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Pomilio C, Presa J, Oses C, Vinuesa A, Bentivegna M, Gregosa A, Riudavets M, Sevlever G, Galvan V, Levi V, Beauquis J, Saravia F. Loss of Direct Vascular Contact to Astrocytes in the Hippocampus as an Initial Event in Alzheimer's Disease. Evidence from Patients, In Vivo and In Vitro Experimental Models. Mol Neurobiol 2024; 61:5142-5160. [PMID: 38172288 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-023-03897-5] [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: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by the accumulation of aggregated amyloid peptides in the brain parenchyma and within the walls of cerebral vessels. The hippocampus-a complex brain structure with a pivotal role in learning and memory-is implicated in this disease. However, there is limited data on vascular changes during AD pathological degeneration in this susceptible structure, which has distinctive vascular traits. Our aim was to evaluate vascular alterations in the hippocampus of AD patients and PDAPP-J20 mice-a model of AD-and to determine the impact of Aβ40 and Aβ42 on endothelial cell activation. We found a loss of physical astrocyte-endothelium interaction in the hippocampus of individuals with AD as compared to non-AD donors, along with reduced vascular density. Astrocyte-endothelial interactions and levels of the tight junction protein occludin were altered early in PDAPP-J20 mice, preceding any signs of morphological changes or disruption of the blood-brain barrier in these mice. At later stages, PDAPP-J20 mice exhibited decreased vascular density in the hippocampus and leakage of fluorescent tracers, indicating dysfunction of the vasculature and the BBB. In vitro studies showed that soluble Aβ40 exposure in human brain microvascular endothelial cells (HBMEC) was sufficient to induce NFκB translocation to the nucleus, which may be linked with an observed reduction in occludin levels. The inhibition of the membrane receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) prevented these changes in HBMEC. Additional results suggest that Aβ42 indirectly affects the endothelium by inducing astrocytic factors. Furthermore, our results from human and mouse brain samples provide evidence for the crucial involvement of the hippocampal vasculature in Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Pomilio
- Departamento de Química Biológica, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental, CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - J Presa
- Departamento de Química Biológica, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental, CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - C Oses
- Departamento de Química Biológica, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - A Vinuesa
- Departamento de Química Biológica, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental, CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - M Bentivegna
- Departamento de Química Biológica, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental, CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - A Gregosa
- Departamento de Química Biológica, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental, CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - M Riudavets
- FLENI, Instituto de Investigaciones Neurológicas Dr Raúl Carrea, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - G Sevlever
- FLENI, Instituto de Investigaciones Neurológicas Dr Raúl Carrea, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - V Galvan
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Center for Geroscience and Healthy Brain Aging, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences, Oklahoma City, OK, 73104, USA
| | - V Levi
- Departamento de Química Biológica, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - J Beauquis
- Departamento de Química Biológica, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental, CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - F Saravia
- Departamento de Química Biológica, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental, CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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D'Antongiovanni V, Pellegrini C, Antonioli L, Ippolito C, Segnani C, Benvenuti L, D'Amati A, Errede M, Virgintino D, Fornai M, Bernardini N. Enteric Glia and Brain Astroglia: Complex Communication in Health and Disease along the Gut-Brain Axis. Neuroscientist 2024; 30:493-510. [PMID: 37052336 DOI: 10.1177/10738584231163460] [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] [Indexed: 04/14/2023]
Abstract
Several studies have provided interesting evidence about the role of the bidirectional communication between the gut and brain in the onset and development of several pathologic conditions, including inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs), neurodegenerative diseases, and related comorbidities. Indeed, patients with IBD can experience neurologic disorders, including depression and cognitive impairment, besides typical intestinal symptoms. In parallel, patients with neurodegenerative disease, such as Parkinson disease and Alzheimer disease, are often characterized by the occurrence of functional gastrointestinal disorders. In this context, enteric glial cells and brain astrocytes are emerging as pivotal players in the initiation/maintenance of neuroinflammatory responses, which appear to contribute to the alterations of intestinal and neurologic functions observed in patients with IBD and neurodegenerative disorders. The present review was conceived to provide a comprehensive and critical overview of the available knowledge on the morphologic, molecular, and functional changes occurring in the enteric glia and brain astroglia in IBDs and neurologic disorders. In addition, our intent is to identify whether such alterations could represent a common denominator involved in the onset of comorbidities associated with the aforementioned disorders. This might help to identify putative targets useful to develop novel pharmacologic approaches for the therapeutic management of such disturbances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vanessa D'Antongiovanni
- Unit of Pharmacology and Pharmacovigilance, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Carolina Pellegrini
- Unit of Histology and Medical Embryology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Luca Antonioli
- Unit of Pharmacology and Pharmacovigilance, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Chiara Ippolito
- Unit of Histology and Medical Embryology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Cristina Segnani
- Unit of Histology and Medical Embryology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Laura Benvenuti
- Unit of Pharmacology and Pharmacovigilance, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Antonio D'Amati
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neuroscience, and Sensory Organs, University of Bari School of Medicine, Bari, Italy
| | - Mariella Errede
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neuroscience, and Sensory Organs, University of Bari School of Medicine, Bari, Italy
| | - Daniela Virgintino
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neuroscience, and Sensory Organs, University of Bari School of Medicine, Bari, Italy
| | - Matteo Fornai
- Unit of Pharmacology and Pharmacovigilance, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Nunzia Bernardini
- Unit of Histology and Medical Embryology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
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3
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Straumann N, Combes BF, Dean Ben XL, Sternke-Hoffmann R, Gerez JA, Dias I, Chen Z, Watts B, Rostami I, Shi K, Rominger A, Baumann CR, Luo J, Noain D, Nitsch RM, Okamura N, Razansky D, Ni R. Visualizing alpha-synuclein and iron deposition in M83 mouse model of Parkinson's disease in vivo. Brain Pathol 2024:e13288. [PMID: 38982662 DOI: 10.1111/bpa.13288] [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: 12/23/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2024] [Indexed: 07/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Abnormal alpha-synuclein (αSyn) and iron accumulation in the brain play an important role in Parkinson's disease (PD). Herein, we aim to visualize αSyn inclusions and iron deposition in the brains of M83 (A53T) mouse models of PD in vivo. The fluorescent pyrimidoindole derivative THK-565 probe was characterized by means of recombinant fibrils and brains from 10- to 11-month-old M83 mice. Concurrent wide-field fluorescence and volumetric multispectral optoacoustic tomography (vMSOT) imaging were subsequently performed in vivo. Structural and susceptibility weighted imaging (SWI) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at 9.4 T as well as scanning transmission x-ray microscopy (STXM) were performed to characterize the iron deposits in the perfused brains. Immunofluorescence and Prussian blue staining were further performed on brain slices to validate the detection of αSyn inclusions and iron deposition. THK-565 showed increased fluorescence upon binding to recombinant αSyn fibrils and αSyn inclusions in post-mortem brain slices from patients with PD and M83 mice. Administration of THK-565 in M83 mice showed higher cerebral retention at 20 and 40 min post-intravenous injection by wide-field fluorescence compared to nontransgenic littermate mice, in congruence with the vMSOT findings. SWI/phase images and Prussian blue indicated the accumulation of iron deposits in the brains of M83 mice, presumably in the Fe3+ form, as evinced by the STXM results. In conclusion, we demonstrated in vivo mapping of αSyn by means of noninvasive epifluorescence and vMSOT imaging and validated the results by targeting the THK-565 label and SWI/STXM identification of iron deposits in M83 mouse brains ex vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadja Straumann
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Benjamin F Combes
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Xose Luis Dean Ben
- Institute for Biomedical Engineering, University of Zurich & ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | | | - Juan A Gerez
- Laboratory of Physical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Ines Dias
- Neurology Department, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Zhenyue Chen
- Institute for Biomedical Engineering, University of Zurich & ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Benjamin Watts
- Photon Science Division, Paul Scherrer Institute, Villigen, Switzerland
| | - Iman Rostami
- Microscopic Anatomy and Structural Biology, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Kuangyu Shi
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Axel Rominger
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | | | - Jinghui Luo
- Department of Biology and Chemistry, Paul Scherrer Institute, Villigen, Switzerland
| | - Daniela Noain
- Neurology Department, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Roger M Nitsch
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Nobuyuki Okamura
- Division of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Tohoku Medical and Pharmaceutical University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Daniel Razansky
- Institute for Biomedical Engineering, University of Zurich & ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Ruiqing Ni
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Institute for Biomedical Engineering, University of Zurich & ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
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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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5
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Li J, Long Q, Ding H, Wang Y, Luo D, Li Z, Zhang W. Progress in the Treatment of Central Nervous System Diseases Based on Nanosized Traditional Chinese Medicine. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2024; 11:e2308677. [PMID: 38419366 PMCID: PMC11040388 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202308677] [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: 11/13/2023] [Revised: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is widely used in clinical practice to treat diseases related to central nervous system (CNS) damage. However, the blood-brain barrier (BBB) constitutes a significant impediment to the effective delivery of TCM, thus substantially diminishing its efficacy. Advances in nanotechnology and its applications in TCM (also known as nano-TCM) can deliver active ingredients or components of TCM across the BBB to the targeted brain region. This review provides an overview of the physiological and pathological mechanisms of the BBB and systematically classifies the common TCM used to treat CNS diseases and types of nanocarriers that effectively deliver TCM to the brain. Additionally, drug delivery strategies for nano-TCMs that utilize in vivo physiological properties or in vitro devices to bypass or cross the BBB are discussed. This review further focuses on the application of nano-TCMs in the treatment of various CNS diseases. Finally, this article anticipates a design strategy for nano-TCMs with higher delivery efficiency and probes their application potential in treating a wider range of CNS diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Li
- Key Laboratory of Hunan Province for Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine on Prevention and Treatment of Cardio‐Cerebral Diseases, School of Integrated Chinese and Western MedicineHunan University of Chinese MedicineChangshaHunan410208China
- Beijing Institute of Nanoenergy and NanosystemsChinese Academy of SciencesBeijing101400China
| | - Qingyin Long
- Key Laboratory of Hunan Province for Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine on Prevention and Treatment of Cardio‐Cerebral Diseases, School of Integrated Chinese and Western MedicineHunan University of Chinese MedicineChangshaHunan410208China
| | - Huang Ding
- Key Laboratory of Hunan Province for Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine on Prevention and Treatment of Cardio‐Cerebral Diseases, School of Integrated Chinese and Western MedicineHunan University of Chinese MedicineChangshaHunan410208China
| | - Yang Wang
- Institute of Integrative MedicineDepartment of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western MedicineXiangya HospitalCentral South University ChangshaChangsha410008China
| | - Dan Luo
- Beijing Institute of Nanoenergy and NanosystemsChinese Academy of SciencesBeijing101400China
| | - Zhou Li
- Beijing Institute of Nanoenergy and NanosystemsChinese Academy of SciencesBeijing101400China
| | - Wei Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Hunan Province for Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine on Prevention and Treatment of Cardio‐Cerebral Diseases, School of Integrated Chinese and Western MedicineHunan University of Chinese MedicineChangshaHunan410208China
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6
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Zeng J, Liao Z, Yang H, Wang Q, Wu Z, Hua F, Zhou Z. T cell infiltration mediates neurodegeneration and cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease. Neurobiol Dis 2024; 193:106461. [PMID: 38437992 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2024.106461] [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: 11/05/2023] [Revised: 02/28/2024] [Accepted: 02/29/2024] [Indexed: 03/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a prevalent neurodegenerative disorder with pathological features of β-amyloid (Aβ) and hyperphosphorylated tau protein accumulation in the brain, often accompanied by cognitive decline. So far, our understanding of the extent and role of adaptive immune responses in AD has been quite limited. T cells, as essential members of the adaptive immune system, exhibit quantitative and functional abnormalities in the brains of AD patients. Dysfunction of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) in AD is considered one of the factors leading to T cell infiltration. Moreover, the degree of neuronal loss in AD is correlated with the quantity of T cells. We first describe the differentiation and subset functions of peripheral T cells in AD patients and provide an overview of the key findings related to BBB dysfunction and how T cells infiltrate the brain parenchyma through the BBB. Furthermore, we emphasize the risk factors associated with AD, including Aβ, Tau protein, microglial cells, apolipoprotein E (ApoE), and neuroinflammation. We discuss their regulation of T cell activation and proliferation, as well as the connection between T cells, neurodegeneration, and cognitive decline. Understanding the innate immune response is crucial for providing comprehensive personalized therapeutic strategies for AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junjian Zeng
- Department of Anesthesiology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, 330006 Nanchang, Jiangxi, China; Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology of Jiangxi Province, 1# Minde Road, 330006 Nanchang City, Jiangxi Province, China
| | - Zhiqiang Liao
- Department of Anesthesiology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, 330006 Nanchang, Jiangxi, China; Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology of Jiangxi Province, 1# Minde Road, 330006 Nanchang City, Jiangxi Province, China
| | - Hanqin Yang
- Department of Anesthesiology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, 330006 Nanchang, Jiangxi, China; Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology of Jiangxi Province, 1# Minde Road, 330006 Nanchang City, Jiangxi Province, China
| | - Qiong Wang
- Department of Anesthesiology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, 330006 Nanchang, Jiangxi, China; Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology of Jiangxi Province, 1# Minde Road, 330006 Nanchang City, Jiangxi Province, China
| | - Zhiyong Wu
- Department of Anesthesiology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, 330006 Nanchang, Jiangxi, China; Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology of Jiangxi Province, 1# Minde Road, 330006 Nanchang City, Jiangxi Province, China
| | - Fuzhou Hua
- Department of Anesthesiology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, 330006 Nanchang, Jiangxi, China; Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology of Jiangxi Province, 1# Minde Road, 330006 Nanchang City, Jiangxi Province, China.
| | - Zhidong Zhou
- Department of Anesthesiology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, 330006 Nanchang, Jiangxi, China; Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology of Jiangxi Province, 1# Minde Road, 330006 Nanchang City, Jiangxi Province, China.
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Wheeler KV, Irimia A, Braskie MN. Using Neuroimaging to Study Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy and Its Relationship to Alzheimer's Disease. J Alzheimers Dis 2024; 97:1479-1502. [PMID: 38306032 DOI: 10.3233/jad-230553] [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: 02/03/2024]
Abstract
Cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) is characterized by amyloid-β aggregation in the media and adventitia of the leptomeningeal and cortical blood vessels. CAA is one of the strongest vascular contributors to Alzheimer's disease (AD). It frequently co-occurs in AD patients, but the relationship between CAA and AD is incompletely understood. CAA may drive AD risk through damage to the neurovascular unit and accelerate parenchymal amyloid and tau deposition. Conversely, early AD may also drive CAA through cerebrovascular remodeling that impairs blood vessels from clearing amyloid-β. Sole reliance on autopsy examination to study CAA limits researchers' ability to investigate CAA's natural disease course and the effect of CAA on cognitive decline. Neuroimaging allows for in vivo assessment of brain function and structure and can be leveraged to investigate CAA staging and explore its associations with AD. In this review, we will discuss neuroimaging modalities that can be used to investigate markers associated with CAA that may impact AD vulnerability including hemorrhages and microbleeds, blood-brain barrier permeability disruption, reduced cerebral blood flow, amyloid and tau accumulation, white matter tract disruption, reduced cerebrovascular reactivity, and lowered brain glucose metabolism. We present possible areas for research inquiry to advance biomarker discovery and improve diagnostics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Koral V Wheeler
- Imaging Genetics Center, Mark and Mary Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Marina Del Rey, CA, USA
| | - Andrei Irimia
- Ethel Percy Andrus Gerontology Center, USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Corwin D. Denney Research Center, Viterbi School of Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Meredith N Braskie
- Imaging Genetics Center, Mark and Mary Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Marina Del Rey, CA, USA
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Gong X, Wang N, Zhu H, Tang N, Wu K, Meng Q. Anti-NMDAR antibodies, the blood-brain barrier, and anti-NMDAR encephalitis. Front Neurol 2023; 14:1283511. [PMID: 38145121 PMCID: PMC10748502 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2023.1283511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2023] [Accepted: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 12/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (anti-NMDAR) encephalitis is an antibody-related autoimmune encephalitis. It is characterized by the existence of antibodies against NMDAR, mainly against the GluN1 subunit, in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Recent research suggests that anti-NMDAR antibodies may reduce NMDAR levels in this disorder, compromising synaptic activity in the hippocampus. Although anti-NMDAR antibodies are used as diagnostic indicators, the origin of antibodies in the central nervous system (CNS) is unclear. The blood-brain barrier (BBB), which separates the brain from the peripheral circulatory system, is crucial for antibodies and immune cells to enter or exit the CNS. The findings of cytokines in this disorder support the involvement of the BBB. Here, we aim to review the function of NMDARs and the relationship between anti-NMDAR antibodies and anti-NMDAR encephalitis. We summarize the present knowledge of the composition of the BBB, especially by emphasizing the role of BBB components. Finally, we further provide a discussion on the impact of BBB dysfunction in anti-NMDAR encephalitis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiarong Gong
- Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
- Department of MR, The First People's Hospital of Yunnan Province, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Niya Wang
- Department of Neurology, The First People's Hospital of Yunnan Province, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Hongyan Zhu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First People's Hospital of Yunnan Province, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Ning Tang
- Department of Neurology, The First People's Hospital of Yunnan Province, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Kunhua Wu
- Department of MR, The First People's Hospital of Yunnan Province, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Qiang Meng
- Department of Neurology, The First People's Hospital of Yunnan Province, Kunming, Yunnan, China
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9
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Jeong H, Pan Y, Akhter F, Volkow ND, Zhu D, Du C. Impairment of cerebral vascular reactivity and resting blood flow in early-staged transgenic AD mice: in vivo optical imaging studies. RESEARCH SQUARE 2023:rs.3.rs-3579916. [PMID: 37987006 PMCID: PMC10659553 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-3579916/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2023]
Abstract
Background Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder with progressive cognitive decline in aging individuals that poses a significant challenge to patients due to an incomplete understanding of its etiology and lack of effective interventions. While "the Amyloid Cascade Hypothesis," the abnormal accumulation of amyloid-β in the brain, has been the most prevalent theory for AD, mounting evidence from clinical and epidemiological studies suggest that defects in cerebral vessels and hypoperfusion appear prior to other pathological manifestations and might contribute to AD, leading to "the Vascular Hypothesis." However, assessment of structural and functional integrity of the cerebral vasculature in vivo in the brain from AD rodent models has been challenging owing to the limited spatiotemporal resolution of conventional imaging technologies. Methods We employed two in vivo imaging technologies, i.e., Dual-Wavelength Imaging (DWI) and Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT), to evaluate cerebrovascular reactivity (CVR; responsiveness of blood vessels to vasoconstriction as triggered by cocaine) in a relatively large field of view of the cortex in vivo, and 3D quantitative cerebrovascular blood flow (CBF) imaging in living transgenic AD mice at single vessel resolution. Results Our results showed significantly impaired CVR and reduced CBF in basal state in transgenic AD mice compared to non-transgenic littermates in an early stage of AD progression. Changes in total hemoglobin (Δ[HbT]) in response to vasoconstriction were significantly attenuated in AD mice, especially in arteries and tissue, and the recovery time of Δ[HbT] after vasoconstriction was shorter for AD than WT in all types of vessels and cortical tissue, thereby indicating hypoperfusion and reduced vascular flexibility. Additionally, our 3D OCT images revealed that CBF velocities in arteries were slower and that the microvascular network was severely disrupted in the brain of AD mice. Conclusions These results suggest significant vascular impairment in basal CBF and dynamic CVR in the neurovascular network in a rodent model of AD at an early stage of the disease. These cutting-edge in vivo optical imaging tools offer an innovative venue for detecting early neurovascular dysfunction in relation to AD pathology and pave the way for clinical translation of early diagnosis and elucidation of AD pathogenesis in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyomin Jeong
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
| | - Yingtian Pan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
| | - Firoz Akhter
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
| | - Nora D. Volkow
- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20857, USA
| | - Donghui Zhu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
| | - Congwu Du
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
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10
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Lee HG, Lee JH, Flausino LE, Quintana FJ. Neuroinflammation: An astrocyte perspective. Sci Transl Med 2023; 15:eadi7828. [PMID: 37939162 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.adi7828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 11/10/2023]
Abstract
Astrocytes are abundant glial cells in the central nervous system (CNS) that play active roles in health and disease. Recent technologies have uncovered the functional heterogeneity of astrocytes and their extensive interactions with other cell types in the CNS. In this Review, we highlight the intricate interactions between astrocytes, other CNS-resident cells, and CNS-infiltrating cells as well as their potential therapeutic value in the context of inflammation and neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong-Gyun Lee
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Joon-Hyuk Lee
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Lucas E Flausino
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Francisco J Quintana
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
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11
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Boyanova ST, Lloyd-Morris E, Corpe C, Rahman KM, Farag DB, Page LK, Wang H, Fleckney AL, Gatt A, Troakes C, Vizcay-Barrena G, Fleck R, Reeves SJ, Thomas SA. Interaction of amisulpride with GLUT1 at the blood-brain barrier. Relevance to Alzheimer's disease. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0286278. [PMID: 37874822 PMCID: PMC10597500 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0286278] [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: 05/12/2023] [Accepted: 09/27/2023] [Indexed: 10/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Blood-brain barrier (BBB) dysfunction may be involved in the increased sensitivity of Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients to antipsychotics, including amisulpride. Studies indicate that antipsychotics interact with facilitated glucose transporters (GLUT), including GLUT1, and that GLUT1 BBB expression decreases in AD. We tested the hypotheses that amisulpride (charge: +1) interacts with GLUT1, and that BBB transport of amisulpride is compromised in AD. GLUT1 substrates, GLUT1 inhibitors and GLUT-interacting antipsychotics were identified by literature review and their physicochemical characteristics summarised. Interactions between amisulpride and GLUT1 were studied using in silico approaches and the human cerebral endothelial cell line, hCMEC/D3. Brain distribution of [3H]amisulpride was determined using in situ perfusion in wild type (WT) and 5xFamilial AD (5xFAD) mice. With transmission electron microscopy (TEM) we investigated brain capillary degeneration in WT mice, 5xFAD mice and human samples. Western blots determined BBB transporter expression in mouse and human. Literature review revealed that, although D-glucose has no charge, charged molecules can interact with GLUT1. GLUT1 substrates are smaller (184.95±6.45g/mol) than inhibitors (325.50±14.40g/mol) and GLUT-interacting antipsychotics (369.38±16.04). Molecular docking showed beta-D-glucose (free energy binding: -15.39kcal/mol) and amisulpride (-29.04kcal/mol) interact with GLUT1. Amisulpride did not affect [14C]D-glucose hCMEC/D3 accumulation. [3H]amisulpride uptake into the brain (except supernatant) of 5xFAD mice compared to WT remained unchanged. TEM revealed brain capillary degeneration in human AD. There was no difference in GLUT1 or P-glycoprotein BBB expression between WT and 5xFAD mice. In contrast, caudate P-glycoprotein, but not GLUT1, expression was decreased in human AD capillaries versus controls. This study provides new details about the BBB transport of amisulpride, evidence that amisulpride interacts with GLUT1 and that BBB transporter expression is altered in AD. This suggests that antipsychotics could potentially exacerbate the cerebral hypometabolism in AD. Further research into the mechanism of amisulpride transport by GLUT1 is important for improving antipsychotics safety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sevda T. Boyanova
- King’s College London, Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, London, United Kingdom
| | - Ethlyn Lloyd-Morris
- King’s College London, Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, London, United Kingdom
| | - Christopher Corpe
- King’s College London, Department of Nutritional Sciences, School of Life Course Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Doaa B. Farag
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Misr International University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Lee K. Page
- King’s College London, Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, London, United Kingdom
| | - Hao Wang
- King’s College London, Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, London, United Kingdom
| | - Alice L. Fleckney
- King’s College London, Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, London, United Kingdom
| | - Ariana Gatt
- King’s College London, Wolfson Centre for Age Related Disease, London, United Kingdom
| | - Claire Troakes
- King’s College London, London Neurodegenerative Diseases Brain Bank, IoPPN, London, United Kingdom
| | - Gema Vizcay-Barrena
- King’s College London, Centre for Ultrastructural Imaging, London, United Kingdom
| | - Roland Fleck
- King’s College London, Centre for Ultrastructural Imaging, London, United Kingdom
| | - Suzanne J. Reeves
- Faculty of Brain Sciences, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Sarah A. Thomas
- King’s College London, Department of Physiology, London, United Kingdom
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12
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Khan F, Qiu H. Amyloid-β: A potential mediator of aging-related vascular pathologies. Vascul Pharmacol 2023; 152:107213. [PMID: 37625763 DOI: 10.1016/j.vph.2023.107213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2023] [Revised: 08/09/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023]
Abstract
Aging is one of the most promising risk factors for vascular diseases, however, the precise mechanisms mediating aging-related pathologies are not fully understood. Amyloid beta (Aβ), a peptide produced by the proteolytic processing of amyloid precursor protein (APP), is known as a key mediator of brain damage involved in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Recently, it was found that the accumulation of Aβ in the vascular wall is linked to a range of aging-related vascular pathologies, indicating a potential role of Aβ in the pathogenesis of aging-associated vascular diseases. In the present review, we have updated the molecular regulation of Aβ in vascular cells and tissues, summarized the relevance of the Aβ deposition with vascular aging and diseases, and the role of Aβ dysregulation in aging-associated vascular pathologies, including the impaired vascular response, endothelial dysfunction, oxidative stress, and inflammation. This review will provide advanced information in understanding aging-related vascular pathologies and a new avenue to explore therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fazlullah Khan
- Translational Cardiovascular Research Center, College of Medicine-Phoenix, The University of Arizona, Phoenix 85004, AZ, USA
| | - Hongyu Qiu
- Translational Cardiovascular Research Center, Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine-Phoenix, The University of Arizona, Phoenix 85004, AZ, USA.
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13
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Fernández-Moncada I, Eraso-Pichot A, Tor TD, Fortunato-Marsol B, Marsicano G. An enquiry to the role of CB1 receptors in neurodegeneration. Neurobiol Dis 2023:106235. [PMID: 37481040 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2023.106235] [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: 04/03/2023] [Revised: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 07/20/2023] [Indexed: 07/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Neurodegenerative disorders are debilitating conditions that impair patient quality of life and that represent heavy social-economic burdens to society. Whereas the root of some of these brain illnesses lies in autosomal inheritance, the origin of most of these neuropathologies is scantly understood. Similarly, the cellular and molecular substrates explaining the progressive loss of brain functions remains to be fully described too. Indeed, the study of brain neurodegeneration has resulted in a complex picture, composed of a myriad of altered processes that include broken brain bioenergetics, widespread neuroinflammation and aberrant activity of signaling pathways. In this context, several lines of research have shown that the endocannabinoid system (ECS) and its main signaling hub, the type-1 cannabinoid (CB1) receptor are altered in diverse neurodegenerative disorders. However, some of these data are conflictive or poorly described. In this review, we summarize the findings about the alterations in ECS and CB1 receptors signaling in three representative brain illnesses, the Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and Huntington's diseases, and we discuss the relevance of these studies in understanding neurodegeneration development and progression, with a special focus on astrocyte function. Noteworthy, the analysis of ECS defects in neurodegeneration warrant much more studies, as our conceptual understanding of ECS function has evolved quickly in the last years, which now include glia cells and the subcellular-specific CB1 receptors signaling as critical players of brain functions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Abel Eraso-Pichot
- Université de Bordeaux, INSERM, Neurocentre Magendie, U1215, F-33000 Bordeaux, France
| | - Tommaso Dalla Tor
- Université de Bordeaux, INSERM, Neurocentre Magendie, U1215, F-33000 Bordeaux, France; Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, Section of Pharmacology, University of Catania, Catania 95124, Italy
| | | | - Giovanni Marsicano
- Université de Bordeaux, INSERM, Neurocentre Magendie, U1215, F-33000 Bordeaux, France.
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14
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Straumann N, Combes BF, Dean Ben XL, Sternke-Hoffmann R, Gerez JA, Dias I, Chen Z, Watts B, Rostami I, Shi K, Rominger A, Baumann CR, Luo J, Noain D, Nitsch RM, Okamura N, Razansky D, Ni R. Visualizing alpha-synuclein and iron deposition in M83 mouse model of Parkinson's disease in vivo. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.06.28.546962. [PMID: 37425954 PMCID: PMC10327184 DOI: 10.1101/2023.06.28.546962] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/11/2023]
Abstract
Background Abnormal alpha-synuclein and iron accumulation in the brain play an important role in Parkinson's disease (PD). Herein, we aim at visualizing alpha-synuclein inclusions and iron deposition in the brains of M83 (A53T) mouse models of PD in vivo. Methods Fluorescently labelled pyrimidoindole-derivative THK-565 was characterized by using recombinant fibrils and brains from 10-11 months old M83 mice, which subsequently underwent in vivo concurrent wide-field fluorescence and volumetric multispectral optoacoustic tomography (vMSOT) imaging. The in vivo results were verified against structural and susceptibility weighted imaging (SWI) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at 9.4 Tesla and scanning transmission X-ray microscopy (STXM) of perfused brains. Brain slice immunofluorescence and Prussian blue staining were further performed to validate the detection of alpha-synuclein inclusions and iron deposition in the brain, respectively. Results THK-565 showed increased fluorescence upon binding to recombinant alpha-synuclein fibrils and alpha-synuclein inclusions in post-mortem brain slices from patients with Parkinson's disease and M83 mice. i.v. administration of THK-565 in M83 mice showed higher cerebral retention at 20 and 40 minutes post-injection by wide-field fluorescence compared to non-transgenic littermate mice, in congruence with the vMSOT findings. SWI/phase images and Prussian blue indicated the accumulation of iron deposits in the brains of M83 mice, presumably in the Fe3+ form, as evinced by the STXM results. Conclusion We demonstrated in vivo mapping of alpha-synuclein by means of non-invasive epifluorescence and vMSOT imaging assisted with a targeted THK-565 label and SWI/STXM identification of iron deposits in M83 mouse brains ex vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadja Straumann
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Benjamin F. Combes
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Xose Luis Dean Ben
- Institute for Biomedical Engineering, Department of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering, University of Zurich & ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | | | - Juan A. Gerez
- ETH Zurich, Laboratory of Physical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Ines Dias
- Neurology Department, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Zhenyue Chen
- Institute for Biomedical Engineering, Department of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering, University of Zurich & ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Benjamin Watts
- Photon Science Division, Paul Scherrer Institute, Villigen, Switzerland
| | - Iman Rostami
- Microscopic Anatomy and Structural Biology, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Kuangyu Shi
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Axel Rominger
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | | | - Jinghui Luo
- Department of Biology and Chemistry, Paul Scherrer Institute, Villigen, Switzerland
| | - Daniela Noain
- Neurology Department, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Roger M. Nitsch
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Nobuyuki Okamura
- Division of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Tohoku Medical and Pharmaceutical University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Daniel Razansky
- Institute for Biomedical Engineering, Department of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering, University of Zurich & ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Ruiqing Ni
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Institute for Biomedical Engineering, Department of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering, University of Zurich & ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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15
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Gullotta GS, Costantino G, Sortino MA, Spampinato SF. Microglia and the Blood-Brain Barrier: An External Player in Acute and Chronic Neuroinflammatory Conditions. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24119144. [PMID: 37298096 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24119144] [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: 04/27/2023] [Revised: 05/18/2023] [Accepted: 05/20/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Microglia are the resident immune cells of the central nervous system that guarantee immune surveillance and exert also a modulating role on neuronal synaptic development and function. Upon injury, microglia get activated and modify their morphology acquiring an ameboid phenotype and pro- or anti-inflammatory features. The active role of microglia in blood-brain barrier (BBB) function and their interaction with different cellular components of the BBB-endothelial cells, astrocytes and pericytes-are described. Here, we report the specific crosstalk of microglia with all the BBB cell types focusing in particular on the involvement of microglia in the modulation of BBB function in neuroinflammatory conditions that occur in conjunction with an acute event, such as a stroke, or in a slow neurodegenerative disease, such as Alzheimer's disease. The potential of microglia to exert a dual role, either protective or detrimental, depending on disease stages and environmental conditioning factors is also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giorgia Serena Gullotta
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Costantino
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy
- Ph.D. Program in Neuroscience and Education, DISTUM, University of Foggia, 71121 Foggia, Italy
| | - Maria Angela Sortino
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy
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16
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Westi EW, Andersen JV, Aldana BI. Using stable isotope tracing to unravel the metabolic components of neurodegeneration: Focus on neuron-glia metabolic interactions. Neurobiol Dis 2023; 182:106145. [PMID: 37150307 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2023.106145] [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: 02/23/2023] [Revised: 04/17/2023] [Accepted: 05/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Disrupted brain metabolism is a critical component of several neurodegenerative diseases. Energy metabolism of both neurons and astrocytes is closely connected to neurotransmitter recycling via the glutamate/GABA-glutamine cycle. Neurons and astrocytes hereby work in close metabolic collaboration which is essential to sustain neurotransmission. Elucidating the mechanistic involvement of altered brain metabolism in disease progression has been aided by the advance of techniques to monitor cellular metabolism, in particular by mapping metabolism of substrates containing stable isotopes, a technique known as isotope tracing. Here we review key aspects of isotope tracing including advantages, drawbacks and applications to different cerebral preparations. In addition, we narrate how isotope tracing has facilitated the discovery of central metabolic features in neurodegeneration with a focus on the metabolic cooperation between neurons and astrocytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emil W Westi
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jens V Andersen
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Blanca I Aldana
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
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17
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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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18
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Chen H, Xu J, Xu H, Luo T, Li Y, Jiang K, Shentu Y, Tong Z. New Insights into Alzheimer’s Disease: Novel Pathogenesis, Drug Target and Delivery. Pharmaceutics 2023; 15:pharmaceutics15041133. [PMID: 37111618 PMCID: PMC10143738 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15041133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2023] [Revised: 03/29/2023] [Accepted: 03/31/2023] [Indexed: 04/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer’s disease (AD), the most common type of dementia, is characterized by senile plaques composed of amyloid β protein (Aβ) and neurofilament tangles derived from the hyperphosphorylation of tau protein. However, the developed medicines targeting Aβ and tau have not obtained ideal clinical efficacy, which raises a challenge to the hypothesis that AD is Aβ cascade-induced. A critical problem of AD pathogenesis is which endogenous factor induces Aβ aggregation and tau phosphorylation. Recently, age-associated endogenous formaldehyde has been suggested to be a direct trigger for Aβ- and tau-related pathology. Another key issue is whether or not AD drugs are successfully delivered to the damaged neurons. Both the blood–brain barrier (BBB) and extracellular space (ECS) are the barriers for drug delivery. Unexpectedly, Aβ-related SP deposition in ECS slows down or stops interstitial fluid drainage in AD, which is the direct reason for drug delivery failure. Here, we propose a new pathogenesis and perspectives on the direction of AD drug development and drug delivery: (1) aging-related formaldehyde is a direct trigger for Aβ assembly and tau hyperphosphorylation, and the new target for AD therapy is formaldehyde; (2) nano-packaging and physical therapy may be the promising strategy for increasing BBB permeability and accelerating interstitial fluid drainage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haishu Chen
- Oujiang Laboratory (Zhejiang Lab for Regenerative Medicine, Vision and Brain Health), Institute of Aging, Key Laboratory of Alzheimer’s Disease of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Provincial Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, The Affiliated Wenzhou Kangning Hospital, School of Mental Health, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325035, China
| | - Jinan Xu
- Cixi Biomedical Research Institute, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325035, China
| | - Hanyuan Xu
- Institute of Albert, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325035, China
| | - Tiancheng Luo
- Institute of Albert, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325035, China
| | - Yihao Li
- Institute of Albert, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325035, China
| | - Ke Jiang
- Cixi Biomedical Research Institute, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325035, China
| | - Yangping Shentu
- Institute of Albert, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325035, China
- Department of Pathology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325035, China
| | - Zhiqian Tong
- Oujiang Laboratory (Zhejiang Lab for Regenerative Medicine, Vision and Brain Health), Institute of Aging, Key Laboratory of Alzheimer’s Disease of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Provincial Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, The Affiliated Wenzhou Kangning Hospital, School of Mental Health, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325035, China
- Institute of Albert, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325035, China
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19
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Kecheliev V, Boss L, Maheshwari U, Konietzko U, Keller A, Razansky D, Nitsch RM, Klohs J, Ni R. Aquaporin 4 is differentially increased and dislocated in association with tau and amyloid-beta. Life Sci 2023; 321:121593. [PMID: 36934970 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2023.121593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/25/2022] [Revised: 03/08/2023] [Accepted: 03/14/2023] [Indexed: 03/19/2023]
Abstract
AIMS Neurovascular-glymphatic dysfunction plays an important role in Alzheimer's disease and has been analysed mainly in relation to amyloid-beta (Aβ) pathology. Here, we aim to investigate the neurovascular alterations and mapping of aquaporin 4 (AQP4) distribution and dislocation associated with tau and Aβ. MATERIALS AND METHODS Perfusion, susceptibility weighted imaging and structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were performed in the pR5 mouse model of 4-repeat tau and the arcAβ mouse model of amyloidosis. Immunofluorescence staining was performed using antibodies against AQP4, vessel, astroglia, microglia, phospho-tau and Aβ in brain tissue slices from pR5, arcAβ and non-transgenic mice. KEY FINDINGS pR5 mice showed regional atrophy, preserved cerebral blood flow, and reduced cerebral vessel density compared to non-transgenic mice, while arcAβ mice showed cerebral microbleeds and reduced cerebral vessel density. AQP4 dislocation and peri-tau enrichment in the hippocampus and increased AQP4 levels in the cortex and hippocampus were detected in pR5 mice compared to non-transgenic mice. In comparison, cortical AQP4 dislocation and cortical/hippocampal peri-plaque increases were observed in arcAβ mice. Increased expression of reactive astrocytes were detected around the tau inclusions in pR5 mice and Aβ plaques in arcAβ mice. SIGNIFICANCE We demonstrated the neurovascular alterations, microgliosis, astrogliosis and increased AQP4 regional expression in pR5 tau and arcAβ mice. We observed a divergent region-specific AQP4 dislocation and association with phospho-tau and Aβ pathologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vasil Kecheliev
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Leo Boss
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Upasana Maheshwari
- Department of Neurosurgery, Clinical Neuroscience Center, Zürich University Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Uwe Konietzko
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Annika Keller
- Department of Neurosurgery, Clinical Neuroscience Center, Zürich University Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland; Zentrum für Neurowissenschaften Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Daniel Razansky
- Zentrum für Neurowissenschaften Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Institute for Biomedical Engineering, ETH Zurich & University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Roger M Nitsch
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Zentrum für Neurowissenschaften Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Jan Klohs
- Institute for Biomedical Engineering, ETH Zurich & University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Ruiqing Ni
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Zentrum für Neurowissenschaften Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Institute for Biomedical Engineering, ETH Zurich & University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
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20
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Du F, Shusta EV, Palecek SP. Extracellular matrix proteins in construction and function of in vitro blood-brain barrier models. FRONTIERS IN CHEMICAL ENGINEERING 2023. [DOI: 10.3389/fceng.2023.1130127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/22/2023] Open
Abstract
The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a highly impermeable barrier separating circulating blood and brain tissue. A functional BBB is critical for brain health, and BBB dysfunction has been linked to the pathophysiology of diseases such as stroke and Alzheimer’s disease. A variety of models have been developed to study the formation and maintenance of the BBB, ranging from in vivo animal models to in vitro models consisting of primary cells or cells differentiated from human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs). These models must consider the composition and source of the cellular components of the neurovascular unit (NVU), including brain microvascular endothelial cells (BMECs), brain pericytes, astrocytes, and neurons, and how these cell types interact. In addition, the non-cellular components of the BBB microenvironment, such as the brain vascular basement membrane (BM) that is in direct contact with the NVU, also play key roles in BBB function. Here, we review how extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins in the brain vascular BM affect the BBB, with a particular focus on studies using hPSC-derived in vitro BBB models, and discuss how future studies are needed to advance our understanding of how the ECM affects BBB models to improve model performance and expand our knowledge on the formation and maintenance of the BBB.
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21
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Wu WZ, Bai YP. Endothelial GLUTs and vascular biology. Biomed Pharmacother 2023; 158:114151. [PMID: 36565587 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2022.114151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2022] [Revised: 12/15/2022] [Accepted: 12/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Endothelial metabolism is a promising target for vascular functional regulation and disease therapy. Glucose is the primary fuel for endothelial metabolism, supporting ATP generation and endothelial cell survival. Multiple studies have discussed the role of endothelial glucose catabolism, such as glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation, in vascular functional remodeling. However, the role of the first gatekeepers of endothelial glucose utilization, glucose transporters, in the vasculature has long been neglected. Here, this review summarizes glucose transporter studies in vascular research. We mainly focus on GLUT1 and GLUT3 because they are the most critical glucose transporters responsible for most endothelial glucose uptake. Some interesting topics are also discussed, intending to provide directions for endothelial glucose transporter research in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wan-Zhou Wu
- Department of Geriatric Medicine, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China; National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China; Center for Vascular Disease and Translational Medicine, Department of Cardiology, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Yong-Ping Bai
- Department of Geriatric Medicine, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China; National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.
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22
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Saavedra J, Nascimento M, Liz MA, Cardoso I. Key brain cell interactions and contributions to the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:1036123. [PMID: 36523504 PMCID: PMC9745159 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.1036123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2022] [Accepted: 11/14/2022] [Indexed: 06/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disease worldwide, with the two major hallmarks being the deposition of extracellular β-amyloid (Aβ) plaques and of intracellular neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs). Additionally, early pathological events such as cerebrovascular alterations, a compromised blood-brain barrier (BBB) integrity, neuroinflammation and synaptic dysfunction, culminate in neuron loss and cognitive deficits. AD symptoms reflect a loss of neuronal circuit integrity in the brain; however, neurons do not operate in isolation. An exclusively neurocentric approach is insufficient to understand this disease, and the contribution of other brain cells including astrocytes, microglia, and vascular cells must be integrated in the context. The delicate balance of interactions between these cells, required for healthy brain function, is disrupted during disease. To design successful therapies, it is critical to understand the complex brain cellular connections in AD and the temporal sequence of their disturbance. In this review, we discuss the interactions between different brain cells, from physiological conditions to their pathological reactions in AD, and how this basic knowledge can be crucial for developing new therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joana Saavedra
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (i3S), Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular (IBMC), Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar (ICBAS), Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Mariana Nascimento
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (i3S), Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Márcia A. Liz
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (i3S), Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular (IBMC), Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Isabel Cardoso
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (i3S), Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular (IBMC), Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar (ICBAS), Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
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23
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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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24
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Naranjo O, Osborne O, Torices S, Toborek M. In Vivo Targeting of the Neurovascular Unit: Challenges and Advancements. Cell Mol Neurobiol 2022; 42:2131-2146. [PMID: 34086179 PMCID: PMC9056891 DOI: 10.1007/s10571-021-01113-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2021] [Accepted: 05/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is essential for the homeostasis of the central nervous system (CNS). Functions of the BBB are performed by the neurovascular unit (NVU), which consists of endothelial cells, pericytes, astrocytes, microglia, basement membrane, and neurons. NVU cells interact closely and together are responsible for neurovascular coupling, BBB integrity, and transendothelial fluid transport. Studies have shown that NVU dysfunction is implicated in several acute and chronic neurological diseases, including Alzheimer's disease, multiple sclerosis, and stroke. The mechanisms of NVU disruption remain poorly understood, partially due to difficulties in selective targeting of NVU cells. In this review, we discuss the relative merits of available protein markers and drivers of the NVU along with recent advancements that have been made in the field to increase efficiency and specificity of NVU research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oandy Naranjo
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, 33136, USA
| | - Olivia Osborne
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, 33136, USA
| | - Silvia Torices
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, 33136, USA
| | - Michal Toborek
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, 33136, USA.
- Institute of Physiotherapy and Health Sciences, The Jerzy Kukuczka Academy of Physical Education, Katowice, Poland.
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Miami School of Medicine, Gautier Bldg., Room 528, 1011 NW 15th Street, Miami, FL, 33136, USA.
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25
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Kecheliev V, Spinelli F, Herde A, Haider A, Mu L, Klohs J, Ametamey SM, Ni R. Evaluation of cannabinoid type 2 receptor expression and pyridine-based radiotracers in brains from a mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease. Front Aging Neurosci 2022; 14:1018610. [PMID: 36248003 PMCID: PMC9561934 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2022.1018610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2022] [Accepted: 09/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuroinflammation plays an important role in the pathophysiology of Alzheimer’s disease. The cannabinoid type 2 receptor (CB2R) is an emerging target for neuroinflammation and therapeutics of Alzheimer’s disease. Here, we aim to assess the alterations in brain CB2R levels and evaluate novel CB2R imaging tracers in the arcAß mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease amyloidosis. Immunohistochemical staining for amyloid-ß deposits (6E10), microgliosis (anti-Iba1 and anti-CD68 antibodies), astrocytes (GFAP) and the anti-CB2R antibody was performed on brain slices from 17-month-old arcAß mice. Autoradiography using the CB2R imaging probes [18F]RoSMA-18-d6, [11C]RSR-056, and [11C]RS-028 and mRNA analysis were performed in brain tissue from arcAß and non-transgenic littermate (NTL) mice at 6, 17, and 24 months of age. Specific increased CB2R immunofluorescence intensities on the increased number of GFAP-positive astrocytes and Iba1-positive microglia were detected in the hippocampus and cortex of 17-month-old arcAß mice compared to NTL mice. CB2R immunofluorescence was higher in glial cells inside 6E10-positive amyloid-ß deposits than peri-plaque glial cells, which showed low background immunofluorescence in the hippocampus and cortex of 17-month-old arcAß mice. Ex vivo autoradiography showed that the specific binding of [18F]RoSMA-18-d6 and [11C]RSR-056 was comparable in arcAß and NTL mice at 6, 17, and 24 months of age. The level of Cnr2 mRNA expression in the brain was not significantly different between arcAß and NTL mice at 6, 17, or 24 months of age. In conclusion, we demonstrated pronounced specific increases in microglial and astroglial CB2R expression levels in a mouse model of AD-related cerebral amyloidosis, emphasizing CB2R as a suitable target for imaging neuroinflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vasil Kecheliev
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Francesco Spinelli
- Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Adrienne Herde
- Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Ahmed Haider
- Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Linjing Mu
- Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Jan Klohs
- Institute for Biomedical Engineering, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Simon M. Ametamey
- Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- *Correspondence: Simon M. Ametamey,
| | - Ruiqing Ni
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Institute for Biomedical Engineering, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Ruiqing Ni,
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26
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Pintér P, Alpár A. The Role of Extracellular Matrix in Human Neurodegenerative Diseases. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms231911085. [PMID: 36232390 PMCID: PMC9569603 DOI: 10.3390/ijms231911085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2022] [Revised: 09/16/2022] [Accepted: 09/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The dense neuropil of the central nervous system leaves only limited space for extracellular substances free. The advent of immunohistochemistry, soon followed by advanced diagnostic tools, enabled us to explore the biochemical heterogeneity and compartmentalization of the brain extracellular matrix in exploratory and clinical research alike. The composition of the extracellular matrix is critical to shape neuronal function; changes in its assembly trigger or reflect brain/spinal cord malfunction. In this study, we focus on extracellular matrix changes in neurodegenerative disorders. We summarize its phenotypic appearance and biochemical characteristics, as well as the major enzymes which regulate and remodel matrix establishment in disease. The specifically built basement membrane of the central nervous system, perineuronal nets and perisynaptic axonal coats can protect neurons from toxic agents, and biochemical analysis revealed how the individual glycosaminoglycan and proteoglycan components interact with these molecules. Depending on the site, type and progress of the disease, select matrix components can either proactively trigger the formation of disease-specific harmful products, or reactively accumulate, likely to reduce tissue breakdown and neuronal loss. We review the diagnostic use and the increasing importance of medical screening of extracellular matrix components, especially enzymes, which informs us about disease status and, better yet, allows us to forecast illness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Panka Pintér
- Department of Anatomy, Semmelweis University, 1113 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Alán Alpár
- Department of Anatomy, Semmelweis University, 1113 Budapest, Hungary
- SE NAP Research Group of Experimental Neuroanatomy and Developmental Biology, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, 1051 Budapest, Hungary
- Correspondence:
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27
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Andersen JV, Schousboe A, Verkhratsky A. Astrocyte energy and neurotransmitter metabolism in Alzheimer's disease: integration of the glutamate/GABA-glutamine cycle. Prog Neurobiol 2022; 217:102331. [PMID: 35872221 DOI: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2022.102331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 35.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2022] [Revised: 07/14/2022] [Accepted: 07/19/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Astrocytes contribute to the complex cellular pathology of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Neurons and astrocytes function in close collaboration through neurotransmitter recycling, collectively known as the glutamate/GABA-glutamine cycle, which is essential to sustain neurotransmission. Neurotransmitter recycling is intimately linked to astrocyte energy metabolism. In the course of AD, astrocytes undergo extensive metabolic remodeling, which may profoundly affect the glutamate/GABA-glutamine cycle. The consequences of altered astrocyte function and metabolism in relation to neurotransmitter recycling are yet to be comprehended. Metabolic alterations of astrocytes in AD deprive neurons of metabolic support, thereby contributing to synaptic dysfunction and neurodegeneration. In addition, several astrocyte-specific components of the glutamate/GABA-glutamine cycle, including glutamine synthesis and synaptic neurotransmitter uptake, are perturbed in AD. Integration of the complex astrocyte biology within the context of AD is essential for understanding the fundamental mechanisms of the disease, while restoring astrocyte metabolism may serve as an approach to arrest or even revert clinical progression of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jens V Andersen
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Arne Schousboe
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Alexei Verkhratsky
- Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK; Achucarro Center for Neuroscience, IKERBASQUE, 48011 Bilbao, Spain; Department of Stem Cell Biology, State Research Institute Centre for Innovative Medicine, LT-01102 Vilnius, Lithuania.
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28
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Ni R, Chen Z, Deán-Ben XL, Voigt FF, Kirschenbaum D, Shi G, Villois A, Zhou Q, Crimi A, Arosio P, Nitsch RM, Nilsson KPR, Aguzzi A, Helmchen F, Klohs J, Razansky D. Multiscale optical and optoacoustic imaging of amyloid-β deposits in mice. Nat Biomed Eng 2022; 6:1031-1044. [PMID: 35835994 DOI: 10.1038/s41551-022-00906-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2020] [Accepted: 05/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Deposits of amyloid-β (Aβ) in the brains of rodents can be analysed by invasive intravital microscopy on a submillimetre scale, or via whole-brain images from modalities lacking the resolution or molecular specificity to accurately characterize Aβ pathologies. Here we show that large-field multifocal illumination fluorescence microscopy and panoramic volumetric multispectral optoacoustic tomography can be combined to longitudinally assess Aβ deposits in transgenic mouse models of Alzheimer's disease. We used fluorescent Aβ-targeted probes (the luminescent conjugated oligothiophene HS-169 and the oxazine-derivative AOI987) to transcranially detect Aβ deposits in the cortex of APP/PS1 and arcAβ mice with single-plaque resolution (8 μm) and across the whole brain (including the hippocampus and the thalamus, which are inaccessible by conventional intravital microscopy) at sub-150 μm resolutions. Two-photon microscopy, light-sheet microscopy and immunohistochemistry of brain-tissue sections confirmed the specificity and regional distributions of the deposits. High-resolution multiscale optical and optoacoustic imaging of Aβ deposits across the entire brain in rodents thus facilitates the in vivo study of Aβ accumulation by brain region and by animal age and strain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruiqing Ni
- Institute for Biomedical Engineering, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.,Zurich Neuroscience Center (ZNZ), University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.,Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Zhenyue Chen
- Institute for Biomedical Engineering, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.,Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Xosé Luís Deán-Ben
- Institute for Biomedical Engineering, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.,Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Fabian F Voigt
- Zurich Neuroscience Center (ZNZ), University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.,Brain Research Institute, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | | | - Gloria Shi
- Institute for Biomedical Engineering, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Alessia Villois
- Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Quanyu Zhou
- Institute for Biomedical Engineering, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.,Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Alessandro Crimi
- Institute of Neuropathology, Universitätsspital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Paolo Arosio
- Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Roger M Nitsch
- Zurich Neuroscience Center (ZNZ), University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.,Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - K Peter R Nilsson
- Division of Chemistry, Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Adriano Aguzzi
- Zurich Neuroscience Center (ZNZ), University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.,Institute of Neuropathology, Universitätsspital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Fritjof Helmchen
- Zurich Neuroscience Center (ZNZ), University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.,Brain Research Institute, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Jan Klohs
- Institute for Biomedical Engineering, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland. .,Zurich Neuroscience Center (ZNZ), University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
| | - Daniel Razansky
- Institute for Biomedical Engineering, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland. .,Zurich Neuroscience Center (ZNZ), University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland. .,Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
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29
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Ren W, Li L, Zhang J, Vaas M, Klohs J, Ripoll J, Wolf M, Ni R, Rudin M. Non-invasive visualization of amyloid-beta deposits in Alzheimer amyloidosis mice using magnetic resonance imaging and fluorescence molecular tomography. BIOMEDICAL OPTICS EXPRESS 2022; 13:3809-3822. [PMID: 35991935 PMCID: PMC9352276 DOI: 10.1364/boe.458290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2022] [Revised: 05/16/2022] [Accepted: 05/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Abnormal cerebral accumulation of amyloid-beta peptide (Aβ) is a major hallmark of Alzheimer's disease. Non-invasive monitoring of Aβ deposits enables assessing the disease burden in patients and animal models mimicking aspects of the human disease as well as evaluating the efficacy of Aβ-modulating therapies. Previous in vivo assessments of plaque load have been predominantly based on macroscopic fluorescence reflectance imaging (FRI) and confocal or two-photon microscopy using Aβ-specific imaging agents. However, the former method lacks depth resolution, whereas the latter is restricted by the limited field of view preventing a full coverage of the large brain region. Here, we utilized a fluorescence molecular tomography (FMT)-magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) pipeline with the curcumin derivative fluorescent probe CRANAD-2 to achieve full 3D brain coverage for detecting Aβ accumulation in the arcAβ mouse model of cerebral amyloidosis. A homebuilt FMT system was used for data acquisition, whereas a customized software platform enabled the integration of MRI-derived anatomical information as prior information for FMT image reconstruction. The results obtained from the FMT-MRI study were compared to those from conventional planar FRI recorded under similar physiological conditions, yielding comparable time courses of the fluorescence intensity following intravenous injection of CRANAD-2 in a region-of-interest comprising the brain. In conclusion, we have demonstrated the feasibility of visualizing Aβ deposition in 3D using a multimodal FMT-MRI strategy. This hybrid imaging method provides complementary anatomical, physiological and molecular information, thereby enabling the detailed characterization of the disease status in arcAβ mouse models, which can also facilitate monitoring the efficacy of putative treatments targeting Aβ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wuwei Ren
- Institute for Biomedical Engineering, ETH and University of Zurich, Zurich 8006, Switzerland
- School of Information Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Linlin Li
- School of Information Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Jianru Zhang
- School of Information Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Markus Vaas
- Institute for Biomedical Engineering, ETH and University of Zurich, Zurich 8006, Switzerland
| | - Jan Klohs
- Institute for Biomedical Engineering, ETH and University of Zurich, Zurich 8006, Switzerland
| | - Jorge Ripoll
- Department of Bioengineering and Aerospace Engineering, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, Madrid 28005, Spain
| | - Martin Wolf
- Biomedical Optics Research Laboratory, University of Zurich and University Hospital Zurich, Zurich 8091, Switzerland
| | - Ruiqing Ni
- Institute for Biomedical Engineering, ETH and University of Zurich, Zurich 8006, Switzerland
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Zurich, Zurich 8952, Switzerland
| | - Markus Rudin
- Institute for Biomedical Engineering, ETH and University of Zurich, Zurich 8006, Switzerland
- The LOOP Zurich, Translational Research Center, Zurich 8044, Switzerland
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30
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Vargas-George S, Dave KR. Models of cerebral amyloid angiopathy-related intracerebral hemorrhage. BRAIN HEMORRHAGES 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.hest.2022.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
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31
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Lee HG, Wheeler MA, Quintana FJ. Function and therapeutic value of astrocytes in neurological diseases. Nat Rev Drug Discov 2022; 21:339-358. [PMID: 35173313 PMCID: PMC9081171 DOI: 10.1038/s41573-022-00390-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 177] [Impact Index Per Article: 88.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Astrocytes are abundant glial cells in the central nervous system (CNS) that perform diverse functions in health and disease. Astrocyte dysfunction is found in numerous diseases, including multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer disease, Parkinson disease, Huntington disease and neuropsychiatric disorders. Astrocytes regulate glutamate and ion homeostasis, cholesterol and sphingolipid metabolism and respond to environmental factors, all of which have been implicated in neurological diseases. Astrocytes also exhibit significant heterogeneity, driven by developmental programmes and stimulus-specific cellular responses controlled by CNS location, cell-cell interactions and other mechanisms. In this Review, we highlight general mechanisms of astrocyte regulation and their potential as therapeutic targets, including drugs that alter astrocyte metabolism, and therapies that target transporters and receptors on astrocytes. Emerging ideas, such as engineered probiotics and glia-to-neuron conversion therapies, are also discussed. We further propose a concise nomenclature for astrocyte subsets that we use to highlight the roles of astrocytes and specific subsets in neurological diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong-Gyun Lee
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Michael A Wheeler
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Francisco J Quintana
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA.
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32
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McManus RM. The Role of Immunity in Alzheimer's Disease. Adv Biol (Weinh) 2022; 6:e2101166. [PMID: 35254006 DOI: 10.1002/adbi.202101166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2021] [Revised: 02/03/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
With the increase in the aging population, age-related conditions such as dementia and Alzheimer's disease will become ever more prevalent in society. As there is no cure for dementia and extremely limited therapeutic options, researchers are examining the mechanisms that contribute to the progression of cognitive decline in hopes of developing better therapies and even an effective, long-lasting treatment for this devastating condition. This review will provide an updated perspective on the role of immunity in triggering the changes that lead to the development of dementia. It will detail the latest findings on Aβ- and tau-induced microglial activation, including the role of the inflammasome. The contribution of the adaptive immune system, specifically T cells, will be discussed. Finally, whether the innate and adaptive immune system can be modulated to protect against dementia will be examined, along with an assessment of the prospective candidates for these that are currently in clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Róisín M McManus
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 53127, Bonn, Germany
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33
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Nelson AR. Peripheral Pathways to Neurovascular Unit Dysfunction, Cognitive Impairment, and Alzheimer’s Disease. Front Aging Neurosci 2022; 14:858429. [PMID: 35517047 PMCID: PMC9062225 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2022.858429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2022] [Accepted: 03/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia. It was first described more than a century ago, and scientists are acquiring new data and learning novel information about the disease every day. Although there are nuances and details continuously being unraveled, many key players were identified in the early 1900’s by Dr. Oskar Fischer and Dr. Alois Alzheimer, including amyloid-beta (Aβ), tau, vascular abnormalities, gliosis, and a possible role of infections. More recently, there has been growing interest in and appreciation for neurovascular unit dysfunction that occurs early in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) before and independent of Aβ and tau brain accumulation. In the last decade, evidence that Aβ and tau oligomers are antimicrobial peptides generated in response to infection has expanded our knowledge and challenged preconceived notions. The concept that pathogenic germs cause infections generating an innate immune response (e.g., Aβ and tau produced by peripheral organs) that is associated with incident dementia is worthwhile considering in the context of sporadic AD with an unknown root cause. Therefore, the peripheral amyloid hypothesis to cognitive impairment and AD is proposed and remains to be vetted by future research. Meanwhile, humans remain complex variable organisms with individual risk factors that define their immune status, neurovascular function, and neuronal plasticity. In this focused review, the idea that infections and organ dysfunction contribute to Alzheimer’s disease, through the generation of peripheral amyloids and/or neurovascular unit dysfunction will be explored and discussed. Ultimately, many questions remain to be answered and critical areas of future exploration are highlighted.
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Taylor X, Cisternas P, Jury N, Martinez P, Huang X, You Y, Redding-Ochoa J, Vidal R, Zhang J, Troncoso J, Lasagna-Reeves CA. Activated endothelial cells induce a distinct type of astrocytic reactivity. Commun Biol 2022; 5:282. [PMID: 35351973 PMCID: PMC8964703 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-022-03237-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2021] [Accepted: 03/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Reactive astrogliosis is a universal response of astrocytes to abnormal events and injuries. Studies have shown that proinflammatory microglia can polarize astrocytes (designated A1 astrocytes) toward a neurotoxic phenotype characterized by increased Complement Component 3 (C3) expression. It is still unclear if inflammatory stimuli from other cell types may also be capable of inducing a subset of C3+ neurotoxic astrocytes. Here, we show that a subtype of C3+ neurotoxic astrocytes is induced by activated endothelial cells that is distinct from astrocytes activated by microglia. Furthermore, we show that endothelial-induced astrocytes have upregulated expression of A1 astrocytic genes and exhibit a distinctive extracellular matrix remodeling profile. Finally, we demonstrate that endothelial-induced astrocytes are Decorin-positive and are associated with vascular amyloid deposits but not parenchymal amyloid plaques in mouse models and AD/CAA patients. These findings demonstrate the existence of potentially extensive and subtle functional diversity of C3+-reactive astrocytes. Injured endothelial cells are shown to induce an A1 phenotype in astrocytes, characterized by a genetic signature associated with extracellular matrix remodeling factors (e.g. decorin and vascular Aß deposits).
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Affiliation(s)
- Xavier Taylor
- Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA.,Department of Anatomy, Cell Biology & Physiology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA.,Neuroscience Discovery, Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly & Co, Lilly Corporate Center, Indianapolis, IN, 46225, USA
| | - Pablo Cisternas
- Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA.,Department of Anatomy, Cell Biology & Physiology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA
| | - Nur Jury
- Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA.,Department of Anatomy, Cell Biology & Physiology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA
| | - Pablo Martinez
- Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA.,Department of Anatomy, Cell Biology & Physiology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA
| | - Xiaoqing Huang
- Department of Biostatistics and Health Data Science, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA
| | - Yanwen You
- Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA.,Department of Anatomy, Cell Biology & Physiology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA
| | - Javier Redding-Ochoa
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Ruben Vidal
- Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA.,Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA
| | - Jie Zhang
- Department of Biostatistics and Health Data Science, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA.,Center for Computational Biology and Bioinformatics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Juan Troncoso
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Cristian A Lasagna-Reeves
- Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA. .,Department of Anatomy, Cell Biology & Physiology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA. .,Center for Computational Biology and Bioinformatics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA.
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Wang MD, Tian J, Zhang JH, Zhao SY, Song MJ, Wang ZX. Human Galectin-7 Gene LGALS7 Promoter Sequence Polymorphisms and Risk of Spontaneous Intracerebral Hemorrhage: A Prospective Study. Front Mol Neurosci 2022; 15:840340. [PMID: 35401111 PMCID: PMC8984465 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.840340] [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: 12/21/2021] [Accepted: 02/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background and purposeDespite evidence for the role of genetic factors in stroke, only a small proportion of strokes have been clearly attributed to monogenic factors, due to phenotypic heterogeneity. The goal of this study was to determine whether a significant relationship exists between human galectin-7 gene LGALS7 promoter region polymorphisms and the risk of stroke due to non-traumatic intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH).MethodsThis two-stage genetic association study included an initial exploratory stage followed by a discovery stage. During the exploratory stage, transgenic galectin-7 mice or transgenic mice with the scrambled sequence of the hairpin structure –silenced down gene LGALS7—were generated and then expressed differentially expressed proteins and galectin-7-interacting proteins were identified through proteomic analysis. During the discovery stage, a single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotyping approach was used to determine associations between 2 LGALS7 SNPs and ICH stroke risk for a cohort of 24 patients with stroke of the Chinese Han population and 70 controls.ResultsDuring the exploratory phase, LGALS7 expression was found to be decreased in TGLGALS–DOWN mice as compared to its expression in TGLGALS mice. During the discovery phase, analysis of LGALS7 sequences of 24 non-traumatic ICH cases and 70 controls led to the identification of 2 ICH susceptibility loci: a genomic region on 19q13.2 containing two LGALS7 SNPs, rs567785577 and rs138945880, whereby the A allele of rs567785577 and the T allele of rs138945880 were associated with greater risk of contracting ICH [for T and A vs. C and G, unadjusted odds ratio (OR) = 13.5; 95% CI = 2.249–146.5; p = 0.002]. This is the first study to genotype the galectin-7 promoter in patients with hemorrhagic stroke. Genotype and allele association tests and preliminary analysis of patients with stroke revealed that a single locus may be a genetic risk factor for hemorrhagic stroke.ConclusionA and T alleles of two novel SNP loci of 19q13.2, rs567785577 and rs138945880, respectively, were evaluated for associations with susceptibility to ICH. Further studies with expanded case numbers that include subjects of other ethnic populations are needed to elucidate mechanisms underlying associations between these SNPs and ICH risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming-Dong Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Jing Tian
- Beijing Children’s Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Center for Children’s Health, China National Clinical Research Center of Respiratory Disease, Beijing, China
| | - John H. Zhang
- Physiology Program, Department of Anesthesiology, Neurosurgery, Neurology, and Physiology, Center for Neuroscience Research, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA, United States
| | - Shun-Ying Zhao
- Beijing Children’s Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Center for Children’s Health, China National Clinical Research Center of Respiratory Disease, Beijing, China
- *Correspondence: Shun-Ying Zhao,
| | - Ming-Jing Song
- Medical School, Huanghe Science and Technology University, Zhengzhou, China
- Institute of Laboratory Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Comparative Medicine Center, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
- Ming-Jing Song,
| | - Zhan-Xiang Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
- Zhan-Xiang Wang,
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Fisher RA, Miners JS, Love S. Pathological changes within the cerebral vasculature in Alzheimer's disease: New perspectives. Brain Pathol 2022; 32:e13061. [PMID: 35289012 PMCID: PMC9616094 DOI: 10.1111/bpa.13061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2021] [Revised: 02/11/2022] [Accepted: 02/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Cerebrovascular disease underpins vascular dementia (VaD), but structural and functional changes to the cerebral vasculature contribute to disease pathology and cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease (AD). In this review, we discuss the contribution of cerebral amyloid angiopathy and non‐amyloid small vessel disease in AD, and the accompanying changes to the density, maintenance and remodelling of vessels (including alterations to the composition and function of the cerebrovascular basement membrane). We consider how abnormalities of the constituent cells of the neurovascular unit – particularly of endothelial cells and pericytes – and impairment of the blood‐brain barrier (BBB) impact on the pathogenesis of AD. We also discuss how changes to the cerebral vasculature are likely to impair Aβ clearance – both intra‐periarteriolar drainage (IPAD) and transport of Aβ peptides across the BBB, and how impaired neurovascular coupling and reduced blood flow in relation to metabolic demand increase amyloidogenic processing of APP and the production of Aβ. We review the vasoactive properties of Aβ peptides themselves, and the probable bi‐directional relationship between vascular dysfunction and Aβ accumulation in AD. Lastly, we discuss recent methodological advances in transcriptomics and imaging that have provided novel insights into vascular changes in AD, and recent advances in assessment of the retina that allow in vivo detection of vascular changes in the early stages of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert A Fisher
- Dementia Research Group, University of Bristol Medical School, Bristol, UK
| | - J Scott Miners
- Dementia Research Group, University of Bristol Medical School, Bristol, UK
| | - Seth Love
- Dementia Research Group, University of Bristol Medical School, Bristol, UK
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Metformin in Alzheimer’s disease: An overview of potential mechanisms, preclinical and clinical findings. Biochem Pharmacol 2022; 197:114945. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2022.114945] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2021] [Revised: 02/01/2022] [Accepted: 02/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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Mayorga-Weber G, Rivera FJ, Castro MA. Neuron-glia (mis)interactions in brain energy metabolism during aging. J Neurosci Res 2022; 100:835-854. [PMID: 35085408 DOI: 10.1002/jnr.25015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2021] [Revised: 11/08/2021] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Life expectancy in humans is increasing, resulting in a growing aging population, that is accompanied by an increased disposition to develop cognitive deterioration. Hypometabolism is one of the multiple factors related to inefficient brain function during aging. This review emphasizes the metabolic interactions between glial cells (astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, and microglia) and neurons, particularly, during aging. Glial cells provide support and protection to neurons allowing adequate synaptic activity. We address metabolic coupling from the expression of transporters, availability of substrates, metabolic pathways, and mitochondrial activity. In aging, the main metabolic exchange machinery is altered with inefficient levels of nutrients and detrimental mitochondrial activity that results in high reactive oxygen species levels and reduced ATP production, generating a highly inflammatory environment that favors deregulated cell death. Here, we provide an overview of the glial-to-neuron mechanisms, from the molecular components to the cell types, emphasizing aging as the crucial risk factor for developing neurodegenerative/neuroinflammatory diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gonzalo Mayorga-Weber
- Instituto de Bioquímica y Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile
| | - Francisco J Rivera
- Center for Interdisciplinary Studies on the Nervous System (CISNe), Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile.,Laboratory of Stem Cells and Neuroregeneration, Instituto de Anatomía, Histología y Patología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile.,Institute of Molecular Regenerative Medicine, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria.,Spinal Cord Injury and Tissue Regeneration Center Salzburg (SCI-TReCS), Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Maite A Castro
- Instituto de Bioquímica y Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile.,Center for Interdisciplinary Studies on the Nervous System (CISNe), Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile.,Janelia Research Campus, HHMI, Ashburn, VA, USA
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39
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El-Hakim Y, Bake S, Mani KK, Sohrabji F. Impact of intestinal disorders on central and peripheral nervous system diseases. Neurobiol Dis 2022; 165:105627. [PMID: 35032636 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2022.105627] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2021] [Revised: 01/03/2022] [Accepted: 01/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Brain injuries and neurological diseases have a significant impact on the gut microbiome and the gut barrier. Reciprocally, gut disorders, such as Inflammatory Bowel Syndromes (IBS), can affect the development and pathology of neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric diseases, although this aspect is less well studied and is the focus of this review. Inflammatory Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a chronic and debilitating functional gastrointestinal disorder afflicting an estimated 9-23% of the world's population. A hallmark of this disease is leaky gut, a pathology in which the integrity of the gut blood barrier is compromised, causing gut contents such as immune cells and microbiota to enter the bloodstream leading to low-grade systemic inflammation. The increased levels of inflammation associated cytokines in circulation has the potential to affect all organs, including the brain. Although the brain is protected by the blood brain barrier, inflammation associated cytokines can damage the junctions in this barrier and allow brain infiltration of peripheral immune cells. Central inflammation in the brain is associated with various neurodegenerative disease such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, and neuropsychiatric disorders, namely, depression, and anxiety. Neurodegenerative diseases are of particular concern due to the anticipated rise in the population of the elderly and consequently, the prevalence of these diseases. Additionally, depression and anxiety are the most common mental illnesses affecting roughly 18% of the American population. In this review, we will explore the mechanisms by which IBS can influence the risk and severity of neurological disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yumna El-Hakim
- Women's Health in Neuroscience Program, Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Medicine, Texas A&M University-Health Science Center, Bryan, TX, USA
| | - Shameena Bake
- Women's Health in Neuroscience Program, Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Medicine, Texas A&M University-Health Science Center, Bryan, TX, USA
| | - Kathiresh Kumar Mani
- Women's Health in Neuroscience Program, Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Medicine, Texas A&M University-Health Science Center, Bryan, TX, USA
| | - Farida Sohrabji
- Women's Health in Neuroscience Program, Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Medicine, Texas A&M University-Health Science Center, Bryan, TX, USA.
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40
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Beard E, Lengacher S, Dias S, Magistretti PJ, Finsterwald C. Astrocytes as Key Regulators of Brain Energy Metabolism: New Therapeutic Perspectives. Front Physiol 2022; 12:825816. [PMID: 35087428 PMCID: PMC8787066 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2021.825816] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 34.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2021] [Accepted: 12/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Astrocytes play key roles in the regulation of brain energy metabolism, which has a major impact on brain functions, including memory, neuroprotection, resistance to oxidative stress and homeostatic tone. Energy demands of the brain are very large, as they continuously account for 20–25% of the whole body’s energy consumption. Energy supply of the brain is tightly linked to neuronal activity, providing the origin of the signals detected by the widely used functional brain imaging techniques such as functional magnetic resonance imaging and positron emission tomography. In particular, neuroenergetic coupling is regulated by astrocytes through glutamate uptake that triggers astrocytic aerobic glycolysis and leads to glucose uptake and lactate release, a mechanism known as the Astrocyte Neuron Lactate Shuttle. Other neurotransmitters such as noradrenaline and Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide mobilize glycogen, the reserve for glucose exclusively localized in astrocytes, also resulting in lactate release. Lactate is then transferred to neurons where it is used, after conversion to pyruvate, as a rapid energy substrate, and also as a signal that modulates neuronal excitability, homeostasis, and the expression of survival and plasticity genes. Importantly, glycolysis in astrocytes and more generally cerebral glucose metabolism progressively deteriorate in aging and age-associated neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease. This decreased glycolysis actually represents a common feature of several neurological pathologies. Here, we review the critical role of astrocytes in the regulation of brain energy metabolism, and how dysregulation of astrocyte-mediated metabolic pathways is involved in brain hypometabolism. Further, we summarize recent efforts at preclinical and clinical stages to target brain hypometabolism for the development of new therapeutic interventions in age-related neurodegenerative diseases.
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Lyu Z, Li Q, Yu Z, Chan Y, Fu L, Li Y, Zhang C. Yi-Zhi-Fang-Dai Formula Exerts Neuroprotective Effects Against Pyroptosis and Blood-Brain Barrier-Glymphatic Dysfunctions to Prevent Amyloid-Beta Acute Accumulation After Cerebral Ischemia and Reperfusion in Rats. Front Pharmacol 2022; 12:791059. [PMID: 34975487 PMCID: PMC8714930 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.791059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2021] [Accepted: 11/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: The dysfunctional blood–brain barrier (BBB)–glymphatic system is responsible for triggering intracerebral amyloid-beta peptide (Aβ) accumulation and acts as the key link between ischemic stroke and dementia dominated by Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Recently, pyroptosis in cerebral ischemia and reperfusion (I/R) injury is demonstrated as a considerable mechanism causing BBB–glymphatic dysfunctions and Aβ acute accumulation in the brain. Targeting glial pyroptosis to protect BBB–glymphatic functions after cerebral I/R could offer a new viewpoint to prevent Aβ accumulation and poststroke dementia. Yi-Zhi-Fang-Dai formula (YZFDF) is an herbal prescription used to cure dementia with multiple effects of regulating inflammatory responses and protecting the BBB against toxic Aβ-induced damage. Hence, YZFDF potentially possesses neuroprotective effects against cerebral I/R injury and the early pathology of poststroke dementia, which evokes our current study. Objectives: The present study was designed to confirm the potential efficacy of YZFDF against cerebral I/R injury and explore the possible mechanism associated with alleviating Aβ acute accumulation. Methods: The models of cerebral I/R injury in rats were built by the method of middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion (MCAO/R). First, neurological function assessment and cerebral infarct measurement were used for confirming the efficacy of YZFDF on cerebral I/R injury, and the optimal dosage (YZFDF-H) was selected to conduct the experiments, which included Western blotting detections of pyroptosis, Aβ1-42 oligomers, and NeuN, immunofluorescence observations of glial pyroptosis, aquaporin-4 (AQP-4), and Aβ locations, brain water content measurement, SMI 71 (a specific marker for BBB)/AQP-4 immunohistochemistry, and Nissl staining to further evaluate BBB–glymphatic functions and neuronal damage. Results: YZFDF obviously alleviated neurological deficits and cerebral infarct after cerebral I/R in rats. Furthermore, YZFDF could inactivate pyroptosis signaling via inhibiting caspase-1/11 activation and gasdermin D cleavage, ameliorate glial pyroptosis and neuroinflammation, protect against BBB collapse and AQP-4 depolarization, prevent Aβ acute accumulation and Aβ1-42 oligomers formation, and reduce neuronal damage and increase neurons survival after reperfusion. Conclusion: Our study indicated that YZFDF could exert neuroprotective effects on cerebral I/R injury and prevent Aβ acute accumulation in the brain after cerebral I/R associated with inhibiting neuroinflammation-related pyroptosis and BBB–glymphatic dysfunctions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhongkuan Lyu
- Geriatrics Department of Chinese Medicine, Huadong Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Qiyue Li
- Geriatrics Department of Chinese Medicine, Huadong Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhonghai Yu
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Yuanjin Chan
- Geriatrics Department of Chinese Medicine, Huadong Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Lei Fu
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Clinical Geriatric Medicine, Huadong Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yaming Li
- Geriatrics Department of Chinese Medicine, Huadong Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Chunyan Zhang
- International Medical Center of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Haikou Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Haikou, China
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Altinoz MA, Guloksuz S, Ozpinar A. Immunomodifying and neuroprotective effects of noscapine: Implications for multiple sclerosis, neurodegenerative, and psychiatric disorders. Chem Biol Interact 2021; 352:109794. [PMID: 34963564 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbi.2021.109794] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2021] [Revised: 12/03/2021] [Accepted: 12/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Noscapine is a phthalide isoquinoline alkaloid with antitussive activity. Noscapine protects oligodendroglia from ischemic and chemical injury, binds to bitter taste receptors, antagonizes the bradykinin and histaminergic systems, which may be of benefit in treatment of multiple sclerosis. Noscapine normalizes axonal transport and exerts significant therapeutic efficacy in animal models of Parkinson's Disease and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Noscapine exerts neuroprotective effects on oxygen- and glucose-deprived fetal cortical neuronal cells and reduces ischemic brain damage in neonatal rat pups. Pilot clinical studies indicated some beneficial effects of noscapine in stroke. Noscapine harbours anxiolytic activity and methyl-noscapine blocks small conductance SK channels, which is beneficial in alleviating anxiety and depression. Noscapine exerts anticholinesterase activity and acts inhibitory on the inflammatory transcription factor NF-κB, which may be harnessed in treatment of Alzheimer's Disease. With its blood-brain barrier traversing features and versatile actions, noscapine may be a promising agent in the armamentarium against neurodegenerative and psychiatric diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meric A Altinoz
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Acibadem University, Istanbul, Turkey; Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht, the Netherlands.
| | - Sinan Guloksuz
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht, the Netherlands; Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Aysel Ozpinar
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Acibadem University, Istanbul, Turkey
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Li T, Cao HX, Ke D. Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Easily Develops into Alzheimer's Disease via Hyperglycemia and Insulin Resistance. Curr Med Sci 2021; 41:1165-1171. [PMID: 34874485 DOI: 10.1007/s11596-021-2467-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2021] [Accepted: 10/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
With the acceleration of population aging, the incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and Alzheimer's disease (AD) is progressively increasing due to the age-relatedness of these two diseases. The association between T2DM and AD-like dementia is receiving much attention, and T2DM is reported to be a significant risk factor for AD. The aims of this review were to reveal the brain changes caused by T2DM as well as to explore the roles of hyperglycemia and insulin resistance in the development of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ting Li
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medicine and the Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education of China and Hubei Province for Neurological Disorders, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Hong-Xia Cao
- Institute of Pathology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China.
| | - Dan Ke
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medicine and the Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education of China and Hubei Province for Neurological Disorders, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China.
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Nguyen B, Bix G, Yao Y. Basal lamina changes in neurodegenerative disorders. Mol Neurodegener 2021; 16:81. [PMID: 34876200 PMCID: PMC8650282 DOI: 10.1186/s13024-021-00502-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2021] [Accepted: 11/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Neurodegenerative disorders are a group of age-associated diseases characterized by progressive degeneration of the structure and function of the CNS. Two key pathological features of these disorders are blood-brain barrier (BBB) breakdown and protein aggregation. MAIN BODY The BBB is composed of various cell types and a non-cellular component---the basal lamina (BL). Although how different cells affect the BBB is well studied, the roles of the BL in BBB maintenance and function remain largely unknown. In addition, located in the perivascular space, the BL is also speculated to regulate protein clearance via the meningeal lymphatic/glymphatic system. Recent studies from our laboratory and others have shown that the BL actively regulates BBB integrity and meningeal lymphatic/glymphatic function in both physiological and pathological conditions, suggesting that it may play an important role in the pathogenesis and/or progression of neurodegenerative disorders. In this review, we focus on changes of the BL and its major components during aging and in neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). First, we introduce the vascular and lymphatic systems in the CNS. Next, we discuss the BL and its major components under homeostatic conditions, and summarize their changes during aging and in AD, PD, and ALS in both rodents and humans. The functional significance of these alterations and potential therapeutic targets are also reviewed. Finally, key challenges in the field and future directions are discussed. CONCLUSIONS Understanding BL changes and the functional significance of these changes in neurodegenerative disorders will fill the gap of knowledge in the field. Our goal is to provide a clear and concise review of the complex relationship between the BL and neurodegenerative disorders to stimulate new hypotheses and further research in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Nguyen
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Gregory Bix
- Clinical Neuroscience Research Center, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
- Departments of Neurosurgery and Neurology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
| | - Yao Yao
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA.
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, MDC 8, Tampa, Florida, 33612, USA.
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Zhao M, Jiang XF, Zhang HQ, Sun JH, Pei H, Ma LN, Cao Y, Li H. Interactions between glial cells and the blood-brain barrier and their role in Alzheimer's disease. Ageing Res Rev 2021; 72:101483. [PMID: 34610479 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2021.101483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2021] [Revised: 09/14/2021] [Accepted: 09/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD), which is an irreversible neurodegenerative disorder characterized by senile plaques and neurofibrillary tangles, is the most common form of dementia worldwide. However, currently, there are no satisfying curative therapies for AD. The blood-brain barrier (BBB) acts as a selective physical barrier and plays protective roles in maintaining brain homeostasis. BBB dysfunction as an upstream or downstream event promotes the onset and progression of AD. Moreover, the pathogenesis of AD caused by BBB injury hasn't been well elucidated. Glial cells, BBB compartments and neurons form a minimal functional unit called the neurovascular unit (NVU). Emerging evidence suggests that glial cells are regulators in maintaining the BBB integrity and neuronal function. Illustrating the regulatory mechanism of glial cells in the BBB assists us in drawing a glial-vascular coupling diagram of AD, which may offer new insight into the pathogenesis of AD and early intervention strategies for AD. This review aims to summarize our current knowledge of glial-BBB interactions and their pathological implications in AD and to provide new therapeutic potentials for future investigations.
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Wang HL, Zhang CL, Qiu YM, Chen AQ, Li YN, Hu B. Dysfunction of the Blood-brain Barrier in Cerebral Microbleeds: from Bedside to Bench. Aging Dis 2021; 12:1898-1919. [PMID: 34881076 PMCID: PMC8612614 DOI: 10.14336/ad.2021.0514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2021] [Accepted: 05/14/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Cerebral microbleeds (CMBs) are a disorder of cerebral microvessels that are characterized as small (<10 mm), hypointense, round or ovoid lesions seen on T2*-weighted gradient echo MRI. There is a high prevalence of CMBs in community-dwelling healthy older people. An increasing number of studies have demonstrated the significance of CMBs in stroke, dementia, Parkinson's disease, gait disturbances and late-life depression. Blood-brain barrier (BBB) dysfunction is considered to be the event that initializes CMBs development. However, the pathogenesis of CMBs has not yet been clearly elucidated. In this review, we introduce the pathogenesis of CMBs, hypertensive vasculopathy and cerebral amyloid angiopathy, and review recent research that has advanced our understanding of the mechanisms underlying BBB dysfunction and CMBs presence. CMBs-associated risk factors can exacerbate BBB breakdown through the vulnerability of BBB anatomical and functional changes. Finally, we discuss potential pharmacological approaches to target the BBB as therapy for CMBs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - An-qi Chen
- Department of Neurology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China
| | - Ya-nan Li
- Department of Neurology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China
| | - Bo Hu
- Department of Neurology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China
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47
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Ni R. Positron Emission Tomography in Animal Models of Alzheimer's Disease Amyloidosis: Translational Implications. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2021; 14:1179. [PMID: 34832961 PMCID: PMC8623863 DOI: 10.3390/ph14111179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2021] [Revised: 11/13/2021] [Accepted: 11/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Animal models of Alzheimer's disease amyloidosis that recapitulate cerebral amyloid-beta pathology have been widely used in preclinical research and have greatly enabled the mechanistic understanding of Alzheimer's disease and the development of therapeutics. Comprehensive deep phenotyping of the pathophysiological and biochemical features in these animal models is essential. Recent advances in positron emission tomography have allowed the non-invasive visualization of the alterations in the brain of animal models and in patients with Alzheimer's disease. These tools have facilitated our understanding of disease mechanisms and provided longitudinal monitoring of treatment effects in animal models of Alzheimer's disease amyloidosis. In this review, we focus on recent positron emission tomography studies of cerebral amyloid-beta accumulation, hypoglucose metabolism, synaptic and neurotransmitter receptor deficits (cholinergic and glutamatergic system), blood-brain barrier impairment, and neuroinflammation (microgliosis and astrocytosis) in animal models of Alzheimer's disease amyloidosis. We further propose the emerging targets and tracers for reflecting the pathophysiological changes and discuss outstanding challenges in disease animal models and future outlook in the on-chip characterization of imaging biomarkers towards clinical translation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruiqing Ni
- Institute for Biomedical Engineering, ETH & University of Zurich, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland;
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Zurich, 8952 Zurich, Switzerland
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48
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The Blood-Brain Barrier: Much More Than a Selective Access to the Brain. Neurotox Res 2021; 39:2154-2174. [PMID: 34677787 DOI: 10.1007/s12640-021-00431-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2021] [Revised: 09/30/2021] [Accepted: 10/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The blood-brain barrier is a dynamic structure, collectively referred to as the neurovascular unit. It is responsible for the exchange of blood, oxygen, ions, and other molecules between the peripheral circulation and the brain compartment. It is the main entrance to the central nervous system and as such critical for the maintenance of its homeostasis. Dysfunction of the blood-brain barrier is a characteristic of several neurovascular pathologies. Moreover, physiological changes, environmental factors, nutritional habits, and psychological stress can modulate the tightness of the barrier. In this contribution, we summarize our current understanding of structure and function of this important component of the brain. We also describe the neurological deficits associated with its damage. A special emphasis is placed in the effect of the exposure to xenobiotics and pollutants in the permeability of the barrier. Finally, current protective strategies as well as the culture models to study this fascinating structure are discussed.
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49
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Meng H, Fan L, Zhang CJ, Zhu L, Liu P, Chen J, Bao X, Pu Z, Zhu MS, Xu Y. Synthetic VSMCs induce BBB disruption mediated by MYPT1 in ischemic stroke. iScience 2021; 24:103047. [PMID: 34553133 PMCID: PMC8441154 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2021.103047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2021] [Revised: 06/14/2021] [Accepted: 08/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) have been widely recognized as key players in regulating blood-brain barrier (BBB) function, and their roles are unclear in ischemic stroke. Myosin phosphatase target subunit 1 (MYPT1) is essential for VSMC contraction and maintaining healthy vasculature. We generated VSMC-specific MYPT1 knockout (MYPT1SMKO) mice and cultured VSMCs infected with Lv-shMYPT1 to explore phenotypic switching of VSMCs and the accompanied impacts on BBB integrity. We found that MYPT1 deficiency induced phenotypic switching of synthetic VSMCs, which aggravated BBB disruption. Proteomic analysis identified evolutionarily conserved signaling intermediates in Toll pathways (ECSIT) as a downstream molecule that promotes activation of synthetic VSMCs and contributed to IL-6 expression. Knocking down ECSIT rescued phenotypic switching of VSMCs and BBB disruption. Additionally, inhibition of IL-6 decreased BBB permeability. These findings reveal that MYPT1 deficiency activated phenotypic switching of synthetic VSMCs and induced BBB disruption through ECSIT-IL-6 signaling after ischemic stroke. MYPT1 deficiency induces activation of synthetic VSMCs and aggravates BBB disruption Synthetic VSMCs release more IL-6 to destroy BBB in a contact-independent way MYPT1-ECSIT-IL-6 signaling pathway regulates synthetic VSMC-mediated BBB disruption
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Affiliation(s)
- Hailan Meng
- Department of Neurology of Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School and the State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210008, China.,Institute of Brain Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210008, China.,Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Molecular Medicine, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing 210008, China.,Jiangsu Province Stroke Center for Diagnosis and Therapy, Nanjing 210008, China.,Nanjing Neuropsychiatry Clinic Medical Center, Nanjing 210008, China
| | - Lizhen Fan
- Department of Neurology of Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School and the State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210008, China.,Institute of Brain Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210008, China.,Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Molecular Medicine, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing 210008, China.,Jiangsu Province Stroke Center for Diagnosis and Therapy, Nanjing 210008, China.,Nanjing Neuropsychiatry Clinic Medical Center, Nanjing 210008, China
| | - Cun-Jin Zhang
- Department of Neurology of Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School and the State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210008, China.,Institute of Brain Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210008, China.,Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Molecular Medicine, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing 210008, China.,Jiangsu Province Stroke Center for Diagnosis and Therapy, Nanjing 210008, China.,Nanjing Neuropsychiatry Clinic Medical Center, Nanjing 210008, China
| | - Liwen Zhu
- Department of Neurology of Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School and the State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210008, China.,Institute of Brain Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210008, China.,Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Molecular Medicine, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing 210008, China.,Jiangsu Province Stroke Center for Diagnosis and Therapy, Nanjing 210008, China.,Nanjing Neuropsychiatry Clinic Medical Center, Nanjing 210008, China
| | - Pinyi Liu
- Department of Neurology of Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School and the State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210008, China.,Institute of Brain Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210008, China.,Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Molecular Medicine, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing 210008, China.,Jiangsu Province Stroke Center for Diagnosis and Therapy, Nanjing 210008, China.,Nanjing Neuropsychiatry Clinic Medical Center, Nanjing 210008, China
| | - Jian Chen
- Department of Neurology of Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School and the State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210008, China.,Institute of Brain Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210008, China.,Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Molecular Medicine, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing 210008, China.,Jiangsu Province Stroke Center for Diagnosis and Therapy, Nanjing 210008, China.,Nanjing Neuropsychiatry Clinic Medical Center, Nanjing 210008, China
| | - Xinyu Bao
- Department of Neurology of Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School and the State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210008, China.,Institute of Brain Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210008, China.,Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Molecular Medicine, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing 210008, China.,Jiangsu Province Stroke Center for Diagnosis and Therapy, Nanjing 210008, China.,Nanjing Neuropsychiatry Clinic Medical Center, Nanjing 210008, China
| | - Zhijun Pu
- Department of Neurology of Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School and the State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210008, China.,Institute of Brain Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210008, China.,Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Molecular Medicine, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing 210008, China.,Jiangsu Province Stroke Center for Diagnosis and Therapy, Nanjing 210008, China.,Nanjing Neuropsychiatry Clinic Medical Center, Nanjing 210008, China
| | - Min-Sheng Zhu
- Model Animal Research Center, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210061, China.,Ministry of Education (MOE) Key Laboratory of Model Animal for Disease Study, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210061, China
| | - Yun Xu
- Department of Neurology of Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School and the State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210008, China.,Institute of Brain Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210008, China.,Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Molecular Medicine, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing 210008, China.,Jiangsu Province Stroke Center for Diagnosis and Therapy, Nanjing 210008, China.,Nanjing Neuropsychiatry Clinic Medical Center, Nanjing 210008, China
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50
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Chen MK, Mecca AP, Naganawa M, Gallezot JD, Toyonaga T, Mondal J, Finnema SJ, Lin SF, O’Dell RS, McDonald JW, Michalak HR, Vander Wyk B, Nabulsi NB, Huang Y, Arnsten AFT, van Dyck CH, Carson RE. Comparison of [ 11C]UCB-J and [ 18F]FDG PET in Alzheimer's disease: A tracer kinetic modeling study. J Cereb Blood Flow Metab 2021; 41:2395-2409. [PMID: 33757318 PMCID: PMC8393289 DOI: 10.1177/0271678x211004312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2020] [Revised: 01/29/2021] [Accepted: 02/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
[11C]UCB-J PET for synaptic vesicle glycoprotein 2 A (SV2A) has been proposed as a suitable marker for synaptic density in Alzheimer's disease (AD). We compared [11C]UCB-J binding for synaptic density and [18F]FDG uptake for metabolism (correlated with neuronal activity) in 14 AD and 11 cognitively normal (CN) participants. We assessed both absolute and relative outcome measures in brain regions of interest, i.e., K1 or R1 for [11C]UCB-J perfusion, VT (volume of distribution) or DVR to cerebellum for [11C]UCB-J binding to SV2A; and Ki or KiR to cerebellum for [18F]FDG metabolism. [11C]UCB-J binding and [18F]FDG metabolism showed a similar magnitude of reduction in the medial temporal lobe of AD -compared to CN participants. However, the magnitude of reduction of [11C]UCB-J binding in neocortical regions was less than that observed with [18F]FDG metabolism. Inter-tracer correlations were also higher in the medial temporal regions between synaptic density and metabolism, with lower correlations in neocortical regions. [11C]UCB-J perfusion showed a similar pattern to [18F]FDG metabolism, with high inter-tracer regional correlations. In summary, we conducted the first in vivo PET imaging of synaptic density and metabolism in the same AD participants and reported a concordant reduction in medial temporal regions but a discordant reduction in neocortical regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming-Kai Chen
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Adam P Mecca
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Mika Naganawa
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Jean-Dominique Gallezot
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Takuya Toyonaga
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Jayanta Mondal
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Sjoerd J Finnema
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Shu-fei Lin
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Ryan S O’Dell
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Julia W McDonald
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Hannah R Michalak
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Brent Vander Wyk
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Nabeel B Nabulsi
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Yiyun Huang
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Amy FT Arnsten
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | | | - Richard E Carson
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
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