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Baas PW, Sullivan KA, Terry AV, Case K, Yates PL, Sun X, Raghupathi R, Huber BR, Qiang L. Is Gulf War Illness a prolonged early phase tauopathy? Cytoskeleton (Hoboken) 2024; 81:41-46. [PMID: 37702426 PMCID: PMC10841075 DOI: 10.1002/cm.21786] [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: 07/24/2023] [Revised: 08/21/2023] [Accepted: 08/28/2023] [Indexed: 09/14/2023]
Abstract
The work of the Gulf War Illness (GWI) Consortium and that of basic and clinical researchers across the USA have resulted in a better understanding in recent years of the pathological basis of GWI, as well as of the mechanisms underlying the disorder. Among the most concerning symptoms suffered by veterans with GWI are cognitive decrements including those related to memory functioning. These decrements are not severe enough to meet dementia criteria, but there is significant concern that the mild cognitive impairment of these veterans will progress to dementia as they become older. Recent studies on GWI using human brain organoids as well as a rat model suggest that one potential cause of the cognitive problems may be elevated levels of tau in the brain, and this is supported by high levels of tau autoantibodies in the blood of veterans with GWI. There is urgency in finding treatments and preventive strategies for these veterans before they progress to dementia, with added value in doing so because their current status may represent an early phase of tauopathy common to many neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter W. Baas
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Drexel University College of Medicine, 2900 Queen Lane, Philadelphia, PA, 19129, USA
| | - Kimberly A. Sullivan
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, 02118, USA
| | - Alvin V. Terry
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, 30912, USA
| | - Kendra Case
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Drexel University College of Medicine, 2900 Queen Lane, Philadelphia, PA, 19129, USA
| | - Philip L. Yates
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Drexel University College of Medicine, 2900 Queen Lane, Philadelphia, PA, 19129, USA
| | - Xiaohuan Sun
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Drexel University College of Medicine, 2900 Queen Lane, Philadelphia, PA, 19129, USA
| | - Ramesh Raghupathi
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Drexel University College of Medicine, 2900 Queen Lane, Philadelphia, PA, 19129, USA
| | - Bertrand R. Huber
- Boston University Alzheimer’s Disease and CTE Center, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Department of Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA; VA Boston Healthcare System, US Department of Veteran Affairs, Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Bedford, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Liang Qiang
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Drexel University College of Medicine, 2900 Queen Lane, Philadelphia, PA, 19129, USA
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2
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Panzi C, Surana S, De La-Rocque S, Moretto E, Lazo OM, Schiavo G. Botulinum neurotoxin A modulates the axonal release of pathological tau in hippocampal neurons. Toxicon 2023; 228:107110. [PMID: 37037273 PMCID: PMC10636589 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2023.107110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2023] [Revised: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 04/03/2023] [Indexed: 04/12/2023]
Abstract
Pathological tau aggregates propagate across functionally connected neuronal networks in human neurodegenerative pathologies, such as Alzheimer's disease. However, the mechanism underlying this process is poorly understood. Several studies have showed that tau release is dependent on neuronal activity and that pathological tau is found in the extracellular space in free form, as well as in the lumen of extracellular vesicles. We recently showed that metabotropic glutamate receptor activity and SNAP25 integrity modulate the release of pathological tau from human and mouse synaptosomes. Here, we have leveraged botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs), which impair neurotransmitter release by cleaving specific synaptic SNARE proteins, to dissect molecular mechanisms related to tau release at synapses. In particular, we have tested the effect of botulinum neurotoxin A (BoNT/A) on the synaptic release of tau in primary mouse neurons. Hippocampal neurons were grown in microfluidic chambers and transduced with lentiviruses expressing human tau (hTau). We found that neuronal stimulation significantly increases the release of mutant hTau, whereas wild-type hTau is unaffected. Importantly, BoNT/A blocks mutant hTau release, indicating that this process is controlled by SNAP25, a component of the SNARE complex, in intact neurons. These results suggest that BoNTs are potent tools to study the spreading of pathological proteins in neurodegenerative diseases and could play a central role in identifying novel molecular targets for the development of therapeutic interventions to treat tauopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Panzi
- Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK; UK Dementia Research Institute, University College London, London, UK; UCL Queen Square Motor Neuron Disease Centre, University College London, London, UK.
| | - Sunaina Surana
- Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK; UK Dementia Research Institute, University College London, London, UK; UCL Queen Square Motor Neuron Disease Centre, University College London, London, UK
| | - Samantha De La-Rocque
- Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK; UK Dementia Research Institute, University College London, London, UK
| | - Edoardo Moretto
- Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK; UK Dementia Research Institute, University College London, London, UK; Institute of Neuroscience, CNR, 20854, Vedano al Lambro, Italy
| | - Oscar Marcelo Lazo
- Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK; UK Dementia Research Institute, University College London, London, UK; UCL Queen Square Motor Neuron Disease Centre, University College London, London, UK
| | - Giampietro Schiavo
- Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK; UK Dementia Research Institute, University College London, London, UK; UCL Queen Square Motor Neuron Disease Centre, University College London, London, UK.
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3
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MAPT genotype-dependent mitochondrial aberration and ROS production trigger dysfunction and death in cortical neurons of patients with hereditary FTLD. Redox Biol 2022; 59:102597. [PMID: 36599286 PMCID: PMC9817175 DOI: 10.1016/j.redox.2022.102597] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 12/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Tauopathies are a major type of proteinopathies underlying neurodegenerative diseases. Mutations in the tau-encoding MAPT-gene lead to hereditary cases of frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD)-tau, which span a wide phenotypic and pathological spectrum. Some of these mutations, such as the N279K mutation, result in a shift of the physiological 3R/4R ratio towards the more aggregation prone 4R isoform. Other mutations such as V337M cause a decrease in the in vitro affinity of tau to microtubules and a reduced ability to promote microtubule assembly. Whether both mutations address similar downstream signalling cascades remains unclear but is important for potential rescue strategies. Here, we developed a novel and optimised forward programming protocol for the rapid and highly efficient production of pure cultures of glutamatergic cortical neurons from hiPSCs. We apply this protocol to delineate mechanisms of neurodegeneration in an FTLD-tau hiPSC-model consisting of MAPTN279K- or MAPTV337M-mutants and wild-type or isogenic controls. The resulting cortical neurons express MAPT-genotype-dependent dominant proteome clusters regulating apoptosis, ROS homeostasis and mitochondrial function. Related pathways are significantly upregulated in MAPTN279K neurons but not in MAPTV337M neurons or controls. Live cell imaging demonstrates that both MAPT mutations affect excitability of membranes as reflected in spontaneous and stimulus evoked calcium signals when compared to controls, albeit more pronounced in MAPTN279K neurons. These spontaneous calcium oscillations in MAPTN279K neurons triggered mitochondrial hyperpolarisation and fission leading to mitochondrial ROS production, but also ROS production through NOX2 acting together to induce cell death. Importantly, we found that these mechanisms are MAPT mutation-specific and were observed in MAPTN279K neurons, but not in MAPTV337M neurons, supporting a pathological role of the 4R tau isoform in redox disbalance and highlighting MAPT-mutation specific clinicopathological-genetic correlations, which may inform rescue strategies in different MAPT mutations.
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4
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Yates PL, Case K, Sun X, Sullivan K, Baas PW, Qiang L. Veteran-derived cerebral organoids display multifaceted pathological defects in studies on Gulf War Illness. Front Cell Neurosci 2022; 16:979652. [PMID: 36619675 PMCID: PMC9816432 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2022.979652] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2022] [Accepted: 12/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Approximately 30% of the veterans who fought in the 1991 Gulf War (GW) suffer from a disease called Gulf War Illness (GWI), which encompasses a constellation of symptoms including cognitive deficits. A coalescence of evidence indicates that GWI was caused by low-level exposure to organophosphate pesticides and nerve agents in combination with physical stressors of the battlefield. Until recently, progress on mechanisms and therapy had been limited to rodent-based models. Using peripheral blood mononuclear cells from veterans with or without GWI, we recently developed a bank of human induced pluripotent stem cells that can be differentiated into a variety of cellular fates. With these cells, we have now generated cerebral organoids, which are three-dimensional multicellular structures that resemble the human brain. We established organoid cultures from two GW veterans, one with GWI and one without. Immunohistochemical analyses indicate that these organoids, when treated with a GW toxicant regimen consisting of the organophosphate diisopropyl fluorophosphate (a sarin analog) and cortisol (to mimic battlefield stress), display multiple indicators consistent with cognitive deficits, including increased astrocytic reactivity, enhanced phosphorylation of tau proteins, decreased microtubule stability, and impaired neurogenesis. Interestingly, some of these phenotypes were more pronounced in the organoids derived from the veteran with GWI, potentially reflecting a stronger response to the toxicants in some individuals compared to others. These results suggest that veteran-derived human cerebral organoids not only can be used as an innovative human model to uncover the cellular responses to GW toxicants but can also serve as a platform for developing personalized medicine approaches for the veterans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philip L. Yates
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Kendra Case
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Xiaohuan Sun
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Kimberly Sullivan
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Peter W. Baas
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Liang Qiang
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, United States,*Correspondence: Liang Qiang,
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5
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Li N, Gao X, Zheng L, Huang Q, Zeng F, Chen H, Farag MA, Zhao C. Advances in fucoxanthin chemistry and management of neurodegenerative diseases. PHYTOMEDICINE : INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHYTOTHERAPY AND PHYTOPHARMACOLOGY 2022; 105:154352. [PMID: 35917771 DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2022.154352] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2022] [Revised: 06/24/2022] [Accepted: 07/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Neurodegenerative diseases are chronic, currently incurable, diseases of the elderly, which are characterized by protein misfolding and neuronal damage. Fucoxanthin, derived from marine brown algae, presents a promising candidate for the development of effective therapeutic strategies. HYPOTHESIS AND PURPOSE The relationship between neurodegenerative disease management and fucoxanthin has not yet been clarified. This study focuses on the fundamental mechanisms and targets of fucoxanthin in Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease management, showing that communication between the brain and the gut contributes to neurodegenerative diseases and early diagnosis of ophthalmic diseases. This paper also presents, new insights for future therapeutic directions based on the integrated application of artificial intelligence. CONCLUSION Fucoxanthin primarily binds to amyloid fibrils with spreading properties such as Aβ, tau, and α-synuclein to reduce their accumulation levels, alleviate inflammatory factors, and restore mitochondrial membranes to prevent oxidative stress via Nrf2 and Akt signaling pathways, involving reduction of specific secretases. In addition, fucoxanthin may serve as a preventive diagnosis for neurodegenerative diseases through ophthalmic disorders. It can modulate gut microbes and has potential for the alleviation and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Na Li
- College of Food Science, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Xiaoxiang Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
| | - Lingjun Zheng
- School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Qihui Huang
- College of Food Science, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; College of Marine Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Feng Zeng
- College of Food Science, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Hongbin Chen
- College of Food Science, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; College of Oceanology and Food Science, Quanzhou Normal University, Quanzhou 362000, China.
| | - Mohamed A Farag
- Pharmacognosy Department, College of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.
| | - Chao Zhao
- College of Food Science, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; College of Marine Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; Key Laboratory of Marine Biotechnology of Fujian Province, Institute of Oceanology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China.
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6
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Cuadros R, Pérez M, Ruiz-Gabarre D, Hernández F, García-Escudero V, Avila J. Specific Peptide from the Novel W-Tau Isoform Inhibits Tau and Amyloid β Peptide Aggregation In Vitro. ACS Chem Neurosci 2022; 13:1974-1978. [PMID: 35695727 PMCID: PMC9264359 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.2c00188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
W-Tau, a new tau human-specific splicing isoform generated by intron retention, has been recently described. This isoform contains an 18-residue unique sequence corresponding to the translation of the retained region of intron 12. In this work, we have described that such 18-amino-acid peptide from the retained intron 12 can inhibit tau and β amyloid peptides aggregation under in vitro conditions. This inhibitory function is also present in smaller fragments of the 18-residue peptide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raquel Cuadros
- Centro de Biología Molecular "Severo Ochoa" (CBMSO) CSIC/UAM, C/Nicolás Cabrera, 1, 28049 Madrid, Spain.,Networking Research Centre on Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIBERNED), 28031 Madrid, Spain
| | - Mar Pérez
- Departamento de Anatomía Histología y Neurociencia, Facultad de Medicina UAM, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Daniel Ruiz-Gabarre
- Centro de Biología Molecular "Severo Ochoa" (CBMSO) CSIC/UAM, C/Nicolás Cabrera, 1, 28049 Madrid, Spain.,Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM), 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Félix Hernández
- Centro de Biología Molecular "Severo Ochoa" (CBMSO) CSIC/UAM, C/Nicolás Cabrera, 1, 28049 Madrid, Spain
| | - Vega García-Escudero
- Networking Research Centre on Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIBERNED), 28031 Madrid, Spain.,Departamento de Anatomía Histología y Neurociencia, Facultad de Medicina UAM, 28029 Madrid, Spain.,Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM), 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Jesús Avila
- Centro de Biología Molecular "Severo Ochoa" (CBMSO) CSIC/UAM, C/Nicolás Cabrera, 1, 28049 Madrid, Spain.,Networking Research Centre on Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIBERNED), 28031 Madrid, Spain
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7
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Podvin S, Jones A, Liu Q, Aulston B, Mosier C, Ames J, Winston C, Lietz CB, Jiang Z, O’Donoghue AJ, Ikezu T, Rissman RA, Yuan SH, Hook V. Mutant Presenilin 1 Dysregulates Exosomal Proteome Cargo Produced by Human-Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Neurons. ACS OMEGA 2021; 6:13033-13056. [PMID: 34056454 PMCID: PMC8158845 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.1c00660] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2021] [Accepted: 04/16/2021] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
The accumulation and propagation of hyperphosphorylated tau (p-Tau) is a neuropathological hallmark occurring with neurodegeneration of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Extracellular vesicles, exosomes, have been shown to initiate tau propagation in the brain. Notably, exosomes from human-induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) neurons expressing the AD familial A246E mutant form of presenilin 1 (mPS1) are capable of inducing tau deposits in the mouse brain after in vivo injection. To gain insights into the exosome proteome cargo that participates in propagating tau pathology, this study conducted proteomic analysis of exosomes produced by human iPSC neurons expressing A246E mPS1. Significantly, mPS1 altered the profile of exosome cargo proteins to result in (1) proteins present only in mPS1 exosomes and not in controls, (2) the absence of proteins in the mPS1 exosomes which were present only in controls, and (3) shared proteins which were upregulated or downregulated in the mPS1 exosomes compared to controls. These results show that mPS1 dysregulates the proteome cargo of exosomes to result in the acquisition of proteins involved in the extracellular matrix and protease functions, deletion of proteins involved in RNA and protein translation systems along with proteasome and related functions, combined with the upregulation and downregulation of shared proteins, including the upregulation of amyloid precursor protein. Notably, mPS1 neuron-derived exosomes displayed altered profiles of protein phosphatases and kinases involved in regulating the status of p-tau. The dysregulation of exosome cargo proteins by mPS1 may be associated with the ability of mPS1 neuron-derived exosomes to propagate tau pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonia Podvin
- Skaggs
School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California San Diego,
La Jolla, San Diego 92093, California, United States
| | - Alexander Jones
- Biomedical
Sciences Graduate Program, University of
California, San Diego, La Jolla, San Diego 92093, California, United States
| | - Qing Liu
- Department
of Neurosciences, School of Medicine, University
of California, San Diego, La Jolla, San Diego 92093, California, United States
| | - Brent Aulston
- Department
of Neurosciences, School of Medicine, University
of California, San Diego, La Jolla, San Diego 92093, California, United States
| | - Charles Mosier
- Skaggs
School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California San Diego,
La Jolla, San Diego 92093, California, United States
| | - Janneca Ames
- Skaggs
School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California San Diego,
La Jolla, San Diego 92093, California, United States
| | - Charisse Winston
- Department
of Neurosciences, School of Medicine, University
of California, San Diego, La Jolla, San Diego 92093, California, United States
| | - Christopher B. Lietz
- Skaggs
School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California San Diego,
La Jolla, San Diego 92093, California, United States
| | - Zhenze Jiang
- Skaggs
School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California San Diego,
La Jolla, San Diego 92093, California, United States
| | - Anthony J. O’Donoghue
- Skaggs
School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California San Diego,
La Jolla, San Diego 92093, California, United States
| | - Tsuneya Ikezu
- Department
of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Department of Neurology,
Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, Boston University, School of Medicine, Boston 02118, Massachusetts, United States
| | - Robert A. Rissman
- Department
of Neurosciences, School of Medicine, University
of California, San Diego, La Jolla, San Diego 92093, California, United States
- Veterans
Affairs San Diego Healthcare System,
La Jolla, San Diego 92161, California, United States
| | - Shauna H. Yuan
- Department
of Neurosciences, School of Medicine, University
of California, San Diego, La Jolla, San Diego 92093, California, United States
| | - Vivian Hook
- Skaggs
School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California San Diego,
La Jolla, San Diego 92093, California, United States
- Biomedical
Sciences Graduate Program, University of
California, San Diego, La Jolla, San Diego 92093, California, United States
- Department
of Neurosciences, School of Medicine, University
of California, San Diego, La Jolla, San Diego 92093, California, United States
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8
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Current and future applications of induced pluripotent stem cell-based models to study pathological proteins in neurodegenerative disorders. Mol Psychiatry 2021; 26:2685-2706. [PMID: 33495544 PMCID: PMC8505258 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-020-00999-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2020] [Revised: 12/02/2020] [Accepted: 12/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Neurodegenerative disorders emerge from the failure of intricate cellular mechanisms, which ultimately lead to the loss of vulnerable neuronal populations. Research conducted across several laboratories has now provided compelling evidence that pathogenic proteins can also contribute to non-cell autonomous toxicity in several neurodegenerative contexts, including Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and Huntington's diseases as well as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Given the nearly ubiquitous nature of abnormal protein accumulation in such disorders, elucidating the mechanisms and routes underlying these processes is essential to the development of effective treatments. To this end, physiologically relevant human in vitro models are critical to understand the processes surrounding uptake, release and nucleation under physiological or pathological conditions. This review explores the use of human-induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) to study prion-like protein propagation in neurodegenerative diseases, discusses advantages and limitations of this model, and presents emerging technologies that, combined with the use of iPSC-based models, will provide powerful model systems to propel fundamental research forward.
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9
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Lyons CE, Bartolomucci A. Stress and Alzheimer's disease: A senescence link? Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2020; 115:285-298. [PMID: 32461080 PMCID: PMC7483955 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2020.05.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2019] [Revised: 04/11/2020] [Accepted: 05/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Chronic stress has been shown to promote numerous aging-related diseases, and to accelerate the aging process itself. Of particular interest is the impact of stress on Alzheimer's disease (AD), the most prevalent form of dementia. The vast majority of AD cases have no known genetic cause, making it vital to identify the environmental factors involved in the onset and progression of the disease. Age is the greatest risk factor for AD, and measures of biological aging such as shorter telomere length, significantly increase likelihood for developing AD. Stress is also considered a crucial contributor to AD, as indicated by a formidable body of research, although the mechanisms underlying this association remain unclear. Here we review human and animal literature on the impact of stress on AD and discuss the mechanisms implicated in the interaction. In particular we will focus on the burgeoning body of research demonstrating that senescent cells, which accumulate with age and actively drive a number of aging-related diseases, may be a key mechanism through which stress drives AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carey E Lyons
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of Minnesota, United States; Graduate Program in Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, United States.
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10
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Myers A, McGonigle P. Overview of Transgenic Mouse Models for Alzheimer's Disease. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2020; 89:e81. [PMID: 31532917 DOI: 10.1002/cpns.81] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
This review describes several transgenic mouse models of Alzheimer's disease (AD), a devastating neurodegenerative disorder that causes progressive cognitive decline and is diagnosed postmortem by the presence of extracellular amyloid-β (Aβ) plaques and intraneuronal tau neurofibrillary tangles in the cerebral cortex. Currently there is no intervention that cures, prevents, or even slows disease progression. Its complex etiology and pathology pose significant challenges for animal model development, and there is no single model that faithfully recapitulates both the pathological aspects and behavioral phenotypes of AD. Nearly 200 transgenic rodent models of AD have been generated primarily based on mutations linked to Aβ protein misprocessing in the familial form of the disease. More recent models incorporate mutations in tau protein, as well as mutations associated with the sporadic form of the disease. The salient features, strengths, limitations, and key differentiators for the most commonly used and best characterized of these models are considered here. While the translational utility of many of these models to assess the potential of novel therapeutics is in dispute, knowledge of the different models available and a detailed understanding of their features can aid in the selection of the optimal model to explore disease mechanisms or evaluate candidate medications. We comment on the predictive utility of these models considering recent clinical trial failures and discuss trends and future directions in the development of models for AD based on the plethora of clinical data that have been generated over the last decade. © 2019 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ariana Myers
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.,Buck Institute for Research on Aging, Novato, California
| | - Paul McGonigle
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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11
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Avdeeva NV. Novel mGluR4 agonist Rapitalam ameliorates motor dysfunction in mice with tau-associated neurodegeneration. RESEARCH RESULTS IN PHARMACOLOGY 2020. [DOI: 10.3897/rrpharmacology.6.52098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Tau protein is classically involved in the pathogenesis of a neurodegenerative processes, such as Parkinson’s disease. This study was aimed at testing the novel mGluR4 selective agonist using it in transgenic mice with tau-associated neurodegeneration.
Materials and methods: Mice with Human P301S Tau hyperexpression were divided into 3 groups: Rapitalam 6 mg/kg and 20 mg/kg by gavage 3 times a week; and Control (Sham). The motor functions of animals were evaluated at 12th, 14th, 16th, 18th, and 20th weeks of life using the grip-test, rotarod and hanging wire test. In addition, the time of symptoms onset and death was recorded.
Research results: The use of Rapitalam at a dose of 6 mg/kg and 20 mg/kg significantly restored the holding impulse on a hanging wire, increasing it from 5.06±1.25 kg×sec to 6.42±0.97 kg×sec and 8.84±1.17 kg×sec, respectively. A similar trend was observed in the grip test: Rapitalam recovered grip strength from 28.43±5.04 N in the control group to 44.27±5.54 N (6 mg/kg) and 59.53±7.95 (20 mg/kg). Finally, the two-month use of Rapitalam neither delayed the manifestation of symptoms, nor increased the survival of mice.
Discussion: The cause of the loss of nerve cells in the mouse-tau line is autophagy. Apparently, Rapitalam is not able to simulate this process by reducing excitotoxicity, but against the background of the neurodegenerative process, it increases the activity of the nerve cells.
Conclusion: Rapitalam improves motor dysfunction in mice with tauopathy, with no effect on the survival of animals.
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12
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Corsetti V, Borreca A, Latina V, Giacovazzo G, Pignataro A, Krashia P, Natale F, Cocco S, Rinaudo M, Malerba F, Florio R, Ciarapica R, Coccurello R, D’Amelio M, Ammassari-Teule M, Grassi C, Calissano P, Amadoro G. Passive immunotherapy for N-truncated tau ameliorates the cognitive deficits in two mouse Alzheimer's disease models. Brain Commun 2020; 2:fcaa039. [PMID: 32954296 PMCID: PMC7425324 DOI: 10.1093/braincomms/fcaa039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2019] [Revised: 02/05/2020] [Accepted: 02/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Clinical and neuropathological studies have shown that tau pathology better correlates with the severity of dementia than amyloid plaque burden, making tau an attractive target for the cure of Alzheimer's disease. We have explored whether passive immunization with the 12A12 monoclonal antibody (26-36aa of tau protein) could improve the Alzheimer's disease phenotype of two well-established mouse models, Tg2576 and 3xTg mice. 12A12 is a cleavage-specific monoclonal antibody which selectively binds the pathologically relevant neurotoxic NH226-230 fragment (i.e. NH2htau) of tau protein without cross-reacting with its full-length physiological form(s). We found out that intravenous administration of 12A12 monoclonal antibody into symptomatic (6 months old) animals: (i) reaches the hippocampus in its biologically active (antigen-binding competent) form and successfully neutralizes its target; (ii) reduces both pathological tau and amyloid precursor protein/amyloidβ metabolisms involved in early disease-associated synaptic deterioration; (iii) improves episodic-like type of learning/memory skills in hippocampal-based novel object recognition and object place recognition behavioural tasks; (iv) restores the specific up-regulation of the activity-regulated cytoskeleton-associated protein involved in consolidation of experience-dependent synaptic plasticity; (v) relieves the loss of dendritic spine connectivity in pyramidal hippocampal CA1 neurons; (vi) rescues the Alzheimer's disease-related electrophysiological deficits in hippocampal long-term potentiation at the CA3-CA1 synapses; and (vii) mitigates the neuroinflammatory response (reactive gliosis). These findings indicate that the 20-22 kDa NH2-terminal tau fragment is crucial target for Alzheimer's disease therapy and prospect immunotherapy with 12A12 monoclonal antibody as safe (normal tau-preserving), beneficial approach in contrasting the early Amyloidβ-dependent and independent neuropathological and cognitive alterations in affected subjects.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Antonella Borreca
- Humanitas University Laboratory of Pharmacology and Brain Pathology, Neuro Center, 20089 Milan, Italy
- Institute of Neuroscience, 20129 Milan, Italy
| | | | | | | | - Paraskevi Krashia
- IRCSS Santa Lucia Foundation, 00143 Rome, Italy
- Department of Medicine, University Campus Bio-Medico, 00128 Rome, Italy
- Department of Science and Technology for Humans and Environment, University Campus Bio-medico, 00128 Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca Natale
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Sara Cocco
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Marco Rinaudo
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | | | - Rita Florio
- European Brain Research Institute (EBRI), 00161 Rome, Italy
| | | | - Roberto Coccurello
- IRCSS Santa Lucia Foundation, 00143 Rome, Italy
- Institute for Complex Systems (ISC), CNR, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Marcello D’Amelio
- IRCSS Santa Lucia Foundation, 00143 Rome, Italy
- Department of Medicine, University Campus Bio-Medico, 00128 Rome, Italy
- Department of Science and Technology for Humans and Environment, University Campus Bio-medico, 00128 Rome, Italy
| | | | - Claudio Grassi
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
- Institute of Human Physiology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | | | - Giuseppina Amadoro
- European Brain Research Institute (EBRI), 00161 Rome, Italy
- Institute of Translational Pharmacology (IFT)–National Research Council (CNR), 00133 Rome, Italy
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Barron MR, Gartlon J, Dawson LA, Atkinson PJ, Pardon MC. Increasing Tau 4R Tau Levels Exacerbates Hippocampal Tau Hyperphosphorylation in the hTau Model of Tauopathy but Also Tau Dephosphorylation Following Acute Systemic Inflammation. Front Immunol 2020; 11:293. [PMID: 32194553 PMCID: PMC7066213 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.00293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2019] [Accepted: 02/05/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Inflammation is considered a mechanistic driver of Alzheimer's disease, thought to increase tau phosphorylation, the first step to the formation of neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs). To further understand how inflammation impacts the development of tau pathology, we used (hTau) mice, which express all six, non-mutated, human tau isoforms, but with an altered ratio of tau isoforms favoring 3R tau due to the concomitant loss of murine tau (mTau) that is predominantly 4R. Such an imbalance pattern has been related to susceptibility to NFTs formation, but whether or not this also affects susceptibility to systemic inflammation and related changes in tau phosphorylation is not known. To reduce the predominance of 3R tau by increasing 4R tau availability, we bred hTau mice on a heterozygous mTau background and compared the impact of systemic inflammation induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in hTau mice hetero- or homozygous mTau knockout. Three-month-old male wild-type (Wt), mTau+/-, mTau-/-, hTau/mTau+/-, and hTau/mTau-/- mice were administered 100, 250, or 330 μg/kg of LPS or its vehicle phosphate buffer saline (PBS) [intravenously (i.v.), n = 8-9/group]. Sickness behavior, reflected by behavioral suppression in the spontaneous alternation task, hippocampal tau phosphorylation, measured by western immunoblotting, and circulating cytokine levels were quantified 4 h after LPS administration. The persistence of the LPS effects (250 μg/kg) on these measures, and food burrowing behavior, was assessed at 24 h post-inoculation in Wt, mTau+/-, and hTau/mTau+/- mice (n = 9-10/group). In the absence of immune stimulation, increasing 4R tau levels in hTau/mTau+/- exacerbated pS202 and pS396/404 tau phosphorylation, without altering total tau levels or worsening early behavioral perturbations characteristic of hTau/mTau-/- mice. We also show for the first time that modulating 4R tau levels in hTau mice affects the response to systemic inflammation. Behavior was suppressed in all genotypes 4 h following LPS administration, but hTau/mTau+/- exhibited more severe sickness behavior at the 100 μg/kg dose and a milder behavioral and cytokine response than hTau/mTau-/- mice at the 330 μg/kg dose. All LPS doses decreased tau phosphorylation at both epitopes in hTau/mTau+/- mice, but pS202 levels were selectively reduced at the 100 μg/kg dose in hTau/mTau-/- mice. Behavioral suppression and decreased tau phosphorylation persisted at 24 h following LPS administration in hTau/mTau+/- mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew R Barron
- School of Life Sciences, Division of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Medical School, Queens Medical Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Jane Gartlon
- EMEA Knowledge Centre, Eisai Ltd., Hatfield, United Kingdom
| | | | | | - Marie-Christine Pardon
- School of Life Sciences, Division of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Medical School, Queens Medical Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
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14
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Hernández F, Merchán-Rubira J, Vallés-Saiz L, Rodríguez-Matellán A, Avila J. Differences Between Human and Murine Tau at the N-terminal End. Front Aging Neurosci 2020; 12:11. [PMID: 32063841 PMCID: PMC6999090 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2020.00011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2019] [Accepted: 01/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Human tauopathies, such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD), have been widely studied in transgenic mice overexpressing human tau in the brain. The longest brain isoforms of Tau in mice and humans show 89% amino acid identity; however, the expression of the isoforms of this protein in the adult brain of the two species differs. Tau 3R isoforms are not present in adult mice. In contrast, the adult human brain contains Tau 3R and also Tau 4R isoforms. In addition, the N-terminal sequence of Tau protein in mice and humans differs, a Tau peptide (residues 17–28) being present in the latter but absent in the former. Here we review the main published data on this N-terminal sequence that suggests that human and mouse Tau proteins interact with different endogenous proteins and also show distinct secretion patterns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Félix Hernández
- Network Center for Biomedical Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIBERNED), Carlos III Institute of Health, Madrid, Spain.,Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Universidad Autonoma de Madrid (UAM), Madrid, Spain
| | - Jesús Merchán-Rubira
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Universidad Autonoma de Madrid (UAM), Madrid, Spain
| | - Laura Vallés-Saiz
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Universidad Autonoma de Madrid (UAM), Madrid, Spain
| | - Alberto Rodríguez-Matellán
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Universidad Autonoma de Madrid (UAM), Madrid, Spain
| | - Jesús Avila
- Network Center for Biomedical Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIBERNED), Carlos III Institute of Health, Madrid, Spain.,Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Universidad Autonoma de Madrid (UAM), Madrid, Spain
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15
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Gonçalves RA, Wijesekara N, Fraser PE, De Felice FG. Behavioral Abnormalities in Knockout and Humanized Tau Mice. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2020; 11:124. [PMID: 32226410 PMCID: PMC7080660 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2020.00124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2019] [Accepted: 02/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Microtubule-associated protein tau assists in stabilizing microtubules and has been particularly implicated in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Given the importance of tau to AD pathogenesis and therapies, it is important to understand non-classic physiological functions for this protein inside and outside the central nervous system (CNS). Our group has previously shown that tau ablation triggers glucose intolerance and pancreatic dysfunction in mice, suggesting that tau plays a role in peripheral metabolic regulation. Little is known about the role of tau in anxiety. Moreover, inconsistent results have been generated regarding the effects of tau deletion in memory. Here, we characterize systemic insulin resistance, anxiety-related behavior and memory in 15 to 20 weeks old Wild-Type (WT), Tau knockout (TauKO) and a distinct hTau mouse model consisting of tau knockout expressing the longest isoform (2N4R) of a non-mutant WT human Tau protein under the prion promoter (hTau). Our findings demonstrate that tau deletion leads to anxiety-related behavior, impaired contextual and cued fear memory. The presence of a human Tau transgene did not ameliorate the phenotypes observed in animals lacking the mouse tau protein and it elicited impairments in learning, memory, and peripheral insulin sensitivity. Our results suggest that tau protein plays a role in memory and anxiety-related behavior. Our findings also indicate that previously unrecognized functions for tau protein may be a complicating factor in using animal models on the TauKO background. Understanding the link between tau pathophysiology and cognitive and metabolic alterations is of great importance to establish the complete contribution of tau protein to AD pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafaella Araujo Gonçalves
- Centre for Neuroscience Studies, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Nadeeja Wijesekara
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Paul E. Fraser
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- *Correspondence: Paul E. Fraser
| | - Fernanda G. De Felice
- Centre for Neuroscience Studies, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada
- Institute of Medical Biochemistry Leopoldo de Meis, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Fernanda G. De Felice
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16
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Correia SC, Carvalho C, Cardoso S, Moreira PI. Post-translational modifications in brain health and disease. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2019; 1865:1947-1948. [PMID: 31102788 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2019.05.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Sónia C Correia
- CNC - Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal; IIIUC - Institute for Interdisciplinary Research, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
| | - Cristina Carvalho
- CNC - Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal; IIIUC - Institute for Interdisciplinary Research, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Susana Cardoso
- CNC - Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal; IIIUC - Institute for Interdisciplinary Research, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Paula I Moreira
- CNC - Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal; Institute of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
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17
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Novak P, Kontsekova E, Zilka N, Novak M. Ten Years of Tau-Targeted Immunotherapy: The Path Walked and the Roads Ahead. Front Neurosci 2018; 12:798. [PMID: 30450030 PMCID: PMC6224648 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2018.00798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2018] [Accepted: 10/15/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurofibrillary pathology comprised of pathological tau protein is closely tied to a range of neurodegenerative disorders, the most common of which is Alzheimer's disease. While they are individually rarer, a range of other disorders, the tauopathies (including Pick's disease, progressive supranuclear palsy, corticobasal degeneration, primary progressive aphasia, and ∼50% of behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia cases) display pronounced underlying tau pathology. In all cases, the distribution and amount of tau pathology closely correlates with the severity and phenotype of cognitive impairment, and with the pattern and degree of brain atrophy. Successfully counteracting tau pathology is likely to halt or slow the progression of these debilitating disorders. This makes tau a target of prime importance, yet an elusive one. The diversity of the tau proteome and post-translational modifications, as well as pathophysiology of tau are reviewed. Beginning 2013, a range of tau-targeted immunotherapies have entered clinical development; these therapies, and their common themes and differences are reviewed. The manuscript provides an extensive discussion on epitope selection for immunotherapies against tau pathology, on immunological mechanisms involved in their action, and challenges such as immune senescence, vaccine design, or evolution of epitopes. Furthermore, we provide methodological recommendations for the characterization of active vaccines and antibodies, animal models, and the target itself - the diseased tau proteome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Petr Novak
- Institute of Neuroimmunology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia
- AXON Neuroscience CRM Services SE, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Eva Kontsekova
- Institute of Neuroimmunology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia
- AXON Neuroscience R&D Services SE, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Norbert Zilka
- Institute of Neuroimmunology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia
- AXON Neuroscience R&D Services SE, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Michal Novak
- Institute of Neuroimmunology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia
- AXON Neuroscience SE, Larnaca, Cyprus
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