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Bhadane P, Roul K, Belemkar S, Kumar D. Immunotherapeutic approaches for Alzheimer's disease: Exploring active and passive vaccine progress. Brain Res 2024; 1840:149018. [PMID: 38782231 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2024.149018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2024] [Revised: 05/07/2024] [Accepted: 05/17/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common neurodegeneration having non-effective treatments. Vaccines or monoclonal antibodies are two typical immunotherapies for AD. Due to Aβ neurotoxicity, most of the treatments target its generation and deposition. However, therapies that specifically target tau protein are also being investigated. UB311 vaccine generates N-terminal anti-Aβ antibodies, that neutralize Aβ toxicity and promote plaque clearance. It is designed to elicit specific B-cell and wide T-cell responses. ACC001 or PF05236806 vaccine has the same Aβ fragment and QS21 as an adjuvant. CAD106 stimulates response against Aβ1-6. However, Nasopharyngitis and injection site erythema are its side effects. AN1792, the first-generation vaccine was formulated in proinflammatory QS21 adjuvant. However, T-cell epitopes are omitted from the developed epitope AD vaccine with Aβ1-42B-cell epitopes. The first-generation vaccine immune response was immensely successful in clearing Aβ, but it was also sufficient to provoke meningoencephalitis. Immunotherapies have been at the forefront of these initiatives in recent years. The review covers the recent updates on active and passive immunotherapy for AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Priyanshu Bhadane
- School of Pharmacy & Technology Management, SVKM's NMIMS University, Mukesh Patel Technology Park, Shirpur 425405, India
| | - Krishnashish Roul
- School of Pharmacy & Technology Management, SVKM's NMIMS University, Mukesh Patel Technology Park, Shirpur 425405, India
| | - Sateesh Belemkar
- Shobhaben Pratapbhai Patel School of Pharmacy & Technology Management, SVKM's NMIMS Deemed to be University, Vile Parle (W) Mumbai 400 056, India
| | - Devendra Kumar
- School of Pharmacy & Technology Management, SVKM's NMIMS University, Mukesh Patel Technology Park, Shirpur 425405, India.
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2
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Rather MA, Khan A, Jahan S, Siddiqui AJ, Wang L. Influence of Tau on Neurotoxicity and Cerebral Vasculature Impairment Associated with Alzheimer's Disease. Neuroscience 2024; 552:1-13. [PMID: 38871021 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2024.05.042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2023] [Revised: 05/28/2024] [Accepted: 05/29/2024] [Indexed: 06/15/2024]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease is a fatal chronic neurodegenerative condition marked by a gradual decline in cognitive abilities and impaired vascular function within the central nervous system. This affliction initiates its insidious progression with the accumulation of two aberrant protein entities including Aβ plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. These chronic elements target distinct brain regions, steadily erasing the functionality of the hippocampus and triggering the erosion of memory and neuronal integrity. Several assumptions are anticipated for AD as genetic alterations, the occurrence of Aβ plaques, altered processing of amyloid precursor protein, mitochondrial damage, and discrepancy of neurotropic factors. In addition to Aβ oligomers, the deposition of tau hyper-phosphorylates also plays an indispensable part in AD etiology. The brain comprises a complex network of capillaries that is crucial for maintaining proper function. Tau is expressed in cerebral blood vessels, where it helps to regulate blood flow and sustain the blood-brain barrier's integrity. In AD, tau pathology can disrupt cerebral blood supply and deteriorate the BBB, leading to neuronal neurodegeneration. Neuroinflammation, deficits in the microvasculature and endothelial functions, and Aβ deposition are characteristically detected in the initial phases of AD. These variations trigger neuronal malfunction and cognitive impairment. Intracellular tau accumulation in microglia and astrocytes triggers deleterious effects on the integrity of endothelium and cerebral blood supply resulting in further advancement of the ailment and cerebral instability. In this review, we will discuss the impact of tau on neurovascular impairment, mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, and the role of hyperphosphorylated tau in neuron excitotoxicity and inflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mashoque Ahmad Rather
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology, University of South Florida, Tampa, United States.
| | - Andleeb Khan
- Department of Biosciences, Faculty of Science, Integral University, Lucknow, 226026, India
| | - Sadaf Jahan
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Majmaah University, Al-Majmaah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Arif Jamal Siddiqui
- Department of Biology, College of Science, University of Hail, Hail City, Saudi Arabia
| | - Lianchun Wang
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology, University of South Florida, Tampa, United States
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3
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Gyimesi M, Okolicsanyi RK, Haupt LM. Beyond amyloid and tau: rethinking Alzheimer's disease through less explored avenues. Open Biol 2024; 14:240035. [PMID: 38862019 DOI: 10.1098/rsob.240035] [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: 02/12/2024] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 06/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases, particularly Alzheimer's disease (AD), pose a significant challenge in ageing populations. Our current understanding indicates that the onset of toxic amyloid and tau protein pathologies initiates disease progression. However, existing treatments targeting these hallmark symptoms offer symptomatic relief without halting disease advancement. This review offers an alternative perspective on AD, centring on impaired adult hippocampal neurogenesis (AHN) as a potential early aetiological factor. By delving into the intricate molecular events during the initial stages of AD (Braak Stages I-III), a novel hypothesis is presented, interweaving the roles of Notch signalling and heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs) in compromised AHN. While acknowledging the significance of the amyloid and tau hypotheses, it calls for further exploration beyond these paradigms, suggesting the potential of altered HS sulfation patterns in AD initiation. Future directions propose more detailed investigations into early HS aggregation, aberrant sulfation patterns and examination of their temporal relationship with tau hyperphosphorylation. In challenging the conventional 'triggers' of AD and urging their reconsideration as symptoms, this review advocates an alternative approach to understanding this disease, offering new avenues of investigation into the intricacies of AD pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Gyimesi
- Stem Cell and Neurogenesis Group, Genomics Research Centre, Centre for Genomics and Personalised Health, School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), 60 Musk Ave , Kelvin Grove, Queensland 4059, Australia
| | - R K Okolicsanyi
- Stem Cell and Neurogenesis Group, Genomics Research Centre, Centre for Genomics and Personalised Health, School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), 60 Musk Ave , Kelvin Grove, Queensland 4059, Australia
- Max Planck Queensland Centre for the Materials Sciences of Extracellular Matrices , Brisbane, QLD 4059, Australia
| | - L M Haupt
- Stem Cell and Neurogenesis Group, Genomics Research Centre, Centre for Genomics and Personalised Health, School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), 60 Musk Ave , Kelvin Grove, Queensland 4059, Australia
- Max Planck Queensland Centre for the Materials Sciences of Extracellular Matrices , Brisbane, QLD 4059, Australia
- Centre for Biomedical Technologies, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), 60 Musk Ave , Kelvin Grove, Queensland 4059, Australia
- ARC Training Centre for Cell and Tissue Engineering Technologies , Brisbane, QLD 4059, Australia
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4
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Mukherjee A, Biswas S, Roy I. Immunotherapy: An emerging treatment option for neurodegenerative diseases. Drug Discov Today 2024; 29:103974. [PMID: 38555032 DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2024.103974] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2023] [Revised: 03/18/2024] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/02/2024]
Abstract
Accumulation of misfolded proteins and protein aggregates leading to degeneration of neurons is a hallmark of several neurodegenerative diseases. Therapy mostly relies on symptomatic relief. Immunotherapy offers a promising approach for the development of disease-modifying routes. Such strategies have shown remarkable results in oncology, and this promise is increasingly being realized for neurodegenerative diseases in advanced preclinical and clinical studies. This review highlights cases of passive and active immunotherapies in Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases. The reasons for success and failure, wherever available, and strategies to cross the blood-brain barrier, are discussed. The need for conditional modulation of the immune response is also reflected on.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abhiyanta Mukherjee
- Department of Biotechnology, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Sector 67, S.A.S. Nagar, Punjab 160062, India
| | - Soumojit Biswas
- Department of Biotechnology, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Sector 67, S.A.S. Nagar, Punjab 160062, India
| | - Ipsita Roy
- Department of Biotechnology, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Sector 67, S.A.S. Nagar, Punjab 160062, India.
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Facal CL, Fernández Bessone I, Muñiz JA, Pereyra AE, Pedroncini O, Páez-Paz I, Clerici-Delville R, Arnaiz C, Urrutia L, Falasco G, Argañaraz CV, Saez T, Marin-Burgin A, Soiza-Reilly M, Falzone T, Avale ME. Tau reduction with artificial microRNAs modulates neuronal physiology and improves tauopathy phenotypes in mice. Mol Ther 2024; 32:1080-1095. [PMID: 38310353 PMCID: PMC11163272 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2024.01.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2023] [Revised: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 02/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Abnormal tau accumulation is the hallmark of several neurodegenerative diseases, named tauopathies. Strategies aimed at reducing tau in the brain are promising therapeutic interventions, yet more precise therapies would require targeting specific nuclei and neuronal subpopulations affected by disease while avoiding global reduction of physiological tau. Here, we developed artificial microRNAs directed against the human MAPT mRNA to dwindle tau protein by engaging the endogenous RNA interference pathway. In human differentiated neurons in culture, microRNA-mediated tau reduction diminished neuronal firing without affecting neuronal morphology or impairing axonal transport. In the htau mouse model of tauopathy, we locally expressed artificial microRNAs in the prefrontal cortex (PFC), an area particularly vulnerable to initiating tau pathology in this model. Tau knockdown prevented the accumulation of insoluble and hyperphosphorylated tau, modulated firing activity of putative pyramidal neurons, and improved glucose uptake in the PFC. Moreover, such tau reduction prevented cognitive decline in aged htau mice. Our results suggest target engagement of designed tau-microRNAs to effectively reduce tau pathology, providing a proof of concept for a potential therapeutic approach based on local tau knockdown to rescue tauopathy-related phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolina Lucía Facal
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular (INGEBI), CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Iván Fernández Bessone
- Instituto de Biología Celular y Neurociencias (IBCN), Universidad de Buenos Aires, CONICET-UBA, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Javier Andrés Muñiz
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular (INGEBI), CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - A Ezequiel Pereyra
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular (INGEBI), CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Olivia Pedroncini
- Instituto de Investigación en Biomedicina de Buenos Aires (IBioBA), Partner Institute of the Max Planck Society, CONICET-MPSP, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Indiana Páez-Paz
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular (INGEBI), CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Ramiro Clerici-Delville
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular (INGEBI), CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Cayetana Arnaiz
- Instituto de Investigación en Biomedicina de Buenos Aires (IBioBA), Partner Institute of the Max Planck Society, CONICET-MPSP, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Leandro Urrutia
- Centro de imágenes Moleculares, FLENI, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Germán Falasco
- Centro de imágenes Moleculares, FLENI, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Carla Verónica Argañaraz
- Instituto de Fisiología Biología Molecular y Neurociencias (IFIBYNE), Universidad de Buenos Aires, CONICET-UBA, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Trinidad Saez
- Instituto de Biología Celular y Neurociencias (IBCN), Universidad de Buenos Aires, CONICET-UBA, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Antonia Marin-Burgin
- Instituto de Investigación en Biomedicina de Buenos Aires (IBioBA), Partner Institute of the Max Planck Society, CONICET-MPSP, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Mariano Soiza-Reilly
- Instituto de Fisiología Biología Molecular y Neurociencias (IFIBYNE), Universidad de Buenos Aires, CONICET-UBA, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Tomás Falzone
- Instituto de Biología Celular y Neurociencias (IBCN), Universidad de Buenos Aires, CONICET-UBA, Buenos Aires, Argentina; Instituto de Investigación en Biomedicina de Buenos Aires (IBioBA), Partner Institute of the Max Planck Society, CONICET-MPSP, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - María Elena Avale
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular (INGEBI), CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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De Leiris N, Perret P, Lombardi C, Gözel B, Chierici S, Millet P, Debiossat M, Bacot S, Tournier BB, Chames P, Lenormand JL, Ghezzi C, Fagret D, Moulin M. A single-domain antibody for the detection of pathological Tau protein in the early stages of oligomerization. J Transl Med 2024; 22:163. [PMID: 38365700 PMCID: PMC10870657 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-024-04987-1] [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: 10/23/2023] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 02/18/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Soluble oligomeric forms of Tau protein have emerged as crucial players in the propagation of Tau pathology in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Our objective is to introduce a single-domain antibody (sdAb) named 2C5 as a novel radiotracer for the efficient detection and longitudinal monitoring of oligomeric Tau species in the human brain. METHODS The development and production of 2C5 involved llama immunization with the largest human Tau isoform oligomers of different maturation states. Subsequently, 2C5 underwent comprehensive in vitro characterization for affinity and specificity via Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay and immunohistochemistry on human brain slices. Technetium-99m was employed to radiolabel 2C5, followed by its administration to healthy mice for biodistribution analysis. RESULTS 2C5 exhibited robust binding affinity towards Tau oligomers (Kd = 6.280 nM ± 0.557) and to Tau fibers (Kd = 5.024 nM ± 0.453), with relatively weaker binding observed for native Tau protein (Kd = 1791 nM ± 8.714) and amyloid peptide (Kd > 10,000 nM). Remarkably, this SdAb facilitated immuno-histological labeling of pathological forms of Tau in neurons and neuritic plaques, yielding a high-contrast outcome in AD patients, closely mirroring the performance of reference antibodies AT8 and T22. Furthermore, 2C5 SdAb was successfully radiolabeled with 99mTc, preserving stability for up to 6 h post-radiolabeling (radiochemical purity > 93%). However, following intravenous injection into healthy mice, the predominant uptake occurred in kidneys, amounting to 115.32 ± 3.67, 97.70 ± 43.14 and 168.20 ± 34.52% of injected dose per gram (% ID/g) at 5, 10 and 45 min respectively. Conversely, brain uptake remained minimal at all measured time points, registering at 0.17 ± 0.03, 0.12 ± 0.07 and 0.02 ± 0.01% ID/g at 5, 10 and 45 min post-injection respectively. CONCLUSION 2C5 demonstrates excellent affinity and specificity for pathological Tau oligomers, particularly in their early stages of oligomerization. However, the current limitation of insufficient blood-brain barrier penetration necessitates further modifications before considering its application in nuclear medicine imaging for humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolas De Leiris
- University Grenoble Alpes, Clinique Universitaire de Médecine Nucléaire, INSERM, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Grenoble Alpes, LRB, CS 10217, 38043, Grenoble CEDEX 9, France.
| | - Pascale Perret
- University Grenoble Alpes, INSERM, LRB, 38000, Grenoble, France
| | | | - Bülent Gözel
- University Grenoble Alpes, INSERM, LRB, 38000, Grenoble, France
| | - Sabine Chierici
- University Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, DCM, 38000, Grenoble, France
| | - Philippe Millet
- Division of Adult Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland
| | | | - Sandrine Bacot
- University Grenoble Alpes, INSERM, LRB, 38000, Grenoble, France
| | - Benjamin B Tournier
- Division of Adult Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Patrick Chames
- Aix Marseille University, CNRS, INSERM, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, CRCM, Marseille, France
| | | | | | - Daniel Fagret
- University Grenoble Alpes, INSERM, LRB, 38000, Grenoble, France
| | - Marcelle Moulin
- University Grenoble Alpes, INSERM, LRB, 38000, Grenoble, France
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Jacquemin C, Villain N, Azevedo R, Boluda S, Thévenot EA, Fenaille F, Lamari F, Becher F. Evaluation of SP3 for antibody-free quantification of tau in CSF mimic and brain by mass spectrometry. EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF MASS SPECTROMETRY (CHICHESTER, ENGLAND) 2024; 30:65-75. [PMID: 38258392 DOI: 10.1177/14690667231218912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
Tubulin-associated unit (tau) has an important role in the pathogenesis and the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other tauopathies. In view of the diversity of tau proteoforms, antibody-free methods represent a good approach for unbiased quantification. We adapted and evaluated the single-pot, solid-phase-enhanced sample-preparation (SP3) protocol for antibody-free extraction of the tau protein in cerebro-spinal fluid (CSF) mimic and in human brain. A total of 13 non-modified peptides were quantified by high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) after digestion of tau by trypsin. We significantly improved the basic SP3 protocol by carefully optimizing the organic solvents and incubation time for tau binding, as well as the digestion step for the release directly from the SP3 beads of the 13 tau peptides. These optimizations proved to be primarily beneficial for the most hydrophilic tau peptides, increasing the sequence coverage of recombinant tau. Mean recovery in CSF mimic of the 13 non-modified peptides was of 53%, with LODs ranging from 0.75 to 10 ng/mL. Next, we tested the optimized SP3 protocol on pathological tau extracted from the soluble fraction from an AD brain sample (middle frontal gyrus). We could successfully identify and quantify biologically relevant tau peptides including representative peptides of two isoforms and two phospho-peptides (pTau217 and pTau181).
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Affiliation(s)
- Chloé Jacquemin
- Département Médicaments et Technologies pour la Santé (DMTS), Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, INRAE, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Nicolas Villain
- Department of Neurology, Institute of Memory and Alzheimer's Disease, Assistance Publique - Hopitaux de Paris, Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, Paris, France
| | - Rita Azevedo
- Département Médicaments et Technologies pour la Santé (DMTS), Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, INRAE, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Susana Boluda
- Department of Neuropathology Raymond Escourolle, Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP) Sorbonne, Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France
| | - Etienne A Thévenot
- Département Médicaments et Technologies pour la Santé (DMTS), Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, INRAE, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - François Fenaille
- Département Médicaments et Technologies pour la Santé (DMTS), Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, INRAE, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Foudil Lamari
- Service de Biochimie Métabolique, AP-HP Sorbonne, Paris Brain Institute (ICM) Inserm - Sorbonne Université, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France
| | - François Becher
- Département Médicaments et Technologies pour la Santé (DMTS), Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, INRAE, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
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Barbhuiya TK, Jayarathna DK, Gilmour R, Smet-Nocca C, Gandhi NS. Characterization of Posttranslationally Modified PHF-1 Tau Peptides Using Gaussian Accelerated Molecular Dynamics Simulation. Methods Mol Biol 2024; 2754:3-31. [PMID: 38512658 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3629-9_1] [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: 03/23/2024]
Abstract
The microtubule-associated protein, Tau, is an intrinsically disordered protein that plays a crucial role in neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's disease. The posttranslational modifications across the Tau protein domains are involved in regulating Tau protein's function and disease onset. Of the various posttranslational modifications at Ser, Thr, and Tyr sites, O-GlcNAcylation and phosphorylation are the most critical ones, playing a vital role in Tau aggregation and tauopathies. To understand the function, it is essential to characterize the structural changes associated with Tau modification. Previous experimental studies have focused on high-resolution nuclear magnetic resonance techniques to structurally characterize the effect of phosphorylation, O-GlcNAcylation, and combination of both PTMs on Tau conformation in small peptides centered on the PHF-1 epitope from amino acid 392 to 411. The structural characterization using atomistic molecular dynamics simulation of such disordered peptides requires long simulation time, proper sampling method, and utilization of appropriate force fields for accurate determination of conformational ensembles, resembling the experimental data. This chapter details the protocol for the structural characterization of modified Tau peptides using the CHARMM36m force field and enhanced sampling methods like Gaussian accelerated molecular dynamics (GaMD) simulation. We have focused on a detailed explanation of the GaMD method and analyses of molecular dynamics trajectories to explain the relationship between two modifications, phospho- and glyco-, at C-terminus of Tau protein and its stable conformation over the longer simulation timeframes. The analyses involve energetics reweighting, clustering of simulation trajectories, and characterization of secondary structure using circular dichroism data from the simulation. The reader can utilize this protocol to investigate the structures of complex proteins, especially the disordered ones.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tabassum Khair Barbhuiya
- School of Chemistry and Physics, Faculty of Science, Centre for Genomics and Personalised Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- Cancer and Ageing Research Program, Translational Research Institute, Woolloongabba, QLD, Australia
| | - Dulari K Jayarathna
- School of Chemistry and Physics, Faculty of Science, Centre for Genomics and Personalised Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Raechelle Gilmour
- School of Chemistry and Physics, Faculty of Science, Centre for Genomics and Personalised Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Caroline Smet-Nocca
- University of Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1167 - RID-AGE - Risk Factors and Molecular Determinants of Aging-Related Diseases, Lille, France
- CNRS EMR9002 Integrative Structural Biology, Lille, France
| | - Neha S Gandhi
- School of Chemistry and Physics, Faculty of Science, Centre for Genomics and Personalised Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
- Cancer and Ageing Research Program, Translational Research Institute, Woolloongabba, QLD, Australia.
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Lei L, Luo Y, Kang D, Yang F, Meng D, Wang JZ, Liu R, Wang X, Li HL. Gypenoside IX restores Akt/GSK-3β pathway and alleviates Alzheimer's disease-like neuropathology and cognitive deficits. Aging (Albany NY) 2023; 15:14172-14191. [PMID: 38095632 PMCID: PMC10756109 DOI: 10.18632/aging.205295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023]
Abstract
The main pathological changes of Alzheimer's disease (AD), a progressive neurodegenerative disorder, include senile plaque (deposited by amyloid beta), neurofibrillary tangle (formed by paired helical filaments composed of hyperphosphorylated tau), and massive loss of neurons. Currently there is a lack of ideal drugs to halt AD progression. Gypenosides (GPs), a kind of natural product, possesses potential therapeutic effects for neurodegenerative diseases, including AD. However, the specific role and mechanism of GPs for AD remain unclear. In the current study, we used staurosporine (STP), an inducer of apoptosis and causing tau hyperphosphorylation, to mimic AD models, and explored the role and mechanism of Gypenoside IX (one of the extracts of Gynostemma, GP for short name in our experiments) in STP treated primary hippocampal neurons and rats. We found STP not only increased apoptosis and tau hyperphosphorylation, but also significantly increased Aβ production, resulting in synaptic dysfunction and cognitive decline in mimic AD models by STP. GP was found to rescue apoptosis and cognitive impairments caused by STP treatment. Moreover, GP recovered the decreased synaptic proteins PSD95, Synaptophysin and GluR2, and blocked dendritic spine loss. Interestingly, GP decreased the STP induced tau hyperphosphorylation at different sites including S-199, S-202, T-205, T-231, S-262, S-396, and S-404, and at the same time decreased Aβ production through down-regulation of BACE1 and PS1. These effects in STP treated primary hippocampal neurons and rats were accompanied with a restoration of AKT/GSK-3β signaling axis with GP treatment, supporting that dysregulation of AKT/GSK-3β pathway might be involved in STP related AD pathogenesis. The results from our research proved that GP might be a potential candidate compound to reduce neuronal damage and prevent the cognitive decline in AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ling Lei
- School of Basic Medicine, Key Laboratory of Education Ministry/Hubei Province of China for Neurological Disorders, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
- Co-Innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu 226001, China
| | - Yong Luo
- School of Basic Medicine, Key Laboratory of Education Ministry/Hubei Province of China for Neurological Disorders, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Dongkun Kang
- School of Basic Medicine, Key Laboratory of Education Ministry/Hubei Province of China for Neurological Disorders, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Fumin Yang
- School of Basic Medicine, Key Laboratory of Education Ministry/Hubei Province of China for Neurological Disorders, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Dongli Meng
- School of Basic Medicine, Key Laboratory of Education Ministry/Hubei Province of China for Neurological Disorders, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Jian-Zhi Wang
- School of Basic Medicine, Key Laboratory of Education Ministry/Hubei Province of China for Neurological Disorders, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
- Co-Innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu 226001, China
| | - Rong Liu
- School of Basic Medicine, Key Laboratory of Education Ministry/Hubei Province of China for Neurological Disorders, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
- Shenzhen Huazhong University of Science and Technology Research Institute, Shenzhen 518000, China
| | - Xiaochuan Wang
- School of Basic Medicine, Key Laboratory of Education Ministry/Hubei Province of China for Neurological Disorders, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
- Co-Innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu 226001, China
- Shenzhen Huazhong University of Science and Technology Research Institute, Shenzhen 518000, China
| | - Hong-Lian Li
- School of Basic Medicine, Key Laboratory of Education Ministry/Hubei Province of China for Neurological Disorders, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
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10
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Zhang Q, Yan Y. The role of natural flavonoids on neuroinflammation as a therapeutic target for Alzheimer's disease: a narrative review. Neural Regen Res 2023; 18:2582-2591. [PMID: 37449593 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.373680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease is a neurodegenerative disease that affects a large proportion of older adult people and is characterized by memory loss, progressive cognitive impairment, and various behavioral disturbances. Although the pathological mechanisms underlying Alzheimer's disease are complex and remain unclear, previous research has identified two widely accepted pathological characteristics: extracellular neuritic plaques containing amyloid beta peptide, and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles containing tau. Furthermore, research has revealed the significant role played by neuroinflammation over recent years. The inflammatory microenvironment mainly consists of microglia, astrocytes, the complement system, chemokines, cytokines, and reactive oxygen intermediates; collectively, these factors can promote the pathological process and aggravate the severity of Alzheimer's disease. Therefore, the development of new drugs that can target neuroinflammation will be a significant step forward for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. Flavonoids are plant-derived secondary metabolites that possess various bioactivities. Previous research found that multiple natural flavonoids could exert satisfactory treatment effects on the neuroinflammation associated with Alzheimer's disease. In this review, we describe the pathogenesis and neuroinflammatory processes of Alzheimer's disease, and summarize the effects and mechanisms of 13 natural flavonoids (apigenin, luteolin, naringenin, quercetin, morin, kaempferol, fisetin, isoquercitrin, astragalin, rutin, icariin, mangiferin, and anthocyanin) derived from plants or medicinal herbs on neuroinflammation in Alzheimer's disease. As an important resource for the development of novel compounds for the treatment of critical diseases, it is essential that we focus on the exploitation of natural products. In particular, it is vital that we investigate the effects of flavonoids on the neuroinflammation associated with Alzheimer's disease in greater detail.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qian Zhang
- National Engineering Laboratory for Resource Development of Endangered Crude Drugs in Northwest China; Key Laboratory of Medicinal Resources and Natural Pharmaceutical Chemistry, The Ministry of Education; College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - Yaping Yan
- National Engineering Laboratory for Resource Development of Endangered Crude Drugs in Northwest China; Key Laboratory of Medicinal Resources and Natural Pharmaceutical Chemistry, The Ministry of Education; College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, China
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11
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Jash S, Banerjee S, Cheng S, Wang B, Qiu C, Kondo A, Ernerudh J, Zhou XZ, Lu KP, Sharma S. Cis P-tau is a central circulating and placental etiologic driver and therapeutic target of preeclampsia. Nat Commun 2023; 14:5414. [PMID: 37669931 PMCID: PMC10480164 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-41144-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2022] [Accepted: 08/24/2023] [Indexed: 09/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Preeclampsia (PE) is the leading cause of maternal and fetal mortality globally and may trigger dementia later in life in mothers and their offspring. However, the etiological drivers remain elusive. Cis P-tau is an early etiological driver and blood biomarker in pre-clinical Alzheimer's and after vascular or traumatic brain injury, which can be targeted by stereo-specific antibody, with clinical trials ongoing. Here we find significant cis P-tau in the placenta and serum of PE patients, and in primary human trophoblasts exposed to hypoxia or sera from PE patients due to Pin1 inactivation. Depletion of cis P-tau from PE patient sera by the antibody prevents their ability to disrupt trophoblast invasion and endovascular activity and to cause the PE-like pathological and clinical features in pregnant humanized tau mice. Our studies uncover that cis P-tau is a central circulating etiological driver and its stereo-specific antibody is valuable for early PE diagnosis and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sukanta Jash
- Departments of Pediatrics, Women and Infants Hospital, Warren Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Providence, RI, 02905, USA
| | - Sayani Banerjee
- Departments of Pediatrics, Women and Infants Hospital, Warren Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Providence, RI, 02905, USA
| | - Shibin Cheng
- Departments of Pediatrics, Women and Infants Hospital, Warren Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Providence, RI, 02905, USA
| | - Bin Wang
- Division of Translational Therapeutics, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Chenxi Qiu
- Division of Translational Therapeutics, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Asami Kondo
- Division of Translational Therapeutics, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Jan Ernerudh
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, SE 58183, Linköping, Sweden
- Department of Clinical Immunology and Transfusion Medicine, Linköping University, SE 58183, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Xiao Zhen Zhou
- Departments of Biochemistry, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, N6G 2V4, Canada.
- Departments of Oncology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, N6G 2V4, Canada.
- Departments of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, N6G 2V4, Canada.
- Lawson Health Research Institute, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, N6G 2V4, Canada.
| | - Kun Ping Lu
- Departments of Biochemistry, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, N6G 2V4, Canada.
- Departments of Oncology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, N6G 2V4, Canada.
- Robarts Research Institute, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry Western University, London, ON, N6G 2V4, Canada.
| | - Surendra Sharma
- Departments of Pediatrics, Women and Infants Hospital, Warren Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Providence, RI, 02905, USA.
- Departments of Pathology, Women and Infants Hospital, Warren Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Providence, RI, 02905, USA.
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12
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Aina A, Hsueh SCC, Plotkin SS. PROTHON: A Local Order Parameter-Based Method for Efficient Comparison of Protein Ensembles. J Chem Inf Model 2023. [PMID: 37178169 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.3c00145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
The comparison of protein conformational ensembles is of central importance in structural biology. However, there are few computational methods for ensemble comparison, and those that are readily available, such as ENCORE, utilize methods that are sufficiently computationally expensive to be prohibitive for large ensembles. Here, a new method is presented for efficient representation and comparison of protein conformational ensembles. The method is based on the representation of a protein ensemble as a vector of probability distribution functions (pdfs), with each pdf representing the distribution of a local structural property such as the number of contacts between Cβ atoms. Dissimilarity between two conformational ensembles is quantified by the Jensen-Shannon distance between the corresponding set of probability distribution functions. The method is validated for conformational ensembles generated by molecular dynamics simulations of ubiquitin, as well as experimentally derived conformational ensembles of a 130 amino acid truncated form of human tau protein. In the ubiquitin ensemble data set, the method was up to 88 times faster than the existing ENCORE software, while simultaneously utilizing 48 times fewer computing cores. We make the method available as a Python package, called PROTHON, and provide a GitHub page with the Python source code at https://github.com/PlotkinLab/Prothon.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adekunle Aina
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z1, Canada
| | - Shawn C C Hsueh
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z1, Canada
| | - Steven S Plotkin
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z1, Canada
- Genome Science and Technology Program, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z1, Canada
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13
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Singh A, Ansari VA, Ansari TM, Hasan SM, Ahsan F, Singh K, Wasim R, Maheshwari S, Ahmad A. Consequence of Dementia and Cognitive Impairment by Primary Nucleation Pathway. Horm Metab Res 2023; 55:304-314. [PMID: 37130536 DOI: 10.1055/a-2052-8462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
An acquired loss of cognition in several cognitive domains that is severe enough to interfere with social or professional functioning is called dementia. As well as a moderately in-depth mental status examination by a clinician to identify impairments in memory, language, attention, visuospatial cognition, such as spatial orientation, executive function, and mood, the diagnosis of dementia requires a history evaluating for cognitive decline and impairment in daily activities, with confirmation from a close friend or family member. The start and organization of the cognitive assessment can be helped by short screening tests for cognitive impairment. Clinical presentations show that neurodegenerative diseases are often incurable because patients permanently lose some types of neurons. It has been determined through an assessment that, at best, our understanding of the underlying processes is still rudimentary, which presents exciting new targets for further study as well as the development of diagnostics and drugs. A growing body of research suggests that they also advance our knowledge of the processes that are probably crucial for maintaining the health and functionality of the brain. We concentrate on a number of the animal models of memory problems that have been mentioned in this review article because dementia has numerous etiologies. Serious neurological impairment and neuronal death are the main features of neurodegenerative illnesses, which are also extremely crippling ailments. The most prevalent neurodegenerative disorders are followed by those primary nucleation pathways responsible for cognitive impairment and dementia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aditya Singh
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Integral University, Lucknow, India
| | | | | | | | - Farogh Ahsan
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Integral University, Lucknow, India
| | - Kuldeep Singh
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Integral University, Lucknow, India
| | - Rufaida Wasim
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Integral University, Lucknow, India
| | | | - Asad Ahmad
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Integral University, Lucknow, India
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Yan Y, Ran X, Wang D, Zhang X, Peng M, Yan X, Tang L, Liang H, Qin X, Di YT, Luo R, Hao XJ, Yao YG. Munronin V with 7/7/6 tricarbocyclic framework from Munronia henryi harms inhibits tau pathology by activating autophagy. Org Biomol Chem 2023; 21:514-519. [PMID: 36594355 DOI: 10.1039/d2ob01965e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Munronin V (1), isolated from Munronia henryi Harms, is the first example, to the best of our knowledge, of an unprecedented 7/7/6 tricarbocyclic framework featuring an unusual A,B-seco-limonoid ring. The structures of munronin V were established from extensive spectroscopic and electronic circular dichroism (ECD) analyses. The novel A,B-seco with two seven-membered lactones was formed as a result of Baeyer-Villiger oxidation. Compound 1 activated autophagy and inhibited Tau pathology as revealed by flow cytometric analyses, confocal imaging analysis and western blotting, and this effect was mediated by transcription factor EB (TFEB). These findings suggested that 1 might have potential as a compound for combating Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Functions and Applications of Medicinal Plants & College of Pharmacy, Guizhou Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center for Chemical Drug R&D, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550014, China
| | - Xiaoqian Ran
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of the Chinese Academy of Sciences & Yunnan Province, KIZ-CUHK Joint Laboratory of Bioresources and Molecular Research in Common Diseases, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650204, China. .,Kunming College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650204, China
| | - Dan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Functions and Applications of Medicinal Plants & College of Pharmacy, Guizhou Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center for Chemical Drug R&D, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550014, China
| | - Xiong Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Functions and Applications of Medicinal Plants & College of Pharmacy, Guizhou Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center for Chemical Drug R&D, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550014, China
| | - Mingyou Peng
- State Key Laboratory of Functions and Applications of Medicinal Plants & College of Pharmacy, Guizhou Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center for Chemical Drug R&D, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550014, China
| | - Xiaoyan Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Functions and Applications of Medicinal Plants & College of Pharmacy, Guizhou Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center for Chemical Drug R&D, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550014, China
| | - Lei Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Functions and Applications of Medicinal Plants & College of Pharmacy, Guizhou Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center for Chemical Drug R&D, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550014, China
| | - Hong Liang
- State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650201, China.
| | - Xujie Qin
- State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650201, China.
| | - Ying-Tong Di
- State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650201, China.
| | - Rongcan Luo
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of the Chinese Academy of Sciences & Yunnan Province, KIZ-CUHK Joint Laboratory of Bioresources and Molecular Research in Common Diseases, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650204, China. .,Kunming College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650204, China
| | - Xiao-Jiang Hao
- State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650201, China.
| | - Yong-Gang Yao
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of the Chinese Academy of Sciences & Yunnan Province, KIZ-CUHK Joint Laboratory of Bioresources and Molecular Research in Common Diseases, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650204, China. .,Kunming College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650204, China.,CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
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15
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Gao S, Wang Y, Ma T, Zhang J. The Late Stage of Abnormal Aging: Dementia. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2023; 1419:157-167. [PMID: 37418213 DOI: 10.1007/978-981-99-1627-6_12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/08/2023]
Abstract
With the growth of the aging population, more age-related diseases endanger the health of the elderly, and therefore more research attention has been put on Alzheimer's disease and dementia. Dementia does not only posing a serious threat to basic daily living in old age but also impose a greater burden on social and medical care as well as the economy. It is urgent to explore the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease and develop effective medicine to prevent or mitigate its onset. Currently, many related mechanisms of the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease have been proposed, such as beta-amyloid (A) theory, Tau protein theory, and nerve and blood vessel theory. In addition, from the perspective of improving cognitive function and controlling mental state, dementia-related therapeutic drugs were developed, such as anti-amyloid agents, amyloid vaccine, tau vaccine, and tau-aggregation inhibitor. These theories of pathogenesis and the development of drugs provide valuable experience to lift the veil of cognitive disorders in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shudan Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Faculty of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Aging Brain Rejuvenation Initiative (BABRI) Centre, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
- School of Psychology, Shandong Normal University, Jinan, China
| | - Yun Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Faculty of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Aging Brain Rejuvenation Initiative (BABRI) Centre, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Tao Ma
- Dongfang Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Junying Zhang
- Beijing Aging Brain Rejuvenation Initiative (BABRI) Centre, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
- Institute of Basic Research in Clinical Medicine, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
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16
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Dai CL, Liu F, Iqbal K, Gong CX. Gut Microbiota and Immunotherapy for Alzheimer's Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232315230. [PMID: 36499564 PMCID: PMC9741026 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232315230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Revised: 11/29/2022] [Accepted: 12/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that eventually leads to dementia and death of the patient. Currently, no effective treatment is available that can slow or halt the progression of the disease. The gut microbiota can modulate the host immune system in the peripheral and central nervous system through the microbiota-gut-brain axis. Growing evidence indicates that gut microbiota dysbiosis plays an important role in the pathogenesis of AD, and modulation of the gut microbiota may represent a new avenue for treating AD. Immunotherapy targeting Aβ and tau has emerged as the most promising disease-modifying therapy for the treatment of AD. However, the underlying mechanism of AD immunotherapy is not known. Importantly, preclinical and clinical studies have highlighted that the gut microbiota exerts a major influence on the efficacy of cancer immunotherapy. However, the role of the gut microbiota in AD immunotherapy has not been explored. We found that immunotherapy targeting tau can modulate the gut microbiota in an AD mouse model. In this article, we focused on the crosstalk between the gut microbiota, immunity, and AD immunotherapy. We speculate that modulation of the gut microbiota induced by AD immunotherapy may partially underlie the efficacy of the treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Cheng-Xin Gong
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-718-494-5248; Fax: +1-718-698-7916
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17
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Alipour M, Tebianian M, Tofigh N, Taheri RS, Mousavi SA, Naseri A, Ahmadi A, Munawar N, Shahpasand K. Active immunotherapy against pathogenic Cis pT231-tau suppresses neurodegeneration in traumatic brain injury mouse models. Neuropeptides 2022; 96:102285. [PMID: 36087426 DOI: 10.1016/j.npep.2022.102285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Revised: 08/22/2022] [Accepted: 08/25/2022] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
Abstract
Traumatic brain injury (TBI), characterized by acute neurological impairment, is associated with a higher incidence of neurodegenerative diseases, particularly chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), Alzheimer's disease (AD), and Parkinson's disease (PD), whose hallmarks include hyperphosphorylated tau protein. Recently, phosphorylated tau at Thr231 has been shown to exist in two distinct cis and trans conformations. Moreover, targeted elimination of cis P-tau by passive immunotherapy with an appropriate mAb that efficiently suppresses tau-mediated neurodegeneration in severe TBI mouse models has proven to be a useful tool to characterize the neurotoxic role of cis P-tau as an early driver of the tauopathy process after TBI. Here, we investigated whether active immunotherapy can develop sufficient neutralizing antibodies to specifically target and eliminate cis P-tau in the brain of TBI mouse models. First, we explored the therapeutic efficacy of two different vaccines. C57BL/6 J mice were immunized with either cis or trans P-tau conformational peptides plus adjuvant. After rmTBI in mice, we found that cis peptide administration developed a specific Ab that precisely targeted and neutralized cis P-tau, inhibited the development of neuropathology and brain dysfunction, and restored various structural and functional sequelae associated with TBI in chronic phases. In contrast, trans P-tau peptide application not only lacked neuroprotective properties, but also contributed to a number of neuropathological features, including progressive TBI-induced neuroinflammation, widespread tau-mediated neurodegeneration, worsening functional deficits, and brain atrophy. Taken together, our results suggest that active immunotherapy strategies against pathogenic cis P-tau can halt the process of tauopathy and would have profound clinical implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masoume Alipour
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, Tehran, Iran; Faculty of Basic Science and Advanced Medical Technologies, Royan Institute, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
| | - Majid Tebianian
- Biotechnology Department, Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute, Agricultural Research Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Karaj, Iran
| | - Nahid Tofigh
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
| | - Reyhaneh Sadat Taheri
- Department of Motor Behavior, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Allameh Tabataba'i University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Sayed Alireza Mousavi
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Basic Science, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Asal Naseri
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Basic Science, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Amin Ahmadi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Tabriz Medical University, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Nayla Munawar
- Department of Chemistry, United Arab Emirates University, United Arab Emirates
| | - Koorosh Shahpasand
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, Tehran, Iran.
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18
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Hedna R, Kovacic H, Pagano A, Peyrot V, Robin M, Devred F, Breuzard G. Tau Protein as Therapeutic Target for Cancer? Focus on Glioblastoma. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:5386. [PMID: 36358803 PMCID: PMC9653627 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14215386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2022] [Revised: 10/28/2022] [Accepted: 10/28/2022] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite being extensively studied for several decades, the microtubule-associated protein Tau has not finished revealing its secrets. For long, Tau has been known for its ability to promote microtubule assembly. A less known feature of Tau is its capability to bind to cancer-related protein kinases, suggesting a possible role of Tau in modulating microtubule-independent cellular pathways that are associated with oncogenesis. With the intention of finding new therapeutic targets for cancer, it appears essential to examine the interaction of Tau with these kinases and their consequences. This review aims at collecting the literature data supporting the relationship between Tau and cancer with a particular focus on glioblastoma tumors in which the pathological significance of Tau remains largely unexplored. We will first treat this subject from a mechanistic point of view showing the pivotal role of Tau in oncogenic processes. Then, we will discuss the involvement of Tau in dysregulating critical pathways in glioblastoma. Finally, we will outline promising strategies to target Tau protein for the therapy of glioblastoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rayane Hedna
- Faculté des Sciences Médicales et Paramédicales, Institut de Neurophysiopathologie (INP), UMR 7051, CNRS, Aix Marseille Université, 13005 Marseille, France
| | - Hervé Kovacic
- Faculté des Sciences Médicales et Paramédicales, Institut de Neurophysiopathologie (INP), UMR 7051, CNRS, Aix Marseille Université, 13005 Marseille, France
| | - Alessandra Pagano
- Faculté des Sciences Médicales et Paramédicales, Institut de Neurophysiopathologie (INP), UMR 7051, CNRS, Aix Marseille Université, 13005 Marseille, France
| | - Vincent Peyrot
- Faculté des Sciences Médicales et Paramédicales, Institut de Neurophysiopathologie (INP), UMR 7051, CNRS, Aix Marseille Université, 13005 Marseille, France
| | - Maxime Robin
- Faculté de Pharmacie, Institut Méditerranéen de Biodiversité et Ecologie marine et continentale (IMBE), UMR 7263, CNRS, IRD 237, Aix-Marseille Université, 13005 Marseille, France
| | - François Devred
- Faculté des Sciences Médicales et Paramédicales, Institut de Neurophysiopathologie (INP), UMR 7051, CNRS, Aix Marseille Université, 13005 Marseille, France
| | - Gilles Breuzard
- Faculté des Sciences Médicales et Paramédicales, Institut de Neurophysiopathologie (INP), UMR 7051, CNRS, Aix Marseille Université, 13005 Marseille, France
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19
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Immunogenicity of MultiTEP platform technology-based Tau vaccine in non-human primates. NPJ Vaccines 2022; 7:117. [PMID: 36224191 PMCID: PMC9556597 DOI: 10.1038/s41541-022-00544-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2022] [Accepted: 09/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Pathological forms of Tau protein are directly associated with neurodegeneration and correlate with Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) symptoms, progression, and severity. Previously, using various mouse models of Tauopathies and AD, we have demonstrated the immunogenicity and efficacy of the MultiTEP-based adjuvanted vaccine targeting the phosphatase activating domain (PAD) of Tau, AV-1980R/A. Here, we analyzed its immunogenicity in non-human primates (NHP), the closest phylogenic relatives to humans with a similar immune system, to initiate the transition of this vaccine into clinical trials. We have demonstrated that AV-1980R/A is highly immunogenic in these NHPs, activating a broad but unique to each monkey repertoire of MultiTEP-specific T helper (Th) cells that, in turn, activate B cells specific to PAD. The resulting anti-PAD IgG antibodies recognize pathological Tau tangles and Tau-positive neuritis in AD case brain sections with no staining in control non-AD cases. These published data and efficacy results support the AV-1980R/A vaccine progression to first-in-human clinical trials.
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Zheng X, Tang Y, Yang Q, Wang S, Chen R, Tao C, Zhang P, Fan B, Zhan J, Tang C, Lu L. Effectiveness and safety of anti-tau drugs for Alzheimer's disease: Systematic review and meta-analysis. J Am Geriatr Soc 2022; 70:3281-3292. [PMID: 36208415 DOI: 10.1111/jgs.18025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2022] [Revised: 07/29/2022] [Accepted: 08/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To assess the cognitive effectiveness and safety of tau-targeting drugs for Alzheimer's disease (AD) METHODS: The MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Library, PsycINFO, ClinicalTrials.gov, and WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform databases were searched from inception to 22 November 2021. A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials were performed RESULTS: Thirty-four randomized controlled trials comprising 5549 participants, of which fifteen (51.7%) had a low risk of bias, were included. The meta-analysis showed no differences in the cognitive subscale of the AD: Assessment Scale (ADAS-Cog) between anti-tau drugs and placebo (mean difference [MD]: -0.77, 95% CI: -1.64 to 0.10; minimal important difference 3.1-3.8 points, moderate certainty evidence). For ADAS-Cog, the results subgroup analysis suggested a statistical effect of tau posttranslational modifications on drug inhibition (MD: -0.80, 95% CI: -1.43 to -0.17), which was not seen with tau aggregation inhibitors or immunotherapy (interaction p = 0.24). A total of 11.0%, 5.2%, and 4.8% of drugs inhibiting tau aggregation, immunotherapy, and drugs targeting posttranslational modifications, respectively, had a reduced risk of dropouts due to adverse events (AEs). DISCUSSION Current evidence suggests that anti-tau drugs are unlikely to have an important impact on slowing cognitive impairment. Although the subgroup analysis suggested that inhibition of tau posttranslational modifications is statistically effective and generally safer because of reduced dropouts due to AEs, the analysis has limited credibility. Additional large-scale and well-designed randomized and placebo-controlled trials will be necessary to explore the benefit of a certain type of anti-tau drug for AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyan Zheng
- School of Rehabilitation Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yuyuan Tang
- Clinical Research and Big Data Laboratory, South China Research Center for Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Medical College of Acu-Moxi and Rehabilitation, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Qinghui Yang
- Clinical Research and Big Data Laboratory, South China Research Center for Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Medical College of Acu-Moxi and Rehabilitation, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shuting Wang
- Clinical Research and Big Data Laboratory, South China Research Center for Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Medical College of Acu-Moxi and Rehabilitation, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Rouhao Chen
- Clinical Research and Big Data Laboratory, South China Research Center for Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Medical College of Acu-Moxi and Rehabilitation, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Chenyang Tao
- Clinical Research and Big Data Laboratory, South China Research Center for Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Medical College of Acu-Moxi and Rehabilitation, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Peiming Zhang
- Clinical Research and Big Data Laboratory, South China Research Center for Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Medical College of Acu-Moxi and Rehabilitation, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Baochao Fan
- Clinical Research and Big Data Laboratory, South China Research Center for Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Medical College of Acu-Moxi and Rehabilitation, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jie Zhan
- Postdoctoral Research Station, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Chunzhi Tang
- Clinical Research and Big Data Laboratory, South China Research Center for Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Medical College of Acu-Moxi and Rehabilitation, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Liming Lu
- Clinical Research and Big Data Laboratory, South China Research Center for Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Medical College of Acu-Moxi and Rehabilitation, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
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21
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La Barbera L, Mauri E, D’Amelio M, Gori M. Functionalization strategies of polymeric nanoparticles for drug delivery in Alzheimer’s disease: Current trends and future perspectives. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:939855. [PMID: 35992936 PMCID: PMC9387393 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.939855] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2022] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer’s disease (AD), the most common form of dementia, is a progressive and multifactorial neurodegenerative disorder whose primary causes are mostly unknown. Due to the increase in life expectancy of world population, including developing countries, AD, whose incidence rises dramatically with age, is at the forefront among neurodegenerative diseases. Moreover, a definitive cure is not yet within reach, imposing substantial medical and public health burdens at every latitude. Therefore, the effort to devise novel and effective therapeutic strategies is still of paramount importance. Genetic, functional, structural and biochemical studies all indicate that new and efficacious drug delivery strategies interfere at different levels with various cellular and molecular targets. Over the last few decades, therapeutic development of nanomedicine at preclinical stage has shown to progress at a fast pace, thus paving the way for its potential impact on human health in improving prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of age-related neurodegenerative disorders, including AD. Clinical translation of nano-based therapeutics, despite current limitations, may present important advantages and innovation to be exploited in the neuroscience field as well. In this state-of-the-art review article, we present the most promising applications of polymeric nanoparticle-mediated drug delivery for bypassing the blood-brain barrier of AD preclinical models and boost pharmacological safety and efficacy. In particular, novel strategic chemical functionalization of polymeric nanocarriers that could be successfully employed for treating AD are thoroughly described. Emphasis is also placed on nanotheranostics as both potential therapeutic and diagnostic tool for targeted treatments. Our review highlights the emerging role of nanomedicine in the management of AD, providing the readers with an overview of the nanostrategies currently available to develop future therapeutic applications against this chronic neurodegenerative disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Livia La Barbera
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Rome, Italy
- Santa Lucia Foundation, IRCSS, Rome, Italy
| | - Emanuele Mauri
- Department of Engineering, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Rome, Italy
| | - Marcello D’Amelio
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Rome, Italy
- Santa Lucia Foundation, IRCSS, Rome, Italy
| | - Manuele Gori
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Rome, Italy
- Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology (IBBC) - National Research Council (CNR), Rome, Italy
- *Correspondence: Manuele Gori,
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22
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Zhu Y, Afolabi LO, Wan X, Shim JS, Chen L. TRIM family proteins: roles in proteostasis and neurodegenerative diseases. Open Biol 2022; 12:220098. [PMID: 35946309 PMCID: PMC9364147 DOI: 10.1098/rsob.220098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) are a diverse group of disorders characterized by the progressive degeneration of the structure and function of the central or peripheral nervous systems. One of the major features of NDs, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD) and Huntington's disease (HD), is the aggregation of specific misfolded proteins, which induces cellular dysfunction, neuronal death, loss of synaptic connections and eventually brain damage. By far, a great amount of evidence has suggested that TRIM family proteins play crucial roles in the turnover of normal regulatory and misfolded proteins. To maintain cellular protein quality control, cells rely on two major classes of proteostasis: molecular chaperones and the degradative systems, the latter includes the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) and autophagy; and their dysfunction has been established to result in various physiological disorders including NDs. Emerging evidence has shown that TRIM proteins are key players in facilitating the clearance of misfolded protein aggregates associated with neurodegenerative disorders. Understanding the different pathways these TRIM proteins employ during episodes of neurodegenerative disorder represents a promising therapeutic target. In this review, we elucidated and summarized the diverse roles with underlying mechanisms of members of the TRIM family proteins in NDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Zhu
- Shenzhen Laboratory of Tumor Cell Biology, Institute of Biomedicine and Biotechnology, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, People's Republic of China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100864, People's Republic of China
| | - Lukman O Afolabi
- Shenzhen Laboratory of Tumor Cell Biology, Institute of Biomedicine and Biotechnology, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, People's Republic of China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100864, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaochun Wan
- Shenzhen Laboratory of Tumor Cell Biology, Institute of Biomedicine and Biotechnology, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, People's Republic of China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100864, People's Republic of China
| | - Joong Sup Shim
- Cancer Centre, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Avenida da Universidade, Taipa, Macau, People's Republic of China
| | - Liang Chen
- Shenzhen Laboratory of Tumor Cell Biology, Institute of Biomedicine and Biotechnology, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, People's Republic of China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100864, People's Republic of China
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23
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Nakhjiri E, Roqanian S, Zangbar HS, Seyedi Vafaee M, Mohammadnejad D, Ahmadian S, Zamanzadeh S, Ehsani E, Shahabi P, Shahpasand K. Spinal Cord Injury Causes Prominent Tau Pathology Associated with Brain Post-Injury Sequela. Mol Neurobiol 2022; 59:4197-4208. [PMID: 35501632 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-022-02843-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2022] [Accepted: 04/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Spinal cord injury (SCI) can result in significant neurological impairment and functional and cognitive deficits. It is well established that SCI results in focal neurodegeneration that gradually spreads to other cord areas. On the other hand, traumatic brain injury (TBI) is strongly associated with tau protein pathology and neurodegeneration that can spread in areas throughout the brain. Tau is a microtubule-associated protein abundant in neurons and whose abnormalities result in neuronal cell death. While SCI and TBI have been extensively studied, there is limited research on the relationship between SCI and brain tau pathology. As a result, in this study, we examined tau pathology in spinal cord and brain samples obtained from severe SCI mouse models at various time points. The effects of severe SCI on locomotor function, spatial memory, anxiety/risk-taking behavior were investigated. Immunostaining and immunoblotting confirmed a progressive increase in tau pathology in the spinal cord and brain areas. Moreover, we used electron microscopy to examine brain samples and observed disrupted mitochondria and microtubule structure following SCI. SCI resulted in motor dysfunction, memory impairment, and abnormal risk-taking behavior. Notably, eliminating pathogenic cis P-tau via systemic administration of appropriate monoclonal antibodies restored SCI's pathological and functional consequences. Thus, our findings suggest that SCI causes severe tauopathy that spreads to brain areas, indicating brain dysfunction. Additionally, tau immunotherapy with an anti-cis P-tau antibody could suppress pathogenic outcomes in SCI mouse models, with significant clinical implications for SCI patients. SCI induces profound pathogenic cis p-tau, which diffuses into the brain through CSF, resulting in brain neurodegeneration and cognitive decline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elnaz Nakhjiri
- Neurosciences Research Center (NSRC), Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Shaqayeq Roqanian
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hamid Soltani Zangbar
- Department of Neuroscience and Cognition, Faculty of Advanced Medical Sciences, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | | | | | - Shahin Ahmadian
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Selva Zamanzadeh
- Department of Biological Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ehsan Ehsani
- Department of Biology, Roudehen Islamic Azad University, Roudehen, Iran
| | - Parviz Shahabi
- Drug Applied Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
| | - Koorosh Shahpasand
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, Tehran, Iran.
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24
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Blomgren F, Rodin A, Chrobak W, Pacut DW, Swenson J, Ermilova I. Two statins and cromolyn as possible drugs against the cytotoxicity of Aβ(31-35) and Aβ(25-35) peptides: a comparative study by advanced computer simulation methods. RSC Adv 2022; 12:13352-13366. [PMID: 35520132 PMCID: PMC9066867 DOI: 10.1039/d2ra01963a] [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: 03/26/2022] [Accepted: 04/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
In this work, possible effective mechanisms of cromolyn, atorvastatin and lovastatin on the cytotoxicity of Aβ(31-35) and Aβ(25-35) peptides were investigated by classical molecular dynamics and well-tempered metadynamics simulations. The results demonstrate that all the drugs affect the behavior of the peptides, such as their ability to aggregate, and alter their secondary structures and their affinity to a particular drug. Our findings from the computed properties suggest that the best drug candidate is lovastatin. This medicine inhibits peptide aggregation, adsorbs the peptides on the surface of the drug clusters, changes the secondary structure and binds to MET35, which has been seen as the reason for the toxicity of the studied peptide sequences. Moreover, lovastatin is the drug which previously has demonstrated the strongest ability to penetrate the blood-brain barrier and makes lovastatin the most promising medicine among the three investigated drugs. Atorvastatin is also seen as a potential candidate if its penetration through the blood-brain barrier could be improved. Otherwise, its properties are even better than the ones demonstrated by lovastatin. Cromolyn appears to be less interesting as an anti-aggregant from the computational data, in comparison to the two statins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fredrik Blomgren
- Department of Physics, Chalmers University of Technology Fysikgränd 4 Göteborg 41258 Sweden +46-728487773
| | - Alexander Rodin
- Department of Physics, Chalmers University of Technology Fysikgränd 4 Göteborg 41258 Sweden +46-728487773
| | - Wojciech Chrobak
- Department of Physics, Chalmers University of Technology Fysikgränd 4 Göteborg 41258 Sweden +46-728487773
| | - Dawid Wojciech Pacut
- Department of Physics, Chalmers University of Technology Fysikgränd 4 Göteborg 41258 Sweden +46-728487773
| | - Jan Swenson
- Department of Physics, Chalmers University of Technology Fysikgränd 4 Göteborg 41258 Sweden +46-728487773
| | - Inna Ermilova
- Department of Physics, Chalmers University of Technology Fysikgränd 4 Göteborg 41258 Sweden +46-728487773
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25
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Riley KJ, Graner BD, Veronesi MC. The tauopathies: Neuroimaging characteristics and emerging experimental therapies. J Neuroimaging 2022; 32:565-581. [PMID: 35470528 PMCID: PMC9545715 DOI: 10.1111/jon.13001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2022] [Revised: 03/10/2022] [Accepted: 03/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The tauopathies are a heterogeneous group of neurodegenerative disorders in which the prevailing underlying disease process is intracellular deposition of abnormal misfolded tau protein. Diseases often categorized as tauopathies include progressive supranuclear palsy, chronic traumatic encephalopathy, corticobasal degeneration, and frontotemporal lobar degeneration. Tauopathies can be classified through clinical assessment, imaging findings, histologic validation, or molecular biomarkers tied to the underlying disease mechanism. Many tauopathies vary in their clinical presentation and overlap substantially in presentation, making clinical diagnosis of a specific primary tauopathy difficult. Anatomic imaging findings are also rarely specific to a single tauopathy, and when present may not manifest until well after the point at which therapy may be most impactful. Molecular biomarkers hold the most promise for patient care and form a platform upon which emerging diagnostic and therapeutic applications could be developed. One of the most exciting developments utilizing these molecular biomarkers for assessment of tau deposition within the brain is tau‐PET imaging utilizing novel ligands that specifically target tau protein. This review will discuss the background, significance, and clinical presentation of each tauopathy with additional attention to the pathologic mechanisms at the protein level. The imaging characteristics will be outlined with select examples of emerging imaging techniques. Finally, current treatment options and emerging therapies will be discussed. This is by no means a comprehensive review of the literature but is instead intended for the practicing radiologist as an overview of a rapidly evolving topic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kalen J Riley
- Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Brian D Graner
- Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Michael C Veronesi
- Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
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26
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Abstract
Alzheimer disease (AD) and dementia are becoming increasingly prevalent due to the aging of the global populations. Currently available treatment options, including acetylcholinesterase inhibitors and memantine, only have symptomatic effects and no drugs with disease-modifying properties are available. Research on the amyloid cascade indicates that amyloid-β (Aβ) clearance from the brain may be the main pathophysiological change in late-onset AD and the key driver of neurodegeneration, which ultimately results in progressive cognitive deterioration and dementia. Most new AD drug candidates target different aspects of Aβ clearance, eg, using passive anti-Aβ immunization, but so far, all efforts to develop more effective drugs have failed. In parallel, nonpharmacological prevention trials are being conducted to modify dementia risk associated with known epidemiological risk factors. Some initial results are promising, but replication across independent cohorts remains a challenge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert Perneczky
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany; German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) Munich, Munich, Germany; Neuroepidemiology and Ageing Research Unit, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, UK
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27
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Li Q, Wu Y, Chen J, Xuan A, Wang X. Microglia and immunotherapy in Alzheimer's disease. Acta Neurol Scand 2022; 145:273-278. [PMID: 34779509 DOI: 10.1111/ane.13551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2021] [Revised: 10/21/2021] [Accepted: 10/31/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Microglia are a type of glial cells that play a key role in the repair of damage to the central nervous system (CNS). In the pathological condition of Alzheimer's disease (AD), β-amyloid peptide and a variety of pro-inflammatory factors can activate microglia, resulting in the secretion of a variety of inflammatory factors and neurotoxins. This leads to neuronal damage and even apoptosis, thus triggering AD. In contrast, microglia can protect the CNS by phagocytizing Aβ to slow down AD development. In this review, the roles of microglia in AD neuroinflammation and the scope of immunotherapy for AD are summarized to provide a theoretical basis for AD prevention and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingqing Li
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology Guangzhou Medical University Guangzhou 510260 China
| | - Yingying Wu
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology Guangzhou Medical University Guangzhou 510260 China
| | - Jichun Chen
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology Guangzhou Medical University Guangzhou 510260 China
| | - Aiguo Xuan
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology Guangzhou Medical University Guangzhou 510260 China
| | - Xiao Wang
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology Guangzhou Medical University Guangzhou 510260 China
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28
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Xi Y, Chen Y, Jin Y, Han G, Song M, Song T, Shi Y, Tao L, Huang Z, Zhou J, Ding Y, Zhang H. Versatile nanomaterials for Alzheimer's disease: Pathogenesis inspired disease-modifying therapy. J Control Release 2022; 345:38-61. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2022.02.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2021] [Revised: 02/25/2022] [Accepted: 02/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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29
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Freyssin A, Rioux Bilan A, Fauconneau B, Galineau L, Serrière S, Tauber C, Perrin F, Guillard J, Chalon S, Page G. Trans ε-Viniferin Decreases Amyloid Deposits With Greater Efficiency Than Resveratrol in an Alzheimer's Mouse Model. Front Neurosci 2022; 15:803927. [PMID: 35069106 PMCID: PMC8770934 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.803927] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2021] [Accepted: 12/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
In a previous study, we showed that viniferin decreased amyloid deposits and reduced neuroinflammation in APPswePS1dE9 transgenic mice between 3 and 6 months of age. In the present study, wild type and APPswePS1dE9 transgenic mice were treated from 7 to 11 or from 3 to 12 months by a weekly intraperitoneal injection of either 20 mg/kg viniferin or resveratrol or their vehicle, the polyethylene glycol 200 (PEG 200). The cognitive status of the mice was evaluated by the Morris water maze test. Then, amyloid burden and neuroinflammation were quantified by western-blot, Enzyme-Linked ImmunoSorbent Assay (ELISA), immunofluorescence, and in vivo micro-Positon Emission Tomography (PET) imaging. Viniferin decreased hippocampal amyloid load and deposits with greater efficiency than resveratrol, and both treatments partially prevented the cognitive decline. Furthermore, a significant decrease in brain uptake of the TSPO PET tracer [18F]DPA-714 was observed with viniferin compared to resveratrol. Expression of GFAP, IBA1, and IL-1β were decreased by viniferin but PEG 200, which was very recently shown to be a neuroinflammatory inducer, masked the neuroprotective power of viniferin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aline Freyssin
- EA3808 Neurovascular Unit and Cognitive Disorders, University of Poitiers, Poitiers, France
| | - Agnès Rioux Bilan
- EA3808 Neurovascular Unit and Cognitive Disorders, University of Poitiers, Poitiers, France
| | - Bernard Fauconneau
- EA3808 Neurovascular Unit and Cognitive Disorders, University of Poitiers, Poitiers, France
| | - Laurent Galineau
- UMR 1253, iBrain, Inserm, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Tours, Tours, France
| | - Sophie Serrière
- UMR 1253, iBrain, Inserm, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Tours, Tours, France
| | - Clovis Tauber
- UMR 1253, iBrain, Inserm, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Tours, Tours, France
| | - Flavie Perrin
- UMR CNRS 7285 IC2MP, Team 5 Organic Synthesis, University of Poitiers, Poitiers, France
| | - Jérôme Guillard
- UMR CNRS 7285 IC2MP, Team 5 Organic Synthesis, University of Poitiers, Poitiers, France
| | - Sylvie Chalon
- UMR 1253, iBrain, Inserm, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Tours, Tours, France
| | - Guylène Page
- EA3808 Neurovascular Unit and Cognitive Disorders, University of Poitiers, Poitiers, France
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30
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Bian Y, Chen Y, Wang X, Cui G, Ung COL, Lu JH, Cong W, Tang B, Lee SMY. Oxyphylla A ameliorates cognitive deficits and alleviates neuropathology via the Akt-GSK3β and Nrf2-Keap1-HO-1 pathways in vitro and in vivo murine models of Alzheimer's disease. J Adv Res 2022; 34:1-12. [PMID: 35024177 PMCID: PMC8655137 DOI: 10.1016/j.jare.2021.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2021] [Revised: 08/09/2021] [Accepted: 09/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive brain disorder, and one of the most common causes of dementia and amnesia. Due to the complex pathogenesis of AD, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Although scientists have made increasing efforts to develop drugs for AD, no effective therapeutic agents have been found. Objectives Natural products and their constituents have shown promise for treating neurodegenerative diseases, including AD. Thus, in-depth study of medical plants, and the main active ingredients thereof against AD, is necessary to devise therapeutic agents. Methods In this study, N2a/APP cells and SAMP8 mice were employed as in vitro and in vivo models of AD. Multiple molecular biological methods were used to investigate the potential therapeutic actions of oxyphylla A, and the underlying mechanisms. Results Results showed that oxyphylla A, a novel compound extracted from Alpinia oxyphylla, could reduce the expression levels of amyloid precursor protein (APP) and amyloid beta (Aβ) proteins, and attenuate cognitive decline in SAMP8 mice. Further investigation of the underlying mechanisms showed that oxyphylla A exerted an antioxidative effect through the Akt-GSK3β and Nrf2-Keap1-HO-1 pathways. Conclusions. Taken together, our results suggest a new horizon for the discovery of therapeutic agents for AD.
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Key Words
- AD, Alzheimer’s disease
- AOE, ethanolic extract of Alpinia oxyphylla
- APP, amyloid precursor protein
- ARE, antioxidant response element
- ARE, antioxidant responsive element
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Amyloid beta proteins
- Aβ, amyloid beta
- GSK3, glycogen synthase kinase 3
- HO-1, heme oxygenase-1
- Keap1, Keleh-like ECH-associated protein
- MWM, Morris Water Maze
- NFTs, neurofibrillary tangles
- NQO1, NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase1
- Nrf2, erythroid-derived 2-related factor 2
- Oxidative stress
- PD, Parkinson’s disease
- PHF, paired helical filaments
- RLU, relative luciferase units
- ROS, reactive oxygen species
- SAMP8
- SAMP8 mice, senescence-accelerated mouse prone 8
- oxyphylla A
- pRL-TK, Renilla luciferase reporter plasmid
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaqi Bian
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macao, China.,Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Macao, China
| | - Yan Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macao, China.,Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Macao, China
| | - Xiufen Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macao, China.,Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Macao, China
| | - Guozhen Cui
- Department of Bioengineering, Zhuhai Campus of Zunyi Medical University, Zhuhai, China
| | - Carolina Oi Lam Ung
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macao, China.,Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Macao, China
| | - Jia-Hong Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macao, China.,Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Macao, China
| | - Weihong Cong
- Laboratory of Cardiovascular Diseases, Xiyuan Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Benqin Tang
- Department of Medical Science, Shunde Polytechnic, Foshan, China
| | - Simon Ming-Yuen Lee
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macao, China.,Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Macao, China
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31
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Spencer B, Rissman RA, Overk C, Masliah E. Novel Brain-Penetrating Single Chain Antibodies Directed Against 3RTau for the Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias. Methods Mol Biol 2022; 2383:447-457. [PMID: 34766306 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-1752-6_28] [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] [Indexed: 02/23/2024]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD), Pick's disease, fronto-temporal lobar degeneration, cortico-basal degeneration, and primary age related tauopathy are examples of neurodegenerative disorders with tau accumulation and jointly referred as "tauopathies." The mechanisms through which tau leads to neurodegeneration are not fully understood but include conversion into toxic oligomers and protofibrils, cell-to-cell propagation, post-transcriptional modifications and as a mediator of cell death signals among others. Potential therapeutics includes reducing tau synthesis (e.g., anti-sense); targeting selective tau species and aggregates or blocking cell-to-cell transmission (e.g., antibodies) or by promoting clearance of tau (e.g., autophagy activators). Among them, immunotherapy is currently one of the approaches most actively explored including active, passive, and cellular. A potential problem with immunotherapy has been the trafficking of the antibodies into the CNS. In this chapter, we describe a method for the production and testing of viral vector driven, brain-penetrating, single chain antibodies that specifically recognize 3RTau. These single chain antibodies are modified by the addition of a fragment of the apoB protein to facilitate trafficking into the brain, once in the CNS these antibody fragments recognize tau with potential value for the treatment of AD and related dementias.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian Spencer
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Robert A Rissman
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Cassia Overk
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Eliezer Masliah
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
- Department of Pathology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
- Molecular Neuropathology Section, Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
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32
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Zhang P, Wang Z, Mou C, Zou J, Xie Y, Liu Z, Benjamin Naman C, Mao Y, Wei J, Huang X, Dong J, Yang M, Wang N, Jin H, Liu F, Lin D, Liu H, Zhou F, He S, Zhang B, Cui W. Design and synthesis of novel tacrine-dipicolylamine dimers that are multiple-target-directed ligands with potential to treat Alzheimer's disease. Bioorg Chem 2021; 116:105387. [PMID: 34628225 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2021.105387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2021] [Revised: 08/30/2021] [Accepted: 09/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a prevalent neurodegenerative disorder that has multiple causes. Therefore, multiple-target-directed ligands (MTDLs), which act on multiple targets, have been developed as a novel strategy for AD therapy. In this study, novel drug candidates were designed and synthesized by the covalent linkings of tacrine, a previously used anti-AD acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitor, and dipicolylamine, an β-amyloid (Aβ) aggregation inhibitor. Most tacrine-dipicolylamine dimers potently inhibited AChE and Aβ1-42 aggregation in vitro, and 13a exhibited nanomolar level inhibition. Molecular docking analysis suggested that 13a could interact with the catalytic active sites and the peripheral anion site of AChE, and bind to Aβ1-42 pentamers. Moreover, 13a effectively attenuated Aβ1-42 oligomers-induced cognitive dysfunction in mice by activating the cAMP-response element binding protein/brain-derived neurotrophic factor signaling pathway, decreasing tau phosphorylation, preventing synaptic toxicity, and inhibiting neuroinflammation. The safety profile of 13a in mice was demonstrated by acute toxicity experiments. All these results suggested that novel tacrine-dipicolylamine dimers, especially 13a, have multi-target neuroprotective and cognitive-enhancing potentials, and therefore might be developed as MTDLs to combat AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Panpan Zhang
- Translational Medicine Center of Pain, Emotion and Cognition, Ningbo Key Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroscience, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China
| | - Ze Wang
- Li Dak Sum Yip Yio Chin Kenneth Li Marine Biopharmaceutical Research Center, School of Food and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China
| | - Chenye Mou
- Translational Medicine Center of Pain, Emotion and Cognition, Ningbo Key Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroscience, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China
| | - Jiamei Zou
- Li Dak Sum Yip Yio Chin Kenneth Li Marine Biopharmaceutical Research Center, School of Food and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China
| | - Yanfei Xie
- Translational Medicine Center of Pain, Emotion and Cognition, Ningbo Key Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroscience, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China
| | - Zhiwen Liu
- Li Dak Sum Yip Yio Chin Kenneth Li Marine Biopharmaceutical Research Center, School of Food and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China
| | - C Benjamin Naman
- Li Dak Sum Yip Yio Chin Kenneth Li Marine Biopharmaceutical Research Center, School of Food and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China.
| | - Yuechun Mao
- Translational Medicine Center of Pain, Emotion and Cognition, Ningbo Key Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroscience, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China
| | - Jiaxin Wei
- Translational Medicine Center of Pain, Emotion and Cognition, Ningbo Key Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroscience, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China; Li Dak Sum Yip Yio Chin Kenneth Li Marine Biopharmaceutical Research Center, School of Food and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China
| | - Xinghan Huang
- Translational Medicine Center of Pain, Emotion and Cognition, Ningbo Key Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroscience, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China
| | - Jiahui Dong
- Translational Medicine Center of Pain, Emotion and Cognition, Ningbo Key Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroscience, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China
| | - Mengxiang Yang
- Translational Medicine Center of Pain, Emotion and Cognition, Ningbo Key Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroscience, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China
| | - Ning Wang
- Institute of Drug Discovery Technology, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China.
| | - Haixiao Jin
- Li Dak Sum Yip Yio Chin Kenneth Li Marine Biopharmaceutical Research Center, School of Food and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China.
| | - Fufeng Liu
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Fermentation Microbiology of Education, State Key Laboratory of Food Nutrition and Safety, College of Biotechnology, Tianjin University of Science & Technology, Tianjin 300457, China.
| | - Dongdong Lin
- Department of Microelectronic Science and Engineering, School of Physical Science and Technology, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China.
| | - Hao Liu
- Translational Medicine Center of Pain, Emotion and Cognition, Ningbo Key Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroscience, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China.
| | - Fei Zhou
- Translational Medicine Center of Pain, Emotion and Cognition, Ningbo Key Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroscience, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China.
| | - Shan He
- Li Dak Sum Yip Yio Chin Kenneth Li Marine Biopharmaceutical Research Center, School of Food and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China.
| | - Bin Zhang
- Li Dak Sum Yip Yio Chin Kenneth Li Marine Biopharmaceutical Research Center, School of Food and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China.
| | - Wei Cui
- Translational Medicine Center of Pain, Emotion and Cognition, Ningbo Key Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroscience, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China.
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Singh A, Allen D, Fracassi A, Tumurbaatar B, Natarajan C, Scaduto P, Woltjer R, Kayed R, Limon A, Krishnan B, Taglialatela G. Functional Integrity of Synapses in the Central Nervous System of Cognitively Intact Individuals with High Alzheimer's Disease Neuropathology Is Associated with Absence of Synaptic Tau Oligomers. J Alzheimers Dis 2021; 78:1661-1678. [PMID: 33185603 PMCID: PMC7836055 DOI: 10.3233/jad-200716] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Certain individuals, here referred to as Non-Demented with Alzheimer Neuropathology (NDAN), do not show overt neurodegeneration (N-) and remain cognitively intact despite the presence of plaques (A+) and tangles (T+) that would normally be consistent with fully symptomatic Alzheimer's disease (AD). OBJECTIVE The existence of NDAN (A + T+N-) subjects suggests that the human brain utilizes intrinsic mechanisms that can naturally evade cognitive decline normally associated with the symptomatic stages of AD (A + T+N+). Deciphering the underlying mechanisms would prove relevant to develop complementing therapeutics to prevent progression of AD-related cognitive decline. METHODS Previously, we have reported that NDAN present with preserved neurogenesis and synaptic integrity paralleled by absence of amyloid oligomers at synapses. Using postmortem brain samples from age-matched control subjects, demented AD patients and NDAN individuals, we performed immunofluorescence, western blots, micro transplantation of synaptic membranes in Xenopus oocytes followed by twin electrode voltage clamp electrophysiology and fluorescence assisted single synaptosome-long term potentiation studies. RESULTS We report decreased tau oligomers at synapses in the brains of NDAN subjects. Furthermore, using novel approaches we report, for the first time, that such absence of tau oligomers at synapses is associated with synaptic functional integrity in NDAN subjects as compared to demented AD patients. CONCLUSION Overall, these results give further credence to tau oligomers as primary actors of synaptic destruction underscoring cognitive demise in AD and support their targeting as a viable therapeutic strategy for AD and related tauopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayush Singh
- Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Department of Neurology, UTMB Galveston, TX, USA
| | - Dyron Allen
- Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Department of Neurology, UTMB Galveston, TX, USA
| | - Anna Fracassi
- Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Department of Neurology, UTMB Galveston, TX, USA
| | - Batbayar Tumurbaatar
- Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Department of Neurology, UTMB Galveston, TX, USA
| | - Chandramouli Natarajan
- Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Department of Neurology, UTMB Galveston, TX, USA
| | - Pietro Scaduto
- Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Department of Neurology, UTMB Galveston, TX, USA
| | - Randy Woltjer
- Department of Pathology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Rakez Kayed
- Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Department of Neurology, UTMB Galveston, TX, USA
| | - Agenor Limon
- Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Department of Neurology, UTMB Galveston, TX, USA
| | - Balaji Krishnan
- Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Department of Neurology, UTMB Galveston, TX, USA,Correspondence to: Giulio Taglialatela, PhD, Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Department of Neurology, UTMB Galveston, TX, USA. Tel.: +1 409 772 1679; Fax: +1 409 772 0015; E-mail: . and Balaji Krishnan, PhD, Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Department of Neurology, UTMB Galveston, TX, USA. Tel.: +1 409 772 8069; Fax: +1 409 772 0015; E-mail:
| | - Giulio Taglialatela
- Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Department of Neurology, UTMB Galveston, TX, USA,Correspondence to: Giulio Taglialatela, PhD, Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Department of Neurology, UTMB Galveston, TX, USA. Tel.: +1 409 772 1679; Fax: +1 409 772 0015; E-mail: . and Balaji Krishnan, PhD, Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Department of Neurology, UTMB Galveston, TX, USA. Tel.: +1 409 772 8069; Fax: +1 409 772 0015; E-mail:
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Gupta GL, Samant NP. Current druggable targets for therapeutic control of Alzheimer's disease. Contemp Clin Trials 2021; 109:106549. [PMID: 34464763 DOI: 10.1016/j.cct.2021.106549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2020] [Revised: 08/25/2021] [Accepted: 08/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative brain disorder that has an increasingly large burden on health and social care systems. The pathophysiology involves the accumulation of extracellular amyloid-beta plaques (Aβ) and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles contributing to neuronal death and leading to cognition impairment. However, its cause remains poorly understood, and there is no cure for AD despite extensive research and billions of dollars spent over decades. Currently, there are only four US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved drugs and one combination therapy available in the market for the symptomatic relief of AD. Since 2003, no new drug has been approved by the FDA for the treatment of AD. Researchers continue to explore new treatments and therapeutic strategies to treat AD. The need for novel discoveries on therapeutic targets and the development of new therapeutic approaches is imminent when considering the current expectations regarding the increased number of AD cases each year and the huge financial cost amounted to healthcare. This review focused on the current status of drugs in the clinical pipeline targeting β-amyloid, tau phosphorylation, or neurotransmitter dysfunction for therapeutic control of Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Girdhari Lal Gupta
- School of Pharmacy & Technology Management, SVKM'S NMIMS, Shirpur Campus, Shirpur 425 405, Maharashtra, India; Shobhaben Pratapbhai Patel School of Pharmacy & Technology Management, SVKM'S NMIMS, V.L. Mehta Road, Vile Parle (W), Mumbai 400 056, Maharashtra, India.
| | - Nikita Patil Samant
- Shobhaben Pratapbhai Patel School of Pharmacy & Technology Management, SVKM'S NMIMS, V.L. Mehta Road, Vile Parle (W), Mumbai 400 056, Maharashtra, India
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35
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Ji C, Sigurdsson EM. Current Status of Clinical Trials on Tau Immunotherapies. Drugs 2021; 81:1135-1152. [PMID: 34101156 DOI: 10.1007/s40265-021-01546-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Tau immunotherapies have advanced from proof-of-concept studies to over a dozen clinical trials for Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other tauopathies. Mechanistic studies in animal and culture models have provided valuable insight into how these therapies may work but multiple pathways are likely involved. Different groups have emphasized the importance of intracellular vs extracellular antibody-mediated clearance of the tau protein and there is no consensus on which pool of tau should ideally be targeted. Likewise, various normal and disease-selective epitopes are being targeted, and the antibody isotypes either favor phagocytosis of the tau-antibody complex or are neutral in that aspect. Most of the clinical trials are in early stages, thus their efficacy is not yet known, but all have been without any major adverse effects and some have reported target engagement. A few have been discontinued. One in phase I, presumably because of a poor pharmacokinetic profile, and three in phase II for a lack of efficacy although this trial stage is not well powered for efficacy measures. In these phase II studies, trials with two antibodies in patients with progressive supranuclear palsy or other primary tauopathies were halted but are continuing in patients with AD, and one antibody trial was stopped in early-stage AD but is continuing in moderate AD. These three antibodies have been reported to only work extracellularly and tau is not increased in the cerebrospinal fluid of primary tauopathies, which may explain the failures of two of them. In the discontinued AD trial, there are some concerns about how much of extracellular tau contains the N-terminal epitope that is being targeted. In addition, extracellular tau is only a small part of total tau, compared to intracellular tau. Targeting only the former may not be sufficient for functional benefits. Given these outcomes, decision makers within the pharmaceutical companies who green light these trials should attempt to target tau not only extracellularly but also intracellularly to increase their chances of success. Hopefully, some of the ongoing trials will provide some functional benefits to the large number of patients with tauopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Changyi Ji
- Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, Neuroscience Institute, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, Science Building, 11th floor, 435 East 30th Street, New York, NY, 10016, USA
| | - Einar M Sigurdsson
- Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, Neuroscience Institute, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, Science Building, 11th floor, 435 East 30th Street, New York, NY, 10016, USA. .,Department of Psychiatry, Neuroscience Institute, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
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36
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Poddar MK, Banerjee S, Chakraborty A, Dutta D. Metabolic disorder in Alzheimer's disease. Metab Brain Dis 2021; 36:781-813. [PMID: 33638805 DOI: 10.1007/s11011-021-00673-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2020] [Accepted: 01/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD), a well known aging-induced neurodegenerative disease is related to amyloid proteinopathy. This proteinopathy occurs due to abnormalities in protein folding, structure and thereby its function in cells. The root cause of such kind of proteinopathy and its related neurodegeneration is a disorder in metabolism, rather metabolomics of the major as well as minor nutrients. Metabolomics is the most relevant "omics" platform that offers a great potential for the diagnosis and prognosis of neurodegenerative diseases as an individual's metabolome. In recent years, the research on such kinds of neurodegenerative diseases, especially aging-related disorders is broadened its scope towards metabolic function. Different neurotransmitter metabolisms are also involved with AD and its associated neurodegeneration. The genetic and epigenetic backgrounds are also noteworthy. In this review, the physiological changes of AD in relation to its corresponding biochemical, genetic and epigenetic involvements including its (AD) therapeutic aspects are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mrinal K Poddar
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Jadavpur University, 188, Raja S. C. Mallick Road, Kolkata, 700032, India.
| | - Soumyabrata Banerjee
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Jadavpur University, 188, Raja S. C. Mallick Road, Kolkata, 700032, India
- Departrment of Psychology, Neuroscience Program, Field Neurosciences Institute Research Laboratory for Restorative Neurology, Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, MI, 48859, USA
| | - Apala Chakraborty
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Jadavpur University, 188, Raja S. C. Mallick Road, Kolkata, 700032, India
| | - Debasmita Dutta
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Jadavpur University, 188, Raja S. C. Mallick Road, Kolkata, 700032, India
- Department of Coatings and Polymeric Materials, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND, 58102, USA
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Jangampalli Adi P, Reddy PH. Phosphorylated tau targeted small-molecule PROTACs for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease and tauopathies. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2021; 1867:166162. [PMID: 33940164 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2021.166162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2021] [Revised: 04/24/2021] [Accepted: 04/26/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Tau is a microtubule-stabilizing protein that plays an important role in the formation of axonal microtubules in neurons. Phosphorylated tau (p-Tau) has received great attention in the field of Alzheimer's disease (AD) as a potential therapeutic target due to its involvement with synaptic damage and neuronal dysfunction. Mounting evidence suggests that amyloid beta (Aβ)-targeted clinical trials continuously failed; therefore, it is important to consider alternative therapeutic strategies such as p-tau-PROTACs targeted small molecules for AD and other tauopathies. The present article describes the characteristics of tau biology, structure, and function in both healthy and pathological states in AD. It also explains data from studies that have identified the involvement of p-tau in neuronal damage and synaptic and cognitive functions in AD. Current article also covers several aspects, including small molecule inhibitors, and the development of p-tau-PROTACs targeted drug molecules to treat patients with AD and other tauopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - P Hemachandra Reddy
- Department of Internal Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA; Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA; Department of Neurology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA; Department of Public Health, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA; Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA.
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38
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Ungerleider K, Beck J, Lissa D, Turnquist C, Horikawa I, Harris BT, Harris CC. Astrocyte senescence and SASP in neurodegeneration: tau joins the loop. Cell Cycle 2021; 20:752-764. [PMID: 33818291 DOI: 10.1080/15384101.2021.1909260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Tau accumulation is a core component of Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative tauopathies. While tau's impact on neurons is a major area of research, the effect of extracellular tau on astrocytes is largely unknown. This article summarizes our recent studies showing that astrocyte senescence plays a critical role in neurodegenerative diseases and integrates extracellular tau into the regulatory loop of senescent astrocyte-mediated neurotoxicity. Human astrocytes in vitro undergoing senescence were shown to acquire the inflammatory senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) and toxicity to neurons, which may recapitulate aging- and disease-associated neurodegeneration. Here, we show that human astrocytes exposed to extracellular tau in vitro also undergo cellular senescence and acquire a neurotoxic SASP (e.g. IL-6 secretion), with oxidative stress response (indicated by upregulated NRF2 target genes) and a possible activation of inflammasome (indicated by upregulated ASC and IL-1β). These findings suggest that senescent astrocytes induced by various conditions and insults, including tau exposure, may represent a therapeutic target to inhibit or delay the progression of neurodegenerative diseases. We also discuss the pathological activity of extracellular tau in microglia and astrocytes, the disease relevance and diversity of tau forms, therapeutics targeting senescence in neurodegeneration, and the roles of p53 and its isoforms in astrocyte-mediated neurotoxicity and neuroprotection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyra Ungerleider
- Laboratory of Human Carcinogenesis, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Jessica Beck
- Laboratory of Human Carcinogenesis, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.,Department of Comparative Pathobiology, Purdue University, West Layfette, Indiana, USA
| | - Delphine Lissa
- Laboratory of Human Carcinogenesis, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Casmir Turnquist
- Laboratory of Human Carcinogenesis, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.,University of Oxford Medical School, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, UK
| | - Izumi Horikawa
- Laboratory of Human Carcinogenesis, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Brent T Harris
- Department of Neurology, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Curtis C Harris
- Laboratory of Human Carcinogenesis, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
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BMP4 overexpression induces the upregulation of APP/Tau and memory deficits in Alzheimer's disease. Cell Death Discov 2021; 7:51. [PMID: 33723239 PMCID: PMC7961014 DOI: 10.1038/s41420-021-00435-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2020] [Revised: 01/19/2021] [Accepted: 02/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a chronic progressive degenerative disease of the nervous system. Its pathogenesis is complex and is related to the abnormal expression of the amyloid β (Aβ), APP, and Tau proteins. Evidence has demonstrated that bone morphogenetic protein 4 (BMP4) is highly expressed in transgenic mouse models of AD and that endogenous levels of BMP4 mainly affect hippocampal function. To determine whether BMP4 participates in AD development, transgenic mice were constructed that overexpress BMP4 under the control of the neuron-specific enolase (NSE) promoter. We also performed MTT, FACS, transfection, TUNEL, and Western blotting assays to define the role of BMP4 in cells. We found that middle-aged BMP4 transgenic mice exhibited impaired memory via the Morris water maze experiment. Moreover, their hippocampal tissues exhibited high expression levels of AD-related proteins, including APP, Aβ, PSEN-1, Tau, P-Tau (Thr181), and P-Tau (Thr231). Furthermore, in multiple cell lines, the overexpression of BMP4 increased the expression of AD-related proteins, whereas the downregulation of BMP4 demonstrated opposing effects. Consistent with these results, BMP4 modulation affected cell apoptosis via the regulation of BAX and Bcl-2 expression in cells. Our findings indicate that BMP4 overexpression might be a potential factor to induce AD.
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Dixit H, Kumar C S, Chaudhary R, Thaker D, Gadewal N, Dasgupta D. Role of Phosphorylation and Hyperphosphorylation of Tau in Its Interaction with βα Dimeric Tubulin Studied from a Bioinformatics Perspective. Avicenna J Med Biotechnol 2021; 13:24-34. [PMID: 33680370 PMCID: PMC7903436 DOI: 10.18502/ajmb.v13i1.4579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Tau is a disordered Microtubule Associated Protein (MAP) which prefers to bind and stabilize microtubules. Phosphorylation of tau in particular enhances tautubulin interaction which otherwise detaches from tubulin during hyperphosphorylation. The reason behind their destabilization, detachment and the role of β subunit (from microtubule) and the projection domain (Tau) in microtubule stability remains elusive till date. Thus, a complete 3D structural investigation of tau protein is much needed to address these queries as the existing crystal structures are in fragments and quite limited. Methods: In this study, the modelled human tau protein was subjected to phosphorylation and hyperphosphorylation which were later considered for docking with micro-tubules (βα subunits-inter dimer) and vinblastine. Results: Phosphorylated tau protein interacts with both α- and β subunits. But stronger bonding was with α- compared to β subunits. Regarding β subunit, proline rich loop and projection domain actively participated in tau binding. Interestingly, hyperphosphorylation of tau increases MAP domain flexibility which ultimately results in tau detachment, the main reason behind tangle formation in Alzheimer’s disease. Conclusion: This study being the first of its kind emphasizes the role of projection domain and proline rich region of β-subunit in stabilizing the tau-tubulin interaction and also the effect of hyperphosphorylation in protein-protein and protein-drug binding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hrushikesh Dixit
- Faculty of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, D.Y. Patil Deemed to be University, CBD Belapur, Navi Mumbai, India
| | - Selvaa Kumar C
- Faculty of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, D.Y. Patil Deemed to be University, CBD Belapur, Navi Mumbai, India
| | - Ruchi Chaudhary
- Faculty of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, D.Y. Patil Deemed to be University, CBD Belapur, Navi Mumbai, India
| | - Divya Thaker
- Faculty of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, D.Y. Patil Deemed to be University, CBD Belapur, Navi Mumbai, India
| | - Nikhil Gadewal
- Advanced Centre for Treatment, Research and Education in Cancer (ACTREC), Kharghar, Navi Mumbai, India
| | - Debjani Dasgupta
- Faculty of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, D.Y. Patil Deemed to be University, CBD Belapur, Navi Mumbai, India
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41
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D'Mello SR. MECP2 and the Biology of MECP2 Duplication Syndrome. J Neurochem 2021; 159:29-60. [PMID: 33638179 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.15331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2020] [Revised: 01/21/2021] [Accepted: 02/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
MECP2 duplication syndrome (MDS), a rare X-linked genomic disorder affecting predominantly males, is caused by duplication of the chromosomal region containing the methyl CpG binding protein-2 (MECP2) gene, which encodes methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 (MECP2), a multi-functional protein required for proper brain development and maintenance of brain function during adulthood. Disease symptoms include severe motor and cognitive impairment, delayed or absent speech development, autistic features, seizures, ataxia, recurrent respiratory infections and shortened lifespan. The cellular and molecular mechanisms by which a relatively modest increase in MECP2 protein causes such severe disease symptoms are poorly understood and consequently there are no treatments available for this fatal disorder. This review summarizes what is known to date about the structure and complex regulation of MECP2 and its many functions in the developing and adult brain. Additionally, recent experimental findings on the cellular and molecular underpinnings of MDS based on cell culture and mouse models of the disorder are reviewed. The emerging picture from these studies is that MDS is a neurodegenerative disorder in which neurons die in specific parts of the central nervous system, including the cortex, hippocampus, cerebellum and spinal cord. Neuronal death likely results from astrocytic dysfunction, including a breakdown of glutamate homeostatic mechanisms. The role of elevations in the expression of glial acidic fibrillary protein (GFAP) in astrocytes and the microtubule-associated protein, Tau, in neurons to the pathogenesis of MDS is discussed. Lastly, potential therapeutic strategies to potentially treat MDS are discussed.
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Kepchia D, Currais A, Dargusch R, Finley K, Schubert D, Maher P. Geroprotective effects of Alzheimer's disease drug candidates. Aging (Albany NY) 2021; 13:3269-3289. [PMID: 33550278 PMCID: PMC7906177 DOI: 10.18632/aging.202631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2020] [Accepted: 01/14/2021] [Indexed: 04/18/2023]
Abstract
Geroprotectors are compounds that slow the biological aging process in model organisms and may therefore extend healthy lifespan in humans. It is hypothesized that they do so by preserving the more youthful function of multiple organ systems. However, this hypothesis has rarely been tested in any organisms besides C. elegans and D. melanogaster. To determine if two life-extending compounds for Drosophila maintain a more youthful phenotype in old mice, we asked if they had anti-aging effects in both the brain and kidney. We utilized rapidly aging senescence-accelerated SAMP8 mice to investigate age-associated protein level alterations in these organs. The test compounds were two cognition-enhancing Alzheimer's disease drug candidates, J147 and CMS121. Mice were fed the compounds in the last quadrant of their lifespan, when they have cognitive deficits and are beginning to develop CKD. Both compounds improved physiological markers for brain and kidney function. However, these two organs had distinct, tissue-specific protein level alterations that occurred with age, but in both cases, drug treatments restored a more youthful level. These data show that geroprotective AD drug candidates J147 and CMS121 prevent age-associated disease in both brain and kidney, and that their apparent mode of action in each tissue is distinct.
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Affiliation(s)
- Devin Kepchia
- Cellular Neurobiology Laboratory, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Antonio Currais
- Cellular Neurobiology Laboratory, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Richard Dargusch
- Cellular Neurobiology Laboratory, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Kim Finley
- Donald P. Shiley BioScience Center, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92115, USA
| | - David Schubert
- Cellular Neurobiology Laboratory, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Pamela Maher
- Cellular Neurobiology Laboratory, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
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Shi M, Chu F, Tian X, Aerqin Q, Zhu F, Zhu J. Role of Adaptive Immune and Impacts of Risk Factors on Adaptive Immune in Alzheimer's Disease: Are Immunotherapies Effective or Off-Target? Neuroscientist 2021; 28:254-270. [PMID: 33530843 DOI: 10.1177/1073858420987224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is complex. Still it remains unclear, which resulted in all efforts for AD treatments with targeting the pathogenic factors unsuccessful over past decades. It has been evidenced that the innate immune is strongly implicated in the pathogenesis of AD. However, the role of adaptive immune in AD remains mostly unknown and the results obtained were controversial. In the review, we summarized recent studies and showed that the molecular and cellular alterations in AD patients and its animal models involving T cells and B cells as well as immune mediators of adaptive immune occur not only in the peripheral blood but also in the brain and the cerebrospinal fluid. The risk factors that cause AD contribute to AD progress by affecting the adaptive immune, indicating that adaptive immunity proposes a pivotal role in this disease. It may provide a possible basis for applying immunotherapy in AD and further investigates whether the immunotherapies are effective or off-target?
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingchao Shi
- Neuroscience Center, Department of Neurology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China.,Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences & Society, Division of Neurogeriatrcs, Karolinska Institute, Karolinska University Hospital Solna, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Fengna Chu
- Neuroscience Center, Department of Neurology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China.,Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences & Society, Division of Neurogeriatrcs, Karolinska Institute, Karolinska University Hospital Solna, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Xiaoping Tian
- Cognitive Impairment Ward of Neurology Department, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University Medical College, Shenzhen, China
| | - Qiaolifan Aerqin
- Neuroscience Center, Department of Neurology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Feiqi Zhu
- Cognitive Impairment Ward of Neurology Department, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University Medical College, Shenzhen, China
| | - Jie Zhu
- Neuroscience Center, Department of Neurology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China.,Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences & Society, Division of Neurogeriatrcs, Karolinska Institute, Karolinska University Hospital Solna, Stockholm, Sweden
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Castonguay AM, Gravel C, Lévesque M. Treating Parkinson's Disease with Antibodies: Previous Studies and Future Directions. JOURNAL OF PARKINSONS DISEASE 2021; 11:71-92. [PMID: 33104039 PMCID: PMC7990466 DOI: 10.3233/jpd-202221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Parkinson's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder mainly characterized by the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra. Degenerating neurons contain abnormal aggregates called Lewy bodies, that are predominantly composed of the misfolded and/or mutated alpha-synuclein protein. Post-translational modifications, cellular stress, inflammation and gene mutations are thought to trigger its pathological misfolding and aggregation. With alpha-synuclein pathology being strongly associated with dopaminergic neuronal toxicity, strategies aimed to reduce its burden are expected to be beneficial in slowing disease progression. Moreover, multiple sources of evidence suggest a cell-to-cell transmission of pathological alpha-synuclein in a prion-like manner. Therefore, antibodies targeting extra- or intracellular alpha-synuclein could be efficient in limiting the aggregation and transmission. Several active and passive immunization strategies have been explored to target alpha-synuclein. Here, we summarize immunotherapeutic approaches that were tested in pre-clinical or clinical studies in the last two decades in an attempt to treat Parkinson's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne-Marie Castonguay
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada.,CERVO Brain Research Centre, 2601, chemin de la Canardière, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Claude Gravel
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada.,CERVO Brain Research Centre, 2601, chemin de la Canardière, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Martin Lévesque
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada.,CERVO Brain Research Centre, 2601, chemin de la Canardière, Québec, QC, Canada
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Yan T, Liu B, Wang N, Liao Z, Wu B, He B, Jia Y. The flavonoids of okra insulates against oxidative stress, neuroinflammation and restores BDNF levels in Aβ 1-42 induced mouse model of Alzheimer's disease. Exp Gerontol 2021; 147:111263. [PMID: 33516906 DOI: 10.1016/j.exger.2021.111263] [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: 05/26/2020] [Revised: 12/14/2020] [Accepted: 01/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus [L.] Moench.) has been used as a natural drug in East or West Africa for many centuries, as well as consumed in most areas of the world as a tropical vegetable. The study aimed to evaluate whether the flavonoids of okra fruit (FOF) administration influence Aβ1-42-induced learning and memory impairment, and explore the underlying mechanisms. The Y-maze task and the Morris water maze test were used for evaluating cognition processes. The levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), superoxide dismutase (SOD), total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) were detected by ELISA kits. The expressions of nuclear factor kappa-light chain-enhancer of activated B (NF-κB), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), cAMP-response element-binding protein (CREB), extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase (PI3K), protein kinase B (AKT), glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β) were studied by western blot. Histopathological changes were observed by H.E. straining. The results showed that intracerebroventricular injection of Aβ1-42 was effective in producing memory deficits in mice. Besides, Aβ1-42 exposure could significantly increase the levels of NF-κB, TNF-α, IL-1β, and decreased T-AOC, the activities of SOD and GSH-Px in the hippocampus and cortex. Furthermore, the level of BDNF was also reduced, accompanied by down-regulated CREB/ERK and PI3K/AKT/GSK-3β signaling pathways in the hippocampus and cortex. Nevertheless, chronic administration of FOF (100 or 300 mg/kg, i.g.) significantly prevented Aβ1-42-induced behavioral and biochemical alterations. It also suggested that FOF could improve the cognitive deficits in AD-like model mice, which might be mediated by regulation of BDNF levels in cortex and hippocampus and up-regulating of CREB/ERK and PI3K/AKT/GSK3β pathways, as well as alleviation of oxidative stress and neuroinflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tingxu Yan
- School of Functional Food and Wine, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Wenhua Road 103, Shenyang 110016, China
| | - Bing Liu
- School of Traditional Chinese Materia Medica, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Wenhua Road 103, Shenyang 110016, China
| | - Nizhi Wang
- School of Traditional Chinese Materia Medica, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Wenhua Road 103, Shenyang 110016, China
| | - Zhengzheng Liao
- School of Traditional Chinese Materia Medica, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Wenhua Road 103, Shenyang 110016, China
| | - Bo Wu
- School of Functional Food and Wine, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Wenhua Road 103, Shenyang 110016, China
| | - Bosai He
- School of Functional Food and Wine, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Wenhua Road 103, Shenyang 110016, China
| | - Ying Jia
- School of Functional Food and Wine, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Wenhua Road 103, Shenyang 110016, China.
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Advances in Drug Therapy for Alzheimer's Disease. Curr Med Sci 2021; 40:999-1008. [PMID: 33428127 DOI: 10.1007/s11596-020-2281-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2020] [Accepted: 12/03/2020] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a chronic neurodegenerative disease that mainly causes dementia. It is a serious threat to the health of the global elderly population. Considerable money and effort has been invested in the development of drug therapy for AD worldwide. Many drug therapies are currently under development or in clinical trials, based on two known mechanisms of AD, namely, Aβ toxicity and the abnormal Tau hyperphosphorylation. Numerous drugs are also being developed for other AD associated mechanisms such as neuroinflammation, neurotransmitter imbalance, oxidative damage and mitochondrial dysfunction, neuron loss and degeneration. Even so, the number of drugs that can successfully improve symptoms or delay the progression of the disease remains very limited. However, multi-drug combinations may provide a new avenue for drug therapy for AD. In addition, early diagnosis of AD and timely initiation of treatment may allow drugs that act on the early pathological processes of AD to help improve the symptoms and prevent the progression of the condition.
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Hadi F, Akrami H, Totonchi M, Barzegar A, Nabavi SM, Shahpasand K. α-synuclein abnormalities trigger focal tau pathology, spreading to various brain areas in Parkinson disease. J Neurochem 2021; 157:727-751. [PMID: 33264426 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.15257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2020] [Revised: 07/28/2020] [Accepted: 11/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Parkinson disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder, whose prevalence is 2~3% in the population over 65. α-Synuclein aggregation is the major pathological hallmark of PD. However, recent studies have demonstrated enhancing evidence of tau pathology in PD. Despite extensive considerations, thus far, the actual spreading mechanism of neurodegeneration has remained elusive in a PD brain. This study aimed to further investigate the development of α-synuclein and tau pathology. We employed various PD models, including cultured neurons treated with either 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) or with recombinant α-synuclein. Also, we studied dopaminergic neurons of cytokine Interferon-β knock-out. Moreover, we examined rats treated with 6-hydroxydopamine, Rhesus monkeys administrated with MPTP neurotoxin, and finally, human post-mortem brains. We found the α-synuclein phosphorylation triggers tau pathogenicity. Also, we observed more widespread phosphorylated tau than α-synuclein with prion-like nature in various brain areas. We optionally removed P-tau or P-α-synuclein from cytokine interferon-β knock out with respective monoclonal antibodies. We found that tau immunotherapy suppressed neurodegeneration more than α-synuclein elimination. Our findings indicate that the pathogenic tau could be one of the leading causes of comprehensive neurodegeneration triggered by PD. Thus, we can propose an efficient therapeutic target to fight the devastating disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatemeh Hadi
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Razi University, Kermanshah, Iran
| | - Hassan Akrami
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Razi University, Kermanshah, Iran
| | - Mehdi Totonchi
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Seyed Massood Nabavi
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
| | - Koorosh Shahpasand
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
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Duquette A, Pernègre C, Veilleux Carpentier A, Leclerc N. Similarities and Differences in the Pattern of Tau Hyperphosphorylation in Physiological and Pathological Conditions: Impacts on the Elaboration of Therapies to Prevent Tau Pathology. Front Neurol 2021; 11:607680. [PMID: 33488502 PMCID: PMC7817657 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2020.607680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2020] [Accepted: 12/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Tau protein, a neuronal microtubule-associated protein, becomes hyperphosphorylated in several neurodegenerative diseases called tauopathies. Hyperphosphorylation of tau is correlated to its redistribution from the axon to the somato-dendritic compartment at early stages of tauopathies. Interestingly, tau hyperphosphorylation begins in different regions of the brain in each tauopathy. In some regions, both neurons and glial cells develop tau hyperphosphorylation. Tau hyperphosphorylation is also observed in physiological conditions such as hibernation and brain development. In the first section of present article, we will review the spatiotemporal and cellular distribution of hyperphosphorylated tau in the most frequent tauopathies. In the second section, we will compare the pattern of tau hyperphosphorylation in physiological and pathological conditions and discuss the sites that could play a pivotal role in the conversion of non-toxic to toxic forms of hyperphosphorylated tau. Furthermore, we will discuss the role of hyperphosphorylated tau in physiological and pathological conditions and the fact that tau hyperphosphorylation is reversible in physiological conditions but not in a pathological ones. In the third section, we will speculate how the differences and similarities between hyperphosphorylated tau in physiological and pathological conditions could impact the elaboration of therapies to prevent tau pathology. In the fourth section, the different therapeutic approaches using tau as a direct or indirect therapeutic target will be presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antoine Duquette
- Research Center of the University of Montreal Hospital (CRCHUM), Montréal, QC, Canada.,Département de Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Camille Pernègre
- Research Center of the University of Montreal Hospital (CRCHUM), Montréal, QC, Canada.,Département de Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Ariane Veilleux Carpentier
- Research Center of the University of Montreal Hospital (CRCHUM), Montréal, QC, Canada.,Département de Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Nicole Leclerc
- Research Center of the University of Montreal Hospital (CRCHUM), Montréal, QC, Canada.,Département de Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
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Canepa E, Fossati S. Impact of Tau on Neurovascular Pathology in Alzheimer's Disease. Front Neurol 2021; 11:573324. [PMID: 33488493 PMCID: PMC7817626 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2020.573324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2020] [Accepted: 11/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a chronic neurodegenerative disorder and the most prevalent cause of dementia. The main cerebral histological hallmarks are represented by parenchymal insoluble deposits of amyloid beta (Aβ plaques) and neurofibrillary tangles (NFT), intracellular filamentous inclusions of tau, a microtubule-associated protein. It is well-established that cerebrovascular dysfunction is an early feature of AD pathology, but the detrimental mechanisms leading to blood vessel impairment and the associated neurovascular deregulation are not fully understood. In 90% of AD cases, Aβ deposition around the brain vasculature, known as cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA), alters blood brain barrier (BBB) essential functions. While the effects of vascular Aβ accumulation are better documented, the scientific community has only recently started to consider the impact of tau on neurovascular pathology in AD. Emerging compelling evidence points to transmission of neuronal tau to different brain cells, including astrocytes, as well as to the release of tau into brain interstitial fluids, which may lead to perivascular neurofibrillar tau accumulation and toxicity, affecting vessel architecture, cerebral blood flow (CBF), and vascular permeability. BBB integrity and functionality may therefore be impacted by pathological tau, consequentially accelerating the progression of the disease. Tau aggregates have also been shown to induce mitochondrial damage: it is known that tau impairs mitochondrial localization, distribution and dynamics, alters ATP and reactive oxygen species production, and compromises oxidative phosphorylation systems. In light of this previous knowledge, we postulate that tau can initiate neurovascular pathology in AD through mitochondrial dysregulation. In this review, we will explore the literature investigating tau pathology contribution to the malfunction of the brain vasculature and neurovascular unit, and its association with mitochondrial alterations and caspase activation, in cellular, animal, and human studies of AD and tauopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Canepa
- Alzheimer's Center at Temple (ACT), Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Silvia Fossati
- Alzheimer's Center at Temple (ACT), Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
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Chatterjee S, Salimi A, Lee JY. Molecular mechanism of amyloidogenicity and neurotoxicity of a pro-aggregated tau mutant in the presence of histidine tautomerism via replica-exchange simulation. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2021; 23:10475-10486. [DOI: 10.1039/d1cp00105a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Considering ΔK280 tau mutation, δε isomer with highest sheet content may accelerate aggregation; generating small compounds to inhibit this would help tp prevent tauopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Abbas Salimi
- Department of Chemistry
- Sungkyunkwan University
- Suwon 440-746
- Korea
| | - Jin Yong Lee
- Department of Chemistry
- Sungkyunkwan University
- Suwon 440-746
- Korea
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