunction induced by tau oligomers is rescued by up-regulation of the nitric oxide cascade. Mol Neurodegener 2019; 14:26. [PMID: 31248451 PMCID: PMC6598340 DOI: 10.1186/s13024-019-0326-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2019] [Accepted: 06/05/2019] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Soluble aggregates of oligomeric forms of tau protein (oTau) have been associated with impairment of synaptic plasticity and memory in Alzheimer's disease. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the synaptic and memory dysfunction induced by elevation of oTau are still unknown. METHODS This work used a combination of biochemical, electrophysiological and behavioral techniques. Biochemical methods included analysis of phosphorylation of the cAMP-responsive element binding (CREB) protein, a transcriptional factor involved in memory, histone acetylation, and expression immediate early genes c-Fos and Arc. Electrophysiological methods included assessment of long-term potentiation (LTP), a type of synaptic plasticity thought to underlie memory formation. Behavioral studies investigated both short-term spatial memory and associative memory. These phenomena were examined following oTau elevation. RESULTS Levels of phospho-CREB, histone 3 acetylation at lysine 27, and immediate early genes c-Fos and Arc, were found to be reduced after oTau elevation during memory formation. These findings led us to explore whether up-regulation of various components of the nitric oxide (NO) signaling pathway impinging onto CREB is capable of rescuing oTau-induced impairment of plasticity, memory, and CREB phosphorylation. The increase of NO levels protected against oTau-induced impairment of LTP through activation of soluble guanylyl cyclase. Similarly, the elevation of cGMP levels and stimulation of the cGMP-dependent protein kinases (PKG) re-established normal LTP after exposure to oTau. Pharmacological inhibition of cGMP degradation through inhibition of phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE5), rescued oTau-induced LTP reduction. These findings could be extrapolated to memory because PKG activation and PDE5 inhibition rescued oTau-induced memory impairment. Finally, PDE5 inhibition re-established normal elevation of CREB phosphorylation and cGMP levels after memory induction in the presence of oTau. CONCLUSIONS Up-regulation of CREB activation through agents acting on the NO cascade might be beneficial against tau-induced synaptic and memory dysfunctions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erica Acquarone
- Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer’s Disease and the Aging Brain, 630 West 168th Street, P&S 12-420D, New York, NY 10032 USA
- DiMi Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, University of Genoa, 16132 Genoa, Italy
| | - Elentina K. Argyrousi
- Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer’s Disease and the Aging Brain, 630 West 168th Street, P&S 12-420D, New York, NY 10032 USA
- Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, 6229 Maastricht, Netherlands
| | - Manon van den Berg
- Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer’s Disease and the Aging Brain, 630 West 168th Street, P&S 12-420D, New York, NY 10032 USA
- Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, 6229 Maastricht, Netherlands
| | - Walter Gulisano
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, Section of Physiology, University of Catania, 95125 Catania, Italy
| | - Mauro Fà
- Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer’s Disease and the Aging Brain, 630 West 168th Street, P&S 12-420D, New York, NY 10032 USA
| | - Agnieszka Staniszewski
- Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer’s Disease and the Aging Brain, 630 West 168th Street, P&S 12-420D, New York, NY 10032 USA
| | - Elisa Calcagno
- Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer’s Disease and the Aging Brain, 630 West 168th Street, P&S 12-420D, New York, NY 10032 USA
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Section of General Pathology, School of Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Genoa, 16132 Genoa, Italy
| | - Elisa Zuccarello
- Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer’s Disease and the Aging Brain, 630 West 168th Street, P&S 12-420D, New York, NY 10032 USA
| | - Luciano D’Adamio
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology and Neuroscience, Rutgers University, Newark, NJ USA
| | - Shi-Xian Deng
- Department of Medicine, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032 USA
| | - Daniela Puzzo
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, Section of Physiology, University of Catania, 95125 Catania, Italy
- Oasi Research Institute-IRCCS, 94018 Troina, Italy
| | - Ottavio Arancio
- Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer’s Disease and the Aging Brain, 630 West 168th Street, P&S 12-420D, New York, NY 10032 USA
- Department of Medicine, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032 USA
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032 USA
| | - Jole Fiorito
- Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer’s Disease and the Aging Brain, 630 West 168th Street, P&S 12-420D, New York, NY 10032 USA
- Department of Life Sciences, New York Institute of Technology, Northern Boulevard P.O. Box 8000, Theobald Science Center, room 425, Old Westbury, NY 11568 USA
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22
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Marino C, Krishnan B, Cappello F, Taglialatela G. Hsp60 Protects against Amyloid β Oligomer Synaptic Toxicity via Modification of Toxic Oligomer Conformation. ACS Chem Neurosci 2019; 10:2858-2867. [PMID: 31091411 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.9b00086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the leading cause of dementia worldwide. While the etiology of AD remains uncertain, neurotoxic effects of amyloid beta oligomers (Aβo) on synaptic function, a well-established early event in AD, is an attractive area for the development of novel strategies to modify or cease the disease's progression. In this work, we tested the protective action of the mitochondrial chaperone Hsp60 against Aβo neurotoxicity, by determining the direct effect of Hsp60 in changing Aβo toxic conformations and thus reducing their dysfunctional synaptic binding and consequent suppression of long-term potentiation. Our data suggest that Hsp60 has a direct impact on Aβo, resulting in a reduction of cytotoxicity and rescue of Aβo-driven synaptic damage, thus proposing Hsp60 as an attractive therapeutic target candidate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Marino
- Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Department of Neurology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas 77555-1045 United States
- Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostics, University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy
| | - Balaji Krishnan
- Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Department of Neurology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas 77555-1045 United States
| | - Francesco Cappello
- Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostics, University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy
| | - Giulio Taglialatela
- Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Department of Neurology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas 77555-1045 United States
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23
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Micci MA, Krishnan B, Bishop E, Zhang WR, Guptarak J, Grant A, Zolochevska O, Tumurbaatar B, Franklin W, Marino C, Widen SG, Luthra A, Kernie SG, Taglialatela G. Hippocampal stem cells promotes synaptic resistance to the dysfunctional impact of amyloid beta oligomers via secreted exosomes. Mol Neurodegener 2019; 14:25. [PMID: 31200742 PMCID: PMC6570890 DOI: 10.1186/s13024-019-0322-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2018] [Accepted: 05/03/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Adult hippocampal neurogenesis plays an important role in synaptic plasticity and cogntive function. We reported that higher numbers of neural stem cells (NSC) in the hippocampus of cognitively-intact individuals with high Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology (plaques and tangles) is associated with decreased synaptic amyloid beta oligomers (Aβο), an event linked to onset of dementia in AD. While these findings suggest a link between NSC and synaptic resistance to Aβο, the involved mechanism remains to be determined. With this goal in mind, here we investigated the ability of exosomes secreted from hippocampal NSC to promote synaptic resilience to Aβo. METHODS Exosomes isolated from media of hippocampus NSC (NSC-exo) or mature hippocampal neuronal (MN-exo) cultures were delivered intracerebroventricularly (ICV) to mice before assessment of Aβο-induced suppression of hippocampal long-term potentiation (LTP) and memory deficits. Aβο binding to synapses was assessed in cultured hippocampal neurons and on synaptosomes isolated from hippocampal slices from wild type mice and from an inducible mouse model of NSC ablation (Nestin-δ-HSV-TK mice) treated with exosomes. Expression of CaMKII and of AMPA and NMDA glutamate receptor subunits in synaptosomes was measured by western blot. Small RNA Deep sequencing was performed to identify microRNAs enriched in NSC-exo as compared to MN-exo. Mimics of select miRNAs were injected ICV. RESULTS NSC-exo, but not MN-exo, abolished Aβo-induced suppression of LTP and subsequent memory deficits. Furthermore, in hippocampal slices and cultured neurons, NSC-exo significantly decreased Aβo binding to the synapse. Similarly, transgenic ablation of endogenous NSC increased synaptic Aβo binding, which was reversed by exogenous NSC-exo. Phosphorylation of synaptic CaMKII was increased by NSC-exo, while AMPA and NMDA receptors were not affected. Lastly, we identified a set of miRNAs enriched in NSC-exo that, when injected ICV, protected the synapses from Aβo-binding and Aβo-induced LTP inhibition. CONCLUSIONS These results identify a novel mechanism linking NSC-exo and synaptic susceptibility to Aβo that may underscore cognitive resilience of certain individuals with increased neurogenesis in spite of AD neuropathology and unmask a novel target for the development of a new treatment concept for AD centered on promoting synaptic resilience to toxic amyloid proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria-Adelaide Micci
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555 USA
| | - Balaji Krishnan
- Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Department of Neurology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555 USA
| | - Elizabeth Bishop
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555 USA
| | - Wen-Ru Zhang
- Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Department of Neurology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555 USA
| | - Jutatip Guptarak
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555 USA
| | - Auston Grant
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555 USA
| | - Olga Zolochevska
- Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Department of Neurology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555 USA
| | - Batbayar Tumurbaatar
- Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Department of Neurology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555 USA
| | - Whitney Franklin
- Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Department of Neurology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555 USA
| | - Claudia Marino
- Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Department of Neurology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555 USA
| | - Steven G. Widen
- Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555 USA
| | - Arjun Luthra
- Pressent address: The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712 USA
| | - Steven G. Kernie
- Department of Pediatrics and Pathology & Cell Biology, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY 10032 USA
| | - Giulio Taglialatela
- Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Department of Neurology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555 USA
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24
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Delikkaya B, Moriel N, Tong M, Gallucci G, de la Monte SM. Altered expression of insulin-degrading enzyme and regulator of calcineurin in the rat intracerebral streptozotocin model and human apolipoprotein E-ε4-associated Alzheimer's disease. ALZHEIMER'S & DEMENTIA (AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS) 2019; 11:392-404. [PMID: 31193223 PMCID: PMC6522644 DOI: 10.1016/j.dadm.2019.03.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION This study assesses insulin-degrading enzyme (IDE) and regulator of calcineurin 1 (RCAN1) as potential mediators of brain insulin deficiency and neurodegeneration in experimental and human Alzheimer's disease (AD). METHODS Temporal lobes from Long Evans rats treated with intracerebral streptozotocin or vehicle and postmortem frontal lobes from humans with normal aging AD (Braak 0-2), moderate (Braak 3-4) AD, or advanced (Braak 5-6) AD were used to measure IDE and RCAN mRNA and protein. RESULTS Intracerebral streptozotocin significantly increased IDE and RCAN mRNA and protein. In humans with apolipoprotein E (ApoE) ε3/ε4 or ε4/ε4 and AD, IDE was elevated at Braak 3-4, but at Braak 5-6, IDE expression was significantly reduced. RCAN1 mRNA was similarly reduced in ApoE ε4+ patients with moderate or severe AD, whereas RCAN1 protein declined with the severity of AD and ApoE ε4 dose. DISCUSSION The findings suggest that IDE and RCAN1 differentially modulate brain insulin signaling in relation to AD severity and ApoE genotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Büşra Delikkaya
- Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Natalia Moriel
- Department of Medicine, Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Ming Tong
- Department of Medicine, Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, RI, USA,Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Gina Gallucci
- Department of Medicine, Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Suzanne M. de la Monte
- Department of Medicine, Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, RI, USA,Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA,Departments of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, RI, USA,Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Providence VA Medical Center, Providence, RI, USA,Corresponding author. Tel.: +401-444-7364; Fax: +401-444-2939.
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25
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Bartolotti N, Lazarov O. CREB signals as PBMC-based biomarkers of cognitive dysfunction: A novel perspective of the brain-immune axis. Brain Behav Immun 2019; 78:9-20. [PMID: 30641141 PMCID: PMC6488430 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2019.01.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2018] [Revised: 12/21/2018] [Accepted: 01/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
To date, there is no reliable biomarker for the assessment or determination of cognitive dysfunction in Alzheimer's disease and related dementia. Such a biomarker would not only aid in diagnostics, but could also serve as a measure of therapeutic efficacy. It is widely acknowledged that the hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease, namely, amyloid deposits and neurofibrillary tangles, as well as their precursors and metabolites, are poorly correlated with cognitive function and disease stage and thus have low diagnostic or prognostic value. A lack of biomarkers is one of the major roadblocks in diagnosing the disease and in assessing the efficacy of potential therapies. The phosphorylation of cAMP Response Element Binding protein (pCREB) plays a major role in memory acquisition and consolidation. In the brain, CREB activation by phosphorylation at Ser133 and the recruitment of transcription cofactors such as CREB binding protein (CBP) is a critical step for the formation of memory. This set of processes is a prerequisite for the transcription of genes thought to be important for synaptic plasticity, such as Egr-1. Interestingly, recent work suggests that the expression of pCREB in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) positively correlates with pCREB expression in the postmortem brain of Alzheimer's patients, suggesting not only that pCREB expression in PBMC might serve as a biomarker of cognitive dysfunction, but also that the dysfunction of CREB signaling may not be limited to the brain in AD, and that a link may exist between the regulation of CREB in the blood and in the brain. In this review we consider the evidence suggesting a correlation between the level of CREB signals in the brain and blood, the current knowledge about CREB in PBMC and its association with CREB in the brain, and the implications and mechanisms for a neuro-immune cross talk that may underlie this communication. This Review will discuss the possibility that peripheral dysregulation of CREB is an early event in AD pathogenesis, perhaps as a facet of immune system dysfunction, and that this impairment in peripheral CREB signaling modifies CREB signaling in the brain, thus exacerbating cognitive decline in AD. A more thorough understanding of systemic dysregulation of CREB in AD will facilitate the search for a biomarker of cognitive function in AD, and also aid in the understanding of the mechanisms underlying cognitive decline in AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nancy Bartolotti
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, College of Medicine, The University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
| | - Orly Lazarov
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, College of Medicine, The University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, USA.
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26
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More J, Galusso N, Veloso P, Montecinos L, Finkelstein JP, Sanchez G, Bull R, Valdés JL, Hidalgo C, Paula-Lima A. N-Acetylcysteine Prevents the Spatial Memory Deficits and the Redox-Dependent RyR2 Decrease Displayed by an Alzheimer's Disease Rat Model. Front Aging Neurosci 2018; 10:399. [PMID: 30574085 PMCID: PMC6291746 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2018.00399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2018] [Accepted: 11/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
We have previously reported that primary hippocampal neurons exposed to synaptotoxic amyloid beta oligomers (AβOs), which are likely causative agents of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), exhibit abnormal Ca2+ signals, mitochondrial dysfunction and defective structural plasticity. Additionally, AβOs-exposed neurons exhibit a decrease in the protein content of type-2 ryanodine receptor (RyR2) Ca2+ channels, which exert critical roles in hippocampal synaptic plasticity and spatial memory processes. The antioxidant N-acetylcysteine (NAC) prevents these deleterious effects of AβOs in vitro. The main contribution of the present work is to show that AβOs injections directly into the hippocampus, by engaging oxidation-mediated reversible pathways significantly decreased RyR2 protein content but increased single RyR2 channel activation by Ca2+ and caused considerable spatial memory deficits. AβOs injections into the CA3 hippocampal region impaired rat performance in the Oasis maze spatial memory task, decreased hippocampal glutathione levels and overall content of plasticity-related proteins (c-Fos, Arc, and RyR2) and increased ERK1/2 phosphorylation. In contrast, in hippocampus-derived mitochondria-associated membranes (MAM) AβOs injections increased RyR2 levels. Rats fed with NAC for 3-weeks prior to AβOs injections displayed comparable redox potential, RyR2 and Arc protein contents, similar ERK1/2 phosphorylation and RyR2 single channel activation by Ca2+ as saline-injected (control) rats. NAC-fed rats subsequently injected with AβOs displayed the same behavior in the spatial memory task as control rats. Based on the present in vivo results, we propose that redox-sensitive neuronal RyR2 channels partake in the mechanism underlying AβOs-induced memory disruption in rodents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jamileth More
- Faculty of Medicine, Biomedical Neuroscience Institute, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Nadia Galusso
- Department of Neurochemistry, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Pablo Veloso
- Faculty of Dentistry, Institute for Research in Dental Sciences, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Luis Montecinos
- CEMC, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | | | - Gina Sanchez
- CEMC, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile.,Pathophysiology Program, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Ricardo Bull
- Physiology and Biophysics Program, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - José Luis Valdés
- Faculty of Medicine, Biomedical Neuroscience Institute, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile.,Department of Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Cecilia Hidalgo
- Faculty of Medicine, Biomedical Neuroscience Institute, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile.,CEMC, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile.,Physiology and Biophysics Program, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile.,Department of Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Andrea Paula-Lima
- Faculty of Medicine, Biomedical Neuroscience Institute, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile.,Faculty of Dentistry, Institute for Research in Dental Sciences, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
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27
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Comerota MM, Tumurbaatar B, Krishnan B, Kayed R, Taglialatela G. Near Infrared Light Treatment Reduces Synaptic Levels of Toxic Tau Oligomers in Two Transgenic Mouse Models of Human Tauopathies. Mol Neurobiol 2018; 56:3341-3355. [PMID: 30120733 PMCID: PMC6476871 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-018-1248-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2018] [Accepted: 07/15/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Tau oligomers are emerging as a key contributor to the synaptic dysfunction that drives cognitive decline associated with the clinical manifestation and progression of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Accordingly, there is ample consensus that interventions that target tau oligomers may slow or halt the progression of AD. With this ultimate goal in mind, in the present study, we investigated tau oligomer accumulation and its synaptic and behavioral consequences after an in vivo treatment with near infrared (NIR) light (600–1000 nm) in two transgenic mouse models, overexpressing human tau either alone (hTau mice) or in combination with amyloid beta (3xTgAD mice). We found that a 4-week exposure to NIR light (90 s/day/5 days a week) significantly reduced levels of endogenous total and oligomeric tau in both synaptosomes and total protein extracts from the hippocampus and cortex of hTau mice and improved deteriorating memory function. Similar results were observed in the 3xTgAD mice, which further displayed reduced synaptic Aβ after NIR light treatment. On the other hand, ex vivo binding of tau oligomers in isolated synaptosomes as well as tau oligomer-induced depression of long-term potentiation (LTP) in hippocampal slices from NIR light-treated wt mice were unaffected. Finally, levels of proteins critically involved in two mechanisms associated with clearance of misfolded tau, inducible HSP70 and autophagy, were upregulated in NIR light treated mice. Collectively, these results show that NIR light decreases levels of endogenous toxic tau oligomers and alleviate associated memory deficits, thus furthering the development of NIR light as a possible therapeutic for AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michele M Comerota
- University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Blvd., Galveston, TX, 77555-1045, USA
| | - Batbayar Tumurbaatar
- University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Blvd., Galveston, TX, 77555-1045, USA
| | - Balaji Krishnan
- University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Blvd., Galveston, TX, 77555-1045, USA
| | - Rakez Kayed
- University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Blvd., Galveston, TX, 77555-1045, USA
| | - Giulio Taglialatela
- University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Blvd., Galveston, TX, 77555-1045, USA.
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28
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Sompol P, Norris CM. Ca 2+, Astrocyte Activation and Calcineurin/NFAT Signaling in Age-Related Neurodegenerative Diseases. Front Aging Neurosci 2018; 10:199. [PMID: 30038565 PMCID: PMC6046440 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2018.00199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2018] [Accepted: 06/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Mounting evidence supports a fundamental role for Ca2+ dysregulation in astrocyte activation. Though the activated astrocyte phenotype is complex, cell-type targeting approaches have revealed a number of detrimental roles of activated astrocytes involving neuroinflammation, release of synaptotoxic factors and loss of glutamate regulation. Work from our lab and others has suggested that the Ca2+/calmodulin dependent protein phosphatase, calcineurin (CN), provides a critical link between Ca2+ dysregulation and the activated astrocyte phenotype. A proteolyzed, hyperactivated form of CN appears at high levels in activated astrocytes in both human tissue and rodent tissue around regions of amyloid and vascular pathology. Similar upregulation of the CN-dependent transcription factor nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT4) also appears in activated astrocytes in mouse models of Alzheimer's disease (ADs) and traumatic brain injury (TBI). Major consequences of hyperactivated CN/NFAT4 signaling in astrocytes are neuroinflammation, synapse dysfunction and glutamate dysregulation/excitotoxicity, which will be covered in this review article.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pradoldej Sompol
- Sanders-Brown Center on Aging, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, KY, United States
| | - Christopher M Norris
- Sanders-Brown Center on Aging, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, KY, United States.,Department of Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, KY, United States
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29
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Stallings NR, O'Neal MA, Hu J, Kavalali ET, Bezprozvanny I, Malter JS. Pin1 mediates Aβ 42-induced dendritic spine loss. Sci Signal 2018; 11:11/522/eaap8734. [PMID: 29559586 PMCID: PMC6136423 DOI: 10.1126/scisignal.aap8734] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Early-stage Alzheimer's disease is characterized by the loss of dendritic spines in the neocortex of the brain. This phenomenon precedes tau pathology, plaque formation, and neurodegeneration and likely contributes to synaptic loss, memory impairment, and behavioral changes in patients. Studies suggest that dendritic spine loss is induced by soluble, multimeric amyloid-β (Aβ42), which, through postsynaptic signaling, activates the protein phosphatase calcineurin. We investigated how calcineurin caused spine pathology and found that the cis-trans prolyl isomerase Pin1 was a critical downstream target of Aβ42-calcineurin signaling. In dendritic spines, Pin1 interacted with and was dephosphorylated by calcineurin, which rapidly suppressed its isomerase activity. Knockout of Pin1 or exposure to Aβ42 induced the loss of mature dendritic spines, which was prevented by exogenous Pin1. The calcineurin inhibitor FK506 blocked dendritic spine loss in Aβ42-treated wild-type cells but had no effect on Pin1-null neurons. These data implicate Pin1 in dendritic spine maintenance and synaptic loss in early Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nancy R Stallings
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Melissa A O'Neal
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Jie Hu
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Ege T Kavalali
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Ilya Bezprozvanny
- Department of Physiology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - James S Malter
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75390, USA.
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30
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Krishnan B, Kayed R, Taglialatela G. Elevated phospholipase D isoform 1 in Alzheimer's disease patients' hippocampus: Relevance to synaptic dysfunction and memory deficits. ALZHEIMERS & DEMENTIA-TRANSLATIONAL RESEARCH & CLINICAL INTERVENTIONS 2018; 4:89-102. [PMID: 29560412 PMCID: PMC5857521 DOI: 10.1016/j.trci.2018.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Introduction Phospholipase D (PLD), a lipolytic enzyme that breaks down membrane phospholipids, is also involved in signaling mechanisms downstream of seven transmembrane receptors. Abnormally elevated levels of PLD activity are well-established in Alzheimer's disease (AD), implicating the two isoforms of mammalian phosphatidylcholine cleaving PLD (PC-PLD1 and PC-PLD2). Therefore, we took a systematic approach of investigating isoform-specific expression in human synaptosomes and further investigated the possibility of therapeutic intervention using preclinical studies. Methods Synaptosomal Western blot analyses on the postmortem human hippocampus, temporal cortex, and frontal cortex of AD patient brains/age-matched controls and the 3XTg-AD mice hippocampus (mouse model with overexpression of human amyloid precursor protein, presenilin-1 gene, and microtubule-associated protein tau causing neuropathology progressing comparable to that in human AD patients) were used to detect the levels of neuronal PLD1 expression. Mouse hippocampal long-term potentiation of PLD1-dependent changes was studied using pharmacological approaches in ex vivo slice preparations from wild-type and transgenic mouse models. Finally, PLD1-dependent changes in novel object recognition memory were assessed following PLD1 inhibition. Results We observed elevated synaptosomal PLD1 in the hippocampus/temporal cortex from postmortem tissues of AD patients compared to age-matched controls and age-dependent hippocampal PLD1 increases in 3XTg-AD mice. PLD1 inhibition blocked effects of oligomeric amyloid β or toxic oligomeric tau species on high-frequency stimulation long-term potentiation and novel object recognition deficits in wild-type mice. Finally, PLD1 inhibition blocked long-term potentiation deficits normally observed in aging 3XTg-AD mice. Discussion Using human studies, we propose a novel role for PLD1-dependent signaling as a critical mechanism underlying oligomer-driven synaptic dysfunction and consequent memory disruption in AD. We, further, provide the first set of preclinical studies toward future therapeutics targeting PLD1 in slowing down/stopping the progression of AD-related memory deficits as a complementary approach to immunoscavenging clinical trials that are currently in progress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Balaji Krishnan
- Corresponding author. Tel.: 409 772 8069; Fax: 409 747 0015.
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Ji G, Yakhnitsa V, Kiritoshi T, Presto P, Neugebauer V. Fear extinction learning ability predicts neuropathic pain behaviors and amygdala activity in male rats. Mol Pain 2018; 14:1744806918804441. [PMID: 30209982 PMCID: PMC6172937 DOI: 10.1177/1744806918804441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2018] [Revised: 08/15/2018] [Accepted: 09/02/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The amygdala plays a key role in fear learning and extinction and has emerged as an important node of emotional-affective aspects of pain and pain modulation. Impaired fear extinction learning, which involves prefrontal cortical control of amygdala processing, has been linked to neuropsychiatric disorders. Here, we tested the hypothesis that fear extinction learning ability can predict the magnitude of neuropathic pain. Results We correlated fear extinction learning in naive adult male rats with sensory and affective behavioral outcome measures (mechanical thresholds, vocalizations, and anxiety- and depression-like behaviors) before and after the induction of the spinal nerve ligation model of neuropathic pain compared to sham controls. Auditory fear conditioning, extinction learning, and extinction retention tests were conducted after baseline testing. All rats showed increased freezing responses after fear conditioning. During extinction training, the majority (75%) of rats showed a decline in freezing level to 50% in 5 min (fear extinction+), whereas 25% of the rats maintained a high freezing level (>50%, fear extinction-). Fear extinction- rats showed decreased open-arm preference in the elevated plus maze, reflecting anxiety-like behavior, but there were no significant differences in sensory thresholds, vocalizations, or depression-like behavior (forced swim test) between fear extinction+ and fear extinction- types. In the neuropathic pain model (four weeks after spinal nerve ligation), fear extinction- rats showed a greater increase in vocalizations and anxiety-like behavior than fear extinction+ rats. Fear extinction- rats, but not fear extinction+ rats, also developed depression-like behavior. Extracellular single unit recordings of amygdala (central nucleus) neurons in behaviorally tested rats (anesthetized with isoflurane) found greater increases in background activity, bursting, and evoked activity in fear extinction- rats than fear extinction+ rats in the spinal nerve ligation model compared to sham controls. Conclusion The data may suggest that fear extinction learning ability predicts the magnitude of neuropathic pain-related affective rather than sensory behaviors, which correlates with differences in amygdala activity changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guangchen Ji
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, School of Medicine, Lubbock, TX, USA
- Center of Excellence for Translational Neuroscience and Therapeutics, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, USA
| | - Vadim Yakhnitsa
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, School of Medicine, Lubbock, TX, USA
| | - Takaki Kiritoshi
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, School of Medicine, Lubbock, TX, USA
| | - Peyton Presto
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, School of Medicine, Lubbock, TX, USA
| | - Volker Neugebauer
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, School of Medicine, Lubbock, TX, USA
- Center of Excellence for Translational Neuroscience and Therapeutics, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, USA
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Near infrared light decreases synaptic vulnerability to amyloid beta oligomers. Sci Rep 2017; 7:15012. [PMID: 29118388 PMCID: PMC5678170 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-15357-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2017] [Accepted: 10/25/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Synaptic dysfunction due to the disrupting binding of amyloid beta (Aβ) and tau oligomers is one of the earliest impairments in Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), driving initial cognitive deficits and clinical manifestation. Consequently, there is ample consensus that preventing early synaptic dysfunction would be an effective therapeutic strategy for AD. With this goal in mind, we investigated the effect of a treatment of mice with near infrared (NIR) light on synaptic vulnerability to Aβ oligomers. We found that Aβ oligomer binding to CNS synaptosomes isolated from wild type (wt) mice treated with NIR light was significantly reduced and the resulting suppression of long term potentiation (LTP) by Aβ oligomers was prevented. Similarly, APP transgenic mice treated with NIR showed a significant reduction of endogenous Aβ at CNS synapses. We further found that these phenomena were accompanied by increased synaptic mitochondrial membrane potential in both wt and Tg2576 mice. This study provides evidence that NIR light can effectively reduce synaptic vulnerability to damaging Aβ oligomers, thus furthering NIR light therapy as a viable treatment for AD.
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Calcineurin/P-ERK/Egr-1 Pathway is Involved in Fear Memory Impairment after Isoflurane Exposure in Mice. Sci Rep 2017; 7:13947. [PMID: 29066839 PMCID: PMC5654981 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-13975-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2017] [Accepted: 10/03/2017] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Isoflurane exposure adversely influences subsequent fear memory formation in mice. Calcineurin (CaN), a phosphatase, prevents the establishment of emotional memory by dephosphorylating substrates and inhibiting the expression of learning and memory related genes. We investigated whether isoflurane impairment of fear memory formation was associated with altered CaN activity and downstream phosphorylated-extracellular signal-regulated kinases (p-ERK) and early growth response gene-1 (Egr-1) expression in hippocampus and amygdala. We also tested whether memory performance can be rescued by the CaN inhibitor FK506. Adult C57BL/6 mice were injected FK506 or vehicle after being exposed to 1.3% isoflurane or air for 1 h. After a 1 h- recovery, mice underwent classical fear conditioning (FC) training. Fear memory were tested 30 min, 48 h and 7 days after training. The activity of CaN, and expression of p-ERK and Egr-1 in hippocampus and amygdala were analyzed. Isoflurane exposure reduced mice freezing time in contextual and tone FC tests 30 min and 48 h after training. Hippocampus and amygdala from isoflurane-exposed mice had enhanced CaN activity, reduced p-ERK/ERK and Egr-1 expression. All these changes in isoflurane-exposed mice were attenuated by FK506 treatment. These results indicate calcineurin/p-ERK/Egr-1 Pathway is involved in fear memory impairment after isoflurane exposure in mice.
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Seixas da Silva GS, Melo HM, Lourenco MV, Lyra E Silva NM, de Carvalho MB, Alves-Leon SV, de Souza JM, Klein WL, da-Silva WS, Ferreira ST, De Felice FG. Amyloid-β oligomers transiently inhibit AMP-activated kinase and cause metabolic defects in hippocampal neurons. J Biol Chem 2017; 292:7395-7406. [PMID: 28302722 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m116.753525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2016] [Revised: 03/15/2017] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
AMP-activated kinase (AMPK) is a key player in energy sensing and metabolic reprogramming under cellular energy restriction. Several studies have linked impaired AMPK function to peripheral metabolic diseases such as diabetes. However, the impact of neurological disorders, such as Alzheimer disease (AD), on AMPK function and downstream effects of altered AMPK activity on neuronal metabolism have been investigated only recently. Here, we report the impact of Aβ oligomers (AβOs), synaptotoxins that accumulate in AD brains, on neuronal AMPK activity. Short-term exposure of cultured rat hippocampal neurons or ex vivo human cortical slices to AβOs transiently decreased intracellular ATP levels and AMPK activity, as evaluated by its phosphorylation at threonine residue 172 (AMPK-Thr(P)172). The AβO-dependent reduction in AMPK-Thr(P)172 levels was mediated by glutamate receptors of the N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) subtype and resulted in removal of glucose transporters (GLUTs) from the surfaces of dendritic processes in hippocampal neurons. Importantly, insulin prevented the AβO-induced inhibition of AMPK. Our results establish a novel toxic impact of AβOs on neuronal metabolism and suggest that AβO-induced, NMDA receptor-mediated AMPK inhibition may play a key role in early brain metabolic defects in AD.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Helen M Melo
- From the Institute of Medical Biochemistry Leopoldo de Meis and
| | - Mychael V Lourenco
- From the Institute of Medical Biochemistry Leopoldo de Meis and.,the Institute of Biophysics Carlos Chagas Filho
| | | | | | | | - Jorge M de Souza
- Neurosurgery, Clementino Fraga Filho Hospital, Federal University of Rio De Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil
| | - William L Klein
- the Department of Neurobiology, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208-3520, and
| | | | - Sergio T Ferreira
- From the Institute of Medical Biochemistry Leopoldo de Meis and.,the Institute of Biophysics Carlos Chagas Filho
| | - Fernanda G De Felice
- From the Institute of Medical Biochemistry Leopoldo de Meis and .,the Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario K7L 3N6, Canada
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Inhibition of Calcineurin A by FK506 Suppresses Seizures and Reduces the Expression of GluN2B in Membrane Fraction. Neurochem Res 2017; 42:2154-2166. [PMID: 28299629 DOI: 10.1007/s11064-017-2221-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2016] [Revised: 02/28/2017] [Accepted: 03/02/2017] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
FK506, a calcineurin inhibitor, shows neuroprotective effects and has been associated with neurodegenerative diseases. Calcineurin A (CaNA), a catalytic subunit of calcineurin, mediates the dephosphorylation of various proteins. N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (GluN) is closely related to epileptogenesis, and various phosphorylation sites of GluN2B, a regulatory subunit of the GluN complex, have different functions. Thus, we hypothesized that one of the potential anti-epileptic mechanisms of FK506 is mediated by its ability to promote the phosphorylation of GluN2B and reduce the expression of GluN2B in membrane fraction by down-regulating CaNA. CaNA expression was increased in the cortex of patients with temporal lobe epilepsy and pentylenetetrazol (PTZ)-induced epileptic models. CaNA was shown to be expressed in neurons using immunofluorescence staining. According to our behavioral observations, epileptic rats exhibited less severe seizures and were less sensitive to PTZ after a systemic injection of FK506. The levels of phosphorylated GluN2B were decreased in epileptic rats but increased after the FK506 treatment. Moreover, there was no difference in the total GluN2B levels before and after FK506 treatment. However, the expression of GluN2B in membrane fraction was suppressed after FK506 treatment. Based on these results, FK506 may reduce the severity and frequency of seizures by reducing the expression of GluN2B in membrane fraction.
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Bartolotti N, Segura L, Lazarov O. Diminished CRE-Induced Plasticity is Linked to Memory Deficits in Familial Alzheimer's Disease Mice. J Alzheimers Dis 2016; 50:477-89. [PMID: 26682682 DOI: 10.3233/jad-150650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
The mechanism underlying impaired learning and memory in Alzheimer's disease is not fully elucidated. The phosphorylation of cyclic-AMP response element binding protein (pCREB) in the hippocampus is thought to be a critical initiating step in the formation of long-term memories. Here, we tested CRE-driven gene expression following learning in mice harboring the familial Alzheimer's disease-linked APPswe/PS1ΔE9 mutations using CRE-β galactosidase reporter. We show that young adult APPswe/PS1ΔE9 mice exhibit impaired recognition memory and reduced levels of pCREB, and its cofactors CREB binding protein (CBP) and p-300 following a learning task, compared to their wild type littermate counterparts. Impairments in learning-induced activation of CREB in these mice are manifested by reduced CRE-driven gene transcription. Importantly, expression of the CRE-driven immediate early gene, Egr-1 (Zif268) is decreased in the CA1 region of the hippocampus. These studies implicate defective CREB-dependent plasticity in the mechanism underlying learning and memory deficits in Alzheimer's disease.
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Popugaeva E, Pchitskaya E, Bezprozvanny I. Dysregulation of neuronal calcium homeostasis in Alzheimer's disease - A therapeutic opportunity? Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2016; 483:998-1004. [PMID: 27641664 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2016.09.053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 149] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2016] [Accepted: 09/12/2016] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the disease of lost memories. Synaptic loss is a major reason for memory defects in AD. Signaling pathways involved in memory loss in AD are under intense investigation. The role of deranged neuronal calcium (Ca2+) signaling in synaptic loss in AD is described in this review. Familial AD (FAD) mutations in presenilins are linked directly with synaptic Ca2+ signaling abnormalities, most likely by affecting endoplasmic reticulum (ER) Ca2+ leak function of presenilins. Excessive ER Ca2+ release via type 2 ryanodine receptors (RyanR2) is observed in AD spines due to increase in expression and function of RyanR2. Store-operated Ca2+ entry (nSOC) pathway is disrupted in AD spines due to downregulation of STIM2 protein. Because of these Ca2+ signaling abnormalities, a balance in activities of Ca2+-calmodulin-dependent kinase II (CaMKII) and Ca2+-dependent phosphatase calcineurin (CaN) is shifted at the synapse, tilting a balance between long-term potentiation (LTP) and long-term depression (LTD) synaptic mechanisms. As a result, synapses are weakened and eliminated in AD brains by LTD mechanism, causing memory loss. Targeting synaptic calcium signaling pathways offers opportunity for development of AD therapeutic agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Popugaeva
- Laboratory of Molecular Neurodegeneration, Department of Medical Physics, Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, St. Petersburg, Russian Federation.
| | - Ekaterina Pchitskaya
- Laboratory of Molecular Neurodegeneration, Department of Medical Physics, Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, St. Petersburg, Russian Federation.
| | - Ilya Bezprozvanny
- Laboratory of Molecular Neurodegeneration, Department of Medical Physics, Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, St. Petersburg, Russian Federation; Department of Physiology, UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, Dallas, TX, USA.
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Taglialatela G, Rastellini C, Cicalese L. Reduced Incidence of Dementia in Solid Organ Transplant Patients Treated with Calcineurin Inhibitors. J Alzheimers Dis 2016; 47:329-33. [PMID: 26401556 PMCID: PMC4923720 DOI: 10.3233/jad-150065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Experimental evidence suggests that the protein phosphatase calcineurin mediates the action of amyloid-β (Aβ) oligomers, the most toxic amyloid species thought to drive initial cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, there is currently no evidence that inhibition of calcineurin could prevent the onset of AD in humans. Here, we report for the first time that individuals chronically treated with calcineurin inhibitors to prevent solid organ transplant rejection have a significantly lower incidence of AD/dementia as compared to the general population. This result prompts further clinical development of calcineurin inhibition as a viable treatment for AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulio Taglialatela
- Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Disease, Department of Neurology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA
| | - Cristiana Rastellini
- Department of Surgery, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA.,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA
| | - Luca Cicalese
- Department of Surgery, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA
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Lee S, Bang SM, Hong YK, Lee JH, Jeong H, Park SH, Liu QF, Lee IS, Cho KS. The calcineurin inhibitor Sarah (Nebula) exacerbates Aβ42 phenotypes in a Drosophila model of Alzheimer's disease. Dis Model Mech 2015; 9:295-306. [PMID: 26659252 PMCID: PMC4826976 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.018069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2014] [Accepted: 11/28/2015] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Expression of the Down syndrome critical region 1 (DSCR1) protein, an inhibitor of the Ca2+-dependent phosphatase calcineurin, is elevated in the brains of individuals with Down syndrome (DS) or Alzheimer's disease (AD). Although increased levels of DSCR1 were often observed to be deleterious to neuronal health, its beneficial effects against AD neuropathology have also been reported, and the roles of DSCR1 on the pathogenesis of AD remain controversial. Here, we investigated the role of sarah (sra; also known as nebula), a Drosophila DSCR1 ortholog, in amyloid-β42 (Aβ42)-induced neurological phenotypes in Drosophila. We detected sra expression in the mushroom bodies of the fly brain, which are a center for learning and memory in flies. Moreover, similar to humans with AD, Aβ42-expressing flies showed increased Sra levels in the brain, demonstrating that the expression pattern of DSCR1 with regard to AD pathogenesis is conserved in Drosophila. Interestingly, overexpression of sra using the UAS-GAL4 system exacerbated the rough-eye phenotype, decreased survival rates and increased neuronal cell death in Aβ42-expressing flies, without modulating Aβ42 expression. Moreover, neuronal overexpression of sra in combination with Aβ42 dramatically reduced both locomotor activity and the adult lifespan of flies, whereas flies with overexpression of sra alone showed normal climbing ability, albeit with a slightly reduced lifespan. Similarly, treatment with chemical inhibitors of calcineurin, such as FK506 and cyclosporin A, or knockdown of calcineurin expression by RNA interference (RNAi), exacerbated the Aβ42-induced rough-eye phenotype. Furthermore, sra-overexpressing flies displayed significantly decreased mitochondrial DNA and ATP levels, as well as increased susceptibility to oxidative stress compared to that of control flies. Taken together, our results demonstrating that sra overexpression augments Aβ42 cytotoxicity in Drosophila suggest that DSCR1 upregulation or calcineurin downregulation in the brain might exacerbate Aβ42-associated neuropathogenesis in AD or DS. Drosophila Collection: Chronically increased levels of Sarah (Nebula), a calcineurin inhibitor, cause mitochondria dysfunction and subsequently increased Aβ42-induced cytotoxicity in Drosophila.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soojin Lee
- Department of Biological Sciences, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea
| | - Se Min Bang
- Department of Biological Sciences, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea
| | - Yoon Ki Hong
- Department of Biological Sciences, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea
| | - Jang Ho Lee
- Department of Biological Sciences, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea
| | - Haemin Jeong
- Department of Biological Sciences, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea
| | - Seung Hwan Park
- Department of Biological Sciences, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea
| | - Quan Feng Liu
- Department of Oriental Medicine, Dongguk University, Gyeogju 38066, Republic of Korea Department of Oriental Neuropsychiatry, Graduate School of Oriental Medicine, Dongguk University, Gyeonggi 10326, Republic of Korea
| | - Im-Soon Lee
- Department of Biological Sciences, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyoung Sang Cho
- Department of Biological Sciences, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea
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EPPS rescues hippocampus-dependent cognitive deficits in APP/PS1 mice by disaggregation of amyloid-β oligomers and plaques. Nat Commun 2015; 6:8997. [PMID: 26646366 PMCID: PMC4686862 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms9997] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2015] [Accepted: 10/23/2015] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by the transition of amyloid-β (Aβ) monomers into toxic oligomers and plaques. Given that Aβ abnormality typically precedes the development of clinical symptoms, an agent capable of disaggregating existing Aβ aggregates may be advantageous. Here we report that a small molecule, 4-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1-piperazinepropanesulphonic acid (EPPS), binds to Aβ aggregates and converts them into monomers. The oral administration of EPPS substantially reduces hippocampus-dependent behavioural deficits, brain Aβ oligomer and plaque deposits, glial γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) release and brain inflammation in an Aβ-overexpressing, APP/PS1 transgenic mouse model when initiated after the development of severe AD-like phenotypes. The ability of EPPS to rescue Aβ aggregation and behavioural deficits provides strong support for the view that the accumulation of Aβ is an important mechanism underlying AD. Amyloid-beta deposits are a pathological hallmark of Alzheimer's disease, and have previously been targeted in immunisation therapies. Here, the authors show that oral administration of the small molecule EPPS reduces Aß plaque and oligomer load in APP/PS1 mice and improves learning and memory performance.
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Kim S, Violette CJ, Ziff EB. Reduction of increased calcineurin activity rescues impaired homeostatic synaptic plasticity in presenilin 1 M146V mutant. Neurobiol Aging 2015; 36:3239-3246. [PMID: 26455952 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2015.09.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2015] [Revised: 09/09/2015] [Accepted: 09/10/2015] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is one of the most common neurodegenerative diseases characterized by memory loss and cognitive impairment. Whereas most AD cases are sporadic, some are caused by mutations in early-onset familial AD (FAD) genes. One FAD gene encodes presenilin 1 (PS1), and a PS1 mutation in methionine 146 impairs homeostatic synaptic plasticity (HSP). We have previously shown that Ca(2+) and calcineurin activity are critical regulators of HSP. Here, we confirm that endoplasmic reticulum-mediated Ca(2+) signals are increased in mutant PS1 neurons. We further show that calcineurin activity is abnormally elevated in the mutant and that inhibition of increased calcineurin activity stabilizes GluA1 phosphorylation, promoting synaptic trafficking of Ca(2+)-permeable α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) receptors, contributing to the recovery of impaired HSP found in the mutant. Because HSP is suggested to have roles during learning and memory formation, increased calcineurin activity-induced impairment of HSP can cause cognitive decline in FAD. Thus, reducing abnormally increased calcineurin activity in AD brain may be beneficial for improving AD-related cognitive decline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seonil Kim
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, NY, USA.
| | | | - Edward B Ziff
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, NY, USA.
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Development of a Fluorescent Quenching Based High Throughput Assay to Screen for Calcineurin Inhibitors. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0131297. [PMID: 26176772 PMCID: PMC4503349 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0131297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2015] [Accepted: 05/11/2015] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Currently there is no effective treatment available for major neurodegenerative disorders associated to protein misfolding, including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. One of most promising therapeutic approaches under development focuses on inhibiting the misfolding and aggregation pathway. However, it is likely that by the time clinical symptoms appear, there is a large accumulation of misfolded aggregates and a very substantial damage to the brain. Thus, it seems that at the clinical stage of the disease it is necessary also to develop strategies aiming to prevent the neuronal damage produced by already formed misfolded aggregates. Chronic activation of calcineurin (CaN), a type IIB phosphatase, has been implicated as a pivotal molecule connecting synaptic loss and neuronal damage to protein misfolding. The fact that the crystal structure of CaN is also well established makes it an ideal target for drug discovery. CaN activity assays for High Throughput Screening (HTS) reported so far are based on absorbance. In this article we report the development of a fluorescent quenching based CaN activity assay suitable for robotic screening of large chemical libraries to find novel inhibitors. The assay yielded a Z score of 0.84 with coefficient of variance ≤ 15%. Our results also show that this assay can be used to identify CaN inhibitors with a wide range of potencies.
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Rao SK, Ross JM, Harrison FE, Bernardo A, Reiserer RS, Reiserer RS, Mobley JA, McDonald MP. Differential proteomic and behavioral effects of long-term voluntary exercise in wild-type and APP-overexpressing transgenics. Neurobiol Dis 2015; 78:45-55. [PMID: 25818006 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2015.03.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2014] [Revised: 03/12/2015] [Accepted: 03/13/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Physical exercise may provide protection against the cognitive decline and neuropathology associated with Alzheimer's disease, although the mechanisms are not clear. In the present study, APP/PSEN1 double-transgenic and wild-type mice were allowed unlimited voluntary exercise for 7months. Consistent with previous reports, wheel-running improved cognition in the double-transgenic mice. Interestingly, the average daily distance run was strongly correlated with spatial memory in the water maze in wild-type mice (r(2)=.959), but uncorrelated in transgenics (r(2)=.013). Proteomics analysis showed that sedentary transgenic mice differed significantly from sedentary wild-types with respect to proteins involved in synaptic transmission, cytoskeletal regulation, and neurogenesis. When given an opportunity to exercise, the transgenics' deficiencies in cytoskeletal regulation and neurogenesis largely normalized, but abnormal synaptic proteins did not change. In contrast, exercise enhanced proteins associated with cytoskeletal regulation, oxidative phosphorylation, and synaptic transmission in wild-type mice. Soluble and insoluble Aβ40 and Aβ42 levels were significantly decreased in both cortex and hippocampus of active transgenics, suggesting that this may have played a role in the cognitive improvement in APP/PSEN1 mice. β-secretase was significantly reduced in active APP/PSEN1 mice compared to sedentary controls, suggesting a mechanism for reduced Aβ. Taken together, these data illustrate that exercise improves memory in wild-type and APP-overexpressing mice in fundamentally different ways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shailaja Kishan Rao
- Departments of Neurology and Anatomy & Neurobiology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA
| | - Jordan M Ross
- Departments of Neurology and Anatomy & Neurobiology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA
| | - Fiona E Harrison
- Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37204, USA; Program in Neuroscience, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37204, USA
| | - Alexandra Bernardo
- Program in Neuroscience, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37204, USA; Institute of Neurobiology, Medical Sciences Campus University of Puerto Rico, Old San Juan, PR 00901, USA
| | - Randall S Reiserer
- Program in Neuroscience, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37204, USA
| | - Ronald S Reiserer
- Vanderbilt Institute for Integrative Biosystems Research and Education, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37204, USA
| | - James A Mobley
- Department of Surgery, University of Alabama, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Michael P McDonald
- Departments of Neurology and Anatomy & Neurobiology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA.
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44
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Blair LJ, Baker JD, Sabbagh JJ, Dickey CA. The emerging role of peptidyl-prolyl isomerase chaperones in tau oligomerization, amyloid processing, and Alzheimer's disease. J Neurochem 2015; 133:1-13. [PMID: 25628064 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.13033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2014] [Revised: 12/12/2014] [Accepted: 01/05/2015] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Peptidyl-prolyl cis/trans isomerases (PPIases), a unique family of molecular chaperones, regulate protein folding at proline residues. These residues are abundant within intrinsically disordered proteins, like the microtubule-associated protein tau. Tau has been shown to become hyperphosphorylated and accumulate as one of the two main pathological hallmarks in Alzheimer's disease, the other being amyloid beta (Ab). PPIases, including Pin1, FK506-binding protein (FKBP) 52, FKBP51, and FKBP12, have been shown to interact with and regulate tau biology. This interaction is particularly important given the numerous proline-directed phosphorylation sites found on tau and the role phosphorylation has been found to play in pathogenesis. This regulation then affects downstream aggregation and oligomerization of tau. However, many PPIases have yet to be explored for their effects on tau biology, despite the high likelihood of interaction based on proline content. Moreover, Pin1, FKBP12, FKBP52, cyclophilin (Cyp) A, CypB, and CypD have been shown to also regulate Ab production or the toxicity associated with Ab pathology. Therefore, PPIases directly and indirectly regulate pathogenic protein multimerization in Alzheimer's disease and represent a family rich in targets for modulating the accumulation and toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura J Blair
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Byrd Alzheimer's Institute, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA
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45
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Hung TC, Chang TT, Fan MJ, Lee CC, Chen CYC. In Silico Insight into Potent of Anthocyanin Regulation of FKBP52 to Prevent Alzheimer's Disease. EVIDENCE-BASED COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE : ECAM 2014; 2014:450592. [PMID: 24899909 PMCID: PMC4036721 DOI: 10.1155/2014/450592] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2013] [Revised: 01/03/2014] [Accepted: 01/03/2014] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is caused by the hyperphosphorylation of Tau protein aggregation. FKBP52 (FK506 binding protein 52) has been found to inhibit Tau protein aggregation. This study found six different kinds of anthocyanins that have high binding potential. After analyzing the docking positions, hydrophobic interactions, and hydrogen bond interactions, several amino acids were identified that play important roles in protein and ligand interaction. The proteins' variation is described using eigenvectors and the distance between the amino acids during a molecular dynamics simulation (MD). This study investigates the three loops based around Glu85, Tyr113, and Lys121-all of which are important in inducing FKBP52 activation. By performing a molecular dynamic simulation process between unbound proteins and the protein complex with FK506, it was found that ligand targets that docked onto the FK1 domain will decrease the distance between Glu85/Tyr113 and Glu85/Lys121. The FKBP52 structure variation may induce FKBP52 activation and inhibit Tau protein aggregation. The results indicate that anthocyanins might change the conformation of FKBP52 during binding. In addition, the purple anthocyanins, such as cyanidin-3-glucoside and malvidin-3-glucoside, might be better than FK506 in regulating FKBP52 and treating Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tzu-Chieh Hung
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Asia University, Taichung 41354, Taiwan
| | - Tung-Ti Chang
- School of Chinese Medicine, College of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung 40402, Taiwan
| | - Ming-Jen Fan
- Department of Biotechnology, Asia University, Taichung 41354, Taiwan
- Department of Biological Science and Technology, China Medical University, Taichung 40402, Taiwan
| | - Cheng-Chun Lee
- School of Medicine, College of Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung 40402, Taiwan
| | - Calvin Yu-Chian Chen
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Asia University, Taichung 41354, Taiwan
- School of Medicine, College of Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung 40402, Taiwan
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46
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Lee SH, Kim Y, Kim HY, Kim YH, Kim MS, Kong JY, Lee MH, Kim DJ, Ahn YG. Aminostyrylbenzofuran directly reduces oligomeric amyloid-β and reverses cognitive deficits in Alzheimer transgenic mice. PLoS One 2014; 9:e95733. [PMID: 24760018 PMCID: PMC3997483 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0095733] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2013] [Accepted: 03/29/2014] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease is an irreversible neurodegenerative disorder that is characterized by the abnormal aggregation of amyloid-β into neurotoxic oligomers and plaques. Although many disease-modifying molecules are currently in Alzheimer clinical trials, a small molecule that inhibits amyloid-β aggregation and ameliorates the disorder has not been approved to date. Herein, we report the effects of a potent small molecule, 6-methoxy-2-(4-dimethylaminostyryl) benzofuran (KMS88009), that directly disrupts amyloid-β oligomerization, preserving cognitive behavior when used prophylactically and reversing declines in cognitive behavior when used therapeutically. KMS88009 exhibited excellent pharmacokinetic profiles with extensive brain uptake and a high level of safety. When orally administered before and after the onset of Alzheimer's disease symptoms, KMS88009 significantly reduced assembly of amyloid-β oligomers and improved cognitive behaviors in the APP/PS1 double transgenic mouse model. The unique dual mode of action indicates that KMS88009 may be a powerful therapeutic candidate for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sang-Hyun Lee
- Hanmi Research Center, Hanmi Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Hwaseong-si, Gyonggi-do, Republic of Korea
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - YoungSoo Kim
- Center for Neuro-Medicine, Brain Science Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Biological Chemistry Program, University of Science and Technology (UST), Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Hye Yun Kim
- Center for Neuro-Medicine, Brain Science Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Biological Chemistry Program, University of Science and Technology (UST), Daejeon, Republic of Korea
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, Seoul National University, College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Young Hoon Kim
- Hanmi Research Center, Hanmi Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Hwaseong-si, Gyonggi-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Maeng Sup Kim
- Hanmi Research Center, Hanmi Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Hwaseong-si, Gyonggi-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Jae Yang Kong
- College of Pharmacy, Keimyung University, Daegu, Republic of Korea
| | - Mun-Han Lee
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Dong Jin Kim
- Center for Neuro-Medicine, Brain Science Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- * E-mail: (DJK); (YGA)
| | - Young Gil Ahn
- Hanmi Research Center, Hanmi Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Hwaseong-si, Gyonggi-do, Republic of Korea
- * E-mail: (DJK); (YGA)
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47
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Puzzo D, Lee L, Palmeri A, Calabrese G, Arancio O. Behavioral assays with mouse models of Alzheimer's disease: practical considerations and guidelines. Biochem Pharmacol 2014; 88:450-67. [PMID: 24462904 PMCID: PMC4014001 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2014.01.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 125] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2013] [Revised: 01/09/2014] [Accepted: 01/09/2014] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
In Alzheimer's disease (AD) basic research and drug discovery, mouse models are essential resources for uncovering biological mechanisms, validating molecular targets and screening potential compounds. Both transgenic and non-genetically modified mouse models enable access to different types of AD-like pathology in vivo. Although there is a wealth of genetic and biochemical studies on proposed AD pathogenic pathways, as a disease that centrally features cognitive failure, the ultimate readout for any interventions should be measures of learning and memory. This is particularly important given the lack of knowledge on disease etiology - assessment by cognitive assays offers the advantage of targeting relevant memory systems without requiring assumptions about pathogenesis. A multitude of behavioral assays are available for assessing cognitive functioning in mouse models, including ones specific for hippocampal-dependent learning and memory. Here we review the basics of available transgenic and non-transgenic AD mouse models and detail three well-established behavioral tasks commonly used for testing hippocampal-dependent cognition in mice - contextual fear conditioning, radial arm water maze and Morris water maze. In particular, we discuss the practical considerations, requirements and caveats of these behavioral testing paradigms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Puzzo
- Department of Bio-Medical Sciences - Section of Physiology, University of Catania, Viale A. Doria 6, Catania 95125, Italy
| | - Linda Lee
- Department of Pathology & Cell Biology, The Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain, Columbia University, P&S #12-420D, 630W 168th Street, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Agostino Palmeri
- Department of Bio-Medical Sciences - Section of Physiology, University of Catania, Viale A. Doria 6, Catania 95125, Italy
| | - Giorgio Calabrese
- Department of Pharmacy, Federico II University, Via D. Montesano 49, Naples 80131, Italy
| | - Ottavio Arancio
- Department of Pathology & Cell Biology, The Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain, Columbia University, P&S #12-420D, 630W 168th Street, New York, NY 10032, USA.
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48
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Cochran JN, Hall AM, Roberson ED. The dendritic hypothesis for Alzheimer's disease pathophysiology. Brain Res Bull 2014; 103:18-28. [PMID: 24333192 PMCID: PMC3989444 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2013.12.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2013] [Revised: 11/28/2013] [Accepted: 12/02/2013] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Converging evidence indicates that processes occurring in and around neuronal dendrites are central to the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease. These data support the concept of a "dendritic hypothesis" of AD, closely related to the existing synaptic hypothesis. Here we detail dendritic neuropathology in the disease and examine how Aβ, tau, and AD genetic risk factors affect dendritic structure and function. Finally, we consider potential mechanisms by which these key drivers could affect dendritic integrity and disease progression. These dendritic mechanisms serve as a framework for therapeutic target identification and for efforts to develop disease-modifying therapeutics for Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Nicholas Cochran
- Center for Neurodegeneration and Experimental Therapeutics, Departments of Neurology and Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, United States
| | - Alicia M Hall
- Center for Neurodegeneration and Experimental Therapeutics, Departments of Neurology and Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, United States
| | - Erik D Roberson
- Center for Neurodegeneration and Experimental Therapeutics, Departments of Neurology and Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, United States.
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49
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Cavallucci V, Berretta N, Nobili A, Nisticò R, Mercuri NB, D'Amelio M. Calcineurin inhibition rescues early synaptic plasticity deficits in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease. Neuromolecular Med 2013; 15:541-8. [PMID: 23821337 DOI: 10.1007/s12017-013-8241-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2013] [Accepted: 06/21/2013] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Functional and ultrastructural investigations support the concept that altered brain connectivity, exhausted neural plasticity, and synaptic loss are the strongest correlates of cognitive decline in age-related neurodegenerative dementia of Alzheimer's type. We have previously demonstrated that in transgenic mice, expressing amyloid-β precursor protein-Swedish mutation active caspase-3 accumulates in hippocampal postsynaptic compartments leading to altered postsynaptic density (PSD) composition, increased long-term depression (LTD), and dendritic spine loss. Furthermore, we found strong evidence that dendritic spine alteration is mediated by calcineurin activation, a calcium-dependent phosphatase involved in synapse signaling. In the present work, we analyzed the molecular mechanism linking alteration of synaptic plasticity to the increase of calcineurin activity. We found that acute treatment of young and plaque-free transgenic mice with the calcineurin inhibitor FK506 leads to a complete rescue of LTD and PSD composition. Our findings are in agreement with other results reporting that calcineurin inhibition improves memory function and restores dendritic spine density, confirming that calcineurin inhibition may be explored as a neuroprotective treatment to stop or slowdown synaptic alterations in Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Virve Cavallucci
- Department of Experimental Neurosciences, IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Via del Fosso di Fiorano, 64/65, 00143, Rome, Italy
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50
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Fadel JR, Jolivalt CG, Reagan LP. Food for thought: the role of appetitive peptides in age-related cognitive decline. Ageing Res Rev 2013; 12:764-76. [PMID: 23416469 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2013.01.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2012] [Revised: 01/22/2013] [Accepted: 01/25/2013] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Through their well described actions in the hypothalamus, appetitive peptides such as insulin, orexin and leptin are recognized as important regulators of food intake, body weight and body composition. Beyond these metabolic activities, these peptides also are critically involved in a wide variety of activities ranging from modulation of immune and neuroendocrine function to addictive behaviors and reproduction. The neurological activities of insulin, orexin and leptin also include facilitation of hippocampal synaptic plasticity and enhancement of cognitive performance. While patients with metabolic disorders such as obesity and diabetes have greater risk of developing cognitive deficits, dementia and Alzheimer's disease (AD), the underlying mechanisms that are responsible for, or contribute to, age-related cognitive decline are poorly understood. In view of the importance of these peptides in metabolic disorders, it is not surprising that there is a greater focus on their potential role in cognitive deficits associated with aging. The goal of this review is to describe the evidence from clinical and pre-clinical studies implicating insulin, orexin and leptin in the etiology and progression of age-related cognitive decline. Collectively, these studies support the hypothesis that leptin and insulin resistance, concepts normally associated with the hypothalamus, are also applicable to the hippocampus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jim R Fadel
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology and Neuroscience, School of Medicine, University of South Carolina, 6439 Garners Ferry Road, Columbia, SC 29208, USA
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