Protein degradation in Alzheimer's disease and aging of the brain

Neuronal ER-Signalosome Proteins as Early Biomarkers in Prodromal Alzheimer's Disease Independent of Amyloid-β Production and Tau Phosphorylation

There exists considerable interest to unveil preclinical period and prodromal stages of Alzheimer's disease (AD). The mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is characterized by significant memory and/or other cognitive domains impairments, and is often considered the prodromal phase of AD. The cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of β-amyloid (βA), total tau (t-tau), and phosphorylated tau (p-tau) have been used as biomarkers of AD albeit their significance as indicators during early stages of AD remains far from accurate. The new biomarkers are being intensively sought as to allow identification of pathological processes underlying early stages of AD. Fifty-three participants (75.4 ± 8.3 years) were classified in three groups as cognitively normal healthy controls (HC), MCI, and subjective memory complaints (SMC). The subjects were subjected to a battery of neurocognitive tests and underwent lumbar puncture for CSF extraction. The CSF levels of estrogen-receptor (ER)-signalosome proteins, βA, t-tau and p-tau, were submitted to univariate, bivariate, and multivariate statistical analyses. We have found that the components of the ER-signalosome, namely, caveolin-1, flotilin-1, and estrogen receptor alpha (ERα), insulin growth factor-1 receptor β (IGF1Rβ), prion protein (PrP), and plasmalemmal voltage dependent anion channel 1 (VDAC) could be detected in the CSF from all subjects of the HC, MCI, and SMC groups. The six proteins appeared elevated in MCI and slightly increased in SMC subjects compared to HC, suggesting that signalosome proteins undergo very early modifications in nerve cells. Using a multivariate approach, we have found that the combination of ERα, IGF-1Rβ, and VDAC are the main determinants of group segregation with resolution enough to predict the MCI stage. The analyses of bivariate relationships indicated that collinearity of ER-signalosome proteins vary depending on the stage, with some pairs displaying opposed relationships between HC and MCI groups, and the SMC stage showing either no relationships or behaviors similar to either HC or MCI stages. The multinomial logistic regression models of changes in ER-signalosome proteins provide reliable predictive criteria, particularly for the MCI. Notably, most of the statistical analyses revealed no significant relationships or interactions with classical AD biomarkers at either disease stage. Finally, the multivariate functions were highly correlated with outcomes from neurocognitive tests for episodic memory. These results demonstrate that alterations in ER-signalosome might provide useful diagnostic information on preclinical stages of AD, independently from classical biomarkers.

Persistent hijacking of brain proteasomes in HIV-associated dementia

Immunoproteasome induction sustains class 1 antigen presentation and immunological vigilance against HIV-1 in the brain. Investigation of HIV-1-associated alterations in brain protein turnover by the ubiquitin-proteasome system was performed by (1) determining proteasome subunit changes associated with persistent brain inflammation due to HIV-1; (2) determining whether these changes are related to HIV-1 neurocognitive disturbances, encephalitis, and viral loads; and (3) localizing proteasome subunits in brain cells and synapses. On the basis of neurocognitive performance, virological, and immunological measurements obtained within 6 months before death, 153 autopsy cases were selected. Semiquantitative immunoblot analysis performed in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex revealed up to threefold induction of immunoproteasome subunits LMP7 and PA28alpha in HIV-1-infected subjects and was strongly related to diagnoses of neuropsychological impairment and HIV encephalitis. Low performance on neurocognitive tests specific for dorsolateral prefrontal cortex functioning domains was selectively correlated with immunoproteasome induction. Immunohistochemistry and laser confocal microscopy were then used to localize immunoproteasome subunits to glial and neuronal elements including perikarya, dystrophic axons, and synapses. In addition, HIV loads in brain tissue, cerebrospinal fluid, and blood plasma were robustly correlated to immunoproteasome levels. This persistent "hijacking" of the proteasome by HIV-1-mediated inflammatory response and immunoproteasome induction in the brain is hypothesized to impede turnover of folded proteins in brain cells. This would disrupt neuronal and synaptic protein dynamics, contributing to HIV-1 neurocognitive disturbances.

BDNF mediates the neuroprotective effects of positive AMPA receptor modulators against MPP+-induced toxicity in cultured hippocampal and mesencephalic slices

Neurotoxicity is involved in various neurodegenerative diseases including Parkinson's disease (PD), which affects mesencephalic dopaminergic neurons of the substantia nigra (SN). Positive alpha-Amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) receptor modulators (PARMs, a.k.a. Ampakines, such as CX614) increase brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) protein levels in vivo and in cultured hippocampal slices. BDNF is a survival factor for various neuronal cell types including mesencephalic dopaminergic neurons. Using cultured mesencephalic and hippocampal slices, we investigated whether preincubation with CX614 could provide neuroprotection against MPP(+) toxicity and whether such neuroprotection was mediated by BDNF. Various treatment protocols were tested to demonstrate CX614-induced neuroprotection against MPP(+). Pretreatment with CX614 significantly reduced MPP(+)-induced toxicity and increased BDNF levels in both hippocampal and mesencephalic cultured slices; CX614 pretreatment for 6 h in hippocampal slices and 24 h in mesencephalic slices was sufficient to produce significant neuroprotection as assessed with lactate dehydrogenase release in slice medium and propidium iodide uptake in slices. Both a BDNF scavenger and an inhibitor of the BDNF receptor TrkB, abrogated CX614-mediated reduction of MPP(+)-induced toxicity. Inhibition of Ca(2+)-activated proteases, calpains, was also protective against MPP(+)-induced toxicity. However, co-application of calpain inhibitor with CX614 abolished CX614-mediated protection, suggesting a dual action of calpains in this model. We conclude that CX614 is neuroprotective against MPP(+)-induced toxicity, an effect mediated by increased BDNF expression and activation of BDNF-dependent signaling pathways. Our results provide support for using PARMs as a new therapy for neurodegenerative disorders, including PD.

Brain aging in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome: increased ubiquitin-protein conjugate is correlated with decreased synaptic protein but not amyloid plaque accumulation

Two neuropathological changes that are linked with biological and pathological aging were examined in subjects with end-stage acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Autopsy brain specimens were examined from 25 people who died from complications of AIDS and 25 comparison subjects who were human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-negative, matched for age, gender, ethnicity, and postmortem time interval. These adults were stratified into three age groups: elderly (62 to 75 years), intermediate (55 to 60 years), and young (21 to 42 years). Ubiquitin-stained dotlike deposits (Ub-dots) and diffuse extracellular plaques containing the beta-amyloid (Abeta) fragment of the amyloid precursor protein (Abeta plaque) were both increased significantly in the hippocampal formation of older subjects. In subjects with AIDS, Ub-dots were increased whereas Abeta plaque counts were not significantly different. Western blotting confirmed that high-molecular-weight ubiquitin-protein conjugates (HMW-Ub-conj) were increased in AIDS. The band intensity of one HMW-Ub-conj species with an approximate molecular mass of 145 kDa was correlated significantly with increased acute phase inflammatory protein (a-1-antichymotrypsin) and decreased synaptophysin and growth-associated protein-43 band intensities. These results raise the possibility that HIV-related brain inflammation disturbs neuronal protein turnover through the ubiquitin-proteasome apparatus, and might increase the prevalence of age-associated neurodegenerative diseases by decreasing synaptic protein turnover through the proteasome.