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Armijo-Weingart L, San Martin L, Gallegos S, Araya A, Konar-Nie M, Fernandez-Pérez E, Aguayo LG. Loss of glycine receptors in the nucleus accumbens and ethanol reward in an Alzheimer´s Disease mouse model. Prog Neurobiol 2024; 237:102616. [PMID: 38723884 PMCID: PMC11163974 DOI: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2024.102616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2023] [Revised: 03/21/2024] [Accepted: 05/01/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024]
Abstract
Alterations in cognitive and non-cognitive cerebral functions characterize Alzheimer's disease (AD). Cortical and hippocampal impairments related to extracellular accumulation of Aβ in AD animal models have been extensively investigated. However, recent reports have also implicated intracellular Aβ in limbic regions, such as the nucleus accumbens (nAc). Accumbal neurons express high levels of inhibitory glycine receptors (GlyRs) that are allosterically modulated by ethanol and have a role in controlling its intake. In the present study, we investigated how GlyRs in the 2xTg mice (AD model) affect nAc functions and ethanol intake behavior. Using transgenic and control aged-matched litter mates, we found that the GlyRα2 subunit was significantly decreased in AD mice (6-month-old). We also examined intracellular calcium dynamics using the fluorescent calcium protein reporter GCaMP in slice photometry. We also found that the calcium signal mediated by GlyRs, but not GABAAR, was also reduced in AD neurons. Additionally, ethanol potentiation was significantly decreased in accumbal neurons in the AD mice. Finally, we performed drinking in the dark (DID) experiments and found that 2xTg mice consumed less ethanol on the last day of DID, in agreement with a lower blood ethanol concentration. 2xTg mice also showed lower sucrose consumption, indicating that overall food reward was altered. In conclusion, the data support the role of GlyRs in nAc neuron excitability and a decreased glycinergic activity in the 2xTg mice that might lead to impairment in reward processing at an early stage of the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorena Armijo-Weingart
- Laboratory of Neurophysiology, Department of Physiology, Universidad de Concepción, Chile; Programa de Neurociencia, Psiquiatría y Salud Mental (NEPSAM), Universidad de Concepción, Chile
| | - Loreto San Martin
- Laboratory of Neurophysiology, Department of Physiology, Universidad de Concepción, Chile; Programa de Neurociencia, Psiquiatría y Salud Mental (NEPSAM), Universidad de Concepción, Chile
| | - Scarlet Gallegos
- Laboratory of Neurophysiology, Department of Physiology, Universidad de Concepción, Chile
| | - Anibal Araya
- Laboratory of Neurophysiology, Department of Physiology, Universidad de Concepción, Chile
| | - Macarena Konar-Nie
- Laboratory of Neurophysiology, Department of Physiology, Universidad de Concepción, Chile
| | - Eduardo Fernandez-Pérez
- Laboratory of Neurophysiology, Department of Physiology, Universidad de Concepción, Chile; Programa de Neurociencia, Psiquiatría y Salud Mental (NEPSAM), Universidad de Concepción, Chile
| | - Luis G Aguayo
- Laboratory of Neurophysiology, Department of Physiology, Universidad de Concepción, Chile.
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2
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Zheng L, Wu S, Jin H, Wu J, Wang X, Cao Y, Zhou Z, Jiang Y, Li L, Yang X, Shen Q, Guo S, Shen Y, Li C, Ji L. Molecular mechanisms and therapeutic potential of icariin in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. PHYTOMEDICINE : INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHYTOTHERAPY AND PHYTOPHARMACOLOGY 2023; 116:154890. [PMID: 37229892 DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2023.154890] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2023] [Revised: 05/03/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Icariin (ICA) is the main active component of Epimedium, a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), known to enhance cognitive function in Alzheimer's disease (AD). This study aims to investigate and summarize the mechanisms through which ICA treats AD. METHODS The PubMed and CNKI databases were utilized to review the advancements in ICA's role in AD prevention and treatment by analyzing literature published between January 2005 and April 2023. To further illustrate ICA's impact on AD development, tables, and images are included to summarize the relationships between various mechanisms. RESULTS The study reveals that ICA ameliorates cognitive deficits in AD model mice by modulating Aβ via multiple pathways, including BACE-1, NO/cGMP, Wnt/Ca2+, and PI3K/Akt signaling. ICA exhibits neuroprotective properties by inhibiting neuronal apoptosis through the suppression of ER stress in AD mice, potentially linked to NF-κB, MAPK, ERK, and PERK/Eif2α signaling pathways. Moreover, ICA may safeguard neurons by attenuating mitochondrial oxidative stress injury. ICA can also enhance learning, memory, and cognition by improving synaptic structure via regulation of the PSD-95 protein. Furthermore, ICA can mitigate neuroinflammation by inactivating microglial activity through the upregulation of PPARγ, TAK1/IKK/NF-κB, and JNK/p38 MAPK signaling pathways. CONCLUSION This study indicates that ICA possesses multiple beneficial effects in AD treatment. Through the integration of pharmacological and molecular biological research, ICA may emerge as a promising candidate to expedite the advancement of TCM in the clinical management of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lingyan Zheng
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310006, China
| | - Sichen Wu
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310006, China
| | - Haichao Jin
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310006, China
| | - Jiaqi Wu
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310006, China
| | - Xiaole Wang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310006, China
| | - Yuxiao Cao
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310006, China
| | - Zhihao Zhou
- The Third School of Clinical Medicine (School of Rehabilitation Medicine), Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310006, China
| | - Yaona Jiang
- Second Clinical Medical College, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310006, China
| | - Linhong Li
- First Clinical Medical College, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310006, China
| | - Xinyue Yang
- First Clinical Medical College, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310006, China
| | - Qing Shen
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Seafood Deep Processing, Zhejiang Province Joint Key Laboratory of Aquatic Products Processing, Institute of Seafood, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou 310012, China.
| | - Shunyuan Guo
- Department of Neurology, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, People's Hospital of Hangzhou Medical, Hangzhou 310014, Zhejiang, China.
| | - Yuejian Shen
- Hangzhou Linping Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Linping, Hangzhou 311106, China.
| | - Changyu Li
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310006, China.
| | - Liting Ji
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310006, China.
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3
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Rizzello E, Pimpinella D, Pignataro A, Titta G, Merenda E, Saviana M, Porcheddu G, Paolantoni C, Malerba F, Giorgi C, Curia G, Middei S, Marchetti C. Lamotrigine rescues neuronal alterations and prevents seizure-induced memory decline in an Alzheimer's disease mouse model. Neurobiol Dis 2023; 181:106106. [PMID: 37001613 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2023.106106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2023] [Revised: 03/17/2023] [Accepted: 03/25/2023] [Indexed: 03/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Epilepsy is a comorbidity associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD), often starting many years earlier than memory decline. Investigating this association in the early pre-symptomatic stages of AD can unveil new mechanisms of the pathology as well as guide the use of antiepileptic drugs to prevent or delay hyperexcitability-related pathological effects of AD. We investigated the impact of repeated seizures on hippocampal memory and amyloid-β (Aβ) load in pre-symptomatic Tg2576 mice, a transgenic model of AD. Seizure induction caused memory deficits and an increase in oligomeric Aβ42 and fibrillary species selectively in pre-symptomatic transgenic mice, and not in their wildtype littermates. Electrophysiological patch-clamp recordings in ex vivo CA1 pyramidal neurons and immunoblots were carried out to investigate the neuronal alterations associated with the behavioral outcomes of Tg2576 mice. CA1 pyramidal neurons exhibited increased intrinsic excitability and lower hyperpolarization-activated Ih current. CA1 also displayed lower expression of the hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated HCN1 subunit, a protein already identified as downregulated in the AD human proteome. The antiepileptic drug lamotrigine restored electrophysiological alterations and prevented both memory deficits and the increase in extracellular Aβ induced by seizures. Thus our study provides evidence of pre-symptomatic hippocampal neuronal alterations leading to hyperexcitability and associated with both higher susceptibility to seizures and to AD-specific seizure-induced memory impairment. Our findings also provide a basis for the use of the antiepileptic drug lamotrigine as a way to counteract acceleration of AD induced by seizures in the early phases of the pathology.
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4
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Latina V, De Introna M, Caligiuri C, Loviglio A, Florio R, La Regina F, Pignataro A, Ammassari-Teule M, Calissano P, Amadoro G. Immunotherapy with Cleavage-Specific 12A12mAb Reduces the Tau Cleavage in Visual Cortex and Improves Visuo-Spatial Recognition Memory in Tg2576 AD Mouse Model. Pharmaceutics 2023; 15:pharmaceutics15020509. [PMID: 36839831 PMCID: PMC9965010 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15020509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2022] [Revised: 01/25/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Tau-targeted immunotherapy is a promising approach for treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Beyond cognitive decline, AD features visual deficits consistent with the manifestation of Amyloid β-protein (Aβ) plaques and neurofibrillary tangles (NFT) in the eyes and higher visual centers, both in animal models and affected subjects. We reported that 12A12-a monoclonal cleavage-specific antibody (mAb) which in vivo neutralizes the neurotoxic, N-terminal 20-22 kDa tau fragment(s)-significantly reduces the retinal accumulation in Tg(HuAPP695Swe)2576 mice of both tau and APP/Aβ pathologies correlated with local inflammation and synaptic deterioration. Here, we report the occurrence of N-terminal tau cleavage in the primary visual cortex (V1 area) and the beneficial effect of 12A12mAb treatment on phenotype-associated visuo-spatial deficits in this AD animal model. We found out that non-invasive administration of 12 A12mAb markedly reduced the pathological accumulation of both truncated tau and Aβ in the V1 area, correlated to significant improvement in visual recognition memory performance along with local increase in two direct readouts of cortical synaptic plasticity, including the dendritic spine density and the expression level of activity-regulated cytoskeleton protein Arc/Arg3.1. Translation of these findings to clinical therapeutic interventions could offer an innovative tau-directed opportunity to delay or halt the visual impairments occurring during AD progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Latina
- European Brain Research Institute (EBRI), Viale Regina Elena 295, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Margherita De Introna
- Institute of Translational Pharmacology (IFT), National Research Council (CNR), Via Fosso del Cavaliere 100, 00133 Rome, Italy
- IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation (FSL), Centro di Ricerca Europeo sul Cervello (CERC), Via Fosso del Fiorano 64-65, 00143 Rome, Italy
| | - Chiara Caligiuri
- IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation (FSL), Centro di Ricerca Europeo sul Cervello (CERC), Via Fosso del Fiorano 64-65, 00143 Rome, Italy
| | - Alessia Loviglio
- European Brain Research Institute (EBRI), Viale Regina Elena 295, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Rita Florio
- European Brain Research Institute (EBRI), Viale Regina Elena 295, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Federico La Regina
- European Brain Research Institute (EBRI), Viale Regina Elena 295, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Annabella Pignataro
- Institute of Translational Pharmacology (IFT), National Research Council (CNR), Via Fosso del Cavaliere 100, 00133 Rome, Italy
- IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation (FSL), Centro di Ricerca Europeo sul Cervello (CERC), Via Fosso del Fiorano 64-65, 00143 Rome, Italy
| | - Martine Ammassari-Teule
- IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation (FSL), Centro di Ricerca Europeo sul Cervello (CERC), Via Fosso del Fiorano 64-65, 00143 Rome, Italy
- Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology (IBBC), National Research Council (CNR), Via Ercole Ramarini 32, 00015 Rome, Italy
| | - Pietro Calissano
- European Brain Research Institute (EBRI), Viale Regina Elena 295, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Giuseppina Amadoro
- European Brain Research Institute (EBRI), Viale Regina Elena 295, 00161 Rome, Italy
- Institute of Translational Pharmacology (IFT), National Research Council (CNR), Via Fosso del Cavaliere 100, 00133 Rome, Italy
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-06-49255252
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Ammassari-Teule M. Inbred Mice Again at Stake: How the Cognitive Profile of the Wild-Type Mouse Background Discloses Pathogenic Effects of APP Mutations. Front Behav Neurosci 2022; 16:868473. [PMID: 35813596 PMCID: PMC9260142 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2022.868473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2022] [Accepted: 05/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Increasing efforts have been made in the last decades to increase the face validity of Alzheimer's disease (AD) mouse models. Main advancements have consisted in generating AD mutations closer to those identified in humans, enhancing genetic diversity of wild-type backgrounds, and choosing protocols much apt to reveal AD-like cognitive dysfunctions. Nevertheless, two aspects remain less considered: the cognitive specialization of inbred strains used as recipient backgrounds of mutations and the heuristic importance of studying destabilization of memory circuits in pre-symptomatic mice facing cognitive challenges. This article underscores the relevance of these behavioral/experimental aspects by reviewing data which show that (i) inbred mice differ in their innate predisposition to rely on episodic vs. procedural memory, which implicates differential sensitivity to mutations aimed at disrupting temporal lobe-dependent memory, and that (ii) investigating training-driven neural alterations in asymptomatic mutants unveils early synaptic damage, which considerably anticipates detection of AD first signs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martine Ammassari-Teule
- Laboratory of Psychobiology, Department of Experimental Neuroscience, Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy
- National Research Council, Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Rome, Italy
- *Correspondence: Martine Ammassari-Teule
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6
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Lu Q, Wu F, Jiao J, Xue L, Song R, Shi Y, Kong Y, Sun J, Gu N, Han MH, Zhang Z. Selective activation of ABCA1/ApoA1 signaling in the V1 by magnetoelectric stimulation ameliorates depression via regulation of synaptic plasticity. iScience 2022; 25:104201. [PMID: 35479414 PMCID: PMC9036135 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.104201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2021] [Revised: 02/18/2022] [Accepted: 04/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Emerging evidence suggests that dysfunction of the visual cortex may be involved in major depressive disorder (MDD). However, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. We previously established that combined magnetic stimulation system treatment (c-MSST) resulted in an antidepressant effect in mice. In the present study, we found that V1-targeted c-MSST induced significant antidepressant effects in chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS)- and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated mice. Proteomic screening investigation and repeatable validation revealed that expression of the V1 neuronal ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1) and apolipoprotein A-1 (ApoA1) was downregulated in CUMS mice, an effect that was normalized by c-MSST. Neuron-specific knockdown of ABCA1 in V1 blocked c-MSST’s antidepressant effects. Mechanistically, CUMS reduced dendritic spine density and long-term plasticity in V1, and these deficits were reversed by c-MSST. V1-targeted c-MSST was found to induce rapid antidepressant effects that are mediated by alterations in synaptic plasticity via the ABCA1/ApoA1 signaling pathway in V1. c-MSST targeting the primary visual cortex induced antidepressant effects ABCA1/ApoA1 signaling contributed to c-MSST-mediated antidepressant actions Magnetic stimulation of primary visual cortex enhanced synaptic plasticity Circulating levels of ApoA1 were lower in patients with depression
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7
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Xie Y, Song A, Zhu Y, Jiang A, Peng W, Zhang C, Meng X. Effects and mechanisms of probucol on aging-related hippocampus-dependent cognitive impairment. Biomed Pharmacother 2021; 144:112266. [PMID: 34634555 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2021.112266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2021] [Revised: 09/26/2021] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In the present study, we aimed to investigate the effects of probucol on aging-related hippocampus-dependent cognitive impairment and explore the potential mechanisms. METHODS D-galactose (100 mg/kg, once daily for 6 weeks) was subcutaneously injected to induce aging in mice. Then the mice were administered with probucol or vehicle once a day for 2 weeks. The hippocampus-related cognition was evaluated with Morris water maze test, novel object recognition test, and contextual fear conditioning test. Moreover, synaptic plasticity was assessed, and RNA-sequencing was applied to further explore the molecular mechanisms. RESULTS Aging mice induced by D-galactose showed conspicuous learning and memory impairment, which was significantly ameliorated by probucol. Meanwhile, probucol enhanced the spine density and dendritic branches, improved long-term potentiation, and increased the expression of PSD95 of aging mice. Probucol regulated 70 differentially expressed genes compared to D-galactose group, of which 38 genes were upregulated and 32 genes were downregulated. At last, RNA-sequencing results were verified by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. CONCLUSIONS Probucol improved learning and memory in aging mice through enhancing synaptic plasticity and regulating gene expression, indicating the potential application of probucol to prevent and treat aging-related disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaru Xie
- Department of Nephrology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China; Department of Neurobiology, Institute of Brain Research, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Anni Song
- Department of Nephrology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China
| | - Yuting Zhu
- Department of Nephrology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China
| | - Anni Jiang
- Department of Nephrology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China
| | - Wenpeng Peng
- Department of cardiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China
| | - Chun Zhang
- Department of Nephrology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China
| | - Xianfang Meng
- Department of Neurobiology, Institute of Brain Research, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China.
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8
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Peripheral Nerve Impairment in a Mouse Model of Alzheimer's Disease. Brain Sci 2021; 11:brainsci11091245. [PMID: 34573265 PMCID: PMC8465822 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci11091245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2021] [Revised: 09/16/2021] [Accepted: 09/17/2021] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Sarcopenia, a geriatric syndrome involving loss of muscle mass and strength, is often associated with the early phases of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Pathological hallmarks of AD including amyloid β (Aβ) aggregates which can be found in peripheral tissues such as skeletal muscle. However, not much is currently known about their possible involvement in sarcopenia. We investigated neuronal innervation in skeletal muscle of Tg2576 mice, a genetic model for Aβ accumulation. We examined cholinergic innervation of skeletal muscle in adult Tg2576 and wild type mice by immunofluorescence labeling of tibialis anterior (TA) muscle sections using antibodies raised against neurofilament light chain (NFL) and acetylcholine (ACh) synthesizing enzyme choline acetyltransferase (ChAT). Combining this histological approach with real time quantification of mRNA levels of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, we demonstrated that in the TA of Tg2576 mice, neuronal innervation is significantly reduced and synaptic area is smaller and displays less ChAT content when compared to wild type mice. Our study provides the first evidence of reduced cholinergic innervation of skeletal muscle in a mouse model of Aβ accumulation. This evidence sustains the possibility that sarcopenia in AD originates from Aβ-mediated cholinergic loss.
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9
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Nakai T, Yamada K, Mizoguchi H. Alzheimer's Disease Animal Models: Elucidation of Biomarkers and Therapeutic Approaches for Cognitive Impairment. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22115549. [PMID: 34074018 PMCID: PMC8197360 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22115549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2021] [Accepted: 05/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is an age-related and progressive neurodegenerative disorder. It is widely accepted that AD is mainly caused by the accumulation of extracellular amyloid β (Aβ) and intracellular neurofibrillary tau tangles. Aβ begins to accumulate years before the onset of cognitive impairment, suggesting that the benefit of currently available interventions would be greater if they were initiated in the early phases of AD. To understand the mechanisms of AD pathogenesis, various transgenic mouse models with an accelerated accumulation of Aβ and tau tangles have been developed. However, none of these models exhibit all pathologies present in human AD. To overcome these undesirable phenotypes, APP knock-in mice, which were presented with touchscreen-based tasks, were developed to better evaluate the efficacy of candidate therapeutics in mouse models of early-stage AD. This review assesses several AD mouse models from the aspect of biomarkers and cognitive impairment and discusses their potential as tools to provide novel AD therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tsuyoshi Nakai
- Department of Neuropsychopharmacology and Hospital Pharmacy, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya 466-8560, Japan; (T.N.); (K.Y.)
| | - Kiyofumi Yamada
- Department of Neuropsychopharmacology and Hospital Pharmacy, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya 466-8560, Japan; (T.N.); (K.Y.)
| | - Hiroyuki Mizoguchi
- Department of Neuropsychopharmacology and Hospital Pharmacy, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya 466-8560, Japan; (T.N.); (K.Y.)
- Medical Interactive Research and Academia Industry Collaboration Center, Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, Nagoya University, Nagoya 464-8601, Japan
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +81-52-744-2674; Fax: +81-52-744-2979
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10
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McQuail JA, Dunn AR, Stern Y, Barnes CA, Kempermann G, Rapp PR, Kaczorowski CC, Foster TC. Cognitive Reserve in Model Systems for Mechanistic Discovery: The Importance of Longitudinal Studies. Front Aging Neurosci 2021; 12:607685. [PMID: 33551788 PMCID: PMC7859530 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2020.607685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2020] [Accepted: 12/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The goal of this review article is to provide a resource for longitudinal studies, using animal models, directed at understanding and modifying the relationship between cognition and brain structure and function throughout life. We propose that forthcoming longitudinal studies will build upon a wealth of knowledge gleaned from prior cross-sectional designs to identify early predictors of variability in cognitive function during aging, and characterize fundamental neurobiological mechanisms that underlie the vulnerability to, and the trajectory of, cognitive decline. Finally, we present examples of biological measures that may differentiate mechanisms of the cognitive reserve at the molecular, cellular, and network level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph A McQuail
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology and Neuroscience, University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Columbia, SC, United States
| | - Amy R Dunn
- The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, ME, United States
| | - Yaakov Stern
- Cognitive Neuroscience Division, Department of Neurology, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Carol A Barnes
- Departments of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States.,Evelyn F. McKnight Brain Institute, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Gerd Kempermann
- CRTD-Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany.,German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Helmholtz Association of German Research Centers (HZ), Dresden, Germany
| | - Peter R Rapp
- Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroscience, Neurocognitive Aging Section, National Institute on Aging, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | | | - Thomas C Foster
- Department of Neuroscience, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States.,Genetics and Genomics Program, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
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11
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Ammassari-Teule M. Early-Occurring Dendritic Spines Alterations in Mouse Models of Alzheimer's Disease Inform on Primary Causes of Neurodegeneration. Front Synaptic Neurosci 2020; 12:566615. [PMID: 33013348 PMCID: PMC7511703 DOI: 10.3389/fnsyn.2020.566615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2020] [Accepted: 08/17/2020] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The consensus that synaptic failure is the earliest cause of cognitive deterioration in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) has initially led to investigate structural (dendritic spines) and physiological (LTP) synaptic dysfunctions in mouse models of AD with established cognitive alterations. The challenge is now to track down ultra-early alterations in spines to uncover causes rather than disease’s symptoms. This review article pinpoints dysregulations of the postsynaptic density (PSD) protein network which alter the morphology and function of spines in pre- and early- symptomatic hAPP mouse models of AD, and, hence, inform on primary causes of neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martine Ammassari-Teule
- Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, CNR-National Research Council, Rome, Italy.,Laboratory of Psychobiology, IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy
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12
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De Risi M, Torromino G, Tufano M, Moriceau S, Pignataro A, Rivagorda M, Carrano N, Middei S, Settembre C, Ammassari‐Teule M, Gardoni F, Mele A, Oury F, De Leonibus E. Mechanisms by which autophagy regulates memory capacity in ageing. Aging Cell 2020; 19:e13189. [PMID: 32729663 PMCID: PMC7511873 DOI: 10.1111/acel.13189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2019] [Revised: 06/08/2020] [Accepted: 06/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Autophagy agonists have been proposed to slow down neurodegeneration. Spermidine, a polyamine that acts as an autophagy agonist, is currently under clinical trial for the treatment of age‐related memory decline. How Spermidine and other autophagy agonists regulate memory and synaptic plasticity is under investigation. We set up a novel mouse model of mild cognitive impairment (MCI), in which middle‐aged (12‐month‐old) mice exhibit impaired memory capacity, lysosomes engulfed with amyloid fibrils (β‐amyloid and α‐synuclein) and impaired task‐induced GluA1 hippocampal post‐translation modifications. Subchronic treatment with Spermidine as well as the autophagy agonist TAT‐Beclin 1 rescued memory capacity and GluA1 post‐translational modifications by favouring the autophagy/lysosomal‐mediated degradation of amyloid fibrils. These findings provide new mechanistic evidence on the therapeutic relevance of autophagy enhancers which, by improving the degradation of misfolded proteins, slow down age‐related memory decline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria De Risi
- Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine Telethon Foundation Pozzuoli Italy
- Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology (IBBC) National Research Council Rome Italy
| | - Giulia Torromino
- Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine Telethon Foundation Pozzuoli Italy
- Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology (IBBC) National Research Council Rome Italy
| | - Michele Tufano
- Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine Telethon Foundation Pozzuoli Italy
| | - Stéphanie Moriceau
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM) U1151 Institut Necker Enfants‐Malades (INEM) Université Paris Descartes‐Sorbonne–Paris Cité Paris France
| | - Annabella Pignataro
- Laboratory of Psychobiology Department of Experimental Neurology Santa Lucia Foundation Rome Italy
- Institute of Translational Pharmacology (IFT) National Research Council Rome Italy
| | - Manon Rivagorda
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM) U1151 Institut Necker Enfants‐Malades (INEM) Université Paris Descartes‐Sorbonne–Paris Cité Paris France
| | - Nicolò Carrano
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences University of Milan Milan Italy
| | - Silvia Middei
- Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology (IBBC) National Research Council Rome Italy
| | - Carmine Settembre
- Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine Telethon Foundation Pozzuoli Italy
| | - Martine Ammassari‐Teule
- Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology (IBBC) National Research Council Rome Italy
- Laboratory of Psychobiology Department of Experimental Neurology Santa Lucia Foundation Rome Italy
| | - Fabrizio Gardoni
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences University of Milan Milan Italy
| | - Andrea Mele
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology "C. Darwin" Sapienza University of Rome Rome Italy
- Center for Research in Neurobiology "D. Bovet" Sapienza University of Rome Rome Italy
| | - Franck Oury
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM) U1151 Institut Necker Enfants‐Malades (INEM) Université Paris Descartes‐Sorbonne–Paris Cité Paris France
| | - Elvira De Leonibus
- Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine Telethon Foundation Pozzuoli Italy
- Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology (IBBC) National Research Council Rome Italy
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Neural compensation in presymptomatic hAPP mouse models of Alzheimer's disease. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2020; 27:390-394. [PMID: 32817305 PMCID: PMC7433654 DOI: 10.1101/lm.050401.119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2020] [Accepted: 06/26/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Largely inspired from clinical concepts like brain reserve, cognitive reserve, and neural compensation, here we review data showing how neural circuits reorganize in presymptomatic and early symptomatic hAPP mice to maintain memory intact. By informing on molecular alterations and compensatory adaptations which take place in the brain before mice show cognitive impairments, these data can help to identify ultra-early disease markers that could be targeted in a therapeutic perspective aimed at preventing rather than treating cognitive deterioration.
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Rizzello E, Middei S, Marchetti C. Synaptic Correlates of Anterograde Amnesia and Intact Retrograde Memory in a Mouse Model of Alzheimer’s Disease. Curr Alzheimer Res 2020; 17:259-268. [DOI: 10.2174/1567205017666200224122113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2019] [Revised: 12/30/2019] [Accepted: 02/12/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Background:
Clinical evidence indicates that patients affected by Alzheimer's Disease (AD)
fail to form new memories although their memories for old events are intact. This amnesic pattern depends
on the selective vulnerability to AD-neurodegeneration of the hippocampus, the brain region that
sustains the formation of new memories, while cortical regions that store remote memories are spared.
Objective:
To identify the cellular mechanisms underlying impaired recent memories and intact remote
memories in a mouse model of AD.
Method:
Glutamatergic synaptic currents were recorded by patch-clamp in acute hippocampal and
anterior Cingulate Cortical (aCC) slices of AD-like Tg2576 mice and Wild-type (Wt) littermates subjected
to the Contextual Fear Conditioning (CFC) task or in naïve conditions.
Results:
Glutamatergic synaptic currents were recorded by patch-clamp in acute hippocampal and
anterior Cingulate Cortical (aCC) slices of AD-like Tg2576 mice and Wild-type (Wt) littermates subjected
to the Contextual Fear Conditioning (CFC) task or in naïve conditions.
Conclusion:
Our data suggest that in the early AD stages synaptic plasticity of CA1 synapses, crucial
to form new memories, is lost, while plasticity of aCC synapses is intact and contributes to the persistence
of long-term memories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emanuela Rizzello
- European Brain Research Institute (EBRI), Fondazione Rita Levi-Montalcini, Via Regina Elena 295, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Silvia Middei
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Via E. Ramarini 32, 00015 Monterotondo, Rome, Italy
| | - Cristina Marchetti
- European Brain Research Institute (EBRI), Fondazione Rita Levi-Montalcini, Via Regina Elena 295, 00161, Rome, Italy
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Transient upregulation of translational efficiency in prodromal and early symptomatic Tg2576 mice contributes to Aβ pathology. Neurobiol Dis 2020; 139:104787. [PMID: 32032729 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2020.104787] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2019] [Revised: 01/14/2020] [Accepted: 01/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
TG2576 mice show highest levels of the full length mutant Swedish Human Amyloid Precursor Protein (APPKM670/671LN) during prodromal and early sympotomatic stages. Interestingly, this occurs in association with the unbalanced expression of two of its RNA Binding proteins (RBPs) opposite regulators, the Fragile-X Mental Retardation Protein (FMRP) and the heteronuclear Ribonucleoprotein C (hnRNP C). Whether an augmentation in overall translational efficiency also contributes to the elevation of APP levels at those early developmental stages is currently unknown. We investigated this possibility by performing a longitudinal polyribosome profiling analysis of APP mRNA and protein in total hippocampal extracts from Tg2576 mice. Results showed that protein polysomal signals were exclusively detected in pre-symptomatic (1 months) and early symptomatic (3 months) mutant mice. Differently, hAPP mRNA polysomal signals were detected at any age, but a peak of expression was found when mice were 3-month old. Consistent with an early but transient rise of translational efficiency, the phosphorylated form of the initial translation factor eIF2α (p-eIF2α) was reduced at pre-symptomatic and early symptomatic stages, whereas it was increased at the fully symptomatic stage. Pharmacological downregulation of overall translation in early symptomatic mutants was then found to reduce hippocampal levels of full length APP, Aβspecies, BACE1 and Caspase-3, to rescue predominant LTD at hippocampal synapses, to revert dendritic spine loss and memory alterations, and to reinstate memory-induced c-fosactivation. Altogether, our findings demonstrate that overall translation is upregulated in prodromal and early symptomatic Tg2576 mice, and that restoring proper translational control at the onset of AD-like symptoms blocks the emergence of the AD-like phenotype.
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Mizuta K, Saneyoshi T. Amyloid-β-Dependent Neuronal Circuit Rearrangement in Presymptomatic Alzheimer's Disease. Biol Psychiatry 2019; 86:167-168. [PMID: 31319934 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2019.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2019] [Accepted: 06/05/2019] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Kotaro Mizuta
- Department of Pharmacology, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Takeo Saneyoshi
- Department of Pharmacology, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan.
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