Purification and immunochemical properties of choline acetyltransferase from human brain

Visual hallucinations in Alzheimer's disease do not seem to be associated with chronic hypoperfusion of to visual processing areas V2 and V3 but may be associated with reduced cholinergic input to these areas

Background

Up to 20% of patients with AD experience hallucinations. The pathological substrate is not known. Visual hallucinations (VH) are more common in dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB). In autopsy studies, up to 60% of patients with AD have concomitant Lewy body pathology. Decreased perfusion of the occipital lobe has been implicated in DLB patients with VH, and post-mortem studies point to both decreased cholinergic activity and reduced oxygenation of the occipital cortex in DLB.

Methods

We used biochemical methods to assess microvessel density (level of von Willebrand factor, a marker of endothelial cell content), ante-mortem oxygenation (vascular endothelial growth factor, a marker of tissue hypoxia; myelin-associated glycoprotein to proteolipid protein-1 ratio, a measure of tissue oxygenation relative to metabolic demand), cholinergic innervation (acetylcholinesterase and choline acetyltransferase), butyrylcholinesterase and insoluble α-synuclein content in the BA18 and BA19 occipital cortex obtained post-mortem from 23 AD patients who had experienced visual hallucinations, 19 AD patients without hallucinations, 19 DLB patients, and 36 controls. The cohorts were matched for age, gender and post-mortem interval.

Results

There was no evidence of reduced microvessel density, hypoperfusion or reduction in ChAT activity in AD with visual hallucinations. Acetylcholinesterase activity was reduced in both BA18 and BA19, in all 3 dementia groups, and the concentration was also reduced in BA19 in the DLB and AD without visual hallucinations groups. Insoluble α-synuclein was raised in the DLB group in both areas but not in AD either with or without visual hallucinations.

Conclusions

Our results suggest that visual hallucinations in AD are associated with cholinergic denervation rather than chronic hypoperfusion or α-synuclein accumulation in visual processing areas of the occipital cortex.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s13195-019-0519-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

A Novel Antiserum Against a Predicted Human Peripheral Choline Acetyltransferase (hpChAT) for Labeling Neuronal Structures in Human Colon

Choline acetyltransferase (ChAT), the enzyme synthesizing acetylcholine (ACh), has an exon-skipping splice variant which is expressed preferentially in the peripheral nervous system (PNS) and thus termed peripheral ChAT (pChAT). A rabbit antiserum previously produced against rat pChAT (rpChAT) has been used for immunohistochemistry (IHC) to study peripheral cholinergic structures in various animals. The present study was undertaken to develop a specific antiserum against a predicted human pChAT (hpChAT) protein. A novel mouse antiserum has been successfully raised against a unique 14-amino acid sequence of hpChAT protein. Our Western blot using this antiserum (termed here anti-hpChAT serum) on human colon extracts revealed only a single band of 47 kDa, matching the deduced size of hpChAT protein. By IHC, the antiserum gave intense staining in many neuronal cells and fibers of human colon but not brain, and such a pattern of staining seemed identical with that reported in colon of various animals using anti-rpChAT serum. In the antibody-absorption test, hpChAT-immunoreactive staining in human colon was completely blocked by using the antiserum pre-absorbed with the antigen peptide. Double immunofluorescence in human colon moreover indicated that structures stained with anti-hpChAT were also stained with anti-rpChAT, and vice versa. hpChAT antiserum allowed the identification of cell types, as Dogiel type cells in intramural plexuses, and fiber innervation of colon muscles and mucosae. The present results demonstrate the specificity and reliability of the hpChAT antiserum as a novel tool for immunohistochemical studies in human colon, opening venues to map cholinergic innervation in other human PNS tissues.

Regulated Extracellular Choline Acetyltransferase Activity- The Plausible Missing Link of the Distant Action of Acetylcholine in the Cholinergic Anti-Inflammatory Pathway

Acetylcholine (ACh), the classical neurotransmitter, also affects a variety of nonexcitable cells, such as endothelia, microglia, astrocytes and lymphocytes in both the nervous system and secondary lymphoid organs. Most of these cells are very distant from cholinergic synapses. The action of ACh on these distant cells is unlikely to occur through diffusion, given that ACh is very short-lived in the presence of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE), two extremely efficient ACh-degrading enzymes abundantly present in extracellular fluids. In this study, we show compelling evidence for presence of a high concentration and activity of the ACh-synthesizing enzyme, choline-acetyltransferase (ChAT) in human cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and plasma. We show that ChAT levels are physiologically balanced to the levels of its counteracting enzymes, AChE and BuChE in the human plasma and CSF. Equilibrium analyses show that soluble ChAT maintains a steady-state ACh level in the presence of physiological levels of fully active ACh-degrading enzymes. We show that ChAT is secreted by cultured human-brain astrocytes, and that activated spleen lymphocytes release ChAT itself rather than ACh. We further report differential CSF levels of ChAT in relation to Alzheimer's disease risk genotypes, as well as in patients with multiple sclerosis, a chronic neuroinflammatory disease, compared to controls. Interestingly, soluble CSF ChAT levels show strong correlation with soluble complement factor levels, supporting a role in inflammatory regulation. This study provides a plausible explanation for the long-distance action of ACh through continuous renewal of ACh in extracellular fluids by the soluble ChAT and thereby maintenance of steady-state equilibrium between hydrolysis and synthesis of this ubiquitous cholinergic signal substance in the brain and peripheral compartments. These findings may have important implications for the role of cholinergic signaling in states of inflammation in general and in neurodegenerative disease, such as Alzheimer's disease and multiple sclerosis in particular.

Two methods for large-scale purification of recombinant human choline acetyltransferase

Choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) catalyzes the transfer of an acetyl group from acetyl-CoA to choline to produce the neurotransmitter acetylcholine (ACh). We have produced large quantities of pure human ChAT using two different bacterial expression systems. In the first, ChAT is fused to a chitin-binding domain via a self-cleavable linker allowing the release of ChAT without the use of proteases. In the second, ChAT is fused to a hexahistidine (His6) tag at the N-terminus with a linker incorporating a TEV protease cleavage site. In both cases, pure ChAT was produced that has a final specific activity of approximately 50 micromol ACh/min/mg and is suitable for structural characterization. Analysis of purified ChAT by Western blots and mass spectrometry revealed that the C-terminal 15 amino acids were slowly removed by endogenous proteolytic activity, to produce a stable 615 residue protein. Furthermore, we show that purified recombinant human ChAT is highly prone to oxidation, leading to the formation of covalent dimers and/or a loss of catalytic activity. Kinetic parameters of our purified proteins were obtained and, when compared to previously published constants for human placental ChAT, we found that recombinant human ChAT displays lower values for Michaelis and inhibition constants for ACh, which may be due to the complete absence of post-translational modifications.

Aluminum-induced acute cholinergic neurotoxicity in rat

In the present study the acute effect of intravenous aluminum chloride (1 mg/kg) on choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activities of rats was investigated. Aluminum was found to cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB) as indicated by the detection of aluminum in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) 30 min after femoral vein injection. Two hours following aluminum injection, ChAT activity in the basal forebrain and hippocampus was significantly reduced by 30% and 22%, respectively, whereas no change was observed in the caudate nuclei. On the other hand, AChE activity was significantly increased by 45% in the caudate nuclei, whereas little change was observed in other brain areas. This report demonstrates that rapid transport of Al across the BBB, and the acute nature of Al neurotoxicity in rats.

Monoclonal anti-conjugated acetylcholine antibody and immunohistochemical applications in rat nervous system

Acetylcholine (ACh) conjugates were injected into AKR and DBA mice over a period of 10 weeks. The polyclonal antisera were tested at various immunization times for affinity and specificity using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The most immunoreactive compound was found to be choline-glutaryl-bovine serum albumin (or conjugated ACh). The AKR and DBA mice yielding the highest apparent affinity were killed, and the spleen cells were fused with X63 or SP2/O/Ag mouse myeloma cells. Supernatants of confluent cultures were tested for the presence of anti-conjugated ACh antibodies using the same ELISA method. The best results were obtained with the hybridomas from AKR spleen cells and X63 mouse myeloma cells. Monoclonal antibody affinity and specificity were then evaluated by a radioimmunological procedure using iodinated monoclonal anti-conjugated ACh antibody. From competition experiments, the most immunoreactive compound was choline-glutaryl-protein. The other related compounds were recognized either poorly or not at all. The high affinity and specificity of our monoclonal antibody enabled us to visualize ACh molecules on fixed rat brain sections. ACh was fixed with a mixture of nitrobenzyl alcohol and glutaraldehyde. Many ACh-immunoreactive cell bodies and fibers were seen on sections from the basal forebrain and spinal cord. Preadsorption and other immunohistochemical tests demonstrated that the ACh staining was highly specific.

Molecular biology and neurobiology of choline acetyltransferase

In the 45 years since the first description of choline acetyltransferase (ChAT; EC 2.3.1.6.), significant progress has been made in characterizing the molecular properties of this important neurotransmitter synthetic enzyme. We are now on the verge of understanding its genetic regulation and biological function(s). The Drosophila cDNA has been cloned, sequenced, and expressed in both a eucaryotic and a procaryotic system. The levels of ChAT specific mRNA have been determined during Drosophila development. Monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies have been produced to the enzyme from a variety of sources and used for biochemical and immunocytochemical studies. Two well characterized genetic systems have identified the ChAT gene and described a series of useful alleles. As a nervous system specific protein expressed only in the subset of neurons using acetylcholine as a neurotransmitter, ChAT is a good model for uncovering the processes and factors responsible for regulating genes involved in neurotransmitter phenotype selection and maintenance. Recent studies have described the purification of a cholinergic factor from muscle conditioned medium and indicated the potential importance of nerve growth factor (NGF) for regulating ChAT expression in the central nervous system. These factors, or ones remaining to be discovered, may be involved in the etiology or disease process of neurodegenerative nervous system disorders such as Alzheimer's disease.

Membrane-bound choline acetyltransferase from human brain: purification and properties

Choline acetyltransferase (ChAT; EC 2.3.1.6) was separated from human caudate/putamen into three fractions by successive extractions into a potassium phosphate buffer, a high salt (NaCl) buffer and a buffer containing 0.6% Triton X-100. The Triton-X-solubilized fraction is the membrane-bound ChAT (mChAT) and represents about 40% of the total ChAT. After centrifugation, mChAT was precipitated by ammonium sulfate at 35-65% saturation. The crude enzyme preparation was fractionated in turn on a DEAE-Sepharose, a hydroxylapatite and a phosphocellulose columns. Finally, mChAT was applied to a CoA-Sepharose column equilibrated with buffer containing 100 mM choline chloride and was specifically eluted with buffer containing acetyl-CoA. The presence of both substrates greatly stabilized the enzyme and ChAT was recovered almost quantitatively. The final preparation of mChAT has a specific activity of 37.2 mumol of acetylcholine synthesized per min-mg protein. The purified mChAT has a pH optimum of 8.3. It migrated as two bands on SDS-PAGE with molecular weights of 67,000 and 62,000 daltons, respectively. Immunoblot autoradiography showed that an antiserum prepared previously against soluble ChAT also cross-reacted with both bands of mChAT, indicating that both forms of this enzyme are related. Furthermore, as previously reported for soluble ChAT, Fab-Sepharose chromatography could be used for the purification of mChAT and this preparation also resolved into two bands on 10% SDS gel.

Immunoaffinity purification of human choline acetyltransferase: comparison of the brain and placental enzymes

A rapid and efficient immunoaffinity purification procedure has been developed for human placental choline acetyltransferase (ChAT). Using this procedure, human placental ChAT was purified to homogeneity with high recovery of enzyme activity (50-60%). Purified ChAT was used to raise a monospecific anti-human ChAT polyclonal antibody in rabbits. A comparison of the physical properties of ChAT was made between the enzymes purified from human brain and human placenta. Only one form of the enzyme exists in either tissue, having identical molecular weights of 68,000 and a single apparent pI of 8.1. A more detailed comparison of the two enzymes using peptide mapping and epitope mapping indicates identity between the brain and placental enzymes.

Immunohistochemical localization of choline acetyltransferase using a monoclonal antibody: a radioautographic method

Monoclonal antibodies to rat striatal choline acetyltransferase were produced by fusion of sensitized mouse lymphocytes with murine plasmacytoma (NS1) cells. Two stable anti-choline acetyltransferase lines were established by limiting dilution cloning. Specificity of antibody was established by the following criteria: (1) on an enzyme linked immunosorbant assay, antibodies reacted against choline acetyltransferase which was highly purified; (2) by immunoprecipitation, monoclonal antibody bound to its antigen and precipitated choline acetyltransferase activity from solution, when used in conjunction with rabbit antimouse IgG; and (3) monoclonal antibody was shown to specifically localize cholinergic neurons. The monoclonal antibody to choline acetyltransferase was radiolabeled in culture by incubating hybridomas in medium containing 3H-labeled amino acids. This 3H-labeled antibody was used for radioautography on cryostat sections of rat peripheral and central nervous systems. In a sampling of areas, highly specific labeling of cholinergic structures was afforded at both light and electron microscopic levels. Double labeling of tyrosine hydroxylase, a catecholaminergic marker, and choline acetyltransferase was carried out by reacting sections first with the 3H-labeled antibody to choline acetyltransferase and then with rabbit antibody to tyrosine hydroxylase. The choline acetyltransferase label was radioautographically processed and tyrosine hydroxylase was visualized by the peroxidase-antiperoxidase method. The combined techniques of peroxidase and radioautographic histochemistry provide permanent electron dense labels which can be examined simultaneously within a single histologic section.

Anti-human choline acetyltransferase fragments antigen binding (FAB)-sepharose chromatography for enzyme purification

Fragments Antigen Binding (FAB)-Sepharose immunoaffinity chromatography was successfully applied to the purification of human choline acetyltransferase. The mild elution conditions made it possible to obtain the enzyme in its full catalytic state. The method should be generally applicable to enzyme purification.

Antibodies to rat choline acetyltransferase for immunochemistry and immunocytochemistry

Choline acetyltransferase was purified from rat striata by several sequential column chromatographic separations on Sepharose 4B, hydroxylapatite, Sephadex G-150 and CM-Sephadex, and finally by elution of enzymatically active protein from gel slices. Conventional rabbit and monoclonal antibodies to the enzyme were produced. Monoclonal antibodies were radiolabeled in vivo and used for specific immunoradioautographic localization of choline acetyltransferase in cholinergic neurons by light and electron microscopy.

Immunochemical studies of bovine and human choline-O-acetyltransferase using monoclonal antibodies

Immunochemical properties of bovine and human choline acetyltransferase (ChAT, EC 2.3.1.6, acetyl-CoA:choline-O-acetyltransferase) were studied using six monoclonal antibodies (AB1, AB5, AB6, AB7, AB8, and AB9) reactive with the enzyme. All antibodies except AB1 bound specifically to two proteins of 68,000 and 70,000 MW on "Western" blots of sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels containing human or bovine ChAT. The enzyme was specifically absorbed to immobilized antibody and could not be eluted by low pH and/or high salt concentrations although the enzyme retained activity on the immunoabsorbent. Pure bovine enzyme consisting of the same two proteins as seen in the Western blotting studies was eluted from immobilized AB1 in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate. Although active enzyme could not be eluted from immobilized antibodies by standard conditions, various combinations of free and immobilized antibodies were effective in competing off bound enzyme. Free antibody AB1 quantitatively eluted the active enzyme from immobilized AB1. The different capacities of the antibodies to elute enzyme from various immunoabsorbents reflect interesting properties of both the enzyme and the antibodies.

Aminergic and cholinergic systems in the dorsolateral pontine tegmentum

Topographic relationship between cholinergic and aminergic neuronal somata has been studied in the dorsolateral pontine tegmentum by using three histochemical techniques, acetylcholinesterase (AchE) histochemistry in rats having received systemic injection of diisopropylfluorophosphate, choline acetyltransferase (CAT) immunohistochemistry and catecholamine fluorescence histochemistry. Based on comparing the data obtained from these different techniques, it seems evident that all noradrenergic neurons contain AchE. The remaining population of AchE-containing somata appears to correspond with CAT-containing, therefore, cholinergic neuronal cell bodies. No AchE-positive perikarya were detected in neuronal structures other than cholinergic and aminergic neurons. In addition, coexistence of noradrenaline and acetylcholine in a single cell seems improbable, at least, in the dorsolateral pontine tegmentum.

Cross-species and intraspecies reactivities of monoclonal antibodies against choline acetyltransferase

We have previously reported the first successful production of monoclonal antibodies against the cholinergic neuronal marker, choline acetyltransferase (ChAT). We now report some inter-and intraspecies cross-reactivity studies of the monoclonal antibody AB1. This antibody reacted most strongly with bovine ChAT and weakly with sheep and human enzyme. Similar amounts of binding were observed with the two forms of bovine ChAT separated by ion exchange chromatography. The antibody also reacted equally well with human ChAT derived from either brain or placenta.

The central cholinergic system studied by choline acetyltransferase immunohistochemistry in the cat

An atlas of the distribution of cholinergic cell bodies, fibers, and terminals, as well as cholinoceptive cells, in the central nervous system of the cat (excluding the cerebellum) is presented from results obtained in immunohistochemical work on choline acetyltransferase. Cholinergic cell bodies are observed in more than forty areas, and cholinoceptive cells in sixty discrete areas of brain sections from the spinal cord to the olfactory bulb. The atlas is presented in seventy cross-sectional drawings of cat brain extending from the olfactory bulb to the upper cervical spinal cord.

Anti-choline acetyltransferase fragments antigen binding (Fab) for immunohistochemistry

The preparation of fragments antigen binding (Fab) from serum of rabbits immunized against human brain choline acetyltransferase (CAT) is described. Ant-CAT Fab fragments were less potent than anti-CAT immunoglobulin (IgG) in inhibiting mammalian CAT activity and did not precipitate CAT activity. They proved, however, far superior to anti-CAT IgG for the immunohistochemical staining of CAT in mammalian neurons.

Choline acetyltransferase-containing neurons in rodent brain demonstrated by immunohistochemistry

Choline acetyltransferase was demonstrated in neuronal structures of the rodent central nervous system by immunohistochemistry through the application of Fab fragments obtained from monospecific antiserums to human choline acetyltransferase. The specificity of the antiserum for the enzyme was confirmed by the staining of both the ventral horn motor neurons in the rat spinal cord and the neuromuscular junction of the guinea pig diaphragm. Enzyme-containing cell bodies were observed in frontal sections of rat and guinea pig brain in the neostriatum, accumbens, nucleus of the diagonal band, medial septum, and olfactory tubercle. Positively staining fibers and probable nerve terminals were also found in the olfactory tubercle field and other areas of the basal forebrain. The results provide information on the distribution of the cholinergic systems in the rostral forebrain of the rodent.