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Costa MFD, Rösler TW, Höglinger GU. Exploring the neuroprotective potential of Nrf2-pathway activators against annonacin toxicity. Sci Rep 2024; 14:20123. [PMID: 39209951 PMCID: PMC11362529 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-70837-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2024] [Accepted: 08/21/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Modulation of the Nrf2 pathway, a master regulator of the antioxidant response and cellular metabolism, has been suggested as a promising therapeutic strategy in tauopathies, a heterogeneous group of neurodegenerative disorders characterized by intracellular proteinaceous inclusions of abnormally phosphorylated tau. Here, we explored the neuroprotective potential of different Nrf2-pathway activators in human immortalized dopaminergic neurons against annonacin-induced toxicity, a mitochondrial inhibitor associated with a PSP-like syndrome and capable of mimicking tauopathy-like features. Interestingly, we observed heterogenous and compound-dependent neuroprotective effects among the different Nrf2-pathway activators. With the exception of Fyn inhibitors, all the selected Nrf2-pathway activators improved cell viability and the oxidative status, and reduced the annonacin-induced tau hyperphosphorylation and neurite degeneration, particularly the p62-activators. However, improvement of the impaired mitochondrial function was only observed by the Bach-1 inhibitor. Surprisingly, we found evidence that ezetimibe, an approved drug for hypercholesterolemia, prevents the transcriptional upregulation of 4R-tau triggered by annonacin insult. Overall, our results suggest that the neuroprotective effects of the Nrf2-pathway activators against annonacin toxicity may rely on the specific mechanism of action, intrinsic to each compound, and possibly on the concomitant modulation of additional signaling pathways. Further research will be needed to fully understand how synergistic modulation of metabolic adaptation and cell survival can be exploit to develop new therapeutical strategies for tauopathies and eventually other neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Márcia F D Costa
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Munich, Germany
- Department of Neurology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Thomas W Rösler
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Munich, Germany
| | - Günter U Höglinger
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Munich, Germany.
- Department of Neurology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
- Munich Cluster for Systems Neurology (SyNergy), Munich, Germany.
- Department of Neurology, LMU Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-University (LMU), Munich, Germany.
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2
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Huang Z. Evidence that Alzheimer's Disease Is a Disease of Competitive Synaptic Plasticity Gone Awry. J Alzheimers Dis 2024; 99:447-470. [PMID: 38669548 PMCID: PMC11119021 DOI: 10.3233/jad-240042] [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] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
Mounting evidence indicates that a physiological function of amyloid-β (Aβ) is to mediate neural activity-dependent homeostatic and competitive synaptic plasticity in the brain. I have previously summarized the lines of evidence supporting this hypothesis and highlighted the similarities between Aβ and anti-microbial peptides in mediating cell/synapse competition. In cell competition, anti-microbial peptides deploy a multitude of mechanisms to ensure both self-protection and competitor elimination. Here I review recent studies showing that similar mechanisms are at play in Aβ-mediated synapse competition and perturbations in these mechanisms underpin Alzheimer's disease (AD). Specifically, I discuss evidence that Aβ and ApoE, two crucial players in AD, co-operate in the regulation of synapse competition. Glial ApoE promotes self-protection by increasing the production of trophic monomeric Aβ and inhibiting its assembly into toxic oligomers. Conversely, Aβ oligomers, once assembled, promote the elimination of competitor synapses via direct toxic activity and amplification of "eat-me" signals promoting the elimination of weak synapses. I further summarize evidence that neuronal ApoE may be part of a gene regulatory network that normally promotes competitive plasticity, explaining the selective vulnerability of ApoE expressing neurons in AD brains. Lastly, I discuss evidence that sleep may be key to Aβ-orchestrated plasticity, in which sleep is not only induced by Aβ but is also required for Aβ-mediated plasticity, underlining the link between sleep and AD. Together, these results strongly argue that AD is a disease of competitive synaptic plasticity gone awry, a novel perspective that may promote AD research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhen Huang
- Departments of Neuroscience and Neurology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
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Younas N, Saleem T, Younas A, Zerr I. Nuclear face of Tau: an inside player in neurodegeneration. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2023; 11:196. [PMID: 38087392 PMCID: PMC10714511 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-023-01702-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Tau (Tubulin associated unit) protein is a major hallmark of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and tauopathies. Tau is predominantly an axonal protein with a crucial role in the stabilization and dynamics of the microtubules. Since the discovery of Tau protein in 1975, research efforts were concentrated on the pathophysiological role of Tau protein in the context of the microtubules. Although, for more than three decades, different localizations of Tau protein have been discovered e.g., in the nuclear compartments. Discovery of the role of Tau protein in various cellular compartments especially in the nucleus opens up a new fold of complexity in tauopathies. Data from cellular models, animal models, and the human brain indicate that nuclear Tau is crucial for genome stability and to cope with cellular distress. Moreover, it's nature of nuclear translocation, its interactions with the nuclear DNA/RNA and proteins suggest it could play multiple roles in the nucleus. To comprehend Tau pathophysiology and efficient Tau-based therapies, there is an urgent need to understand whole repertoire of Tau species (nuclear and cytoplasmic) and their functional relevance. To complete the map of Tau repertoire, understanding of various species of Tau in the nucleus and cytoplasm, identification if specific transcripts of Tau, isoforms and post-translational modifications could foretell Tau's localizations and functions, and how they are modified in neurodegenerative diseases like AD, is urgently required. In this review, we explore the nuclear face of Tau protein, its nuclear localizations and functions and its linkage with Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neelam Younas
- University Medical Center Göttingen, National Reference Center for Surveillance of TSE, Department of Neurology, Robert-Koch strasse 40, 37075, Göttingen, Germany.
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Göttingen, 37075, Germany.
| | - Tayyaba Saleem
- University Medical Center Göttingen, National Reference Center for Surveillance of TSE, Department of Neurology, Robert-Koch strasse 40, 37075, Göttingen, Germany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Göttingen, 37075, Germany
| | - Abrar Younas
- University Medical Center Göttingen, National Reference Center for Surveillance of TSE, Department of Neurology, Robert-Koch strasse 40, 37075, Göttingen, Germany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Göttingen, 37075, Germany
| | - Inga Zerr
- University Medical Center Göttingen, National Reference Center for Surveillance of TSE, Department of Neurology, Robert-Koch strasse 40, 37075, Göttingen, Germany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Göttingen, 37075, Germany
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Shiravandi A, Yari F, Tofigh N, Kazemi Ashtiani M, Shahpasand K, Ghanian MH, Shekari F, Faridbod F. Earlier Detection of Alzheimer's Disease Based on a Novel Biomarker cis P-tau by a Label-Free Electrochemical Immunosensor. BIOSENSORS 2022; 12:879. [PMID: 36291017 PMCID: PMC9599477 DOI: 10.3390/bios12100879] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2022] [Revised: 10/01/2022] [Accepted: 10/07/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Early detection of cis phosphorylated tau (cis P-tau) may help as an effective treatment to control the progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Recently, we introduced for the first time a monoclonal antibody (mAb) with high affinity against cis P-tau. In this study, the cis P-tau mAb was utilized to develop a label-free immunosensor. The antibody was immobilized onto a gold electrode and the electrochemical responses to the analyte were acquired by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), cyclic voltammetry (CV), and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). The immunosensor was capable of selective detection of cis P-tau among non-specific targets like trans P-tau and major plasma proteins. A wide concentration range (10 × 10-14 M-3.0 × 10-9 M) of cis P-tau was measured in PBS and human serum matrices with a limit of detection of 0.02 and 0.05 pM, respectively. Clinical applicability of the immunosensor was suggested by its long-term storage stability and successful detection of cis P-tau in real samples of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and blood serum collected from human patients at different stages of AD. These results suggest that this simple immunosensor may find great application in clinical settings for early detection of AD which is an unmet urgent need in today's healthcare services.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayoub Shiravandi
- Department of Cell Engineering, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, Academic Center for Education, Culture and Research (ACECR), Tehran 1665659911, Iran
| | - Farzaneh Yari
- Center of Excellence in Electrochemistry, School of Chemistry, College of Science, University of Tehran, Tehran P.O. Box 14155-6455, Iran
| | - Nahid Tofigh
- Laboratory of Neuro-Organic Chemistry, Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics (IBB), University of Tehran, Tehran 1417935840, Iran
| | - Mohammad Kazemi Ashtiani
- Department of Cell Engineering, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, Academic Center for Education, Culture and Research (ACECR), Tehran 1665659911, Iran
| | - Koorosh Shahpasand
- Department of Stem Cells and Developmental Biology, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, Academic Center for Education, Culture and Research (ACECR), Tehran 1665659911, Iran
| | - Mohammad-Hossein Ghanian
- Department of Cell Engineering, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, Academic Center for Education, Culture and Research (ACECR), Tehran 1665659911, Iran
| | - Faezeh Shekari
- Advanced Therapy Medicinal Product Technology Development Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, Academic Center for Education, Culture and Research (ACECR), Tehran 1665659911, Iran
| | - Farnoush Faridbod
- Center of Excellence in Electrochemistry, School of Chemistry, College of Science, University of Tehran, Tehran P.O. Box 14155-6455, Iran
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Nakhjiri E, Roqanian S, Zangbar HS, Seyedi Vafaee M, Mohammadnejad D, Ahmadian S, Zamanzadeh S, Ehsani E, Shahabi P, Shahpasand K. Spinal Cord Injury Causes Prominent Tau Pathology Associated with Brain Post-Injury Sequela. Mol Neurobiol 2022; 59:4197-4208. [PMID: 35501632 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-022-02843-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2022] [Accepted: 04/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Spinal cord injury (SCI) can result in significant neurological impairment and functional and cognitive deficits. It is well established that SCI results in focal neurodegeneration that gradually spreads to other cord areas. On the other hand, traumatic brain injury (TBI) is strongly associated with tau protein pathology and neurodegeneration that can spread in areas throughout the brain. Tau is a microtubule-associated protein abundant in neurons and whose abnormalities result in neuronal cell death. While SCI and TBI have been extensively studied, there is limited research on the relationship between SCI and brain tau pathology. As a result, in this study, we examined tau pathology in spinal cord and brain samples obtained from severe SCI mouse models at various time points. The effects of severe SCI on locomotor function, spatial memory, anxiety/risk-taking behavior were investigated. Immunostaining and immunoblotting confirmed a progressive increase in tau pathology in the spinal cord and brain areas. Moreover, we used electron microscopy to examine brain samples and observed disrupted mitochondria and microtubule structure following SCI. SCI resulted in motor dysfunction, memory impairment, and abnormal risk-taking behavior. Notably, eliminating pathogenic cis P-tau via systemic administration of appropriate monoclonal antibodies restored SCI's pathological and functional consequences. Thus, our findings suggest that SCI causes severe tauopathy that spreads to brain areas, indicating brain dysfunction. Additionally, tau immunotherapy with an anti-cis P-tau antibody could suppress pathogenic outcomes in SCI mouse models, with significant clinical implications for SCI patients. SCI induces profound pathogenic cis p-tau, which diffuses into the brain through CSF, resulting in brain neurodegeneration and cognitive decline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elnaz Nakhjiri
- Neurosciences Research Center (NSRC), Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Shaqayeq Roqanian
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hamid Soltani Zangbar
- Department of Neuroscience and Cognition, Faculty of Advanced Medical Sciences, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | | | | | - Shahin Ahmadian
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Selva Zamanzadeh
- Department of Biological Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ehsan Ehsani
- Department of Biology, Roudehen Islamic Azad University, Roudehen, Iran
| | - Parviz Shahabi
- Drug Applied Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
| | - Koorosh Shahpasand
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, Tehran, Iran.
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