1
|
Iyer A, van Scheppingen J, Anink J, Milenkovic I, Kovács GG, Aronica E. Developmental patterns of DR6 in normal human hippocampus and in Down syndrome. J Neurodev Disord 2013; 5:10. [PMID: 23618225 PMCID: PMC3666921 DOI: 10.1186/1866-1955-5-10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2012] [Accepted: 04/04/2013] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Death receptor 6 (DR6) is highly expressed in the human brain: it has been shown to induce axon pruning and neuron death via distinct caspases and to mediate axonal degeneration through binding to N-terminal β amyloid precursor protein (N-APP). METHODS We investigated the expression of DR6 during prenatal and postnatal development in human hippocampus and temporal cortex by immunocytochemistry and Western blot analysis (118 normal human brain specimens; 9 to 41 gestational weeks; 1 day to 7 months postnatally; 3 to 91 years). To investigate the role of N-APP/DR6/caspase 6 pathway in the development of hippocampal Alzheimer's disease (AD)-associated pathology, we examined DR6 immunoreactivity (IR) in the developing hippocampus from patients with Down syndrome (DS; 48 brain specimens; 14 to 41 gestational weeks; 7 days to 8 months postnatally; 15 to 64 years) and in adults with DS and AD. RESULTS DR6 was highly expressed in human adult hippocampus and temporal cortex: we observed consistent similar temporal and spatial expression in both control and DS brain. Western blot analysis of total homogenates of temporal cortex and hippocampus showed developmental regulation of DR6. In the hippocampus, DR6 IR was first apparent in the stratum lacunosum-moleculare at 16 weeks of gestation, followed by stratum oriens, radiatum, pyramidale (CA1 to CA4) and molecular layer of the dentate gyrus between 21 and 23 gestational weeks, reaching a pattern similar to adult hippocampus around birth. Increased DR6 expression in dystrophic neurites was detected focally in a 15-year-old DS patient. Abnormal DR6 expression pattern, with increased expression within dystrophic neurites in and around amyloid plaques was observed in adult DS patients with widespread AD-associated neurodegeneration and was similar to the pattern observed in AD hippocampus. Double-labeling experiments demonstrated the colocalization, in dystrophic neurites, of DR6 with APP. We also observed colocalization with hyper-phosphorylated Tau and with caspase 6 (increased in hippocampus with AD pathology) in plaque-associated dystrophic neurites and within the white matter. CONCLUSIONS These findings demonstrate a developmental regulation of DR6 in human hippocampus and suggest an abnormal activation of the N-APP/DR6/caspase 6 pathway, which can contribute to initiation or progression of hippocampal AD-associated pathology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anand Iyer
- Department of (Neuro)Pathology, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, AZ 1105, The Netherlands
| | - Jackelien van Scheppingen
- Department of (Neuro)Pathology, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, AZ 1105, The Netherlands
| | - Jasper Anink
- Department of (Neuro)Pathology, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, AZ 1105, The Netherlands
| | - Ivan Milenkovic
- Institute of Neurology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Gabor G Kovács
- Institute of Neurology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Eleonora Aronica
- Department of (Neuro)Pathology, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, AZ 1105, The Netherlands.,SEIN - Stichting Epilepsie Instellingen Nederland, Heemstede, The Netherlands.,Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, Center for Neuroscience, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Glaucomatous Optic Neuropathy: Risk Assessment and Potential Targets for Effective Prevention and Treatments Tailored to the Patient. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2012. [DOI: 10.1007/978-94-007-5866-7_9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/04/2023]
|
3
|
Youn YC, Park KW, Han SH, Kim S. Urine neural thread protein measurements in Alzheimer disease. J Am Med Dir Assoc 2010; 12:372-6. [PMID: 21450171 DOI: 10.1016/j.jamda.2010.03.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2009] [Revised: 03/06/2010] [Accepted: 03/08/2010] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Neural thread protein (NTP), a membrane-associated phosphoprotein, was selectively elevated in the urine of patients with Alzheimer disease (AD). To demonstrate the potential utility of urine NTP assays for the diagnosis of AD, we performed this study. DESIGN A prospective blinded multicentered study. PARTICIPANTS Individuals diagnosed as having probable AD (n = 49), Parkinson's disease (PD) (n = 20), and healthy controls (n = 22) were enrolled consecutively in 4 neurology centers. MEASUREMENTS A first morning urine sample was obtained from each subject. Urine NTP measurement using competitive ELISA was tested at the central laboratory and compared with AD and PD patients and healthy controls (HC). The testing laboratory was blinded to clinical information. RESULTS The mean assay value in AD (n = 49, 26.8 ± 9.4 μg/mL) was significantly higher than in HC (n = 22, 18.1 ± 6.7 μg/mL) (P ≤ .001) and than in PD (n = 20, 21.0 ± 8.5 μg/mL) (P ≤ .05). Levels of 21.6 μg/mL or higher were found in 81.6% of all AD cases, in 30.0% of PD cases, and in 13.6% of HC. Urine NTP assay measurements of AD with a Clinical Dementia Rate (CDR) of 0.5 (n = 10, 24.2 ± 5.9 μg/mL, P = .063) or of 1.0 (n = 24, 30.1 ± 10.9 μg/mL, P = .000) were significantly higher than in HC. However, the AD patients with CDR of 2.0 (n = 9, 23.1 ± 7.3 μg/mL, P = .136) were not significant. CONCLUSION Urine NTP could be used as a safe and promising biochemical marker of early AD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Young Chul Youn
- Department of Neurology, Chung-Ang University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
4
|
Golubnitschaja O, Yeghiazaryan K, Flammer J. Key molecular pathways affected by glaucoma pathology: is predictive diagnosis possible? EPMA J 2010; 1:237-44. [PMID: 23199062 PMCID: PMC3405318 DOI: 10.1007/s13167-010-0031-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2010] [Accepted: 05/31/2010] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Prediction and prevention of glaucoma. Neurodegenerative eye disease glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness with estimated 67 million patients worldwide. Molecular pathomechanisms of glaucoma demonstrate both a considerable overlap with and remarkable particularities compared to other neurodegenerative disorders e.g. Alzheimer's disease. Identification of pathology-specific biomarker-sets is essential to develop advanced diagnostic approaches and personalised patients' treatment. Subcellular imaging and expression patterns in blood as the reliable platform for early/predictive glaucoma diagnosis. Following key pathways are affected in glaucoma pathology: stress response, apoptosis and DNA-repair, adhesion, blood-brain-barrier-breakdown, tissue remodelling, transcription regulation, multidrug resistance and energy metabolism.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Olga Golubnitschaja
- Department of Radiology, Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-University of Bonn, Sigmund-Freud-Str. 25, D-53105 Bonn, Germany
- European Association for Predictive, Preventive & Personalised Medicine, www.epmanet.eu
| | - Kristina Yeghiazaryan
- Department of Radiology, Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-University of Bonn, Sigmund-Freud-Str. 25, D-53105 Bonn, Germany
- European Association for Predictive, Preventive & Personalised Medicine, www.epmanet.eu
| | - Josef Flammer
- European Association for Predictive, Preventive & Personalised Medicine, www.epmanet.eu
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Goodman IJ. Practical utility of urinary assay in the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease: AlzheimAlert. Expert Rev Mol Diagn 2008; 8:21-8. [PMID: 18088227 DOI: 10.1586/14737159.8.1.21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Urinary assay (Alzheimer's disease reaction titer [ADRT]) adds significant information in the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD), particularly for the nonspecialist. Clinical studies of ADRT in series of AD and non-AD patients have found sensitivity of 89-92.3%, specificity of 90-96.8%, positive predictive value (PPV) of 94.8-97.4% and negative predictive value (NPV) of 78.9-91.8%. The added information from the improvements of PPV and NPV are particularly helpful for the nonspecialist in the community. As a laboratory assay that requires a first-morning noncontaminated sample, ADRT is noninvasive, convenient and safe. ADRT is based on reagents derived from human AD brain cDNA. The pathophysiological roles of these genetic fragments and reagents are still under investigation. ADRT should have a positive impact on primary-care AD clinical practice.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ira J Goodman
- Department of Neurology, University of Florida School of Medicine, FL, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
|
7
|
Golubnitschaja-Labudova O, Liu R, Decker C, Zhu P, Haefliger IO, Flammer J. Altered gene expression in lymphocytes of patients with normal-tension glaucoma. Curr Eye Res 2000; 21:867-76. [PMID: 11262608 DOI: 10.1076/ceyr.21.5.867.5534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In glaucoma there is a loss of retinal ganglion cells. There is evidence that this loss can occur by apoptosis. The signal transduction leading to retinal ganglion cell apoptosis in glaucoma is not yet clear. The present study compares the gene expression in lymphocytes of normal tension glaucoma patients (NTG-patients) with the one of healthy controls. METHODS Subtractive hybridization was used to compare mRNA in lymphocytes of six vasospastic NTG-patients with six age and sex matched healthy subjects. RESULTS Genes coding for p53-protein, NTP (neural thread protein) and 20 S proteasome subunit XAPC7 were overexpressed, whereas those coding for XPGC (Xeroderma pigmentosum gene), the survivin protein as well as one type of ABC transport protein were underexpressed. CONCLUSION In comparison to healthy controls, patients with vasospastic NTG seem to over- as well as under-express certain genes in their lymphocytes.
Collapse
|
8
|
Labudova O, Kitzmueller E, Rink H, Cairns N, Lubec G. Gene expression in fetal Down syndrome brain as revealed by subtractive hybridization. JOURNAL OF NEURAL TRANSMISSION. SUPPLEMENTUM 2000; 57:125-36. [PMID: 10666672 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-7091-6380-1_8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/15/2023]
Abstract
Information on gene expression in brain of patients with Down Syndrome (DS, trisomy 21) is limited and molecular biological research is focussing on mapping and sequencing chromosome 21. The information on gene expression in DS available follows the current concept of a gene dosage effect due to a third copy of chromosome 21 claiming overexpression of genes encoded on this chromosome. Based upon the availability of fetal brain and recent technology of gene hunting, we decided to use subtractive hybridization to evaluate differences in gene expression between DS and control brains. Subtractive hybridization was applied on two fetal brains with DS and two age and sex matched controls, 23rd week of gestation, and mRNA steady state levels were evaluated generating a subtractive library. Subtracted sequences were identified by gene bank and assigned by alignments to individual genes. We found a series of up- and downregulated sequences consisting of chromosomal transcripts, enzymes of intermediary metabolism, hormones, transporters/channels and transcription factors (TFs). We show that trisomy 21 or aneuploidy leads to the deterioration of gene expression and the derangement of transcripts described describes the involvement of chromosomes other than chromosome 21, explains impairment of transport, carriers, channels, signaling, known metabolic and hormones imbalances. The dys-coordinated expression of transcription factors including homeobox genes, POU-domain TFs, helix-loop-helix-motifs, LIM domain containing TFs, leucine zippers, forkhead genes, maybe of pathophysiological significance for abnormal brain development and wiring found in patients with DS. This is the first description of the concomitant expression of a large series of sequences indicating disruption of the concerted action of genes in that disorder.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- O Labudova
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Vienna, Austria
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
9
|
de la Monte SM. Molecular abnormalities of the brain in Down syndrome: relevance to Alzheimer's neurodegeneration. JOURNAL OF NEURAL TRANSMISSION. SUPPLEMENTUM 2000; 57:1-19. [PMID: 10666665 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-7091-6380-1_1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/15/2023]
Abstract
Down syndrome is caused by over-expression of genes located within a segment of chromosome 21, termed the Down locus. Down syndrome is associated with developmental abnormalities of the central nervous system that result in mental retardation and age-dependent Alzheimer-type neurodegeneration. Some of the neurodegenerative lesions, including A beta amyloid deposition, apoptotic cell death, and aberrant dendritic arborization, are in part due to constitutively increased expression of genes that encode the amyloid precursor protein, superoxide dismutase I, and S100-beta, and located within the Down locus. However, neurodegeneration in Down syndrome is also associated with aberrant expression of genes that are not linked to the Down locus, including the growth associated protein, GAP-43, nitric oxide synthase 3, neuronal thread protein, and pro-apoptosis genes such as p53, Bax, and interleukin-1 beta-converting enzyme. Increased expression of these non-Down locus genes correlates with proliferation of dystrophic neurites and apoptotic cell death, two important correlates of cognitive impairment in Alzheimer's disease. This article reviews the functional importance of abnormal gene expression in relation to Alzheimer-type neurodegeneration in brains of individuals with Down syndrome.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- S M de la Monte
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Kitzmueller E, Labudova O, Rink H, Cairns N, Lubec G. Altered gene expression in fetal Down syndrome brain as revealed by the gene hunting technique of subtractive hybridization. JOURNAL OF NEURAL TRANSMISSION. SUPPLEMENTUM 1999; 57:99-124. [PMID: 10666671 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-7091-6380-1_7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/14/2023]
Abstract
Information on gene expression in brain of patients with Down Syndrome (DS, trisomy 21) is limited and molecular biological research is focussing on mapping and sequencing chromosome 21. The information on gene expression in DS available follows the current concept of a gene dosage effect due to a third copy of chromosome 21 claiming overexpression of genes encoded on this chromosome. Based upon the availability of fetal brain and recent technology of gene hunting, we decided to use subtractive hybridization to evaluate differences in gene expression between DS and control brains. Subtractive hybridization was applied on two fetal brains with DS and two age and sex matched controls, 23rd week of gestation, and mRNA steady state levels were evaluated generating a subtractive library. Subtracted sequences were identified by gene bank and assigned by alignments to individual genes. We found a series of up- and downregulated sequences consisting of chromosomal transcripts, enzymes of intermediary metabolism, hormones, transporters/channels and transcription factors (TFs). We show that trisomy 21 or aneuploidy leads to the deterioration of gene expression and the derangement of transcripts describes the impairment of transport, carriers, channels, signaling, known metabolic and hormone imbalances. The dys-coordinated expression of transcription factors including homeobox genes, POU-domain TFs, helix-loop-helix-motifs, LIM domain containing TFs, leucine zippers, forkhead genes, maybe of pathophysiological significance for abnormal brain development and wiring found in patients with DS. This is the first description of the concomitant expression of a large series of sequences indicating disruption of the concerted action of genes in this disorder.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- E Kitzmueller
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Vienna, Austria
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
11
|
Abstract
Neuronal thread proteins (NTP) are a family of phosphoproteins expressed during neuritic sprouting. The 15 to 18 kD NTP cluster is associated with development and neuronal differentiation, whereas the 21 kD and 39 to 42 kD species are overexpressed in Alzheimer's disease, correlating with neurodegenerative sprouting and synaptic disconnection. Empirical observations suggested that NTP might also be modulated with central nervous system injury and stroke. In this study of both human and experimental (rat) focal cerebral infarcts, in situ hybridization and immunocytochemical staining revealed NTP gene expression up-regulated in perifocal neurons. These findings were confirmed by quantitative Northern and Western blot analyses. Moreover, Western blot analysis demonstrated selectively increased expression of the 15 to 18 kD NTP species during the acute, subacute, and healing phases of cerebral infarction in both humans and experimental animals, corresponding with the expected period of neuronal repair. These results suggest an additional role for the 15 to 18 kD NTP species in neuritic sprouting required for neuronal regeneration after injury in the mature central nervous system.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- S M de la Monte
- Division of Neuropathology, Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
12
|
de la Monte SM, Xu YY, Wands JR. Modulation of neuronal thread protein expression with neuritic sprouting: relevance to Alzheimer's disease. J Neurol Sci 1996; 138:26-35. [PMID: 8791235 DOI: 10.1016/0022-510x(95)00350-b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Widespread proliferation of dystrophic neurites in the cerebral cortex represents an important neuroanatomical correlate of dementia in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Increased CNS expression of the 21-kDa neuronal thread protein (NTP) species is also correlated with dementia in AD. Pilot in vitro experiments provided evidence that high-level NTP expression might be linked to neuritic growth. The present study examines retinoic acid (RA) modulation of NTP expression during neurite outgrowth and neuronal differentiation in SH-Sy5y neuroblastoma and PNET2 CNS-derived cells. In both cell lines, RA-induced neuronal differentiation resulted in increased synthesis, expression, and phosphorylation of several NTP species, with high steady-state levels and stepwise hyper-phosphorylation of 21-kDa NTP molecules. With neurite outgrowth, NTP molecules were translocated from the perikarya to long, slender, unbranched cell processes (axons) and growth cones. RA-mediated changes in NTP expression were independent of DNA synthesis. The findings suggest that high-level expression of 21-kDa, and closely related phosphorylated NTP molecules correlates with neuritic growth. Therefore, over-expression of 21-kDa NTP molecules in AD probably reflects the widespread cortical neuritic sprouting associated with dementia. In view of the rapid phosphorylation and cell process translocation of NTP that occurs during neurite outgrowth in vitro, the accumulation of NTP in AD cortical neuronal perikarya suggests a further problem related to post-translational processing and transport of NTP molecules in AD neurodegeneration.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- S M de la Monte
- Division of Neuropathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA
| | | | | |
Collapse
|