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Diaz A, Martin-Jimenez C, Woo Y, Merino P, Torre E, Yepes M. Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator Triggers Wingless/Int1-Independent Phosphorylation of the Low-Density Lipoprotein Receptor-Related Protein-6 in Cerebral Cortical Neurons. J Alzheimers Dis 2022; 89:877-891. [PMID: 35964187 DOI: 10.3233/jad-220320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) is a serine proteinase found in excitatory synapses located in the II/III and V cortical layers. The synaptic release of uPA promotes the formation of synaptic contacts and the repair of synapses damaged by various forms of injury, and its abundance is decreased in the synapse of Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients. Inactivation of the Wingless/Int1 (Wnt)-β-catenin pathway plays a central role in the pathogenesis of AD. Soluble amyloid-β (Aβ) prevents the phosphorylation of the low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein-6 (LRP6), and the resultant inactivation of the Wnt-β-catenin pathway prompts the amyloidogenic processing of the amyloid-β protein precursor (AβPP) and causes synaptic loss. OBJECTIVE To study the role of neuronal uPA in the pathogenesis of AD. METHODS We used in vitro cultures of murine cerebral cortical neurons, a murine neuroblastoma cell line transfected with the APP-695 Swedish mutation (N2asw), and mice deficient on either plasminogen, or uPA, or its receptor (uPAR). RESULTS We show that uPA activates the Wnt-β-catenin pathway in cerebral cortical neurons by triggering the phosphorylation of LRP6 via a plasmin-independent mechanism that does not require binding of Wnt ligands (Wnts). Our data indicate that uPA-induced activation of the Wnt-β-catenin pathway protects the synapse from the harmful effects of soluble Aβ and prevents the amyloidogenic processing of AβPP by inhibiting the expression of β-secretase 1 (BACE1) and the ensuing generation of Aβ 40 and Aβ 42 peptides. CONCLUSION uPA protects the synapse and antagonizes the inhibitory effect of soluble Aβ on the Wnt-β-catenin pathway by providing an alternative pathway for LRP6 phosphorylation and β-catenin stabilization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ariel Diaz
- Division of Neuropharmacology and Neurologic Diseases, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Cynthia Martin-Jimenez
- Division of Neuropharmacology and Neurologic Diseases, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Yena Woo
- Division of Neuropharmacology and Neurologic Diseases, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Paola Merino
- Division of Neuropharmacology and Neurologic Diseases, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Enrique Torre
- Division of Neuropharmacology and Neurologic Diseases, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Manuel Yepes
- Division of Neuropharmacology and Neurologic Diseases, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Atlanta, GA, USA.,Department of Neurology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.,Department of Neurology, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Atlanta, GA, USA
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Conti E, Tremolizzo L, Santarone ME, Tironi M, Radice I, Zoia CP, Aliprandi A, Salmaggi A, Dominici R, Casati M, Appollonio I, Ferrarese C. Donepezil modulates the endogenous immune response: implications for Alzheimer's disease. Hum Psychopharmacol 2016; 31:296-303. [PMID: 27297668 DOI: 10.1002/hup.2538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2015] [Revised: 03/18/2016] [Accepted: 04/14/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Donepezil (DNPZ) is a drug commonly used for Alzheimer's disease (AD) that may favour a T helper 2 phenotype leading to increased naturally occurring auto-antibodies (NAb) against beta-amyloid (Aβ). We hypothesized the involvement of the cholinergic receptors [α7-nicotnic acetylcholine receptor (α7nAChR)] expressed on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). METHODS Fifty patients with mild-to-moderate AD, DNPZ treated (DNPZ+, n = 25) or not (DNPZ-, n = 25), and 25 matched controls were enrolled and PBMC extracted for both in vitro cultures, and real-time polymerase chain reaction and chromatin immunoprecipitation assay. Plasma samples were also obtained for Aβ and NAb determination. RESULTS Donepezil increased in vitro the expression of the transcription factor GATA binding protein 3 (GATA3) through α7nAChR, because prevented by the specific antagonist methyllycaconitine. Ex vivo PBMC α7nAChR mRNA expression was increased in both AD groups, while GATA3 expression was not. A significant increase in the GATA3/interleukin 5 promoter association was found in DNPZ+ patients. Finally, DNPZ+ patients showed both significantly higher plasma levels of anti-Aβ NAb with respect to DNPZ- patients and Aβ 1-42 with respect to normal controls. CONCLUSIONS Donepezil might modulate a T helper 2 bias via α7nAChR leading to increased expression of NAb. Further studies on the role of the modulation of the immune response against Aβ may pave the way to innovative therapeutic strategies for AD. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Conti
- Laboratory of Neurobiology, School of Medicine and Milan Center for Neuroscience, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - Lucio Tremolizzo
- Laboratory of Neurobiology, School of Medicine and Milan Center for Neuroscience, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy.,Neurology, San Gerardo Hospital, Monza, Italy
| | - Marta Elena Santarone
- Laboratory of Neurobiology, School of Medicine and Milan Center for Neuroscience, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - Marco Tironi
- Laboratory of Neurobiology, School of Medicine and Milan Center for Neuroscience, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - Isabella Radice
- Laboratory of Neurobiology, School of Medicine and Milan Center for Neuroscience, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - Chiara Paola Zoia
- Laboratory of Neurobiology, School of Medicine and Milan Center for Neuroscience, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | | | | | - Roberto Dominici
- Laboratory of Chemical and Clinical Analyses, Magenta Hospital, Italy
| | - Marco Casati
- Laboratory of Chemical and Clinical Analyses, San Gerardo Hospital, Monza, Italy
| | - Ildebrando Appollonio
- Laboratory of Neurobiology, School of Medicine and Milan Center for Neuroscience, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy.,Neurology, San Gerardo Hospital, Monza, Italy
| | - Carlo Ferrarese
- Laboratory of Neurobiology, School of Medicine and Milan Center for Neuroscience, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy.,Neurology, San Gerardo Hospital, Monza, Italy
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Naughton BJ, Duncan FJ, Murrey DA, Meadows AS, Newsom DE, Stoicea N, White P, Scharre DW, Mccarty DM, Fu H. Blood genome-wide transcriptional profiles reflect broad molecular impairments and strong blood-brain links in Alzheimer's disease. J Alzheimers Dis 2016; 43:93-108. [PMID: 25079797 DOI: 10.3233/jad-140606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
To date, little is known regarding the etiology and disease mechanisms of Alzheimer's disease (AD). There is a general urgency for novel approaches to advance AD research. In this study, we analyzed blood RNA from female patients with advanced AD and matched healthy controls using genome-wide gene expression microarrays. Our data showed significant alterations in 3,944 genes (≥2-fold, FDR ≤1%) in AD whole blood, including 2,932 genes that are involved in broad biological functions. Importantly, we observed abnormal transcripts of numerous tissue-specific genes in AD blood involving virtually all tissues, especially the brain. Of altered genes, 157 are known to be essential in neurological functions, such as neuronal plasticity, synaptic transmission and neurogenesis. More importantly, 205 dysregulated genes in AD blood have been linked to neurological disease, including AD/dementia and Parkinson's disease, and 43 are known to be the causative genes of 42 inherited mental retardation and neurodegenerative diseases. The detected transcriptional abnormalities also support robust inflammation, profound extracellular matrix impairments, broad metabolic dysfunction, aberrant oxidative stress, DNA damage, and cell death. While the mechanisms are currently unclear, this study demonstrates strong blood-brain correlations in AD. The blood transcriptional profiles reflect the complex neuropathological status in AD, including neuropathological changes and broad somatic impairments. The majority of genes altered in AD blood have not previously been linked to AD. We believe that blood genome-wide transcriptional profiling may provide a powerful and minimally invasive tool for the identification of novel targets beyond Aβ and tauopathy for AD research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bartholomew J Naughton
- Center for Gene Therapy, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - F Jason Duncan
- Center for Gene Therapy, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Darren A Murrey
- Center for Gene Therapy, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Aaron S Meadows
- Center for Gene Therapy, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - David E Newsom
- Biomedical Genomics Core, Center for Microbial Pathogenesis, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Nicoleta Stoicea
- Division of Cognitive Neurology, Forest Hills Center for Alzheimer's Disease, College of Medicine and Public Health, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA Department of Neurology, College of Medicine and Public Health, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Peter White
- Biomedical Genomics Core, Center for Microbial Pathogenesis, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine and Public Health, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Douglas W Scharre
- Division of Cognitive Neurology, Forest Hills Center for Alzheimer's Disease, College of Medicine and Public Health, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA Department of Neurology, College of Medicine and Public Health, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Douglas M Mccarty
- Center for Gene Therapy, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine and Public Health, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Haiyan Fu
- Center for Gene Therapy, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine and Public Health, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
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Bolkvadze T, Rantala J, Puhakka N, Andrade P, Pitkänen A. Epileptogenesis after traumatic brain injury in Plau-deficient mice. Epilepsy Behav 2015; 51:19-27. [PMID: 26253597 DOI: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2015.06.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2015] [Accepted: 06/19/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Several components of the urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR)-interactome, including uPAR and its ligand sushi-repeat protein 2, X-linked (SRPX2), are linked to susceptibility to epileptogenesis in animal models and/or humans. Recent evidence indicates that urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA), a uPAR ligand with focal proteinase activity in the extracellular matrix, contributes to recovery-enhancing brain plasticity after various epileptogenic insults such as traumatic brain injury (TBI) and status epilepticus. Here, we examined whether deficiency of the uPA-encoding gene Plau augments epileptogenesis after TBI. Traumatic brain injury was induced by controlled cortical impact in the somatosensory cortex of adult male wild-type and Plau-deficient mice. Development of epilepsy and seizure susceptibility were assessed with a 3-week continuous video-electroencephalography monitoring and a pentylenetetrazol test, respectively. Traumatic brain injury-induced cortical or hippocampal pathology did not differ between genotypes. The pentylenetetrazol test revealed increased seizure susceptibility after TBI (p<0.05) in injured mice. Epileptogenesis was not exacerbated, however, in Plau-deficient mice. Taken together, Plau deficiency did not worsen controlled cortical impact-induced brain pathology or epileptogenesis caused by TBI when assessed at chronic timepoints. These data expand previous observations on Plau deficiency in models of status epilepticus and suggest that inhibition of focal extracellular proteinase activity resulting from uPA-uPAR interactions does not modify epileptogenesis after TBI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamuna Bolkvadze
- Department of Neurobiology, A. I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, PO Box 1627, FI-70211 Kuopio, Finland
| | - Jukka Rantala
- Department of Neurobiology, A. I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, PO Box 1627, FI-70211 Kuopio, Finland
| | - Noora Puhakka
- Department of Neurobiology, A. I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, PO Box 1627, FI-70211 Kuopio, Finland
| | - Pedro Andrade
- Department of Neurobiology, A. I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, PO Box 1627, FI-70211 Kuopio, Finland
| | - Asla Pitkänen
- Department of Neurobiology, A. I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, PO Box 1627, FI-70211 Kuopio, Finland.
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Wu W, Jiang H, Wang M, Zhang D. Meta-analysis of the association between urokinase-plasminogen activator gene rs2227564 polymorphism and Alzheimer's disease. Am J Alzheimers Dis Other Demen 2013; 28:517-23. [PMID: 23813610 PMCID: PMC10852686 DOI: 10.1177/1533317513494450] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/03/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The association between urokinase-plasminogen activator (PLAU) gene rs2227564 polymorphism and Alzheimer's disease (AD) risk has been widely reported across different ethnic populations, with inconsistent results. Thus, we performed a meta-analysis to assess the association between PLAU rs2227564 polymorphism and AD risk. METHODS Fixed or random effect model was used as the pooling method to assess the basis of homogeneity test among studies. Summarized estimation of odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated. Heterogeneity among studies was evaluated using Q test and I (2). Publication bias was estimated using Harbord's test. RESULTS A total of 27 studies (comprising 6100 AD cases and 5718 controls) were included in this meta-analysis. The present meta-analysis showed a significant increased effect of T allele on risk of AD in dominant model (fixed effect model [FEM] OR 1.123, 95% CI 1.025-1.231) and heterozygote comparison (CT vs CC; FEM OR 1.126, 95% CI 1.027-1.235). No publication bias was detected. CONCLUSION This meta-analysis showed that T allele of rs2227564 polymorphism in PLAU gene could increase the effects on risk of AD, and this result needs to be confirmed by further studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenlong Wu
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, Qingdao University Medical College, Qingdao, People’s Republic of China
| | - Hong Jiang
- Department of Physiology, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathogenesis and Prevention of Neurological Disorders and State Key Disciplines Physiology, Qingdao University medical college, Qingdao, People’s Republic of China
| | - Meiyun Wang
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, Qingdao University Medical College, Qingdao, People’s Republic of China
| | - Dongfeng Zhang
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, Qingdao University Medical College, Qingdao, People’s Republic of China
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Combarros O, Cortina-Borja M, Smith AD, Lehmann DJ. Epistasis in sporadic Alzheimer's disease. Neurobiol Aging 2009; 30:1333-49. [PMID: 18206267 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2007.11.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2007] [Revised: 11/30/2007] [Accepted: 11/30/2007] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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Thornton-Wells TA, Moore JH, Martin ER, Pericak-Vance MA, Haines JL. Confronting complexity in late-onset Alzheimer disease: application of two-stage analysis approach addressing heterogeneity and epistasis. Genet Epidemiol 2008; 32:187-203. [PMID: 18076107 PMCID: PMC2804868 DOI: 10.1002/gepi.20294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Common diseases with a genetic basis are likely to have a very complex etiology, in which the mapping between genotype and phenotype is far from straightforward. A new comprehensive statistical and computational strategy for identifying the missing link between genotype and phenotype has been proposed, which emphasizes the need to address heterogeneity in the first stage of any analysis and gene-gene interactions in the second stage. We applied this two-stage analysis strategy to late-onset Alzheimer disease (LOAD) data, which included functional and positional candidate genes and markers in a region of interest on chromosome 10. Bayesian classification found statistically significant clusterings for independent family-based and case-control datasets, which used the same five markers in leucine-rich repeat transmembrane neuronal 3 (LRRTM3) as the most influential in determining cluster assignment. In subsequent analyses to detect main effects and gene-gene interactions, markers in three genes--urokinase-type plasminogen activator (PLAU), angiotensin 1 converting enzyme (ACE) and cell division cycle 2 (CDC2)--were found to be associated with LOAD in particular subsets of the data based on their LRRTM3 multilocus genotype. All of these genes are viable candidates for LOAD based on their known biological function, even though PLAU, CDC2 and LRRTM3 were initially identified as positional candidates. Further studies are needed to replicate these statistical findings and to elucidate possible biological interaction mechanisms between LRRTM3 and these genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tricia A Thornton-Wells
- Biobehavioral Intervention Training Program, Vanderbilt Kennedy Center for Research on Human Development, Vanderbilt University Institute for Imaging Science, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37203, USA.
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