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Tang Y, Wei J, Wang XF, Long T, Xiang X, Qu L, Wang X, Yu C, Xiao X, Hu X, Zeng J, Xu Q, Wu A, Wu J, Qin D, Zhou X, Law BYK. Activation of autophagy by Citri Reticulatae Semen extract ameliorates amyloid-beta-induced cell death and cognition deficits in Alzheimer's disease. Neural Regen Res 2024; 19:2467-2479. [PMID: 38526283 PMCID: PMC11090445 DOI: 10.4103/nrr.nrr-d-23-00954] [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: 06/07/2023] [Revised: 09/08/2023] [Accepted: 12/26/2023] [Indexed: 03/26/2024] Open
Abstract
JOURNAL/nrgr/04.03/01300535-202419110-00027/figure1/v/2024-03-08T184507Z/r/image-tiff Amyloid-beta-induced neuronal cell death contributes to cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease. Citri Reticulatae Semen has diverse beneficial effects on neurodegenerative diseases, including Parkinson's and Huntington's diseases, however, the effect of Citri Reticulatae Semen on Alzheimer's disease remains unelucidated. In the current study, the anti-apoptotic and autophagic roles of Citri Reticulatae Semen extract on amyloid-beta-induced apoptosis in PC12 cells were first investigated. Citri Reticulatae Semen extract protected PC12 cells from amyloid-beta-induced apoptosis by attenuating the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio via activation of autophagy. In addition, Citri Reticulatae Semen extract was confirmed to bind amyloid-beta as revealed by biolayer interferometry in vitro, and suppress amyloid-beta-induced pathology such as paralysis, in a transgenic Caenorhabditis elegans in vivo model. Moreover, genetically defective Caenorhabditis elegans further confirmed that the neuroprotective effect of Citri Reticulatae Semen extract was autophagy-dependent. Most importantly, Citri Reticulatae Semen extract was confirmed to improve cognitive impairment, neuronal injury and amyloid-beta burden in 3×Tg Alzheimer's disease mice. As revealed by both in vitro and in vivo models, these results suggest that Citri Reticulatae Semen extract is a potential natural therapeutic agent for Alzheimer's disease via its neuroprotective autophagic effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong Tang
- Dr. Neher’s Biophysics Laboratory for Innovative Drug Discovery, State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology, Macao Special Administrative Region, China
- Sichuan Key Medical Laboratory of New Drug Discovery and Druggability Evaluation Luzhou Key Laboratory of Activity Screening and Druggability Evaluation for Chinese Materia Medica, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan Province, China
| | - Jing Wei
- Eye School and Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province Ophthalmopathy Prevention & Cure and Visual Function Protection of Chengdu University of TCM, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China
| | - Xiao-Fang Wang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan Province, China
| | - Tao Long
- Sichuan Key Medical Laboratory of New Drug Discovery and Druggability Evaluation Luzhou Key Laboratory of Activity Screening and Druggability Evaluation for Chinese Materia Medica, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan Province, China
| | - Xiaohong Xiang
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan Province, China
| | - Liqun Qu
- Dr. Neher’s Biophysics Laboratory for Innovative Drug Discovery, State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology, Macao Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Xingxia Wang
- Dr. Neher’s Biophysics Laboratory for Innovative Drug Discovery, State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology, Macao Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Chonglin Yu
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan Province, China
| | - Xingli Xiao
- Department of Neurology, The First People’s Hospital of Neijiang, Neijiang, Sichuan Province, China
| | - Xueyuan Hu
- Sichuan Key Medical Laboratory of New Drug Discovery and Druggability Evaluation Luzhou Key Laboratory of Activity Screening and Druggability Evaluation for Chinese Materia Medica, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan Province, China
| | - Jing Zeng
- Sichuan Key Medical Laboratory of New Drug Discovery and Druggability Evaluation Luzhou Key Laboratory of Activity Screening and Druggability Evaluation for Chinese Materia Medica, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan Province, China
| | - Qin Xu
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan Province, China
| | - Anguo Wu
- Sichuan Key Medical Laboratory of New Drug Discovery and Druggability Evaluation Luzhou Key Laboratory of Activity Screening and Druggability Evaluation for Chinese Materia Medica, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan Province, China
| | - Jianming Wu
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan Province, China
| | - Dalian Qin
- Sichuan Key Medical Laboratory of New Drug Discovery and Druggability Evaluation Luzhou Key Laboratory of Activity Screening and Druggability Evaluation for Chinese Materia Medica, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan Province, China
| | - Xiaogang Zhou
- Sichuan Key Medical Laboratory of New Drug Discovery and Druggability Evaluation Luzhou Key Laboratory of Activity Screening and Druggability Evaluation for Chinese Materia Medica, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan Province, China
| | - Betty Yuen-Kwan Law
- Dr. Neher’s Biophysics Laboratory for Innovative Drug Discovery, State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology, Macao Special Administrative Region, China
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Wang S, Huang J, Chen Y, Liang Y, Chen L, Ye D, Yang H, Hui Z, Wang X, Zhang Z, Zhu X. Qifu-yin activates the Keap1/Nrf2/ARE signaling and ameliorates synaptic injury and oxidative stress in APP/PS1 mice. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2024; 333:118497. [PMID: 38942156 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2024.118497] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2024] [Revised: 06/13/2024] [Accepted: 06/25/2024] [Indexed: 06/30/2024]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE The traditional medicinal formulation, Qifu-yin (QFY), has been widely prescribed for Alzheimer's disease (AD) treatment in China, yet the comprehensive mechanisms through which QFY mitigates AD pathology remain to be fully delineated. AIM OF THE STUDY This study aimed to explore the therapeutic implications of QFY on the synaptic injury and oxidative stress in the hippocampus of APPswe/PS1dE9 (APP/PS1) mice, with a concerted effort to elucidate the molecular mechanisms related to synaptic preservation and memory improvement. MATERIALS AND METHODS The components of QFY were identified by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS). The neuroprotective effects of QFY was evaluated using six-month-old male APP/PS1 mice. Subsequent to a 15 days of QFY regimen, spatial memory was assessed utilizing the Morris water maze (MWM) test. Amyloid-beta (Aβ) aggregation was detected via immunostaining, while the quantification of Aβ1-40 and Aβ1-42 was achieved through enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was used to investigate the synaptic structure and mitochondrial morphology. Golgi staining was applied to examine dendritic spine density. Reactive oxygen species (ROS), 3-nitrotyrosine (3-NT) and 4-hydroxy-nonenal (4-HNE) assays were employed to assess oxidative stress. The expression profiles of Aβ metabolism-associated enzymes and the Keap1/Nrf2/ARE signaling pathway were determined by Western blot. RESULTS A total of 20 principal compounds in QFY were identified. QFY mitigated memory deficits of APP/PS1 mice, including reducing escape latency and search distance and increasing the time and distance spent in the target quadrant. In addition, QFY increased platform crossings of APP/PS1 mice in the probe trial of MWM tests. TEM analysis showed that QFY increased synapse number in the CA1 region of APP/PS1 mice. Further studies indicated that QFY elevated the expression levels of Post synaptic density protein 95 (PSD95) and synaptophysin, and mitigated the loss of dendritic spine density in the hippocampus of APP/PS1 mice. QFY has been shown to ameliorated the structural abnormalities of mitochondria, including mitochondrial dissolution and degradation, up-regulate ATP synthesis and membrane potential in the hippocampus of APP/PS1 mice. Moreover, QFY activated the Keap1/Nrf2/ARE signaling pathway in the hippocampus of APP/PS1 mice, which might contribute to the neuroprotective effects of QFY. CONCLUSION QFY activates the Keap1/Nrf2/ARE signaling, and protects against synaptic and mitochondrial dysfunction in APP/PS1 mice, proposing a potential alternative therapeutic strategy for AD management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sulei Wang
- Department of Neurology, Nanjing Hospital of Chinese Medicine Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210001, China; Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Clinical College of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210008, China.
| | - Jing Huang
- Department of Neurology, Nanjing Hospital of Chinese Medicine Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210001, China; Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Clinical College of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210008, China.
| | - Yanting Chen
- Department of Neurology, Nanjing Hospital of Chinese Medicine Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210001, China; Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Clinical College of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210008, China.
| | - Ying Liang
- Department of Neurology, Nanjing Hospital of Chinese Medicine Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210001, China; Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Clinical College of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210008, China.
| | - Liqiu Chen
- Department of Neurology, Nanjing Hospital of Chinese Medicine Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210001, China; Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Clinical College of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210008, China.
| | - Dan Ye
- Department of Neurology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, The First People's Hospital of Changzhou, Changzhou, 213000, China.
| | - Hui Yang
- School of Nursing, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210046, China.
| | - Zhen Hui
- Department of Neurology, Nanjing Hospital of Chinese Medicine Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210001, China; Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Clinical College of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210008, China.
| | - Xiaomian Wang
- Department of Neurology, Nanjing Hospital of Chinese Medicine Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210001, China; Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Clinical College of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210008, China.
| | - Zhennian Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Nanjing Hospital of Chinese Medicine Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210001, China; Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Clinical College of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210008, China.
| | - Xiaolei Zhu
- Department of Neurology, Nanjing Hospital of Chinese Medicine Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210001, China; Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Clinical College of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210008, China.
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Sun F, Wang J, Meng L, Zhou Z, Xu Y, Yang M, Li Y, Jiang T, Liu B, Yan H. AdipoRon promotes amyloid-β clearance through enhancing autophagy via nuclear GAPDH-induced sirtuin 1 activation in Alzheimer's disease. Br J Pharmacol 2024; 181:3039-3063. [PMID: 38679474 DOI: 10.1111/bph.16400] [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: 08/03/2023] [Revised: 02/28/2024] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Amyloid-β (Aβ) peptide is one of the more important pathological markers in Alzheimer's disease (AD). The development of AD impairs autophagy, which results in an imbalanced clearance of Aβ. Our previous research demonstrated that AdipoRon, an agonist of adiponectin receptors, decreased the deposition of Aβ and enhanced cognitive function in AD. However, the exact mechanisms by which AdipoRon affects Aβ clearance remain unclear. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH We studied how AdipoRon affects autophagy in HT22 cells and APP/PS1 transgenic mice. We also investigated the signalling pathway involved and used pharmacological inhibitors to examine the role of autophagy in this process. KEY RESULTS AdipoRon promotes Aβ clearance by activating neuronal autophagy in the APP/PS1 transgenic mice. Interestingly, we found that AdipoRon induces the nuclear translocation of GAPDH, where it interacts with the SIRT1/DBC1 complex. This interaction then leads to the release of DBC1 and the activation of SIRT1, which in turn activates autophagy. Importantly, we found that inhibiting either GAPDH or SIRT1 to suppress the activity of SIRT1 counteracts the elevated autophagy and decreased Aβ deposition caused by AdipoRon. This suggests that SIRT1 plays a critical role in the effect of AdipoRon on autophagic induction in AD. CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS AdipoRon promotes the clearance of Aβ by enhancing autophagy through the AdipoR1/AMPK-dependent nuclear translocation of GAPDH and subsequent activation of SIRT1. This novel molecular pathway sheds light on the modulation of autophagy in AD and may lead to the development of new therapeutic strategies targeting this pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fengjiao Sun
- Medical Research Center, Binzhou Medical University Hospital, Binzhou, China
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medicine, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai, China
| | - Jiangong Wang
- Medical Research Center, Binzhou Medical University Hospital, Binzhou, China
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medicine, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai, China
| | - Lingbin Meng
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medicine, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai, China
| | - Zhenyu Zhou
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medicine, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai, China
| | - Yong Xu
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medicine, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai, China
| | - Meizi Yang
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medicine, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai, China
| | - Yixin Li
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medicine, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai, China
| | - Tianrui Jiang
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medicine, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai, China
| | - Bin Liu
- Medical Research Center, Binzhou Medical University Hospital, Binzhou, China
| | - Haijing Yan
- Medical Research Center, Binzhou Medical University Hospital, Binzhou, China
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medicine, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai, China
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Catterson JH, Mouofo EN, López De Toledo Soler I, Lean G, Dlamini S, Liddell P, Voong G, Katsinelos T, Wang YC, Schoovaerts N, Verstreken P, Spires-Jones TL, Durrant CS. Drosophila appear resistant to trans-synaptic tau propagation. Brain Commun 2024; 6:fcae256. [PMID: 39130515 PMCID: PMC11316205 DOI: 10.1093/braincomms/fcae256] [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: 03/11/2024] [Revised: 05/22/2024] [Accepted: 08/07/2024] [Indexed: 08/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia in the elderly, prompting extensive efforts to pinpoint novel therapeutic targets for effective intervention. Among the hallmark features of Alzheimer's disease is the development of neurofibrillary tangles comprised of hyperphosphorylated tau protein, whose progressive spread throughout the brain is associated with neuronal death. Trans-synaptic propagation of tau has been observed in mouse models, and indirect evidence for tau spread via synapses has been observed in human Alzheimer's disease. Halting tau propagation is a promising therapeutic target for Alzheimer's disease; thus, a scalable model system to screen for modifiers of tau spread would be very useful for the field. To this end, we sought to emulate the trans-synaptic spread of human tau in Drosophila melanogaster. Employing the trans-Tango circuit mapping technique, we investigated whether tau spreads between synaptically connected neurons. Immunohistochemistry and confocal imaging were used to look for tau propagation. Examination of hundreds of flies expressing four different human tau constructs in two distinct neuronal populations reveals a robust resistance in Drosophila to the trans-synaptic spread of human tau. This resistance persisted in lines with concurrent expression of amyloid-β, in lines with global human tau knock-in to provide a template for human tau in downstream neurons, and with manipulations of temperature. These negative data are important for the field as we establish that Drosophila expressing human tau in subsets of neurons are unlikely to be useful to perform screens to find mechanisms to reduce the trans-synaptic spread of tau. The inherent resistance observed in Drosophila may serve as a valuable clue, offering insights into strategies for impeding tau spread in future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- James H Catterson
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH8 9XD, UK
- UK Dementia Research Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH8 9XD, UK
| | - Edmond N Mouofo
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH8 9XD, UK
- UK Dementia Research Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH8 9XD, UK
| | | | - Gillian Lean
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH8 9XD, UK
| | - Stella Dlamini
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH8 9XD, UK
| | - Phoebe Liddell
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH8 9XD, UK
| | - Graham Voong
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH8 9XD, UK
| | - Taxiarchis Katsinelos
- Schaller Research Group at the University of Heidelberg and the DKFZ, German Cancer Research Center, Proteostasis in Neurodegenerative Disease (B180), INF 581, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Faculty of Biosciences, Heidelberg University, INF 234, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Yu-Chun Wang
- VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain & Disease Research, Department of Neurosciences, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
- KU Leuven, Department of Neurosciences, Leuven Brain Institute, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Nils Schoovaerts
- VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain & Disease Research, Department of Neurosciences, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
- KU Leuven, Department of Neurosciences, Leuven Brain Institute, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Patrik Verstreken
- VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain & Disease Research, Department of Neurosciences, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
- KU Leuven, Department of Neurosciences, Leuven Brain Institute, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Tara L Spires-Jones
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH8 9XD, UK
- UK Dementia Research Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH8 9XD, UK
| | - Claire S Durrant
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH8 9XD, UK
- UK Dementia Research Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH8 9XD, UK
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Zhu Y, Williams J, Beyene K, Trani JF, Babulal GM. Traumatic Brain Injury, Seizures, and Cognitive Impairment Among Older Adults. JAMA Netw Open 2024; 7:e2426590. [PMID: 39115844 PMCID: PMC11310819 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.26590] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2024] [Accepted: 06/11/2024] [Indexed: 08/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Importance Traumatic brain injury (TBI), seizures, and dementia increase with age. There is a gap in understanding the associations of TBI, seizures, and medications such as antiseizure and antipsychotics with the progression of cognitive impairment across racial and ethnic groups. Objective To investigate the association of TBI and seizures with the risk of cognitive impairment among cognitively normal older adults and the role of medications in moderating the association. Design, Setting, and Participants This multicenter cohort study was a secondary analysis of the Uniform Data Set collected between June 1, 2005, and June 30, 2020, from the National Alzheimer's Coordination Center. Statistical analysis was performed from February 1 to April 3, 2024. Data were collected from participants from 36 Alzheimer's Disease Research Centers in the US who were 65 years or older at baseline, cognitively normal at baseline (Clinical Dementia Rating of 0 and no impairment based on a presumptive etiologic diagnosis of AD), and had complete information on race and ethnicity, age, sex, educational level, and apolipoprotein E genotype. Exposure Health history of TBI, seizures, or both conditions. Main Outcomes and Measures Progression to cognitive impairment measured by a Clinical Dementia Rating greater than 0. Results Among the cohort of 7180 older adults (median age, 74 years [range, 65-102 years]; 4729 women [65.9%]), 1036 were African American or Black (14.4%), 21 were American Indian or Alaska Native (0.3%), 143 were Asian (2.0%), 332 were Hispanic (4.6%), and 5648 were non-Hispanic White (78.7%); the median educational level was 16.0 years (range, 1.0-29.0 years). After adjustment for selection basis using propensity score weighting, seizure was associated with a 40% higher risk of cognitive impairment (hazard ratio [HR], 1.40; 95% CI, 1.19-1.65), TBI with a 25% higher risk of cognitive impairment (HR, 1.25; 95% CI, 1.17-1.34), and both seizure and TBI were associated with a 57% higher risk (HR, 1.57; 95% CI, 1.23-2.01). The interaction models indicated that Hispanic participants with TBI and seizures had a higher risk of cognitive impairment compared with other racial and ethnic groups. The use of antiseizure medications (HR, 1.23; 95% CI, 0.99-1.53), antidepressants (HR, 1.32; 95% CI, 1.17-1.50), and antipsychotics (HR, 2.15; 95% CI, 1.18-3.89) was associated with a higher risk of cognitive impairment, while anxiolytic, sedative, or hypnotic use (HR, 0.88; 95% CI, 0.83-0.94) was associated with a lower risk. Conclusions and Relevance This study highlights the importance of addressing TBI and seizures as risk factors for cognitive impairment among older adults. Addressing the broader social determinants of health and bridging the health divide across various racial and ethnic groups are essential for the comprehensive management and prevention of dementia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiqi Zhu
- School of Social Work, Adelphi University, Garden City, New York
| | - Jonathan Williams
- Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri
| | - Kebede Beyene
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Administrative Sciences, University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St Louis, St Louis, Missouri
| | - Jean-Francois Trani
- National Conservatory of Arts and Crafts, Paris, France
- Institute of Public Health, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Humanities, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa
- Brown School of Social Work, Washington University in St Louis, St Louis, Missouri
| | - Ganesh M. Babulal
- Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri
- Institute of Public Health, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Humanities, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa
- Department of Clinical Research and Leadership, The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC
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Wertman E. Essential New Complexity-Based Themes for Patient-Centered Diagnosis and Treatment of Dementia and Predementia in Older People: Multimorbidity and Multilevel Phenomenology. J Clin Med 2024; 13:4202. [PMID: 39064242 PMCID: PMC11277671 DOI: 10.3390/jcm13144202] [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: 06/10/2024] [Revised: 07/12/2024] [Accepted: 07/13/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Dementia is a highly prevalent condition with devastating clinical and socioeconomic sequela. It is expected to triple in prevalence by 2050. No treatment is currently known to be effective. Symptomatic late-onset dementia and predementia (SLODP) affects 95% of patients with the syndrome. In contrast to trials of pharmacological prevention, no treatment is suggested to remediate or cure these symptomatic patients. SLODP but not young onset dementia is intensely associated with multimorbidity (MUM), including brain-perturbating conditions (BPCs). Recent studies showed that MUM/BPCs have a major role in the pathogenesis of SLODP. Fortunately, most MUM/BPCs are medically treatable, and thus, their treatment may modify and improve SLODP, relieving suffering and reducing its clinical and socioeconomic threats. Regrettably, the complex system features of SLODP impede the diagnosis and treatment of the potentially remediable conditions (PRCs) associated with them, mainly due to failure of pattern recognition and a flawed diagnostic workup. We suggest incorporating two SLODP-specific conceptual themes into the diagnostic workup: MUM/BPC and multilevel phenomenological themes. By doing so, we were able to improve the diagnostic accuracy of SLODP components and optimize detecting and favorably treating PRCs. These revolutionary concepts and their implications for remediability and other parameters are discussed in the paper.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eli Wertman
- Department of Neurology, Hadassah University Hospital, The Hebrew University, Jerusalem 9190500, Israel;
- Section of Neuropsychology, Department of Psychology, The Hebrew University, Jerusalem 9190500, Israel
- Or’ad: Organization for Cognitive and Behavioral Changes in the Elderly, Jerusalem 9458118, Israel
- Merhav Neuropsychogeriatric Clinics, Nehalim 4995000, Israel
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Shao J, Deng Q, Feng S, Wu C, Liu X, Yang L. Role of astrocytes in Alzheimer's disease pathogenesis and the impact of exercise-induced remodeling. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2024; 732:150418. [PMID: 39032410 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2024.150418] [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: 04/26/2024] [Revised: 07/11/2024] [Accepted: 07/16/2024] [Indexed: 07/23/2024]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a prevalent and debilitating brain disorder that worsens progressively with age, characterized by cognitive decline and memory impairment. The accumulation of amyloid-beta (Aβ) leading to amyloid plaques and hyperphosphorylation of Tau, resulting in intracellular neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs), are primary pathological features of AD. Despite significant research investment and effort, therapies targeting Aβ and NFTs have proven limited in efficacy for treating or slowing AD progression. Consequently, there is a growing interest in non-invasive therapeutic strategies for AD prevention. Exercise, a low-cost and non-invasive intervention, has demonstrated promising neuroprotective potential in AD prevention. Astrocytes, among the most abundant glial cells in the brain, play essential roles in various physiological processes and are implicated in AD initiation and progression. Exercise delays pathological progression and mitigates cognitive dysfunction in AD by modulating astrocyte morphological and phenotypic changes and fostering crosstalk with other glial cells. This review aims to consolidate the current understanding of how exercise influences astrocyte dynamics in AD, with a focus on elucidating the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying astrocyte remodeling. The review begins with an overview of the neuropathological changes observed in AD, followed by an examination of astrocyte dysfunction as a feature of the disease. Lastly, the review explores the potential therapeutic implications of exercise-induced astrocyte remodeling in the context of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Shao
- Laboratory of Exercise and Neurobiology, School of Physical Education and Sports Science, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Qianting Deng
- Laboratory of Exercise and Neurobiology, School of Physical Education and Sports Science, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Shu Feng
- Laboratory of Exercise and Neurobiology, School of Physical Education and Sports Science, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Chongyun Wu
- Laboratory of Exercise and Neurobiology, School of Physical Education and Sports Science, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510006, China.
| | - Xiaocao Liu
- Laboratory of Exercise and Neurobiology, School of Physical Education and Sports Science, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510006, China.
| | - Luodan Yang
- Laboratory of Exercise and Neurobiology, School of Physical Education and Sports Science, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510006, China.
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Parra Bravo C, Naguib SA, Gan L. Cellular and pathological functions of tau. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol 2024:10.1038/s41580-024-00753-9. [PMID: 39014245 DOI: 10.1038/s41580-024-00753-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/10/2024] [Indexed: 07/18/2024]
Abstract
Tau protein is involved in various cellular processes, including having a canonical role in binding and stabilization of microtubules in neurons. Tauopathies are neurodegenerative diseases marked by the abnormal accumulation of tau protein aggregates in neurons, as seen, for example, in conditions such as frontotemporal dementia and Alzheimer disease. Mutations in tau coding regions or that disrupt tau mRNA splicing, tau post-translational modifications and cellular stress factors (such as oxidative stress and inflammation) increase the tendency of tau to aggregate and interfere with its clearance. Pathological tau is strongly implicated in the progression of neurodegenerative diseases, and the propagation of tau aggregates is associated with disease severity. Recent technological advancements, including cryo-electron microscopy and disease models derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells, have increased our understanding of tau-related pathology in neurodegenerative conditions. Substantial progress has been made in deciphering tau aggregate structures and the molecular mechanisms that underlie protein aggregation and toxicity. In this Review, we discuss recent insights into the diverse cellular functions of tau and the pathology of tau inclusions and explore the potential for therapeutic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Celeste Parra Bravo
- Helen and Robert Appel Alzheimer's Disease Research Institute, Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences, New York, NY, USA
| | - Sarah A Naguib
- Helen and Robert Appel Alzheimer's Disease Research Institute, Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Li Gan
- Helen and Robert Appel Alzheimer's Disease Research Institute, Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences, New York, NY, USA.
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9
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Wongjaikam S, Nopparat C, Boontem P, Panmanee J, Thasana N, Shukla M, Govitrapong P. Huperzine A Regulates the Physiological Homeostasis of Amyloid Precursor Protein Proteolysis and Tau Protein Conformation-A Computational and Experimental Investigation. BIOLOGY 2024; 13:518. [PMID: 39056711 PMCID: PMC11273828 DOI: 10.3390/biology13070518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2024] [Revised: 07/05/2024] [Accepted: 07/09/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024]
Abstract
The beneficial actions of the natural compound Huperzine A (Hup A) against age-associated learning and memory deficits promote this compound as a nootropic agent. Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathophysiology is characterized by the accumulation of amyloid beta (Aβ). Toxic Aβ oligomers account for the cognitive dysfunctions much before the pathological lesions are manifested in the brain. In the present study, we investigated the effects of Hup A on amyloid precursor protein (APP) proteolysis in SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells. Hup A downregulated the expression of β-site amyloid precursor protein cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1) and presenilin 1 (PS1) levels but augmented the levels of A disintegrin and metalloproteinase 10 (ADAM10) with significant decrement in the Aβ levels. We herein report for the first time an in silico molecular docking analysis that revealed that Hup A binds to the functionally active site of BACE1. We further analyzed the effect of Hup A on glycogen synthase kinase-3 β (GSK3β) and phosphorylation status of tau. In this scenario, based on the current observations, we propose that Hup A is a potent regulator of APP processing and capable of modulating tau homeostasis under physiological conditions holding immense potential in preventing and treating AD like disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suwakon Wongjaikam
- Chulabhorn Graduate Institute, Chulabhorn Royal Academy, Bangkok 10210, Thailand; (S.W.)
- Cell and Animal Model Unit, Institute of Nutrition, Mahidol University, Nakhonpathom 73170, Thailand
| | - Chutikorn Nopparat
- Innovative Learning Center, Srinakharinwirot University, Sukhumvit 23, Bangkok 10110, Thailand
| | - Parichart Boontem
- Chulabhorn Graduate Institute, Chulabhorn Royal Academy, Bangkok 10210, Thailand; (S.W.)
| | - Jiraporn Panmanee
- Research Center for Neuroscience, Institute of Molecular Biosciences, Mahidol University, Nakhonpathom 73170, Thailand
| | - Nopporn Thasana
- Program in Chemical Sciences, Chulabhorn Graduate Institute, Chulabhorn Royal Academy, Bangkok 10210, Thailand
- Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry, Chulabhorn Research Institute, Bangkok 10210, Thailand
| | - Mayuri Shukla
- Chulabhorn Graduate Institute, Chulabhorn Royal Academy, Bangkok 10210, Thailand; (S.W.)
| | - Piyarat Govitrapong
- Chulabhorn Graduate Institute, Chulabhorn Royal Academy, Bangkok 10210, Thailand; (S.W.)
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10
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McInvale JJ, Canoll P, Hargus G. Induced pluripotent stem cell models as a tool to investigate and test fluid biomarkers in Alzheimer's disease and frontotemporal dementia. Brain Pathol 2024; 34:e13231. [PMID: 38246596 PMCID: PMC11189780 DOI: 10.1111/bpa.13231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases are increasing in prevalence and comprise a large socioeconomic burden on patients and their caretakers. The need for effective therapies and avenues for disease prevention and monitoring is of paramount importance. Fluid biomarkers for neurodegenerative diseases have gained a variety of uses, including informing participant selection for clinical trials, lending confidence to clinical diagnosis and disease staging, determining prognosis, and monitoring therapeutic response. Their role is expected to grow as disease-modifying therapies start to be available to a broader range of patients and as prevention strategies become established. Many of the underlying molecular mechanisms of currently used biomarkers are incompletely understood. Animal models and in vitro systems using cell lines have been extensively employed but face important translatability limitations. Induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) technology, where a theoretically unlimited range of cell types can be reprogrammed from peripheral cells sampled from patients or healthy individuals, has gained prominence over the last decade. It is a promising avenue to study physiological and pathological biomarker function and response to experimental therapeutics. Such systems are amenable to high-throughput drug screening or multiomics readouts such as transcriptomics, lipidomics, and proteomics for biomarker discovery, investigation, and validation. The present review describes the current state of biomarkers in the clinical context of neurodegenerative diseases, with a focus on Alzheimer's disease and frontotemporal dementia. We include a discussion of how iPSC models have been used to investigate and test biomarkers such as amyloid-β, phosphorylated tau, neurofilament light chain or complement proteins, and even nominate novel biomarkers. We discuss the limitations of current iPSC methods, mentioning alternatives such as coculture systems and three-dimensional organoids which address some of these concerns. Finally, we propose exciting prospects for stem cell transplantation paradigms using animal models as a preclinical tool to study biomarkers in the in vivo context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie J. McInvale
- Department of Pathology and Cell BiologyColumbia UniversityNew YorkNew YorkUSA
- Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain, Columbia UniversityNew YorkNew YorkUSA
- Medical Scientist Training Program, Columbia UniversityNew YorkNew YorkUSA
| | - Peter Canoll
- Department of Pathology and Cell BiologyColumbia UniversityNew YorkNew YorkUSA
| | - Gunnar Hargus
- Department of Pathology and Cell BiologyColumbia UniversityNew YorkNew YorkUSA
- Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain, Columbia UniversityNew YorkNew YorkUSA
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11
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Wang W, Huang J, Qian S, Zheng Y, Yu X, Jiang T, Ai R, Hou J, Ma E, Cai J, He H, Wang X, Xie C. Amyloid-β but not tau accumulation is strongly associated with longitudinal cognitive decline. CNS Neurosci Ther 2024; 30:e14860. [PMID: 39014268 PMCID: PMC11251873 DOI: 10.1111/cns.14860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2023] [Revised: 06/11/2024] [Accepted: 07/03/2024] [Indexed: 07/18/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology is featured by the extracellular accumulation of amyloid-β (Aβ) plaques and intracellular tau neurofibrillary tangles in the brain. We studied whether Aβ and tau accumulation are independently associated with future cognitive decline in the AD continuum. METHODS Data were acquired from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) public database. A total of 1272 participants were selected based on the availability of Aβ-PET and CSF tau at baseline and of those 777 participants with follow-up visits. RESULTS We found that Aβ-PET and CSF tau pathology were related to cognitive decline across the AD clinical spectrum, both as potential predictors for dementia progression. Among them, Aβ-PET (A + T- subjects) is an independent reliable predictor of longitudinal cognitive decline in terms of ADAS-13, ADNI-MEM, and MMSE scores rather than tau pathology (A - T+ subjects), indicating tau accumulation is not closely correlated with future cognitive impairment without being driven by Aβ deposition. Of note, a high percentage of APOE ε4 carriers with Aβ pathology (A+) develop poor memory and learning capacity. Interestingly, this condition is not recurrence in terms of the ADNI-MEM domain when adding APOE ε4 status. Finally, the levels of Aβ-PET SUVR related to glucose hypometabolism more strongly in subjects with A + T- than A - T+ both happen at baseline and longitudinal changes. CONCLUSIONS In conclusion, Aβ-PET alone without tau pathology (A + T-) measure is an independent reliable predictor of longitudinal cognitive decline but may nonetheless forecast different status of dementia progression. However, tau accumulation alone without Aβ pathology background (A - T+) was not enough to be an independent predictor of cognitive worsening.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenwen Wang
- The Center of Traditional Chinese Medicine, The Second Affiliated HospitalYuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical UniversityWenzhouChina
| | - Jiani Huang
- Department of NeurologyThe First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical UniversityWenzhouChina
| | - Shuangjie Qian
- Department of NeurologyThe First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical UniversityWenzhouChina
| | - Yi Zheng
- Department of NeurologyThe First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical UniversityWenzhouChina
| | - Xinyue Yu
- Alberta InstituteWenzhou Medical UniversityWenzhouZhejiangChina
| | - Tao Jiang
- Department of NeurologyThe First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical UniversityWenzhouChina
| | - Ruixue Ai
- Department of Clinical Molecular Biology, Akershus University HospitalUniversity of OsloLørenskogNorway
| | - Jialong Hou
- Department of NeurologyThe First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical UniversityWenzhouChina
| | - Enzi Ma
- Department of NeurologyTraditional Chinese and Western Medicine Hospital of WenzhouWenzhouZhejiangChina
| | - Jinlai Cai
- Department of NeurologyThe First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical UniversityWenzhouChina
| | - Haijun He
- Department of NeurologyThe First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical UniversityWenzhouChina
| | - XinShi Wang
- Department of NeurologyThe First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical UniversityWenzhouChina
| | - Chenglong Xie
- Department of NeurologyThe First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical UniversityWenzhouChina
- Oujiang LaboratoryWenzhouZhejiangChina
- Key Laboratory of Alzheimer's Disease of Zhejiang Province, Institute of AgingWenzhou Medical UniversityWenzhouZhejiangChina
- Department of Geriatrics, Geriatric Medical CenterThe First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical UniversityWenzhouZhejiangChina
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12
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Yang J, Zhi W, Wang L. Role of Tau Protein in Neurodegenerative Diseases and Development of Its Targeted Drugs: A Literature Review. Molecules 2024; 29:2812. [PMID: 38930877 PMCID: PMC11206543 DOI: 10.3390/molecules29122812] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2024] [Revised: 06/07/2024] [Accepted: 06/08/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Tau protein is a microtubule-associated protein that is widely distributed in the central nervous system and maintains and regulates neuronal morphology and function. Tau protein aggregates abnormally and forms neurofibrillary tangles in neurodegenerative diseases, disrupting the structure and function of neurons and leading to neuronal death, which triggers the initiation and progression of neurological disorders. The aggregation of tau protein in neurodegenerative diseases is associated with post-translational modifications, which may affect the hydrophilicity, spatial conformation, and stability of tau protein, promoting tau protein aggregation and the formation of neurofibrillary tangles. Therefore, studying the role of tau protein in neurodegenerative diseases and the mechanism of aberrant aggregation is important for understanding the mechanism of neurodegenerative diseases and finding therapeutic approaches. This review describes the possible mechanisms by which tau protein promotes neurodegenerative diseases, the post-translational modifications of tau protein and associated influencing factors, and the current status of drug discovery and development related to tau protein, which may contribute to the development of new therapeutic approaches to alleviate or treat neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiakai Yang
- Graduate Collaborative Training Base of Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, China;
- Beijing Institute of Radiation Medicine, 27 Taiping Road, Beijing 100850, China
| | - Weijia Zhi
- Beijing Institute of Radiation Medicine, 27 Taiping Road, Beijing 100850, China
| | - Lifeng Wang
- Graduate Collaborative Training Base of Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, China;
- Beijing Institute of Radiation Medicine, 27 Taiping Road, Beijing 100850, China
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13
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Amor-Guéret M. Loss of cytidine deaminase expression as a potential attempt to counteract the process of carcinogenesis by reducing basal PARP-1 activity and increasing tau levels. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2024; 1870:167213. [PMID: 38714266 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2024.167213] [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: 12/23/2023] [Revised: 04/01/2024] [Accepted: 05/01/2024] [Indexed: 05/09/2024]
Abstract
Cytidine deaminase (CDA) is a pyrimidine salvage pathway enzyme that catalyzes the hydrolytic deamination of free cytidine and deoxycytidine to uridine and deoxyuridine, respectively. Our team discovered that CDA deficiency is associated with several aspects of genetic instability, such as increased sister chromatid exchange and ultrafine anaphase bridge frequencies. Based on these results, we sought (1) to determine how CDA deficiency contributes to genetic instability, (2) to explore the possible relationships between CDA deficiency and carcinogenesis, and (3) to develop a new anticancer treatment targeting CDA-deficient tumors. This review summarizes our major findings indicating that CDA deficiency is associated with a genetic instability that does not confer an increased cancer risk. In light of our results and published data, I propose a novel hypothesis that loss of CDA, by reducing basal PARP-1 activity and increasing Tau levels, may reflect an attempt to prevent, slow or reverse the process of carcinogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mounira Amor-Guéret
- Institut Curie, PSL Research University, UMR 3348, 91405 Orsay, France; CNRS UMR 3348, Centre Universitaire, 91405 Orsay, France; Université Paris-Saclay, Centre Universitaire, UMR 3348, 91405 Orsay, France.
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14
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Lozupone M, Dibello V, Sardone R, Castellana F, Zupo R, Lampignano L, Bortone I, Stallone R, Altamura M, Bellomo A, Daniele A, Solfrizzi V, Panza F. Lessons learned from the failure of solanezumab as a prospective treatment strategy for Alzheimer's disease. Expert Opin Drug Discov 2024; 19:639-647. [PMID: 38685682 DOI: 10.1080/17460441.2024.2348142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2024] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION In the last decade, the efforts conducted for discovering Alzheimer's Disease (AD) treatments targeting the best-known pathogenic factors [amyloid-β (Aβ), tau protein, and neuroinflammation] were mostly unsuccessful. Given that a systemic failure of Aβ clearance was supposed to primarily contribute to AD development and progression, disease-modifying therapies with anti-Aβ monoclonal antibodies (e.g. solanezumab, bapineuzumab, gantenerumab, aducanumab, lecanemab and donanemab) are ongoing in randomized clinical trials (RCTs) with contrasting results. AREAS COVERED The present Drug Discovery Case History analyzes the failures of RCTs of solanezumab on AD. Furthermore, the authors review the pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and tolerability effect of solanezumab from preclinical studies with its analogous m266 in mice. Finally, they describe the RCTs with cognitive, cerebrospinal fluid and neuroimaging findings in mild-to-moderate AD (EXPEDITION studies) and in secondary prevention studies (A4 and DIAN-TU). EXPERT OPINION Solanezumab was one of the first anti-Aβ monoclonal antibodies to be tested in preclinical and clinical AD showing to reduce brain Aβ level by acting on soluble monomeric form of Aβ peptide without significant results on deposits. Unfortunately, this compound showed to accelerate cognitive decline in both asymptomatic and symptomatic trial participants, and this failure of solanezumab further questioned the Aβ cascade hypothesis of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madia Lozupone
- Department of Translational Biomedicine and Neuroscience "DiBraiN", University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy
| | - Vittorio Dibello
- Dipartimento Interdisciplinare di Medicina, Clinica Medica e Geriatria "Cesare Frugoni", University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy
- Department of Orofacial Pain and Dysfunction, Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam (ACTA), University of Amsterdam and Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Rodolfo Sardone
- Unit of Statistics and Epidemiology, Local Health Authority of Taranto, Taranto, Italy
| | - Fabio Castellana
- Dipartimento Interdisciplinare di Medicina, Clinica Medica e Geriatria "Cesare Frugoni", University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy
| | - Roberta Zupo
- Dipartimento Interdisciplinare di Medicina, Clinica Medica e Geriatria "Cesare Frugoni", University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy
| | | | - Ilaria Bortone
- Local Healthcare Authority of Bari, ASL Bari, Bari, Italy
| | - Roberta Stallone
- Neuroscience and Education, Human Resources Excellence in Research, University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy
| | - Mario Altamura
- Psychiatric Unit, Department of Clinical & Experimental Medicine, University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy
| | - Antonello Bellomo
- Psychiatric Unit, Department of Clinical & Experimental Medicine, University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy
| | - Antonio Daniele
- Department of Neuroscience, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy
- Neurology Unit, IRCCS Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli, Rome, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Solfrizzi
- Dipartimento Interdisciplinare di Medicina, Clinica Medica e Geriatria "Cesare Frugoni", University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy
| | - Francesco Panza
- Dipartimento Interdisciplinare di Medicina, Clinica Medica e Geriatria "Cesare Frugoni", University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy
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Wang L, Lu Y, Liu J, Wang S, Fei Z, Zhang K, Zhang D, Jin X. Gegen Qinlian tablets delay Alzheimer's disease progression via inhibiting glial neuroinflammation and remodeling gut microbiota homeostasis. PHYTOMEDICINE : INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHYTOTHERAPY AND PHYTOPHARMACOLOGY 2024; 128:155394. [PMID: 38569294 DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2024.155394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2023] [Revised: 01/11/2024] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Current therapeutic agents for AD have limited efficacy and often induce undesirable side effects. Gegen Qinlian tablets (GGQLT) are a well-known clearingheat formula used in clinical treatment of inflammatory diseases. Based on traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) theory, the strategy of clearing-heat is then compatible with the treatment of AD. However, it remains unknown whether GGQLT can exert neuroprotective effects and alleviate neuroinflammation in AD. PURPOSE This study aimed to evaluate the anti-AD effects of GGQLT and to decipher its intricate mechanism using integrative analyses of network pharmacology, transcriptomic RNA sequencing, and gut microbiota. METHODS The ingredients of GGQLT were analyzed using HPLC-ESI-Q/TOF-MS. The AD model was established by bilateral injection of Aβ1-42 into the intracerebroventricular space of rats. The Morris water maze was used to evaluate the cognitive function of the AD rats. The long-term toxicity of GGQLT in rats was assessed by monitoring their body weights and pathological alterations in the liver and kidney. Reactive astrocytes and microglia were assessed by immunohistochemistry by labeling GFAP and Iba-1. The levels of inflammatory cytokines in the hippocampus were evaluated using ELISA kits, RT-PCR, and Western blot, respectively. The potential anti-AD mechanism was predicted by analyses of RNA-sequencing and network pharmacology. Western blot and immunohistochemistry were utilized to detect the phosphorylation levels of IκBα, NF-κB p65, p38, ERK and JNK. The richness and composition of gut bacterial and fungal microflora were investigated via 16S rRNA and ITS sequencing. RESULTS Typical ingredients of GGQLT were identified using HPLC-ESI-Q/TOF-MS. GGQLT significantly improved the cognitive function of AD rats by suppressing the activation of microglia and astrocytes, improving glial morphology, and reducing the neuroinflammatory reactions in the hippocampus. RNA-sequencing, network and experimental pharmacological studies demonstrated that GGQLT inhibited the activation of NF-κB/MAPK signaling pathways in the hippocampus. GGQLT could also restore abnormal gut bacterial and fungal homeostasis and no longer-term toxicity of GGQLT was observed. CONCLUSIONS Our findings, for the first time, demonstrate GGQLT exhibit anti-AD effects and is worthy of further exploration and development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Wang
- School of Pharmacy, China Medical University, No.77 of Puhe Road, Shenyang North New Area, Shenyang 110122, China
| | - Ye Lu
- School of Pharmacy, China Medical University, No.77 of Puhe Road, Shenyang North New Area, Shenyang 110122, China
| | - Jiamei Liu
- Department of Pathology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110004, China
| | - Siyi Wang
- The 1st Clinical Department, China Medical University, Shenyang 110122, China
| | - Zepeng Fei
- School of Pharmacy, China Medical University, No.77 of Puhe Road, Shenyang North New Area, Shenyang 110122, China
| | - Kaiwen Zhang
- School of Pharmacy, China Medical University, No.77 of Puhe Road, Shenyang North New Area, Shenyang 110122, China
| | - Dongfang Zhang
- School of Pharmacy, China Medical University, No.77 of Puhe Road, Shenyang North New Area, Shenyang 110122, China.
| | - Xin Jin
- School of Pharmacy, China Medical University, No.77 of Puhe Road, Shenyang North New Area, Shenyang 110122, China.
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16
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Chu D, Yang X, Wang J, Zhou Y, Gu JH, Miao J, Wu F, Liu F. Tau truncation in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease: a narrative review. Neural Regen Res 2024; 19:1221-1232. [PMID: 37905868 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.385853] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 07/25/2023] [Indexed: 11/02/2023] Open
Abstract
ABSTRACT Alzheimer's disease is characterized by two major neuropathological hallmarks-the extracellular β-amyloid plaques and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles consisting of aggregated and hyperphosphorylated Tau protein. Recent studies suggest that dysregulation of the microtubule-associated protein Tau, especially specific proteolysis, could be a driving force for Alzheimer's disease neurodegeneration. Tau physiologically promotes the assembly and stabilization of microtubules, whereas specific truncated fragments are sufficient to induce abnormal hyperphosphorylation and aggregate into toxic oligomers, resulting in them gaining prion-like characteristics. In addition, Tau truncations cause extensive impairments to neural and glial cell functions and animal cognition and behavior in a fragment-dependent manner. This review summarizes over 60 proteolytic cleavage sites and their corresponding truncated fragments, investigates the role of specific truncations in physiological and pathological states of Alzheimer's disease, and summarizes the latest applications of strategies targeting Tau fragments in the diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dandan Chu
- Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Tissue Engineering Technology Products, Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Xingyue Yang
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Jing Wang
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Yan Zhou
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Jin-Hua Gu
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Affiliated Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Jin Miao
- Laboratory of Animal Center, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Feng Wu
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Fei Liu
- Department of Neurochemistry, Inge Grundke-Iqbal Research Floor, New York State Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities, Staten Island, NY, USA
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17
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Gong G, Ganesan K, Wan Y, Liu Y, Huang Y, Luo Y, Wang X, Zhang Z, Zheng Y. Unveiling the neuroprotective properties of isoflavones: current evidence, molecular mechanisms and future perspectives. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr 2024:1-37. [PMID: 38794836 DOI: 10.1080/10408398.2024.2357701] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/26/2024]
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases encompass a wide range of debilitating and incurable brain disorders characterized by the progressive deterioration of the nervous system's structure and function. Isoflavones, which are naturally occurring polyphenolic phytochemicals, have been found to regulate various cellular signaling pathways associated with the nervous system. The main objective of this comprehensive review is to explore the neuroprotective effects of isoflavones, elucidate the underlying mechanisms, and assess their potential for treating neurodegenerative disorders. Relevant data regarding isoflavones and their impact on neurodegenerative diseases were gathered from multiple library databases and electronic sources, including PubMed, Google Scholar, Web of Science, and Science Direct. Numerous isoflavones, including genistein, daidzein, biochanin A, and formononetin, have exhibited potent neuroprotective properties against various neurodegenerative diseases. These compounds have been found to modulate neurotransmitters, which in turn contributes to their ability to protect against neurodegeneration. Both in vitro and in vivo experimental studies have provided evidence of their neuroprotection mechanisms, which involve interactions with estrogenic receptors, antioxidant effects, anti-inflammatory properties, anti-apoptotic activity, and modulation of neural plasticity. This review aims to provide current insights into the neuroprotective characteristics of isoflavones and shed light on their potential therapeutic applications in future clinical scenarios.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guowei Gong
- Department of Bioengineering, Zunyi Medical University, Zhuhai Campus, China
- Guangdong Key Laboratory for Functional Substances in Medicinal Edible Resources and Healthcare Products, School of Life Sciences and Food Engineering, Hanshan Normal University, Chaozhou, China
| | - Kumar Ganesan
- School of Chinese Medicine, The Hong Kong University, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Yukai Wan
- Second Clinical Medical College of Guangzhou, University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yaqun Liu
- Guangdong Key Laboratory for Functional Substances in Medicinal Edible Resources and Healthcare Products, School of Life Sciences and Food Engineering, Hanshan Normal University, Chaozhou, China
| | - Yongping Huang
- Guangdong Key Laboratory for Functional Substances in Medicinal Edible Resources and Healthcare Products, School of Life Sciences and Food Engineering, Hanshan Normal University, Chaozhou, China
| | - Yuting Luo
- Guangdong Key Laboratory for Functional Substances in Medicinal Edible Resources and Healthcare Products, School of Life Sciences and Food Engineering, Hanshan Normal University, Chaozhou, China
| | - Xuexu Wang
- Guangdong Key Laboratory for Functional Substances in Medicinal Edible Resources and Healthcare Products, School of Life Sciences and Food Engineering, Hanshan Normal University, Chaozhou, China
| | - Zhenxia Zhang
- Guangdong Key Laboratory for Functional Substances in Medicinal Edible Resources and Healthcare Products, School of Life Sciences and Food Engineering, Hanshan Normal University, Chaozhou, China
| | - Yuzhong Zheng
- Guangdong Key Laboratory for Functional Substances in Medicinal Edible Resources and Healthcare Products, School of Life Sciences and Food Engineering, Hanshan Normal University, Chaozhou, China
- Guangdong East Drug and Food and Health Branch, Chaozhou, China
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18
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Wang Y, Zhang H, Ding F, Li J, Li L, Xu Z, Zhao Y. N-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids attenuate amyloid-beta-induced toxicity in AD transgenic Caenorhabditis elegans via promotion of proteasomal activity and activation of PPAR-gamma. J Nutr Biochem 2024; 127:109603. [PMID: 38373507 DOI: 10.1016/j.jnutbio.2024.109603] [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: 06/07/2023] [Revised: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/21/2024]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a common neurodegenerative disease that causes progressive cognitive decline. A major pathological characteristic of AD brain is the presence of senile plaques composed of β-amyloid (Aβ), the accumulation of which induces toxic cascades leading to synaptic dysfunction, neuronal apoptosis, and eventually cognitive decline. Dietary n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), such as eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), are beneficial for patients with early-stage AD; however, the mechanisms are not completely understood. In this study, we investigated the effects of n-3 PUFAs on Aβ-induced toxicity in a transgenic AD Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) model. The results showed that EPA and DHA significantly inhibited Aβ-induced paralytic phenotype and decreased the production of reactive oxygen species while reducing the levels of Aβ in the AD worms. Further studies revealed that EPA and DHA might reduce the accumulation of Aβ by restoring the activity of proteasome. Moreover, treating worms with peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-γ inhibitor GW9662 prevented the inhibitory effects of n-3 PUFAs on Aβ-induced paralytic phenotype and diminished the elevation of proteasomal activity by n-3 PUFAs, suggesting that PPARγ-mediated signals play important role in the protective effects of n-3 PUFAs against Aβ-induced toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanqing Wang
- Department of Bioengineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Weihai 264209, Shandong, China
| | - Huanying Zhang
- Department of Bioengineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Weihai 264209, Shandong, China
| | - Feng Ding
- Department of Bioengineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Weihai 264209, Shandong, China
| | - Jianhua Li
- Department of Bioengineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Weihai 264209, Shandong, China
| | - Lianyu Li
- Department of Bioengineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Weihai 264209, Shandong, China
| | - Zhong Xu
- Department of Bioengineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Weihai 264209, Shandong, China.
| | - Yan Zhao
- Department of Bioengineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Weihai 264209, Shandong, China.
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Salimi Z, Afsharinasab M, Rostami M, Eshaghi Milasi Y, Mousavi Ezmareh SF, Sakhaei F, Mohammad-Sadeghipour M, Rasooli Manesh SM, Asemi Z. Iron chelators: as therapeutic agents in diseases. Ann Med Surg (Lond) 2024; 86:2759-2776. [PMID: 38694398 PMCID: PMC11060230 DOI: 10.1097/ms9.0000000000001717] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 05/04/2024] Open
Abstract
The concentration of iron is tightly regulated, making it an essential element. Various cellular processes in the body rely on iron, such as oxygen sensing, oxygen transport, electron transfer, and DNA synthesis. Iron excess can be toxic because it participates in redox reactions that catalyze the production of reactive oxygen species and elevate oxidative stress. Iron chelators are chemically diverse; they can coordinate six ligands in an octagonal sequence. Because of the ability of chelators to trap essential metals, including iron, they may be involved in diseases caused by oxidative stress, such as infectious diseases, cardiovascular diseases, neurodegenerative diseases, and cancer. Iron-chelating agents, by tightly binding to iron, prohibit it from functioning as a catalyst in redox reactions and transfer iron and excrete it from the body. Thus, the use of iron chelators as therapeutic agents has received increasing attention. This review investigates the function of various iron chelators in treating iron overload in different clinical conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zohreh Salimi
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan
| | - Mehdi Afsharinasab
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran
| | - Mehdi Rostami
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad
| | - Yaser Eshaghi Milasi
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan
| | - Seyedeh Fatemeh Mousavi Ezmareh
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan
| | - Fariba Sakhaei
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan
| | - Maryam Mohammad-Sadeghipour
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Afzalipoor Faculty of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman
| | | | - Zatollah Asemi
- Research Center for Biochemistry and Nutrition in Metabolic Diseases, Institute for Basic Sciences, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Islamic Republic of Iran
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Zhang J, Ren W, Liu X, Chen J, Zeng Y, Xiang H, Hu Y, Zhang H. A novel BODIPY-based theranostic agent for in vivo fluorescence imaging of cerebral Aβ and ameliorating Aβ-associated disorders in Alzheimer's disease transgenic mice. RSC Med Chem 2024; 15:1216-1224. [PMID: 38665839 PMCID: PMC11042169 DOI: 10.1039/d3md00744h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2023] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
β-Amyloid (Aβ) aggregation is increasingly recognized as both a biomarker and an inducer of the progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Here, we describe a novel fluorescent probe P14, developed based on the BODIPY structure, capable of simultaneous visualization and inhibition of Aβ aggregation in vivo. P14 shows high binding affinity to Aβ aggregates and selectively labels Aβ plaques in the brain slices of APP/PS1 mice. Moreover, P14 is able to visualize overloaded Aβ in both APP/PS1 and 5 × FAD transgenic mice in vivo. From the aspect of potential therapeutic effects, P14 administration inhibits Aβ aggregation and alleviates Aβ-induced neuronal damage in vitro, as well as reduces central Aβ deposition and ameliorates cognitive impairment in APP/PS1 transgenic mice in vivo. Finally, P14 is applied to monitor the progression of Aβ aggregation in the brain of 5 × FAD transgenic mice and the intervention effect itself by fluorescence imaging. In summary, the discovery of this fluorescent agent might provide important clues for the future development of theranostic drug candidates targeting Aβ aggregation in AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingjing Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences Shanghai 201203 China
- CAS Key Laboratory of Receptor Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences Shanghai 201203 China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences No.19A Yuquan Road Beijing 100049 China
| | - Wenming Ren
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences Shanghai 201203 China
- CAS Key Laboratory of Receptor Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences Shanghai 201203 China
| | - Xiaohui Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences Shanghai 201203 China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences No.19A Yuquan Road Beijing 100049 China
| | - Jingjing Chen
- School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, UCAS 1 Xiangshanzhi Road Hangzhou 310024 China
| | - Yuteng Zeng
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences Shanghai 201203 China
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University Shanghai 201210 China
| | - Huaijiang Xiang
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences Shanghai 201203 China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences No.19A Yuquan Road Beijing 100049 China
| | - Youhong Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences Shanghai 201203 China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences No.19A Yuquan Road Beijing 100049 China
- School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, UCAS 1 Xiangshanzhi Road Hangzhou 310024 China
| | - Haiyan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences Shanghai 201203 China
- CAS Key Laboratory of Receptor Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences Shanghai 201203 China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences No.19A Yuquan Road Beijing 100049 China
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21
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Dando O, McGeachan R, McQueen J, Baxter P, Rockley N, McAlister H, Prasad A, He X, King D, Rose J, Jones PB, Tulloch J, Chandran S, Smith C, Hardingham G, Spires-Jones TL. Synaptic gene expression changes in frontotemporal dementia due to the MAPT 10+16 mutation. MEDRXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES 2024:2024.04.09.24305501. [PMID: 38645146 PMCID: PMC11030522 DOI: 10.1101/2024.04.09.24305501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/23/2024]
Abstract
Mutations in the MAPT gene encoding tau protein can cause autosomal dominant neurodegenerative tauopathies including frontotemporal dementia (often with Parkinsonism). In Alzheimer's disease, the most common tauopathy, synapse loss is the strongest pathological correlate of cognitive decline. Recently, PET imaging with synaptic tracers revealed clinically relevant loss of synapses in primary tauopathies; however, the molecular mechanisms leading to synapse degeneration in primary tauopathies remain largely unknown. In this study, we examined post-mortem brain tissue from people who died with frontotemporal dementia with tau pathology (FTDtau) caused by the MAPT intronic exon 10+16 mutation, which increases splice variants containing exon 10 resulting in higher levels of tau with four microtubule binding domains. We used RNA sequencing and histopathology to examine temporal cortex and visual cortex, to look for molecular phenotypes compared to age, sex, and RNA integrity matched participants who died without neurological disease (n=12 per group). Bulk tissue RNA sequencing reveals substantial downregulation of gene expression associated with synaptic function. Upregulated biological pathways in human MAPT 10+16 brain included those involved in transcriptional regulation, DNA damage response, and neuroinflammation. Histopathology confirmed increased pathological tau accumulation in FTDtau cortex as well as a loss of presynaptic protein staining, and region-specific increased colocalization of phospho-tau with synapses in temporal cortex. Our data indicate that synaptic pathology likely contributes to pathogenesis in FTDtau caused by the MAPT 10+16 mutation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Owen Dando
- UK Dementia Research Institute at The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, School of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, The University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Robert McGeachan
- UK Dementia Research Institute at The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, School of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, The University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Jamie McQueen
- UK Dementia Research Institute at The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, School of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, The University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Paul Baxter
- UK Dementia Research Institute at The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, School of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, The University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Nathan Rockley
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, School of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, The University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Hannah McAlister
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, School of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, The University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Adharsh Prasad
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, School of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, The University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Xin He
- UK Dementia Research Institute at The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, School of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, The University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Declan King
- UK Dementia Research Institute at The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, School of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, The University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Jamie Rose
- UK Dementia Research Institute at The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, School of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, The University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | | | - Jane Tulloch
- UK Dementia Research Institute at The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, School of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, The University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Siddharthan Chandran
- UK Dementia Research Institute at The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences School of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, The University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Colin Smith
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences School of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, The University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Giles Hardingham
- UK Dementia Research Institute at The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, School of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, The University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Tara L Spires-Jones
- UK Dementia Research Institute at The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, School of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, The University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom
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22
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Long Q, Li T, Zhu Q, He L, Zhao B. SuanZaoRen decoction alleviates neuronal loss, synaptic damage and ferroptosis of AD via activating DJ-1/Nrf2 signaling pathway. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2024; 323:117679. [PMID: 38160863 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2023.117679] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2023] [Revised: 12/03/2023] [Accepted: 12/26/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE SuanZaoRen Decoction (SZRD), a famous herbal prescription, and has been widely proven to have positive therapeutic effects on insomnia, depression and Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, the anti-AD molecular mechanism of SZRD remains to be further investigated. AIM OF THE STUDY To elucidate the molecular mechanism of SZRD's improvement in AD's neuronal loss, synaptic damage and ferroptosis by regulating DJ-1/Nrf2 signaling pathway. MATERIALS AND METHODS LC-MS/MS was used to detect the active ingredients from SZRD. APP/PS1 mice was treated with SZRD and a ferroptosis inhibitor (Liproxstatin-1), respectively. Upon the completion of behavioral tests, Nissl staining, FJB staining, Golgi staining, immunofluorescence, immunohistochemistry, and transmission electron microscopy were preformed to evaluate the effects of SZRD on neuronal loss, synaptic damage, Aβ deposition. Iron staining, transmission electron microscopy, and iron assay kit was performed to estimate the effects of SZRD on ferroptosis. SOD kit, MDA kit, GSH kit, and GSH/GSSG kit were utilized to measure the oxidative stress levels in the hippocampus. The protein expression of TfR1, FTH1, FTL, FPN1, DJ-1, Nrf2, GPX4, SLC7A11, and ACSL4 were detected by Western blot. RESULTS A total of 16 active ingredients were identified from SZRD extract. SZRD SZRD significantly alleviated learning and memory impairment in APP/PS1 mice. SZRD improved the hippocampal neuronal loss and degenerated neurons in APP/PS1 mice via inhibiting the Aβ deposit. SZRD mitigated the hippocampal synaptic damage in APP/PS1 mice. SZRD inhibited iron accumulation, and alleviated the oxidative stress level in the hippocampus of APP/PS1 mice. Meanwhile, SZRD could up-regulate the protein expression level of FPN1, DJ-1, Nrf2, GPX4 and SLC7A11 in the hippocampus, and inhibit TfR1, FTH1, FTL, and ACSL4 protein expression. CONCLUSION SZRD alleviated neuronal loss, synaptic damage and ferroptosis in AD via activating DJ-1/Nrf2 signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qinghua Long
- Health Medical Center, Hubei Minzu University, Enshi, 445000, China; Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Occurrence and Intervention of Rheumatic Disease, Hubei Minzu University, Enshi, 445000, China
| | - Tong Li
- Health Medical Center, Hubei Minzu University, Enshi, 445000, China
| | - Qihang Zhu
- Health Medical Center, Hubei Minzu University, Enshi, 445000, China; Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Occurrence and Intervention of Rheumatic Disease, Hubei Minzu University, Enshi, 445000, China
| | - Liling He
- Health Medical Center, Hubei Minzu University, Enshi, 445000, China.
| | - Binbin Zhao
- Basic Medicine College, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, 430065, China; Engineering Research Center of TCM Protection Technology and New Product Development for the Elderly Brain Health, Ministry of Education, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, 430065, China; Hubei Shizhen Laboratory, Wuhan, 430065, China.
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23
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Patel GD, Liu L, Li A, Yang YH, Shen CC, Brand-Saberi B, Yang X. Mesenchymal stem cell-based therapies for treating well-studied neurological disorders: a systematic review. Front Med (Lausanne) 2024; 11:1361723. [PMID: 38601118 PMCID: PMC11004389 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2024.1361723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 04/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Millions of people across the globe are affected by conditions like Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), Parkinson's Disease (PD), Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Spinal Cord Injury (SCI), and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), although most occurrences are common in the elderly population. This systematic review aims to highlight the safety of the procedures, their tolerability, and efficacy of the available therapies conducted over the years using mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in treating the neurological conditions mentioned above. Methods PubMed was used to search for published data from clinical trials performed using mesenchymal stem cells. Studies that provided the necessary information that mentioned the efficacy and adverse effects of the treatment in patients were considered for this review. Results In total, 43 manuscripts were selected after a strategic search, and these studies have been included in this systematic review. Most included studies reported the safety of the procedures used and the treatment's good tolerability, with mild adverse events such as fever, headache, mild pain at the injection site, or nausea being common. A few studies also reported death of some patients, attributed to the progression of the disease to severe stages before the treatment. Other severe events, such as respiratory or urinary infections reported in some studies, were not related to the treatment. Different parameters were used to evaluate the efficacy of the treatment based on the clinical condition of the patient. Conclusion Mesenchymal stem cells transplantation has so far proven to be safe and tolerable in select studies and patient types. This systematic review includes the results from the 43 selected studies in terms of safety and tolerability of the procedures, and several adverse events and therapeutic benefits during the follow-up period after administration of MSCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gaurav Deepak Patel
- Department of Anatomy and Molecular Embryology, Medical Faculty, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Lichao Liu
- Division of Histology and Embryology, International Joint Laboratory for Embryonic Development and Prenatal Medicine, Medical College, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ailian Li
- School of Stomatology, Southwest Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yun-Hsuan Yang
- School of Stomatology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Chia-Chi Shen
- School of Stomatology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Beate Brand-Saberi
- Department of Anatomy and Molecular Embryology, Medical Faculty, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Xuesong Yang
- Division of Histology and Embryology, International Joint Laboratory for Embryonic Development and Prenatal Medicine, Medical College, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
- Clinical Research Center, Clifford Hospital, Guangzhou, China
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24
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Chen S, Guo D, Zhu Y, Xiao S, Xie J, Zhang Z, Hu Y, Huang J, Ma X, Ning Z, Cao L, Cheng J, Tang Y. Amyloid β oligomer induces cerebral vasculopathy via pericyte-mediated endothelial dysfunction. Alzheimers Res Ther 2024; 16:56. [PMID: 38475929 PMCID: PMC10935813 DOI: 10.1186/s13195-024-01423-w] [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: 08/26/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although abnormal accumulation of amyloid beta (Aβ) protein is thought to be the main cause of Alzheimer's disease (AD), emerging evidence suggests a pivotal vascular contribution to AD. Aberrant amyloid β induces neurovascular dysfunction, leading to changes in the morphology and function of the microvasculature. However, little is known about the underlying mechanisms between Aβ deposition and vascular injuries. Recent studies have revealed that pericytes play a substantial role in the vasculopathy of AD. Additional research is imperative to attain a more comprehensive understanding. METHODS Two-photon microscopy and laser speckle imaging were used to examine cerebrovascular dysfunction. Aβ oligomer stereotactic injection model was established to explain the relationship between Aβ and vasculopathy. Immunofluorescence staining, western blot, and real-time PCR were applied to detect the morphological and molecular alternations of pericytes. Primary cultured pericytes and bEnd.3 cells were employed to explore the underlying mechanisms. RESULTS Vasculopathy including BBB damage, hypoperfusion, and low vessel density were found in the cortex of 8 to 10-month-old 5xFAD mice. A similar phenomenon accompanied by pericyte degeneration appeared in an Aβ-injected model, suggesting a direct relationship between Aβ and vascular dysfunction. Pericytes showed impaired features including low PDGFRβ expression and increased pro-inflammatory chemokines secretion under the administration of Aβ in vitro, of which supernatant cultured with bEND.3 cells led to significant endothelial dysfunction characterized by TJ protein deficiency. CONCLUSIONS Our results provide new insights into the pathogenic mechanism underlying Aβ-induced vasculopathy. Targeting pericyte therapies are promising to ameliorate vascular dysfunction in AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siqi Chen
- Department of Anesthesiology, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
| | - Daji Guo
- Department of Neurology, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
- Nanhai Translational Innovation Center of Precision Immunology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Foshan, 528200, China
| | - Yuanyuan Zhu
- Department of Neurology, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
| | - Songhua Xiao
- Department of Neurology, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
| | - Jiatian Xie
- Department of Neurology, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
| | - Zhan Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
| | - Yu Hu
- Department of Neurology, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
| | - Jialin Huang
- Department of Neurology, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
| | - Xueying Ma
- Department of Neurology, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
| | - Zhiyuan Ning
- Department of Neurology, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
| | - Lin Cao
- Department of Anesthesiology, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China.
- Brain Research Center, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat‑sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China.
| | - Jinping Cheng
- Department of Neurology, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China.
- Brain Research Center, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat‑sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China.
- Nanhai Translational Innovation Center of Precision Immunology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Foshan, 528200, China.
| | - Yamei Tang
- Department of Neurology, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China.
- Brain Research Center, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat‑sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China.
- Nanhai Translational Innovation Center of Precision Immunology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Foshan, 528200, China.
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25
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Serrano GE, Walker J, Nelson C, Glass M, Arce R, Intorcia A, Cline MP, Nabaty N, Acuña A, Huppert Steed A, Sue LI, Belden C, Choudhury P, Reiman E, Atri A, Beach TG. Correlation of Presynaptic and Postsynaptic Proteins with Pathology in Alzheimer's Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:3130. [PMID: 38542104 PMCID: PMC10970005 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25063130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2023] [Revised: 02/29/2024] [Accepted: 03/01/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Synaptic transmission is essential for nervous system function and the loss of synapses is a known major contributor to dementia. Alzheimer's disease dementia (ADD) is characterized by synaptic loss in the mesial temporal lobe and cerebral neocortex, both of which are brain areas associated with memory and cognition. The association of synaptic loss and ADD was established in the late 1980s, and it has been estimated that 30-50% of neocortical synaptic protein is lost in ADD, but there has not yet been a quantitative profiling of different synaptic proteins in different brain regions in ADD from the same individuals. Very recently, positron emission tomography (PET) imaging of synapses is being developed, accelerating the focus on the role of synaptic loss in ADD and other conditions. In this study, we quantified the densities of two synaptic proteins, the presynaptic protein Synaptosome Associated Protein 25 (SNAP25) and the postsynaptic protein postsynaptic density protein 95 (PSD95) in the human brain, using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). Protein was extracted from the cingulate gyrus, hippocampus, frontal, primary visual, and entorhinal cortex from cognitively unimpaired controls, subjects with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and subjects with dementia that have different levels of Alzheimer's pathology. SNAP25 is significantly reduced in ADD when compared to controls in the frontal cortex, visual cortex, and cingulate, while the hippocampus showed a smaller, non-significant reduction, and entorhinal cortex concentrations were not different. In contrast, all brain areas showed lower PSD95 concentrations in ADD when compared to controls without dementia, although in the hippocampus, this failed to reach significance. Interestingly, cognitively unimpaired cases with high levels of AD pathology had higher levels of both synaptic proteins in all brain regions. SNAP25 and PSD95 concentrations significantly correlated with densities of neurofibrillary tangles, amyloid plaques, and Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores. Our results suggest that synaptic transmission is affected by ADD in multiple brain regions. The differences were less marked in the entorhinal cortex and the hippocampus, most likely due to a ceiling effect imposed by the very early development of neurofibrillary tangles in older people in these brain regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geidy E. Serrano
- Civin Laboratory for Neuropathology, Banner Sun Health Research Institute, Sun City, AZ 85351, USA; (J.W.); (R.A.); (A.I.); (M.P.C.); (N.N.); (A.A.); (A.H.S.)
| | - Jessica Walker
- Civin Laboratory for Neuropathology, Banner Sun Health Research Institute, Sun City, AZ 85351, USA; (J.W.); (R.A.); (A.I.); (M.P.C.); (N.N.); (A.A.); (A.H.S.)
| | - Courtney Nelson
- Civin Laboratory for Neuropathology, Banner Sun Health Research Institute, Sun City, AZ 85351, USA; (J.W.); (R.A.); (A.I.); (M.P.C.); (N.N.); (A.A.); (A.H.S.)
| | - Michael Glass
- Civin Laboratory for Neuropathology, Banner Sun Health Research Institute, Sun City, AZ 85351, USA; (J.W.); (R.A.); (A.I.); (M.P.C.); (N.N.); (A.A.); (A.H.S.)
| | - Richard Arce
- Civin Laboratory for Neuropathology, Banner Sun Health Research Institute, Sun City, AZ 85351, USA; (J.W.); (R.A.); (A.I.); (M.P.C.); (N.N.); (A.A.); (A.H.S.)
| | - Anthony Intorcia
- Civin Laboratory for Neuropathology, Banner Sun Health Research Institute, Sun City, AZ 85351, USA; (J.W.); (R.A.); (A.I.); (M.P.C.); (N.N.); (A.A.); (A.H.S.)
| | - Madison P. Cline
- Civin Laboratory for Neuropathology, Banner Sun Health Research Institute, Sun City, AZ 85351, USA; (J.W.); (R.A.); (A.I.); (M.P.C.); (N.N.); (A.A.); (A.H.S.)
| | - Natalie Nabaty
- Civin Laboratory for Neuropathology, Banner Sun Health Research Institute, Sun City, AZ 85351, USA; (J.W.); (R.A.); (A.I.); (M.P.C.); (N.N.); (A.A.); (A.H.S.)
| | - Amanda Acuña
- Civin Laboratory for Neuropathology, Banner Sun Health Research Institute, Sun City, AZ 85351, USA; (J.W.); (R.A.); (A.I.); (M.P.C.); (N.N.); (A.A.); (A.H.S.)
| | - Ashton Huppert Steed
- Civin Laboratory for Neuropathology, Banner Sun Health Research Institute, Sun City, AZ 85351, USA; (J.W.); (R.A.); (A.I.); (M.P.C.); (N.N.); (A.A.); (A.H.S.)
| | - Lucia I. Sue
- Civin Laboratory for Neuropathology, Banner Sun Health Research Institute, Sun City, AZ 85351, USA; (J.W.); (R.A.); (A.I.); (M.P.C.); (N.N.); (A.A.); (A.H.S.)
| | - Christine Belden
- Cleo Roberts Center, Banner Sun Health Research Institute, Sun City, AZ 85351, USA (P.C.)
| | - Parichita Choudhury
- Cleo Roberts Center, Banner Sun Health Research Institute, Sun City, AZ 85351, USA (P.C.)
| | - Eric Reiman
- The Banner Alzheimer’s Institute, Phoenix, AZ 85006, USA
| | - Alireza Atri
- Cleo Roberts Center, Banner Sun Health Research Institute, Sun City, AZ 85351, USA (P.C.)
| | - Thomas G. Beach
- Civin Laboratory for Neuropathology, Banner Sun Health Research Institute, Sun City, AZ 85351, USA; (J.W.); (R.A.); (A.I.); (M.P.C.); (N.N.); (A.A.); (A.H.S.)
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Kim YA, Mellen M, Kizil C, Santa-Maria I. Mechanisms linking cerebrovascular dysfunction and tauopathy: Adding a layer of epiregulatory complexity. Br J Pharmacol 2024; 181:879-895. [PMID: 37926507 DOI: 10.1111/bph.16280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2023] [Revised: 09/11/2023] [Accepted: 09/30/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Intracellular accumulation of hyperphosphorylated misfolded tau proteins are found in many neurodegenerative tauopathies, including Alzheimer's disease (AD). Tau pathology can impact cerebrovascular physiology and function through multiple mechanisms. In vitro and in vivo studies have shown that alterations in the blood-brain barrier (BBB) integrity and function can result in synaptic abnormalities and neuronal damage. In the present review, we will summarize how tau proteostasis dysregulation contributes to vascular dysfunction and, conversely, we will examine the factors and pathways leading to tau pathological alterations triggered by cerebrovascular dysfunction. Finally, we will highlight the role epigenetic and epitranscriptomic factors play in regulating the integrity of the cerebrovascular system and the progression of tauopathy including a few observartions on potential therapeutic interventions. LINKED ARTICLES: This article is part of a themed issue From Alzheimer's Disease to Vascular Dementia: Different Roads Leading to Cognitive Decline. To view the other articles in this section visit http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bph.v181.6/issuetoc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoon A Kim
- Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Marian Mellen
- Facultad de Ciencias Experimentales, Universidad Francisco de Vitoria, Pozuelo de Alarcon, Madrid, Spain
| | - Caghan Kizil
- Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
- Department of Neurology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - Ismael Santa-Maria
- Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
- Facultad de Ciencias Experimentales, Universidad Francisco de Vitoria, Pozuelo de Alarcon, Madrid, Spain
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27
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Han M, Saxton A, Currey H, Waldherr SM, Liachko NF, Kraemer BC. Transgenic Dendra2::tau expression allows in vivo monitoring of tau proteostasis in Caenorhabditis elegans. Dis Model Mech 2024; 17:dmm050473. [PMID: 38469687 PMCID: PMC10985736 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.050473] [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: 08/23/2023] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Protein homeostasis is perturbed in aging-related neurodegenerative diseases called tauopathies, which are pathologically characterized by aggregation of the microtubule-associated protein tau (encoded by the human MAPT gene). Transgenic Caenorhabditis elegans serve as a powerful model organism to study tauopathy disease mechanisms, but moderating transgenic expression level has proven problematic. To study neuronal tau proteostasis, we generated a suite of transgenic strains expressing low, medium or high levels of Dendra2::tau fusion proteins by comparing integrated multicopy transgene arrays with single-copy safe-harbor locus strains generated by recombinase-mediated cassette exchange. Multicopy Dendra2::tau strains exhibited expression level-dependent neuronal dysfunction that was modifiable by known genetic suppressors or an enhancer of tauopathy. Single-copy Dendra2::tau strains lacked distinguishable phenotypes on their own but enabled detection of enhancer-driven neuronal dysfunction. We used multicopy Dendra2::tau strains in optical pulse-chase experiments measuring tau turnover in vivo and found that Dendra2::tau turned over faster than the relatively stable Dendra2. Furthermore, Dendra2::tau turnover was dependent on the protein expression level and independent of co-expression with human TDP-43 (officially known as TARDBP), an aggregating protein interacting with pathological tau. We present Dendra2::tau transgenic C. elegans as a novel tool for investigating molecular mechanisms of tau proteostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina Han
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
- Division of Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98104, USA
| | - Aleen Saxton
- Geriatrics Research Education and Clinical Center, Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, WA 98108, USA
| | - Heather Currey
- Geriatrics Research Education and Clinical Center, Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, WA 98108, USA
| | - Sarah M. Waldherr
- Division of Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98104, USA
- Geriatrics Research Education and Clinical Center, Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, WA 98108, USA
| | - Nicole F. Liachko
- Division of Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98104, USA
- Geriatrics Research Education and Clinical Center, Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, WA 98108, USA
| | - Brian C. Kraemer
- Division of Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98104, USA
- Geriatrics Research Education and Clinical Center, Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, WA 98108, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
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28
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Ding Y, Luan W, Shen X, Wang Z, Cao Y. E2F1 Mediates Traumatic Brain Injury and Regulates BDNF-AS to Promote the Progression of Alzheimer's Disease. Neurotox Res 2024; 42:17. [PMID: 38386202 DOI: 10.1007/s12640-024-00695-2] [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: 01/04/2023] [Revised: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 02/09/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024]
Abstract
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is one of the important risk factors for the development of Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, the molecular mechanism by which TBI promotes the progression of AD is not elucidated. In this study, we showed that the abnormal production of E2F1 is a major factor in promoting the neuropathological and cognitive deterioration of AD post-TBI. We found that repeated mild TBI can aggravate the neuropathology of AD in APP/PS1 mice. At the same time, the co-expression of E2F1 and beta-site APP cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1) was upregulated when the mouse hippocampus was dissected. BACE1 is recognized as a rate-limiting enzyme for the production of Aβ. Here, we speculate that E2F1 may play a role in promoting BACE1 expression in AD. Therefore, we collected peripheral blood from patients with AD. Interestingly, there is a positive correlation between E2F1 and brain-derived neurotrophic factor-antisense (BDNF-AS), whereas BDNF-AS in AD can promote the expression of BACE1 and exhibit a neurotoxic effect. We established a cell model and found a regulatory relationship between E2F1 and BDNF-AS. Therefore, based on our results, we concluded that E2F1 regulates BDNF-AS, promotes the expression of BACE1, and affects the progression of AD. Furthermore, E2F1 mediates the TBI-induced neurotoxicity of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuting Ding
- Department of Neurology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215004, Jiangsu, China
- Department of Rehabilitation, Changshu No. 2 People's Hospital (Changshu Hospital Nantong University), Changshu, 215500, Jiangsu, China
| | - Wenkang Luan
- Department of Plastic Surgery, Affiliated People's Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang , Jiangsu, 212000, China
| | - Xuanlin Shen
- Department of Rehabilitation, Changshu No. 2 People's Hospital (Changshu Hospital Nantong University), Changshu, 215500, Jiangsu, China
| | - Zhe Wang
- School of Medicine, JiangSu University, Zhenjiang , Jiangsu, 212013, China
| | - Yongjun Cao
- Department of Neurology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215004, Jiangsu, China.
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do Nascimento Amorim MDS, Silva França ÁR, Santos-Oliveira R, Rodrigues Sanches J, Marinho Melo T, Araújo Serra Pinto B, Barbosa LRS, Alencar LMR. Atomic Force Microscopy Applied to the Study of Tauopathies. ACS Chem Neurosci 2024; 15:699-715. [PMID: 38305187 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.3c00819] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Atomic force microscopy (AFM) is a scanning probe microscopy technique which has a physical principle, the measurement of interatomic forces between a very thin tip and the surface of a sample, allowing the obtaining of quantitative data at the nanoscale, contributing to the surface study and mechanical characterization. Due to its great versatility, AFM has been used to investigate the structural and nanomechanical properties of several inorganic and biological materials, including neurons affected by tauopathies. Tauopathies are neurodegenerative diseases featured by aggregation of phosphorylated tau protein inside neurons, leading to functional loss and progressive neurotoxicity. In the broad universe of neurodegenerative diseases, tauopathies comprise the most prevalent, with Alzheimer's disease as its main representative. This review highlights the use of AFM as a suitable research technique for the study of cellular damages in tauopathies, even in early stages, allowing elucidation of pathogenic mechanisms of these diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria do Socorro do Nascimento Amorim
- Laboratory of Biophysics and Nanosystems, Department of Physics, Federal University of Maranhão, Campus Bacanga, São Luís 65080-805, Maranhão, Brazil
| | - Álefe Roger Silva França
- Laboratory of Biophysics and Nanosystems, Department of Physics, Federal University of Maranhão, Campus Bacanga, São Luís 65080-805, Maranhão, Brazil
| | - Ralph Santos-Oliveira
- Nuclear Engineering Institute, Brazilian Nuclear Energy Commission, Rio de Janeiro 21941906, Brazil
- Laboratory of Nanoradiopharmacy, Rio de Janeiro State University, Rio de Janeiro 23070200, Brazil
| | - Jonas Rodrigues Sanches
- Laboratory of Experimental Physiology, Department of Physiological Sciences, Federal University of Maranhão, Campus Bacanga, São Luís, 65080-805, Maranhão, Brazil
| | - Thamys Marinho Melo
- Laboratory of Experimental Physiology, Department of Physiological Sciences, Federal University of Maranhão, Campus Bacanga, São Luís, 65080-805, Maranhão, Brazil
| | - Bruno Araújo Serra Pinto
- Laboratory of Experimental Physiology, Department of Physiological Sciences, Federal University of Maranhão, Campus Bacanga, São Luís, 65080-805, Maranhão, Brazil
| | - Leandro R S Barbosa
- Department of General Physics, Institute of Physics, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-000, SP, Brazil
- Brazilian Synchrotron Light Laboratory (LNLS), Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials (CNPEM), Campinas 13083-100, SP, Brazil
| | - Luciana Magalhães Rebelo Alencar
- Laboratory of Biophysics and Nanosystems, Department of Physics, Federal University of Maranhão, Campus Bacanga, São Luís 65080-805, Maranhão, Brazil
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Ning K, Cannon PB, Yu J, Shenoi S, Wang L, Sarkar J. 3D convolutional neural networks uncover modality-specific brain-imaging predictors for Alzheimer's disease sub-scores. Brain Inform 2024; 11:5. [PMID: 38310619 PMCID: PMC10838875 DOI: 10.1186/s40708-024-00218-x] [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: 10/13/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 02/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Different aspects of cognitive functions are affected in patients with Alzheimer's disease. To date, little is known about the associations between features from brain-imaging and individual Alzheimer's disease (AD)-related cognitive functional changes. In addition, how these associations differ among different imaging modalities is unclear. Here, we trained and investigated 3D convolutional neural network (CNN) models that predicted sub-scores of the 13-item Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale-Cognitive Subscale (ADAS-Cog13) based on MRI and FDG-PET brain-imaging data. Analysis of the trained network showed that each key ADAS-Cog13 sub-score was associated with a specific set of brain features within an imaging modality. Furthermore, different association patterns were observed in MRI and FDG-PET modalities. According to MRI, cognitive sub-scores were typically associated with structural changes of subcortical regions, including amygdala, hippocampus, and putamen. Comparatively, according to FDG-PET, cognitive functions were typically associated with metabolic changes of cortical regions, including the cingulated gyrus, occipital cortex, middle front gyrus, precuneus cortex, and the cerebellum. These findings brought insights into complex AD etiology and emphasized the importance of investigating different brain-imaging modalities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaida Ning
- Peng Cheng Laboratory, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | | | | | | | - Lu Wang
- Holmusk Inc, Singapore, Singapore
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31
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Colmant L, Boyer E, Gerard T, Sleegers K, Lhommel R, Ivanoiu A, Lefèvre P, Kienlen-Campard P, Hanseeuw B. Definition of a Threshold for the Plasma Aβ42/Aβ40 Ratio Measured by Single-Molecule Array to Predict the Amyloid Status of Individuals without Dementia. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:1173. [PMID: 38256246 PMCID: PMC10816992 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25021173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2023] [Revised: 01/15/2024] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by amyloid beta (Aβ) plaques and hyperphosphorylated tau in the brain. Aβ plaques precede cognitive impairments and can be detected through amyloid-positron emission tomography (PET) or in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Assessing the plasma Aβ42/Aβ40 ratio seems promising for non-invasive and cost-effective detection of brain Aβ accumulation. This approach involves some challenges, including the accuracy of blood-based biomarker measurements and the establishment of clear, standardized thresholds to categorize the risk of developing brain amyloid pathology. Plasma Aβ42/Aβ40 ratio was measured in 277 volunteers without dementia, 70 AD patients and 18 non-AD patients using single-molecule array. Patients (n = 88) and some volunteers (n = 66) were subject to evaluation of amyloid status by CSF Aβ quantification or PET analysis. Thresholds of plasma Aβ42/Aβ40 ratio were determined based on a Gaussian mixture model, a decision tree, and the Youden's index. The 0.0472 threshold, the one with the highest sensitivity, was retained for general population without dementia screening, and the 0.0450 threshold was retained for research and clinical trials recruitment, aiming to minimize the need for CSF or PET analyses to identify amyloid-positive individuals. These findings offer a promising step towards a cost-effective method for identifying individuals at risk of developing AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lise Colmant
- Institute of Neuroscience, UCLouvain, 1200 Brussels, Belgium; (L.C.); (E.B.); (T.G.); (P.L.); (P.K.-C.)
- Neurology Department, Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc, 1200 Brussels, Belgium;
- Institute of Information and Communication Technologies, Electronics and Applied Mathematics, UCLouvain, 1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
| | - Emilien Boyer
- Institute of Neuroscience, UCLouvain, 1200 Brussels, Belgium; (L.C.); (E.B.); (T.G.); (P.L.); (P.K.-C.)
- Neurology Department, Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc, 1200 Brussels, Belgium;
| | - Thomas Gerard
- Institute of Neuroscience, UCLouvain, 1200 Brussels, Belgium; (L.C.); (E.B.); (T.G.); (P.L.); (P.K.-C.)
- Neurology Department, Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc, 1200 Brussels, Belgium;
| | - Kristel Sleegers
- Complex Genetics of Alzheimer’s Disease Group, VIB-UAntwerp Center for Molecular Neurology, University of Antwerp, 2000 Antwerpen, Belgium;
| | - Renaud Lhommel
- Neurology Department, Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc, 1200 Brussels, Belgium;
| | - Adrian Ivanoiu
- Institute of Neuroscience, UCLouvain, 1200 Brussels, Belgium; (L.C.); (E.B.); (T.G.); (P.L.); (P.K.-C.)
- Neurology Department, Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc, 1200 Brussels, Belgium;
| | - Philippe Lefèvre
- Institute of Neuroscience, UCLouvain, 1200 Brussels, Belgium; (L.C.); (E.B.); (T.G.); (P.L.); (P.K.-C.)
- Institute of Information and Communication Technologies, Electronics and Applied Mathematics, UCLouvain, 1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
| | - Pascal Kienlen-Campard
- Institute of Neuroscience, UCLouvain, 1200 Brussels, Belgium; (L.C.); (E.B.); (T.G.); (P.L.); (P.K.-C.)
| | - Bernard Hanseeuw
- Institute of Neuroscience, UCLouvain, 1200 Brussels, Belgium; (L.C.); (E.B.); (T.G.); (P.L.); (P.K.-C.)
- Neurology Department, Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc, 1200 Brussels, Belgium;
- WELBIO Department, WEL Research Institute, Avenue Pasteur, 6, 1300 Wavre, Belgium
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32
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Taylor LW, Simzer EM, Pimblett C, Lacey-Solymar OTT, McGeachan RI, Meftah S, Rose JL, Spires-Jones MP, Holt K, Catterson JH, Koch H, Liaquat I, Clarke JH, Skidmore J, Smith C, Booker SA, Brennan PM, Spires-Jones TL, Durrant CS. p-tau Ser356 is associated with Alzheimer's disease pathology and is lowered in brain slice cultures using the NUAK inhibitor WZ4003. Acta Neuropathol 2024; 147:7. [PMID: 38175261 PMCID: PMC10766794 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-023-02667-w] [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: 08/29/2023] [Revised: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
Tau hyperphosphorylation and aggregation is a common feature of many dementia-causing neurodegenerative diseases. Tau can be phosphorylated at up to 85 different sites, and there is increasing interest in whether tau phosphorylation at specific epitopes, by specific kinases, plays an important role in disease progression. The AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK)-related enzyme NUAK1 has been identified as a potential mediator of tau pathology, whereby NUAK1-mediated phosphorylation of tau at Ser356 prevents the degradation of tau by the proteasome, further exacerbating tau hyperphosphorylation and accumulation. This study provides a detailed characterisation of the association of p-tau Ser356 with progression of Alzheimer's disease pathology, identifying a Braak stage-dependent increase in p-tau Ser356 protein levels and an almost ubiquitous presence in neurofibrillary tangles. We also demonstrate, using sub-diffraction-limit resolution array tomography imaging, that p-tau Ser356 co-localises with synapses in AD postmortem brain tissue, increasing evidence that this form of tau may play important roles in AD progression. To assess the potential impacts of pharmacological NUAK inhibition in an ex vivo system that retains multiple cell types and brain-relevant neuronal architecture, we treated postnatal mouse organotypic brain slice cultures from wildtype or APP/PS1 littermates with the commercially available NUAK1/2 inhibitor WZ4003. Whilst there were no genotype-specific effects, we found that WZ4003 results in a culture-phase-dependent loss of total tau and p-tau Ser356, which corresponds with a reduction in neuronal and synaptic proteins. By contrast, application of WZ4003 to live human brain slice cultures results in a specific lowering of p-tau Ser356, alongside increased neuronal tubulin protein. This work identifies differential responses of postnatal mouse organotypic brain slice cultures and adult human brain slice cultures to NUAK1 inhibition that will be important to consider in future work developing tau-targeting therapeutics for human disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lewis W Taylor
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- UK Dementia Research Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Elizabeth M Simzer
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- UK Dementia Research Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Claire Pimblett
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | | | - Robert I McGeachan
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- UK Dementia Research Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- The Hospital for Small Animals, Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Soraya Meftah
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- UK Dementia Research Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Jamie L Rose
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- UK Dementia Research Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | | | - Kristján Holt
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- UK Dementia Research Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - James H Catterson
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- UK Dementia Research Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Henner Koch
- Department of Neurology, Epileptology, RWTH Aachen University Hospital, 52074, Aachen, Germany
| | - Imran Liaquat
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, 51 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Jonathan H Clarke
- The ALBORADA Drug Discovery Institute, University of Cambridge, Island Research Building, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Hills Road, Cambridge, UK
| | - John Skidmore
- The ALBORADA Drug Discovery Institute, University of Cambridge, Island Research Building, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Hills Road, Cambridge, UK
| | - Colin Smith
- The Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Sam A Booker
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- Simons Initiative for the Developing Brain, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Paul M Brennan
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, 51 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh, UK
- The Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- Cancer Research UK Brain Tumour Centre of Excellence, CRUK Edinburgh Centre, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Tara L Spires-Jones
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- UK Dementia Research Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Claire S Durrant
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
- UK Dementia Research Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
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Seo K, Hwang K, Noh M, Park J, Ahn KS, Ji SY, Han JH, Kim CY. Lower Plasma Amyloid Beta - 42 Levels Associated With Worse Survival in Patients With Glioma. In Vivo 2024; 38:425-430. [PMID: 38148047 PMCID: PMC10756474 DOI: 10.21873/invivo.13455] [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: 07/20/2023] [Revised: 09/08/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 12/28/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIM Glioma is often refractory. The accumulation of amyloid beta (Aβ) in the brain is commonly associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD), but there are studies suggesting that Aβ has tumor suppressor potential. The aim of this study was to identify a novel, non-invasive candidate biomarker for histological prediction and prognostic assessment of glioma. PATIENTS AND METHODS Serum was prepared from blood samples collected preoperatively from 48 patients with WHO grade II-IV glioma between October 2004 and December 2017 at a single tertiary institution. The concentration of Aβ42 was measured using the SMCxPRO immunoassay (Merck). The clinical and histological characteristics of the patients, including molecular subtypes, were reviewed. RESULTS The mean age of the patients was 52.2±12.5 years. The mean value of serum Aβ42 concentration was 7.6±7.8 pg/ml in the anaplastic astrocytoma (WHO grade III) group and 6.4±6.5 pg/ml in the glioblastoma multiforme (WHO grade IV) group. The Negative epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) expression was associated with higher serum Aβ42 levels (p=0.020). Kaplan-Meier analysis demonstrated that patients with high serum Aβ42 (>11.78 pg/ml) had significantly longer progression-free survival (PFS) (p=0.038) and overall survival (OS) (p=0.018). CONCLUSION This study investigated serum Aβ42 levels as a potential biomarker for glioma. The results showed that low serum Aβ42 levels were associated with EGFR expression and poor PFS and OS. Overall, these findings suggest a potential role of Aβ42 as a prognostic marker in astrocytomas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyeongjin Seo
- Department of Neurosurgery, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam-si, Republic of Korea
- Department of Health Science and Technology, Graduate School of Convergence Science and Technology, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Kihwan Hwang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam-si, Republic of Korea
- Department of Neurosurgery, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Minhee Noh
- Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Jay Park
- The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh Medical School, Edinburgh, U.K
| | - Kwang-Sung Ahn
- Functional Genome Institute, PDXen Biosystems Inc., Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - So Young Ji
- Department of Neurosurgery, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam-si, Republic of Korea
| | - Jung Ho Han
- Department of Neurosurgery, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam-si, Republic of Korea
- Department of Neurosurgery, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Chae-Yong Kim
- Department of Neurosurgery, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam-si, Republic of Korea;
- Department of Neurosurgery, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
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Gaikwad S, Senapati S, Haque MA, Kayed R. Senescence, brain inflammation, and oligomeric tau drive cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease: Evidence from clinical and preclinical studies. Alzheimers Dement 2024; 20:709-727. [PMID: 37814508 PMCID: PMC10841264 DOI: 10.1002/alz.13490] [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: 07/11/2023] [Revised: 09/01/2023] [Accepted: 09/06/2023] [Indexed: 10/11/2023]
Abstract
Aging, tau pathology, and chronic inflammation in the brain play crucial roles in synaptic loss, neurodegeneration, and cognitive decline in tauopathies, including Alzheimer's disease. Senescent cells accumulate in the aging brain, accelerate the aging process, and promote tauopathy progression through their abnormal inflammatory secretome known as the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP). Tau oligomers (TauO)-the most neurotoxic tau species-are known to induce senescence and the SASP, which subsequently promote neuropathology, inflammation, oxidative stress, synaptic dysfunction, neuronal death, and cognitive dysfunction. TauO, brain inflammation, and senescence are associated with heterogeneity in tauopathy progression and cognitive decline. However, the underlying mechanisms driving the disease heterogeneity remain largely unknown, impeding the development of therapies for tauopathies. Based on clinical and preclinical evidence, this review highlights the critical role of TauO and senescence in neurodegeneration. We discuss key knowledge gaps and potential strategies for targeting senescence and TauO to treat tauopathies. HIGHLIGHTS: Senescence, oligomeric Tau (TauO), and brain inflammation accelerate the aging process and promote the progression of tauopathies, including Alzheimer's disease. We discuss their role in contributing to heterogeneity in tauopathy and cognitive decline. We highlight strategies to target senescence and TauO to treat tauopathies while addressing key knowledge gaps.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sagar Gaikwad
- The Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Diseasesand Department of NeurologyUniversity of Texas Medical BranchGalvestonTexasUSA
| | - Sudipta Senapati
- The Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Diseasesand Department of NeurologyUniversity of Texas Medical BranchGalvestonTexasUSA
| | - Md. Anzarul Haque
- The Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Diseasesand Department of NeurologyUniversity of Texas Medical BranchGalvestonTexasUSA
| | - Rakez Kayed
- The Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Diseasesand Department of NeurologyUniversity of Texas Medical BranchGalvestonTexasUSA
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35
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He Y, Guan J, Lai L, Zhang X, Chen B, Wang X, Wu R. Imaging of brain clearance pathways via MRI assessment of the glymphatic system. Aging (Albany NY) 2023; 15:14945-14956. [PMID: 38149988 PMCID: PMC10781494 DOI: 10.18632/aging.205322] [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: 07/25/2023] [Accepted: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 12/28/2023]
Abstract
Glymphatic clearance dysfunction may play an important role in a variety of neurodegenerative diseases and the progression of ageing. However, in vivo imaging of the glymphatic system is challenging. In this study, we describe an MRI method based on chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) of the Angiopep-2 probe to visualize the clearance function of the glymphatic system. We injected rats with Angiopep-2 via the tail vein and performed in vivo MRI at 7 T to track differences in Angiopep-2 signal changes; we then applied the same principles in a bilateral deep cervical lymph node ligation rat model and in ageing rats. We demonstrated the feasibility of Angiopep-2 CEST for visualizing the clearance function of the glymphatic system. Finally, a pathological assessment was performed. Within the model group, the deep cervical lymph node ligation group and the ageing group showed higher CEST signal than the control group. We conclude that this new MRI method can visualize clearance in the glymphatic system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi He
- Department of Medical Imaging, Second Affiliated Hospital, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
- Department of Ultrasound, Shantou Central Hospital, Shantou, Guangdong, China
| | - Jitian Guan
- Department of Medical Imaging, Second Affiliated Hospital, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
| | - Lingfeng Lai
- Department of Medical Imaging, Second Affiliated Hospital, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
| | - Xiaolei Zhang
- Department of Medical Imaging, Second Affiliated Hospital, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
| | - Beibei Chen
- Department of Medical Imaging, Second Affiliated Hospital, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
| | - Xueqing Wang
- Department of Ultrasound, Shantou Central Hospital, Shantou, Guangdong, China
| | - Renhua Wu
- Department of Medical Imaging, Second Affiliated Hospital, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
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36
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Portugal Barron D, Guo Z. The supersaturation perspective on the amyloid hypothesis. Chem Sci 2023; 15:46-54. [PMID: 38131088 PMCID: PMC10731913 DOI: 10.1039/d3sc03981a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 09/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Development of therapeutic interventions for Alzheimer's over the past three decades has been guided by the amyloid hypothesis, which puts Aβ deposition as the initiating event of a pathogenic cascade leading to dementia. In the current form, the amyloid hypothesis lacks a comprehensive framework that considers the complex nature of Aβ aggregation. The explanation of how Aβ deposition leads to downstream pathology, and how reducing Aβ plaque load via anti-amyloid therapy can lead to improvement in cognition remains insufficient. In this perspective we integrate the concept of Aβ supersaturation into the amyloid hypothesis, laying out a framework for the mechanistic understanding and therapeutic intervention of Alzheimer's disease. We discuss the important distinction between in vitro and in vivo patterns of Aβ aggregation, the impact of different aggregation stages on therapeutic strategies, and how future investigations could integrate this concept in order to produce a more thorough understanding and better treatment for Alzheimer's and other amyloid-related disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana Portugal Barron
- Department of Neurology, Brain Research Institute, Mary S. Easton Center for Alzheimer's Research and Care, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles Los Angeles CA USA
| | - Zhefeng Guo
- Department of Neurology, Brain Research Institute, Mary S. Easton Center for Alzheimer's Research and Care, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles Los Angeles CA USA
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37
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Wang H, Sun M, Li W, Liu X, Zhu M, Qin H. Biomarkers associated with the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease. Front Cell Neurosci 2023; 17:1279046. [PMID: 38130871 PMCID: PMC10733517 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2023.1279046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive degenerative neurological illness with insidious onset. Due to the complexity of the pathogenesis of AD and different pathological changes, the clinical phenotypes of dementia are diverse, and these pathological changes also interact with each other. Therefore, it is of great significance to search for biomarkers that can diagnose these pathological changes to improve the ability to monitor the course of disease and treat the disease. The pathological mechanism hypothesis with high recognition of AD mainly includes the accumulation of β-amyloid (Aβ) around neurons and hyperphosphorylation of tau protein, which results in the development of neuronal fiber tangles (NFTs) and mitochondrial dysfunction. AD is an irreversible disease; currently, there is no clinical cure or delay in the disease process of drugs, and there is a lack of effective early clinical diagnosis methods. AD patients, often in the dementia stages and moderate cognitive impairment, will seek medical treatment. Biomarkers can help diagnose the presence or absence of specific diseases and their pathological processes, so early screening and diagnosis are crucial for the prevention and therapy of AD in clinical practice. β-amyloid deposition (A), tau pathology (T), and neurodegeneration/neuronal damage (N), also known as the AT (N) biomarkers system, are widely validated core humoral markers for the diagnosis of AD. In this paper, the pathogenesis of AD related to AT (N) and the current research status of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and blood related biomarkers were reviewed. At the same time, the limitations of humoral markers in the diagnosis of AD were also discussed, and the future development of humoral markers for AD was prospected. In addition, the contents related to mitochondrial dysfunction, prion virology and intestinal microbiome related to AD are also described, so as to understand the pathogenesis of AD in many aspects and dimensions, so as to evaluate the pathological changes related to AD more comprehensively and accurately.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Wang
- College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
| | - Mengli Sun
- College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
- Research Center for Tissue Repair and Regeneration Affiliated with the Medical Innovation Research Division and 4th Medical Center, PLA General Hospital and PLA Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Wenhui Li
- College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
| | - Xing Liu
- College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
| | - Mengfan Zhu
- College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
| | - Hua Qin
- College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
- Research Center for Tissue Repair and Regeneration Affiliated with the Medical Innovation Research Division and 4th Medical Center, PLA General Hospital and PLA Medical College, Beijing, China
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38
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Espay AJ, Herrup K, Kepp KP, Daly T. The proteinopenia hypothesis: Loss of Aβ 42 and the onset of Alzheimer's Disease. Ageing Res Rev 2023; 92:102112. [PMID: 38270185 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2023.102112] [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: 06/27/2023] [Revised: 10/17/2023] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2024]
Abstract
The dominant protein-lowering strategy in Alzheimer's Disease (AD) has failed to provide a clinically-meaningful treatment for patients. We hypothesize that the loss of functional, soluble Aβ42 during the process of aggregation into amyloid is more detrimental to the brain than the corresponding accrual of insoluble amyloid.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alberto J Espay
- James J. and Joan A. Gardner Family Center for Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders, Department of Neurology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA.
| | - Karl Herrup
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Kasper P Kepp
- Department of Chemistry, Section of Biophysical and Biomedicinal Chemistry, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Timothy Daly
- Science Norms Democracy, UMR 8011 Sorbonne University, Paris, France; Bioethics Program, FLACSO Argentina, Tucumán 1966, C1050 AAN, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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39
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Rodriguez-Jimenez FJ, Ureña-Peralta J, Jendelova P, Erceg S. Alzheimer's disease and synapse Loss: What can we learn from induced pluripotent stem Cells? J Adv Res 2023; 54:105-118. [PMID: 36646419 DOI: 10.1016/j.jare.2023.01.006] [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: 09/16/2022] [Revised: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 01/08/2023] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Synaptic dysfunction is a major contributor to Alzheimeŕs disease (AD) pathogenesis in addition to the formation of neuritic β-amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles of hyperphosphorylated Tau protein. However, how these features contribute to synaptic dysfunction and axonal loss remains unclear. While years of considerable effort have been devoted to gaining an improved understanding of this devastating disease, the unavailability of patient-derived tissues, considerable genetic heterogeneity, and lack of animal models that faithfully recapitulate human AD have hampered the development of effective treatment options. Ongoing progress in human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC) technology has permitted the derivation of patient- and disease-specific stem cells with unlimited self-renewal capacity. These cells can differentiate into AD-affected cell types, which support studies of disease mechanisms, drug discovery, and the development of cell replacement therapies in traditional and advanced cell culture models. AIM OF REVIEW To summarize current hiPSC-based AD models, highlighting the associated achievements and challenges with a primary focus on neuron and synapse loss. KEY SCIENTIFIC CONCEPTS OF REVIEW We aim to identify how hiPSC models can contribute to understanding AD-associated synaptic dysfunction and axonal loss. hiPSC-derived neural cells, astrocytes, and microglia, as well as more sophisticated cellular organoids, may represent reliable models to investigate AD and identify early markers of AD-associated neural degeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francisco Javier Rodriguez-Jimenez
- Stem Cell Therapies in Neurodegenerative Diseases Lab., Centro de Investigación Principe Felipe (CIPF), c/ Eduardo Primo Yúfera 3, 46012 Valencia, Spain.
| | - Juan Ureña-Peralta
- Stem Cell Therapies in Neurodegenerative Diseases Lab., Centro de Investigación Principe Felipe (CIPF), c/ Eduardo Primo Yúfera 3, 46012 Valencia, Spain.
| | - Pavla Jendelova
- Institute of Experimental Medicine, Department of Neuroregeneration, Czech Academy of Science, Prague, Czech Republic.
| | - Slaven Erceg
- Stem Cell Therapies in Neurodegenerative Diseases Lab., Centro de Investigación Principe Felipe (CIPF), c/ Eduardo Primo Yúfera 3, 46012 Valencia, Spain; Institute of Experimental Medicine, Department of Neuroregeneration, Czech Academy of Science, Prague, Czech Republic; National Stem Cell Bank-Valencia Node, Centro de Investigacion Principe Felipe, c/ Eduardo Primo Yúfera 3, 46012 Valencia, Spain.
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40
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García-Bermúdez MY, Vohra R, Freude K, van Wijngaarden P, Martin K, Thomsen MS, Aldana BI, Kolko M. Potential Retinal Biomarkers in Alzheimer's Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:15834. [PMID: 37958816 PMCID: PMC10649108 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242115834] [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: 09/01/2023] [Revised: 10/18/2023] [Accepted: 10/25/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) represents a major diagnostic challenge, as early detection is crucial for effective intervention. This review examines the diagnostic challenges facing current AD evaluations and explores the emerging field of retinal alterations as early indicators. Recognizing the potential of the retina as a noninvasive window to the brain, we emphasize the importance of identifying retinal biomarkers in the early stages of AD. However, the examination of AD is not without its challenges, as the similarities shared with other retinal diseases introduce complexity in the search for AD-specific markers. In this review, we address the relevance of using the retina for the early diagnosis of AD and the complex challenges associated with the search for AD-specific retinal biomarkers. We provide a comprehensive overview of the current landscape and highlight avenues for progress in AD diagnosis by retinal examination.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Rupali Vohra
- Eye Translational Research Unit, Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, University of Copenhagen, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Ophthalmology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, 2600 Glostrup, Denmark
| | - Kristine Freude
- Group of Stem Cell Models and Embryology, Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 1870 Frederiksberg, Denmark
| | - Peter van Wijngaarden
- Center for Eye Research Australia, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, East Melbourne, VIC 3002, Australia
- Ophthalmology, Department of Surgery, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Keith Martin
- Center for Eye Research Australia, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, East Melbourne, VIC 3002, Australia
- Ophthalmology, Department of Surgery, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, UK
| | - Maj Schneider Thomsen
- Neurobiology Research and Drug Delivery, Department of Health, Science and Technology, Aalborg University, 9220 Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Blanca Irene Aldana
- Neurometabolism Research Group, Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, University of Copenhagen, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Miriam Kolko
- Eye Translational Research Unit, Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, University of Copenhagen, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Ophthalmology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, 2600 Glostrup, Denmark
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41
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Dan L, Zhang Z. Alzheimer's disease: an axonal injury disease? Front Aging Neurosci 2023; 15:1264448. [PMID: 37927337 PMCID: PMC10620718 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2023.1264448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2023] [Accepted: 09/14/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the primary cause of dementia and is anticipated to impose a substantial economic burden in the future. Over a significant period, the widely accepted amyloid cascade hypothesis has guided research efforts, and the recent FDA approval of an anti- amyloid-beta (Aβ) protofibrils antibody, believed to decelerate AD progression, has further solidified its significance. However, the excessive emphasis placed on the amyloid cascade hypothesis has overshadowed the physiological nature of Aβ and tau proteins within axons. Axons, specialized neuronal structures, sustain damage during the early stages of AD, exerting a pivotal influence on disease progression. In this review, we present a comprehensive summary of the relationship between axonal damage and AD pathology, amalgamating the physiological roles of Aβ and tau proteins, along with the impact of AD risk genes such as APOE and TREM2. Furthermore, we underscore the exceptional significance of axonal damage in the context of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Zhaohui Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
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42
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Hu J, Sha W, Yuan S, Wu J, Huang Y. Aggregation, Transmission, and Toxicity of the Microtubule-Associated Protein Tau: A Complex Comprehension. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:15023. [PMID: 37834471 PMCID: PMC10573976 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241915023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2023] [Revised: 09/12/2023] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The microtubule-associated protein tau is an intrinsically disordered protein containing a few short and transient secondary structures. Tau physiologically associates with microtubules (MTs) for its stabilization and detaches from MTs to regulate its dynamics. Under pathological conditions, tau is abnormally modified, detaches from MTs, and forms protein aggregates in neuronal and glial cells. Tau protein aggregates can be found in a number of devastating neurodegenerative diseases known as "tauopathies", such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), frontotemporal dementia (FTD), corticobasal degeneration (CBD), etc. However, it is still unclear how the tau protein is compacted into ordered protein aggregates, and the toxicity of the aggregates is still debated. Fortunately, there has been considerable progress in the study of tau in recent years, particularly in the understanding of the intercellular transmission of pathological tau species, the structure of tau aggregates, and the conformational change events in the tau polymerization process. In this review, we summarize the concepts of tau protein aggregation and discuss the views on tau protein transmission and toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaxin Hu
- Key Laboratory of Systems Health Science of Zhejiang Province, School of Life Science, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou 310024, China; (J.H.); (W.S.); (S.Y.)
| | - Wenchi Sha
- Key Laboratory of Systems Health Science of Zhejiang Province, School of Life Science, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou 310024, China; (J.H.); (W.S.); (S.Y.)
| | - Shuangshuang Yuan
- Key Laboratory of Systems Health Science of Zhejiang Province, School of Life Science, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou 310024, China; (J.H.); (W.S.); (S.Y.)
| | - Jiarui Wu
- Key Laboratory of Systems Health Science of Zhejiang Province, School of Life Science, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou 310024, China; (J.H.); (W.S.); (S.Y.)
- Key Laboratory of Systems Biology, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou 310024, China
| | - Yunpeng Huang
- Key Laboratory of Systems Health Science of Zhejiang Province, School of Life Science, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou 310024, China; (J.H.); (W.S.); (S.Y.)
- Key Laboratory of Systems Biology, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou 310024, China
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43
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Banerjee G, Collinge J, Fox NC, Lashley T, Mead S, Schott JM, Werring DJ, Ryan NS. Clinical considerations in early-onset cerebral amyloid angiopathy. Brain 2023; 146:3991-4014. [PMID: 37280119 PMCID: PMC10545523 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awad193] [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: 08/09/2022] [Revised: 04/16/2023] [Accepted: 05/01/2023] [Indexed: 06/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) is an important cerebral small vessel disease associated with brain haemorrhage and cognitive change. The commonest form, sporadic amyloid-β CAA, usually affects people in mid- to later life. However, early-onset forms, though uncommon, are increasingly recognized and may result from genetic or iatrogenic causes that warrant specific and focused investigation and management. In this review, we firstly describe the causes of early-onset CAA, including monogenic causes of amyloid-β CAA (APP missense mutations and copy number variants; mutations of PSEN1 and PSEN2) and non-amyloid-β CAA (associated with ITM2B, CST3, GSN, PRNP and TTR mutations), and other unusual sporadic and acquired causes including the newly-recognized iatrogenic subtype. We then provide a structured approach for investigating early-onset CAA, and highlight important management considerations. Improving awareness of these unusual forms of CAA amongst healthcare professionals is essential for facilitating their prompt diagnosis, and an understanding of their underlying pathophysiology may have implications for more common, late-onset, forms of the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gargi Banerjee
- MRC Prion Unit at University College London (UCL), Institute of Prion Diseases, UCL, London, W1W 7FF, UK
| | - John Collinge
- MRC Prion Unit at University College London (UCL), Institute of Prion Diseases, UCL, London, W1W 7FF, UK
| | - Nick C Fox
- Dementia Research Centre, Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, WC1N 3BG, UK
- UK Dementia Research Institute at UCL, London, WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Tammaryn Lashley
- The Queen Square Brain Bank for Neurological Disorders, Department of Clinical and Movement Disorders, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, W1 1PJ, UK
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Simon Mead
- MRC Prion Unit at University College London (UCL), Institute of Prion Diseases, UCL, London, W1W 7FF, UK
| | - Jonathan M Schott
- Dementia Research Centre, Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, WC1N 3BG, UK
- UK Dementia Research Institute at UCL, London, WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - David J Werring
- Stroke Research Centre, Department of Brain Repair and Rehabilitation, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Natalie S Ryan
- Dementia Research Centre, Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, WC1N 3BG, UK
- UK Dementia Research Institute at UCL, London, WC1E 6BT, UK
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44
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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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45
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Le LTHL, Lee J, Im D, Park S, Hwang K, Lee JH, Jiang Y, Lee Y, Suh YH, Kim HI, Lee MJ. Self-Aggregating Tau Fragments Recapitulate Pathologic Phenotypes and Neurotoxicity of Alzheimer's Disease in Mice. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2023; 10:e2302035. [PMID: 37594721 PMCID: PMC10582461 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202302035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2023] [Revised: 07/10/2023] [Indexed: 08/19/2023]
Abstract
In tauopathy conditions, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), highly soluble and natively unfolded tau polymerizes into an insoluble filament; however, the mechanistic details of this process remain unclear. In the brains of AD patients, only a minor segment of tau forms β-helix-stacked protofilaments, while its flanking regions form disordered fuzzy coats. Here, it is demonstrated that the tau AD nucleation core (tau-AC) sufficiently induced self-aggregation and recruited full-length tau to filaments. Unexpectedly, phospho-mimetic forms of tau-AC (at Ser324 or Ser356) show markedly reduced oligomerization and seeding propensities. Biophysical analysis reveal that the N-terminus of tau-AC facilitates the fibrillization kinetics as a nucleation motif, which becomes sterically shielded through phosphorylation-induced conformational changes in tau-AC. Tau-AC oligomers are efficiently internalized into cells via endocytosis and induced endogenous tau aggregation. In primary hippocampal neurons, tau-AC impaired axon initial segment plasticity upon chronic depolarization and is mislocalized to the somatodendritic compartments. Furthermore, it is observed significantly impaired memory retrieval in mice intrahippocampally injected with tau-AC fibrils, which corresponds to the neuropathological staining and neuronal loss in the brain. These findings identify tau-AC species as a key neuropathological driver in AD, suggesting novel strategies for therapeutic intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ly Thi Huong Luu Le
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular BiologySeoul National University College of MedicineSeoul03080South Korea
- Department of Biomedical SciencesSeoul National University Graduate SchoolSeoul03080South Korea
| | - Jeeyoung Lee
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular BiologySeoul National University College of MedicineSeoul03080South Korea
- Brain Science InstituteKorea Institute of Science and TechnologySeoul02792South Korea
| | - Dongjoon Im
- Department of ChemistryKorea UniversitySeoul02841South Korea
| | - Sunha Park
- Department of Biomedical SciencesSeoul National University Graduate SchoolSeoul03080South Korea
| | - Kyoung‐Doo Hwang
- Department of Biomedical SciencesSeoul National University Graduate SchoolSeoul03080South Korea
- Department of PhysiologySeoul National University College of MedicineSeoul03080South Korea
| | - Jung Hoon Lee
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular BiologySeoul National University College of MedicineSeoul03080South Korea
| | - Yanxialei Jiang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular BiologySeoul National University College of MedicineSeoul03080South Korea
- School of MedicineLinyi UniversityLinyi276000China
| | - Yong‐Seok Lee
- Department of Biomedical SciencesSeoul National University Graduate SchoolSeoul03080South Korea
- Department of PhysiologySeoul National University College of MedicineSeoul03080South Korea
- Neuroscience Research InstituteSeoul National University College of MedicineSeoul03080South Korea
| | - Young Ho Suh
- Department of Biomedical SciencesSeoul National University Graduate SchoolSeoul03080South Korea
- Neuroscience Research InstituteSeoul National University College of MedicineSeoul03080South Korea
| | - Hugh I. Kim
- Department of ChemistryKorea UniversitySeoul02841South Korea
| | - Min Jae Lee
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular BiologySeoul National University College of MedicineSeoul03080South Korea
- Department of Biomedical SciencesSeoul National University Graduate SchoolSeoul03080South Korea
- Ischemic/Hypoxic Disease Institute, Convergence Research Center for DementiaSeoul National University College of MedicineSeoul03080South Korea
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46
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Long T, Chen X, Qin DL, Zhu YF, Zhou YJ, He YN, Fu HJ, Tang Y, Yu L, Huang FH, Wang L, Yu CL, Law BYK, Wu JM, Wu AG, Zhou XG. Ameliorative effect of Luffa cylindrica fruits on Caenorhabditis elegans and cellular models of Alzheimer's disease-related pathology via autophagy induction. Phytother Res 2023; 37:4639-4654. [PMID: 37394882 DOI: 10.1002/ptr.7931] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2023] [Revised: 06/03/2023] [Accepted: 06/16/2023] [Indexed: 07/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a prevalent neurodegenerative disorder without an effective cure. Natural products, while showing promise as potential therapeutics for AD, remain underexplored. AIMS This study was conducted with the goal of identifying potential anti-AD candidates from natural sources using Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) AD-like models and exploring their mechanisms of action. MATERIALS & METHODS Our laboratory's in-house herbal extract library was utilized to screen for potential anti-AD candidates using the C. elegans AD-like model CL4176. The neuroprotective effects of the candidates were evaluated in multiple C. elegans AD-like models, specifically targeting Aβ- and Tau-induced pathology. In vitro validation was conducted using PC-12 cells. To investigate the role of autophagy in mediating the anti-AD effects of the candidates, RNAi bacteria and autophagy inhibitors were employed. RESULTS The ethanol extract of air-dried fruits of Luffa cylindrica (LCE), a medicine-food homology species, was found to inhibit Aβ- and Tau-induced pathology (paralysis, ROS production, neurotoxicity, and Aβ and pTau deposition) in C. elegans AD-like models. LCE was non-toxic and enhanced C. elegans' health. It was shown that LCE activates autophagy and its anti-AD efficacy is weakened with the RNAi knockdown of autophagy-related genes. Additionally, LCE induced mTOR-mediated autophagy, reduced the expression of AD-associated proteins, and decreased cell death in PC-12 cells, which was reversed by autophagy inhibitors (bafilomycin A1 and 3-methyladenine). DISCUSSION LCE, identified from our natural product library, emerged as a valuable autophagy enhancer that effectively protects against neurodegeneration in multiple AD-like models. RNAi knockdown of autophagy-related genes and cotreatment with autophagy inhibitors weakened its anti-AD efficacy, implying a critical role of autophagy in mediating the neuroprotective effects of LCE. CONCLUSION Our findings highlight the potential of LCE as a functional food or drug for targeting AD pathology and promoting human health.
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Grants
- 81903829 National Natural Science Foundation of China
- 81801398 National Natural Science Foundation of China
- 2022YFS0620 The Science and Technology Planning Project of Sichuan Province, China
- 2020YJ0494 The Science and Technology Planning Project of Sichuan Province, China
- 2021YJ0180 The Science and Technology Planning Project of Sichuan Province, China
- 2020LZXNYDJ37 The Joint Project of Luzhou Municipal People's Government and Southwest Medical University, China
- 20YKDYYJC0067 The Joint Project of Luzhou Municipal People's Government and Southwest Medical University, China
- 2019ZQN174 The project of Southwest Medical University, China
- 2021ZKZD018 The project of Southwest Medical University, China
- 2021ZKMS046 The project of Southwest Medical University, China
- 2020ZRZD015 The project of Southwest Medical University, China
- 2021ZKZD015 The project of Southwest Medical University, China
- MUST-SKL-2021-005 The Macao Science and Technology Development Fund of Macao SAR
- SKL-QRCM (MUST)-2020-2022 The Macao Science and Technology Development Fund of Macao SAR
- 81903829 the National Natural Science Foundation of China
- 81801398 the National Natural Science Foundation of China
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Long
- Sichuan Key Medical Laboratory of New Drug Discovery and Drugability Evaluation, Luzhou Key Laboratory of Activity Screening and Drugability Evaluation for Chinese Materia Medica, Key Laboratory of Medical Electrophysiology of Ministry of Education, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, China
- Central Nervous System Drug Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Luzhou, Sichuan, China
| | - Xue Chen
- Sichuan Key Medical Laboratory of New Drug Discovery and Drugability Evaluation, Luzhou Key Laboratory of Activity Screening and Drugability Evaluation for Chinese Materia Medica, Key Laboratory of Medical Electrophysiology of Ministry of Education, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, China
- Central Nervous System Drug Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Luzhou, Sichuan, China
| | - Da-Lian Qin
- Sichuan Key Medical Laboratory of New Drug Discovery and Drugability Evaluation, Luzhou Key Laboratory of Activity Screening and Drugability Evaluation for Chinese Materia Medica, Key Laboratory of Medical Electrophysiology of Ministry of Education, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, China
| | - Yun-Fei Zhu
- Sichuan Key Medical Laboratory of New Drug Discovery and Drugability Evaluation, Luzhou Key Laboratory of Activity Screening and Drugability Evaluation for Chinese Materia Medica, Key Laboratory of Medical Electrophysiology of Ministry of Education, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, China
- Central Nervous System Drug Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Luzhou, Sichuan, China
| | - Yu-Jia Zhou
- College of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Yan-Ni He
- Sichuan Key Medical Laboratory of New Drug Discovery and Drugability Evaluation, Luzhou Key Laboratory of Activity Screening and Drugability Evaluation for Chinese Materia Medica, Key Laboratory of Medical Electrophysiology of Ministry of Education, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, China
- Central Nervous System Drug Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Luzhou, Sichuan, China
| | - Hai-Jun Fu
- Sichuan Key Medical Laboratory of New Drug Discovery and Drugability Evaluation, Luzhou Key Laboratory of Activity Screening and Drugability Evaluation for Chinese Materia Medica, Key Laboratory of Medical Electrophysiology of Ministry of Education, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, China
- Central Nervous System Drug Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Luzhou, Sichuan, China
| | - Yong Tang
- Sichuan Key Medical Laboratory of New Drug Discovery and Drugability Evaluation, Luzhou Key Laboratory of Activity Screening and Drugability Evaluation for Chinese Materia Medica, Key Laboratory of Medical Electrophysiology of Ministry of Education, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, China
| | - Lu Yu
- Sichuan Key Medical Laboratory of New Drug Discovery and Drugability Evaluation, Luzhou Key Laboratory of Activity Screening and Drugability Evaluation for Chinese Materia Medica, Key Laboratory of Medical Electrophysiology of Ministry of Education, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, China
| | - Fei-Hong Huang
- Sichuan Key Medical Laboratory of New Drug Discovery and Drugability Evaluation, Luzhou Key Laboratory of Activity Screening and Drugability Evaluation for Chinese Materia Medica, Key Laboratory of Medical Electrophysiology of Ministry of Education, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, China
| | - Long Wang
- Sichuan Key Medical Laboratory of New Drug Discovery and Drugability Evaluation, Luzhou Key Laboratory of Activity Screening and Drugability Evaluation for Chinese Materia Medica, Key Laboratory of Medical Electrophysiology of Ministry of Education, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, China
| | - Chong-Lin Yu
- Sichuan Key Medical Laboratory of New Drug Discovery and Drugability Evaluation, Luzhou Key Laboratory of Activity Screening and Drugability Evaluation for Chinese Materia Medica, Key Laboratory of Medical Electrophysiology of Ministry of Education, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, China
| | - Betty Yuen-Kwan Law
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology, Macau, China
| | - Jian-Ming Wu
- Sichuan Key Medical Laboratory of New Drug Discovery and Drugability Evaluation, Luzhou Key Laboratory of Activity Screening and Drugability Evaluation for Chinese Materia Medica, Key Laboratory of Medical Electrophysiology of Ministry of Education, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, China
| | - An-Guo Wu
- Sichuan Key Medical Laboratory of New Drug Discovery and Drugability Evaluation, Luzhou Key Laboratory of Activity Screening and Drugability Evaluation for Chinese Materia Medica, Key Laboratory of Medical Electrophysiology of Ministry of Education, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, China
| | - Xiao-Gang Zhou
- Sichuan Key Medical Laboratory of New Drug Discovery and Drugability Evaluation, Luzhou Key Laboratory of Activity Screening and Drugability Evaluation for Chinese Materia Medica, Key Laboratory of Medical Electrophysiology of Ministry of Education, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, China
- Central Nervous System Drug Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Luzhou, Sichuan, China
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Chakkittukandiyil A, Chakraborty S, Kothandan R, Rymbai E, Muthu SK, Vasu S, Sajini DV, Sugumar D, Mohammad ZB, Jayaram S, Rajagopal K, Ramachandran V, Selvaraj D. Side effects based network construction and drug repositioning of ropinirole as a potential molecule for Alzheimer's disease: an in-silico, in-vitro, and in-vivo study. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2023:1-15. [PMID: 37723871 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2023.2258968] [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: 12/22/2022] [Accepted: 09/08/2023] [Indexed: 09/20/2023]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the leading cause of dementia in older adults. Drug repositioning is a process of finding new therapeutic applications for existing drugs. One of the methods in drug repositioning is to use the side-effect profile of a drug to identify a new therapeutic indication. The drugs with similar side-effects may act on similar biological targets and could affect the same biochemical process. In this study, we explored the Food and Drug Administration-approved drugs using PROMISCUOUS database to find those that have adverse effects profile comparable with the ligands being studied or used to treat AD. Here, we found that the ropinirole, a dopamine receptor agonist, shared a maximum number of side-effects with the drugs proven beneficial for treating AD. Furthermore, molecular modelling demonstrated that ropinirole exhibited strong binding affinity (-9.313 kcal/mol) and best ligand efficiency (0.49) with sigma-1 receptor. Here, we observed that the quaternary amino group of ropinirole is essential for binding with sigma-1 receptor. Molecular dynamic simulation indicated that the movement of the carboxy-terminal helices (α4/α5) could play a major role in the receptor's physiological functions. The neurotoxicity induced by Aβ25-35 in SH-SY5Y cells was reduced by ropinirole at concentrations 10, 30, and 50 µM. The effect on spatial learning and memory was examined in mice with Aβ25-35 induced memory deficit using the radial arm maze. Ropinirole (10 and 20 mg/kg) significantly improved the short and long-term memories in the radial arm maze test. Our results suggest that ropinirole has the potential to be repositioned for AD treatment.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amritha Chakkittukandiyil
- Department of Pharmacology, JSS College of Pharmacy, JSS Academy of Higher Education & Research, Ooty, Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Saurav Chakraborty
- Department of Pharmacology, JSS College of Pharmacy, JSS Academy of Higher Education & Research, Ooty, Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Ram Kothandan
- Bioinformatics Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology, Kumaraguru College of Technology, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Emdormi Rymbai
- Department of Pharmacology, JSS College of Pharmacy, JSS Academy of Higher Education & Research, Ooty, Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Santhosh Kumar Muthu
- Department of Biochemistry, Kongunadu Arts and Science College, GN Mills, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Soumya Vasu
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education & Research, Porur, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Deepak Vasudevan Sajini
- Department of Pharmacology, JSS College of Pharmacy, JSS Academy of Higher Education & Research, Ooty, Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Deepa Sugumar
- Department of Pharmacology, JSS College of Pharmacy, JSS Academy of Higher Education & Research, Ooty, Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Zubair Baba Mohammad
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, JSS College of Pharmacy, JSS Academy of Higher Education & Research, Ooty, Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Saravanan Jayaram
- Department of Pharmacology, JSS College of Pharmacy, JSS Academy of Higher Education & Research, Ooty, Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Kalirajan Rajagopal
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, JSS College of Pharmacy, JSS Academy of Higher Education & Research, Ooty, Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Vadivelan Ramachandran
- Department of Pharmacology, JSS College of Pharmacy, JSS Academy of Higher Education & Research, Ooty, Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Divakar Selvaraj
- Department of Pharmacology, JSS College of Pharmacy, JSS Academy of Higher Education & Research, Ooty, Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu, India
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48
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Jiménez-Herrera R, Contreras A, Djebari S, Mulero-Franco J, Iborra-Lázaro G, Jeremic D, Navarro-López J, Jiménez-Díaz L. Systematic characterization of a non-transgenic Aβ 1-42 amyloidosis model: synaptic plasticity and memory deficits in female and male mice. Biol Sex Differ 2023; 14:59. [PMID: 37716988 PMCID: PMC10504764 DOI: 10.1186/s13293-023-00545-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 09/18/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The amyloid-β (Aβ) cascade is one of the most studied theories linked to AD. In multiple models, Aβ accumulation and dyshomeostasis have shown a key role in AD onset, leading to excitatory/inhibitory imbalance, the impairments of synaptic plasticity and oscillatory activity, and memory deficits. Despite the higher prevalence of Alzheimer's disease (AD) in women compared to men, the possible sex difference is scarcely explored and the information from amyloidosis transgenic mice models is contradictory. Thus, given the lack of data regarding the early stages of amyloidosis in female mice, the aim of this study was to systematically characterize the effect of an intracerebroventricular (icv.) injection of Aβ1-42 on hippocampal-dependent memory, and on associated activity-dependent synaptic plasticity in the hippocampal CA1-CA3 synapse, in both male and female mice. METHODS To do so, we evaluated long term potentiation (LTP) with ex vivo electrophysiological recordings as well as encoding and retrieval of spatial (working, short- and long-term) and exploratory habituation memories using Barnes maze and object location, or open field habituation tasks, respectively. RESULTS Aβ1-42 administration impaired all forms of memory evaluated in this work, regardless of sex. This effect was displayed in a long-lasting manner (up to 17 days post-injection). LTP was inhibited at a postsynaptic level, both in males and females, and a long-term depression (LTD) was induced for the same prolonged period, which could underlie memory deficits. CONCLUSIONS In conclusion, our results provide further evidence on the shifting of LTP/LTD threshold due to a single icv. Aβ1-42 injection, which underly cognitive deficits in the early stages of AD. These long-lasting cognitive and functional alterations in males and females validate this model for the study of early amyloidosis in both sexes, thus offering a solid alternative to the inconsistence of amyloidosis transgenic mice models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raquel Jiménez-Herrera
- Neurophysiology and Behavior Lab, Biomedical Research Center (CRIB), School of Medicine of Ciudad Real, University of Castilla-La Mancha, 13071, Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - Ana Contreras
- Neurophysiology and Behavior Lab, Biomedical Research Center (CRIB), School of Medicine of Ciudad Real, University of Castilla-La Mancha, 13071, Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - Souhail Djebari
- Neurophysiology and Behavior Lab, Biomedical Research Center (CRIB), School of Medicine of Ciudad Real, University of Castilla-La Mancha, 13071, Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - Jaime Mulero-Franco
- Neurophysiology and Behavior Lab, Biomedical Research Center (CRIB), School of Medicine of Ciudad Real, University of Castilla-La Mancha, 13071, Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - Guillermo Iborra-Lázaro
- Neurophysiology and Behavior Lab, Biomedical Research Center (CRIB), School of Medicine of Ciudad Real, University of Castilla-La Mancha, 13071, Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - Danko Jeremic
- Neurophysiology and Behavior Lab, Biomedical Research Center (CRIB), School of Medicine of Ciudad Real, University of Castilla-La Mancha, 13071, Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - Juan Navarro-López
- Neurophysiology and Behavior Lab, Biomedical Research Center (CRIB), School of Medicine of Ciudad Real, University of Castilla-La Mancha, 13071, Ciudad Real, Spain.
| | - Lydia Jiménez-Díaz
- Neurophysiology and Behavior Lab, Biomedical Research Center (CRIB), School of Medicine of Ciudad Real, University of Castilla-La Mancha, 13071, Ciudad Real, Spain.
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49
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Yu H, Xiong M, Zhang Z. The role of glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta in neurodegenerative diseases. Front Mol Neurosci 2023; 16:1209703. [PMID: 37781096 PMCID: PMC10540228 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2023.1209703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs) pose an increasingly prevalent threat to the well-being and survival of elderly individuals worldwide. NDDs include Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), Huntington's disease (HD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and so on. They are characterized by progressive loss or dysfunction of neurons in the central or peripheral nervous system and share several cellular and molecular mechanisms, including protein aggregation, mitochondrial dysfunction, gene mutations, and chronic neuroinflammation. Glycogen synthase kinase-3 beta (GSK-3β) is a serine/threonine kinase that is believed to play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of NDDs. Here we summarize the structure and physiological functions of GSK3β and explore its involvement in NDDs. We also discussed its potential as a therapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Honglu Yu
- Department of Neurology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Min Xiong
- Department of Neurology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Zhentao Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
- TaiKang Center for Life and Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
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50
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Tang Y, Zhang D, Zheng J. Repurposing Antimicrobial Protegrin-1 as a Dual-Function Amyloid Inhibitor via Cross-seeding. ACS Chem Neurosci 2023; 14:3143-3155. [PMID: 37589476 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.3c00293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyloids and antimicrobial peptides have traditionally been recognized as distinct families with separate biological functions and targets. However, certain amyloids and antimicrobial peptides share structural and functional characteristics that contribute to the development of neurodegenerative diseases. Specifically, the aggregation of amyloid-β (Aβ) and microbial infections are interconnected pathological factors in Alzheimer's disease (AD). In this study, we propose and demonstrate a novel repurposing strategy for an antimicrobial peptide of protegrin-1 (PG-1), which exhibits the ability to simultaneously prevent Aβ aggregation and microbial infection both in vitro and in vivo. Through a comprehensive analysis using protein, cell, and worm assays, we uncover multiple functions of PG-1 against Aβ, including the following: (i) complete inhibition of Aβ aggregation at a low molar ratio of PG-1/Aβ = 0.25:1, (ii) disassembly of the preformed Aβ fibrils into amorphous aggregates, (iii) reduction of Aβ-induced cytotoxicity in SH-SY5Y cells and transgenic GMC101 nematodes, and (iv) preservation of original antimicrobial activity against P.A., E.coli., S.A., and S.E. strains in the presence of Aβ. Mechanistically, the dual anti-amyloid and anti-bacterial functions of PG-1 primarily arise from its strong binding to distinct Aβ seeds (KD = 1.24-1.90 μM) through conformationally similar β-sheet associations. This work introduces a promising strategy to repurpose antimicrobial peptides as amyloid inhibitors, effectively targeting multiple pathological pathways in AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yijing Tang
- Department of Chemical, Biomolecular, and Corrosion Engineering, The University of Akron, Akron, Ohio 44325, United States
| | - Dong Zhang
- Department of Chemical, Biomolecular, and Corrosion Engineering, The University of Akron, Akron, Ohio 44325, United States
| | - Jie Zheng
- Department of Chemical, Biomolecular, and Corrosion Engineering, The University of Akron, Akron, Ohio 44325, United States
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