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Ning L, Shen R, Xie B, Jiang Y, Geng X, Dong W. AMPA receptors in Alzheimer disease: Pathological changes and potential therapeutic targets. J Neuropathol Exp Neurol 2024:nlae093. [PMID: 39235983 DOI: 10.1093/jnen/nlae093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer disease (AD) is a prevalent neurodegenerative disorder that affects synapses and leads to progressive cognitive decline. The role of N-methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA) receptors in the pathogenesis of AD is well-established as they contribute to excitotoxicity and neurodegeneration in the pathological process of extrasynaptic glutamate concentration. However, the therapeutic potential of the NMDA receptor antagonist memantine in rescuing synaptic damage is limited. Research indicates that α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionate (AMPA) receptors also play a significant role in AD. Abnormal transcription, expression, and localization of AMPA receptors lead to synaptic dysfunction and damage, contributing to early cognitive impairment in AD patients. Understanding the impact of AMPA receptors on AD pathogenesis and exploring the potential for the development of AMPA receptor-targeting drugs are crucial. This review aims to consolidate recent research findings on AMPA receptors in AD, elucidate the current state of AMPA receptor research and lay the foundation for future basic research and drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luying Ning
- Key Laboratory of Medical Electrophysiology, Ministry of Education & Medical Electrophysiological Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Institute of Cardiovascular Research, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, China
| | - Rongjing Shen
- Key Laboratory of Medical Electrophysiology, Ministry of Education & Medical Electrophysiological Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Institute of Cardiovascular Research, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, China
| | - Bingqing Xie
- Laboratory of Neurological Diseases and Brain Function, Institute of Epigenetics and Brain Science, Department of Neurosurgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, China
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, China
| | - Yong Jiang
- Laboratory of Neurological Diseases and Brain Function, Institute of Epigenetics and Brain Science, Department of Neurosurgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, China
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, China
| | - Xiaoqi Geng
- Key Laboratory of Medical Electrophysiology, Ministry of Education & Medical Electrophysiological Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Institute of Cardiovascular Research, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, China
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, China
| | - Wei Dong
- Key Laboratory of Medical Electrophysiology, Ministry of Education & Medical Electrophysiological Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Institute of Cardiovascular Research, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, China
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Botella Lucena P, Heneka MT. Inflammatory aspects of Alzheimer's disease. Acta Neuropathol 2024; 148:31. [PMID: 39196440 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-024-02790-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2024] [Revised: 08/14/2024] [Accepted: 08/15/2024] [Indexed: 08/29/2024]
Abstract
Alzheimer´s disease (AD) stands out as the most common chronic neurodegenerative disorder. AD is characterized by progressive cognitive decline and memory loss, with neurodegeneration as its primary pathological feature. The role of neuroinflammation in the disease course has become a focus of intense research. While microglia, the brain's resident macrophages, have been pivotal to study central immune inflammation, recent evidence underscores the contributions of other cellular entities to the neuroinflammatory process. In this article, we review the inflammatory role of microglia and astrocytes, focusing on their interactions with AD's core pathologies, amyloid beta deposition, and tau tangle formation. Additionally, we also discuss how different modes of regulated cell death in AD may impact the chronic neuroinflammatory environment. This review aims to highlight the evolving landscape of neuroinflammatory research in AD and underscores the importance of considering multiple cellular contributors when developing new therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pablo Botella Lucena
- Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine, University of Luxembourg, 6, Avenue du Swing, Belvaux, L-4367, Esch-Belval, Luxembourg
| | - Michael T Heneka
- Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine, University of Luxembourg, 6, Avenue du Swing, Belvaux, L-4367, Esch-Belval, Luxembourg.
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA.
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3
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Degl'Innocenti E, Poloni TE, Medici V, Olimpico F, Finamore F, Profka X, Bascarane K, Morrone C, Pastore A, Escartin C, McDonnell LA, Dell'Anno MT. Astrocytic centrin-2 expression in entorhinal cortex correlates with Alzheimer's disease severity. Glia 2024. [PMID: 39145525 DOI: 10.1002/glia.24603] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2024] [Revised: 07/23/2024] [Accepted: 07/29/2024] [Indexed: 08/16/2024]
Abstract
Astrogliosis is a condition shared by acute and chronic neurological diseases and includes morphological, proteomic, and functional rearrangements of astroglia. In Alzheimer's disease (AD), reactive astrocytes frame amyloid deposits and exhibit structural changes associated with the overexpression of specific proteins, mostly belonging to intermediate filaments. At a functional level, amyloid beta triggers dysfunctional calcium signaling in astrocytes, which contributes to the maintenance of chronic neuroinflammation. Therefore, the identification of intracellular players that participate in astrocyte calcium signaling can help unveil the mechanisms underlying astrocyte reactivity and loss of function in AD. We have recently identified the calcium-binding protein centrin-2 (CETN2) as a novel astrocyte marker in the human brain and, in order to determine whether astrocytic CETN2 expression and distribution could be affected by neurodegenerative conditions, we examined its pattern in control and sporadic AD patients. By immunoblot, immunohistochemistry, and targeted-mass spectrometry, we report a positive correlation between entorhinal CETN2 immunoreactivity and neurocognitive impairment, along with the abundance of amyloid depositions and neurofibrillary tangles, thus highlighting a linear relationship between CETN2 expression and AD progression. CETN2-positive astrocytes were dispersed in the entorhinal cortex with a clustered pattern and colocalized with reactive glia markers STAT3, NFATc3, and YKL-40, indicating a human-specific role in AD-induced astrogliosis. Collectively, our data provide the first evidence that CETN2 is part of the astrocytic calcium toolkit undergoing rearrangements in AD and adds CETN2 to the list of proteins that could play a role in disease evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Degl'Innocenti
- Fondazione Pisana per la Scienza ONLUS, San Giuliano Terme, Italy
- Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Tino Emanuele Poloni
- Department of Neurology and Neuropathology, Golgi-Cenci Foundation & ASP Golgi-Redaelli, Abbiategrasso, Italy
| | - Valentina Medici
- Department of Neurology and Neuropathology, Golgi-Cenci Foundation & ASP Golgi-Redaelli, Abbiategrasso, Italy
| | | | | | - Xhulja Profka
- Department of Neurology and Neuropathology, Golgi-Cenci Foundation & ASP Golgi-Redaelli, Abbiategrasso, Italy
| | - Karouna Bascarane
- Laboratoire des Maladies Neurodégénératives, Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, MIRCen, Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
| | - Castrese Morrone
- Fondazione Pisana per la Scienza ONLUS, San Giuliano Terme, Italy
| | - Aldo Pastore
- Fondazione Pisana per la Scienza ONLUS, San Giuliano Terme, Italy
- Laboratorio NEST, Scuola Normale Superiore, Pisa, Italy
| | - Carole Escartin
- Laboratoire des Maladies Neurodégénératives, Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, MIRCen, Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
| | - Liam A McDonnell
- Fondazione Pisana per la Scienza ONLUS, San Giuliano Terme, Italy
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Kramer M, Hoang TH, Yang H, Shchyglo O, Böge J, Neubacher U, Colitti-Klausnitzer J, Manahan-Vaughan D. Intracerebral inoculation of healthy non-transgenic rats with a single aliquot of oligomeric amyloid-β (1-42) profoundly and progressively alters brain function throughout life. Front Aging Neurosci 2024; 16:1397901. [PMID: 39156737 PMCID: PMC11327071 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2024.1397901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2024] [Accepted: 07/09/2024] [Indexed: 08/20/2024] Open
Abstract
One of the puzzling aspects of sporadic Alzheimer's disease (AD) is how it commences. Changes in one key brain peptide, amyloid-beta (Aβ), accompany disease progression, but whether this comprises a trigger or a consequence of AD is still a topic of debate. It is clear however that the cerebral presence of oligomeric Aβ (1-42) is a key factor in early AD-pathogenesis. Furthermore, treatment of rodent brains with oligomeric Aβ (1-42) either in vitro or in vivo, acutely impairs hippocampal synaptic plasticity, creating a link between Aβ-pathology and learning impairments. Here, we show that a once-off inoculation of the brains of healthy adult rats with oligomeric Aβ (1-42) exerts debilitating effects on the long-term viability of the hippocampus, one of the primary targets of AD. Changes are progressive: months after treatment, synaptic plasticity, neuronal firing and spatial learning are impaired and expression of plasticity-related proteins are changed, in the absence of amyloid plaques. Early changes relate to activation of microglia, whereas later changes are associated with a reconstruction of astroglial morphology. These data suggest that a disruption of Aβ homeostasis may suffice to trigger an irreversible cascade, underlying progressive loss of hippocampal function, that parallels the early stages of AD.
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Akyuz E, Arulsamy A, Aslan FS, Sarisözen B, Guney B, Hekimoglu A, Yilmaz BN, Retinasamy T, Shaikh MF. An Expanded Narrative Review of Neurotransmitters on Alzheimer's Disease: The Role of Therapeutic Interventions on Neurotransmission. Mol Neurobiol 2024:10.1007/s12035-024-04333-y. [PMID: 39012443 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-024-04333-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 06/24/2024] [Indexed: 07/17/2024]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease. The accumulation of amyloid-β (Aβ) plaques and tau neurofibrillary tangles are the key players responsible for the pathogenesis of the disease. The accumulation of Aβ plaques and tau affect the balance in chemical neurotransmitters in the brain. Thus, the current review examined the role of neurotransmitters in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease and discusses the alterations in the neurochemical activity and cross talk with their receptors and transporters. In the presence of Aβ plaques and neurofibrillary tangles, changes may occur in the expression of neuronal receptors which in turn triggers excessive release of glutamate into the synaptic cleft contributing to cell death and neuronal damage. The GABAergic system may also be affected by AD pathology in a similar way. In addition, decreased receptors in the cholinergic system and dysfunction in the dopamine neurotransmission of AD pathology may also contribute to the damage to cognitive function. Moreover, the presence of deficiencies in noradrenergic neurons within the locus coeruleus in AD suggests that noradrenergic stimulation could be useful in addressing its pathophysiology. The regulation of melatonin, known for its effectiveness in enhancing cognitive function and preventing Aβ accumulation, along with the involvement of the serotonergic system and histaminergic system in cognition and memory, becomes remarkable for promoting neurotransmission in AD. Additionally, nitric oxide and adenosine-based therapeutic approaches play a protective role in AD by preventing neuroinflammation. Overall, neurotransmitter-based therapeutic strategies emerge as pivotal for addressing neurotransmitter homeostasis and neurotransmission in the context of AD. This review discussed the potential for neurotransmitter-based drugs to be effective in slowing and correcting the neurodegenerative processes in AD by targeting the neurochemical imbalance in the brain. Therefore, neurotransmitter-based drugs could serve as a future therapeutic strategy to tackle AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enes Akyuz
- Department of Biophysics, International School of Medicine, University of Health Sciences, Istanbul, Turkey
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Alina Arulsamy
- Neuropharmacology Research Laboratory, Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University Malaysia, 47500, Bandar Sunway, Selangor, Malaysia.
| | | | - Bugra Sarisözen
- School of Medicine, Tekirdağ Namık Kemal University, Tekirdağ, Turkey
| | - Beyzanur Guney
- International School of Medicine, University of Health Sciences, Istanbul, Turkey
| | | | - Beyza Nur Yilmaz
- International School of Medicine, University of Health Sciences, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Thaarvena Retinasamy
- Neuropharmacology Research Laboratory, Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University Malaysia, 47500, Bandar Sunway, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Mohd Farooq Shaikh
- Neuropharmacology Research Laboratory, Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University Malaysia, 47500, Bandar Sunway, Selangor, Malaysia.
- School of Dentistry and Medical Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Orange, New South Wales, 2800, Australia.
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Vargas-Barona A, Bernáldez-Sarabia J, Castro-Ceseña AB. Lipid-polymer hybrid nanoparticles loaded with N-acetylcysteine for the modulation of neuroinflammatory biomarkers in human iPSC-derived PSEN2 (N141I) astrocytes as a model of Alzheimer's disease. J Mater Chem B 2024; 12:5085-5097. [PMID: 38713059 DOI: 10.1039/d4tb00521j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/08/2024]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease characterized by cognitive impairment associated with the accumulation of beta-amyloid protein (Aβ). Aβ activates glial cells in the brain, increasing the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines, which leads to neuroinflammation and neuronal death. Currently, there are no effective treatments that cure or stop its progression; therefore, AD is considered a global health priority. The main limitations are the low drug bioavailability and impermeability of the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Fortunately, nanomedicine has emerged as a promising field for the development of new nanosystems for the controlled and targeted delivery of drugs to the brain. Therefore, in this work, lipid-polymer hybrid nanoparticles (LPHNPs) conjugated with transferrin (Tf) to facilitate crossing the BBB and loaded with N-acetylcysteine (NAC) for its anti-inflammatory effect were synthesized, and their physicochemical characterization was carried out. Subsequently, an in vitro model involving human astrocytes derived from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) from an AD-diagnosed patient was developed, which was brought to a reactive state by stimulation with lipopolysaccharides (LPSs). The cell culture was treated with either Tf-conjugated LPHNPs loaded with NAC (NAC-Tf-LPHNPs) at 0.25 mg mL-1, or free NAC at 5 mM. The results showed that NAC-Tf-LPHNPs favorably modulated the expression of proinflammatory genes such as interleukin-1β (IL-1β), amyloid precursor protein (APP) and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP). In addition, they reduced the secretion of the proinflammatory cytokines interleukin 6 (IL-6), IL-1β and interferon-gamma (INF-γ). Results for both cases were compared to the group of cells that did not receive any treatment. In contrast, free NAC only had this effect on the expression of IL-1β and the secretion of the cytokines IL-6 and INF-γ. These results indicate the potential of NAC-Tf-LPHNPs for AD treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alondra Vargas-Barona
- Departamento de Innovación Biomédica, Centro de Investigación Científica y de Educación Superior de Ensenada, Baja California (CICESE), Carretera Ensenada- Tijuana No. 3918, Zona Playitas, C.P. 22860, Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico.
| | - Johanna Bernáldez-Sarabia
- Departamento de Innovación Biomédica, Centro de Investigación Científica y de Educación Superior de Ensenada, Baja California (CICESE), Carretera Ensenada- Tijuana No. 3918, Zona Playitas, C.P. 22860, Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico.
| | - Ana B Castro-Ceseña
- Departamento de Innovación Biomédica, Centro de Investigación Científica y de Educación Superior de Ensenada, Baja California (CICESE), Carretera Ensenada- Tijuana No. 3918, Zona Playitas, C.P. 22860, Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico.
- CONAHCYT-Departamento de Innovación Biomédica, Centro de Investigación Científica y de Educación Superior de Ensenada, Baja California (CICESE), Carretera Ensenada-Tijuana No. 3918, Zona Playitas, C.P. 22860, Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico
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Prasanth MI, Sivamaruthi BS, Cheong CSY, Verma K, Tencomnao T, Brimson JM, Prasansuklab A. Role of Epigenetic Modulation in Neurodegenerative Diseases: Implications of Phytochemical Interventions. Antioxidants (Basel) 2024; 13:606. [PMID: 38790711 PMCID: PMC11118909 DOI: 10.3390/antiox13050606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2024] [Revised: 05/10/2024] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Epigenetics defines changes in cell function without involving alterations in DNA sequence. Neuroepigenetics bridges neuroscience and epigenetics by regulating gene expression in the nervous system and its impact on brain function. With the increase in research in recent years, it was observed that alterations in the gene expression did not always originate from changes in the genetic sequence, which has led to understanding the role of epigenetics in neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs) including Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD). Epigenetic alterations contribute to the aberrant expression of genes involved in neuroinflammation, protein aggregation, and neuronal death. Natural phytochemicals have shown promise as potential therapeutic agents against NDDs because of their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective effects in cellular and animal models. For instance, resveratrol (grapes), curcumin (turmeric), and epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG; green tea) exhibit neuroprotective effects through their influence on DNA methylation patterns, histone acetylation, and non-coding RNA expression profiles. Phytochemicals also aid in slowing disease progression, preserving neuronal function, and enhancing cognitive and motor abilities. The present review focuses on various epigenetic modifications involved in the pathology of NDDs, including AD and PD, gene expression regulation related to epigenetic alterations, and the role of specific polyphenols in influencing epigenetic modifications in AD and PD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mani Iyer Prasanth
- Natural Products for Neuroprotection and Anti-Ageing Research Unit, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand; (M.I.P.); (C.S.Y.C.); (K.V.); (T.T.); (J.M.B.)
- Department of Clinical Chemistry, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
| | - Bhagavathi Sundaram Sivamaruthi
- Office of Research Administration, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand;
- Innovation Center for Holistic Health, Nutraceuticals, and Cosmeceuticals, Faculty of Pharmacy, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
| | - Clerance Su Yee Cheong
- Natural Products for Neuroprotection and Anti-Ageing Research Unit, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand; (M.I.P.); (C.S.Y.C.); (K.V.); (T.T.); (J.M.B.)
- Department of Clinical Chemistry, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
| | - Kanika Verma
- Natural Products for Neuroprotection and Anti-Ageing Research Unit, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand; (M.I.P.); (C.S.Y.C.); (K.V.); (T.T.); (J.M.B.)
- Department of Clinical Chemistry, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
| | - Tewin Tencomnao
- Natural Products for Neuroprotection and Anti-Ageing Research Unit, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand; (M.I.P.); (C.S.Y.C.); (K.V.); (T.T.); (J.M.B.)
- Department of Clinical Chemistry, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
| | - James Michael Brimson
- Natural Products for Neuroprotection and Anti-Ageing Research Unit, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand; (M.I.P.); (C.S.Y.C.); (K.V.); (T.T.); (J.M.B.)
- Research, Innovation and International Affairs, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
| | - Anchalee Prasansuklab
- Natural Products for Neuroprotection and Anti-Ageing Research Unit, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand; (M.I.P.); (C.S.Y.C.); (K.V.); (T.T.); (J.M.B.)
- College of Public Health Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
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Salcedo C, Pozo Garcia V, García-Adán B, Ameen AO, Gegelashvili G, Waagepetersen HS, Freude KK, Aldana BI. Increased glucose metabolism and impaired glutamate transport in human astrocytes are potential early triggers of abnormal extracellular glutamate accumulation in hiPSC-derived models of Alzheimer's disease. J Neurochem 2024; 168:822-840. [PMID: 38063257 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.16014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2023] [Revised: 10/27/2023] [Accepted: 11/01/2023] [Indexed: 05/19/2024]
Abstract
Glutamate recycling between neurons and astrocytes is essential to maintain neurotransmitter homeostasis. Disturbances in glutamate homeostasis, resulting in excitotoxicity and neuronal death, have been described as a potential mechanism in Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathophysiology. However, glutamate neurotransmitter metabolism in different human brain cells, particularly astrocytes, has been poorly investigated at the early stages of AD. We sought to investigate glucose and glutamate metabolism in AD by employing human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived astrocytes and neurons carrying mutations in the amyloid precursor protein (APP) or presenilin-1 (PSEN-1) gene as found in familial types of AD (fAD). Methods such as live-cell bioenergetics and metabolic mapping using [13C]-enriched substrates were used to examine metabolism in the early stages of AD. Our results revealed greater glycolysis and glucose oxidative metabolism in astrocytes and neurons with APP or PSEN-1 mutations, accompanied by an elevated glutamate synthesis compared to control WT cells. Astrocytes with APP or PSEN-1 mutations exhibited reduced expression of the excitatory amino acid transporter 2 (EAAT2), and glutamine uptake increased in mutated neurons, with enhanced glutamate release specifically in neurons with a PSEN-1 mutation. These results demonstrate a hypermetabolic phenotype in astrocytes with fAD mutations possibly linked to toxic glutamate accumulation. Our findings further identify metabolic imbalances that may occur in the early phases of AD pathophysiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Salcedo
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Victoria Pozo Garcia
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Bernat García-Adán
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Aishat O Ameen
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Georgi Gegelashvili
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Institute of Chemical Biology, Ilia State University, Tbilisi, Georgia
| | - Helle S Waagepetersen
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Kristine K Freude
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg, Denmark
| | - Blanca I Aldana
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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Syvänen V, Koistinaho J, Lehtonen Š. Identification of the abnormalities in astrocytic functions as potential drug targets for neurodegenerative disease. Expert Opin Drug Discov 2024; 19:603-616. [PMID: 38409817 DOI: 10.1080/17460441.2024.2322988] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2024] [Indexed: 02/28/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Historically, astrocytes were seen primarily as a supportive cell population within the brain; with neurodegenerative disease research focusing exclusively on malfunctioning neurons. However, astrocytes perform numerous tasks that are essential for maintenance of the central nervous system`s complex processes. Disruption of these functions can have negative consequences; hence, it is unsurprising to observe a growing amount of evidence for the essential role of astrocytes in the development and progression of neurodegenerative diseases. Targeting astrocytic functions may serve as a potential disease-modifying drug therapy in the future. AREAS COVERED The present review emphasizes the key astrocytic functions associated with neurodegenerative diseases and explores the possibility of pharmaceutical interventions to modify these processes. In addition, the authors provide an overview of current advancement in this field by including studies of possible drug candidates. EXPERT OPINION Glial research has experienced a significant renaissance in the last quarter-century. Understanding how disease pathologies modify or are caused by astrocyte functions is crucial when developing treatments for brain diseases. Future research will focus on building advanced models that can more precisely correlate to the state in the human brain, with the goal of routinely testing therapies in these models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valtteri Syvänen
- A. I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Jari Koistinaho
- Neuroscience Center, Helsinki Institute of Life Science, and Drug Research Program, Division of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Šárka Lehtonen
- A. I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
- Neuroscience Center, Helsinki Institute of Life Science, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
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Aragón-González A, Shaw AC, Kok JR, Roussel FS, Santos Souza CD, Granger SM, Vetter T, de Diego Y, Meyer KC, Beal SN, Shaw PJ, Ferraiuolo L. C9ORF72 patient-derived endothelial cells drive blood-brain barrier disruption and contribute to neurotoxicity. Fluids Barriers CNS 2024; 21:34. [PMID: 38605366 PMCID: PMC11007886 DOI: 10.1186/s12987-024-00528-6] [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: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 03/02/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024] Open
Abstract
The blood-brain barrier (BBB) serves as a highly intricate and dynamic interface connecting the brain and the bloodstream, playing a vital role in maintaining brain homeostasis. BBB dysfunction has been associated with multiple neurodegenerative diseases, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS); however, the role of the BBB in neurodegeneration is understudied. We developed an ALS patient-derived model of the BBB by using cells derived from 5 patient donors carrying C9ORF72 mutations. Brain microvascular endothelial-like cells (BMEC-like cells) derived from C9ORF72-ALS patients showed altered gene expression, compromised barrier integrity, and increased P-glycoprotein transporter activity. In addition, mitochondrial metabolic tests demonstrated that C9ORF72-ALS BMECs display a significant decrease in basal glycolysis accompanied by increased basal and ATP-linked respiration. Moreover, our study reveals that C9-ALS derived astrocytes can further affect BMECs function and affect the expression of the glucose transporter Glut-1. Finally, C9ORF72 patient-derived BMECs form leaky barriers through a cell-autonomous mechanism and have neurotoxic properties towards motor neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Aragón-González
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Sheffield, 385 Glossop Road, S10 2HQ, Sheffield, UK.
- Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Málaga, 29010, Malaga, Spain.
- Center for Gene Therapy, The Abigail Wexner Research Institute, Nationwide Children's Hospital, OH 43205, Columbus, USA.
| | - Allan C Shaw
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Sheffield, 385 Glossop Road, S10 2HQ, Sheffield, UK
| | - Jannigje R Kok
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Sheffield, 385 Glossop Road, S10 2HQ, Sheffield, UK
| | - Florence S Roussel
- Center for Gene Therapy, The Abigail Wexner Research Institute, Nationwide Children's Hospital, OH 43205, Columbus, USA
| | - Cleide Dos Santos Souza
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Sheffield, 385 Glossop Road, S10 2HQ, Sheffield, UK
| | - Sarah M Granger
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Sheffield, 385 Glossop Road, S10 2HQ, Sheffield, UK
| | - Tatyana Vetter
- Center for Gene Therapy, The Abigail Wexner Research Institute, Nationwide Children's Hospital, OH 43205, Columbus, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Yolanda de Diego
- Research Group PAIDI CTS-546, Institute of Biomedical Research of Málaga (IBIMA), 29010, Malaga, Spain
- Department of Cell Biology, Physiology, and Immunology, University of Córdoba, Campus Rabanales, Cordoba, Spain
| | - Kathrin C Meyer
- Center for Gene Therapy, The Abigail Wexner Research Institute, Nationwide Children's Hospital, OH 43205, Columbus, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Selina N Beal
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Sheffield, 385 Glossop Road, S10 2HQ, Sheffield, UK
| | - Pamela J Shaw
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Sheffield, 385 Glossop Road, S10 2HQ, Sheffield, UK
- NIHR Sheffield Biomedical Research Centre, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Glossop Road, Sheffield, UK
| | - Laura Ferraiuolo
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Sheffield, 385 Glossop Road, S10 2HQ, Sheffield, UK.
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11
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Santi MD, Carvalho D, Dapueto R, Bentura M, Zeni M, Martínez-González L, Martínez A, Peralta MA, Rey A, Giglio J, Ortega MG, Savio E, Abin-Carriquiry JA, Arredondo F. Prenylated Flavanone Isolated from Dalea Species as a Potential Multitarget-Neuroprotector in an In Vitro Alzheimer's Disease Mice Model. Neurotox Res 2024; 42:23. [PMID: 38578482 DOI: 10.1007/s12640-024-00703-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2023] [Revised: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) involves a neurodegenerative process that has not yet been prevented, reversed, or stopped. Continuing with the search for natural pharmacological treatments, flavonoids are a family of compounds with proven neuroprotective effects and multi-targeting behavior. The American genus Dalea L. (Fabaceae) is an important source of bioactive flavonoids. In this opportunity, we tested the neuroprotective potential of three prenylated flavanones isolated from Dalea species in a new in vitro pre-clinical AD model previously developed by us. Our approach consisted in exposing neural cells to conditioned media (3xTg-AD ACM) from neurotoxic astrocytes derived from hippocampi and cortices of old 3xTg-AD mice, mimicking a local neurodegenerative microenvironment. Flavanone 1 and 3 showed a neuroprotective effect against 3xTg-AD ACM, being 1 more active than 3. The structural requirements to afford neuroprotective activity in this model are a 5'-dimethylallyl and 4'-hydroxy at the B ring. In order to search the mechanistic performance of the most active flavanone, we focus on the flavonoid-mediated regulation of GSK-3β-mediated tau phosphorylation previously reported. Flavanone 1 treatment decreased the rise of hyperphosphorylated tau protein neuronal levels induced after 3xTg-AD ACM exposure and inhibited the activity of GSK-3β. Finally, direct exposure of these neurotoxic 3xTg-AD astrocytes to flavanone 1 resulted in toxicity to these cells and reduced the neurotoxicity of 3xTg-AD ACM as well. Our results allow us to present compound 1 as a natural prenylated flavanone that could be used as a precursor to development and design of future drug therapies for AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria D Santi
- Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal (IMBIV-CONICET), Ciudad Universitaria. X5000HUA, Córdoba, Argentina
- I+D Biomédico y Química Farmacéutica, Centro Uruguayo de Imagenología Molecular (CUDIM), Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Diego Carvalho
- Departamento de Neuroquímica, Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable, Montevideo, 11600, Uruguay
- Área de Matemática - DETEMA, Facultad de Química, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Rosina Dapueto
- I+D Biomédico y Química Farmacéutica, Centro Uruguayo de Imagenología Molecular (CUDIM), Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Manuela Bentura
- I+D Biomédico y Química Farmacéutica, Centro Uruguayo de Imagenología Molecular (CUDIM), Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Maia Zeni
- I+D Biomédico y Química Farmacéutica, Centro Uruguayo de Imagenología Molecular (CUDIM), Montevideo, Uruguay
- Área de Radioquímica, Facultad de Química, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Loreto Martínez-González
- Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas Margarita Salas, CSIC, Calle Ramiro Maétzu 9, Madrid, 28040, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red Sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Avda Monforte de Lemos 3-5, Madrid, 28029, Spain
| | - Ana Martínez
- Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas Margarita Salas, CSIC, Calle Ramiro Maétzu 9, Madrid, 28040, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red Sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Avda Monforte de Lemos 3-5, Madrid, 28029, Spain
| | - Mariana A Peralta
- Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal (IMBIV-CONICET), Ciudad Universitaria. X5000HUA, Córdoba, Argentina
- Farmacognosia, Departamento de Ciencias Farmacéuticas, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Ciudad Universitaria, Haya de la torre y Medina Allende, Edificio Ciencias II, X5000HUA Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Ana Rey
- Área de Radioquímica, Facultad de Química, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Javier Giglio
- I+D Biomédico y Química Farmacéutica, Centro Uruguayo de Imagenología Molecular (CUDIM), Montevideo, Uruguay
- Área de Radioquímica, Facultad de Química, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Maria G Ortega
- Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal (IMBIV-CONICET), Ciudad Universitaria. X5000HUA, Córdoba, Argentina
- Farmacognosia, Departamento de Ciencias Farmacéuticas, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Ciudad Universitaria, Haya de la torre y Medina Allende, Edificio Ciencias II, X5000HUA Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Eduardo Savio
- I+D Biomédico y Química Farmacéutica, Centro Uruguayo de Imagenología Molecular (CUDIM), Montevideo, Uruguay
| | | | - Florencia Arredondo
- I+D Biomédico y Química Farmacéutica, Centro Uruguayo de Imagenología Molecular (CUDIM), Montevideo, Uruguay.
- Departamento de Neuroquímica, Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable, Montevideo, 11600, Uruguay.
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12
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García-Juan M, Ordóñez-Gutiérrez L, Wandosell F. Clearance of β-amyloid mediated by autophagy is enhanced by MTORC1 inhibition but not AMPK activation in APP/PSEN1 astrocytes. Glia 2024; 72:588-606. [PMID: 38009275 DOI: 10.1002/glia.24492] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2023] [Revised: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 11/28/2023]
Abstract
Proteostasis mechanisms mediated by macroautophagy/autophagy are altered in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer disease (AD) and their recovery/enhancement has been proposed as a therapeutic approach. From the two central nodes in the anabolism-catabolism balance, it is generally accepted that mechanistic target of rapamycin kinase complex 1 (MTORC1)_ activation leads to the inhibition of autophagy, whereas adenosine 5'-monophosphate (AMP)-activated protein kinase (AMPK) has the opposite role. In AD, amyloid beta (Aβ) production disturbs the optimal neuronal/glial proteostasis. As astrocytes are essential for brain homeostasis, the purpose of this work was to analyze if the upregulation of autophagy in this cell type, either by MTORC1 inhibition or AMPK activation, could modulate the generation/degradation of β-amyloid. By using primary astrocytes from amyloid beta precursor protein (APP)/Presenilin 1 (PSEN1) mouse model of AD, we confirmed that MTORC1 inhibition reduced Aβ secretion through moderate autophagy induction. Surprisingly, pharmacologically increased activity of AMPK did not enhance autophagy but had different effects on Aβ secretion. Conversely, AMPK inhibition did not affect autophagy but reduced Aβ secretion. These puzzling data were confirmed through the overexpression of different mutant AMPK isoforms: while only the constitutively active AMPK increased autophagy, all versions augmented Aβ secretion. We conclude that AMPK has a significantly different role in primary astrocytes than in other reported cells, similar to our previous findings in neurons. Our data support that perhaps only a basal AMPK activity is needed to maintain autophagy whereas the increased activity, either physiologically or pharmacologically, has no direct effect on autophagy-dependent amyloidosis. These results shed light on the controversy about the therapeutic effect of AMPK activation on autophagy induction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta García-Juan
- Centro de Biología Molecular "Severo Ochoa" (CSIC-UAM), Nicolas Cabrera 1, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Lara Ordóñez-Gutiérrez
- Centro de Biología Molecular "Severo Ochoa" (CSIC-UAM), Nicolas Cabrera 1, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Departamento de Bioquímica ry Biología Molecular, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Madrid, Spain
| | - Francisco Wandosell
- Centro de Biología Molecular "Severo Ochoa" (CSIC-UAM), Nicolas Cabrera 1, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Madrid, Spain
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13
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Zhao H, Sun M, Zhang Y, Kong W, Fan L, Wang K, Xu Q, Chen B, Dong J, Shi Y, Wang Z, Wang S, Zhuang X, Li Q, Lin F, Yao X, Zhang W, Kong C, Zhang R, Feng D, Zhao X. Connecting the Dots: The Cerebral Lymphatic System as a Bridge Between the Central Nervous System and Peripheral System in Health and Disease. Aging Dis 2024; 15:115-152. [PMID: 37307828 PMCID: PMC10796102 DOI: 10.14336/ad.2023.0516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/14/2023] Open
Abstract
As a recently discovered waste removal system in the brain, cerebral lymphatic system is thought to play an important role in regulating the homeostasis of the central nervous system. Currently, more and more attention is being focused on the cerebral lymphatic system. Further understanding of the structural and functional characteristics of cerebral lymphatic system is essential to better understand the pathogenesis of diseases and to explore therapeutic approaches. In this review, we summarize the structural components and functional characteristics of cerebral lymphatic system. More importantly, it is closely associated with peripheral system diseases in the gastrointestinal tract, liver, and kidney. However, there is still a gap in the study of the cerebral lymphatic system. However, we believe that it is a critical mediator of the interactions between the central nervous system and the peripheral system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongxiang Zhao
- Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, China.
- Shandong Provincial Medicine and Health Key Laboratory of Clinical Anesthesia, School of Anesthesiology, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, China.
| | - Meiyan Sun
- Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, China.
- Shandong Provincial Medicine and Health Key Laboratory of Clinical Anesthesia, School of Anesthesiology, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, China.
| | - Yue Zhang
- Shandong Provincial Medicine and Health Key Laboratory of Clinical Anesthesia, School of Anesthesiology, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, China.
| | - Wenwen Kong
- Shandong Provincial Medicine and Health Key Laboratory of Clinical Anesthesia, School of Anesthesiology, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, China.
| | - Lulu Fan
- Shandong Provincial Medicine and Health Key Laboratory of Clinical Anesthesia, School of Anesthesiology, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, China.
| | - Kaifang Wang
- Shandong Provincial Medicine and Health Key Laboratory of Clinical Anesthesia, School of Anesthesiology, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, China.
| | - Qing Xu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Affiliated Hangzhou First People's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.
| | - Baiyan Chen
- Shandong Provincial Medicine and Health Key Laboratory of Clinical Anesthesia, School of Anesthesiology, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, China.
| | - Jianxin Dong
- Shandong Provincial Medicine and Health Key Laboratory of Clinical Anesthesia, School of Anesthesiology, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, China.
| | - Yanan Shi
- Shandong Provincial Medicine and Health Key Laboratory of Clinical Anesthesia, School of Anesthesiology, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, China.
| | - Zhengyan Wang
- Shandong Provincial Medicine and Health Key Laboratory of Clinical Anesthesia, School of Anesthesiology, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, China.
| | - ShiQi Wang
- Shandong Provincial Medicine and Health Key Laboratory of Clinical Anesthesia, School of Anesthesiology, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, China.
| | - Xiaoli Zhuang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
| | - Qi Li
- Department of Anesthesiology, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
| | - Feihong Lin
- Department of Anesthesiology, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China.
| | - Xinyu Yao
- Department of Anesthesiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.
| | - WenBo Zhang
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Children’s Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health, Hangzhou, China.
| | - Chang Kong
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Tianjin Nankai Hospital, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China.
| | - Rui Zhang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Affiliated Hospital of Weifang Medical University, Weifang, China.
- Shandong Provincial Medicine and Health Key Laboratory of Clinical Anesthesia, School of Anesthesiology, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, China.
| | - Dayun Feng
- Department of neurosurgery, Tangdu hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China.
| | - Xiaoyong Zhao
- Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, China.
- Department of Anesthesiology, Affiliated Hospital of Weifang Medical University, Weifang, China.
- Shandong Provincial Medicine and Health Key Laboratory of Clinical Anesthesia, School of Anesthesiology, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, China.
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14
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Kim J, Yoo ID, Lim J, Moon JS. Pathological phenotypes of astrocytes in Alzheimer's disease. Exp Mol Med 2024; 56:95-99. [PMID: 38172603 PMCID: PMC10834520 DOI: 10.1038/s12276-023-01148-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2023] [Revised: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/01/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Astrocytes are involved in various processes in the central nervous system (CNS). As the most abundant cell type in the CNS, astrocytes play an essential role in neuronal maintenance and support, synaptic activity, neuronal metabolism, and amyloid-beta (Aβ) clearance. Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder associated with cognitive and behavioral impairment. The transformation of astrocytes is involved in various neurodegenerative diseases, such as AD. Since astrocytes have functional diversity and morphological and physiological heterogeneity in the CNS, AD-related astrocytes might show various pathological phenotypes during AD. Astrocytes developing pathological phenotypes could contribute to AD progression. In this review, we provide an overview of the pathological phenotypes of astrocytes in the context of AD, highlighting recent findings in human and mouse AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junhyung Kim
- Department of Integrated Biomedical Science, Soonchunhyang Institute of Medi-bio Science (SIMS), Soonchunhyang University, Cheonan, 31151, Chungcheongnam-do, South Korea
| | - Ik Dong Yoo
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Soonchunhyang University Hospital Cheonan, Cheonan, 31151, Chungcheongnam-do, South Korea
| | - Jaejoon Lim
- Department of Neurosurgery, Bundang CHA Medical Center, CHA University, Yatap-dong 59, Seongnam, 13496, South Korea.
| | - Jong-Seok Moon
- Department of Integrated Biomedical Science, Soonchunhyang Institute of Medi-bio Science (SIMS), Soonchunhyang University, Cheonan, 31151, Chungcheongnam-do, South Korea.
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15
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Rodriguez-Vieitez E, Kumar A, Malarte ML, Ioannou K, Rocha FM, Chiotis K. Imaging Neuroinflammation: Quantification of Astrocytosis in a Multitracer PET Approach. Methods Mol Biol 2024; 2785:195-218. [PMID: 38427196 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3774-6_13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
The recent progress in the development of in vivo biomarkers is rapidly changing how neurodegenerative diseases are conceptualized and diagnosed and how clinical trials are designed today. Alzheimer's disease (AD) - the most common neurodegenerative disorder - is characterized by a complex neuropathology involving the deposition of extracellular amyloid-β (Aβ) plaques and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) of hyperphosphorylated tau proteins, accompanied by the activation of glial cells, i.e., astrocytes and microglia, and neuroinflammatory response, leading to neurodegeneration and cognitive dysfunction. An increasing diversity of positron emission tomography (PET) imaging radiotracers is available to selectively target the different pathophysiological processes of AD. Along with the success of Aβ PET and the more recent tau PET imaging, there is a great interest to develop PET tracers to image glial reactivity and neuroinflammation. While most research to date has focused on imaging microgliosis, there is an upsurge of interest in imaging reactive astrocytes in the AD continuum. There is increasing evidence that reactive astrocytes are morphologically and functionally heterogeneous, with different subtypes that express different markers and display various homeostatic or detrimental roles across disease stages. Therefore, multiple biomarkers are desirable to unravel the complex phenomenon of reactive astrocytosis. In the field of in vivo PET imaging in AD, the research concerning reactive astrocytes has predominantly focused on targeting monoamine oxidase B (MAO-B), most often using either 11C-deuterium-L-deprenyl (11C-DED) or 18F-SMBT-1 PET tracers. Additionally, imidazoline2 binding (I2BS) sites have been imaged using 11C-BU99008 PET. Recent studies in our group using 11C-DED PET imaging suggest that astrocytosis may be present from the early stages of disease development in AD. This chapter provides a detailed description of the practical approach used for the analysis of 11C-DED PET imaging data in a multitracer PET paradigm including 11C-Pittsburgh compound B (11C-PiB) and 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG). The multitracer PET approach allows investigating the comparative regional and temporal patterns of in vivo brain astrocytosis, fibrillar Aβ deposition, glucose metabolism, and brain structural changes. It may also contribute to understanding the potential role of novel plasma biomarkers of reactive astrocytes, in particular the glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), at different stages of disease progression. This chapter attempts to stimulate further research in the field, including the development of novel PET tracers that may allow visualizing different aspects of the complex astrocytic and microglial response in neurodegenerative diseases. Progress in the field will contribute to the incorporation of PET imaging of glial reactivity and neuroinflammation as biomarkers with clinical application and motivate further investigation on glial cells as therapeutic targets in AD and other neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Rodriguez-Vieitez
- Division of Clinical Geriatrics, Center for Alzheimer Research, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
- Division of Neurogeriatrics, Center for Alzheimer Research, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Amit Kumar
- Division of Clinical Geriatrics, Center for Alzheimer Research, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Mona-Lisa Malarte
- Division of Clinical Geriatrics, Center for Alzheimer Research, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Konstantinos Ioannou
- Division of Clinical Geriatrics, Center for Alzheimer Research, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Filipa M Rocha
- Division of Clinical Geriatrics, Center for Alzheimer Research, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Konstantinos Chiotis
- Division of Clinical Geriatrics, Center for Alzheimer Research, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Neurology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
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16
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Madar P, Nagalapur P, Chaudhari S, Sharma D, Koparde A, Buchade R, Kshirsagar S, Uttekar P, Jadhav S, Chaudhari P. The Unveiling of Therapeutic Targets for Alzheimer's Disease: An Integrative Review. Curr Top Med Chem 2024; 24:850-868. [PMID: 38424435 DOI: 10.2174/0115680266282492240220101049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2023] [Revised: 02/02/2024] [Accepted: 02/08/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by a complex pathological landscape, necessitating a comprehensive treatment approach. This concise review paper delves into the idea of addressing multiple mechanisms in AD, summarizing the latest research findings on pathogenesis, risk factors, diagnostics, and therapeutic strategies. The etiology of AD is multifaceted, involving genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors. The primary feature is the accumulation of amyloid-- beta and tau proteins, leading to neuroinflammation, synaptic dysfunction, oxidative stress, and neuronal loss. Conventional single-target therapies have shown limited effectiveness, prompting a shift toward simultaneously addressing multiple disease-related processes. Recent advancements in AD research underscore the potential of multifaceted therapies. This review explores strategies targeting both tau aggregation and amyloid-beta, along with interventions to alleviate neuroinflammation, enhance synaptic function, and reduce oxidative stress. In conclusion, the review emphasizes the growing importance of addressing various pathways in AD treatment. A holistic approach that targets different aspects of the disease holds promise for developing effective treatments and improving the quality of life for Alzheimer's patients and their caregivers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pratiksha Madar
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Modern College of Pharmacy, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune, India
| | - Pooja Nagalapur
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Modern College of Pharmacy, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune, India
| | - Somdatta Chaudhari
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Modern College of Pharmacy, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune, India
| | - Devesh Sharma
- Department of Biotechnology, National JALMA Institute for Leprosy & Other Mycobacterial Diseases, Agra, India
| | - Akshada Koparde
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Krishna Foundation's Jaywant Institute of Pharmacy, Malkapur, Karad, India
| | - Rahul Buchade
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Indira College of Pharmacy, Tathwade, Pune, India
| | - Sandip Kshirsagar
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Dr. D Y Patil College of Pharmacy, Pune, India
| | - Pravin Uttekar
- Department of Pharmacuetics, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune, India
| | - Shailaja Jadhav
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Modern College of Pharmacy, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune, India
| | - Praveen Chaudhari
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Modern College of Pharmacy, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune, India
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17
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Mun BR, Park SB, Choi WS. The Oligomeric Form of Amyloid Beta Triggers Astrocyte Activation, Independent of Neurons. Chonnam Med J 2024; 60:27-31. [PMID: 38304130 PMCID: PMC10828080 DOI: 10.4068/cmj.2024.60.1.27] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2023] [Revised: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/03/2024] Open
Abstract
The most common aging-related neurodegenerative disorder is Alzheimer's disease (AD), of which the main symptom is memory disturbance. Though the mechanism of AD pathogenesis is not fully defined, abnormal aggregation of amyloid beta (Aβ) plaques and tau have been considered as key factors and main histological hallmarks of the disease. Astrocyte is responsible for the control of cells and the environment around brain and spinal cord cells. Astrocytes have been implicated with AD. However, the exact function of astrocytes in AD has not been established. In this study, we investigated the regulation of astrocytes in the AD model using primary cultures. We have demonstrated that oligomerized Aβ is toxic to neurons and can induce cell death in primary cultures. In the primary cultures containing neurons and astrocytes, amyloid beta uptake was observed in both neurons and astrocytes. To verify if the uptake of amyloid beta in astrocytes is dependent on neurons, we separated and cultured primary astrocytes with no neurons. Amyloid uptake was still observed in this pure astrocyte culture, suggesting that the uptake of amyloid beta is a neuron-independent function of astrocytes. Astrocyte activation was observed in both pure and mixed cultures. Taken together, our data suggest that astrocyte is activated by oligomerized Aβ and uptakes it, which is independent of neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo-Ram Mun
- School of Biological Sciences and Technology, College of Natural Sciences, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, Korea
| | - Su-been Park
- School of Biological Sciences and Technology, College of Natural Sciences, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, Korea
| | - Won-Seok Choi
- School of Biological Sciences and Technology, College of Natural Sciences, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, Korea
- College of Medicine, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, Korea
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18
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Jonnalagadda D, Kihara Y, Groves A, Ray M, Saha A, Ellington C, Lee-Okada HC, Furihata T, Yokomizo T, Quadros EV, Rivera R, Chun J. FTY720 requires vitamin B 12-TCN2-CD320 signaling in astrocytes to reduce disease in an animal model of multiple sclerosis. Cell Rep 2023; 42:113545. [PMID: 38064339 PMCID: PMC11066976 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.113545] [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: 10/04/2021] [Revised: 10/24/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Vitamin B12 (B12) deficiency causes neurological manifestations resembling multiple sclerosis (MS); however, a molecular explanation for the similarity is unknown. FTY720 (fingolimod) is a sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) receptor modulator and sphingosine analog approved for MS therapy that can functionally antagonize S1P1. Here, we report that FTY720 suppresses neuroinflammation by functionally and physically regulating the B12 pathways. Genetic and pharmacological S1P1 inhibition upregulates a transcobalamin 2 (TCN2)-B12 receptor, CD320, in immediate-early astrocytes (ieAstrocytes; a c-Fos-activated astrocyte subset that tracks with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis [EAE] severity). CD320 is also reduced in MS plaques. Deficiency of CD320 or dietary B12 restriction worsens EAE and eliminates FTY720's efficacy while concomitantly downregulating type I interferon signaling. TCN2 functions as a chaperone for FTY720 and sphingosine, whose complex induces astrocytic CD320 internalization, suggesting a delivery mechanism of FTY720/sphingosine via the TCN2-CD320 pathway. Taken together, the B12-TCN2-CD320 pathway is essential for the mechanism of action of FTY720.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deepa Jonnalagadda
- Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, 10901 N. Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Yasuyuki Kihara
- Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, 10901 N. Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.
| | - Aran Groves
- Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, 10901 N. Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA; Neuroscience Graduate Program, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Manisha Ray
- Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, 10901 N. Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Arjun Saha
- Department of Chemistry, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| | - Clayton Ellington
- Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, 10901 N. Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Hyeon-Cheol Lee-Okada
- Department of Biochemistry, Graduate School of Medicine, Juntendo University, Hongo 2-1-1, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8421, Japan
| | - Tomomi Furihata
- Laboratory of Clinical Pharmacy and Experimental Therapeutics, School of Pharmacy, Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, Tokyo 192-0392, Japan
| | - Takehiko Yokomizo
- Department of Biochemistry, Graduate School of Medicine, Juntendo University, Hongo 2-1-1, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8421, Japan
| | - Edward V Quadros
- Department of Medicine, SUNY-Downstate Medical Center, 450 Clarkson Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11203, USA
| | - Richard Rivera
- Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, 10901 N. Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Jerold Chun
- Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, 10901 N. Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.
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Postnov D, Semyachkina-Glushkovskaya O, Litvinenko E, Kurths J, Penzel T. Mechanisms of Activation of Brain's Drainage during Sleep: The Nightlife of Astrocytes. Cells 2023; 12:2667. [PMID: 37998402 PMCID: PMC10670149 DOI: 10.3390/cells12222667] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2023] [Revised: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023] Open
Abstract
The study of functions, mechanisms of generation, and pathways of movement of cerebral fluids has a long history, but the last decade has been especially productive. The proposed glymphatic hypothesis, which suggests a mechanism of the brain waste removal system (BWRS), caused an active discussion on both the criticism of some of the perspectives and our intensive study of new experimental facts. It was especially found that the intensity of the metabolite clearance changes significantly during the transition between sleep and wakefulness. Interestingly, at the cellular level, a number of aspects of this problem have been focused on, such as astrocytes-glial cells, which, over the past two decades, have been recognized as equal partners of neurons and perform many important functions. In particular, an important role was assigned to astrocytes within the framework of the glymphatic hypothesis. In this review, we return to the "astrocytocentric" view of the BWRS function and the explanation of its activation during sleep from the viewpoint of new findings over the last decade. Our main conclusion is that the BWRS's action may be analyzed both at the systemic (whole-brain) and at the local (cellular) level. The local level means here that the neuro-glial-vascular unit can also be regarded as the smallest functional unit of sleep, and therefore, the smallest functional unit of the BWRS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dmitry Postnov
- Department of Optics and Biophotonics, Saratov State University, Astrakhanskaya Str. 83, 410012 Saratov, Russia;
| | - Oxana Semyachkina-Glushkovskaya
- Department of Biology, Saratov State University, Astrakhanskaya Str. 83, 410012 Saratov, Russia; (O.S.-G.); (J.K.)
- Physics Department, Humboldt University, Newtonstrasse 15, 12489 Berlin, Germany
| | - Elena Litvinenko
- Department of Optics and Biophotonics, Saratov State University, Astrakhanskaya Str. 83, 410012 Saratov, Russia;
| | - Jürgen Kurths
- Department of Biology, Saratov State University, Astrakhanskaya Str. 83, 410012 Saratov, Russia; (O.S.-G.); (J.K.)
- Physics Department, Humboldt University, Newtonstrasse 15, 12489 Berlin, Germany
- Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, Telegrafenberg A31, 14473 Potsdam, Germany
| | - Thomas Penzel
- Department of Biology, Saratov State University, Astrakhanskaya Str. 83, 410012 Saratov, Russia; (O.S.-G.); (J.K.)
- Charité — Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany
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20
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Câmara BO, Guimarães JG, Pereira Junior ML. Analog neuromorphic circuit for spontaneous Ca 2+ oscillations. Sci Rep 2023; 13:20107. [PMID: 37973824 PMCID: PMC10654768 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-47433-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023] Open
Abstract
This study proposes an innovative analog neuromorphic circuit design to mimic spontaneous Ca2+ oscillations observed in astrocytes. Unlike traditional models, this approach does not rely on synaptic stimulation, suggesting that astrocytes may play a key role in generating neuronal activity. The circuit is built using transistor differential pairs to approximate the nonlinear sigmoidal biological functions, and its performance is validated through simulation and compared against mathematical models using phase diagram analysis. Results indicate a good fit between the circuit and the mathematical model. Finally, the circuit's ability to simulate the release of glutamate and ATP through spontaneous oscillations is demonstrated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beatriz O Câmara
- Department of Electrical Engineering, Faculty of Technology, University of Brasília, 70910-900, Brasília, Brazil
| | - Janaina G Guimarães
- Federal University of Santa Catarina, Control Engineering, Automation and Computer Science, 89036-256, Blumenau, Santa Catarina, Brazil
| | - Marcelo L Pereira Junior
- Department of Electrical Engineering, Faculty of Technology, University of Brasília, 70910-900, Brasília, Brazil.
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21
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Wu W, Huang J, Han P, Zhang J, Wang Y, Jin F, Zhou Y. Research Progress on Natural Plant Molecules in Regulating the Blood-Brain Barrier in Alzheimer's Disease. Molecules 2023; 28:7631. [PMID: 38005352 PMCID: PMC10674591 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28227631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2023] [Revised: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a prevalent neurodegenerative disorder. With the aging population and the continuous development of risk factors associated with AD, it will impose a significant burden on individuals, families, and society. Currently, commonly used therapeutic drugs such as Cholinesterase inhibitors, N-methyl-D-aspartate antagonists, and multiple AD pathology removal drugs have been shown to have beneficial effects on certain pathological conditions of AD. However, their clinical efficacy is minimal and they are associated with certain adverse reactions. Furthermore, the underlying pathological mechanism of AD remains unclear, posing a challenge for drug development. In contrast, natural plant molecules, widely available, offer multiple targeting pathways and demonstrate inherent advantages in modifying the typical pathologic features of AD by influencing the blood-brain barrier (BBB). We provide a comprehensive review of recent in vivo and in vitro studies on natural plant molecules that impact the BBB in the treatment of AD. Additionally, we analyze their specific mechanisms to offer novel insights for the development of safe and effective targeted drugs as well as guidance for experimental research and the clinical application of drugs for the prevention and treatment of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weidong Wu
- Basic Theory of Chinese Medicine, Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin 150040, China; (W.W.); (J.Z.); (Y.W.)
| | - Jiahao Huang
- Department of Chinese Pharmacology, Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin 150040, China;
| | - Pengfei Han
- Science and Education Section, Zhangjiakou First Hospital, Zhangjiakou 075041, China;
| | - Jian Zhang
- Basic Theory of Chinese Medicine, Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin 150040, China; (W.W.); (J.Z.); (Y.W.)
| | - Yuxin Wang
- Basic Theory of Chinese Medicine, Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin 150040, China; (W.W.); (J.Z.); (Y.W.)
| | - Fangfang Jin
- Department of Internal Medicine, Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin 150040, China
| | - Yanyan Zhou
- Basic Theory of Chinese Medicine, Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin 150040, China; (W.W.); (J.Z.); (Y.W.)
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22
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Mitroshina E, Kalinina E, Vedunova M. Optogenetics in Alzheimer's Disease: Focus on Astrocytes. Antioxidants (Basel) 2023; 12:1856. [PMID: 37891935 PMCID: PMC10604138 DOI: 10.3390/antiox12101856] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2023] [Revised: 09/27/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia, resulting in disability and mortality. The global incidence of AD is consistently surging. Although numerous therapeutic agents with promising potential have been developed, none have successfully treated AD to date. Consequently, the pursuit of novel methodologies to address neurodegenerative processes in AD remains a paramount endeavor. A particularly promising avenue in this search is optogenetics, enabling the manipulation of neuronal activity. In recent years, research attention has pivoted from neurons to glial cells. This review aims to consider the potential of the optogenetic correction of astrocyte metabolism as a promising strategy for correcting AD-related disorders. The initial segment of the review centers on the role of astrocytes in the genesis of neurodegeneration. Astrocytes have been implicated in several pathological processes associated with AD, encompassing the clearance of β-amyloid, neuroinflammation, excitotoxicity, oxidative stress, and lipid metabolism (along with a critical role in apolipoprotein E function). The effect of astrocyte-neuronal interactions will also be scrutinized. Furthermore, the review delves into a number of studies indicating that changes in cellular calcium (Ca2+) signaling are one of the causes of neurodegeneration. The review's latter section presents insights into the application of various optogenetic tools to manipulate astrocytic function as a means to counteract neurodegenerative changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Mitroshina
- Institute of Biology and Biomedicine, Lobachevsky State University of Nizhny Novgorod, 23 Gagarin Avenue, 603022 Nizhny Novgorod, Russia (M.V.)
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23
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Hastings N, Yu Y, Huang B, Middya S, Inaoka M, Erkamp NA, Mason RJ, Carnicer‐Lombarte A, Rahman S, Knowles TPJ, Bance M, Malliaras GG, Kotter MRN. Electrophysiological In Vitro Study of Long-Range Signal Transmission by Astrocytic Networks. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2023; 10:e2301756. [PMID: 37485646 PMCID: PMC10582426 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202301756] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2023] [Revised: 07/09/2023] [Indexed: 07/25/2023]
Abstract
Astrocytes are diverse brain cells that form large networks communicating via gap junctions and chemical transmitters. Despite recent advances, the functions of astrocytic networks in information processing in the brain are not fully understood. In culture, brain slices, and in vivo, astrocytes, and neurons grow in tight association, making it challenging to establish whether signals that spread within astrocytic networks communicate with neuronal groups at distant sites, or whether astrocytes solely respond to their local environments. A multi-electrode array (MEA)-based device called AstroMEA is designed to separate neuronal and astrocytic networks, thus allowing to study the transfer of chemical and/or electrical signals transmitted via astrocytic networks capable of changing neuronal electrical behavior. AstroMEA demonstrates that cortical astrocytic networks can induce a significant upregulation in the firing frequency of neurons in response to a theta-burst charge-balanced biphasic current stimulation (5 pulses of 100 Hz × 10 with 200 ms intervals, 2 s total duration) of a separate neuronal-astrocytic group in the absence of direct neuronal contact. This result corroborates the view of astrocytic networks as a parallel mechanism of signal transmission in the brain that is separate from the neuronal connectome. Translationally, it highlights the importance of astrocytic network protection as a treatment target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nataly Hastings
- Department of Clinical NeurosciencesUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeCB2 0QQUK
- Wellcome‐MRC Cambridge Stem Cell InstituteUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeCB2 0AWUK
- Electrical Engineering DivisionDepartment of EngineeringUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeCB3 0FAUK
| | - Yi‐Lin Yu
- Department of Clinical NeurosciencesUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeCB2 0QQUK
- Department of Neurological SurgeryTri‐Service General HospitalNational Defence Medical CentreTaipei, Neihu District11490Taiwan
| | - Botian Huang
- Department of Clinical NeurosciencesUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeCB2 0QQUK
| | - Sagnik Middya
- Electrical Engineering DivisionDepartment of EngineeringUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeCB3 0FAUK
| | - Misaki Inaoka
- Electrical Engineering DivisionDepartment of EngineeringUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeCB3 0FAUK
| | - Nadia A. Erkamp
- Yusuf Hamied Department of ChemistryCentre for Misfolding DiseasesUniversity of CambridgeLensfield RoadCambridgeCB2 1EWUK
| | - Roger J. Mason
- Department of Clinical NeurosciencesUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeCB2 0QQUK
| | | | - Saifur Rahman
- Department of Clinical NeurosciencesUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeCB2 0QQUK
- Wellcome‐MRC Cambridge Stem Cell InstituteUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeCB2 0AWUK
| | - Tuomas P. J. Knowles
- Yusuf Hamied Department of ChemistryCentre for Misfolding DiseasesUniversity of CambridgeLensfield RoadCambridgeCB2 1EWUK
- Cavendish LaboratoryDepartment of PhysicsUniversity of CambridgeJ J Thomson AveCambridgeCB3 0HEUK
| | - Manohar Bance
- Department of Clinical NeurosciencesUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeCB2 0QQUK
| | - George G. Malliaras
- Electrical Engineering DivisionDepartment of EngineeringUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeCB3 0FAUK
| | - Mark R. N. Kotter
- Department of Clinical NeurosciencesUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeCB2 0QQUK
- Wellcome‐MRC Cambridge Stem Cell InstituteUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeCB2 0AWUK
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24
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Liang J, Liu B, Dong X, Wang Y, Cai W, Zhang N, Zhang H. Decoding the role of gut microbiota in Alzheimer's pathogenesis and envisioning future therapeutic avenues. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1242254. [PMID: 37790586 PMCID: PMC10544353 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1242254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2023] [Accepted: 09/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) emerges as a perturbing neurodegenerative malady, with a profound comprehension of its underlying pathogenic mechanisms continuing to evade our intellectual grasp. Within the intricate tapestry of human health and affliction, the enteric microbial consortium, ensconced within the milieu of the human gastrointestinal tract, assumes a role of cardinal significance. Recent epochs have borne witness to investigations that posit marked divergences in the composition of the gut microbiota between individuals grappling with AD and those favored by robust health. The composite vicissitudes in the configuration of the enteric microbial assembly are posited to choreograph a participatory role in the inception and progression of AD, facilitated by the intricate conduit acknowledged as the gut-brain axis. Notwithstanding, the precise nature of this interlaced relationship remains enshrouded within the recesses of obscurity, poised for an exhaustive revelation. This review embarks upon the endeavor to focalize meticulously upon the mechanistic sway exerted by the enteric microbiota upon AD, plunging profoundly into the execution of interventions that govern the milieu of enteric microorganisms. In doing so, it bestows relevance upon the therapeutic stratagems that form the bedrock of AD's management, all whilst casting a prospective gaze into the horizon of medical advancements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junyi Liang
- Heilongjiang University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Bin Liu
- Heilongjiang University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Xiaohong Dong
- Heilongjiang University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Yueyang Wang
- Heilongjiang University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Wenhui Cai
- Heilongjiang University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Ning Zhang
- Heilongjiang University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Hong Zhang
- Heilongjiang Jiamusi Central Hospital, Jiamusi, Heilongjiang, China
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25
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Carvalho D, Diaz-Amarilla P, Dapueto R, Santi MD, Duarte P, Savio E, Engler H, Abin-Carriquiry JA, Arredondo F. Transcriptomic Analyses of Neurotoxic Astrocytes Derived from Adult Triple Transgenic Alzheimer's Disease Mice. J Mol Neurosci 2023; 73:487-515. [PMID: 37318736 DOI: 10.1007/s12031-023-02105-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2022] [Accepted: 02/03/2023] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease have been classically studied from a purely neuronocentric point of view. More recent evidences support the notion that other cell populations are involved in disease progression. In this sense, the possible pathogenic role of glial cells like astrocytes is increasingly being recognized. Once faced with tissue damage signals and other stimuli present in disease environments, astrocytes suffer many morphological and functional changes, a process referred as reactive astrogliosis. Studies from murine models and humans suggest that these complex and heterogeneous responses could manifest as disease-specific astrocyte phenotypes. Clear understanding of disease-associated astrocytes is a necessary step to fully disclose neurodegenerative processes, aiding in the design of new therapeutic and diagnostic strategies. In this work, we present the transcriptomics characterization of neurotoxic astrocytic cultures isolated from adult symptomatic animals of the triple transgenic mouse model of Alzheimer's disease (3xTg-AD). According to the observed profile, 3xTg-AD neurotoxic astrocytes show various reactivity features including alteration of the extracellular matrix and release of pro-inflammatory and proliferative factors that could result in harmful effects to neurons. Moreover, these alterations could be a consequence of stress responses at the endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria as well as of concomitant metabolic adaptations. Present results support the hypothesis that adaptive changes of astrocytic function induced by a stressed microenvironment could later promote harmful astrocyte phenotypes and further accelerate or induce neurodegenerative processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diego Carvalho
- Departamento de Neuroquímica, Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable, 11600, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Pablo Diaz-Amarilla
- Área I+D Biomédica, Centro Uruguayo de Imagenología Molecular, 11600, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Rosina Dapueto
- Área I+D Biomédica, Centro Uruguayo de Imagenología Molecular, 11600, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - María Daniela Santi
- Área I+D Biomédica, Centro Uruguayo de Imagenología Molecular, 11600, Montevideo, Uruguay
- College of Dentistry, Bluestone Center for Clinical Research, New York University, New York, 10010, USA
| | - Pablo Duarte
- Área I+D Biomédica, Centro Uruguayo de Imagenología Molecular, 11600, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Eduardo Savio
- Área I+D Biomédica, Centro Uruguayo de Imagenología Molecular, 11600, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Henry Engler
- Área I+D Biomédica, Centro Uruguayo de Imagenología Molecular, 11600, Montevideo, Uruguay
- Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República, 1800, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Juan A Abin-Carriquiry
- Departamento de Neuroquímica, Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable, 11600, Montevideo, Uruguay.
- Laboratorio de Biofármacos, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, 11600, Montevideo, Uruguay.
| | - Florencia Arredondo
- Departamento de Neuroquímica, Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable, 11600, Montevideo, Uruguay.
- Área I+D Biomédica, Centro Uruguayo de Imagenología Molecular, 11600, Montevideo, Uruguay.
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26
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Boccardi V, Pigliautile M, Guazzarini AG, Mecocci P. The Potential of Fasting-Mimicking Diet as a Preventive and Curative Strategy for Alzheimer's Disease. Biomolecules 2023; 13:1133. [PMID: 37509169 PMCID: PMC10377404 DOI: 10.3390/biom13071133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2023] [Revised: 07/05/2023] [Accepted: 07/13/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
This review examines the potential of fasting-mimicking diets (FMDs) in preventing and treating Alzheimer's disease (AD). FMDs are low-calorie diets that mimic the physiological and metabolic effects of fasting, including the activation of cellular stress response pathways and autophagy. Recent studies have shown that FMDs can reduce amyloid-beta accumulation, tau phosphorylation, and inflammation, as well as improve cognitive function in animal models of AD. Human studies have also reported improvements in AD biomarkers, cognitive functions, and subjective well-being measures following FMDs. However, the optimal duration and frequency of FMDs and their long-term safety and efficacy remain to be determined. Despite these uncertainties, FMDs hold promise as a non-pharmacological approach to AD prevention and treatment, and further research in this area is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Virginia Boccardi
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Institute of Gerontology and Geriatrics, University of Perugia, Piazzale Gambuli 1, 06132 Perugia, Italy
| | - Martina Pigliautile
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Institute of Gerontology and Geriatrics, University of Perugia, Piazzale Gambuli 1, 06132 Perugia, Italy
| | - Anna Giulia Guazzarini
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Institute of Gerontology and Geriatrics, University of Perugia, Piazzale Gambuli 1, 06132 Perugia, Italy
| | - Patrizia Mecocci
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Institute of Gerontology and Geriatrics, University of Perugia, Piazzale Gambuli 1, 06132 Perugia, Italy
- Division of Clinical Geriatrics, NVS Department, Karolinska Institutet, 17177 Stockholm, Sweden
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27
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Frackowiak J, Mazur-Kolecka B. Intraneuronal accumulation of amyloid-β peptides as the pathomechanism linking autism and its co-morbidities: epilepsy and self-injurious behavior - the hypothesis. Front Mol Neurosci 2023; 16:1160967. [PMID: 37305553 PMCID: PMC10250631 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2023.1160967] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2023] [Accepted: 04/28/2023] [Indexed: 06/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is associated with enhanced processing of amyloid-β precursor protein (APP) by secretase-α, higher blood levels of sAPPα and intraneuronal accumulation of N-terminally truncated Aβ peptides in the brain cortex - mainly in the GABAergic neurons expressing parvalbumin - and subcortical structures. Brain Aβ accumulation has been also described in epilepsy-the frequent ASD co-morbidity. Furthermore, Aβ peptides have been shown to induce electroconvulsive episodes. Enhanced production and altered processing of APP, as well as accumulation of Aβ in the brain are also frequent consequences of traumatic brain injuries which result from self-injurious behaviors, another ASD co-morbidity. We discuss distinct consequences of accumulation of Aβ in the neurons and synapses depending on the Aβ species, their posttranslational modifications, concentration, level of aggregation and oligomerization, as well as brain structures, cell types and subcellular structures where it occurs. The biological effects of Aβ species which are discussed in the context of the pathomechanisms of ASD, epilepsy, and self-injurious behavior include modulation of transcription-both activation and repression; induction of oxidative stress; activation and alteration of membrane receptors' signaling; formation of calcium channels causing hyper-activation of neurons; reduction of GABAergic signaling - all of which lead to disruption of functions of synapses and neuronal networks. We conclude that ASD, epilepsy, and self-injurious behaviors all contribute to the enhanced production and accumulation of Aβ peptides which in turn cause and enhance dysfunctions of the neuronal networks that manifest as autism clinical symptoms, epilepsy, and self-injurious behaviors.
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Gao H, Findeis EL, Culmone L, Powell B, Landschoot-Ward J, Zacharek A, Wu T, Lu M, Chopp M, Venkat P. Early therapeutic effects of an Angiopoietin-1 mimetic peptide in middle-aged rats with vascular dementia. Front Aging Neurosci 2023; 15:1180913. [PMID: 37304071 PMCID: PMC10248134 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2023.1180913] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 05/04/2023] [Indexed: 06/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Vascular Dementia (VaD) refers to dementia caused by cerebrovascular disease and/or reduced blood flow to the brain and is the second most common form of dementia after Alzheimer's disease. We previously found that in middle-aged rats subjected to a multiple microinfarction (MMI) model of VaD, treatment with AV-001, a Tie2 receptor agonist, significantly improves short-term memory, long-term memory, as well as improves preference for social novelty compared to control MMI rats. In this study, we tested the early therapeutic effects of AV-001 on inflammation and glymphatic function in rats subjected to VaD. Methods Male, middle-aged Wistar rats (10-12 m), subjected to MMI, were randomly assigned to MMI and MMI + AV-001 treatment groups. A sham group was included as reference group. MMI was induced by injecting 800 ± 200, 70-100 μm sized, cholesterol crystals into the internal carotid artery. Animals were treated with AV-001 (1 μg/Kg, i.p.) once daily starting at 24 h after MMI. At 14 days after MMI, inflammatory factor expression was evaluated in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and brain. Immunostaining was used to evaluate white matter integrity, perivascular space (PVS) and perivascular Aquaporin-4 (AQP4) expression in the brain. An additional set of rats were prepared to test glymphatic function. At 14 days after MMI, 50 μL of 1% Tetramethylrhodamine (3 kD) and FITC conjugated dextran (500 kD) at 1:1 ratio were injected into the CSF. Rats (4-6/group/time point) were sacrificed at 30 min, 3 h, and 6 h from the start of tracer infusion, and brain coronal sections were imaged using a Laser scanning confocal microscope to evaluate tracer intensities in the brain. Result Treatment of MMI with AV-001 significantly improves white matter integrity in the corpus callosum at 14 days after MMI. MMI induces significant dilation of the PVS, reduces AQP4 expression and impairs glymphatic function compared to Sham rats. AV-001 treatment significantly reduces PVS, increases perivascular AQP4 expression and improves glymphatic function compared to MMI rats. MMI significantly increases, while AV-001 significantly decreases the expression of inflammatory factors (tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), chemokine ligand 9) and anti-angiogenic factors (endostatin, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, P-selectin) in CSF. MMI significantly increases, while AV-001 significantly reduces brain tissue expression of endostatin, thrombin, TNF-α, PAI-1, CXCL9, and interleukin-6 (IL-6). Conclusion AV-001 treatment of MMI significantly reduces PVS dilation and increases perivascular AQP4 expression which may contribute to improved glymphatic function compared to MMI rats. AV-001 treatment significantly reduces inflammatory factor expression in the CSF and brain which may contribute to AV-001 treatment induced improvement in white matter integrity and cognitive function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huanjia Gao
- Department of Neurology, Henry Ford Health, Detroit, MI, United States
| | | | - Lauren Culmone
- Department of Neurology, Henry Ford Health, Detroit, MI, United States
| | - Brianna Powell
- Department of Neurology, Henry Ford Health, Detroit, MI, United States
| | | | - Alex Zacharek
- Department of Neurology, Henry Ford Health, Detroit, MI, United States
| | - Trueman Wu
- Public Health Sciences, Henry Ford Health, Detroit, MI, United States
| | - Mei Lu
- Public Health Sciences, Henry Ford Health, Detroit, MI, United States
| | - Michael Chopp
- Department of Neurology, Henry Ford Health, Detroit, MI, United States
- Department of Physics, Oakland University, Rochester, MI, United States
- Department of Physiology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
| | - Poornima Venkat
- Department of Neurology, Henry Ford Health, Detroit, MI, United States
- Department of Physiology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
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Lee HJ, Yoon YS, Lee SJ. Molecular mechanisms of cellular senescence in neurodegenerative diseases. J Mol Biol 2023:168114. [PMID: 37085010 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2023.168114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2022] [Revised: 04/11/2023] [Accepted: 04/12/2023] [Indexed: 04/23/2023]
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, are characterized by several pathological features, including selective neuronal loss, aggregation of specific proteins, and chronic inflammation. Aging is the most critical risk factor of these disorders. However, the mechanism by which aging contributes to the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases is not clearly understood. Cellular senescence is a cell state or fate in response to stimuli. It is typically associated with a series of changes in cellular phenotypes such as abnormal cellular metabolism and proteostasis, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and increased secretion of certain molecules via senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP). In this review, we discuss how cellular senescence contributes to brain aging and neurodegenerative diseases, and the relationship between protein aggregation and cellular senescence. Finally, we discuss the potential of senescence modifiers and senolytics in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- He-Jin Lee
- Department of Anatomy, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Korea; IBST, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Korea.
| | - Ye-Seul Yoon
- Department of Anatomy, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Korea; IBST, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Korea
| | - Seung-Jae Lee
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Neuroscience Research Institute, Convergence Research Center for Dementia, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea; Neuramedy, Co., Ltd., Seoul, Korea.
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Szpakowski P, Ksiazek-Winiarek D, Czpakowska J, Kaluza M, Milewska-Jedrzejczak M, Glabinski A. Astrocyte-Derived Exosomes Differentially Shape T Cells' Immune Response in MS Patients. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24087470. [PMID: 37108633 PMCID: PMC10138532 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24087470] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2023] [Revised: 04/07/2023] [Accepted: 04/13/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Astrocytes, the most abundant group of glia cells in the brain, provide support for neurons and indicate multiple various functions in the central nervous system (CNS). Growing data additionally describe their role in the regulation of immune system activity. They exert their function not only by direct contact with other cell types, but also through an indirect method, e.g., by secreting various molecules. One such structure is extracellular vesicles, which are important mediators of crosstalk between cells. In our study, we observed that the impact of exosomes derived from astrocytes with various functional phenotype differently affect the immune response of CD4+ T cells, both from healthy individuals and from patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Astrocytes, by modulating exosome cargo, impacts the release of IFN-γ, IL-17A and CCL2 in our experimental conditions. Considering the proteins concentration in cell culture supernatants and the cellular percentage of Th phenotypes, it could be stated that human astrocytes, by the release of exosomes, are able to modify the activity of human T cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Piotr Szpakowski
- Department of Neurology and Stroke, Medical University of Lodz, Zeromskiego 113 Street, 90-549 Lodz, Poland
| | - Dominika Ksiazek-Winiarek
- Department of Neurology and Stroke, Medical University of Lodz, Zeromskiego 113 Street, 90-549 Lodz, Poland
| | - Joanna Czpakowska
- Department of Neurology and Stroke, Medical University of Lodz, Zeromskiego 113 Street, 90-549 Lodz, Poland
| | - Mateusz Kaluza
- Department of Neurology and Stroke, Medical University of Lodz, Zeromskiego 113 Street, 90-549 Lodz, Poland
| | - Marta Milewska-Jedrzejczak
- Department of Neurology and Stroke, Medical University of Lodz, Zeromskiego 113 Street, 90-549 Lodz, Poland
| | - Andrzej Glabinski
- Department of Neurology and Stroke, Medical University of Lodz, Zeromskiego 113 Street, 90-549 Lodz, Poland
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Ju LS, Morey TE, Seubert CN, Martynyuk AE. Intergenerational Perioperative Neurocognitive Disorder. BIOLOGY 2023; 12:biology12040567. [PMID: 37106766 PMCID: PMC10135810 DOI: 10.3390/biology12040567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Revised: 04/04/2023] [Accepted: 04/05/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023]
Abstract
Accelerated neurocognitive decline after general anesthesia/surgery, also known as perioperative neurocognitive disorder (PND), is a widely recognized public health problem that may affect millions of patients each year. Advanced age, with its increasing prevalence of heightened stress, inflammation, and neurodegenerative alterations, is a consistent contributing factor to the development of PND. Although a strong homeostatic reserve in young adults makes them more resilient to PND, animal data suggest that young adults with pathophysiological conditions characterized by excessive stress and inflammation may be vulnerable to PND, and this altered phenotype may be passed to future offspring (intergenerational PND). The purpose of this narrative review of data in the literature and the authors' own experimental findings in rodents is to draw attention to the possibility of intergenerational PND, a new phenomenon which, if confirmed in humans, may unravel a big new population that may be affected by parental PND. In particular, we discuss the roles of stress, inflammation, and epigenetic alterations in the development of PND. We also discuss experimental findings that demonstrate the effects of surgery, traumatic brain injury, and the general anesthetic sevoflurane that interact to induce persistent dysregulation of the stress response system, inflammation markers, and behavior in young adult male rats and in their future offspring who have neither trauma nor anesthetic exposure (i.e., an animal model of intergenerational PND).
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Affiliation(s)
- Ling-Sha Ju
- Department of Anesthesiology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, P.O. Box 100254, JHMHC, 1600 SW Archer Road, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Timothy E Morey
- Department of Anesthesiology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, P.O. Box 100254, JHMHC, 1600 SW Archer Road, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Christoph N Seubert
- Department of Anesthesiology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, P.O. Box 100254, JHMHC, 1600 SW Archer Road, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Anatoly E Martynyuk
- Department of Anesthesiology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, P.O. Box 100254, JHMHC, 1600 SW Archer Road, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
- Brain Institute, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
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32
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Dutta S, Hornung S, Taha HB, Bitan G. Biomarkers for parkinsonian disorders in CNS-originating EVs: promise and challenges. Acta Neuropathol 2023; 145:515-540. [PMID: 37012443 PMCID: PMC10071251 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-023-02557-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2022] [Revised: 02/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2023] [Indexed: 04/05/2023]
Abstract
Extracellular vesicles (EVs), including exosomes, microvesicles, and oncosomes, are nano-sized particles enclosed by a lipid bilayer. EVs are released by virtually all eukaryotic cells and have been shown to contribute to intercellular communication by transporting proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids. In the context of neurodegenerative diseases, EVs may carry toxic, misfolded forms of amyloidogenic proteins and facilitate their spread to recipient cells in the central nervous system (CNS). CNS-originating EVs can cross the blood-brain barrier into the bloodstream and may be found in other body fluids, including saliva, tears, and urine. EVs originating in the CNS represent an attractive source of biomarkers for neurodegenerative diseases, because they contain cell- and cell state-specific biological materials. In recent years, multiple papers have reported the use of this strategy for identification and quantitation of biomarkers for neurodegenerative diseases, including Parkinson's disease and atypical parkinsonian disorders. However, certain technical issues have yet to be standardized, such as the best surface markers for isolation of cell type-specific EVs and validating the cellular origin of the EVs. Here, we review recent research using CNS-originating EVs for biomarker studies, primarily in parkinsonian disorders, highlight technical challenges, and propose strategies for overcoming them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suman Dutta
- International Institute of Innovation and Technology, New Town, Kolkata, India
| | - Simon Hornung
- Division of Peptide Biochemistry, TUM School of Life Sciences, Technical University of Munich, Freising, Germany
| | - Hash Brown Taha
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, University of California Los Angeles, 635 Charles E. Young Drive South/Gordon 451, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Gal Bitan
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, University of California Los Angeles, 635 Charles E. Young Drive South/Gordon 451, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
- Brain Research Institute, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
- Molecular Biology Institute, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
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Li T, Li D, Wei Q, Shi M, Xiang J, Gao R, Chen C, Xu ZX. Dissecting the neurovascular unit in physiology and Alzheimer's disease: Functions, imaging tools and genetic mouse models. Neurobiol Dis 2023; 181:106114. [PMID: 37023830 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2023.106114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2023] [Revised: 03/22/2023] [Accepted: 04/02/2023] [Indexed: 04/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The neurovascular unit (NVU) plays an essential role in regulating neurovascular coupling, which refers to the communication between neurons, glia, and vascular cells to control the supply of oxygen and nutrients in response to neural activity. Cellular elements of the NVU coordinate to establish an anatomical barrier to separate the central nervous system from the milieu of the periphery system, restricting the free movement of substances from the blood to the brain parenchyma and maintaining central nervous system homeostasis. In Alzheimer's disease, amyloid-β deposition impairs the normal functions of NVU cellular elements, thus accelerating the disease progression. Here, we aim to describe the current knowledge of the NVU cellular elements, including endothelial cells, pericytes, astrocytes, and microglia, in regulating the blood-brain barrier integrity and functions in physiology as well as alterations encountered in Alzheimer's disease. Furthermore, the NVU functions as a whole, therefore specific labeling and targeting NVU components in vivo enable us to understand the mechanism mediating cellular communication. We review approaches including commonly used fluorescent dyes, genetic mouse models, and adeno-associated virus vectors for imaging and targeting NVU cellular elements in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiantian Li
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, and Institutes of Brain Science, Department of Neonatology, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China; Key Laboratory of Neonatal Diseases, National Health Commission, Shanghai, China
| | - Dianyi Li
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, and Institutes of Brain Science, Department of Neonatology, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Qingyuan Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, and Institutes of Brain Science, Department of Neonatology, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Minghong Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, and Institutes of Brain Science, Department of Neonatology, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jiakun Xiang
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, and Institutes of Brain Science, Department of Neonatology, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ruiwei Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, and Institutes of Brain Science, Department of Neonatology, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China; Key Laboratory of Neonatal Diseases, National Health Commission, Shanghai, China.
| | - Chao Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, and Institutes of Brain Science, Department of Neonatology, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China; Key Laboratory of Neonatal Diseases, National Health Commission, Shanghai, China.
| | - Zhi-Xiang Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, and Institutes of Brain Science, Department of Neonatology, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Stomatological Hospital & School of Stomatology, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
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Chen L, Xiong L, Yao L, Pan J, Arzola E, Zhu X, Mei L, Xiong WC. Attenuation of Alzheimer's brain pathology in 5XFAD mice by PTH 1-34, a peptide of parathyroid hormone. Alzheimers Res Ther 2023; 15:53. [PMID: 36918976 PMCID: PMC10012528 DOI: 10.1186/s13195-023-01202-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2022] [Accepted: 03/06/2023] [Indexed: 03/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Alzheimer's disease (AD) and osteoporosis are two distinct diseases but often occur in the same patient. Their relationship remains poorly understood. Studies using Tg2576 AD animal model demonstrate bone deficits, which precede the brain phenotypes by several months, arguing for the independence of bone deficits on brain degeneration and raising a question if the bone deficits contribute to the AD development. To address this question, we investigated the effects of PTH1-34, a peptide of parathyroid hormone analog and a well-recognized effective anabolic therapy drug for patients with osteoporosis, on 5XFAD animal model. METHODS 5XFAD mice, an early onset β-amyloid (Aβ)-based AD mouse model, were treated with PTH1-34 intermittently [once daily injection of hPTH1-34 (50 μg/Kg), 5 days/week, starting at 2-month old (MO) for 2-3 month]. Wild type mice (C57BL/6) were used as control. The bone phenotypes were examined by microCT and evaluated by measuring serum bone formation and resorption markers. The AD relevant brain pathology (e.g., Aβ and glial activation) and behaviors were assessed by a combination of immunohistochemical staining analysis, western blots, and behavior tests. Additionally, systemic and brain inflammation were evaluated by serum cytokine array, real-time PCR (qPCR), and RNAscope. RESULTS A reduced trabecular, but not cortical, bone mass, accompanied with a decrease in bone formation and an increase in bone resorption, was detected in 5XFAD mice at age of 5/6-month old (MO). Upon PTH1-34 treatments, not only these bone deficits but also Aβ-associated brain pathologies, including Aβ and Aβ deposition levels, dystrophic neurites, glial cell activation, and brain inflammatory cytokines, were all diminished; and the cognitive function was improved. Further studies suggest that PTH1-34 acts on not only osteoblasts in the bone but also astrocytes in the brain, suppressing astrocyte senescence and expression of inflammatory cytokines in 5XFAD mice. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that PTH1-34 may act as a senolytic-like drug, reducing systemic and brain inflammation and improving cognitive function, and implicate PTH1-34's therapeutic potential for patients with not only osteoporosis but also AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Chen
- Department of Neurosciences, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, 2210 Circle Dr, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA.,Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Lei Xiong
- Department of Neurosciences, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, 2210 Circle Dr, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA.,Louis Stokes Cleveland Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Lingling Yao
- Department of Neurosciences, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, 2210 Circle Dr, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA
| | - Jinxiu Pan
- Department of Neurosciences, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, 2210 Circle Dr, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA.,Louis Stokes Cleveland Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Emily Arzola
- Department of Neurosciences, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, 2210 Circle Dr, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA
| | - Xiaojuan Zhu
- Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Lin Mei
- Department of Neurosciences, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, 2210 Circle Dr, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA.,Louis Stokes Cleveland Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Wen-Cheng Xiong
- Department of Neurosciences, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, 2210 Circle Dr, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA. .,Louis Stokes Cleveland Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Cleveland, OH, USA.
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35
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Yassine HN, Self W, Kerman BE, Santoni G, Navalpur Shanmugam N, Abdullah L, Golden LR, Fonteh AN, Harrington MG, Gräff J, Gibson GE, Kalaria R, Luchsinger JA, Feldman HH, Swerdlow RH, Johnson LA, Albensi BC, Zlokovic BV, Tanzi R, Cunnane S, Samieri C, Scarmeas N, Bowman GL. Nutritional metabolism and cerebral bioenergetics in Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. Alzheimers Dement 2023; 19:1041-1066. [PMID: 36479795 PMCID: PMC10576546 DOI: 10.1002/alz.12845] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2022] [Revised: 09/12/2022] [Accepted: 10/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Disturbances in the brain's capacity to meet its energy demand increase the risk of synaptic loss, neurodegeneration, and cognitive decline. Nutritional and metabolic interventions that target metabolic pathways combined with diagnostics to identify deficits in cerebral bioenergetics may therefore offer novel therapeutic potential for Alzheimer's disease (AD) prevention and management. Many diet-derived natural bioactive components can govern cellular energy metabolism but their effects on brain aging are not clear. This review examines how nutritional metabolism can regulate brain bioenergetics and mitigate AD risk. We focus on leading mechanisms of cerebral bioenergetic breakdown in the aging brain at the cellular level, as well as the putative causes and consequences of disturbed bioenergetics, particularly at the blood-brain barrier with implications for nutrient brain delivery and nutritional interventions. Novel therapeutic nutrition approaches including diet patterns are provided, integrating studies of the gut microbiome, neuroimaging, and other biomarkers to guide future personalized nutritional interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hussein N Yassine
- Department of Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern, California, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Department of Neurology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Wade Self
- Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Bilal E Kerman
- Department of Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern, California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Giulia Santoni
- Laboratory of Neuroepigenetics, Brain Mind Institute, School of Life Sciences, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - NandaKumar Navalpur Shanmugam
- Department of Neurology, Genetics and Aging Research Unit, McCance Center for Brain Health, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | | | - Lesley R Golden
- Department of Physiology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA
| | - Alfred N Fonteh
- Department of Neurology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Huntington Medical Research Institutes, Pasadena, California, USA
| | - Michael G Harrington
- Department of Neurology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Johannes Gräff
- Laboratory of Neuroepigenetics, Brain Mind Institute, School of Life Sciences, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Gary E Gibson
- Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, Burke Neurological Institute, White Plains, New York, USA
| | - Raj Kalaria
- Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Jose A Luchsinger
- Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York City, New York, USA
| | - Howard H Feldman
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Russell H Swerdlow
- Department of Neurology, University of Kansas School of Medicine, Kansas City, Kansas, USA
| | - Lance A Johnson
- Department of Physiology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA
| | - Benedict C Albensi
- Nova Southeastern Univ. College of Pharmacy, Davie, Florida, USA
- Division of Neurodegenerative Disorders, St. Boniface Hospital Albrechtsen Research Centre, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Berislav V Zlokovic
- Department of Physiology and Neuroscience, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Rudolph Tanzi
- Department of Neurology, Genetics and Aging Research Unit, McCance Center for Brain Health, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Stephen Cunnane
- Department of Medicine, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada
| | - Cécilia Samieri
- Univ. Bordeaux, INSERM, BPH, U1219, F-33000, Bordeaux, France
| | - Nikolaos Scarmeas
- 1st Department of Neurology, Aiginition Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School, Athens, Greece
- Department of Neurology, Columbia University, New York City, New York, USA
| | - Gene L Bowman
- Department of Neurology, Genetics and Aging Research Unit, McCance Center for Brain Health, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Helfgott Research Institute, National University of Natural Medicine, Portland, Oregon, USA
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Humphrey CM, Hooker JW, Thapa M, Wilcox MJ, Ostrowski D, Ostrowski TD. Synaptic loss and gliosis in the nucleus tractus solitarii with streptozotocin-induced Alzheimer's disease. Brain Res 2023; 1801:148202. [PMID: 36521513 PMCID: PMC9840699 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2022.148202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2022] [Revised: 11/21/2022] [Accepted: 12/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Obstructive sleep apnea is highly prevalent in Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, brainstem centers controlling respiration have received little attention in AD research, and mechanisms behind respiratory dysfunction in AD are not understood. The nucleus tractus solitarii (nTS) is an important brainstem center for respiratory control and chemoreflex function. Alterations of nTS integrity, like those shown in AD patients, likely affect neuronal processing and adequate control of breathing. We used the streptozotocin-induced rat model of AD (STZ-AD) to analyze cellular changes in the nTS that corroborate previously documented respiratory dysfunction. We used 2 common dosages of STZ (2 and 3 mg/kg STZ) for model induction and evaluated the early impact on cell populations in the nTS. The hippocampus served as control region to identify site-specific effects of STZ. There was significant atrophy in the caudal nTS of the 3 mg/kg STZ-AD group only, an area known to integrate chemoafferent information. Also, the hippocampus had significant atrophy with the highest STZ dosage tested. Both STZ-AD groups showed respiratory dysfunction along with multiple indices for astroglial and microglial activation. These changes were primarily located in the caudal and intermediate nTS. While there was no change of astrocytes in the hippocampus, microglial activation was accompanied by a reduction in synaptic density. Together, our data demonstrate that STZ-AD induces site-specific effects on all major cell types, primarily in the caudal/intermediate nTS. Both STZ dosages used in this study produced a similar outcome and can be used for future studies examining the initial symptoms of STZ-AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chuma M Humphrey
- Department of Physiology, Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine, A.T. Still University, 800 W. Jefferson St., Kirksville, MO, USA
| | - John W Hooker
- Department of Physiology, Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine, A.T. Still University, 800 W. Jefferson St., Kirksville, MO, USA
| | - Mahima Thapa
- Department of Biology, Truman State University, 100 E. Normal Ave., Kirksville, MO, USA
| | - Mason J Wilcox
- Department of Biology, Truman State University, 100 E. Normal Ave., Kirksville, MO, USA
| | - Daniela Ostrowski
- Department of Biology, Truman State University, 100 E. Normal Ave., Kirksville, MO, USA
| | - Tim D Ostrowski
- Department of Physiology, Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine, A.T. Still University, 800 W. Jefferson St., Kirksville, MO, USA.
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Antonijevic M, Charou D, Ramos I, Valcarcel M, Gravanis A, Villace P, Callizot N, Since M, Dallemagne P, Charalampopoulos I, Rochais C. Design, synthesis and biological characterization of novel activators of the TrkB neurotrophin receptor. Eur J Med Chem 2023; 248:115111. [PMID: 36645981 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2023.115111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2022] [Revised: 01/07/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Numerous studies have been published about the implication of the neurotrophin brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and its receptor TrkB in the pathogenesis of several neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Multiple Sclerosis and motor neuron disease. BDNF activates the TrkB receptor with high potency and specificity, promoting neuronal survival, differentiation and synaptic plasticity. Based on the main structural characteristics of LM22A-4, a previously published small molecule that acts as activator of the TrkB receptor, we have designed and synthesized a small data set of compounds. The lead idea for the design of the new compounds was to modify the third position of the LM22A-4, by introducing different substitutions in order to obtain compounds which will have not only better physicochemical properties but selective activity as well. ADME and toxicity profiles of molecules have been evaluated as well as their biological properties through the TrkB receptor and affinity to promote neurite differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Despoina Charou
- Department of Pharmacology, Medical School, University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece; Institute of Molecular Biology & Biotechnology, Foundation for Research & Technology-Hellas (IMBB-FORTH), Heraklion, Greece
| | | | | | - Achille Gravanis
- Department of Pharmacology, Medical School, University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece; Institute of Molecular Biology & Biotechnology, Foundation for Research & Technology-Hellas (IMBB-FORTH), Heraklion, Greece
| | | | | | - Marc Since
- Normandie Univ., UNICAEN, CERMN, 14000, Caen, France
| | | | - Ioannis Charalampopoulos
- Department of Pharmacology, Medical School, University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece; Institute of Molecular Biology & Biotechnology, Foundation for Research & Technology-Hellas (IMBB-FORTH), Heraklion, Greece
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Kater MSJ, Badia-Soteras A, van Weering JRT, Smit AB, Verheijen MHG. Electron microscopy analysis of astrocyte-synapse interactions shows altered dynamics in an Alzheimer's disease mouse model. Front Cell Neurosci 2023; 17:1085690. [PMID: 36779013 PMCID: PMC9908992 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2023.1085690] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Astrocyte-synapse bi-directional communication is required for neuronal development and synaptic plasticity. Astrocytes structurally interact with synapses using their distal processes also known as leaflets or perisynaptic astrocytic processes (PAPs). We recently showed that these PAPs are retracted from hippocampal synapses, and involved in the consolidation of fear memory. However, whether astrocytic synaptic coverage is affected when memory is impaired is unknown. Methods Here, we describe in detail an electron microscopy method that makes use of a large number of 2D images to investigate structural astrocyte-synapse interaction in paraformaldehyde fixed brain tissue of mice. Results and discussion We show that fear memory-induced synaptic activation reduces the interaction between the PAPs and the presynapse, but not the postsynapse, accompanied by retraction of the PAP tip from the synaptic cleft. Interestingly, this retraction is absent in the APP/PS1 mouse model of Alzheimer's disease, supporting the concept that alterations in astrocyte-synapse coverage contribute to memory processing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mandy S. J. Kater
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Neurobiology, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Aina Badia-Soteras
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Neurobiology, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Jan R. T. van Weering
- Department of Human Genetics, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam University Medical Center, Vrije Universiteit Medical Center, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - August B. Smit
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Neurobiology, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Mark H. G. Verheijen
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Neurobiology, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands,*Correspondence: Mark H. G. Verheijen,
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Xu J, Xu J, Meng Y, Lu C, Cai L, Zeng X, Nussinov R, Cheng F. Graph embedding and Gaussian mixture variational autoencoder network for end-to-end analysis of single-cell RNA sequencing data. CELL REPORTS METHODS 2023; 3:100382. [PMID: 36814845 PMCID: PMC9939381 DOI: 10.1016/j.crmeth.2022.100382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2022] [Revised: 10/31/2022] [Accepted: 12/08/2022] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) is a revolutionary technology to determine the precise gene expression of individual cells and identify cell heterogeneity and subpopulations. However, technical limitations of scRNA-seq lead to heterogeneous and sparse data. Here, we present autoCell, a deep-learning approach for scRNA-seq dropout imputation and feature extraction. autoCell is a variational autoencoding network that combines graph embedding and a probabilistic depth Gaussian mixture model to infer the distribution of high-dimensional, sparse scRNA-seq data. We validate autoCell on simulated datasets and biologically relevant scRNA-seq. We show that interpolation of autoCell improves the performance of existing tools in identifying cell developmental trajectories of human preimplantation embryos. We identify disease-associated astrocytes (DAAs) and reconstruct DAA-specific molecular networks and ligand-receptor interactions involved in cell-cell communications using Alzheimer's disease as a prototypical example. autoCell provides a toolbox for end-to-end analysis of scRNA-seq data, including visualization, clustering, imputation, and disease-specific gene network identification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junlin Xu
- College of Computer Science and Electronic Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha, Hunan 410082, China
| | - Jielin Xu
- Genomic Medicine Institute, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
| | - Yajie Meng
- College of Computer Science and Electronic Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha, Hunan 410082, China
| | - Changcheng Lu
- College of Computer Science and Electronic Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha, Hunan 410082, China
| | - Lijun Cai
- College of Computer Science and Electronic Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha, Hunan 410082, China
| | - Xiangxiang Zeng
- College of Computer Science and Electronic Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha, Hunan 410082, China
| | - Ruth Nussinov
- Computational Structural Biology Section, Basic Science Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute at Frederick, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
- Department of Human Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
| | - Feixiong Cheng
- Genomic Medicine Institute, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
- Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
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Andronie-Cioara FL, Ardelean AI, Nistor-Cseppento CD, Jurcau A, Jurcau MC, Pascalau N, Marcu F. Molecular Mechanisms of Neuroinflammation in Aging and Alzheimer's Disease Progression. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24031869. [PMID: 36768235 PMCID: PMC9915182 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24031869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2022] [Revised: 01/01/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Aging is the most prominent risk factor for late-onset Alzheimer's disease. Aging associates with a chronic inflammatory state both in the periphery and in the central nervous system, the evidence thereof and the mechanisms leading to chronic neuroinflammation being discussed. Nonetheless, neuroinflammation is significantly enhanced by the accumulation of amyloid beta and accelerates the progression of Alzheimer's disease through various pathways discussed in the present review. Decades of clinical trials targeting the 2 abnormal proteins in Alzheimer's disease, amyloid beta and tau, led to many failures. As such, targeting neuroinflammation via different strategies could prove a valuable therapeutic strategy, although much research is still needed to identify the appropriate time window. Active research focusing on identifying early biomarkers could help translating these novel strategies from bench to bedside.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felicia Liana Andronie-Cioara
- Department of Psycho-Neurosciences and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Oradea, 410073 Oradea, Romania
| | - Adriana Ioana Ardelean
- Department of Preclinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Oradea, 410073 Oradea, Romania
| | - Carmen Delia Nistor-Cseppento
- Department of Psycho-Neurosciences and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Oradea, 410073 Oradea, Romania
- Correspondence: (C.D.N.-C.); (N.P.)
| | - Anamaria Jurcau
- Department of Psycho-Neurosciences and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Oradea, 410073 Oradea, Romania
| | | | - Nicoleta Pascalau
- Department of Psycho-Neurosciences and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Oradea, 410073 Oradea, Romania
- Correspondence: (C.D.N.-C.); (N.P.)
| | - Florin Marcu
- Department of Psycho-Neurosciences and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Oradea, 410073 Oradea, Romania
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HS, an Ancient Molecular Recognition and Information Storage Glycosaminoglycan, Equips HS-Proteoglycans with Diverse Matrix and Cell-Interactive Properties Operative in Tissue Development and Tissue Function in Health and Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24021148. [PMID: 36674659 PMCID: PMC9867265 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24021148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2022] [Revised: 12/23/2022] [Accepted: 12/27/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Heparan sulfate is a ubiquitous, variably sulfated interactive glycosaminoglycan that consists of repeating disaccharides of glucuronic acid and glucosamine that are subject to a number of modifications (acetylation, de-acetylation, epimerization, sulfation). Variable heparan sulfate chain lengths and sequences within the heparan sulfate chains provide structural diversity generating interactive oligosaccharide binding motifs with a diverse range of extracellular ligands and cellular receptors providing instructional cues over cellular behaviour and tissue homeostasis through the regulation of essential physiological processes in development, health, and disease. heparan sulfate and heparan sulfate-PGs are integral components of the specialized glycocalyx surrounding cells. Heparan sulfate is the most heterogeneous glycosaminoglycan, in terms of its sequence and biosynthetic modifications making it a difficult molecule to fully characterize, multiple ligands also make an elucidation of heparan sulfate functional properties complicated. Spatio-temporal presentation of heparan sulfate sulfate groups is an important functional determinant in tissue development and in cellular control of wound healing and extracellular remodelling in pathological tissues. The regulatory properties of heparan sulfate are mediated via interactions with chemokines, chemokine receptors, growth factors and morphogens in cell proliferation, differentiation, development, tissue remodelling, wound healing, immune regulation, inflammation, and tumour development. A greater understanding of these HS interactive processes will improve therapeutic procedures and prognoses. Advances in glycosaminoglycan synthesis and sequencing, computational analytical carbohydrate algorithms and advanced software for the evaluation of molecular docking of heparan sulfate with its molecular partners are now available. These advanced analytic techniques and artificial intelligence offer predictive capability in the elucidation of heparan sulfate conformational effects on heparan sulfate-ligand interactions significantly aiding heparan sulfate therapeutics development.
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Kim J, Kim YK. Molecular Imaging of Neuroinflammation in Alzheimer's Disease and Mild Cognitive Impairment. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2023; 1411:301-326. [PMID: 36949316 DOI: 10.1007/978-981-19-7376-5_14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/24/2023]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most prevalent neurocognitive disorder. Due to the ineffectiveness of treatments targeting the amyloid cascade, molecular biomarkers for neuroinflammation are attracting attention with increasing knowledge about the role of neuroinflammation in the pathogenesis of AD. This chapter will explore the results of studies using molecular imaging for diagnosing AD and mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Because it is critical to interpreting the data to understand which substances are targeted in molecular imaging, this chapter will discuss the two most significant targets, microglia and astrocytes, as well as the best-known radioligands for each. Then, neuroimaging results with PET neuroinflammation imaging will be reviewed for AD and MCI. Although a growing body of evidence has suggested that these molecular imaging biomarkers for neuroinflammation may have a role in the diagnosis of AD and MCI, the findings are inconsistent or cross-sectional, which indicates that it is difficult to apply the contents in practice due to the need for additional study. In particular, because the results of multiple interventions targeting neuroinflammation were inconclusive, molecular imaging markers for neuroinflammation can be used in combination with conventional markers to select appropriate patients for early intervention for neuroinflammation rather than as a single marker.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junhyung Kim
- Department of Psychiatry, Korea University College of Medicine, Korea University Guro Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Department of Psychiatry, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Yong-Ku Kim
- Department of Psychiatry, Korea University Ansan Hospital, Ansan, Republic of Korea.
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Wang T, Yao Y, Han C, Li T, Du W, Xue J, Han Y, Cai Y. MCP-1 levels in astrocyte-derived exosomes are changed in preclinical stage of Alzheimer's disease. Front Neurol 2023; 14:1119298. [PMID: 37021284 PMCID: PMC10067608 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2023.1119298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2022] [Accepted: 02/27/2023] [Indexed: 04/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia in older adults. There is accumulating evidence that inflammatory processes play a critical role in AD pathogenesis. In this study, we investigated whether inflammatory factors in plasma and astrocyte-derived exosomes (ADEs) from plasma are differentially expressed in the early stages of AD and their potential role in pathological processes in the AD continuum. Method We included 39 normal controls (NCs), 43 participants with subjective cognitive decline (SCD), and 43 participants with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI)/AD. IL-6, IL-8, and MCP-1 in plasma and ADEs from plasma were evaluated using a commercial multiplex Luminex-based kit. Results Pairwise comparisons between the groups showed no significant differences in plasma levels of IL-6, IL-8, or MCP-1. However, ADEs in the SCD group showed an increase in MCP-1 levels compared to the NC group. To differentiate the preclinical group, discriminant analysis was performed using sex, age, years of education, and genotype. This revealed a difference between the SCD and NC groups (area under the curve: 0.664). A Spearman correlation analysis of MCP-1 in plasma and ADEs showed no or weak correlation in the SCD (R = 0.150, p = 0.350) and aMCI/AD (R = 0.310, p = 0.041) groups, while a positive correlation in the NC group (R = 0.360, p = 0.026). Conclusion Plasma IL-6, IL-8, and MCP-1 levels were not significantly different. However, the concentration of MCP-1 in ADEs is slightly altered during the preclinical phase of AD, which could be a potential role of the central neuron system (CNS) immune response in the AD continuum. Clinical trial registration www.ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier: NCT03370744.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ting Wang
- Department of Biobank, Xuanwu Hospital of Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- Department of Neurobiology, Xuanwu Hospital of Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Yunxia Yao
- Department of Biobank, Xuanwu Hospital of Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- Department of Neurobiology, Xuanwu Hospital of Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Chao Han
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xuanwu Hospital of Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Taoran Li
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Jangsu Province Hospital, Nanjing, China
| | - Wenying Du
- Department of Neurology, Xuanwu Hospital of Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Jinhua Xue
- Department of Biobank, Xuanwu Hospital of Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- Department of Neurobiology, Xuanwu Hospital of Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Ying Han
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xuanwu Hospital of Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- Department of Neurology, Xuanwu Hospital of Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- Center of Alzheimer's Disease, Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Xuanwu Hospital of Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- Ying Han
| | - Yanning Cai
- Department of Biobank, Xuanwu Hospital of Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- Department of Neurobiology, Xuanwu Hospital of Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xuanwu Hospital of Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Geriatric Medical Research Center, Xuanwu Hospital of Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- *Correspondence: Yanning Cai
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Aragón-González A, Shaw PJ, Ferraiuolo L. Blood-Brain Barrier Disruption and Its Involvement in Neurodevelopmental and Neurodegenerative Disorders. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232315271. [PMID: 36499600 PMCID: PMC9737531 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232315271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2022] [Revised: 11/28/2022] [Accepted: 11/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a highly specialized and dynamic compartment which regulates the uptake of molecules and solutes from the blood. The relevance of the maintenance of a healthy BBB underpinning disease prevention as well as the main pathomechanisms affecting BBB function will be detailed in this review. Barrier disruption is a common aspect in both neurodegenerative diseases, such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and neurodevelopmental diseases, including autism spectrum disorders. Throughout this review, conditions altering the BBB during the earliest and latest stages of life will be discussed, revealing common factors involved. Due to the barrier's role in protecting the brain from exogenous components and xenobiotics, drug delivery across the BBB is challenging. Potential therapies based on the BBB properties as molecular Trojan horses, among others, will be reviewed, as well as innovative treatments such as stem cell therapies. Additionally, due to the microbiome influence on the normal function of the brain, microflora modulation strategies will be discussed. Finally, future research directions are highlighted to address the current gaps in the literature, emphasizing the idea that common therapies for both neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative pathologies exist.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Aragón-González
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Sheffield, SITraN, 385a Glossop Road, Sheffield S10 2HQ, UK
- Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Málaga, 29010 Málaga, Spain
| | - Pamela J. Shaw
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Sheffield, SITraN, 385a Glossop Road, Sheffield S10 2HQ, UK
| | - Laura Ferraiuolo
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Sheffield, SITraN, 385a Glossop Road, Sheffield S10 2HQ, UK
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +44-(0)114-222-2257; Fax: +44-(0)114-222-2290
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Bi W, Lei T, Cai S, Zhang X, Yang Y, Xiao Z, Wang L, Du H. Potential of astrocytes in targeting therapy for Alzheimer’s disease. Int Immunopharmacol 2022; 113:109368. [DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2022.109368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2022] [Revised: 10/06/2022] [Accepted: 10/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
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Rodríguez-Giraldo M, González-Reyes RE, Ramírez-Guerrero S, Bonilla-Trilleras CE, Guardo-Maya S, Nava-Mesa MO. Astrocytes as a Therapeutic Target in Alzheimer's Disease-Comprehensive Review and Recent Developments. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:13630. [PMID: 36362415 PMCID: PMC9654484 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232113630] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2022] [Revised: 10/25/2022] [Accepted: 10/26/2022] [Indexed: 09/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a frequent and disabling neurodegenerative disorder, in which astrocytes participate in several pathophysiological processes including neuroinflammation, excitotoxicity, oxidative stress and lipid metabolism (along with a critical role in apolipoprotein E function). Current evidence shows that astrocytes have both neuroprotective and neurotoxic effects depending on the disease stage and microenvironmental factors. Furthermore, astrocytes appear to be affected by the presence of amyloid-beta (Aβ), with alterations in calcium levels, gliotransmission and proinflammatory activity via RAGE-NF-κB pathway. In addition, astrocytes play an important role in the metabolism of tau and clearance of Aβ through the glymphatic system. In this review, we will discuss novel pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments focused on astrocytes as therapeutic targets for AD. These interventions include effects on anti-inflammatory/antioxidant systems, glutamate activity, lipid metabolism, neurovascular coupling and glymphatic system, calcium dysregulation, and in the release of peptides which affects glial and neuronal function. According to the AD stage, these therapies may be of benefit in either preventing or delaying the progression of the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Mauricio O. Nava-Mesa
- Grupo de Investigación en Neurociencias (NeURos), Centro de Neurociencias Neurovitae-UR, Instituto de Medicina Traslacional (IMT), Escuela de Medicina y Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá 111711, Colombia
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Immunosenescence and Aging: Neuroinflammation Is a Prominent Feature of Alzheimer's Disease and Is a Likely Contributor to Neurodegenerative Disease Pathogenesis. J Pers Med 2022; 12:jpm12111817. [PMID: 36579548 PMCID: PMC9698256 DOI: 10.3390/jpm12111817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2022] [Revised: 10/25/2022] [Accepted: 10/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a chronic multifactorial and complex neuro-degenerative disorder characterized by memory impairment and the loss of cognitive ability, which is a problem affecting the elderly. The pathological intracellular accumulation of abnormally phosphorylated Tau proteins, forming neurofibrillary tangles, and extracellular amyloid-beta (Aβ) deposition, forming senile plaques, as well as neural disconnection, neural death and synaptic dysfunction in the brain, are hallmark pathologies that characterize AD. The prevalence of the disease continues to increase globally due to the increase in longevity, quality of life, and medical treatment for chronic diseases that decreases the mortality and enhance the survival of elderly. Medical awareness and the accurate diagnosis of the disease also contribute to the high prevalence observed globally. Unfortunately, no definitive treatment exists that can be used to modify the course of AD, and no available treatment is capable of mitigating the cognitive decline or reversing the pathology of the disease as of yet. A plethora of hypotheses, ranging from the cholinergic theory and dominant Aβ cascade hypothesis to the abnormally excessive phosphorylated Tau protein hypothesis, have been reported. Various explanations for the pathogenesis of AD, such as the abnormal excitation of the glutamate system and mitochondrial dysfunction, have also been suggested. Despite the continuous efforts to deliver significant benefits and an effective treatment for this distressing, globally attested aging illness, multipronged approaches and strategies for ameliorating the disease course based on knowledge of the underpinnings of the pathogenesis of AD are urgently needed. Immunosenescence is an immune deficit process that appears with age (inflammaging process) and encompasses the remodeling of the lymphoid organs, leading to alterations in the immune function and neuroinflammation during advanced aging, which is closely linked to the outgrowth of infections, autoimmune diseases, and malignant cancers. It is well known that long-standing inflammation negatively influences the brain over the course of a lifetime due to the senescence of the immune system. Herein, we aim to trace the role of the immune system in the pathogenesis of AD. Thus, we explore alternative avenues, such as neuroimmune involvement in the pathogenesis of AD. We determine the initial triggers of neuroinflammation, which is an early episode in the pre-symptomatic stages of AD and contributes to the advancement of the disease, and the underlying key mechanisms of brain damage that might aid in the development of therapeutic strategies that can be used to combat this devastating disease. In addition, we aim to outline the ways in which different aspects of the immune system, both in the brain and peripherally, behave and thus to contribute to AD.
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Walrath T, McMahan RH, Idrovo JP, Quillinan N, Kovacs EJ. Cutaneous burn injury induces neuroinflammation and reactive astrocyte activation in the hippocampus of aged mice. Exp Gerontol 2022; 169:111975. [PMID: 36208823 DOI: 10.1016/j.exger.2022.111975] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2022] [Revised: 09/29/2022] [Accepted: 09/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND By 2050, one in six people globally will be 65 or older. Confusion and delirium are significant complications after burn injury, especially in the elderly population. The etiology is still unknown, however complications may be driven by pro-inflammatory activation of astrocytes within the hippocampus (HPC) after burn injury. Reduced levels of phosphorylated cyclic-AMP response binding element (pCREB), caused by elevated systemic pro-inflammatory cytokines, could lead to cognitive decline and memory impairment. METHODS To examine the effects of remote injury on neuroinflammation in advanced age, young and aged mice were subjected to a 15 % total body surface area scald burn or sham injury, and euthanized after 24 h. Expression of ccl2 and tnfa were measured by qPCR in the whole brain and HPC. Astrocyte activation was measured by immunofluorescence within the HPC. pCREB was measured by immunohistochemistry in the dentate gyrus. RESULTS We saw an 80-fold increase in ccl2 and a 30-fold elevation in tnfa after injury in the whole brain of aged mice compared to young groups and aged sham mice (p < 0.05 and p < 0.05, respectively). Additionally, there was a 30-fold increase in ccl2 within isolated HPC of aged injured mice when compared to sham injured animals (p < 0.05). When investigating specific HPC regions, immunofluorescence staining showed a >20 % rise in glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) positive astrocytes within the cornu ammonis 3 (CA3) of aged injured mice when compared to all other groups (p < 0.05). Lastly, we observed a >20 % decrease in pCREB staining by immunohistochemistry in the dentate gyrus of aged mice compared to young regardless of injury (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS These novel data suggest that remote injury in aged, but not young, mice is associated with neuroinflammation and astrocyte activation within the HPC. These factors, paired with an age related reduction in pCREB, could help explain the increased cognitive decline seen in burn patients of advanced age. To our knowledge, we are the first group to examine the impact of advanced age combined with burn injury on inflammation and astrocyte activation within the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Travis Walrath
- Department of Surgery, Division of GI, Trauma, and Endocrine Surgery, and Burn Research Program, University of Colorado Denver, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, United States of America
| | - Rachel H McMahan
- Department of Surgery, Division of GI, Trauma, and Endocrine Surgery, and Burn Research Program, University of Colorado Denver, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, United States of America
| | - Juan-Pablo Idrovo
- Department of Surgery, Division of GI, Trauma, and Endocrine Surgery, and Burn Research Program, University of Colorado Denver, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, United States of America
| | - Nidia Quillinan
- Department of Anesthesiology, Neuronal Injury Program, University of Colorado Denver, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Elizabeth J Kovacs
- Department of Surgery, Division of GI, Trauma, and Endocrine Surgery, and Burn Research Program, University of Colorado Denver, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, United States of America.
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Garcia G, Pinto S, Ferreira S, Lopes D, Serrador MJ, Fernandes A, Vaz AR, de Mendonça A, Edenhofer F, Malm T, Koistinaho J, Brites D. Emerging Role of miR-21-5p in Neuron-Glia Dysregulation and Exosome Transfer Using Multiple Models of Alzheimer's Disease. Cells 2022; 11:3377. [PMID: 36359774 PMCID: PMC9655962 DOI: 10.3390/cells11213377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2022] [Revised: 10/09/2022] [Accepted: 10/19/2022] [Indexed: 08/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder associated with neuron-glia dysfunction and dysregulated miRNAs. We previously reported upregulated miR-124/miR-21 in AD neurons and their exosomes. However, their glial distribution, phenotypic alterations and exosomal spread are scarcely documented. Here, we show glial cell activation and miR-21 overexpression in mouse organotypic hippocampal slices transplanted with SH-SY5Y cells expressing the human APP695 Swedish mutation. The upregulation of miR-21 only in the CSF from a small series of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) AD patients, but not in non-AD MCI individuals, supports its discriminatory potential. Microglia, neurons, and astrocytes differentiated from the same induced pluripotent stem cells from PSEN1ΔE9 AD patients all showed miR-21 elevation. In AD neurons, miR-124/miR-21 overexpression was recapitulated in their exosomes. In AD microglia, the upregulation of iNOS and miR-21/miR-146a supports their activation. AD astrocytes manifested a restrained inflammatory profile, with high miR-21 but low miR-155 and depleted exosomal miRNAs. Their immunostimulation with C1q + IL-1α + TNF-α induced morphological alterations and increased S100B, inflammatory transcripts, sAPPβ, cytokine release and exosomal miR-21. PPARα, a target of miR-21, was found to be repressed in all models, except in neurons, likely due to concomitant miR-125b elevation. The data from these AD models highlight miR-21 as a promising biomarker and a disease-modifying target to be further explored.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gonçalo Garcia
- Neuroinflammation, Signaling and Neuroregeneration Lab, Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-003 Lisbon, Portugal
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Medicines, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-003 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Sara Pinto
- Neuroinflammation, Signaling and Neuroregeneration Lab, Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-003 Lisbon, Portugal
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Sofia Ferreira
- Neuroinflammation, Signaling and Neuroregeneration Lab, Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-003 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Daniela Lopes
- Neuroinflammation, Signaling and Neuroregeneration Lab, Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-003 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Maria João Serrador
- Neuroinflammation, Signaling and Neuroregeneration Lab, Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-003 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Adelaide Fernandes
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Medicines, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-003 Lisbon, Portugal
- Central Nervous System, Blood and Peripheral Inflammation Lab, Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-003 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Ana Rita Vaz
- Neuroinflammation, Signaling and Neuroregeneration Lab, Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-003 Lisbon, Portugal
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Medicines, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-003 Lisbon, Portugal
| | | | - Frank Edenhofer
- Department of Genomics, Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Center for Molecular Biosciences, University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Tarja Malm
- A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, 70211 Kuopio, Finland
| | - Jari Koistinaho
- A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, 70211 Kuopio, Finland
- Neuroscience Center, Helsinki Institute of Life Science (HiLIFE), University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Dora Brites
- Neuroinflammation, Signaling and Neuroregeneration Lab, Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-003 Lisbon, Portugal
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Medicines, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-003 Lisbon, Portugal
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Zheng Y, Yang M, Chen X, Zhang G, Wan S, Zhang B, Huo J, Liu H. Decreased tubulin-binding cofactor B was involved in the formation disorder of nascent astrocyte processes by regulating microtubule plus-end growth through binding with end-binding proteins 1 and 3 after chronic alcohol exposure. Front Cell Neurosci 2022; 16:989945. [PMID: 36385945 PMCID: PMC9641617 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2022.989945] [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: 07/09/2022] [Accepted: 09/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) is a neurological disease caused by excessive drinking during pregnancy and characterized by congenital abnormalities in the structure and function of the fetal brain. This study was proposed to provide new insights into the pathogenesis of FAS by revealing the possible mechanisms of alcohol-induced astrocyte injury. First, a chronic alcohol exposure model of astrocytes was established, and the formation disorder was found in astrocyte processes where tubulin-binding cofactor B (TBCB) was decreased or lost, accompanied by disorganized microtubules (MT). Second, to understand the relationship between TBCB reduction and the formation disorder of astrocyte processes, TBCB was silenced or overexpressed. It caused astrocyte processes to retract or lose after silencing, while the processes increased with expending basal part and obtuse tips after overexpressing. It confirmed that TBCB was one of the critical factors for the formation of astrocyte processes through regulating MT plus-end and provided a new view on the pathogenesis of FAS. Third, to explore the mechanism of TBCB regulating MT plus-ends, we first proved end-binding proteins 1 and 3 (EB1/3) were bound at MT plus-ends in astrocytes. Then, through interference experiments, we found that both EB1 and EB3, which formed in heterodimers, were necessary to mediate TBCB binding to MT plus-ends and thus regulated the formation of astrocyte processes. Finally, the regulatory mechanism was studied and the ERK1/2 signaling pathway was found as one of the main pathways regulating the expression of TBCB in astrocytes after alcohol injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yin Zheng
- Institute of Neuroscience, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Department of Basic Medicine, Chongqing College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chongqing, China
| | - Mei Yang
- Institute of Neuroscience, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Xiaoqiao Chen
- Institute of Neuroscience, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Gaoli Zhang
- Institute for Viral Hepatitis, Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Shanshan Wan
- Department of Blood Transfusion, Sichuan Cancer Hospital and Institute, Chengdu, China
| | - Bingqiu Zhang
- Institute of Neuroscience, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Jiechao Huo
- Fujian Province University Engineering Research Center of Mindong She Medicine, Medical College, Ningde Normal University, Ningde, China
| | - Hui Liu
- Institute of Neuroscience, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- *Correspondence: Hui Liu
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