1
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Sharma A, Ewald CY. Clearance of extracellular human amyloid-β aggregates in C. elegans by nutraceutical and pharmaceutical interventions. MICROPUBLICATION BIOLOGY 2024; 2024:10.17912/micropub.biology.000907. [PMID: 38287930 PMCID: PMC10823790 DOI: 10.17912/micropub.biology.000907] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2023] [Revised: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 01/31/2024]
Abstract
Numerous anti-amyloid therapies have seen recent clinical development and approval, such as the monoclonal antibodies aducanumab and lecanemab. However, in Alzheimer's disease patients, amyloid-β (Aβ) plaques are found embedded in the extracellular matrix and surrounded by collagens, which might hinder these antibodies from targeting the plaques. We reasoned that various different nutraceutical and pharmaceutical agents might induce collagen and extracellular matrix turnover and removal of these collagen-embedded amyloid-β (Aβ) plaques. To address this idea, here, we used a transgenic C. elegans strain, LSD2104 , expressing fluorescent human Aβ 1-42 as an in-vivo model for secreted amyloid aggregation in the extracellular matrix. We performed a screen of various nutraceuticals and pharmaceuticals along with different combinations, and we found that quercetin 350 µM and rifampicin 75 µM successfully cleared the extracellular amyloid plaque burden compared to the 0.2% DMSO control group, with a combination of the two agents producing the maximum effect compared to either drug alone. These results may implicate the exploration of combination therapeutics of nutraceuticals and pharmaceuticals in the clearance of amyloid-β (Aβ) plaques in Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arastu Sharma
- Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, Institute of Translational Medicine, 8603 Schwerzenbach-Zürich, Switzerland
- Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
| | - Collin Y Ewald
- Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, Institute of Translational Medicine, 8603 Schwerzenbach-Zürich, Switzerland
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2
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Kozin SA, Kechko OI, Adzhubei AA, Makarov AA, Mitkevich VA. Switching On/Off Amyloid Plaque Formation in Transgenic Animal Models of Alzheimer's Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 25:72. [PMID: 38203242 PMCID: PMC10778642 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25010072] [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: 11/24/2023] [Revised: 12/17/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
A hallmark of Alzheimer's disease (AD) are the proteinaceous aggregates formed by the amyloid-beta peptide (Aβ) that is deposited inside the brain as amyloid plaques. The accumulation of aggregated Aβ may initiate or enhance pathologic processes in AD. According to the amyloid hypothesis, any agent that has the capability to inhibit Aβ aggregation and/or destroy amyloid plaques represents a potential disease-modifying drug. In 2023, a humanized IgG1 monoclonal antibody (lecanemab) against the Aβ-soluble protofibrils was approved by the US FDA for AD therapy, thus providing compelling support to the amyloid hypothesis. To acquire a deeper insight on the in vivo Aβ aggregation, various animal models, including aged herbivores and carnivores, non-human primates, transgenic rodents, fish and worms were widely exploited. This review is based on the recent data obtained using transgenic animal AD models and presents experimental verification of the critical role in Aβ aggregation seeding of the interactions between zinc ions, Aβ with the isomerized Asp7 (isoD7-Aβ) and the α4β2 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergey A. Kozin
- Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, 119991 Moscow, Russia; (O.I.K.); (A.A.A.); (A.A.M.)
| | | | | | | | - Vladimir A. Mitkevich
- Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, 119991 Moscow, Russia; (O.I.K.); (A.A.A.); (A.A.M.)
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3
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Rani N, Alam MM, Jamal A, Bin Ghaffar U, Parvez S. Caenorhabditis elegans: A transgenic model for studying age-associated neurodegenerative diseases. Ageing Res Rev 2023; 91:102036. [PMID: 37598759 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2023.102036] [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: 05/09/2023] [Revised: 08/15/2023] [Accepted: 08/17/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023]
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) are a heterogeneous group of aging-associated ailments characterized by interrupting cellular proteostasic machinery and the misfolding of distinct proteins to form toxic aggregates in neurons. Neurodegenerative diseases, which include Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Huntington's disease (HD), and others, are becoming an increasing threat to human health worldwide. The degeneration and death of certain specific groups of neurons are the hallmarks of these diseases. Over the past decades, Caenorhabditis eleganshas beenwidely used as a transgenic model to investigate biological processes related to health and disease. The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) has developed as a powerful tool for studying disease mechanisms due to its ease of genetic handling and instant cultivation while providing a whole-animal system amendable to several molecular and biochemical techniques. In this review, we elucidate the potential of C. elegans as a versatile platform for systematic dissection of the molecular basis of human disease, focusing on neurodegenerative disorders, and may help better our understanding of the disease mechanisms and search for new therapeutics for these devastating diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nisha Rani
- Department of Toxicology, School of Chemical & Life Sciences, Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi 110062, India
| | - Mohammad Mumtaz Alam
- Drug Design and Medicinal Chemistry Lab, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, School of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi 110062, India
| | - Azfar Jamal
- Department of Biology, College of Science Al-Zulfi, Majmaah University, Al-Majmaah 11952, Saudi Arabia
| | - Usama Bin Ghaffar
- Department of Basic Science, College of Medicine, Majmaah University, Al-Majmaah 11952, Saudi Arabia
| | - Suhel Parvez
- Department of Toxicology, School of Chemical & Life Sciences, Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi 110062, India.
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4
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Jongsma E, Goyala A, Mateos JM, Ewald CY. Removal of extracellular human amyloid beta aggregates by extracellular proteases in C. elegans. eLife 2023; 12:e83465. [PMID: 37728486 PMCID: PMC10541181 DOI: 10.7554/elife.83465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2022] [Accepted: 09/19/2023] [Indexed: 09/21/2023] Open
Abstract
The amyloid beta (Aβ) plaques found in Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients' brains contain collagens and are embedded extracellularly. Several collagens have been proposed to influence Aβ aggregate formation, yet their role in clearance is unknown. To investigate the potential role of collagens in forming and clearance of extracellular aggregates in vivo, we created a transgenic Caenorhabditis elegans strain that expresses and secretes human Aβ1-42. This secreted Aβ forms aggregates in two distinct places within the extracellular matrix. In a screen for extracellular human Aβ aggregation regulators, we identified different collagens to ameliorate or potentiate Aβ aggregation. We show that a disintegrin and metalloprotease a disintegrin and metalloprotease 2 (ADM-2), an ortholog of ADAM9, reduces the load of extracellular Aβ aggregates. ADM-2 is required and sufficient to remove the extracellular Aβ aggregates. Thus, we provide in vivo evidence of collagens essential for aggregate formation and metalloprotease participating in extracellular Aβ aggregate removal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabeth Jongsma
- Laboratory of Extracellular Matrix Regeneration, Institute of Translational Medicine, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH ZürichSchwerzenbachSwitzerland
| | - Anita Goyala
- Laboratory of Extracellular Matrix Regeneration, Institute of Translational Medicine, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH ZürichSchwerzenbachSwitzerland
| | - José Maria Mateos
- Center for Microscopy and Image Analysis, University of ZurichZurichSwitzerland
| | - Collin Yvès Ewald
- Laboratory of Extracellular Matrix Regeneration, Institute of Translational Medicine, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH ZürichSchwerzenbachSwitzerland
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5
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de los Ríos C, Viejo L, Carretero VJ, Juárez NH, Cruz-Martins N, Hernández-Guijo JM. Promising Molecular Targets in Pharmacological Therapy for Neuronal Damage in Brain Injury. Antioxidants (Basel) 2023; 12:118. [PMID: 36670980 PMCID: PMC9854812 DOI: 10.3390/antiox12010118] [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: 11/24/2022] [Revised: 12/19/2022] [Accepted: 12/27/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The complex etiopathogenesis of brain injury associated with neurodegeneration has sparked a lot of studies in the last century. These clinical situations are incurable, and the currently available therapies merely act on symptoms or slow down the course of the diseases. Effective methods are being sought with an intent to modify the disease, directly acting on the properly studied targets, as well as to contribute to the development of effective therapeutic strategies, opening the possibility of refocusing on drug development for disease management. In this sense, this review discusses the available evidence for mitochondrial dysfunction induced by Ca2+ miscommunication in neurons, as well as how targeting phosphorylation events may be used to modulate protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) activity in the treatment of neuronal damage. Ca2+ tends to be the catalyst for mitochondrial dysfunction, contributing to the synaptic deficiency seen in brain injury. Additionally, emerging data have shown that PP2A-activating drugs (PADs) suppress inflammatory responses by inhibiting different signaling pathways, indicating that PADs may be beneficial for the management of neuronal damage. In addition, a few bioactive compounds have also triggered the activation of PP2A-targeted drugs for this treatment, and clinical studies will help in the authentication of these compounds. If the safety profiles of PADs are proven to be satisfactory, there is a case to be made for starting clinical studies in the setting of neurological diseases as quickly as possible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristóbal de los Ríos
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutic and Teófilo Hernando Institute, Faculty of Medicine, University Autónoma de Madrid, C/. Arzobispo Morcillo 4, 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Departamento de Ciencias Básicas de la Salud, University Rey Juan Carlos, Avda. Atenas s/n, 28922 Alcorcón, Spain
| | - Lucía Viejo
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutic and Teófilo Hernando Institute, Faculty of Medicine, University Autónoma de Madrid, C/. Arzobispo Morcillo 4, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Victoria Jiménez Carretero
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutic and Teófilo Hernando Institute, Faculty of Medicine, University Autónoma de Madrid, C/. Arzobispo Morcillo 4, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Natalia Hernández Juárez
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutic and Teófilo Hernando Institute, Faculty of Medicine, University Autónoma de Madrid, C/. Arzobispo Morcillo 4, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Natália Cruz-Martins
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute for Research and Innovation in Health (i3S), University of Porto, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal
- Institute for Research and Advanced Training in Health Sciences and Technologies, Rua Central de Gandra, 1317, 4585-116 Gandra, Portugal
| | - Jesús M. Hernández-Guijo
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutic and Teófilo Hernando Institute, Faculty of Medicine, University Autónoma de Madrid, C/. Arzobispo Morcillo 4, 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Ramón y Cajal Institute for Health Research, IRYCIS, Hospital Ramón y Cajal, Ctra. de Colmenar Viejo, Km. 9,100, 28029 Madrid, Spain
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6
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Kozin SA. Role of Interaction between Zinc and Amyloid Beta in Pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s Disease. BIOCHEMISTRY (MOSCOW) 2023; 88:S75-S87. [PMID: 37069115 DOI: 10.1134/s0006297923140055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/22/2023]
Abstract
Progression of Alzheimer's disease is accompanied by the appearance of extracellular deposits in the brain tissues of patients with characteristic supramolecular morphology (amyloid plaques) the main components of which are β-amyloid isoforms (Aβ) and biometal ions (zinc, copper, iron). For nearly 40 years and up to the present time, the vast majority of experimental data indicate critical role of formation and accumulation of amyloid plaques (cerebral amyloidogenesis) in pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease, however, nature of the molecular agents that initiate cerebral amyloidogenesis, as well as causes of aggregation of the native Aβ molecules in vivo remained unknown for a long time. This review discusses the current level of fundamental knowledge about the molecular mechanisms of interactions of zinc ions with a number of Aβ isoforms present in amyloid plaques of the patients with Alzheimer's disease, and also shows how this knowledge made it possible to identify driving forces of the cerebral amyloidogenesis in Alzheimer's disease and made it possible to determine fundamentally new biomarkers and drug targets as part of development of innovative strategy for diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergey A Kozin
- Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 119991, Russia.
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7
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Song X, Sun Y, Wang Z, Su Y, Wang Y, Wang X. Exendin-4 alleviates β-Amyloid peptide toxicity via DAF-16 in a Caenorhabditis elegans model of Alzheimer's disease. Front Aging Neurosci 2022; 14:955113. [PMID: 35992601 PMCID: PMC9389237 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2022.955113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2022] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Epidemiological analyses indicate that type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD). They share common pathophysiological mechanisms. Thus, it has been increasingly suggested that several anti-T2DM drugs may have therapeutic potential in AD. Exendin-4, as a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist, is an approved drug used to treat T2DM. In this research, the neuroprotective effect of Exendin-4 was investigated for the first time using transgenic Caenorhabditis elegans. Our results demonstrated that Exendin-4 attenuated the amyloid-β (1-42) (Aβ1-42) toxicity via multiple mechanisms, such as depressing its expression on protein and mRNA and reducing Aβ (1-42) accumulation. Exendin-4 at 0.5 mg/ml had been shown to extend life by 34.39% in CL4176 and delay the onset of paralysis in CL4176 and CL2006 which were increased by 8.18 and 8.02%, respectively. With the treatment of Exendin-4, the nuclear translocation of DAF-16 in the transgenic nematode TJ356 was enhanced. Superoxide dismutase-3 (SOD-3), as a downstream target gene regulated by DAF-16, was upregulated on mRNA level and activity. The reactive oxygen species (ROS) level was decreased. In contrast, we observed that the ability of Exendin-4 to regulate SOD was decreased in CL4176 worms with the DAF-16 gene silenced. The activity of SOD and the mRNA level of sod-3 were downregulated by 30.45 and 43.13%, respectively. Taken together, Exendin-4 attenuated Aβ (1-42) toxicity in the C. elegans model of AD via decreasing the expression and the accumulation of Aβ (1-42). Exendin-4 exhibited the ability of antioxidant stress through DAF-16. With continuous research, Exendin-4 would become a potential therapeutic strategy for treating AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiangwei Song
- School of Life Sciences, Changchun Normal University, Changchun, China
- *Correspondence: Xiangwei Song
| | - Yingqi Sun
- School of Life Sciences, Changchun Normal University, Changchun, China
| | - Zhun Wang
- Plant Inspection and Quarantine Laboratory, Changchun Customs Technical Center, Changchun, China
| | - Yingying Su
- School of Life Sciences, Changchun Normal University, Changchun, China
| | - Yangkun Wang
- School of Life Sciences, Changchun Normal University, Changchun, China
| | - Xueli Wang
- School of Grain, Jilin Business and Technology College, Changchun, China
- Xueli Wang
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8
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Modeling Alzheimer's Disease in Caenorhabditis elegans. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10020288. [PMID: 35203497 PMCID: PMC8869312 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10020288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2021] [Revised: 01/18/2022] [Accepted: 01/24/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most frequent cause of dementia. After decades of research, we know the importance of the accumulation of protein aggregates such as β-amyloid peptide and phosphorylated tau. We also know that mutations in certain proteins generate early-onset Alzheimer’s disease (EOAD), and many other genes modulate the disease in its sporadic form. However, the precise molecular mechanisms underlying AD pathology are still unclear. Because of ethical limitations, we need to use animal models to investigate these processes. The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans has received considerable attention in the last 25 years, since the first AD models overexpressing Aβ peptide were described. We review here the main results obtained using this model to study AD. We include works studying the basic molecular mechanisms of the disease, as well as those searching for new therapeutic targets. Although this model also has important limitations, the ability of this nematode to generate knock-out or overexpression models of any gene, single or combined, and to carry out toxicity, recovery or survival studies in short timeframes with many individuals and at low cost is difficult to overcome. We can predict that its use as a model for various diseases will certainly continue to increase.
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9
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Meng J, Lv Z, Guo M, Sun C, Li X, Jiang Z, Zhang W, Chen C. A Lycium barbarum extract inhibits β-amyloid toxicity by activating the antioxidant system and mtUPR in a Caenorhabditis elegans model of Alzheimer's disease. FASEB J 2022; 36:e22156. [PMID: 35044707 DOI: 10.1096/fj.202101116rr] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2021] [Revised: 12/16/2021] [Accepted: 12/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Lycium barbarum, a traditional Chinese medicine, has been shown to have antioxidant properties and has a protective effect in many diseases related to oxidative stress, such as neurodegenerative diseases, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer. Although the neuroprotective effects of L. barbarum extract (LBE) have been reported in several studies, the underlying molecular mechanisms are still unclear. In this study, the transgenic Caenorhabditis elegans strain CL2006 was used to investigate the function and molecular mechanism of an LBE in Alzheimer's disease (AD). LBE had high antioxidant potential and effectively delayed Aβ-induced paralysis in the CL2006 strain. LBE inhibited the production of excessive reactive oxygen species by inducing the SKN-1-mediated antioxidant system, thereby inhibiting the generation of Aβ and inhibiting mitochondrial damage. Importantly, LBE reduced Aβ levels by inducing FSHR-1-mediated activation of the mtUPR. Therefore, our study not only reveals a new mechanism of LBE in the treatment of AD but also identifies a novel strategy for the treatment of AD by enhancing the mtUPR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiao Meng
- National Laboratory of Biomacromolecules, CAS Center for Excellence in Biomacromolecules, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Zhenyu Lv
- National Laboratory of Biomacromolecules, CAS Center for Excellence in Biomacromolecules, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Miaomiao Guo
- National Laboratory of Biomacromolecules, CAS Center for Excellence in Biomacromolecules, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Chuanxin Sun
- National Laboratory of Biomacromolecules, CAS Center for Excellence in Biomacromolecules, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaopeng Li
- National Laboratory of Biomacromolecules, CAS Center for Excellence in Biomacromolecules, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Zhenguo Jiang
- Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Zhongning County, Yinchuan, China
| | - Wanchang Zhang
- Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Zhongning County, Yinchuan, China
| | - Chang Chen
- National Laboratory of Biomacromolecules, CAS Center for Excellence in Biomacromolecules, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
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10
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Mitkevich VA, Barykin EP, Eremina S, Pani B, Katkova-Zhukotskaya O, Polshakov VI, Adzhubei AA, Kozin SA, Mironov AS, Makarov AA, Nudler E. Zn-dependent β-amyloid Aggregation and its Reversal by the Tetrapeptide HAEE. Aging Dis 2022; 14:309-318. [PMID: 37008059 PMCID: PMC10017155 DOI: 10.14336/ad.2022.0827] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2022] [Accepted: 08/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is associated with the formation of cerebral amyloid plaques, the main components of which are the modified Aβ molecules as well as the metal ions. Aβ isomerized at Asp7 residue (isoD7-Aβ) is the most abundant isoform in amyloid plaques. We hypothesized that the pathogenic effect of isoD7-Aβ is due to the formation of zinc-dependent oligomers, and that this interaction can be disrupted by the rationally designed tetrapeptide (HAEE). Here, we utilized surface plasmon resonance, nuclear magnetic resonance, and molecular dynamics simulation to demonstrate Zn2+-dependent oligomerization of isoD7-Aβ and the formation of a stable isoD7-Aβ:Zn2+:HAEE complex incapable of forming oligomers. To demonstrate the physiological importance of zinc-dependent isoD7-Aβ oligomerization and the ability of HAEE to interfere with this process at the organismal level, we employed transgenic nematodes overexpressing human Aβ. We show that the presence of isoD7-Aβ in the medium triggers extensive amyloidosis that occurs in a Zn2+-dependent manner, enhances paralysis, and shortens the animals' lifespan. Exogenous HAEE completely reverses these pathological effects of isoD7-Aβ. We conclude that the synergistic action of isoD7-Aβ and Zn2+ promotes Aβ aggregation and that the selected small molecules capable of interrupting this process, such as HAEE, can potentially serve as anti-amyloid therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vladimir A Mitkevich
- Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia.
| | - Evgeny P Barykin
- Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia.
| | - Svetlana Eremina
- Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia.
| | - Bibhusita Pani
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, USA.
| | | | - Vladimir I Polshakov
- Faculty of Fundamental Medicine, M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia.
| | - Alexei A Adzhubei
- Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC, USA.
| | - Sergey A Kozin
- Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia.
| | - Alexander S Mironov
- Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia.
| | - Alexander A Makarov
- Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia.
| | - Evgeny Nudler
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, USA.
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, USA.
- Correspondence should be addressed to: Dr. Evgeny Nudler, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA. .
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11
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Pereira FSDO, Barbosa FAR, Canto RFS, Lucchese C, Pinton S, Braga AL, Azeredo JBD, Quines CB, Ávila DS. Dihydropyrimidinone-derived selenoesters efficacy and safety in an in vivo model of Aβ aggregation. Neurotoxicology 2021; 88:14-24. [PMID: 34718060 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuro.2021.10.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2021] [Revised: 10/15/2021] [Accepted: 10/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
In a previous in vitro study, dihydropyrimidinone-derived selenoesteres demonstrated antioxidant properties, metal chelators and inhibitory acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity, making these compounds promising candidates for Alzheimer's Disease (AD) treatment. However, these effects have yet to be demonstrated in an in vivo animal model; therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of eight selenoester compounds in a Caenorhabditis elegans model using transgenic strains for amyloid-beta peptide (Aβ) aggregation. The L1 stage worms were acutely exposed (30 min) to the compounds at concentrations ranging from 5 to 200 μM and after 48 h the maintenance temperature was increased to 25 ° C for Aβ expression and aggregation. After 48 h, several parameters related to phenotypic manifestations of Aβ toxicity and mechanistic elucidation were analyzed. At the concentrations tested no significant toxicity of the compounds was found. The selenoester compound FA90 significantly reduced the rate of paralyzed worms and increased the number of swimming movements compared to the untreated worms. In addition, FA90 and FA130 improved egg-laying induced by levamisole and positively modulated HSP-6 and HSP-4 expression, thereby increasing reticular and mitochondrial protein folding response in C. elegans, which could attenuate Aβ aggregation in early exposure. Therefore, our initial screening using an alternative model demonstrated that FA90, among the eight selenoesters evaluated, was the most promising compound for AD evaluation screening in more complex animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Flávia Suelen de Oliveira Pereira
- Graduate Program in Biochemistry, Laboratory of Biochemistry and Toxicology in Caenorhabditis elegans, Federal University of Pampa, Uruguaiana, RS, Brazil
| | - Flavio Augusto Rocha Barbosa
- Laboratory of Synthesis of Bioactive Selenium Compounds (LabSelen), Chemistry Department, Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC), Florianópolis, SC, Brazil
| | - Rômulo Farias Santos Canto
- Department of Pharmacosciences, Federal University of Health Sciences of Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | | | - Simone Pinton
- Graduate Program in Biochemistry, Laboratory of Biochemistry and Toxicology in Caenorhabditis elegans, Federal University of Pampa, Uruguaiana, RS, Brazil
| | - Antônio Luiz Braga
- Laboratory of Synthesis of Bioactive Selenium Compounds (LabSelen), Chemistry Department, Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC), Florianópolis, SC, Brazil
| | - Juliano Braun de Azeredo
- Graduate Program in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Pharmacy Course, Federal University of Pampa, Uruguaiana, RS, Brazil
| | - Caroline Brandão Quines
- Graduate Program in Biochemistry, Laboratory of Biochemistry and Toxicology in Caenorhabditis elegans, Federal University of Pampa, Uruguaiana, RS, Brazil
| | - Daiana Silva Ávila
- Graduate Program in Biochemistry, Laboratory of Biochemistry and Toxicology in Caenorhabditis elegans, Federal University of Pampa, Uruguaiana, RS, Brazil.
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12
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Russell JC, Lei H, Chaliparambil RK, Fish S, Markiewicz SM, Lee TI, Noori A, Kaeberlein M. Generation and characterization of a tractable C. elegans model of tauopathy. GeroScience 2021; 43:2621-2631. [PMID: 34536202 PMCID: PMC8599767 DOI: 10.1007/s11357-021-00436-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2021] [Accepted: 08/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease(AD) is an age-associated neurodegenerative disease that results in deterioration of memory and cognitive function. As a currently untreatable disorder, AD has emerged as one of the defining biomedical challenges of our time. Thus, new approaches that can examine the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying age-related AD pathology are sorely needed. One of the hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease is the hyperphosphorylation of the tau protein. Caenorhabditis elegans have been previously used to study the genetic pathways impacted by tau proteotoxic stress; however, currently, available C. elegans tau models express the human protein solely in neurons, which are unresponsive to global RNA interference (RNAi). This limits powerful RNAi screening methods from being utilized effectively in these disease models. Our goal was to develop a C. elegans tau model that has pronounced tau-induced disease phenotypes in cells that can be modified by feeding RNAi methods. Towards this end, we generated a novel C. elegans transgenic line with codon-optimized human 0N4R V337M tau expressed in the body wall muscle under the myo-3 promoter. Immunoblotting experiments revealed that the expressed tau is phosphorylated on epitopes canonically associated with human AD pathology. The tau line has significantly reduced health metrics, including egg laying, growth rate, paralysis, thrashing frequency, crawling speed, and lifespan. These defects are suppressed by RNAi directed against the tau mRNA. Taken together, our results suggest that this alternative tau genetic model could be a useful tool for uncovering the mechanisms that influence the hyperphosphorylation and toxicity of human tau via RNAi screening and other approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua C Russell
- Department of Laboratory Medicine & Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
| | - Haoyi Lei
- Department of Laboratory Medicine & Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Rahul K Chaliparambil
- Department of Laboratory Medicine & Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | | | - Ting-I Lee
- Department of Laboratory Medicine & Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | - Matt Kaeberlein
- Department of Laboratory Medicine & Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
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13
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Kapalavavi B, Doctor N, Zhang B, Yang Y. Subcritical Water Extraction of Salvia miltiorrhiza. Molecules 2021; 26:molecules26061634. [PMID: 33804141 PMCID: PMC8001979 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26061634] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2021] [Revised: 03/10/2021] [Accepted: 03/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
In this work, a green extraction technique, subcritical water extraction (SBWE), was employed to extract active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) from an important Chinese medicinal herb, Salvia miltiorrhiza (danshen), at various temperatures. The APIs included tanshinone I, tanshinone IIA, protocatechualdehyde, caffeic acid, and ferulic acid. Traditional herbal decoction (THD) of Salvia miltiorrhiza was also carried out for comparison purposes. Reproduction assay of herbal extracts obtained by both SBWE and THD were then conducted on Caenorhabditis elegans so that SBWE conditions could be optimized for the purpose of developing efficacious herbal medicine from Salvia miltiorrhiza. The extraction efficiency was mostly enhanced with increasing extraction temperature. The quantity of tanshinone I in the herbal extract obtained by SBWE at 150 °C was 370-fold higher than that achieved by THD extraction. Reproduction evaluation revealed that the worm reproduction rate decreased and the reproduction inhibition rate increased with elevated SBWE temperatures. Most importantly, the reproduction inhibition rate of the SBWE herbal extracts obtained at all four temperatures investigated was higher than that of traditional herbal decoction extracts. The results of this work show that there are several benefits of subcritical water extraction of medicinal herbs over other existing herbal medicine preparation techniques. Compared to THD, the thousand-year-old and yet still popular herbal preparation method used in herbal medicine, subcritical water extraction is conducted in a closed system where no loss of volatile active pharmaceutical ingredients occurs, although analyte degradation may happen at higher temperatures. Temperature optimization in SBWE makes it possible to be more efficient in extracting APIs from medicinal herbs than the THD method. Compared to other industrial processes of producing herbal medicine, subcritical water extraction eliminates toxic organic solvents. Thus, subcritical water extraction is not only environmentally friendly but also produces safer herbal medicine for patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brahmam Kapalavavi
- Department of Chemistry, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858, USA; (B.K.); (N.D.)
| | - Ninad Doctor
- Department of Chemistry, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858, USA; (B.K.); (N.D.)
| | - Baohong Zhang
- Department of Biology, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858, USA;
| | - Yu Yang
- Department of Chemistry, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858, USA; (B.K.); (N.D.)
- Correspondence: ; Fax: +1-252-328-6210
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14
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Li H, Yu X, Li C, Ma L, Zhao Z, Guan S, Wang L. Caffeic acid protects against Aβ toxicity and prolongs lifespan in Caenorhabditis elegans models. Food Funct 2021; 12:1219-1231. [DOI: 10.1039/d0fo02784g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Caffeic acid may alleviate Aβ-induced toxicity and increase lifespan by increasing signaling pathway-associated oxidative stress and regulating metabolism in C. elegans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Li
- Key Laboratory for Molecular Enzymology and Engineering
- the Ministry of Education
- Jilin University
- Changchun 130012
- China
| | - Xiaoxuan Yu
- Key Laboratory for Molecular Enzymology and Engineering
- the Ministry of Education
- Jilin University
- Changchun 130012
- China
| | - Chenxi Li
- Key Laboratory for Molecular Enzymology and Engineering
- the Ministry of Education
- Jilin University
- Changchun 130012
- China
| | - Lei Ma
- School of Life Sciences
- Jilin University
- Changchun 130012
- China
| | - Zhenyu Zhao
- School of Life Sciences
- Jilin University
- Changchun 130012
- China
| | - Shuwen Guan
- Key Laboratory for Molecular Enzymology and Engineering
- the Ministry of Education
- Jilin University
- Changchun 130012
- China
| | - Liping Wang
- Key Laboratory for Molecular Enzymology and Engineering
- the Ministry of Education
- Jilin University
- Changchun 130012
- China
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15
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Yan L, He X, Jin Y, Wang J, Liang F, Pei R, Li P, Wang Y, Su W. Modulation of the Aβ-Peptide-Aggregation Pathway by Active Compounds From Platycladus orientalis Seed Extract in Alzheimer's Disease Models. Front Aging Neurosci 2020; 12:207. [PMID: 32922281 PMCID: PMC7456918 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2020.00207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2020] [Accepted: 06/12/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by neuronal loss, cognitive impairment, and aphasia. Aggregation of β-amyloid (Aβ) peptide in the brain is considered a key mechanism in the development of AD. In the past 20 years, many compounds have been developed to inhibit Aβ aggregation and accelerate its degradation. Platycladus orientalis seed is a traditional Chinese medicine used to enhance intelligence and slow aging. We previously found that Platycladus orientalis seed extract (EPOS) inhibited Aβ-peptide aggregation in the hippocampus and reduced cognitive deficits in 5×FAD mice. However, the mechanisms of these effects have not been characterized. To characterize the protective mechanisms of EPOS, we used a transgenic Caenorhabditis elegans CL4176 model to perform Bioactivity-guided identification of active compounds. Four active compounds, comprising communic acid, isocupressic acid, imbricatolic acid, and pinusolide, were identified using 13C-and 1H-NMR spectroscopy. Furthermore, we showed that isocupressic acid inhibited Aβ generation by modulating BACE1 activity via the GSK3β/NF-κB pathway in HEK293-APPsw cells. These findings showed that EPOS reduced cognitive deficits in an AD model via modulation of the Aβ peptide aggregation pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Yan
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Plant Resources, Guangdong Engineering and Technology Research Center for Quality and Efficacy Reevaluation of Post-Market Traditional Chinese Medicine, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiang He
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Plant Resources, Guangdong Engineering and Technology Research Center for Quality and Efficacy Reevaluation of Post-Market Traditional Chinese Medicine, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yufan Jin
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Plant Resources, Guangdong Engineering and Technology Research Center for Quality and Efficacy Reevaluation of Post-Market Traditional Chinese Medicine, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jiawei Wang
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Plant Resources, Guangdong Engineering and Technology Research Center for Quality and Efficacy Reevaluation of Post-Market Traditional Chinese Medicine, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Fengying Liang
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Plant Resources, Guangdong Engineering and Technology Research Center for Quality and Efficacy Reevaluation of Post-Market Traditional Chinese Medicine, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Rongrong Pei
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Plant Resources, Guangdong Engineering and Technology Research Center for Quality and Efficacy Reevaluation of Post-Market Traditional Chinese Medicine, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Peibo Li
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Plant Resources, Guangdong Engineering and Technology Research Center for Quality and Efficacy Reevaluation of Post-Market Traditional Chinese Medicine, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yonggang Wang
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Plant Resources, Guangdong Engineering and Technology Research Center for Quality and Efficacy Reevaluation of Post-Market Traditional Chinese Medicine, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Weiwei Su
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Plant Resources, Guangdong Engineering and Technology Research Center for Quality and Efficacy Reevaluation of Post-Market Traditional Chinese Medicine, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
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16
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Chen Z, Deng J, Zhang X, Luo Y, Lu Y, Wu Z, Lin B. A novel micro-injection droplet microfluidic system for studying locomotive behavior responses to Cu 2+ induced neurotoxin in individual C.elegans. Anal Chim Acta 2020; 1106:61-70. [PMID: 32145856 DOI: 10.1016/j.aca.2020.01.050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2019] [Revised: 01/20/2020] [Accepted: 01/22/2020] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Analysis of C.elegans by droplet microfluidics has been widely used in study of locomotive behavior responses to neurotoxicity due to the capacity of high-throughput manipulating single cells. However, it has been difficult to manipulate droplets flexibly and actively on account of the limitation of the dimension of individual C. elegans droplets. In this study, a novel MiDMS (Micro-injection Droplet Microfluidic System) was proposed, which consisted of three parts: single C. elegans droplet generator, droplets drug micro-injection channels and drug-incubation observation array. Individual C.elegans droplets were produced initially by regulating the flow rates between oil and water phase as well as the concentration of C.elegans in suspension. Then, the drug solution was precisely injected into each C.elegans droplet, which by electricity induced surface tension of droplet changing. In addition, the effect of neurotoxic Cu2+ on locomotive behavior of C. elegans was evaluated at single cell resolution. The results showed that the neurotoxicity induced behavioral disorder of the C. elegans was more obvious with the increase of Cu2+ concentration or treatment time, and these dose-effect and time-effect relationship in MiDMS were similar as in petri dish. This study will provide a powerful platform for the study of the response of C. elegans to quantitative drug at single cell resolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zongzheng Chen
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen Second People's Hospital, Shenzhen, 518035, China; Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine Postdoctoral Research Station, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Jiu Deng
- State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, Department of Chemical Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, 116024, China
| | - Xiuli Zhang
- College of Pharmaceutical Science, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China
| | - Yong Luo
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen Second People's Hospital, Shenzhen, 518035, China; State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, Department of Chemical Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, 116024, China.
| | - Yao Lu
- Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian, 116023, China
| | - Zhengzhi Wu
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen Second People's Hospital, Shenzhen, 518035, China.
| | - Bingcheng Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, Department of Chemical Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, 116024, China; Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian, 116023, China
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17
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Alvarez J, Alvarez-Illera P, García-Casas P, Fonteriz RI, Montero M. The Role of Ca 2+ Signaling in Aging and Neurodegeneration: Insights from Caenorhabditis elegans Models. Cells 2020; 9:cells9010204. [PMID: 31947609 PMCID: PMC7016793 DOI: 10.3390/cells9010204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2019] [Revised: 01/08/2020] [Accepted: 01/10/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Ca2+ is a ubiquitous second messenger that plays an essential role in physiological processes such as muscle contraction, neuronal secretion, and cell proliferation or differentiation. There is ample evidence that the dysregulation of Ca2+ signaling is one of the key events in the development of neurodegenerative processes, an idea called the "calcium hypothesis" of neurodegeneration. Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) is a very good model for the study of aging and neurodegeneration. In fact, many of the signaling pathways involved in longevity were first discovered in this nematode, and many models of neurodegenerative diseases have also been developed therein, either through mutations in the worm genome or by expressing human proteins involved in neurodegeneration (β-amyloid, α-synuclein, polyglutamine, or others) in defined worm tissues. The worm is completely transparent throughout its whole life, which makes it possible to carry out Ca2+ dynamics studies in vivo at any time, by expressing Ca2+ fluorescent probes in defined worm tissues, and even in specific organelles such as mitochondria. This review will summarize the evidence obtained using this model organism to understand the role of Ca2+ signaling in aging and neurodegeneration.
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18
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Abstract
Ageing is the primary risk factor for most neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer disease (AD) and Parkinson disease (PD). One in ten individuals aged ≥65 years has AD and its prevalence continues to increase with increasing age. Few or no effective treatments are available for ageing-related neurodegenerative diseases, which tend to progress in an irreversible manner and are associated with large socioeconomic and personal costs. This Review discusses the pathogenesis of AD, PD and other neurodegenerative diseases, and describes their associations with the nine biological hallmarks of ageing: genomic instability, telomere attrition, epigenetic alterations, loss of proteostasis, mitochondrial dysfunction, cellular senescence, deregulated nutrient sensing, stem cell exhaustion and altered intercellular communication. The central biological mechanisms of ageing and their potential as targets of novel therapies for neurodegenerative diseases are also discussed, with potential therapies including NAD+ precursors, mitophagy inducers and inhibitors of cellular senescence.
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19
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Godini R, Pocock R, Fallahi H. Caenorhabditis elegans hub genes that respond to amyloid beta are homologs of genes involved in human Alzheimer's disease. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0219486. [PMID: 31291334 PMCID: PMC6619800 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0219486] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2019] [Accepted: 06/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The prominent characteristic of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the accumulation of amyloid beta (Abeta) proteins in the form of plaques that cause molecular and cellular alterations in the brain. Due to the paucity of brain samples of early-stage Abeta aggregation, animal models have been developed to study early events in AD. Caenorhabditis elegans is a genetically tractable animal model for AD. Here, we used transcriptomic data, network-based protein-protein interactions and weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA), to detect modules and their gene ontology in response to Abeta aggregation in C. elegans. Additionally, hub genes and their orthologues in human and mouse were identified to study their relation to AD. We also found several transcription factors (TFs) responding to Abeta accumulation. Our results show that Abeta expression in C. elegans relates to general processes such as molting cycle, locomotion, and larval development plus AD-associated processes, including protein phosphorylation, and G-protein coupled receptor-regulated pathways. We reveal that many hub genes and TFs including ttbk-2, daf-16, and unc-49 have human and mouse orthologues that are directly or potentially associated with AD and neural development. In conclusion, using systems biology we identified important genes and biological processes in C. elegans that respond to Abeta aggregation, which could be used as potential diagnostic or therapeutic targets. In addition, because of evolutionary relationship to AD in human, we suggest that C. elegans is a useful model for studying early molecular events in AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rasoul Godini
- Department of Biology, School of Sciences, Razi University, Kermanshah, Iran
- Development and Stem Cells Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Roger Pocock
- Development and Stem Cells Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Hossein Fallahi
- Department of Biology, School of Sciences, Razi University, Kermanshah, Iran
- * E-mail:
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20
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Du F, Zhou L, Jiao Y, Bai S, Wang L, Ma J, Fu X. Ingredients in Zijuan Pu'er Tea Extract Alleviate β-Amyloid Peptide Toxicity in a Caenorhabditis elegans Model of Alzheimer's Disease Likely through DAF-16. Molecules 2019; 24:molecules24040729. [PMID: 30781621 PMCID: PMC6412921 DOI: 10.3390/molecules24040729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2018] [Revised: 02/01/2019] [Accepted: 02/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyloid-β, one of the hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease (AD), is toxic to neurons and can also cause brain cell death. Oxidative stress is known to play an important role in AD, and there is strong evidence that oxidative stress is associated with amyloid-β. In the present study we report the protective effect of Zijuan Pu'er tea water extract (ZTWE) and the mixture of main ingredients (+)-catechins, caffeine and procyanidin (MCCP) in ZTWE on β-amyloid-induced toxicity in transgenic Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) CL4176 expressing the human Aβ1⁻42 gene. ZTWE, (+)-catechins, caffeine, procyanidin and MCCP delayed the β-amyloid-induced paralysis to different degrees. The MCCP treatment did not affect the transcript abundance of amyloid-β transgene (amy-1); however, Thioflavin T staining showed a significant decrease in Aβ accumulation compared to untreated worms. Further research using transgenic worms found that MCCP promoted the translocation of DAF-16 from cytoplasm to nucleus and increased the expression of superoxide dismutase 3 (SOD-3). In addition, MCCP decreased the reactive oxygen species (ROS) content and increased the SOD activity in CL4176 worms. In conclusion, the results suggested that MCCP had a significant protective effect on β-amyloid-induced toxicity in C. elegans by reducing β-amyloid aggregation and inducing DAF-16 nuclear translocation that could activate the downstream signal pathway and enhance resistance to oxidative stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fangzhou Du
- National Engineering Laboratory for AIDS Vaccine, School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, China.
| | - Lin Zhou
- National Engineering Laboratory for AIDS Vaccine, School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, China.
| | - Yan Jiao
- National Engineering Laboratory for AIDS Vaccine, School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, China.
| | - Shuju Bai
- National Engineering Laboratory for AIDS Vaccine, School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, China.
| | - Lu Wang
- National Engineering Laboratory for AIDS Vaccine, School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, China.
| | - Junfeng Ma
- National Engineering Laboratory for AIDS Vaccine, School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, China.
- Key Laboratory for Molecular Enzymology and Engineering, The Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, China.
| | - Xueqi Fu
- National Engineering Laboratory for AIDS Vaccine, School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, China.
- Key Laboratory for Molecular Enzymology and Engineering, The Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, China.
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21
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Wang C, Shou Y, Pan J, Du Y, Liu C, Wang H. The relationship between cholesterol level and Alzheimer’s disease-associated APP proteolysis/Aβ metabolism. Nutr Neurosci 2018; 22:453-463. [DOI: 10.1080/1028415x.2017.1416942] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Chaoqun Wang
- School of Medicine, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yikai Shou
- School of Medicine, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jie Pan
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, 2nd Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, People’s Republic of China
- Institute of Gastroenterology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yue Du
- School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Cuiqing Liu
- College of Basic Medicine, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Huanhuan Wang
- School of Medicine, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, People’s Republic of China
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Abstract
Numerous approaches have been taken in the hunt for human disease genes. The identification of such genes not only provides a great deal of information about the mechanism of disease development, but also provides potential avenues for better diagnosis and treatment. In this chapter, we review the use of the nonmammalian model organism C. elegans for the identification of human disease genes. Studies utilizing this relatively simple organism offer a good balance between the ability to recapitulate many aspects of human disease, while still offering an abundance of powerful cell biological, genetic, and genomic tools for disease gene discovery. C. elegans and other nonmammalian models have produced, and will continue to produce, key insights into human disease pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Javier Apfeld
- Department of Biology, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Scott Alper
- Department of Biomedical Research, Center for Genes, Environment and Health, National Jewish Health, Denver, CO, 80206, USA.
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA.
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23
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Griffin EF, Caldwell KA, Caldwell GA. Genetic and Pharmacological Discovery for Alzheimer's Disease Using Caenorhabditis elegans. ACS Chem Neurosci 2017; 8:2596-2606. [PMID: 29022701 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.7b00361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The societal burden presented by Alzheimer's disease warrants both innovative and expedient means by which its underlying molecular causes can be both identified and mechanistically exploited to discern novel therapeutic targets and strategies. The conserved characteristics, defined neuroanatomy, and advanced technological application of Caenorhabditis elegans render this metazoan an unmatched tool for probing neurotoxic factors. In addition, its short lifespan and importance in the field of aging make it an ideal organism for modeling age-related neurodegenerative disease. As such, this nematode system has demonstrated its value in predicting functional modifiers of human neurodegenerative disorders. Here, we review how C. elegans has been utilized to model Alzheimer's disease. Specifically, we present how the causative neurotoxic peptides, amyloid-β and tau, contribute to disease-like neurodegeneration in C. elegans and how they translate to human disease. Furthermore, we describe how a variety of transgenic animal strains, each with distinct utility, have been used to identify both genetic and pharmacological modifiers of toxicity in C. elegans. As technological advances improve the prospects for intervention, the rapidity, unparalleled accuracy, and scale that C. elegans offers researchers for defining functional modifiers of neurodegeneration should speed the discovery of improved therapies for Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edward F. Griffin
- Department
of Biological Sciences, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35487, United States
| | - Kim A. Caldwell
- Department
of Biological Sciences, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35487, United States
| | - Guy A. Caldwell
- Department
of Biological Sciences, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35487, United States
- Departments
of Neurology and Neurobiology, Center for Neurodegeneration and Experimental
Therapeutics, The University of Alabama School of Medicine at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama 35294, United States
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24
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Wang C, Saar V, Leung KL, Chen L, Wong G. Human amyloid β peptide and tau co-expression impairs behavior and causes specific gene expression changes in Caenorhabditis elegans. Neurobiol Dis 2017; 109:88-101. [PMID: 28982592 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2017.10.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2017] [Revised: 09/11/2017] [Accepted: 10/01/2017] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the presence of extracellular amyloid plaques consisting of Amyloid-β peptide (Aβ) aggregates and neurofibrillary tangles formed by aggregation of hyperphosphorylated microtubule-associated protein tau. We generated a novel invertebrate model of AD by crossing Aβ1-42 (strain CL2355) with either pro-aggregating tau (strain BR5270) or anti-aggregating tau (strain BR5271) pan-neuronal expressing transgenic Caenorhabditis elegans. The lifespan and progeny viability of the double transgenic strains were significantly decreased compared with wild type N2 (P<0.0001). In addition, co-expression of these transgenes interfered with neurotransmitter signaling pathways, caused deficits in chemotaxis associative learning, increased protein aggregation visualized by Congo red staining, and increased neuronal loss. Global transcriptomic RNA-seq analysis revealed 248 up- and 805 down-regulated genes in N2 wild type versus Aβ1-42+pro-aggregating tau animals, compared to 293 up- and 295 down-regulated genes in N2 wild type versus Aβ1-42+anti-aggregating tau animals. Gene set enrichment analysis of Aβ1-42+pro-aggregating tau animals uncovered up-regulated annotation clusters UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (5 genes, P<4.2E-4), protein phosphorylation (5 genes, P<2.60E-02), and aging (5 genes, P<8.1E-2) while the down-regulated clusters included nematode cuticle collagen (36 genes, P<1.5E-21). RNA interference of 13 available top up-regulated genes in Aβ1-42+pro-aggregating tau animals revealed that F-box family genes and nep-4 could enhance life span deficits and chemotaxis deficits while Y39G8C.2 (TTBK2) could suppress these behaviors. Comparing the list of regulated genes from C. elegans to the top 60 genes related to human AD confirmed an overlap of 8 genes: patched homolog 1, PTCH1 (ptc-3), the Rab GTPase activating protein, TBC1D16 (tbc-16), the WD repeat and FYVE domain-containing protein 3, WDFY3 (wdfy-3), ADP-ribosylation factor guanine nucleotide exchange factor 2, ARFGEF2 (agef-1), Early B-cell Factor, EBF1 (unc-3), d-amino-acid oxidase, DAO (daao-1), glutamate receptor, metabotropic 1, GRM1 (mgl-2), prolyl 4-hydroxylase subunit alpha 2, P4HA2 (dpy-18 and phy-2). Taken together, our C. elegans double transgenic model provides insight on the fundamental neurobiologic processes underlying human AD and recapitulates selected transcriptomic changes observed in human AD brains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenyin Wang
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, 999078, Macau
| | - Valeria Saar
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, 999078, Macau
| | - Ka Lai Leung
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, 999078, Macau
| | - Liang Chen
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, 999078, Macau
| | - Garry Wong
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, 999078, Macau.
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25
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Metheetrairut C, Ahuja Y, Slack FJ. acn-1, a C. elegans homologue of ACE, genetically interacts with the let-7 microRNA and other heterochronic genes. Cell Cycle 2017; 16:1800-1809. [PMID: 28933985 DOI: 10.1080/15384101.2017.1344798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The heterochronic pathway in C. elegans controls the relative timing of cell fate decisions during post-embryonic development. It includes a network of microRNAs (miRNAs), such as let-7, and protein-coding genes, such as the stemness factors, LIN-28 and LIN-41. Here we identified the acn-1 gene, a homologue of mammalian angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE), as a new suppressor of the stem cell developmental defects of let-7 mutants. Since acn-1 null mutants die during early larval development, we used RNAi to characterize the role of acn-1 in C. elegans seam cell development, and determined its interaction with heterochronic factors, including let-7 and its downstream interactors - lin-41, hbl-1, and apl-1. We demonstrate that although RNAi knockdown of acn-1 is insufficient to cause heterochronic defects on its own, loss of acn-1 suppresses the retarded phenotypes of let-7 mutants and enhances the precocious phenotypes of hbl-1, though not lin-41, mutants. Conversely, the pattern of acn-1 expression, which oscillates during larval development, is disrupted by lin-41 mutants but not by hbl-1 mutants. Finally, we show that acn-1(RNAi) enhances the let-7-suppressing phenotypes caused by loss of apl-1, a homologue of the Alzheimer's disease-causing amyloid precursor protein (APP), while significantly disrupting the expression of apl-1 during the L4 larval stage. In conclusion, acn-1 interacts with heterochronic genes and appears to function downstream of let-7 and its target genes, including lin-41 and apl-1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chanatip Metheetrairut
- a Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology , Yale University , New Haven , CT , USA
| | - Yuri Ahuja
- a Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology , Yale University , New Haven , CT , USA
| | - Frank J Slack
- a Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology , Yale University , New Haven , CT , USA
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26
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Grigorenko AP, Moliaka YK, Plotnikova OV, Smirnov A, Nikishina VA, Goltsov AY, Gusev F, Andreeva TV, Nelson O, Bezprozvanny I, Rogaev EI. Mutational re-modeling of di-aspartyl intramembrane proteases: uncoupling physiologically-relevant activities from those associated with Alzheimer's disease. Oncotarget 2017; 8:82006-82026. [PMID: 29137240 PMCID: PMC5669866 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.18299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2016] [Accepted: 04/28/2017] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The intramembrane proteolytic activities of presenilins (PSEN1/PS1 and PSEN2/PS2) underlie production of β-amyloid, the key process in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Dysregulation of presenilin-mediated signaling is linked to cancers. Inhibition of the γ-cleavage activities of PSENs that produce Aβ, but not the ε-like cleavage activity that release physiologically essential transcription activators, is a potential approach for the development of rational therapies for AD. In order to identify whether different activities of PSEN1 can be dissociated, we designed multiple mutations in the evolutionary conserved sites of PSEN1. We tested them in vitro and in vivo assays and compared their activities with mutant isoforms of presenilin-related intramembrane di-aspartyl protease (IMPAS1 (IMP1)/signal peptide peptidase (SPP)). PSEN1 auto-cleavage was more resistant to the mutation remodeling than the ε-like proteolysis. PSEN1 with a G382A or a P433A mutation in evolutionary invariant sites retains functionally important APP ε- and Notch S3- cleavage activities, but G382A inhibits APP γ-cleavage and Aβ production and a P433A elevates Aβ. The G382A variant cannot restore the normal cellular ER Ca2+ leak in PSEN1/PSEN2 double knockout cells, but efficiently rescues the loss-of-function (Egl) phenotype of presenilin in C. elegans. We found that, unlike in PSEN1 knockout cells, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) Ca2+ leak is not changed in the absence of IMP1/SPP. IMP1/SPP with the analogous mutations retained efficiency in cleavage of transmembrane substrates and rescued the lethality of Ce-imp-2 knockouts. In summary, our data show that mutations near the active catalytic sites of intramembrane di-aspartyl proteases have different consequences on proteolytic and signaling functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anastasia P Grigorenko
- Department of Psychiatry, Brudnick Neuropsychiatric Research Institute, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01604, USA.,Department of Genomics and Human Genetics, Institute of General Genetics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 119991 Russia.,Center for Brain Neurobiology and Neurogenetics, Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, 630090, Russia
| | - Youri K Moliaka
- Department of Psychiatry, Brudnick Neuropsychiatric Research Institute, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01604, USA
| | - Olga V Plotnikova
- Department of Psychiatry, Brudnick Neuropsychiatric Research Institute, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01604, USA
| | - Alexander Smirnov
- Department of Psychiatry, Brudnick Neuropsychiatric Research Institute, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01604, USA
| | - Vera A Nikishina
- Department of Psychiatry, Brudnick Neuropsychiatric Research Institute, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01604, USA
| | - Andrey Y Goltsov
- Department of Genomics and Human Genetics, Institute of General Genetics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 119991 Russia.,Center for Brain Neurobiology and Neurogenetics, Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, 630090, Russia
| | - Fedor Gusev
- Department of Genomics and Human Genetics, Institute of General Genetics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 119991 Russia.,Center for Brain Neurobiology and Neurogenetics, Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, 630090, Russia
| | - Tatiana V Andreeva
- Department of Genomics and Human Genetics, Institute of General Genetics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 119991 Russia.,Center for Brain Neurobiology and Neurogenetics, Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, 630090, Russia
| | - Omar Nelson
- Department of Physiology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, Dallas, TX 75390-9040, USA
| | - Ilya Bezprozvanny
- Department of Physiology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, Dallas, TX 75390-9040, USA
| | - Evgeny I Rogaev
- Department of Psychiatry, Brudnick Neuropsychiatric Research Institute, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01604, USA.,Department of Genomics and Human Genetics, Institute of General Genetics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 119991 Russia.,Center for Brain Neurobiology and Neurogenetics, Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, 630090, Russia.,Center for Genetics and Genetic Technologies, Faculty of Biology, Faculty of Bioengineering and Bioinformatics, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, 119234, Russia
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27
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Ewald CY, Marfil V, Li C. Alzheimer-related protein APL-1 modulates lifespan through heterochronic gene regulation in Caenorhabditis elegans. Aging Cell 2016; 15:1051-1062. [PMID: 27557896 PMCID: PMC5114704 DOI: 10.1111/acel.12509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/30/2016] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is an age‐associated disease. Mutations in the amyloid precursor protein (APP) may be causative or protective of AD. The presence of two functionally redundant APP‐like genes (APLP1/2) has made it difficult to unravel the biological function of APP during aging. The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans contains a single APP family member, apl‐1. Here, we assessed the function of APL‐1 on C. elegans’ lifespan and found tissue‐specific effects on lifespan by overexpression of APL‐1. Overexpression of APL‐1 in neurons causes lifespan reduction, whereas overexpression of APL‐1 in the hypodermis causes lifespan extension by repressing the function of the heterochronic transcription factor LIN‐14 to preserve youthfulness. APL‐1 lifespan extension also requires signaling through the FOXO transcription factor DAF‐16, heat‐shock factor HSF‐1, and vitamin D‐like nuclear hormone receptor DAF‐12. We propose that reinforcing APL‐1 expression in the hypodermis preserves the regulation of heterochronic lin‐14 gene network to improve maintenance of somatic tissues via DAF‐16/FOXO and HSF‐1 to promote healthy aging. Our work reveals a mechanistic link of how a conserved APP‐related protein modulates aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Collin Y. Ewald
- Graduate Center City University of New York New York NY USA
- Department of Biology City College of New York New York NY USA
| | - Vanessa Marfil
- Department of Biology City College of New York New York NY USA
| | - Chris Li
- Graduate Center City University of New York New York NY USA
- Department of Biology City College of New York New York NY USA
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28
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A Cultivated Form of a Red Seaweed (Chondrus crispus), Suppresses β-Amyloid-Induced Paralysis in Caenorhabditis elegans. Mar Drugs 2015; 13:6407-24. [PMID: 26492254 PMCID: PMC4626697 DOI: 10.3390/md13106407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2015] [Revised: 09/23/2015] [Accepted: 09/30/2015] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
We report here the protective effects of a methanol extract from a cultivated strain of the red seaweed, Chondrus crispus, against β-amyloid-induced toxicity, in a transgenic Caenorhabditis elegans, expressing human Aβ1-42 gene. The methanol extract of C. crispus (CCE), delayed β-amyloid-induced paralysis, whereas the water extract (CCW) was not effective. The CCE treatment did not affect the transcript abundance of amy1; however, Western blot analysis revealed a significant decrease of Aβ species, as compared to untreated worms. The transcript abundance of stress response genes; sod3, hsp16.2 and skn1 increased in CCE-treated worms. Bioassay guided fractionation of the CCE yielded a fraction enriched in monogalactosyl diacylglycerols (MGDG) that significantly delayed the onset of β-amyloid-induced paralysis. Taken together, these results suggested that the cultivated strain of C. crispus, whilst providing dietary nutritional value, may also have significant protective effects against β-amyloid-induced toxicity in C. elegans, partly through reduced β-amyloid species, up-regulation of stress induced genes and reduced accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS).
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29
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Guo H, Cao M, Zou S, Ye B, Dong Y. Cranberry Extract Standardized for Proanthocyanidins Alleviates β-Amyloid Peptide Toxicity by Improving Proteostasis Through HSF-1 in Caenorhabditis elegans Model of Alzheimer's Disease. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci 2015; 71:1564-1573. [PMID: 26405062 DOI: 10.1093/gerona/glv165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2015] [Accepted: 08/31/2015] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
A growing body of evidence suggests that nutraceuticals with prolongevity properties may delay the onset of Alzheimer's disease (AD). We recently demonstrated that a proanthocyanidins-standardized cranberry extract has properties that prolong life span and promote innate immunity in Caenorhabditis elegans In this article, we report that supplementation of this cranberry extract delayed Aβ toxicity-triggered body paralysis in the C elegans AD model. Genetic analyses indicated that the cranberry-mediated Aβ toxicity alleviation required heat shock transcription factor (HSF)-1 rather than DAF-16 and SKN-1. Moreover, cranberry supplementation increased the transactivity of HSF-1 in an IIS-dependent manner. Further studies found that the cranberry extract relies on HSF-1 to significantly enhance the solubility of proteins in aged worms, implying an improved proteostasis in AD worms. Considering that HSF-1 plays a pivotal role in maintaining proteostasis, our results suggest that cranberry maintains the function of proteostasis through HSF-1, thereby protecting C elegans against Aβ toxicity. Together, our findings elucidated the mechanism whereby cranberry attenuated Aβ toxicity in C elegans and stressed the significance of proteostasis in the prevention of age-related diseases from a practical point of view.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong Guo
- Department of Biological Sciences, Clemson University, South Carolina.,School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Min Cao
- Department of Biological Sciences, Clemson University, South Carolina.,Institute for Engaged Aging, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina
| | - Sige Zou
- Functional Genomics Unit, Translational Gerontology Branch, National Institute on Aging, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Boping Ye
- School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yuqing Dong
- Department of Biological Sciences, Clemson University, South Carolina. .,Institute for Engaged Aging, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina
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30
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Liu H, Wang L, Lv M, Pei R, Li P, Pei Z, Wang Y, Su W, Xie XQ. AlzPlatform: an Alzheimer's disease domain-specific chemogenomics knowledgebase for polypharmacology and target identification research. J Chem Inf Model 2014; 54:1050-60. [PMID: 24597646 PMCID: PMC4010297 DOI: 10.1021/ci500004h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 159] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
![]()
Alzheimer’s
disease (AD) is one of the most complicated progressive neurodegeneration
diseases that involve many genes, proteins, and their complex interactions.
No effective medicines or treatments are available yet to stop or
reverse the progression of the disease due to its polygenic nature.
To facilitate discovery of new AD drugs and better understand the
AD neurosignaling pathways involved, we have constructed an Alzheimer’s
disease domain-specific chemogenomics knowledgebase, AlzPlatform (www.cbligand.org/AD/) with cloud computing and sourcing
functions. AlzPlatform is implemented with powerful computational
algorithms, including our established TargetHunter, HTDocking, and
BBB Predictor for target identification and polypharmacology analysis
for AD research. The platform has assembled various AD-related chemogenomics
data records, including 928 genes and 320 proteins related to AD,
194 AD drugs approved or in clinical trials, and 405 188 chemicals
associated with 1 023 137 records of reported bioactivities
from 38 284 corresponding bioassays and 10 050 references.
Furthermore, we have demonstrated the application of the AlzPlatform
in three case studies for identification of multitargets and polypharmacology
analysis of FDA-approved drugs and also for screening and prediction
of new AD active small chemical molecules and potential novel AD drug
targets by our established TargetHunter and/or HTDocking programs.
The predictions were confirmed by reported bioactivity data and our
in vitro experimental validation. Overall, AlzPlatform will enrich
our knowledge for AD target identification, drug discovery, and polypharmacology
analyses and, also, facilitate the chemogenomics data sharing and
information exchange/communications in aid of new anti-AD drug discovery
and development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haibin Liu
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Computational Chemical Genomics Screening Center, School of Pharmacy; Drug Discovery Institute; University of Pittsburgh , Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15260, United States
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31
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Diomede L, Di Fede G, Romeo M, Bagnati R, Ghidoni R, Fiordaliso F, Salio M, Rossi A, Catania M, Paterlini A, Benussi L, Bastone A, Stravalaci M, Gobbi M, Tagliavini F, Salmona M. Expression of A2V-mutated Aβ in Caenorhabditis elegans results in oligomer formation and toxicity. Neurobiol Dis 2013; 62:521-32. [PMID: 24184799 PMCID: PMC4068289 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2013.10.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2012] [Revised: 10/15/2013] [Accepted: 10/24/2013] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Although Alzheimer's disease (AD) is usually sporadic, in a small proportion of cases it is familial and can be linked to mutations in β-amyloid precursor protein (APP). Unlike the other genetic defects, the mutation [alanine-673→valine-673] (A673V) causes the disease only in the homozygous condition with enhanced amyloid β (Aβ) production and aggregation; heterozygous carriers remain unaffected. It is not clear how misfolding and aggregation of Aβ is affected in vivo by this mutation and whether this correlates with its toxic effects. No animal models over-expressing the A673V–APP gene or alanine-2-valine (A2V) mutated human Aβ protein are currently available. Using the invertebrate Caenorhabditis elegans, we generated the first transgenic animal model to express the human Aβ1–40 wild-type (WT) in neurons or possess the A2V mutation (Aβ1–40A2V). Insertion of an Aβ-mutated gene into this nematode reproduced the homozygous state of the human pathology. Functional and biochemical characteristics found in the A2V strain were compared to those of transgenic C. elegans expressing Aβ1–40WT. The expression of both WT and A2V Aβ1–40 specifically reduced the nematode's lifespan, causing behavioral defects and neurotransmission impairment which were worse in A2V worms. Mutant animals were more resistant than WT to paralysis induced by the cholinergic agonist levamisole, indicating that the locomotor defect was specifically linked to postsynaptic dysfunctions. The toxicity caused by the mutated protein was associated with a high propensity to form oligomeric assemblies which accumulate in the neurons, suggesting this to be the central event involved in the postsynaptic damage and early onset of the disease in homozygous human A673V carriers. We generated the first transgenic animal model expressing in neurons the human Aβ1–40 wild-type or has the A2V mutation. Aβ1–40 expression reduced the worm's lifespan, caused behavioral and neuronal defects which were worse in the A2V strain. The behavioral defects of mutant worms were specifically linked to postsynaptic dysfunctions. The toxicity of Aβ1–40A2V was associated with its high propensity to form oligomers which accumulate in the neurons. These transgenic strains represent an attractive tools for an in vivo screening of compounds interfering with oligomers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luisa Diomede
- Department of Molecular Biochemistry and Pharmacology, IRCCS-Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche "Mario Negri", Via La Masa 19, 20156 Milan, Italy.
| | - Giuseppe Di Fede
- Division of Neurology and Neuropathology, "Carlo Besta" National Neurological Institute, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Margherita Romeo
- Department of Molecular Biochemistry and Pharmacology, IRCCS-Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche "Mario Negri", Via La Masa 19, 20156 Milan, Italy
| | - Renzo Bagnati
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, IRCCS-Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche "Mario Negri", Via La Masa 19, 20156 Milan, Italy
| | - Roberta Ghidoni
- Proteomics Unit, IRCCS "Centro S. Giovanni di Dio-Fatebenefratelli", Via Pilastroni 4, 25125 Brescia, Italy
| | - Fabio Fiordaliso
- Department of Cardiovascular Research, IRCCS-Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche "Mario Negri", Via La Masa 19, 20156 Milan, Italy
| | - Monica Salio
- Department of Cardiovascular Research, IRCCS-Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche "Mario Negri", Via La Masa 19, 20156 Milan, Italy
| | - Alessandro Rossi
- Department of Molecular Biochemistry and Pharmacology, IRCCS-Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche "Mario Negri", Via La Masa 19, 20156 Milan, Italy
| | - Marcella Catania
- Division of Neurology and Neuropathology, "Carlo Besta" National Neurological Institute, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Anna Paterlini
- Proteomics Unit, IRCCS "Centro S. Giovanni di Dio-Fatebenefratelli", Via Pilastroni 4, 25125 Brescia, Italy
| | - Luisa Benussi
- Proteomics Unit, IRCCS "Centro S. Giovanni di Dio-Fatebenefratelli", Via Pilastroni 4, 25125 Brescia, Italy
| | - Antonio Bastone
- Department of Molecular Biochemistry and Pharmacology, IRCCS-Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche "Mario Negri", Via La Masa 19, 20156 Milan, Italy
| | - Matteo Stravalaci
- Department of Molecular Biochemistry and Pharmacology, IRCCS-Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche "Mario Negri", Via La Masa 19, 20156 Milan, Italy
| | - Marco Gobbi
- Department of Molecular Biochemistry and Pharmacology, IRCCS-Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche "Mario Negri", Via La Masa 19, 20156 Milan, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Tagliavini
- Division of Neurology and Neuropathology, "Carlo Besta" National Neurological Institute, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Mario Salmona
- Department of Molecular Biochemistry and Pharmacology, IRCCS-Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche "Mario Negri", Via La Masa 19, 20156 Milan, Italy
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32
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Saraceno C, Musardo S, Marcello E, Pelucchi S, Di Luca M. Modeling Alzheimer's disease: from past to future. Front Pharmacol 2013; 4:77. [PMID: 23801962 PMCID: PMC3685797 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2013.00077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2013] [Accepted: 05/30/2013] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is emerging as the most prevalent and socially disruptive illness of aging populations, as more people live long enough to become affected. Although AD is placing a considerable and increasing burden on society, it represents the largest unmet medical need in neurology, because current drugs improve symptoms, but do not have profound disease-modifying effects. Although AD pathogenesis is multifaceted and difficult to pinpoint, genetic and cell biological studies led to the amyloid hypothesis, which posits that amyloid β (Aβ) plays a pivotal role in AD pathogenesis. Amyloid precursor protein (APP), as well as β- and γ-secretases are the principal players involved in Aβ production, while α-secretase cleavage on APP prevents Aβ deposition. The association of early onset familial AD with mutations in the APP and γ-secretase components provided a potential tool of generating animal models of the disease. However, a model that recapitulates all the aspects of AD has not yet been produced. Here, we face the problem of modeling AD pathology describing several models, which have played a major role in defining critical disease-related mechanisms and in exploring novel potential therapeutic approaches. In particular, we will provide an extensive overview on the distinct features and pros and contras of different AD models, ranging from invertebrate to rodent models and finally dealing with computational models and induced pluripotent stem cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Saraceno
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmacologiche e Biomolecolari, Università degli Studi di Milano Milano, Italy ; Centre of Excellence on Neurodegenerative Diseases, Università degli Studi di Milano Milano, Italy
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33
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Götz J, Xia D, Leinenga G, Chew YL, Nicholas HR. What Renders TAU Toxic. Front Neurol 2013; 4:72. [PMID: 23772223 PMCID: PMC3677143 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2013.00072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2013] [Accepted: 05/28/2013] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
TAU is a microtubule-associated protein that under pathological conditions such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) forms insoluble, filamentous aggregates. When 20 years after TAU's discovery the first TAU transgenic mouse models were established, one declared goal that was achieved was the modeling of authentic TAU aggregate formation in the form of neurofibrillary tangles. However, as we review here, it has become increasingly clear that TAU causes damage much before these filamentous aggregates develop. In fact, because TAU is a scaffolding protein, increased levels and an altered subcellular localization (due to an increased insolubility and impaired clearance) result in the interaction of TAU with cellular proteins with which it would otherwise either not interact or do so to a lesser degree, thereby impairing their physiological functions. We specifically discuss the non-axonal localization of TAU, the role phosphorylation has in TAU toxicity and how TAU impairs mitochondrial functions. A major emphasis is on what we have learned from the four available TAU knock-out models in mice, and the knock-out of the TAU/MAP2 homolog PTL-1 in worms. It has been proposed that in human pathological conditions such as AD, a rare toxic TAU species exists which needs to be specifically removed to abrogate TAU's toxicity and restore neuronal functions. However, what is toxic in one context may not be in another, and simply reducing, but not fully abolishing TAU levels may be sufficient to abrogate TAU toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jürgen Götz
- Centre for Ageing Dementia Research, Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- Sydney Medical School, Brain and Mind Research Institute, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Di Xia
- Centre for Ageing Dementia Research, Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Gerhard Leinenga
- Centre for Ageing Dementia Research, Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Yee Lian Chew
- School of Molecular Bioscience, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Hannah R. Nicholas
- School of Molecular Bioscience, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
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34
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Mace DL, Weisdepp P, Gevirtzman L, Boyle T, Waterston RH. A high-fidelity cell lineage tracing method for obtaining systematic spatiotemporal gene expression patterns in Caenorhabditis elegans. G3 (BETHESDA, MD.) 2013; 3:851-63. [PMID: 23550142 PMCID: PMC3656732 DOI: 10.1534/g3.113.005918] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2013] [Accepted: 03/16/2013] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Advances in microscopy and fluorescent reporters have allowed us to detect the onset of gene expression on a cell-by-cell basis in a systemic fashion. This information, however, is often encoded in large repositories of images, and developing ways to extract this spatiotemporal expression data is a difficult problem that often uses complex domain-specific methods for each individual data set. We present a more unified approach that incorporates general previous information into a hierarchical probabilistic model to extract spatiotemporal gene expression from 4D confocal microscopy images of developing Caenorhabditis elegans embryos. This approach reduces the overall error rate of our automated lineage tracing pipeline by 3.8-fold, allowing us to routinely follow the C. elegans lineage to later stages of development, where individual neuronal subspecification becomes apparent. Unlike previous methods that often use custom approaches that are organism specific, our method uses generalized linear models and extensions of standard reversible jump Markov chain Monte Carlo methods that can be readily extended to other organisms for a variety of biological inference problems relating to cell fate specification. This modeling approach is flexible and provides tractable avenues for incorporating additional previous information into the model for similar difficult high-fidelity/low error tolerance image analysis problems for systematically applied genomic experiments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel L Mace
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98103, USA.
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35
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Martorell P, Bataller E, Llopis S, Gonzalez N, Álvarez B, Montón F, Ortiz P, Ramón D, Genovés S. A cocoa peptide protects Caenorhabditis elegans from oxidative stress and β-amyloid peptide toxicity. PLoS One 2013; 8:e63283. [PMID: 23675471 PMCID: PMC3652819 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0063283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2012] [Accepted: 03/29/2013] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Cocoa and cocoa-based products contain different compounds with beneficial properties for human health. Polyphenols are the most frequently studied, and display antioxidant properties. Moreover, protein content is a very interesting source of antioxidant bioactive peptides, which can be used therapeutically for the prevention of age-related diseases. Methodology/Principal Findings A bioactive peptide, 13L (DNYDNSAGKWWVT), was obtained from a hydrolyzed cocoa by-product by chromatography. The in vitro inhibition of prolyl endopeptidase (PEP) was used as screening method to select the suitable fraction for peptide identification. Functional analysis of 13L peptide was achieved using the transgenic Caenorhabditis elegans strain CL4176 expressing the human Aβ1–42 peptide as a pre-clinical in vivo model for Alzheimer's disease. Among the peptides isolated, peptide 13L (1 µg/mL) showed the highest antioxidant activity (P≤0.001) in the wild-type strain (N2). Furthermore, 13L produced a significant delay in body paralysis in strain CL4176, especially in the 24–47 h period after Aβ1–42 peptide induction (P≤0.0001). This observation is in accordance with the reduction of Aβ deposits in CL4176 by western blot. Finally, transcriptomic analysis in wild-type nematodes treated with 13L revealed modulation of the proteosomal and synaptic functions as the main metabolic targets of the peptide. Conclusions/Significance These findings suggest that the cocoa 13L peptide has antioxidant activity and may reduce Aβ deposition in a C. elegans model of Alzheimer's disease; and therefore has a putative therapeutic potential for prevention of age-related diseases. Further studies in murine models and humans will be essential to analyze the effectiveness of the 13L peptide in higher animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia Martorell
- Cell Biology Laboratory, Food Biotechnology Department, Biópolis SL, Paterna, Valencia, Spain
| | - Esther Bataller
- Cell Biology Laboratory, Food Biotechnology Department, Biópolis SL, Paterna, Valencia, Spain
| | - Silvia Llopis
- Cell Biology Laboratory, Food Biotechnology Department, Biópolis SL, Paterna, Valencia, Spain
| | - Núria Gonzalez
- Cell Biology Laboratory, Food Biotechnology Department, Biópolis SL, Paterna, Valencia, Spain
| | - Beatriz Álvarez
- Molecular Biology Laboratory, Microbial Biotechnology Department, Biópolis SL, Paterna, Valencia, Spain
| | - Fernando Montón
- Cell Biology Laboratory, Food Biotechnology Department, Biópolis SL, Paterna, Valencia, Spain
| | - Pepa Ortiz
- Cell Biology Laboratory, Food Biotechnology Department, Biópolis SL, Paterna, Valencia, Spain
| | - Daniel Ramón
- Cell Biology Laboratory, Food Biotechnology Department, Biópolis SL, Paterna, Valencia, Spain
| | - Salvador Genovés
- Cell Biology Laboratory, Food Biotechnology Department, Biópolis SL, Paterna, Valencia, Spain
- * E-mail:
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36
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Good gene, bad gene: New APP variant may be both. Prog Neurobiol 2012; 99:281-92. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2012.06.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2012] [Revised: 05/23/2012] [Accepted: 06/11/2012] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
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37
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Pan-neuronal expression of APL-1, an APP-related protein, disrupts olfactory, gustatory, and touch plasticity in Caenorhabditis elegans. J Neurosci 2012; 32:10156-69. [PMID: 22836251 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0495-12.2012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Patients with Alzheimer's disease show age-related cognitive decline. Postmortem autopsy of their brains shows the presence of large numbers of senile plaques, whose major component is the β-amyloid peptide. The β-amyloid peptide is a cleavage product of the amyloid precursor protein (APP). In addition to the neurodegeneration associated with β-amyloid aggregation in Alzheimer's disease patients, mutations in APP in mammalian model organisms have also been shown to disrupt several behaviors independent of visible amyloid plaque formation. However, the pathways in which APP function are unknown and difficult to unravel in mammals. Here we show that pan-neuronal expression of APL-1, the Caenorhabditis elegans ortholog of APP, disrupts several behaviors, such as olfactory and gustatory learning behavior and touch habituation. These behaviors are mediated by distinct neural circuits, suggesting a broad impact of APL-1 on sensory plasticity in C. elegans. Furthermore, we found that disruption of these three behaviors requires activity of the TGFβ pathway and reduced activity of the insulin pathway. These results suggest pathways and molecular components that may underlie behavioral plasticity in mammals and in patients with Alzheimer's disease.
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38
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Ewald CY, Li C. The secreted Alzheimer-related amyloid precursor protein fragment has an essential role in C. elegans. Prion 2012; 6:433-6. [PMID: 23044509 DOI: 10.4161/pri.22310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Mutations in the gene encoding the amyloid precursor protein (APP) or the enzymes that process APP are correlated with familial Alzheimer disease. Alzheimer disease is also associated with insulin resistance (type 2 diabetes). In our recently published study, ( 1) we obtained genetic evidence that the extracellular fragment of APL-1, the C. elegans ortholog of human APP, may act as a signaling molecule to modulate insulin and nuclear hormone pathways in C. elegans development. In addition, independent of insulin and nuclear hormone signaling, high levels of the extracellular fragment of APL-1 (sAPL-1) leads to a temperature-sensitive embryonic lethality, which is dependent on activity of a predicted receptor protein tyrosine phosphatase (MOA-1/R155.2). Furthermore, this embryonic lethality is enhanced by knockdown of a predicted prion-like protein (pqn-29). The precise molecular mechanisms underlying these processes remain to be determined. Here, we present hypothetical models as to how sAPL-1 signaling influences metabolic and developmental pathways. Together, with previous findings in mammals that the extracellular domain of mammalian APP (sAPP) binds to a death-receptor, ( 2) our findings support the model that sAPP signaling affects critical biological processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Collin Y Ewald
- Joslin Diabetes Center, Harvard Stem Cell Institute, and Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA USA
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39
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Sangha JS, Sun X, Wally OSD, Zhang K, Ji X, Wang Z, Wang Y, Zidichouski J, Prithiviraj B, Zhang J. Liuwei Dihuang (LWDH), a traditional Chinese medicinal formula, protects against β-amyloid toxicity in transgenic Caenorhabditis elegans. PLoS One 2012; 7:e43990. [PMID: 22952840 PMCID: PMC3431378 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0043990] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2012] [Accepted: 07/27/2012] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Liuwei Dihuang (LWDH), a classic Chinese medicinal formula, has been used to improve or restore declined functions related to aging and geriatric diseases, such as impaired mobility, vision, hearing, cognition and memory. Here, we report on the effect and possible mechanisms of LWDH mediated protection of β-amyloid (Aβ) induced paralysis in Caenorhabditis elegans using ethanol extract (LWDH-EE) and water extract (LWDH-WE). Chemical profiling and quantitative analysis revealed the presence of different levels of bioactive components in these extracts. LWDH-WE was rich in polar components such as monosaccharide dimers and trimers, whereas LWDH-EE was enriched in terms of phenolic compounds such as gallic acid and paeonol. In vitro studies revealed higher DPPH radical scavenging activity for LWDH-EE as compared to that found for LWDH-WE. Neither LWDH-EE nor LWDH-WE were effective in inhibiting aggregation of Aβ in vitro. By contrast, LWDH-EE effectively delayed Aβ induced paralysis in the transgenic C. elegans (CL4176) model which expresses human Aβ1–42. Western blot revealed no treatment induced reduction in Aβ accumulation in CL4176 although a significant reduction was observed at an early stage with respect to β-amyloid deposition in C. elegans strain CL2006 which constitutively expresses human Aβ1–42. In addition, LWDH-EE reduced in vivo reactive oxygen species (ROS) in C. elegans (CL4176) that correlated with increased survival of LWDH-EE treated N2 worms under juglone-induced oxidative stress. Analysis with GFP reporter strain TJ375 revealed increased expression of hsp16.2::GFP after thermal stress whereas a minute induction was observed for sod3::GFP. Quantitative gene expression analysis revealed that LWDH-EE repressed the expression of amy1 in CL4176 while up-regulating hsp16.2 induced by elevating temperature. Taken together, these results suggest that LWDH extracts, particularly LWDH-EE, alleviated β-amyloid induced toxicity, in part, through up-regulation of heat shock protein, antioxidant activity and reduced ROS in C. elegans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jatinder S. Sangha
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Nova Scotia Agricultural College, Truro, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Xiaoli Sun
- Institute for Nutrisciences and Health, National Research Council Canada, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada
- Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Owen S. D. Wally
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Nova Scotia Agricultural College, Truro, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Kaibin Zhang
- Institute for Nutrisciences and Health, National Research Council Canada, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada
- Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xiuhong Ji
- Institute for Nutrisciences and Health, National Research Council Canada, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada
| | - Zhimin Wang
- Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yanwen Wang
- Institute for Nutrisciences and Health, National Research Council Canada, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Prince Edward Island, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada
| | - Jeffrey Zidichouski
- Institute for Nutrisciences and Health, National Research Council Canada, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada
| | - Balakrishnan Prithiviraj
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Nova Scotia Agricultural College, Truro, Nova Scotia, Canada
- * E-mail: (BP); (JZ)
| | - Junzeng Zhang
- Institute for Nutrisciences and Health, National Research Council Canada, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada
- Department of Chemistry, University of Prince Edward Island, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada
- * E-mail: (BP); (JZ)
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40
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Gama Sosa MA, De Gasperi R, Elder GA. Modeling human neurodegenerative diseases in transgenic systems. Hum Genet 2011; 131:535-63. [PMID: 22167414 DOI: 10.1007/s00439-011-1119-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2011] [Accepted: 11/23/2011] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Transgenic systems are widely used to study the cellular and molecular basis of human neurodegenerative diseases. A wide variety of model organisms have been utilized, including bacteria (Escherichia coli), plants (Arabidopsis thaliana), nematodes (Caenorhabditis elegans), arthropods (Drosophila melanogaster), fish (zebrafish, Danio rerio), rodents (mouse, Mus musculus and rat, Rattus norvegicus) as well as non-human primates (rhesus monkey, Macaca mulatta). These transgenic systems have enormous value for understanding the pathophysiological basis of these disorders and have, in some cases, been instrumental in the development of therapeutic approaches to treat these conditions. In this review, we discuss the most commonly used model organisms and the methodologies available for the preparation of transgenic organisms. Moreover, we provide selected examples of the use of these technologies for the preparation of transgenic animal models of neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease (AD), frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Huntington's disease (HD) and Parkinson's disease (PD) and discuss the application of these technologies to AD as an example of how transgenic modeling has affected the study of human neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel A Gama Sosa
- Research and Development Service, James J. Peters Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Bronx, NY 10468, USA.
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41
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Caenorhabditis elegans as a model organism to study APP function. Exp Brain Res 2011; 217:397-411. [PMID: 22038715 DOI: 10.1007/s00221-011-2905-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2011] [Accepted: 10/05/2011] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The brains of Alzheimer's disease patients show an increased number of senile plaques compared with normal patients. The major component of the plaques is the β-amyloid peptide, a cleavage product of the amyloid precursor protein (APP). Although the processing of APP has been well-described, the physiological functions of APP and its cleavage products remain unclear. This article reviews the multifunctional roles of an APP orthologue, the C. elegans APL-1. Understanding the function of APL-1 may provide insights into the functions and signaling pathways of human APP. In addition, the physiological effects of introducing human β-amyloid peptide into C. elegans are also reviewed. The C. elegans system provides a powerful genetic model to identify genes regulating the molecular mechanisms underlying intracellular β-amyloid peptide accumulation.
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42
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Corbo CP, Alonso ADC. Therapeutic targets in Alzheimer's disease and related tauopathies. PROGRESS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCE 2011; 98:47-83. [PMID: 21199770 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-385506-0.00002-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that is characterized histopathologically by the presence of plaques, mainly composed of Abeta amyloid and the tangles, mainly composed of hyperphosphorylated tau. To date, there is no treatment that can reverse the disease, and all the current therapeutics is directed to cope with the symptoms of the disease. Here we describe the efforts dedicated to attack the plaques and, in more detail, the process of neurofibrillary degeneration, linked to the presence of the hyperphosphorylated microtubule associated protein tau. We have identified the different putative targets for therapeutics and the current knowledge on them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher P Corbo
- College of Staten Island, Program in evelopmental Neuroscience, The Graduate Center, City University of New York (CUNY), Staten Island, New York, USA
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43
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Tien NW, Wu GH, Hsu CC, Chang CY, Wagner OI. Tau/PTL-1 associates with kinesin-3 KIF1A/UNC-104 and affects the motor's motility characteristics in C. elegans neurons. Neurobiol Dis 2011; 43:495-506. [PMID: 21569846 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2011.04.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2010] [Revised: 04/06/2011] [Accepted: 04/25/2011] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Tauopathies are neurodegenerative diseases based on pathological tau-aggregation including Alzheimer's disease, frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and Pick's disease. In general, cargo (e.g., β-amyloid precursor protein, tau, neurofilaments) accumulation is a commonly observed phenomenon in degenerated neurons. Therefore, it is crucial to investigate the interaction between cargo, microtubule-binding proteins and molecular motors. We report the effect of tau/PTL-1 (protein with tau-like repeats) on the transport characteristics of the major axonal transporter kinesin-3 KIF1A/UNC-104 in the nervous system of Caenorhabditis elegans. Using confocal spinning disk time-lapse imaging we analyzed the motility of UNC-104::mRFP in ptl-1 knockout worms and found that predominantly retrograde moving characteristics are affected (rather than the motor's anterograde displacements). A similar motility pattern was observed for synaptobrevin-1-containing vesicles, a major cargo of UNC-104. Moreover, UNC-104 and PTL-1 colocalize and occasionally co-migrate. We further confirmed physical interactions between PTL-1 and UNC-104 in living animals using the bimolecular fluorescence complementation assay (BiFC) as well as in co-immunoprecipitation experiments. Though this study focuses on PTL-1/UNC-104 interactions, we extended our research on monitoring conventional kinesin-1 (UNC-116) as well as dynein motility pattern and found that in ptl-1 mutants retrograde displacements were also affected for UNC-116, while for dynein, interestingly, its anterograde movements were affected.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nai-Wen Tien
- Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology and Department of Life Science, National Tsing Hua University, 30013 Hsinchu, Taiwan, ROC
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44
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Bioinformatic and biochemical characterization of DCXR and DHRS2/4 from Caenorhabditis elegans. Chem Biol Interact 2011; 191:75-82. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cbi.2011.01.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2010] [Revised: 01/28/2011] [Accepted: 01/31/2011] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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45
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Hulme SE, Whitesides GM. Die Chemie und der Wurm: Caenorhabditis elegans als Plattform für das Zusammenführen von chemischer und biologischer Forschung. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2011. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.201005461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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46
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Hulme SE, Whitesides GM. Chemistry and the Worm: Caenorhabditis elegans as a Platform for Integrating Chemical and Biological Research. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2011; 50:4774-807. [DOI: 10.1002/anie.201005461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 104] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2010] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
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47
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Multi-step usage of in vivo models during rational drug design and discovery. Int J Mol Sci 2011; 12:2262-74. [PMID: 21731440 PMCID: PMC3127116 DOI: 10.3390/ijms12042262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2011] [Revised: 03/25/2011] [Accepted: 03/29/2011] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
In this article we propose a systematic development method for rational drug design while reviewing paradigms in industry, emerging techniques and technologies in the field. Although the process of drug development today has been accelerated by emergence of computational methodologies, it is a herculean challenge requiring exorbitant resources; and often fails to yield clinically viable results. The current paradigm of target based drug design is often misguided and tends to yield compounds that have poor absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion, toxicology (ADMET) properties. Therefore, an in vivo organism based approach allowing for a multidisciplinary inquiry into potent and selective molecules is an excellent place to begin rational drug design. We will review how organisms like the zebrafish and Caenorhabditis elegans can not only be starting points, but can be used at various steps of the drug development process from target identification to pre-clinical trial models. This systems biology based approach paired with the power of computational biology; genetics and developmental biology provide a methodological framework to avoid the pitfalls of traditional target based drug design.
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