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Böckers A, Schurr L, Schön M, Scholl T, Böckers TM, Steinestel K, Arndt A. Predictive molecular pathology after prolonged fixation: A study on tissue from anatomical body donors. Exp Mol Pathol 2024; 137:104899. [PMID: 38761540 DOI: 10.1016/j.yexmp.2024.104899] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2023] [Revised: 03/19/2024] [Accepted: 05/06/2024] [Indexed: 05/20/2024]
Abstract
Histopathological assessment of tissue samples after prolonged formalin fixation has been described previously, but currently there is only limited knowledge regarding the feasibility of molecular pathology on such tissue. In this pilot study, we tested routine molecular pathology methods (DNA isolation, DNA pyrosequencing/next-generation sequencing, DNA methylation analysis, RT-PCR, clonality analysis and fluorescence in situ hybridization) on tissue samples from 11 tumor entities as well as non-neoplastic brain tissue from 43 body donors during the gross anatomy course at Ulm University (winter semester 2019/20 and 2020/21). The mean post mortem interval until fixation was 2.5 ± 1.6 days (range, 1-6 days). Fixation was performed with aqueous formaldehyde solution (formalin, 1.5-2%). The mean storage time of body donors was 12.8 ± 5.6 months (range, 7-25 months). While most diagnostic methods were successful, samples showed significant variability in DNA quality and evaluability. DNA pyrosequencing as well as next-generation sequencing was successful in all investigated samples. Methylation analyses were partially not successful in some extend due to limited intact DNA yield for these analyses. Taken together, the use of prolonged formalin-fixed tissue samples from body donors offers new avenues in research and education, as these samples could be used for morpho-molecular studies and the establishment of biobanks, especially for tissue types that cannot be preserved and studied in vivo. Pathological ward rounds, sample collection, and histopathological and molecular workup have been integrated in the gross anatomy course in Ulm as an integral part of the curriculum, linking anatomy and pathology and providing medical students early insight into the broad field of (molecular) pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anja Böckers
- Institute for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Medical Faculty, Ulm University, Albert-Einstein-Allee 11, 89081 Ulm, Germany
| | - Leon Schurr
- Institute for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Medical Faculty, Ulm University, Albert-Einstein-Allee 11, 89081 Ulm, Germany
| | - Michael Schön
- Institute for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Medical Faculty, Ulm University, Albert-Einstein-Allee 11, 89081 Ulm, Germany
| | - Tatjana Scholl
- Institute of Pathology and Molecular Pathology, Federal Army Hospital, Oberer Eselsberg 40, 89081 Ulm, Germany
| | - Tobias M Böckers
- Institute for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Medical Faculty, Ulm University, Albert-Einstein-Allee 11, 89081 Ulm, Germany
| | - Konrad Steinestel
- Institute of Pathology and Molecular Pathology, Federal Army Hospital, Oberer Eselsberg 40, 89081 Ulm, Germany
| | - Annette Arndt
- Institute of Pathology and Molecular Pathology, Federal Army Hospital, Oberer Eselsberg 40, 89081 Ulm, Germany.
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Ramsden CE, Zamora D, Horowitz MS, Jahanipour J, Calzada E, Li X, Keyes GS, Murray HC, Curtis MA, Faull RM, Sedlock A, Maric D. ApoER2-Dab1 disruption as the origin of pTau-associated neurodegeneration in sporadic Alzheimer's disease. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2023; 11:197. [PMID: 38093390 PMCID: PMC10720169 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-023-01693-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2023] [Accepted: 11/16/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023] Open
Abstract
In sporadic Alzheimer's disease (sAD) specific regions, layers and neurons accumulate hyperphosphorylated Tau (pTau) and degenerate early while others remain unaffected even in advanced disease. ApoER2-Dab1 signaling suppresses Tau phosphorylation as part of a four-arm pathway that regulates lipoprotein internalization and the integrity of actin, microtubules, and synapses; however, the role of this pathway in sAD pathogenesis is not fully understood. We previously showed that multiple ApoER2-Dab1 pathway components including ApoE, Reelin, ApoER2, Dab1, pP85αTyr607, pLIMK1Thr508, pTauSer202/Thr205 and pPSD95Thr19 accumulate together within entorhinal-hippocampal terminal zones in sAD, and proposed a unifying hypothesis wherein disruption of this pathway underlies multiple aspects of sAD pathogenesis. However, it is not yet known whether ApoER2-Dab1 disruption can help explain the origin(s) and early progression of pTau pathology in sAD. In the present study, we applied in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry (IHC) to characterize ApoER2 expression and accumulation of ApoER2-Dab1 pathway components in five regions known to develop early pTau pathology in 64 rapidly autopsied cases spanning the clinicopathological spectrum of sAD. We found that (1) these selectively vulnerable neuron populations strongly express ApoER2; and (2) multiple ApoER2-Dab1 components representing all four arms of this pathway accumulate in abnormal neurons and neuritic plaques in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and sAD cases and correlate with histological progression and cognitive deficits. Multiplex-IHC revealed that Dab1, pP85αTyr607, pLIMK1Thr508, pTauSer202/Thr205 and pPSD95Thr19 accumulate together within many of the same ApoER2-expressing neurons and in the immediate vicinity of ApoE/ApoJ-enriched extracellular plaques. Collective findings reveal that pTau is only one of many ApoER2-Dab1 pathway components that accumulate in multiple neuroanatomical sites in the earliest stages of sAD and provide support for the concept that ApoER2-Dab1 disruption drives pTau-associated neurodegeneration in human sAD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher E Ramsden
- Lipid Peroxidation Unit, Laboratory of Clinical Investigation, National Institute on Aging, NIH (NIA/NIH), 251 Bayview Blvd., Baltimore, MD, 21224, USA.
- Intramural Program of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, NIH, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA.
| | - Daisy Zamora
- Lipid Peroxidation Unit, Laboratory of Clinical Investigation, National Institute on Aging, NIH (NIA/NIH), 251 Bayview Blvd., Baltimore, MD, 21224, USA
| | - Mark S Horowitz
- Lipid Peroxidation Unit, Laboratory of Clinical Investigation, National Institute on Aging, NIH (NIA/NIH), 251 Bayview Blvd., Baltimore, MD, 21224, USA
| | - Jahandar Jahanipour
- Flow and Imaging Cytometry Core Facility, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, NIH, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Elizabeth Calzada
- Lipid Peroxidation Unit, Laboratory of Clinical Investigation, National Institute on Aging, NIH (NIA/NIH), 251 Bayview Blvd., Baltimore, MD, 21224, USA
| | - Xiufeng Li
- Lipid Peroxidation Unit, Laboratory of Clinical Investigation, National Institute on Aging, NIH (NIA/NIH), 251 Bayview Blvd., Baltimore, MD, 21224, USA
| | - Gregory S Keyes
- Lipid Peroxidation Unit, Laboratory of Clinical Investigation, National Institute on Aging, NIH (NIA/NIH), 251 Bayview Blvd., Baltimore, MD, 21224, USA
| | - Helen C Murray
- Department of Anatomy and Medical Imaging and Centre for Brain Research, Faculty of Medical and Health Science, University of Auckland, Private Bag, Auckland, 92019, New Zealand
- Laboratory of Functional and Molecular Imaging, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, NIH, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Maurice A Curtis
- Department of Anatomy and Medical Imaging and Centre for Brain Research, Faculty of Medical and Health Science, University of Auckland, Private Bag, Auckland, 92019, New Zealand
| | - Richard M Faull
- Department of Anatomy and Medical Imaging and Centre for Brain Research, Faculty of Medical and Health Science, University of Auckland, Private Bag, Auckland, 92019, New Zealand
| | - Andrea Sedlock
- Flow and Imaging Cytometry Core Facility, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, NIH, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Dragan Maric
- Flow and Imaging Cytometry Core Facility, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, NIH, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
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Amemiya K, Hirotsu Y, Nagakubo Y, Mochizuki H, Oyama T, Omata M. Influence of formalin fixation duration on RNA quality and quantity from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded hepatocellular carcinoma tissues. Pathol Int 2023; 73:593-600. [PMID: 37933792 DOI: 10.1111/pin.13385] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/14/2023] [Indexed: 11/08/2023]
Abstract
Analyzing RNA samples from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissues is essential for precision medicine. We investigated RNA quantity and quality from FFPE tumor tissues fixed in formalin for various times and compared sequencing metrics from next-generation sequencing (NGS). Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tissues were fixed in 10% neutral buffered formalin (1-240 h) and FFPE blocks were prepared. Total RNA was extracted, and the quantity and quality were assessed using the NanoDrop, Qubit and Bioanalyzer. After preparing sequencing libraries, NGS was performed on the Oncomine Dx Multi-CDx system. Total RNA yields of all samples met the threshold required for NGS, but longer fixation times resulted in decreased total RNA and long RNA fragment (>200 nt) yields. NGS analysis showed fewer sequencing reads of internal control genes from RNA with longer fixation times. RNA extracted from FFPE blocks stored for 500 days had reduced RNA yield and quality compared with RNA obtained from FFPE blocks prepared immediately. In conclusion, short and over-fixation should be avoided because of their negative impact on sequencing quality. Fixation process should be finished promptly within recommended guidelines (6-72 h) for cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenji Amemiya
- Genome Analysis Center, Yamanashi Central Hospital, Yamanashi, Japan
| | - Yosuke Hirotsu
- Genome Analysis Center, Yamanashi Central Hospital, Yamanashi, Japan
| | - Yuki Nagakubo
- Genome Analysis Center, Yamanashi Central Hospital, Yamanashi, Japan
| | - Hitoshi Mochizuki
- Genome Analysis Center, Yamanashi Central Hospital, Yamanashi, Japan
| | - Toshio Oyama
- Pathology Division, Laboratory Department, Yamanashi Prefectural Central Hospital, Yamanashi, Japan
| | - Masao Omata
- Department of Gastroenterology, Yamanashi Central Hospital, Yamanashi, Japan
- The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
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Ramsden CE, Zamora D, Horowitz M, Jahanipour J, Keyes G, Li X, Murray HC, Curtis MA, Faull RM, Sedlock A, Maric D. ApoER2-Dab1 disruption as the origin of pTau-related neurodegeneration in sporadic Alzheimer's disease. RESEARCH SQUARE 2023:rs.3.rs-2968020. [PMID: 37461602 PMCID: PMC10350181 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-2968020/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/23/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Sporadic Alzheimer's disease (sAD) is not a global brain disease. Specific regions, layers and neurons degenerate early while others remain untouched even in advanced disease. The prevailing model used to explain this selective neurodegeneration-prion-like Tau spread-has key limitations and is not easily integrated with other defining sAD features. Instead, we propose that in humans Tau hyperphosphorylation occurs locally via disruption in ApoER2-Dab1 signaling and thus the presence of ApoER2 in neuronal membranes confers vulnerability to degeneration. Further, we propose that disruption of the Reelin/ApoE/ApoJ-ApoER2-Dab1-P85α-LIMK1-Tau-PSD95 (RAAAD-P-LTP) pathway induces deficits in memory and cognition by impeding neuronal lipoprotein internalization and destabilizing actin, microtubules, and synapses. This new model is based in part on our recent finding that ApoER2-Dab1 disruption is evident in entorhinal-hippocampal terminal zones in sAD. Here, we hypothesized that neurons that degenerate in the earliest stages of sAD (1) strongly express ApoER2 and (2) show evidence of ApoER2-Dab1 disruption through co-accumulation of multiple RAAAD-P-LTP components. METHODS We applied in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry to characterize ApoER2 expression and accumulation of RAAAD-P-LTP components in five regions that are prone to early pTau pathology in 64 rapidly autopsied cases spanning the clinicopathological spectrum of sAD. RESULTS We found that: (1) selectively vulnerable neuron populations strongly express ApoER2; (2) numerous RAAAD-P-LTP pathway components accumulate in neuritic plaques and abnormal neurons; and (3) RAAAD-P-LTP components were higher in MCI and sAD cases and correlated with histological progression and cognitive deficits. Multiplex-IHC revealed that Dab1, pP85αTyr607, pLIMK1Thr508, pTau and pPSD95Thr19 accumulated together within dystrophic dendrites and soma of ApoER2-expressing neurons in the vicinity of ApoE/ApoJ-enriched extracellular plaques. These observations provide evidence for molecular derangements that can be traced back to ApoER2-Dab1 disruption, in each of the sampled regions, layers, and neuron populations that are prone to early pTau pathology. CONCLUSION Findings support the RAAAD-P-LTP hypothesis, a unifying model that implicates dendritic ApoER2-Dab1 disruption as the major driver of both pTau accumulation and neurodegeneration in sAD. This model provides a new conceptual framework to explain why specific neurons degenerate and identifies RAAAD-P-LTP pathway components as potential mechanism-based biomarkers and therapeutic targets for sAD.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Daisy Zamora
- National Institute on Aging Laboratory of Clinical Investigation
| | - Mark Horowitz
- National Institute on Aging Intramural Research Program
| | | | - Gregory Keyes
- National Institute on Aging Laboratory of Clinical Investigation
| | - Xiufeng Li
- National Institute on Aging Laboratory of Clinical Investigation
| | - Helen C Murray
- The University of Auckland Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences
| | - Maurice A Curtis
- The University of Auckland Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences
| | - Richard M Faull
- The University of Auckland Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences
| | - Andrea Sedlock
- NINDS: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
| | - Dragan Maric
- NINDS: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
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Ramsden CE, Zamora D, Horowitz MS, Jahanipour J, Keyes GS, Li X, Murray HC, Curtis MA, Faull RM, Sedlock A, Maric D. ApoER2-Dab1 disruption as the origin of pTau-related neurodegeneration in sporadic Alzheimer's disease. MEDRXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES 2023:2023.05.19.23290250. [PMID: 37333406 PMCID: PMC10274982 DOI: 10.1101/2023.05.19.23290250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/20/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Sporadic Alzheimer's disease (sAD) is not a global brain disease. Specific regions, layers and neurons degenerate early while others remain untouched even in advanced disease. The prevailing model used to explain this selective neurodegeneration-prion-like Tau spread-has key limitations and is not easily integrated with other defining sAD features. Instead, we propose that in humans Tau hyperphosphorylation occurs locally via disruption in ApoER2-Dab1 signaling and thus the presence of ApoER2 in neuronal membranes confers vulnerability to degeneration. Further, we propose that disruption of the Reelin/ApoE/ApoJ-ApoER2-Dab1-P85α-LIMK1-Tau-PSD95 (RAAAD-P-LTP) pathway induces deficits in memory and cognition by impeding neuronal lipoprotein internalization and destabilizing actin, microtubules, and synapses. This new model is based in part on our recent finding that ApoER2-Dab1 disruption is evident in entorhinal-hippocampal terminal zones in sAD. Here, we hypothesized that neurons that degenerate in the earliest stages of sAD (1) strongly express ApoER2 and (2) show evidence of ApoER2-Dab1 disruption through co-accumulation of multiple RAAAD-P-LTP components. METHODS We applied in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry to characterize ApoER2 expression and accumulation of RAAAD-P-LTP components in five regions that are prone to early pTau pathology in 64 rapidly autopsied cases spanning the clinicopathological spectrum of sAD. RESULTS We found that: (1) selectively vulnerable neuron populations strongly express ApoER2; (2) numerous RAAAD-P-LTP pathway components accumulate in neuritic plaques and abnormal neurons; and (3) RAAAD-P-LTP components were higher in MCI and sAD cases and correlated with histological progression and cognitive deficits. Multiplex-IHC revealed that Dab1, pP85αTyr607, pLIMK1Thr508, pTau and pPSD95Thr19 accumulated together within dystrophic dendrites and soma of ApoER2-expressing neurons in the vicinity of ApoE/ApoJ-enriched extracellular plaques. These observations provide evidence for molecular derangements that can be traced back to ApoER2-Dab1 disruption, in each of the sampled regions, layers, and neuron populations that are prone to early pTau pathology. CONCLUSION Findings support the RAAAD-P-LTP hypothesis, a unifying model that implicates dendritic ApoER2-Dab1 disruption as the major driver of both pTau accumulation and neurodegeneration in sAD. This model provides a new conceptual framework to explain why specific neurons degenerate and identifies RAAAD-P-LTP pathway components as potential mechanism-based biomarkers and therapeutic targets for sAD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher E. Ramsden
- Lipid Peroxidation Unit, Laboratory of Clinical Investigation, National Institute on Aging, NIH 251 Bayview Blvd., Baltimore, MD, 21224, USA
- Intramural Program of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, NIH, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Daisy Zamora
- Lipid Peroxidation Unit, Laboratory of Clinical Investigation, National Institute on Aging, NIH 251 Bayview Blvd., Baltimore, MD, 21224, USA
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Mark S. Horowitz
- Lipid Peroxidation Unit, Laboratory of Clinical Investigation, National Institute on Aging, NIH 251 Bayview Blvd., Baltimore, MD, 21224, USA
| | - Jahandar Jahanipour
- Flow and Imaging Cytometry Core Facility, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, NIH, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Gregory S. Keyes
- Lipid Peroxidation Unit, Laboratory of Clinical Investigation, National Institute on Aging, NIH 251 Bayview Blvd., Baltimore, MD, 21224, USA
| | - Xiufeng Li
- Lipid Peroxidation Unit, Laboratory of Clinical Investigation, National Institute on Aging, NIH 251 Bayview Blvd., Baltimore, MD, 21224, USA
| | - Helen C. Murray
- Department of Anatomy and Medical Imaging and Centre for Brain Research, Faculty of Medical and Health Science, University of Auckland, Private Bag, Auckland, 92019, New Zealand
- Laboratory of Functional and Molecular Imaging, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, NIH, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Maurice A. Curtis
- Department of Anatomy and Medical Imaging and Centre for Brain Research, Faculty of Medical and Health Science, University of Auckland, Private Bag, Auckland, 92019, New Zealand
| | - Richard M. Faull
- Department of Anatomy and Medical Imaging and Centre for Brain Research, Faculty of Medical and Health Science, University of Auckland, Private Bag, Auckland, 92019, New Zealand
| | - Andrea Sedlock
- Flow and Imaging Cytometry Core Facility, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, NIH, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Dragan Maric
- Flow and Imaging Cytometry Core Facility, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, NIH, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
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