1
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Asada-Utsugi M, Urushitani M. Tau beyond Tangles: DNA Damage Response and Cytoskeletal Protein Crosstalk on Neurodegeneration. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:7906. [PMID: 39063148 PMCID: PMC11277103 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25147906] [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: 06/05/2024] [Revised: 07/13/2024] [Accepted: 07/17/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Neurons in the brain are continuously exposed to various sources of DNA damage. Although the mechanisms of DNA damage repair in mitotic cells have been extensively characterized, the repair pathways in post-mitotic neurons are still largely elusive. Moreover, inaccurate repair can result in deleterious mutations, including deletions, insertions, and chromosomal translocations, ultimately compromising genomic stability. Since neurons are terminally differentiated cells, they cannot employ homologous recombination (HR) for double-strand break (DSB) repair, suggesting the existence of neuron-specific repair mechanisms. Our research has centered on the microtubule-associated protein tau (MAPT), a crucial pathological protein implicated in neurodegenerative diseases, and its interplay with neurons' DNA damage response (DDR). This review aims to provide an updated synthesis of the current understanding of the complex interplay between DDR and cytoskeletal proteins in neurons, with a particular focus on the role of tau in neurodegenerative disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Makoto Urushitani
- Department of Neurology, Molecular Neuroscience Research Center, Shiga University of Medical Science, Otsu 520-2192, Shiga, Japan;
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2
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Sharma H, Koirala S, Chew YL, Konopka A. DNA Damage and Chromatin Rearrangement Work Together to Promote Neurodegeneration. Mol Neurobiol 2024:10.1007/s12035-024-04331-0. [PMID: 38977621 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-024-04331-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2024] [Accepted: 06/21/2024] [Indexed: 07/10/2024]
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases have a complex origin and are composed of genetic and environmental factors. Both DNA damage and chromatin rearrangement are important processes that occur under pathological conditions and in neurons functioning properly. While numerous studies have demonstrated the inseparable relationship between DNA damage and chromatin organization, understanding of this relationship, especially in neurodegenerative diseases, requires further study. Interestingly, recent studies revealed that known hallmark proteins involved in neurodegenerative diseases function in both DNA damage and chromatin reorganization, and this review discusses the current knowledge of this relationship. This review focused on hallmark proteins involved in various neurodegenerative diseases, such as the microtubule-associated protein tau, TAR DNA/RNA binding protein 43 (TDP-43), superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1), fused in sarcoma (FUS), huntingtin (HTT), α-synuclein, and β-amyloid precursor protein (APP). Hence, DNA damage and chromatin rearrangement are associated with disease mechanisms in distinct neurodegenerative diseases. Targeting common modulators of DNA repair and chromatin reorganization may lead to promising therapies for treating neurodegeneration.
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3
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D’Amico AG, Maugeri G, Vanella L, Consoli V, Sorrenti V, Bruno F, Federico C, Fallica AN, Pittalà V, D’Agata V. Novel Acetamide-Based HO-1 Inhibitor Counteracts Glioblastoma Progression by Interfering with the Hypoxic-Angiogenic Pathway. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:5389. [PMID: 38791428 PMCID: PMC11121434 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25105389] [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: 03/15/2024] [Revised: 05/06/2024] [Accepted: 05/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) represents the deadliest tumor among brain cancers. It is a solid tumor characterized by uncontrolled cell proliferation generating the hypoxic niches in the cancer core. By inducing the transcription of hypoxic inducible factor (HIF), hypoxia triggers many signaling cascades responsible for cancer progression and aggressiveness, including enhanced expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) or antioxidant enzymes, such as heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1). The present work aimed to investigate the link between HO-1 expression and the hypoxic microenvironment of GBM by culturing two human glioblastoma cell lines (U87MG and A172) in the presence of a hypoxic mimetic agent, deferoxamine (DFX). By targeting hypoxia-induced HO-1, we have tested the effect of a novel acetamide-based HO-1 inhibitor (VP18/58) on GBM progression. Results have demonstrated that hypoxic conditions induced upregulation and nuclear expression of HO-1 in a cell-dependent manner related to malignant phenotype. Moreover, our data demonstrated that the HO-1 inhibitor counteracted GBM progression by modulating the HIFα/HO-1/VEGF signaling cascade in cancer cells bearing more malignant phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agata Grazia D’Amico
- Department of Drug and Health Sciences, University of Catania, 95125 Catania, Italy; (A.G.D.); (V.C.); (V.S.); (V.P.)
| | - Grazia Maugeri
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, Section of Anatomy, Histology and Movement Sciences, University of Catania, 95100 Catania, Italy
| | - Luca Vanella
- Department of Drug and Health Sciences, University of Catania, 95125 Catania, Italy; (A.G.D.); (V.C.); (V.S.); (V.P.)
| | - Valeria Consoli
- Department of Drug and Health Sciences, University of Catania, 95125 Catania, Italy; (A.G.D.); (V.C.); (V.S.); (V.P.)
| | - Valeria Sorrenti
- Department of Drug and Health Sciences, University of Catania, 95125 Catania, Italy; (A.G.D.); (V.C.); (V.S.); (V.P.)
| | - Francesca Bruno
- Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, Section of Animal Biology, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy (C.F.)
| | - Concetta Federico
- Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, Section of Animal Biology, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy (C.F.)
| | - Antonino Nicolò Fallica
- Department of Drug and Health Sciences, University of Catania, 95125 Catania, Italy; (A.G.D.); (V.C.); (V.S.); (V.P.)
| | - Valeria Pittalà
- Department of Drug and Health Sciences, University of Catania, 95125 Catania, Italy; (A.G.D.); (V.C.); (V.S.); (V.P.)
- Department of Molecular Medicine, College of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Princess Al-Jawhara Centre for Molecular Medicine, Arabian Gulf University, Manama 329, Bahrain
| | - Velia D’Agata
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, Section of Anatomy, Histology and Movement Sciences, University of Catania, 95100 Catania, Italy
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4
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Abasi LS, Elathram N, Movva M, Deep A, Corbett KD, Debelouchina GT. Phosphorylation regulates tau's phase separation behavior and interactions with chromatin. Commun Biol 2024; 7:251. [PMID: 38429335 PMCID: PMC10907630 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-024-05920-4] [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: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 02/16/2024] [Indexed: 03/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Tau is a microtubule-associated protein often found in neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) in the brains of patients with Alzheimer's disease. Beyond this context, mounting evidence suggests that tau localizes into the nucleus, where it may play a role in DNA protection and heterochromatin regulation. The molecular mechanisms behind these observations are currently unclear. Using in vitro biophysical experiments, here we demonstrate that tau can undergo liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) with DNA, mononucleosomes, and reconstituted nucleosome arrays under low salt conditions. Low concentrations of tau promote chromatin compaction and protect DNA from digestion. While the material state of samples at physiological salt is dominated by chromatin oligomerization, tau can still associate strongly and reversibly with nucleosome arrays. These properties are driven by tau's strong interactions with linker and nucleosomal DNA. In addition, tau co-localizes into droplets formed by nucleosome arrays and phosphorylated HP1α, a key heterochromatin constituent thought to function through an LLPS mechanism. Importantly, LLPS and chromatin interactions are disrupted by aberrant tau hyperphosphorylation. These biophysical properties suggest that tau may directly impact DNA and chromatin accessibility and that loss of these interactions could contribute to the aberrant nuclear effects seen in tau pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lannah S Abasi
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Nesreen Elathram
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Manasi Movva
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Amar Deep
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Kevin D Corbett
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Galia T Debelouchina
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA.
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5
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Alonso ADC, El Idrissi A, Candia R, Morozova V, Kleiman FE. Tau: More than a microtubule-binding protein in neurons. Cytoskeleton (Hoboken) 2024; 81:71-77. [PMID: 37819542 DOI: 10.1002/cm.21795] [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: 07/29/2023] [Revised: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 09/19/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023]
Abstract
Tau protein was discovered as a microtubule-associated protein nearly 50 years ago, and our understanding of tau has revolved around that role. Even with tau's rise to stardom as a central player in neurodegenerative disease, therapeutic efforts have largely been targeted toward cytoskeletal changes. While some studies hinted toward non-cytoskeletal roles for tau, it is only fairly recently that these ideas have begun to receive considerable attention. Many new binding partners for tau have been identified, including DNA, RNA, RNA-binding proteins, some receptors, and other tau molecules. The diversity of tau binding partners coupled with the discovery of tau other than axonal compartments such as nucleus, dendrites, and synapses have led to the proposal of novel functions for tau in roles such as nuclear stability, cell signaling, transcriptional processing, and protein synthesis. Tau self-assembly in particular has made an impact, leading to the hypothesis that a prion-like function of hyperphosphorylated tau is central to tauopathies. With tau emerging as a multifaceted protein that operates in many parts of the cell and with many molecular partners, the field of tau biology is primed for discoveries that can provide new perspectives on both the unique biochemistry of tau and the nature of devastating neurological diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alejandra Del Carmen Alonso
- Biology Department and Center for Developmental Neuroscience, College of Staten Island, Staten Island, New York, USA
- Biology Program, The Graduate Center, The City University of New York, New York, New York, USA
| | - Abdeslem El Idrissi
- Biology Department and Center for Developmental Neuroscience, College of Staten Island, Staten Island, New York, USA
- Biology Program, The Graduate Center, The City University of New York, New York, New York, USA
| | - Robert Candia
- Biology Department and Center for Developmental Neuroscience, College of Staten Island, Staten Island, New York, USA
- Biology Program, The Graduate Center, The City University of New York, New York, New York, USA
| | - Viktoriya Morozova
- Biology Department and Center for Developmental Neuroscience, College of Staten Island, Staten Island, New York, USA
- Biology Program, The Graduate Center, The City University of New York, New York, New York, USA
- Helene Fuld College of Nursing, New York, New York, USA
| | - Frida Esther Kleiman
- Biology Program, The Graduate Center, The City University of New York, New York, New York, USA
- Chemistry Department, Hunter College, The City University of New York, New York, New York, USA
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6
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Avila J. Delaying Brain Aging or Decreasing Tau Levels as Strategies to Prevent Alzheimer's Disease: In Memoriam of Mark A. Smith. J Alzheimers Dis 2024; 100:S265-S270. [PMID: 39058443 DOI: 10.3233/jad-240500] [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] [Indexed: 07/28/2024]
Abstract
Aging is the main risk for neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer's disease. In this short review, I will comment on how delaying brain aging through the addition of Yamanaka Factors or small compounds that bind to the folate receptor alpha, which promote the expression of the Yamanaka Factors or by the decrease tau levels in brain cells from older subjects could serve as strategies to prevent Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jesús Avila
- Centro de Biologia Molecular Severo Ochoa, CSIC-UAM, Madrid, Spain
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7
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Abasi LS, Elathram N, Movva M, Deep A, Corbett KD, Debelouchina GT. Phosphorylation regulates tau's phase separation behavior and interactions with chromatin. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.12.21.572911. [PMID: 38187700 PMCID: PMC10769318 DOI: 10.1101/2023.12.21.572911] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2024]
Abstract
Tau is a microtubule-associated protein often found in neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) in the brains of patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). Beyond this context, mounting evidence suggests that tau localizes into the nucleus, where it may play a role in DNA protection and heterochromatin regulation. Models of tau depletion or pathology show loss of genetically silent heterochromatin, aberrant expression of heterochromatic genes, and transposable element activation. The molecular mechanisms behind these observations are currently unclear. Using in vitro biophysical experiments, here we demonstrate that tau can undergo liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) with DNA, mononucleosomes, and reconstituted nucleosome arrays under low salt conditions. Low concentrations of tau promote chromatin compaction and protect DNA from digestion. While the material state of samples at physiological salt is dominated by chromatin oligomerization, tau can still associate strongly and reversibly with nucleosome arrays. These properties are driven by tau's strong interactions with linker and nucleosomal DNA, while magic angle spinning (MAS) solid-state NMR experiments show that tau binding does not drastically alter nucleosome structure and dynamics. In addition, tau co-localizes into droplets formed by nucleosome arrays and phosphorylated HP1α, a key heterochromatin constituent thought to function through an LLPS mechanism. Importantly, LLPS and chromatin interactions are disrupted by aberrant tau hyperphosphorylation. These biophysical properties suggest that tau may directly impact DNA and chromatin accessibility and that loss of these interactions could contribute to the aberrant nuclear effects seen in tau pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lannah S. Abasi
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Nesreen Elathram
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Manasi Movva
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Amar Deep
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Kevin D. Corbett
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Galia T. Debelouchina
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
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8
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Younas N, Saleem T, Younas A, Zerr I. Nuclear face of Tau: an inside player in neurodegeneration. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2023; 11:196. [PMID: 38087392 PMCID: PMC10714511 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-023-01702-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Tau (Tubulin associated unit) protein is a major hallmark of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and tauopathies. Tau is predominantly an axonal protein with a crucial role in the stabilization and dynamics of the microtubules. Since the discovery of Tau protein in 1975, research efforts were concentrated on the pathophysiological role of Tau protein in the context of the microtubules. Although, for more than three decades, different localizations of Tau protein have been discovered e.g., in the nuclear compartments. Discovery of the role of Tau protein in various cellular compartments especially in the nucleus opens up a new fold of complexity in tauopathies. Data from cellular models, animal models, and the human brain indicate that nuclear Tau is crucial for genome stability and to cope with cellular distress. Moreover, it's nature of nuclear translocation, its interactions with the nuclear DNA/RNA and proteins suggest it could play multiple roles in the nucleus. To comprehend Tau pathophysiology and efficient Tau-based therapies, there is an urgent need to understand whole repertoire of Tau species (nuclear and cytoplasmic) and their functional relevance. To complete the map of Tau repertoire, understanding of various species of Tau in the nucleus and cytoplasm, identification if specific transcripts of Tau, isoforms and post-translational modifications could foretell Tau's localizations and functions, and how they are modified in neurodegenerative diseases like AD, is urgently required. In this review, we explore the nuclear face of Tau protein, its nuclear localizations and functions and its linkage with Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neelam Younas
- University Medical Center Göttingen, National Reference Center for Surveillance of TSE, Department of Neurology, Robert-Koch strasse 40, 37075, Göttingen, Germany.
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Göttingen, 37075, Germany.
| | - Tayyaba Saleem
- University Medical Center Göttingen, National Reference Center for Surveillance of TSE, Department of Neurology, Robert-Koch strasse 40, 37075, Göttingen, Germany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Göttingen, 37075, Germany
| | - Abrar Younas
- University Medical Center Göttingen, National Reference Center for Surveillance of TSE, Department of Neurology, Robert-Koch strasse 40, 37075, Göttingen, Germany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Göttingen, 37075, Germany
| | - Inga Zerr
- University Medical Center Göttingen, National Reference Center for Surveillance of TSE, Department of Neurology, Robert-Koch strasse 40, 37075, Göttingen, Germany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Göttingen, 37075, Germany
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9
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Sturiale V, Bruno F, Brancato D, D’Amico AG, Maugeri G, D’Agata V, Saccone S, Federico C. Cell Cycle Reactivation, at the Start of Neurodegeneration, Induced by Forskolin and Aniline in Differentiated Neuroblastoma Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:14373. [PMID: 37762676 PMCID: PMC10531780 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241814373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2023] [Revised: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 09/19/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
A characteristic hallmark of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the intracellular accumulation of hyperphosphorylated tau protein, a phenomenon that appears to have associations with oxidative stress, double-stranded DNA breakage, and the de-condensation of heterochromatin. Re-entry into the cell division cycle appears to be involved in the onset of this neurodegenerative process. Indeed, the cell cycle cannot proceed regularly in the differentiated neurons leading to cell death. Here, we induced cell cycle reactivation in neuronal-like cells, obtained by neuroblastoma cells treated with retinoic acid, by exposure to forskolin or aniline. These compounds determine tau hyperphosphorylation or oxidative stress, respectively, resulting in the appearance of features resembling the start of neuronal degeneration typical of AD, such as tau hyperphosphorylation and re-entry into the cell cycle. Indeed, we detected an increased transcriptional level of cyclins and the appearance of a high number of mitotic cells. We also observed a delay in the initiation of the cell cycle when forskolin was co-administered with pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP). This delay was not observed when PACAP was co-administered with aniline. Our data demonstrate the relevance of tau hyperphosphorylation in initiating an ectopic cell cycle in differentiated neuronal cells, a condition that can lead to neurodegeneration. Moreover, we highlight the utility of neuroblastoma cell lines as an in vitro cellular model to test the possible neuroprotective effects of natural molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Sturiale
- Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Catania, 95124 Catania, Italy; (V.S.); (F.B.)
| | - Francesca Bruno
- Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Catania, 95124 Catania, Italy; (V.S.); (F.B.)
| | - Desiree Brancato
- Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Catania, 95124 Catania, Italy; (V.S.); (F.B.)
| | - Agata Grazia D’Amico
- Department of Drug and Health Sciences, University of Catania, 95125 Catania, Italy
| | - Grazia Maugeri
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy
| | - Velia D’Agata
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy
| | - Salvatore Saccone
- Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Catania, 95124 Catania, Italy; (V.S.); (F.B.)
| | - Concetta Federico
- Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Catania, 95124 Catania, Italy; (V.S.); (F.B.)
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10
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Vallés-Saiz L, Ávila J, Hernández F. Lamivudine (3TC), a Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitor, Prevents the Neuropathological Alterations Present in Mutant Tau Transgenic Mice. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:11144. [PMID: 37446327 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241311144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2023] [Revised: 07/03/2023] [Accepted: 07/04/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The dysregulation of transposable elements contributes to neurodegenerative disorders. Previous studies have reported an increase in retrotransposon transcription in Drosophila models as well as in human tauopathies. In this context, we tested the possible protective effects of a reverse transcriptase inhibitor, namely lamivudine (also known as 3TC), in P301S mice, an animal model of Alzheimer's disease based on FTDP-17-tau overexpression. Transgenic P301S mice administered lamivudine through drinking water showed a decrease in the following histopathological marks typical of tauopathies: tau phosphorylation; inflammation; neuronal death; and hippocampal atrophy. Lamivudine treatment attenuated motor deficits (Rotarod test) and improved short-term memory (Y-maze test). To evaluate the role of tau in retrotransposition, we cotransfected HeLa cells with a plasmid containing a complete LINE-1 sequence and a neomycin reporter cassette designed for retrotransposition assays, and a plasmid with the tau sequence. LINE-1 insertion increased considerably in the cotransfection compared to the transfection without tau. In addition, lamivudine inhibited the insertion of LINE-1. Our data suggest that the progression of the tauopathy can be attenuated by the administration of lamivudine upon the first symptoms of neuropathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Vallés-Saiz
- Centro de Biología Molecular "Severo Ochoa", CSIC/UAM, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Cantoblanco, 28049 Madrid, Spain
| | - Jesús Ávila
- Centro de Biología Molecular "Severo Ochoa", CSIC/UAM, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Cantoblanco, 28049 Madrid, Spain
| | - Félix Hernández
- Centro de Biología Molecular "Severo Ochoa", CSIC/UAM, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Cantoblanco, 28049 Madrid, Spain
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11
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Rodríguez-Callejas JD, Fuchs E, Perez-Cruz C. Atrophic astrocytes in aged marmosets present tau hyperphosphorylation, RNA oxidation, and DNA fragmentation. Neurobiol Aging 2023; 129:121-136. [PMID: 37302213 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2023.04.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2023] [Revised: 04/19/2023] [Accepted: 04/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Astrocytes perform multiple essential functions in the brain showing morphological changes. Hypertrophic astrocytes are commonly observed in cognitively healthy aged animals, implying a functional defense mechanism without losing neuronal support. In neurodegenerative diseases, astrocytes show morphological alterations, such as decreased process length and reduced number of branch points, known as astroglial atrophy, with detrimental effects on neuronal cells. The common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus) is a non-human primate that, with age, develops several features that resemble neurodegeneration. In this study, we characterize the morphological alterations in astrocytes of adolescent (mean 1.75 y), adult (mean 5.33 y), old (mean 11.25 y), and aged (mean 16.83 y) male marmosets. We observed a significantly reduced arborization in astrocytes of aged marmosets compared to younger animals in the hippocampus and entorhinal cortex. These astrocytes also show oxidative damage to RNA and increased nuclear plaques in the cortex and tau hyperphosphorylation (AT100). Astrocytes lacking S100A10 protein show a more severe atrophy and DNA fragmentation. Our results demonstrate the presence of atrophic astrocytes in the brains of aged marmosets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan D Rodríguez-Callejas
- Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Department of Pharmacology, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Eberhard Fuchs
- German Primate Center, Leibniz-Institute of Primate Research, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Claudia Perez-Cruz
- Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Department of Pharmacology, Mexico City, Mexico.
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12
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Perez-Cruz C, Rodriguez-Callejas JDD. The common marmoset as a model of neurodegeneration. Trends Neurosci 2023; 46:394-409. [PMID: 36907677 DOI: 10.1016/j.tins.2023.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2022] [Revised: 01/29/2023] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 03/12/2023]
Abstract
Human life expectancy has increased over the past few centuries, and the incidence of dementia in the older population is also projected to continue to rise. Neurodegenerative diseases are complex multifactorial conditions for which no effective treatments are currently available. Animal models are necessary to understand the causes and progression of neurodegeneration. Nonhuman primates (NHPs) offer significant advantages for the study of neurodegenerative disease. Among them, the common marmoset, Callithrix jacchus, stands out due to its easy handling, complex brain architecture, and occurrence of spontaneous beta-amyloid (Aβ) and phosphorylated tau aggregates with aging. Furthermore, marmosets present physiological adaptations and metabolic alterations associated with the increased risk of dementia in humans. In this review, we discuss the current literature on the use of marmosets as a model of aging and neurodegeneration. We highlight aspects of marmoset physiology associated with aging, such as metabolic alterations, which may help understand their vulnerability to developing a neurodegenerative phenotype that goes beyond normal aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Perez-Cruz
- Department of Pharmacology, Center of Research and Advance Studies (Cinvestav-I.P.N.), Av. Politecnico Nacional 2508, San Pedro Zacatenco, Gustavo A. Madero, 07360, Mexico City, Mexico.
| | - Juan de Dios Rodriguez-Callejas
- Department of Pharmacology, Center of Research and Advance Studies (Cinvestav-I.P.N.), Av. Politecnico Nacional 2508, San Pedro Zacatenco, Gustavo A. Madero, 07360, Mexico City, Mexico
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13
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Tu J, Zhang H, Yang T, Liu Y, Kibreab S, Zhang Y, Gao L, Moses RE, O'Malley BW, Xiao J, Li X. Aging-associated REGγ proteasome decline predisposes to tauopathy. J Biol Chem 2022; 298:102571. [PMID: 36209822 PMCID: PMC9647549 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2022.102571] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2022] [Revised: 09/20/2022] [Accepted: 09/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
The REGγ-20S proteasome is an ubiquitin- and ATP-independent degradation system, targeting selective substrates, possibly helping to regulate aging. The studies we report here demonstrate that aging-associated REGγ decline predisposes to decreasing tau turnover, as in a tauopathy. The REGγ proteasome promotes degradation of human and mouse tau, notably phosphorylated tau and toxic tau oligomers that shuttle between the cytoplasm and nuclei. REGγ-mediated proteasomal degradation of tau was validated in 3- to 12-month-old REGγ KO mice, REGγ KO;PS19 mice, and PS19 mice with forebrain conditional neuron-specific overexpression of REGγ (REGγ OE) and behavioral abnormalities. Coupled with tau accumulation, we found with REGγ-deficiency, neuron loss, dendrite reduction, tau filament accumulation, and microglial activation are much more prominent in the REGγ KO;PS19 than the PS19 model. Moreover, we observed that the degenerative neuronal lesions and aberrant behaviors were alleviated in REGγ OE;PS19 mice. Memory and other behavior analysis substantiate the role of REGγ in prevention of tauopathy-like symptoms. In addition, we investigated the potential mechanism underlying aging-related REGγ decline. This study provides valuable insights into the novel regulatory mechanisms and potential therapeutic targets for tau-related neurodegenerative diseases.
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14
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Pathological Nuclear Hallmarks in Dentate Granule Cells of Alzheimer’s Patients: A Biphasic Regulation of Neurogenesis. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232112873. [PMID: 36361662 PMCID: PMC9654738 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232112873] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2022] [Revised: 10/14/2022] [Accepted: 10/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The dentate gyrus (DG) of the human hippocampus is a complex and dynamic structure harboring mature and immature granular neurons in diverse proliferative states. While most mammals show persistent neurogenesis through adulthood, human neurogenesis is still under debate. We found nuclear alterations in granular cells in autopsied human brains, detected by immunohistochemistry. These alterations differ from those reported in pyramidal neurons of the hippocampal circuit. Aging and early AD chromatin were clearly differentiated by the increased epigenetic markers H3K9me3 (heterochromatin suppressive mark) and H3K4me3 (transcriptional euchromatin mark). At early AD stages, lamin B2 was redistributed to the nucleoplasm, indicating cell-cycle reactivation, probably induced by hippocampal nuclear pathology. At intermediate and late AD stages, higher lamin B2 immunopositivity in the perinucleus suggests fewer immature neurons, less neurogenesis, and fewer adaptation resources to environmental factors. In addition, senile samples showed increased nuclear Tau interacting with aged chromatin, likely favoring DNA repair and maintaining genomic stability. However, at late AD stages, the progressive disappearance of phosphorylated Tau forms in the nucleus, increased chromatin disorganization, and increased nuclear autophagy support a model of biphasic neurogenesis in AD. Therefore, designing therapies to alleviate the neuronal nuclear pathology might be the only pathway to a true rejuvenation of brain circuits.
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15
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Antón-Fernández A, Vallés-Saiz L, Avila J, Hernández F. Neuronal nuclear tau and neurodegeneration. Neuroscience 2022; 518:178-184. [PMID: 35872252 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2022.07.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2022] [Revised: 05/23/2022] [Accepted: 07/13/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Tau is a well-known microtubule-associated protein related to its cytoplasmic localization in a neuronal cell. However, tau has been located at the cell nucleus where it could be a nucleic acid-associated protein by its preferential binding to DNA sequences present in the nucleolus and pericentromeric heterochromatin. This less well-known localization of tau could not be trivial, since during aging, an increase in the amount of nuclear tau takes place and it may be related to the described role of tau in the activation of transposons and further aging acceleration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alejandro Antón-Fernández
- Centro de Biología Molecular "Severo Ochoa", CSIC/UAM, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Cantoblanco, 28049 Madrid, Spain
| | - Laura Vallés-Saiz
- Centro de Biología Molecular "Severo Ochoa", CSIC/UAM, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Cantoblanco, 28049 Madrid, Spain
| | - Jesús Avila
- Centro de Biología Molecular "Severo Ochoa", CSIC/UAM, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Cantoblanco, 28049 Madrid, Spain.
| | - Félix Hernández
- Centro de Biología Molecular "Severo Ochoa", CSIC/UAM, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Cantoblanco, 28049 Madrid, Spain.
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16
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Ruiz-Gabarre D, Carnero-Espejo A, Ávila J, García-Escudero V. What's in a Gene? The Outstanding Diversity of MAPT. Cells 2022; 11:840. [PMID: 35269461 PMCID: PMC8909800 DOI: 10.3390/cells11050840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2022] [Revised: 02/25/2022] [Accepted: 02/27/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Tau protein is a microtubule-associated protein encoded by the MAPT gene that carries out a myriad of physiological functions and has been linked to certain pathologies collectively termed tauopathies, including Alzheimer's disease, frontotemporal dementia, Huntington's disease, progressive supranuclear palsy, etc. Alternative splicing is a physiological process by which cells generate several transcripts from one single gene and may in turn give rise to different proteins from the same gene. MAPT transcripts have been proven to be subjected to alternative splicing, generating six main isoforms in the central nervous system. Research throughout the years has demonstrated that the splicing landscape of the MAPT gene is far more complex than that, including at least exon skipping events, the use of 3' and 5' alternative splice sites and, as has been recently discovered, also intron retention. In addition, MAPT alternative splicing has been showed to be regulated spatially and developmentally, further evidencing the complexity of the gene's splicing regulation. It is unclear what would drive the need for the existence of so many isoforms encoded by the same gene, but a wide range of functions have been ascribed to these Tau isoforms, both in physiology and pathology. In this review we offer a comprehensive up-to-date exploration of the mechanisms leading to the outstanding diversity of isoforms expressed from the MAPT gene and the functions in which such isoforms are involved, including their potential role in the onset and development of tauopathies such as Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Ruiz-Gabarre
- Anatomy, Histology and Neuroscience Department, School of Medicine, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM), 28029 Madrid, Spain; (D.R.-G.); (A.C.-E.)
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa (UAM-CSIC), 28049 Madrid, Spain
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM), 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Almudena Carnero-Espejo
- Anatomy, Histology and Neuroscience Department, School of Medicine, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM), 28029 Madrid, Spain; (D.R.-G.); (A.C.-E.)
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM), 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Jesús Ávila
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa (UAM-CSIC), 28049 Madrid, Spain
- Networking Research Center on Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIBERNED), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28031 Madrid, Spain
| | - Vega García-Escudero
- Anatomy, Histology and Neuroscience Department, School of Medicine, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM), 28029 Madrid, Spain; (D.R.-G.); (A.C.-E.)
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa (UAM-CSIC), 28049 Madrid, Spain
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM), 28029 Madrid, Spain
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17
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Torres AK, Rivera BI, Polanco CM, Jara C, Tapia-Rojas C. Phosphorylated tau as a toxic agent in synaptic mitochondria: implications in aging and Alzheimer's disease. Neural Regen Res 2022; 17:1645-1651. [PMID: 35017410 PMCID: PMC8820692 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.332125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
During normal aging, there is a decline in all physiological functions in the organism. One of the most affected organs is the brain, where neurons lose their proper synaptic function leading to cognitive impairment. Aging is one of the main risk factors for the development of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease. One of the main responsible factors for synaptic dysfunction in aging and neurodegenerative diseases is the accumulation of abnormal proteins forming aggregates. The most studied brain aggregates are the senile plaques, formed by Aβ peptide; however, the aggregates formed by phosphorylated tau protein have gained relevance in the last years by their toxicity. It is reported that neurons undergo severe mitochondrial dysfunction with age, with a decrease in adenosine 5′-triphosphate production, loss of the mitochondrial membrane potential, redox imbalance, impaired mitophagy, and loss of calcium buffer capacity. Interestingly, abnormal tau protein interacts with several mitochondrial proteins, suggesting that it could induce mitochondrial dysfunction. Nevertheless, whether tau-mediated mitochondrial dysfunction occurs indirectly or directly is still unknown. A recent study of our laboratory shows that phosphorylated tau at Ser396/404 (known as PHF-1), an epitope commonly related to pathology, accumulates inside mitochondria during normal aging. This accumulation occurs preferentially in synaptic mitochondria, which suggests that it may contribute to the synaptic failure and cognitive impairment seen in aged individuals. Here, we review the main tau modifications promoting mitochondrial dysfunction, and the possible mechanism involved. Also, we discuss the evidence that supports the possibility that phosphorylated tau accumulation in synaptic mitochondria promotes synaptic and cognitive impairment in aging. Finally, we show evidence and argue about the presence of phosphorylated tau PHF-1 inside mitochondria in Alzheimer’s disease, which could be considered as an early event in the neurodegenerative process. Thus, phosphorylated tau PHF-1 inside the mitochondria could be considered such a potential therapeutic target to prevent or attenuate age-related cognitive impairment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angie K Torres
- Laboratory of Neurobiology of Aging, Centro de Biología Celular y Biomedicina (CEBICEM), Facultad de Medicina y Ciencia, Universidad San Sebastián, Sede Los Leones, Santiago, Chile
| | - Bastián I Rivera
- Laboratory of Neurobiology of Aging, Centro de Biología Celular y Biomedicina (CEBICEM), Facultad de Medicina y Ciencia, Universidad San Sebastián, Sede Los Leones, Santiago, Chile
| | - Catalina M Polanco
- Laboratory of Neurobiology of Aging, Centro de Biología Celular y Biomedicina (CEBICEM), Facultad de Medicina y Ciencia, Universidad San Sebastián, Sede Los Leones, Santiago, Chile
| | - Claudia Jara
- Laboratory of Neurobiology of Aging, Centro de Biología Celular y Biomedicina (CEBICEM), Facultad de Medicina y Ciencia, Universidad San Sebastián, Sede Los Leones, Santiago, Chile
| | - Cheril Tapia-Rojas
- Laboratory of Neurobiology of Aging, Centro de Biología Celular y Biomedicina (CEBICEM), Facultad de Medicina y Ciencia, Universidad San Sebastián, Sede Los Leones, Santiago, Chile
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18
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Gil L, Niño SA, Guerrero C, Jiménez-Capdeville ME. Phospho-Tau and Chromatin Landscapes in Early and Late Alzheimer's Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms221910283. [PMID: 34638632 PMCID: PMC8509045 DOI: 10.3390/ijms221910283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2021] [Revised: 09/17/2021] [Accepted: 09/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Cellular identity is determined through complex patterns of gene expression. Chromatin, the dynamic structure containing genetic information, is regulated through epigenetic modulators, mainly by the histone code. One of the main challenges for the cell is maintaining functionality and identity, despite the accumulation of DNA damage throughout the aging process. Replicative cells can remain in a senescent state or develop a malign cancer phenotype. In contrast, post-mitotic cells such as pyramidal neurons maintain extraordinary functionality despite advanced age, but they lose their identity. This review focuses on tau, a protein that protects DNA, organizes chromatin, and plays a crucial role in genomic stability. In contrast, tau cytosolic aggregates are considered hallmarks of Alzheimer´s disease (AD) and other neurodegenerative disorders called tauopathies. Here, we explain AD as a phenomenon of chromatin dysregulation directly involving the epigenetic histone code and a progressive destabilization of the tau–chromatin interaction, leading to the consequent dysregulation of gene expression. Although this destabilization could be lethal for post-mitotic neurons, tau protein mediates profound cellular transformations that allow for their temporal survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Gil
- Departamento de Genética, Escuela de Medicina, Universidad “Alfonso X el Sabio”, 28691 Madrid, Spain;
| | - Sandra A. Niño
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma, de San Luis Potosí 78210, Mexico;
| | - Carmen Guerrero
- Banco de Cerebros (Biobanco), Hospital Universitario Fundación Alcorcón, Alcorcón, 28922 Madrid, Spain;
| | - María E. Jiménez-Capdeville
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma, de San Luis Potosí 78210, Mexico;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +52-444-826-2366
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19
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Siano G, Falcicchia C, Origlia N, Cattaneo A, Di Primio C. Non-Canonical Roles of Tau and Their Contribution to Synaptic Dysfunction. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms221810145. [PMID: 34576308 PMCID: PMC8466023 DOI: 10.3390/ijms221810145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2021] [Revised: 09/12/2021] [Accepted: 09/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Tau plays a central role in a group of neurodegenerative disorders collectively named tauopathies. Despite the wide range of diverse symptoms at the onset and during the progression of the pathology, all tauopathies share two common hallmarks, namely the misfolding and aggregation of Tau protein and progressive synaptic dysfunctions. Tau aggregation correlates with cognitive decline and behavioural impairment. The mechanistic link between Tau misfolding and the synaptic dysfunction is still unknown, but this correlation is well established in the human brain and also in tauopathy mouse models. At the onset of the pathology, Tau undergoes post-translational modifications (PTMs) inducing the detachment from the cytoskeleton and its release in the cytoplasm as a soluble monomer. In this condition, the physiological enrichment in the axon is definitely disrupted, resulting in Tau relocalization in the cell soma and in dendrites. Subsequently, Tau aggregates into toxic oligomers and amyloidogenic forms that disrupt synaptic homeostasis and function, resulting in neuronal degeneration. The involvement of Tau in synaptic transmission alteration in tauopathies has been extensively reviewed. Here, we will focus on non-canonical Tau functions mediating synapse dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giacomo Siano
- Laboratory of Biology, BIO@SNS, Scuola Normale Superiore, Piazza dei Cavalieri 7, 56126 Pisa, Italy;
| | - Chiara Falcicchia
- Institute of Neuroscience, Italian National Research Council, Via Moruzzi 1, 56124 Pisa, Italy; (C.F.); (N.O.)
| | - Nicola Origlia
- Institute of Neuroscience, Italian National Research Council, Via Moruzzi 1, 56124 Pisa, Italy; (C.F.); (N.O.)
| | - Antonino Cattaneo
- Laboratory of Biology, BIO@SNS, Scuola Normale Superiore, Piazza dei Cavalieri 7, 56126 Pisa, Italy;
- European Brain Research Institute (EBRI), Fondazione Rita Levi-Montalcini, Viale Regina Elena 295, 00161 Roma, Italy
- Correspondence: (A.C.); (C.D.P.)
| | - Cristina Di Primio
- Institute of Neuroscience, Italian National Research Council, Via Moruzzi 1, 56124 Pisa, Italy; (C.F.); (N.O.)
- Correspondence: (A.C.); (C.D.P.)
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20
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Iatrou A, Clark EM, Wang Y. Nuclear dynamics and stress responses in Alzheimer's disease. Mol Neurodegener 2021; 16:65. [PMID: 34535174 PMCID: PMC8447732 DOI: 10.1186/s13024-021-00489-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2021] [Accepted: 09/01/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
In response to extracellular and intracellular stressors, the nucleus and nuclear compartments undergo distinct molecular changes to maintain cell homeostasis. In the context of Alzheimer’s disease, misfolded proteins and various cellular stressors lead to profound structural and molecular changes at the nucleus. This review summarizes recent research on nuclear alterations in AD development, from the nuclear envelope changes to chromatin and epigenetic regulation and then to common nuclear stress responses. Finally, we provide our thoughts on the importance of understanding cell-type-specific changes and identifying upstream causal events in AD pathogenesis and highlight novel sequencing and gene perturbation technologies to address those challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Artemis Iatrou
- Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center, Rush University Medical Center, 1750 W. Harrison St., Chicago, IL, 60612, USA
| | - Eric M Clark
- Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center, Rush University Medical Center, 1750 W. Harrison St., Chicago, IL, 60612, USA
| | - Yanling Wang
- Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center, Rush University Medical Center, 1750 W. Harrison St., Chicago, IL, 60612, USA.
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21
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Sordo L, Martini AC, Houston EF, Head E, Gunn-Moore D. Neuropathology of Aging in Cats and its Similarities to Human Alzheimer’s Disease. FRONTIERS IN AGING 2021; 2:684607. [PMID: 35822024 PMCID: PMC9261448 DOI: 10.3389/fragi.2021.684607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2021] [Accepted: 05/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Elderly cats develop age-related behavioral and neuropathological changes that ultimately lead to cognitive dysfunction syndrome (CDS). These neuropathologies share similarities to those seen in the brains of humans with Alzheimer’s disease (AD), including the extracellular accumulation of ß-amyloid (Aβ) and intraneuronal deposits of hyperphosphorylated tau, which are considered to be the two major hallmarks of AD. The present study assessed the presence and distribution of Aβ and tau hyperphosphorylation within the cat brain (n = 55 cats), and how the distribution of these proteins changes with age and the presence of CDS. For this, immunohistochemistry was performed on seven brain regions from cats of various ages, with and without CDS (n = 10 with CDS). Cats accumulate both intracytoplasmic and extracellular deposits of Aβ, as well as intranuclear and intracytoplasmic hyperphosphorylated tau deposits. Large extracellular aggregates of Aβ were found in elderly cats, mainly in the cortical brain areas, with occasional hippocampal aggregates. This may suggest that these aggregates start in cortical areas and later progress to the hippocampus. While Aβ senile plaques in people with AD have a dense core, extracellular Aβ deposits in cats exhibited a diffuse pattern, similar to the early stages of plaque pathogenesis. Intraneuronal Aβ deposits were also observed, occurring predominantly in cortical brain regions of younger cats, while older cats had few to no intraneuronal Aβ deposits, especially when extracellular aggregates were abundant. Intracytoplasmic hyperphosphorylated tau was found within neurons in the brains of elderly cats, particularly in those with CDS. Due to their ultrastructural features, these deposits are considered to be pre-tangles, which are an early stage of the neurofibrillary tangles seen in AD. The largest numbers of pre-tangles are found mainly in the cerebral cortex of elderly cats, whereas lower numbers were found in other regions (i.e., entorhinal cortex and hippocampus). For the first time, intranuclear tau was found in both phosphorylated and non-phosphorylated states within neurons in the cat brain. The highest numbers of intranuclear deposits were found in the cortex of younger cats, and this tended to decrease with age. In contrast, elderly cats with pre-tangles had only occasional or no nuclear labelling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorena Sordo
- The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and The Roslin Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- *Correspondence: Lorena Sordo,
| | - Alessandra C. Martini
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - E. Fiona Houston
- The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and The Roslin Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Elizabeth Head
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Danièlle Gunn-Moore
- The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and The Roslin Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
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22
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Zhang X, Zou L, Meng L, Xiong M, Pan L, Chen G, Zheng Y, Xiong J, Wang Z, Duong DM, Zhang Z, Cao X, Wang T, Tang L, Ye K, Zhang Z. Amphiphysin I cleavage by asparagine endopeptidase leads to tau hyperphosphorylation and synaptic dysfunction. eLife 2021; 10:e65301. [PMID: 34018922 PMCID: PMC8139826 DOI: 10.7554/elife.65301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2020] [Accepted: 04/28/2021] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Neurofibrillary tangles composed of hyperphosphorylated tau and synaptic dysfunction are characteristics of Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain poorly understood. Here, we identified Amphiphysin I mediates both tau phosphorylation and synaptic dysfunction in AD. Amphiphysin I is cleaved by a cysteine proteinase asparagine endopeptidase (AEP) at N278 in the brains of AD patients. The amount of AEP-generated N-terminal fragment of Amphiphysin I (1-278) is increased with aging. Amphiphysin I (1-278) inhibits clathrin-mediated endocytosis and induces synaptic dysfunction. Furthermore, Amphiphysin I (1-278) binds p35 and promotes its transition to p25, thus activates CDK5 and enhances tau hyperphosphorylation. Overexpression of Amphiphysin I (1-278) in the hippocampus of Tau P301S mice induces synaptic dysfunction, tau hyperphosphorylation, and cognitive deficits. However, overexpression of the N278A mutant Amphiphysin I, which resists the AEP-mediated cleavage, alleviates the pathological and behavioral defects. These findings suggest a mechanism of tau hyperphosphorylation and synaptic dysfunction in AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xingyu Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan UniversityWuhanChina
| | - Li Zou
- Department of Neurology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan UniversityWuhanChina
| | - Lanxia Meng
- Department of Neurology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan UniversityWuhanChina
| | - Min Xiong
- Department of Neurology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan UniversityWuhanChina
| | - Lina Pan
- Department of Neurology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan UniversityWuhanChina
| | - Guiqin Chen
- Department of Neurology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan UniversityWuhanChina
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University School of MedicineAtlantaUnited States
| | - Yongfa Zheng
- Department of Oncology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan UniversityWuhanChina
| | - Jing Xiong
- Department of Neurology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan UniversityWuhanChina
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University School of MedicineAtlantaUnited States
| | - Zhihao Wang
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University School of MedicineAtlantaUnited States
| | - Duc M Duong
- Department of Biochemistry, Emory University School of MedicineAtlantaUnited States
| | - Zhaohui Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan UniversityWuhanChina
| | - Xuebing Cao
- Department of Neurology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhanChina
| | - Tao Wang
- Department of Neurology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhanChina
| | - Li Tang
- Department of Neurology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan UniversityWuhanChina
| | - Keqiang Ye
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University School of MedicineAtlantaUnited States
| | - Zhentao Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan UniversityWuhanChina
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23
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Lester E, Ooi FK, Bakkar N, Ayers J, Woerman AL, Wheeler J, Bowser R, Carlson GA, Prusiner SB, Parker R. Tau aggregates are RNA-protein assemblies that mislocalize multiple nuclear speckle components. Neuron 2021; 109:1675-1691.e9. [PMID: 33848474 PMCID: PMC8141031 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2021.03.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 100] [Impact Index Per Article: 33.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2020] [Revised: 02/05/2021] [Accepted: 03/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Tau aggregates contribute to neurodegenerative diseases, including frontotemporal dementia and Alzheimer's disease (AD). Although RNA promotes tau aggregation in vitro, whether tau aggregates in cells contain RNA is unknown. We demonstrate, in cell culture and mouse brains, that cytosolic and nuclear tau aggregates contain RNA with enrichment for small nuclear RNAs (snRNAs) and small nucleolar RNAs (snoRNAs). Nuclear tau aggregates colocalize with and alter the composition, dynamics, and organization of nuclear speckles, membraneless organelles involved in pre-mRNA splicing. Moreover, several nuclear speckle components, including SRRM2, mislocalize to cytosolic tau aggregates in cells, mouse brains, and brains of individuals with AD, frontotemporal dementia (FTD), and corticobasal degeneration (CBD). Consistent with these alterations, we observe that the presence of tau aggregates is sufficient to alter pre-mRNA splicing. This work identifies tau alteration of nuclear speckles as a feature of tau aggregation that may contribute to the pathology of tau aggregates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evan Lester
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA; Medical Scientist Training Program, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Felicia K Ooi
- Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Nadine Bakkar
- Department of Neurobiology, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ, USA
| | - Jacob Ayers
- Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA; Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Amanda L Woerman
- Department of Biology and Institute for Applied Life Sciences, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, USA
| | - Joshua Wheeler
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA; Medical Scientist Training Program, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA; Department of Pathology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Robert Bowser
- Department of Neurobiology, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ, USA
| | - George A Carlson
- Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA; Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Stanley B Prusiner
- Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA; Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Roy Parker
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA.
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24
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Gil L, Niño SA, Capdeville G, Jiménez-Capdeville ME. Aging and Alzheimer's disease connection: Nuclear Tau and lamin A. Neurosci Lett 2021; 749:135741. [PMID: 33610669 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2021.135741] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2020] [Revised: 01/12/2021] [Accepted: 02/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Age-related pathologies like Alzheimer`s disease (AD) imply cellular responses directed towards repairing DNA damage. Postmitotic neurons show progressive accumulation of oxidized DNA during decades of brain aging, which is especially remarkable in AD brains. The characteristic cytoskeletal pathology of AD neurons is brought about by the progressive changes that neurons undergo throughout aging, and their irreversible nuclear transformation initiates the disease. This review focusses on critical molecular events leading to the loss of plasticity that underlies cognitive deficits in AD. During healthy neuronal aging, nuclear Tau participates in the regulation of the structure and function of the chromatin. The aberrant cell cycle reentry initiated for DNA repair triggers a cascade of events leading to the dysfunctional AD neuron, whereby Tau protein exits the nucleus leading to chromatin disorganization. Lamin A, which is not typically expressed in neurons, appears at the transformation from senile to AD neurons and contributes to halting the consequences of cell cycle reentry and nuclear Tau exit, allowing the survival of the neuron. Nevertheless, this irreversible nuclear transformation alters the nucleic acid and protein synthesis machinery as well as the nuclear lamina and cytoskeleton structures, leading to neurofibrillary tangles formation and final neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Gil
- Departamento de Genética, Escuela de Medicina, Universidad "Alfonso X el Sabio", Madrid, Spain
| | - Sandra A Niño
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, Mexico
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25
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Stevens CH, Guthrie NJ, van Roijen M, Halliday GM, Ooi L. Increased Tau Phosphorylation in Motor Neurons From Clinically Pure Sporadic Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Patients. J Neuropathol Exp Neurol 2020; 78:605-614. [PMID: 31131395 DOI: 10.1093/jnen/nlz041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is characterized by the progressive degeneration of motor neurons. There is a pathological and genetic link between ALS and frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD). Although FTLD is characterized by abnormal phosphorylated tau deposition, it is unknown whether tau is phosphorylated in ALS motor neurons. Therefore, this study assessed tau epitopes that are commonly phosphorylated in FTLD, including serine 396 (pS396), 214 (pS214), and 404 (pS404) in motor neurons from clinically pure sporadic ALS cases compared with controls. In ALS lower motor neurons, tau pS396 was observed in the nucleus or the nucleus and cytoplasm. In ALS upper motor neurons, tau pS396 was observed in the nucleus, cytoplasm, or both the nucleus and cytoplasm. Tau pS214 and pS404 was observed only in the cytoplasm of upper and lower motor neurons in ALS. The number of motor neurons (per mm2) positive for tau pS396 and pS214, but not pS404, was significantly increased in ALS. Furthermore, there was a significant loss of phosphorylated tau-negative motor neurons in ALS compared with controls. Together, our data identified a complex relationship between motor neurons positive for tau phosphorylated at specific residues and disease duration, suggesting that tau phosphorylation plays a role in ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claire H Stevens
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Bioscience, University of Wollongong.,Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Natalie J Guthrie
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Bioscience, University of Wollongong.,Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia
| | | | - Glenda M Halliday
- Brain and Mind Centre, Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Lezanne Ooi
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Bioscience, University of Wollongong.,Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia
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26
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Gil L, Niño SA, Chi-Ahumada E, Rodríguez-Leyva I, Guerrero C, Rebolledo AB, Arias JA, Jiménez-Capdeville ME. Perinuclear Lamin A and Nucleoplasmic Lamin B2 Characterize Two Types of Hippocampal Neurons through Alzheimer's Disease Progression. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E1841. [PMID: 32155994 PMCID: PMC7084765 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21051841] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2020] [Revised: 02/28/2020] [Accepted: 03/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Recent reports point to a nuclear origin of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Aged postmitotic neurons try to repair their damaged DNA by entering the cell cycle. This aberrant cell cycle re-entry involves chromatin modifications where nuclear Tau and the nuclear lamin are involved. The purpose of this work was to elucidate their participation in the nuclear pathological transformation of neurons at early AD. METHODOLOGY The study was performed in hippocampal paraffin embedded sections of adult, senile, and AD brains at I-VI Braak stages. We analyzed phospho-Tau, lamins A, B1, B2, and C, nucleophosmin (B23) and the epigenetic marker H4K20me3 by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS Two neuronal populations were found across AD stages, one is characterized by a significant increase of Lamin A expression, reinforced perinuclear Lamin B2, elevated expression of H4K20me3 and nuclear Tau loss, while neurons with nucleoplasmic Lamin B2 constitute a second population. CONCLUSIONS The abnormal cell cycle reentry in early AD implies a fundamental neuronal transformation. This implies the reorganization of the nucleo-cytoskeleton through the expression of the highly regulated Lamin A, heterochromatin repression and building of toxic neuronal tangles. This work demonstrates that nuclear Tau and lamin modifications in hippocampal neurons are crucial events in age-related neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Gil
- Departamento de Genética, Escuela de Medicina, Universidad “Alfonso X el Sabio”, 28691 Madrid, Spain; (L.G.)
| | - Sandra A. Niño
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosí 78210, Mexico
| | - Erika Chi-Ahumada
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosí 78210, Mexico
| | | | - Carmen Guerrero
- Banco de cerebros (Biobanco), Hospital Universitario Fundación Alcorcón, Alcorcón, 28922 Madrid, Spain
| | - Ana Belén Rebolledo
- Banco de cerebros (Biobanco), Hospital Universitario Fundación Alcorcón, Alcorcón, 28922 Madrid, Spain
| | - José A. Arias
- Departamento de Genética, Escuela de Medicina, Universidad “Alfonso X el Sabio”, 28691 Madrid, Spain; (L.G.)
| | - María E. Jiménez-Capdeville
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosí 78210, Mexico
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Rodriguez-Callejas JD, Fuchs E, Perez-Cruz C. Increased oxidative stress, hyperphosphorylation of tau, and dystrophic microglia in the hippocampus of aged Tupaia belangeri. Glia 2020; 68:1775-1793. [PMID: 32096580 DOI: 10.1002/glia.23804] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2019] [Revised: 02/04/2020] [Accepted: 02/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Aging is a major risk factor for the development of neurodegenerative diseases. Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative diseases are characterized by abnormal and prominent protein aggregation in the brain, partially due to deficiency in protein clearance. It has been proposed that alterations in microglia phagocytosis and debris clearance hasten the onset of neurodegeneration. Dystrophic microglia are abundant in aged humans, and it has been associated with the onset of disease. Furthermore, alterations in microglia containing ferritin are associated with neurodegenerative conditions. To further understand the process of microglia dysfunction during the aging process, we used hippocampal sections from Tupaia belangeri (tree shrews). Adult (mean age 3.8 years), old (mean age 6 years), and aged (mean age 7.5 years) tree shrews were used for histochemical and immunostaining techniques to determine ferritin and Iba1 positive microglia, iron tissue content, tau hyperphosphorylation and oxidized-RNA in dentate gyrus, subiculum, and CA1-CA3 hippocampal regions. Our results indicated that aged tree shrews presented an increased number of activated microglia containing ferritin, but microglia labeled with Iba1 with a dystrophic phenotype was more abundant in aged individuals. With aging, oxidative damage to RNA (8OHG) increased significantly in all hippocampal regions, while tau hyperphosphorylation (AT100) was enhanced in DG, CA3, and SUB in aged animals. Phagocytic inclusions of 8OHG- and AT100-damaged cells were observed in activated M2 microglia in old and aged animals. These data indicate that aged tree shrew may be a suitable model for translational research to study brain and microglia alterations during the aging process.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Eberhard Fuchs
- German Primate Center, Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, Göttingen, Germany
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28
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Lee EE, Winston-Gray C, Barlow JW, Rissman RA, Jeste DV. Plasma Levels of Neuron- and Astrocyte-Derived Exosomal Amyloid Beta1-42, Amyloid Beta1-40, and Phosphorylated Tau Levels in Schizophrenia Patients and Non-psychiatric Comparison Subjects: Relationships With Cognitive Functioning and Psychopathology. Front Psychiatry 2020; 11:532624. [PMID: 33762974 PMCID: PMC7982803 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2020.532624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2020] [Accepted: 10/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Cognitive deficits in people with schizophrenia (PWS) are a major predictor of disability and functioning, yet the underlying pathophysiology remains unclear. A possible role of amyloid and tau biomarkers (hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease) is still speculative in schizophrenia. Exosomes or extracellular vesicles, involved with cell-to-cell communication and waste removal, can be used to assay brain-based proteins from peripheral blood. To our knowledge, this is the first study of exosomal amyloid and tau protein levels in PWS. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 60 PWS and 60 age- and sex-comparable non-psychiatric comparison subjects (NCs), age range 26-65 years. Assessments of global cognitive screening, executive functioning, psychopathology, and physical measures were conducted. Exosomes were extracted and precipitated from fasting plasma and identified as neuron-derived exosomes (NDEs) or astrocyte-derived exosomes (ADEs). Human-specific ELISAs were used to assay levels of amyloid-beta 1-42 (Aβ42), amyloid-beta 1-40 (Aβ40), and phosphorylated T181 tau (P-T181-tau). Plasma assays for aging biomarkers (C-reactive protein and F2-isoprostanes) were also performed. Results: ADE-Aβ42 levels were higher in PWS compared to NCs, though the other exosomal markers were similar between the two groups. Higher ADE-P-T181-tau levels were associated with worse executive functioning. Among PWS, higher ADE-P-T181-tau levels were associated with less severe negative symptoms and increased F2-isoprostane levels. Astrocyte-derived Aβ marker levels were sensitive and specific in differentiating between diagnostic groups. Among PWS, Aβ40 levels differed most by exosomal origin. Discussion: Exosomal markers may provide novel insights into brain-based processes (e.g., aging, oxidative stress) from peripheral blood samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ellen E Lee
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States.,Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Charisse Winston-Gray
- Department of Neuroscience, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - James W Barlow
- Department of Neuroscience, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - Robert A Rissman
- Department of Neuroscience, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - Dilip V Jeste
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurosciences, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States
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Study of a Miniaturizable System for Optical Sensing Application to Human Cells. APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL 2019. [DOI: 10.3390/app9050975] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Conventional approaches to human intracellular optical sensing, generally, require dedicated laboratories with bulky detection systems. They are performed by cell labeling procedures based on the use of fluorophores that are, mostly, phototoxic, invasive, bleached in case of prolonged light exposures, which require carriers and/or structural modifications for the cellular uptake. These issues, together with the sensitivity of the eukaryotic cell model, could be problematic towards the development of a robust sensing system suitable for biomedical screening. In this work, we studied a sensing system resulting from the combination of the commercial tris(2,2’bipyridyl)ruthenium(II) fluorophore, for cell labeling, with a potentially miniaturizable optical system composed by a laser source and a photomultiplier tube, for the fluorescence analysis.
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Siano G, Varisco M, Caiazza MC, Quercioli V, Mainardi M, Ippolito C, Cattaneo A, Di Primio C. Tau Modulates VGluT1 Expression. J Mol Biol 2019; 431:873-884. [PMID: 30664870 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2019.01.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2019] [Accepted: 01/09/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Tau displacement from microtubules is the first step in the onset of tauopathies and is followed by toxic protein aggregation. However, other non-canonical functions of Tau might have a role in these pathologies. Here, we demonstrate that a small amount of Tau localizes in the nuclear compartment and accumulates in both the soluble and chromatin-bound fractions. We show that favoring Tau nuclear translocation and accumulation, by Tau overexpression or detachment from MTs, increases the expression of VGluT1, a disease-relevant gene directly involved in glutamatergic synaptic transmission. Remarkably, the P301L mutation, related to frontotemporal dementia FTDP-17, impairs this mechanism leading to a loss of function. Altogether, our results provide the demonstration of a direct physiological role of Tau on gene expression. Alterations of this mechanism may be at the basis of the onset of neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giacomo Siano
- Laboratory of Biology, BIO@SNS, Scuola Normale Superiore, Pisa, Italy
| | - Martina Varisco
- Laboratory of Biology, BIO@SNS, Scuola Normale Superiore, Pisa, Italy
| | | | | | - Marco Mainardi
- Laboratory of Biology, BIO@SNS, Scuola Normale Superiore, Pisa, Italy
| | - Chiara Ippolito
- Unit of Histology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Antonino Cattaneo
- Laboratory of Biology, BIO@SNS, Scuola Normale Superiore, Pisa, Italy
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Galas MC, Bonnefoy E, Buee L, Lefebvre B. Emerging Connections Between Tau and Nucleic Acids. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2019; 1184:135-143. [PMID: 32096035 DOI: 10.1007/978-981-32-9358-8_12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Connections between tau and nucleic acids have been largely underestimated until recently when several reports highlighted new key roles of tau in relation with DNA and RNA structure, metabolism and integrity, and their implications in the context of tauopathies. Here we focus on recent advances involving tau and nucleic acids in neuronal and non-neuronal cells. Implication of tau and tau pathology in mechanisms regulating genome integrity, chromatin organization and RNA metabolism, highlight the connections between tau and nucleic acid as major mechanisms in neuronal homeostasis and the etiopathology of tauopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie-Christine Galas
- University of Lille, INSERM, CHU-Lille, UMR-S 1172, Alzheimer & Tauopathies, LabEx DISTALZ, Lille, France.
| | | | - Luc Buee
- University of Lille, INSERM, CHU-Lille, UMR-S 1172, Alzheimer & Tauopathies, LabEx DISTALZ, Lille, France
| | - Bruno Lefebvre
- University of Lille, INSERM, CHU-Lille, UMR-S 1172, Alzheimer & Tauopathies, LabEx DISTALZ, Lille, France
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32
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Benhelli-Mokrani H, Mansuroglu Z, Chauderlier A, Albaud B, Gentien D, Sommer S, Schirmer C, Laqueuvre L, Josse T, Buée L, Lefebvre B, Galas MC, Souès S, Bonnefoy E. Genome-wide identification of genic and intergenic neuronal DNA regions bound by Tau protein under physiological and stress conditions. Nucleic Acids Res 2018; 46:11405-11422. [PMID: 30321409 PMCID: PMC6265482 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gky929] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2018] [Revised: 09/20/2018] [Accepted: 10/04/2018] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Tauopathies such as Alzheimer's Disease (AD) are neurodegenerative disorders for which there is presently no cure. They are named after the abnormal oligomerization/aggregation of the neuronal microtubule-associated Tau protein. Besides its role as a microtubule-associated protein, a DNA-binding capacity and a nuclear localization for Tau protein has been described in neurons. While questioning the potential role of Tau-DNA binding in the development of tauopathies, we have carried out a large-scale analysis of the interaction of Tau protein with the neuronal genome under physiological and heat stress conditions using the ChIP-on-chip technique that combines Chromatin ImmunoPrecipitation (ChIP) with DNA microarray (chip). Our findings show that Tau protein specifically interacts with genic and intergenic DNA sequences of primary culture of neurons with a preference for DNA regions positioned beyond the ±5000 bp range from transcription start site. An AG-rich DNA motif was found recurrently present within Tau-interacting regions and 30% of Tau-interacting regions overlapped DNA sequences coding for lncRNAs. Neurological processes affected in AD were enriched among Tau-interacting regions with in vivo gene expression assays being indicative of a transcriptional repressor role for Tau protein, which was exacerbated in neurons displaying nuclear pathological oligomerized forms of Tau protein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Houda Benhelli-Mokrani
- Université Paris Descartes, Centre Interdisciplinaire Chimie Biologie-Paris, Inserm UMRS1007, Paris, France
| | - Zeyni Mansuroglu
- Université Paris Descartes, Centre Interdisciplinaire Chimie Biologie-Paris, Inserm UMRS1007, Paris, France
| | - Alban Chauderlier
- Université de Lille, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Medicale (INSERM), CHU Lille, UMR-S 1172, LabEx DISTALZ, Alzheimer & Tauopathies, Lille, France
| | - Benoit Albaud
- Institut Curie, PSL Research University, Translational Research Departement, Genomics Platform, Paris, F-75248 France
| | - David Gentien
- Institut Curie, PSL Research University, Translational Research Departement, Genomics Platform, Paris, F-75248 France
| | - Sabrina Sommer
- Université de Lille, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Medicale (INSERM), CHU Lille, UMR-S 1172, LabEx DISTALZ, Alzheimer & Tauopathies, Lille, France
| | - Claire Schirmer
- Université de Lille, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Medicale (INSERM), CHU Lille, UMR-S 1172, LabEx DISTALZ, Alzheimer & Tauopathies, Lille, France
| | - Lucie Laqueuvre
- Université Paris Descartes, Centre Interdisciplinaire Chimie Biologie-Paris, Inserm UMRS1007, Paris, France
| | - Thibaut Josse
- Université François Rabelais, Institut de Recherche sur la Biologie de l’Insecte, CNRS UMR 7261, Tours, France
| | - Luc Buée
- Université de Lille, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Medicale (INSERM), CHU Lille, UMR-S 1172, LabEx DISTALZ, Alzheimer & Tauopathies, Lille, France
| | - Bruno Lefebvre
- Université de Lille, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Medicale (INSERM), CHU Lille, UMR-S 1172, LabEx DISTALZ, Alzheimer & Tauopathies, Lille, France
| | - Marie-Christine Galas
- Université de Lille, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Medicale (INSERM), CHU Lille, UMR-S 1172, LabEx DISTALZ, Alzheimer & Tauopathies, Lille, France
| | - Sylvie Souès
- Université Paris Descartes, Centre Interdisciplinaire Chimie Biologie-Paris, Inserm UMRS1007, Paris, France
| | - Eliette Bonnefoy
- Université Paris Descartes, Centre Interdisciplinaire Chimie Biologie-Paris, Inserm UMRS1007, Paris, France
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Chatterjee S, Cassel R, Schneider-Anthony A, Merienne K, Cosquer B, Tzeplaeff L, Halder Sinha S, Kumar M, Chaturbedy P, Eswaramoorthy M, Le Gras S, Keime C, Bousiges O, Dutar P, Petsophonsakul P, Rampon C, Cassel JC, Buée L, Blum D, Kundu TK, Boutillier AL. Reinstating plasticity and memory in a tauopathy mouse model with an acetyltransferase activator. EMBO Mol Med 2018; 10:e8587. [PMID: 30275019 PMCID: PMC6220301 DOI: 10.15252/emmm.201708587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2017] [Revised: 08/31/2018] [Accepted: 09/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Chromatin acetylation, a critical regulator of synaptic plasticity and memory processes, is thought to be altered in neurodegenerative diseases. Here, we demonstrate that spatial memory and plasticity (LTD, dendritic spine formation) deficits can be restored in a mouse model of tauopathy following treatment with CSP-TTK21, a small-molecule activator of CBP/p300 histone acetyltransferases (HAT). At the transcriptional level, CSP-TTK21 re-established half of the hippocampal transcriptome in learning mice, likely through increased expression of neuronal activity genes and memory enhancers. At the epigenomic level, the hippocampus of tauopathic mice showed a significant decrease in H2B but not H3K27 acetylation levels, both marks co-localizing at TSS and CBP enhancers. Importantly, CSP-TTK21 treatment increased H2B acetylation levels at decreased peaks, CBP enhancers, and TSS, including genes associated with plasticity and neuronal functions, overall providing a 95% rescue of the H2B acetylome in tauopathic mice. This study is the first to provide in vivo proof-of-concept evidence that CBP/p300 HAT activation efficiently reverses epigenetic, transcriptional, synaptic plasticity, and behavioral deficits associated with Alzheimer's disease lesions in mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Snehajyoti Chatterjee
- Laboratoire de Neuroscience Cognitives et Adaptatives (LNCA), Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
- LNCA, CNRS UMR 7364, Strasbourg, France
| | - Raphaelle Cassel
- Laboratoire de Neuroscience Cognitives et Adaptatives (LNCA), Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
- LNCA, CNRS UMR 7364, Strasbourg, France
| | - Anne Schneider-Anthony
- Laboratoire de Neuroscience Cognitives et Adaptatives (LNCA), Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
- LNCA, CNRS UMR 7364, Strasbourg, France
| | - Karine Merienne
- Laboratoire de Neuroscience Cognitives et Adaptatives (LNCA), Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
- LNCA, CNRS UMR 7364, Strasbourg, France
| | - Brigitte Cosquer
- Laboratoire de Neuroscience Cognitives et Adaptatives (LNCA), Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
- LNCA, CNRS UMR 7364, Strasbourg, France
| | - Laura Tzeplaeff
- Laboratoire de Neuroscience Cognitives et Adaptatives (LNCA), Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
- LNCA, CNRS UMR 7364, Strasbourg, France
| | - Sarmistha Halder Sinha
- Transcription and Disease Laboratory, Molecular Biology and Genetics Unit, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, Bangalore, India
| | - Manoj Kumar
- Transcription and Disease Laboratory, Molecular Biology and Genetics Unit, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, Bangalore, India
| | - Piyush Chaturbedy
- Chemistry and Physics of Materials Unit, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, Bangalore, India
| | - Muthusamy Eswaramoorthy
- Chemistry and Physics of Materials Unit, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, Bangalore, India
| | - Stéphanie Le Gras
- CNRS, Inserm, UMR 7104, Microarray and Sequencing Platform, Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire (IGBMC), Université de Strasbourg, Illkirch, France
| | - Céline Keime
- CNRS, Inserm, UMR 7104, Microarray and Sequencing Platform, Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire (IGBMC), Université de Strasbourg, Illkirch, France
| | - Olivier Bousiges
- Laboratoire de Neuroscience Cognitives et Adaptatives (LNCA), Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Hôpital de Hautepierre, University Hospital of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Patrick Dutar
- Centre de Psychiatrie et Neurosciences, INSERM UMRS894, Université Paris Descartes, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Petnoi Petsophonsakul
- Centre de Recherches sur la Cognition Animale, Centre de Biologie Intégrative, CNRS, UPS, Université de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| | - Claire Rampon
- Centre de Recherches sur la Cognition Animale, Centre de Biologie Intégrative, CNRS, UPS, Université de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| | - Jean-Christophe Cassel
- Laboratoire de Neuroscience Cognitives et Adaptatives (LNCA), Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
- LNCA, CNRS UMR 7364, Strasbourg, France
| | - Luc Buée
- Inserm, CHU-Lille, UMR-S 1172, Alzheimer & Tauopathies, Université de Lille, Lille, France
| | - David Blum
- Inserm, CHU-Lille, UMR-S 1172, Alzheimer & Tauopathies, Université de Lille, Lille, France
| | - Tapas K Kundu
- Transcription and Disease Laboratory, Molecular Biology and Genetics Unit, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, Bangalore, India
| | - Anne-Laurence Boutillier
- Laboratoire de Neuroscience Cognitives et Adaptatives (LNCA), Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
- LNCA, CNRS UMR 7364, Strasbourg, France
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34
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Federico C, Gil L, Bruno F, D'Amico AG, D'Agata V, Saccone S. Phosphorylated nucleolar Tau protein is related to the neuronal in vitro differentiation. Gene 2018; 664:1-11. [PMID: 29684490 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2018.04.051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2017] [Revised: 04/06/2018] [Accepted: 04/18/2018] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Tau is a multifunctional protein, originally identified as a cytoplasmic protein associated with microtubules. It is codified by the MAPT gene, and the alternative splicing, in the neuronal cells, results in six different isoforms. Tau was subsequently observed in the cell nucleus, where its function is not yet clearly understood. Here, we studied the MAPT gene and the cellular localization of the AT8 and Tau-1 epitopes of Tau protein, in the SK-N-BE cell line, which differentiates in neuronal-like cells after retinoic acid treatment. These epitopes correspond to the phosphorylated Ser202/Thr205 and unphosphorylated Pro189/Gly207 amino acid residues, respectively, possibly involved in conformational changes of the protein. Our results demonstrated the presence of the smaller Tau isoform (352 amino acids), whose amount increases in differentiated SK-N-BE cells, with Tau-1/AT8 nuclear distribution related to the differentiation process. Tau-1 showed a spot-like nucleolar localization, in both replicative and differentiated cells, while AT8 was only detected in the differentiated cells, diffusely occupying the entire nucleolar region. Moreover, in the replicative cells exposed to actinomycin-D, AT8 and Tau-1 move to the nucleolar periphery and colocalize, in few spots, with the upstream binding transcription factor (UBTF). Our results, also obtained with lymphocytes exposed to the mitogenic compound phytohaemagglutinin, indicate the AT8 epitope of Tau as a marker of neuronal cell differentiation, whose presence in the nucleolus appears to be related to rDNA transcriptional inactivation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Concetta Federico
- Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Catania, Italy
| | - Laura Gil
- Department of Genetics, Medical School, University "Alfonso X el Sabio", Madrid, Spain
| | - Francesca Bruno
- Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Catania, Italy
| | - Agata Grazia D'Amico
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, Italy; Department of Human Science and Promotion of Quality of Life, San Raffaele Open University of Rome, Italy
| | - Velia D'Agata
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, Italy
| | - Salvatore Saccone
- Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Catania, Italy.
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