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Parra Bravo C, Naguib SA, Gan L. Cellular and pathological functions of tau. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol 2024:10.1038/s41580-024-00753-9. [PMID: 39014245 DOI: 10.1038/s41580-024-00753-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/10/2024] [Indexed: 07/18/2024]
Abstract
Tau protein is involved in various cellular processes, including having a canonical role in binding and stabilization of microtubules in neurons. Tauopathies are neurodegenerative diseases marked by the abnormal accumulation of tau protein aggregates in neurons, as seen, for example, in conditions such as frontotemporal dementia and Alzheimer disease. Mutations in tau coding regions or that disrupt tau mRNA splicing, tau post-translational modifications and cellular stress factors (such as oxidative stress and inflammation) increase the tendency of tau to aggregate and interfere with its clearance. Pathological tau is strongly implicated in the progression of neurodegenerative diseases, and the propagation of tau aggregates is associated with disease severity. Recent technological advancements, including cryo-electron microscopy and disease models derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells, have increased our understanding of tau-related pathology in neurodegenerative conditions. Substantial progress has been made in deciphering tau aggregate structures and the molecular mechanisms that underlie protein aggregation and toxicity. In this Review, we discuss recent insights into the diverse cellular functions of tau and the pathology of tau inclusions and explore the potential for therapeutic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Celeste Parra Bravo
- Helen and Robert Appel Alzheimer's Disease Research Institute, Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences, New York, NY, USA
| | - Sarah A Naguib
- Helen and Robert Appel Alzheimer's Disease Research Institute, Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Li Gan
- Helen and Robert Appel Alzheimer's Disease Research Institute, Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences, New York, NY, USA.
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2
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Yang J, Shen N, Shen J, Yang Y, Li HL. Complicated Role of Post-translational Modification and Protease-Cleaved Fragments of Tau in Alzheimer's Disease and Other Tauopathies. Mol Neurobiol 2024; 61:4712-4731. [PMID: 38114762 PMCID: PMC11236937 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-023-03867-x] [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: 09/01/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023]
Abstract
Tau, a microtubule-associated protein predominantly localized in neuronal axons, plays a crucial role in promoting microtubule assembly, stabilizing their structure, and participating in axonal transport. Perturbations in tau's structure and function are implicated in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases collectively known as tauopathies, the most common disorder of which is Alzheimer's disease (AD). In tauopathies, it has been found that tau has a variety of post-translational modification (PTM) abnormalities and/or tau is cleaved into a variety of fragments by some specific proteolytic enzymes; however, the precise contributions of these abnormal modifications and fragments to disease onset and progression remain incompletely understood. Herein, we provide an overview about the involvement of distinctive abnormal tau PTMs and different tau fragments in the pathogenesis of AD and other tauopathies and discuss the involvement of proteolytic enzymes such as caspases, calpains, and asparagine endopeptidase in mediating tau cleavage while also addressing the intercellular transmission role played by tau. We anticipate that further exploration into PTMs and fragmented forms of tau will yield valuable insights for diagnostic approaches and therapeutic interventions targeting AD and other related disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Yang
- Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Naiting Shen
- Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Jianying Shen
- Department of Histology and Embryology, 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
| | - Ying Yang
- Department of Pathophysiology, 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
| | - Hong-Lian Li
- Department of Histology and Embryology, 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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3
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Chu D, Yang X, Wang J, Zhou Y, Gu JH, Miao J, Wu F, Liu F. Tau truncation in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease: a narrative review. Neural Regen Res 2024; 19:1221-1232. [PMID: 37905868 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.385853] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 07/25/2023] [Indexed: 11/02/2023] Open
Abstract
ABSTRACT Alzheimer's disease is characterized by two major neuropathological hallmarks-the extracellular β-amyloid plaques and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles consisting of aggregated and hyperphosphorylated Tau protein. Recent studies suggest that dysregulation of the microtubule-associated protein Tau, especially specific proteolysis, could be a driving force for Alzheimer's disease neurodegeneration. Tau physiologically promotes the assembly and stabilization of microtubules, whereas specific truncated fragments are sufficient to induce abnormal hyperphosphorylation and aggregate into toxic oligomers, resulting in them gaining prion-like characteristics. In addition, Tau truncations cause extensive impairments to neural and glial cell functions and animal cognition and behavior in a fragment-dependent manner. This review summarizes over 60 proteolytic cleavage sites and their corresponding truncated fragments, investigates the role of specific truncations in physiological and pathological states of Alzheimer's disease, and summarizes the latest applications of strategies targeting Tau fragments in the diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dandan Chu
- Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Tissue Engineering Technology Products, Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Xingyue Yang
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Jing Wang
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Yan Zhou
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Jin-Hua Gu
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Affiliated Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Jin Miao
- Laboratory of Animal Center, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Feng Wu
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Fei Liu
- Department of Neurochemistry, Inge Grundke-Iqbal Research Floor, New York State Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities, Staten Island, NY, USA
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Pérez MJ, Ibarra-García-Padilla R, Tang M, Porter GA, Johnson GVW, Quintanilla RA. Caspase-3 cleaved tau impairs mitochondrial function through the opening of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2024; 1870:166898. [PMID: 37774936 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2023.166898] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2023] [Revised: 09/10/2023] [Accepted: 09/24/2023] [Indexed: 10/01/2023]
Abstract
Mitochondrial dysfunction is a significant factor in the development of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Previous studies have demonstrated that the expression of tau cleaved at Asp421 by caspase-3 leads to mitochondrial abnormalities and bioenergetic impairment. However, the underlying mechanism behind these alterations and their impact on neuronal function remains unknown. To investigate the mechanism behind mitochondrial dysfunction caused by this tau form, we used transient transfection and pharmacological approaches in immortalized cortical neurons and mouse primary hippocampal neurons. We assessed mitochondrial morphology and bioenergetics function after expression of full-length tau and caspase-3-cleaved tau. We also evaluated the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP) opening and its conformation as a possible mechanism to explain mitochondrial impairment induced by caspase-3 cleaved tau. Our studies showed that pharmacological inhibition of mPTP by cyclosporine A (CsA) prevented all mitochondrial length and bioenergetics abnormalities in neuronal cells expressing caspase-3 cleaved tau. Neuronal cells expressing caspase-3-cleaved tau showed sustained mPTP opening which is mostly dependent on cyclophilin D (CypD) protein expression. Moreover, the impairment of mitochondrial length and bioenergetics induced by caspase-3-cleaved tau were prevented in hippocampal neurons obtained from CypD knock-out mice. Interestingly, previous studies using these mice showed a prevention of mPTP opening and a reduction of mitochondrial failure and neurodegeneration induced by AD. Therefore, our findings showed that caspase-3-cleaved tau negatively impacts mitochondrial bioenergetics through mPTP activation, highlighting the importance of this channel and its regulatory protein, CypD, in the neuronal damage induced by tau pathology in AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- María José Pérez
- Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Centro de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Autónoma de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Rodrigo Ibarra-García-Padilla
- Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Centro de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Autónoma de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Maoping Tang
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Rochester Medical Center, New York, USA
| | - George A Porter
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Rochester Medical Center, New York, USA
| | - Gail V W Johnson
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Rochester Medical Center, New York, USA
| | - Rodrigo A Quintanilla
- Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Centro de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Autónoma de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
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He J, Liu F, Xu T, Ma J, Yu H, Zhao J, Xie Y, Luo L, Yang Q, Lou T, He L, Sun D. The role of hydrogen therapy in Alzheimer's disease management: Insights into mechanisms, administration routes, and future challenges. Biomed Pharmacother 2023; 168:115807. [PMID: 37913734 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.115807] [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: 08/25/2023] [Revised: 10/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder predominantly affecting the elderly. While conventional pharmacological therapies remain the primary treatment for AD, their efficacy is limited effectiveness and often associated with significant side effects. This underscores the urgent need to explore alternative, non-pharmacological interventions. Oxidative stress has been identified as a central player in AD pathology, influencing various aspects including amyloid-beta metabolism, tau phosphorylation, autophagy, neuroinflammation, mitochondrial dysfunction, and synaptic dysfunction. Among the emerging non-drug approaches, hydrogen therapy has garnered attention for its potential in mitigating these pathological conditions. This review provides a comprehensively overview of the therapeutic potential of hydrogen in AD. We delve into its mechanisms of action, administration routes, and discuss the current challenges and future prospects, with the aim of providing valuable insights to facilitate the clinical application of hydrogen-based therapies in AD management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaxuan He
- Institute of Life Sciences & Biomedical Collaborative Innovation Center of Zhejiang Province, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou 325035, China
| | - Fan Liu
- Institute of Life Sciences & Biomedical Collaborative Innovation Center of Zhejiang Province, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou 325035, China
| | - Ting Xu
- Institute of Life Sciences & Biomedical Collaborative Innovation Center of Zhejiang Province, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou 325035, China
| | - Jiahui Ma
- Institute of Life Sciences & Biomedical Collaborative Innovation Center of Zhejiang Province, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou 325035, China
| | - Haiyang Yu
- Institute of Life Sciences & Biomedical Collaborative Innovation Center of Zhejiang Province, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou 325035, China
| | - Jing Zhao
- Institute of Life Sciences & Biomedical Collaborative Innovation Center of Zhejiang Province, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou 325035, China
| | - Yanyan Xie
- The Affiliated Kangning Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325000, China
| | - Li Luo
- Dongguan Hospital, Southern Medical University, Dongguan 523059, China
| | - Qinsi Yang
- Wenzhou Institute, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wenzhou 325000, China
| | - Ting Lou
- Yiwu Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Yiwu 322000, China.
| | - Luqing He
- Department of Science and Education, the Third People's Hospital Health Care Group of Cixi, Ningbo 315300, China.
| | - Da Sun
- Institute of Life Sciences & Biomedical Collaborative Innovation Center of Zhejiang Province, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou 325035, China.
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6
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Atlante A, Valenti D. Mitochondrial Complex I and β-Amyloid Peptide Interplay in Alzheimer's Disease: A Critical Review of New and Old Little Regarded Findings. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:15951. [PMID: 37958934 PMCID: PMC10650435 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242115951] [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: 10/05/2023] [Revised: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disorder and the main cause of dementia which is characterized by a progressive cognitive decline that severely interferes with daily activities of personal life. At a pathological level, it is characterized by the accumulation of abnormal protein structures in the brain-β-amyloid (Aβ) plaques and Tau tangles-which interfere with communication between neurons and lead to their dysfunction and death. In recent years, research on AD has highlighted the critical involvement of mitochondria-the primary energy suppliers for our cells-in the onset and progression of the disease, since mitochondrial bioenergetic deficits precede the beginning of the disease and mitochondria are very sensitive to Aβ toxicity. On the other hand, if it is true that the accumulation of Aβ in the mitochondria leads to mitochondrial malfunctions, it is otherwise proven that mitochondrial dysfunction, through the generation of reactive oxygen species, causes an increase in Aβ production, by initiating a vicious cycle: there is therefore a bidirectional relationship between Aβ aggregation and mitochondrial dysfunction. Here, we focus on the latest news-but also on neglected evidence from the past-concerning the interplay between dysfunctional mitochondrial complex I, oxidative stress, and Aβ, in order to understand how their interplay is implicated in the pathogenesis of the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Atlante
- Institute of Biomembranes, Bioenergetics and Molecular Biotechnologies (IBIOM), National Research Council (CNR), Via G. Amendola 122/O, 70126 Bari, Italy;
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Du F, Yu Q, Swerdlow RH, Waites CL. Glucocorticoid-driven mitochondrial damage stimulates Tau pathology. Brain 2023; 146:4378-4394. [PMID: 37070763 PMCID: PMC10545530 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awad127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2022] [Revised: 03/10/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2023] [Indexed: 04/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Prolonged exposure to glucocorticoids, the main stress hormones, damages the brain and is a risk factor for depression and Alzheimer's disease. Two major drivers of glucocorticoid-related neurotoxicity are mitochondrial dysfunction and Tau pathology; however, the molecular/cellular mechanisms precipitating these events, and their causal relationship, remain unclear. Using cultured murine hippocampal neurons and 4-5-month-old mice treated with the synthetic glucocorticoid dexamethasone, we investigate the mechanisms underlying glucocorticoid-induced mitochondrial damage and Tau pathology. We find that glucocorticoids stimulate opening of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore via transcriptional upregulation of its activating component, cyclophilin D. Inhibition of cyclophilin D is protective against glucocorticoid-induced mitochondrial damage as well as Tau phosphorylation and oligomerization in cultured neurons. We further identify the mitochondrially-targeted compound mito-apocynin as an inhibitor of glucocorticoid-induced permeability transition pore opening, and show that this compound protects against mitochondrial dysfunction, Tau pathology, synaptic loss, and behavioural deficits induced by glucocorticoids in vivo. Finally, we demonstrate that mito-apocynin and the glucocorticoid receptor antagonist mifepristone rescue Tau pathology in cytoplasmic hybrid cells, an ex vivo Alzheimer's disease model wherein endogenous mitochondria are replaced with mitochondria from Alzheimer's subjects. These findings show that mitochondrial permeability transition pore opening is a precipitating factor in glucocorticoid-induced mitochondrial dysfunction, and that this event stimulates Tau pathogenesis. Our data also link glucocorticoids to mitochondrial dysfunction and Tau pathology in the context of Alzheimer's disease and suggest that mitochondria are promising therapeutic targets for mitigating stress- and Tau-related brain damage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fang Du
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer’s Disease and Aging Brain, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Qing Yu
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer’s Disease and Aging Brain, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Russell H Swerdlow
- University of Kansas Alzheimer’s Disease Center, University of Kansas School of Medicine, Landon Center on Aging, Kansas City, KS 66103, USA
| | - Clarissa L Waites
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer’s Disease and Aging Brain, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
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8
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Morello G, Guarnaccia M, La Cognata V, Latina V, Calissano P, Amadoro G, Cavallaro S. Transcriptomic Analysis in the Hippocampus and Retina of Tg2576 AD Mice Reveals Defective Mitochondrial Oxidative Phosphorylation and Recovery by Tau 12A12mAb Treatment. Cells 2023; 12:2254. [PMID: 37759477 PMCID: PMC10527038 DOI: 10.3390/cells12182254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2023] [Revised: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 09/08/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Increasing evidence implicates decreased energy metabolism and mitochondrial dysfunctions among the earliest pathogenic events of Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, the molecular mechanisms underlying bioenergetic dysfunctions in AD remain, to date, largely unknown. In this work, we analyzed transcriptomic changes occurring in the hippocampus and retina of a Tg2576 AD mouse model and wild-type controls, evaluating their functional implications by gene set enrichment analysis. The results revealed that oxidative phosphorylation and mitochondrial-related pathways are significantly down-regulated in both tissues of Tg2576 mice, supporting the role of these processes in the pathogenesis of AD. In addition, we also analyzed transcriptomic changes occurring in Tg2576 mice treated with the 12A12 monoclonal antibody that neutralizes an AD-relevant tau-derived neurotoxic peptide in vivo. Our analysis showed that the mitochondrial alterations observed in AD mice were significantly reverted by treatment with 12A12mAb, supporting bioenergetic pathways as key mediators of its in vivo neuroprotective and anti-amyloidogenic effects. This study provides, for the first time, a comprehensive characterization of molecular events underlying the disrupted mitochondrial bioenergetics in AD pathology, laying the foundation for the future development of diagnostic and therapeutic tools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanna Morello
- Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation, National Research Council (CNR-IRIB), Via Paolo Gaifami, 18, 95126 Catania, Italy; (G.M.); (M.G.); (V.L.C.)
| | - Maria Guarnaccia
- Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation, National Research Council (CNR-IRIB), Via Paolo Gaifami, 18, 95126 Catania, Italy; (G.M.); (M.G.); (V.L.C.)
| | - Valentina La Cognata
- Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation, National Research Council (CNR-IRIB), Via Paolo Gaifami, 18, 95126 Catania, Italy; (G.M.); (M.G.); (V.L.C.)
| | - Valentina Latina
- European Brain Research Institute (EBRI), Viale Regina Elena 295, 00161 Rome, Italy; (V.L.); (P.C.); (G.A.)
| | - Pietro Calissano
- European Brain Research Institute (EBRI), Viale Regina Elena 295, 00161 Rome, Italy; (V.L.); (P.C.); (G.A.)
| | - Giuseppina Amadoro
- European Brain Research Institute (EBRI), Viale Regina Elena 295, 00161 Rome, Italy; (V.L.); (P.C.); (G.A.)
- Institute of Translational Pharmacology (IFT), National Research Council (CNR), Via Fosso del Cavaliere 100, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Sebastiano Cavallaro
- Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation, National Research Council (CNR-IRIB), Via Paolo Gaifami, 18, 95126 Catania, Italy; (G.M.); (M.G.); (V.L.C.)
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9
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Sousa T, Moreira PI, Cardoso S. Current Advances in Mitochondrial Targeted Interventions in Alzheimer's Disease. Biomedicines 2023; 11:2331. [PMID: 37760774 PMCID: PMC10525414 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11092331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2023] [Revised: 08/16/2023] [Accepted: 08/18/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease is the most prevalent neurodegenerative disorder and affects the lives not only of those who are diagnosed but also of their caregivers. Despite the enormous social, economic and political burden, AD remains a disease without an effective treatment and with several failed attempts to modify the disease course. The fact that AD clinical diagnosis is most often performed at a stage at which the underlying pathological events are in an advanced and conceivably irremediable state strongly hampers treatment attempts. This raises the awareness of the need to identify and characterize the early brain changes in AD, in order to identify possible novel therapeutic targets to circumvent AD's cascade of events. One of the most auspicious targets is mitochondria, powerful organelles found in nearly all cells of the body. A vast body of literature has shown that mitochondria from AD patients and model organisms of the disease differ from their non-AD counterparts. In view of this evidence, preserving and/or restoring mitochondria's health and function can represent the primary means to achieve advances to tackle AD. In this review, we will briefly assess and summarize the previous and latest evidence of mitochondria dysfunction in AD. A particular focus will be given to the recent updates and advances in the strategy options aimed to target faulty mitochondria in AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiago Sousa
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, 3000-370 Coimbra, Portugal;
| | - Paula I. Moreira
- CNC—Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal;
- CIBB—Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology, University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal
- Institute of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, 3000-370 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Susana Cardoso
- CNC—Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal;
- CIBB—Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology, University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal
- IIIUC—Institute for Interdisciplinary Research, University of Coimbra, 3030-789 Coimbra, Portugal
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Latina V, Atlante A, Malerba F, La Regina F, Balzamino BO, Micera A, Pignataro A, Stigliano E, Cavallaro S, Calissano P, Amadoro G. The Cleavage-Specific Tau 12A12mAb Exerts an Anti-Amyloidogenic Action by Modulating the Endocytic and Bioenergetic Pathways in Alzheimer's Disease Mouse Model. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24119683. [PMID: 37298634 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24119683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2023] [Revised: 05/27/2023] [Accepted: 05/31/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Beyond deficits in hippocampal-dependent episodic memory, Alzheimer's Disease (AD) features sensory impairment in visual cognition consistent with extensive neuropathology in the retina. 12A12 is a monoclonal cleavage specific antibody (mAb) that in vivo selectively neutralizes the AD-relevant, harmful N-terminal 20-22 kDa tau fragment(s) (i.e., NH2htau) without affecting the full-length normal protein. When systemically injected into the Tg2576 mouse model overexpressing a mutant form of Amyloid Precursor Protein (APP), APPK670/671L linked to early onset familial AD, this conformation-specific tau mAb successfully reduces the NH2htau accumulating both in their brain and retina and, thus, markedly alleviates the phenotype-associated signs. By means of a combined biochemical and metabolic experimental approach, we report that 12A12mAb downregulates the steady state expression levels of APP and Beta-Secretase 1 (BACE-1) and, thus, limits the Amyloid beta (Aβ) production both in the hippocampus and retina from this AD animal model. The local, antibody-mediated anti-amyloidogenic action is paralleled in vivo by coordinated modulation of the endocytic (BIN1, RIN3) and bioenergetic (glycolysis and L-Lactate) pathways. These findings indicate for the first time that similar molecular and metabolic retino-cerebral pathways are modulated in a coordinated fashion in response to 12A12mAb treatment to tackle the neurosensorial Aβ accumulation in AD neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Latina
- European Brain Research Institute (EBRI), Viale Regina Elena 295, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Anna Atlante
- Institute of Biomembranes, Bioenergetics and Molecular Biotechnologies (IBIOM), National Research Council (CNR), Via Amendola 122/O, 70126 Bari, Italy
| | - Francesca Malerba
- European Brain Research Institute (EBRI), Viale Regina Elena 295, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Federico La Regina
- European Brain Research Institute (EBRI), Viale Regina Elena 295, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Bijorn Omar Balzamino
- Research Laboratories in Ophthalmology, IRCCS-Fondazione Bietti, Via Santo Stefano Rotondo 6, 00184 Rome, Italy
| | - Alessandra Micera
- Research Laboratories in Ophthalmology, IRCCS-Fondazione Bietti, Via Santo Stefano Rotondo 6, 00184 Rome, Italy
| | - Annabella Pignataro
- Institute of Translational Pharmacology (IFT), National Research Council (CNR), Via Fosso del Cavaliere 100, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Egidio Stigliano
- Area of Pathology, Department of Woman and Child Health and Public Health, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Istituto di Anatomia Patologica, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Largo Francesco Vito 1, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Sebastiano Cavallaro
- Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation (IRIB), National Research Council (CNR), Via P. Gaifami 18, 95126 Catania, Italy
| | - Pietro Calissano
- European Brain Research Institute (EBRI), Viale Regina Elena 295, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Giuseppina Amadoro
- European Brain Research Institute (EBRI), Viale Regina Elena 295, 00161 Rome, Italy
- Institute of Translational Pharmacology (IFT), National Research Council (CNR), Via Fosso del Cavaliere 100, 00133 Rome, Italy
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11
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Rahman MM, Islam MR, Alam Tumpa MA, Shohag S, Shakil Khan Shuvo, Ferdous J, Kajol SA, Aljohani ASM, Al Abdulmonem W, Rauf A, Thiruvengadam M. Insights into the promising prospect of medicinal chemistry studies against neurodegenerative disorders. Chem Biol Interact 2023; 373:110375. [PMID: 36739931 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbi.2023.110375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2022] [Revised: 12/06/2022] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Medicinal chemistry is an interdisciplinary field that incorporates organic chemistry, biochemistry, physical chemistry, pharmacology, informatics, molecular biology, structural biology, cell biology, and other disciplines. Additionally, it considers molecular factors such as the mode of action of the drugs, their chemical structure-activity relationship (SAR), and pharmacokinetic aspects like absorption, distribution, metabolism, elimination, and toxicity. Neurodegenerative disorders (NDs), which are defined by the breakdown of neurons over time, are affecting an increasing number of people. Oxidative stress, particularly the increased production of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS), plays a crucial role in the growth of various disorders, as indicated by the identification of protein, lipid, and Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) oxidation products in vivo. Because of their inherent nature, most biological molecules are vulnerable to ROS, even if they play a role in metabolic parameters and cell signaling. Due to their high polyunsaturated fatty acid content, low antioxidant barrier, and high oxygen uptake, neurons are particularly vulnerable to oxidation by nature. As a result, excessive ROS generation in neurons looks especially harmful, and the mechanisms associated with biomolecule oxidative destruction are several and complex. This review focuses on the formation and management of ROS, as well as their chemical characteristics (both thermodynamic and kinetic), interactions, and implications in NDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Md Mominur Rahman
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Daffodil International University, Dhaka, 1207, Bangladesh
| | - Md Rezaul Islam
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Daffodil International University, Dhaka, 1207, Bangladesh
| | - Mst Afroza Alam Tumpa
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Daffodil International University, Dhaka, 1207, Bangladesh
| | - Sheikh Shohag
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Qassim University Buraydah, 52571, Saudi Arabia
| | - Shakil Khan Shuvo
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Daffodil International University, Dhaka, 1207, Bangladesh
| | - Jannatul Ferdous
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Daffodil International University, Dhaka, 1207, Bangladesh
| | - Saima Akter Kajol
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Daffodil International University, Dhaka, 1207, Bangladesh
| | - Abdullah S M Aljohani
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Qassim University Buraydah, 52571, Saudi Arabia
| | - Waleed Al Abdulmonem
- Department of Pathology, College of Medicine Qassim University, Buraydah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdur Rauf
- Department of Chemistry, University of Swabi, Swabi, Anbar, 23430, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Pakistan.
| | - Muthu Thiruvengadam
- Department of Applied Bioscience, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Konkuk University, Seoul, 05029, South Korea; Department of Microbiology, Saveetha Dental College and Hospitals, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Saveetha University, Chennai, 600077, Tamil Nadu, India.
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12
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Lazarev VF, Dutysheva EA, Kanunikov IE, Guzhova IV, Margulis BA. Protein Interactome of Amyloid-β as a Therapeutic Target. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2023; 16:312. [PMID: 37259455 PMCID: PMC9965366 DOI: 10.3390/ph16020312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2022] [Revised: 01/27/2023] [Accepted: 02/08/2023] [Indexed: 04/12/2024] Open
Abstract
The amyloid concept of Alzheimer's disease (AD) assumes the β-amyloid peptide (Aβ) as the main pathogenic factor, which injures neural and other brain cells, causing their malfunction and death. Although Aβ has been documented to exert its cytotoxic effect in a solitary manner, there is much evidence to claim that its toxicity can be modulated by other proteins. The list of such Aβ co-factors or interactors includes tau, APOE, transthyretin, and others. These molecules interact with the peptide and affect the ability of Aβ to form oligomers or aggregates, modulating its toxicity. Thus, the list of potential substances able to reduce the harmful effects of the peptide should include ones that can prevent the pathogenic interactions by specifically binding Aβ and/or its partners. In the present review, we discuss the data on Aβ-based complexes in AD pathogenesis and on the compounds directly targeting Aβ or the destructors of its complexes with other polypeptides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vladimir F. Lazarev
- Institute of Cytology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 194064 Saint Petersburg, Russia
| | - Elizaveta A. Dutysheva
- Institute of Cytology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 194064 Saint Petersburg, Russia
| | - Igor E. Kanunikov
- Biological Faculty, St. Petersburg State University, 199034 Saint Petersburg, Russia
| | - Irina V. Guzhova
- Institute of Cytology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 194064 Saint Petersburg, Russia
| | - Boris A. Margulis
- Institute of Cytology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 194064 Saint Petersburg, Russia
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13
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Latina V, De Introna M, Caligiuri C, Loviglio A, Florio R, La Regina F, Pignataro A, Ammassari-Teule M, Calissano P, Amadoro G. Immunotherapy with Cleavage-Specific 12A12mAb Reduces the Tau Cleavage in Visual Cortex and Improves Visuo-Spatial Recognition Memory in Tg2576 AD Mouse Model. Pharmaceutics 2023; 15:pharmaceutics15020509. [PMID: 36839831 PMCID: PMC9965010 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15020509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2022] [Revised: 01/25/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Tau-targeted immunotherapy is a promising approach for treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Beyond cognitive decline, AD features visual deficits consistent with the manifestation of Amyloid β-protein (Aβ) plaques and neurofibrillary tangles (NFT) in the eyes and higher visual centers, both in animal models and affected subjects. We reported that 12A12-a monoclonal cleavage-specific antibody (mAb) which in vivo neutralizes the neurotoxic, N-terminal 20-22 kDa tau fragment(s)-significantly reduces the retinal accumulation in Tg(HuAPP695Swe)2576 mice of both tau and APP/Aβ pathologies correlated with local inflammation and synaptic deterioration. Here, we report the occurrence of N-terminal tau cleavage in the primary visual cortex (V1 area) and the beneficial effect of 12A12mAb treatment on phenotype-associated visuo-spatial deficits in this AD animal model. We found out that non-invasive administration of 12 A12mAb markedly reduced the pathological accumulation of both truncated tau and Aβ in the V1 area, correlated to significant improvement in visual recognition memory performance along with local increase in two direct readouts of cortical synaptic plasticity, including the dendritic spine density and the expression level of activity-regulated cytoskeleton protein Arc/Arg3.1. Translation of these findings to clinical therapeutic interventions could offer an innovative tau-directed opportunity to delay or halt the visual impairments occurring during AD progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Latina
- European Brain Research Institute (EBRI), Viale Regina Elena 295, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Margherita De Introna
- Institute of Translational Pharmacology (IFT), National Research Council (CNR), Via Fosso del Cavaliere 100, 00133 Rome, Italy
- IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation (FSL), Centro di Ricerca Europeo sul Cervello (CERC), Via Fosso del Fiorano 64-65, 00143 Rome, Italy
| | - Chiara Caligiuri
- IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation (FSL), Centro di Ricerca Europeo sul Cervello (CERC), Via Fosso del Fiorano 64-65, 00143 Rome, Italy
| | - Alessia Loviglio
- European Brain Research Institute (EBRI), Viale Regina Elena 295, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Rita Florio
- European Brain Research Institute (EBRI), Viale Regina Elena 295, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Federico La Regina
- European Brain Research Institute (EBRI), Viale Regina Elena 295, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Annabella Pignataro
- Institute of Translational Pharmacology (IFT), National Research Council (CNR), Via Fosso del Cavaliere 100, 00133 Rome, Italy
- IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation (FSL), Centro di Ricerca Europeo sul Cervello (CERC), Via Fosso del Fiorano 64-65, 00143 Rome, Italy
| | - Martine Ammassari-Teule
- IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation (FSL), Centro di Ricerca Europeo sul Cervello (CERC), Via Fosso del Fiorano 64-65, 00143 Rome, Italy
- Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology (IBBC), National Research Council (CNR), Via Ercole Ramarini 32, 00015 Rome, Italy
| | - Pietro Calissano
- European Brain Research Institute (EBRI), Viale Regina Elena 295, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Giuseppina Amadoro
- European Brain Research Institute (EBRI), Viale Regina Elena 295, 00161 Rome, Italy
- Institute of Translational Pharmacology (IFT), National Research Council (CNR), Via Fosso del Cavaliere 100, 00133 Rome, Italy
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-06-49255252
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14
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Mitochondria in Cell-Based Therapy for Stroke. Antioxidants (Basel) 2023; 12:antiox12010178. [PMID: 36671040 PMCID: PMC9854436 DOI: 10.3390/antiox12010178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2023] [Revised: 01/09/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite a relatively developed understanding of the pathophysiology underlying primary and secondary mechanisms of cell death after ischemic injury, there are few established treatments to improve stroke prognoses. A major contributor to secondary cell death is mitochondrial dysfunction. Recent advancements in cell-based therapies suggest that stem cells may be revolutionary for treating stroke, and the reestablishment of mitochondrial integrity may underlie these therapeutic benefits. In fact, functioning mitochondria are imperative for reducing oxidative damage and neuroinflammation following stroke and reperfusion injury. In this review, we will discuss the role of mitochondria in establishing the anti-oxidative effects of stem cell therapies for stroke.
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15
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Dewanjee S, Chakraborty P, Bhattacharya H, Chacko L, Singh B, Chaudhary A, Javvaji K, Pradhan SR, Vallamkondu J, Dey A, Kalra RS, Jha NK, Jha SK, Reddy PH, Kandimalla R. Altered glucose metabolism in Alzheimer's disease: Role of mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress. Free Radic Biol Med 2022; 193:134-157. [PMID: 36206930 DOI: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2022.09.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 31.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2022] [Revised: 09/16/2022] [Accepted: 09/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/06/2022]
Abstract
Increasing evidence suggests that abnormal cerebral glucose metabolism is largely present in Alzheimer's disease (AD). The brain utilizes glucose as its main energy source and a decline in its metabolism directly reflects on brain function. Weighing on recent evidence, here we systematically assessed the aberrant glucose metabolism associated with amyloid beta and phosphorylated tau accumulation in AD brain. Interlink between insulin signaling and AD highlighted the involvement of the IRS/PI3K/Akt/AMPK signaling, and GLUTs in the disease progression. While shedding light on the mitochondrial dysfunction in the defective glucose metabolism, we further assessed functional consequences of AGEs (advanced glycation end products) accumulation, polyol activation, and other contributing factors including terminal respiration, ROS (reactive oxygen species), mitochondrial permeability, PINK1/parkin defects, lysosome-mitochondrial crosstalk, and autophagy/mitophagy. Combined with the classic plaque and tangle pathologies, glucose hypometabolism with acquired insulin resistance and mitochondrial dysfunction potentiate these factors to exacerbate AD pathology. To this end, we further reviewed AD and DM (diabetes mellitus) crosstalk in disease progression. Taken together, the present work discusses the emerging role of altered glucose metabolism, contributing impact of insulin signaling, and mitochondrial dysfunction in the defective cerebral glucose utilization in AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saikat Dewanjee
- Advanced Pharmacognosy Research Laboratory, Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Jadavpur University, Kolkata, 700 032, West Bengal, India
| | - Pratik Chakraborty
- Advanced Pharmacognosy Research Laboratory, Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Jadavpur University, Kolkata, 700 032, West Bengal, India
| | - Hiranmoy Bhattacharya
- Advanced Pharmacognosy Research Laboratory, Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Jadavpur University, Kolkata, 700 032, West Bengal, India
| | - Leena Chacko
- BioAnalytical Lab, Meso Scale Discovery, 1601 Research Blvd, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Birbal Singh
- ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI), Regional Station, Palampur, 176061, Himachal Pradesh, India
| | - Anupama Chaudhary
- Orinin-BioSystems, LE-52, Lotus Road 4, CHD City, Karnal, 132001, Haryana, India
| | - Kalpana Javvaji
- CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, Uppal Road, Tarnaka, India
| | | | | | - Abhijit Dey
- Department of Life Sciences, Presidency University, Kolkata, 700073, India
| | - Rajkumar Singh Kalra
- Immune Signal Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Okinawa, 9040495, Japan
| | - Niraj Kumar Jha
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Engineering & Technology (SET), Sharda University, UP, 201310, India; Department of Biotechnology Engineering and Food Technology, Chandigarh University, Mohali, 140413, India; Department of Biotechnology, School of Applied & Life Sciences (SALS), Uttaranchal University, Dehradun, 248007, India
| | - Saurabh Kumar Jha
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Engineering & Technology (SET), Sharda University, UP, 201310, India; Department of Biotechnology Engineering and Food Technology, Chandigarh University, Mohali, 140413, India; Department of Biotechnology, School of Applied & Life Sciences (SALS), Uttaranchal University, Dehradun, 248007, India
| | - P Hemachandra Reddy
- Internal Medicine Department, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, USA; Neuroscience & Pharmacology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, USA; Neurology Departments School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, USA; Public Health Department of Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, USA; Department of Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences, School Health Professions, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, USA
| | - Ramesh Kandimalla
- CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, Uppal Road, Tarnaka, India; Department of Biochemistry, Kakatiya Medical College, Warangal, India.
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16
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Balzamino BO, Esposito G, Marino R, Calissano P, Latina V, Amadoro G, Keller F, Cacciamani A, Micera A. Morphological and biomolecular targets in retina and vitreous from Reelin-deficient mice (Reeler): Potential implications for age-related macular degeneration in Alzheimer’s dementia. Front Aging Neurosci 2022; 14:1015359. [DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2022.1015359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2022] [Accepted: 10/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The neurosensory retina is an outgrowth of the Central Nervous System (CNS), and the eye is considered “a window to the brain.” Reelin glycoprotein is directly involved in neurodevelopment, in synaptic plasticity, learning and memory. Consequently, abnormal Reelin signaling has been associated with brain neurodegeneration but its contributing role in ocular degeneration is still poorly explored. To this aim, experimental procedures were assayed on vitreous or retinas obtained from Reeler mice (knockout for Reelin protein) at different postnatal days (p) p14, p21 and p28. At p28, a significant increase in the expression of Amyloid Precursor Protein (APP) and its amyloidogenic peptide (Aβ1-42 along with truncated tau fragment (i.e., NH2htau)- three pathological hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease (AD)-were found in Reeler mice when compared to their age-matched wild-type controls. Likewise, several inflammatory mediators, such as Interleukins, or crucial biomarkers of oxidative stress were also found to be upregulated in Reeler mice by using different techniques such as ELLA assay, microchip array or real-time PCR. Taken together, these findings suggest that a dysfunctional Reelin signaling enables the expression of key pathological features which are classically associated with AD neurodegenerative processes. Thus, this work suggests that Reeler mouse might be a suitable animal model to study not only the pathophysiology of developmental processes but also several neurodegenerative diseases, such as AD and Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD), characterized by accumulation of APP and/or Aβ1-42, NH2htau and inflammatory markers.
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17
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Atlante A, Amadoro G, Latina V, Valenti D. Therapeutic Potential of Targeting Mitochondria for Alzheimer's Disease Treatment. J Clin Med 2022; 11:jcm11226742. [PMID: 36431219 PMCID: PMC9697019 DOI: 10.3390/jcm11226742] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2022] [Revised: 11/11/2022] [Accepted: 11/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD), a chronic and progressive neurodegenerative disease, is characterized by memory and cognitive impairment and by the accumulation in the brain of abnormal proteins, more precisely beta-amyloid (β-amyloid or Aβ) and Tau proteins. Studies aimed at researching pharmacological treatments against AD have focused precisely on molecules capable, in one way or another, of preventing/eliminating the accumulations of the aforementioned proteins. Unfortunately, more than 100 years after the discovery of the disease, there is still no effective therapy in modifying the biology behind AD and nipping the disease in the bud. This state of affairs has made neuroscientists suspicious, so much so that for several years the idea has gained ground that AD is not a direct neuropathological consequence taking place downstream of the deposition of the two toxic proteins, but rather a multifactorial disease, including mitochondrial dysfunction as an early event in the pathogenesis of AD, occurring even before clinical symptoms. This is the reason why the search for pharmacological agents capable of normalizing the functioning of these subcellular organelles of vital importance for nerve cells is certainly to be considered a promising approach to the design of effective neuroprotective drugs aimed at preserving this organelle to arrest or delay the progression of the disease. Here, our intent is to provide an updated overview of the mitochondrial alterations related to this disorder and of the therapeutic strategies (both natural and synthetic) targeting mitochondrial dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Atlante
- Institute of Biomembranes, Bioenergetics and Molecular Biotechnologies (IBIOM)-CNR, Via G. Amendola122/O, 70126 Bari, Italy
- Correspondence: (A.A.); (D.V.); Tel.: +39-080-5929804 (A.A.); +39-080-5929805 (D.V.)
| | - Giuseppina Amadoro
- Institute of Translational Pharmacology (IFT)-CNR, Via Fosso del Cavaliere 100, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Valentina Latina
- European Brain Research Institute (EBRI), Viale Regina Elena 295, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Daniela Valenti
- Institute of Biomembranes, Bioenergetics and Molecular Biotechnologies (IBIOM)-CNR, Via G. Amendola122/O, 70126 Bari, Italy
- Correspondence: (A.A.); (D.V.); Tel.: +39-080-5929804 (A.A.); +39-080-5929805 (D.V.)
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18
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Fišar Z. Linking the Amyloid, Tau, and Mitochondrial Hypotheses of Alzheimer's Disease and Identifying Promising Drug Targets. Biomolecules 2022; 12:1676. [PMID: 36421690 PMCID: PMC9687482 DOI: 10.3390/biom12111676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2022] [Revised: 10/23/2022] [Accepted: 11/09/2022] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Damage or loss of brain cells and impaired neurochemistry, neurogenesis, and synaptic and nonsynaptic plasticity of the brain lead to dementia in neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). Injury to synapses and neurons and accumulation of extracellular amyloid plaques and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles are considered the main morphological and neuropathological features of AD. Age, genetic and epigenetic factors, environmental stressors, and lifestyle contribute to the risk of AD onset and progression. These risk factors are associated with structural and functional changes in the brain, leading to cognitive decline. Biomarkers of AD reflect or cause specific changes in brain function, especially changes in pathways associated with neurotransmission, neuroinflammation, bioenergetics, apoptosis, and oxidative and nitrosative stress. Even in the initial stages, AD is associated with Aβ neurotoxicity, mitochondrial dysfunction, and tau neurotoxicity. The integrative amyloid-tau-mitochondrial hypothesis assumes that the primary cause of AD is the neurotoxicity of Aβ oligomers and tau oligomers, mitochondrial dysfunction, and their mutual synergy. For the development of new efficient AD drugs, targeting the elimination of neurotoxicity, mutual potentiation of effects, and unwanted protein interactions of risk factors and biomarkers (mainly Aβ oligomers, tau oligomers, and mitochondrial dysfunction) in the early stage of the disease seems promising.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zdeněk Fišar
- Department of Psychiatry, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and General University Hospital in Prague, Ke Karlovu 11, 120 00 Prague, Czech Republic
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19
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Bartolome F, Carro E, Alquezar C. Oxidative Stress in Tauopathies: From Cause to Therapy. Antioxidants (Basel) 2022; 11:antiox11081421. [PMID: 35892623 PMCID: PMC9332496 DOI: 10.3390/antiox11081421] [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: 07/08/2022] [Accepted: 07/20/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Oxidative stress (OS) is the result of an imbalance between the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the antioxidant capacity of cells. Due to its high oxygen demand, the human brain is highly susceptible to OS and, thus, it is not a surprise that OS has emerged as an essential component of the pathophysiology of several neurodegenerative diseases, including tauopathies. Tauopathies are a heterogeneous group of age-related neurodegenerative disorders characterized by the deposition of abnormal tau protein in the affected neurons. With the worldwide population aging, the prevalence of tauopathies is increasing, but effective therapies have not yet been developed. Since OS seems to play a key role in tauopathies, it has been proposed that the use of antioxidants might be beneficial for tau-related neurodegenerative diseases. Although antioxidant therapies looked promising in preclinical studies performed in cellular and animal models, the antioxidant clinical trials performed in tauopathy patients have been disappointing. To develop effective antioxidant therapies, the molecular mechanisms underlying OS in tauopathies should be completely understood. Here, we review the link between OS and tauopathies, emphasizing the causes of OS in these diseases and the role of OS in tau pathogenesis. We also summarize the antioxidant therapies proposed as a potential treatment for tauopathies and discuss why they have not been completely translated to clinical trials. This review aims to provide an integrated perspective of the role of OS and antioxidant therapies in tauopathies. In doing so, we hope to enable a more comprehensive understanding of OS in tauopathies that will positively impact future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernando Bartolome
- Group of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre Research Institute (imas12), 28041 Madrid, Spain;
- Network Center for Biomedical Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIBERNED), Spain;
| | - Eva Carro
- Network Center for Biomedical Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIBERNED), Spain;
- Neurobiology of Alzheimer’s Disease Unit, Chronic Disease Program, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28222 Madrid, Spain
| | - Carolina Alquezar
- Group of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre Research Institute (imas12), 28041 Madrid, Spain;
- Correspondence:
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20
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Tracy TE, Madero-Pérez J, Swaney DL, Chang TS, Moritz M, Konrad C, Ward ME, Stevenson E, Hüttenhain R, Kauwe G, Mercedes M, Sweetland-Martin L, Chen X, Mok SA, Wong MY, Telpoukhovskaia M, Min SW, Wang C, Sohn PD, Martin J, Zhou Y, Luo W, Trojanowski JQ, Lee VMY, Gong S, Manfredi G, Coppola G, Krogan NJ, Geschwind DH, Gan L. Tau interactome maps synaptic and mitochondrial processes associated with neurodegeneration. Cell 2022; 185:712-728.e14. [PMID: 35063084 PMCID: PMC8857049 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2021.12.041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 119] [Impact Index Per Article: 59.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2021] [Revised: 10/20/2021] [Accepted: 12/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Tau (MAPT) drives neuronal dysfunction in Alzheimer disease (AD) and other tauopathies. To dissect the underlying mechanisms, we combined an engineered ascorbic acid peroxidase (APEX) approach with quantitative affinity purification mass spectrometry (AP-MS) followed by proximity ligation assay (PLA) to characterize Tau interactomes modified by neuronal activity and mutations that cause frontotemporal dementia (FTD) in human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived neurons. We established interactions of Tau with presynaptic vesicle proteins during activity-dependent Tau secretion and mapped the Tau-binding sites to the cytosolic domains of integral synaptic vesicle proteins. We showed that FTD mutations impair bioenergetics and markedly diminished Tau’s interaction with mitochondria proteins, which were downregulated in AD brains of multiple cohorts and correlated with disease severity. These multimodal and dynamic Tau interactomes with exquisite spatial resolution shed light on Tau’s role in neuronal function and disease and highlight potential therapeutic targets to block Tau-mediated pathogenesis. By combining APEX and AP-MS proteomic approaches, Tau interactome mapping reveals that Tau interactors are modified by neuronal activity and FTD mutations in human iPSC-derived neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tara E Tracy
- Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA; Buck Institute for Research on Aging, Novato, CA 94945, USA.
| | - Jesus Madero-Pérez
- Helen and Robert Appel Alzheimer Disease Research Institute, Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA.
| | - Danielle L Swaney
- Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA; Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA; Quantitative Biosciences Institute (QBI), University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA.
| | - Timothy S Chang
- Department of Neurology, Movement Disorders Program and Program in Neurogenetics, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Michelle Moritz
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Csaba Konrad
- Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | | | - Erica Stevenson
- Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA; Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA; Quantitative Biosciences Institute (QBI), University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Ruth Hüttenhain
- Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA; Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA; Quantitative Biosciences Institute (QBI), University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Grant Kauwe
- Buck Institute for Research on Aging, Novato, CA 94945, USA
| | - Maria Mercedes
- Helen and Robert Appel Alzheimer Disease Research Institute, Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA
| | - Lauren Sweetland-Martin
- Helen and Robert Appel Alzheimer Disease Research Institute, Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA
| | - Xu Chen
- Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Sue-Ann Mok
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2R3, Canada
| | - Man Ying Wong
- Helen and Robert Appel Alzheimer Disease Research Institute, Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA
| | | | - Sang-Won Min
- Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Chao Wang
- Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | | | | | - Yungui Zhou
- Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Wenjie Luo
- Helen and Robert Appel Alzheimer Disease Research Institute, Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA
| | - John Q Trojanowski
- Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research, School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Virginia M Y Lee
- Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research, School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Shiaoching Gong
- Helen and Robert Appel Alzheimer Disease Research Institute, Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA
| | - Giovanni Manfredi
- Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Giovanni Coppola
- Department of Neurology, Movement Disorders Program and Program in Neurogenetics, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Nevan J Krogan
- Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA; Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA; Quantitative Biosciences Institute (QBI), University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Daniel H Geschwind
- Department of Neurology, Movement Disorders Program and Program in Neurogenetics, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; Department of Human Genetics, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; Institute of Precision Health, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Li Gan
- Helen and Robert Appel Alzheimer Disease Research Institute, Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA.
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21
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Latina V, Giacovazzo G, Calissano P, Atlante A, La Regina F, Malerba F, Dell’Aquila M, Stigliano E, Balzamino BO, Micera A, Coccurello R, Amadoro G. Tau Cleavage Contributes to Cognitive Dysfunction in Strepto-Zotocin-Induced Sporadic Alzheimer's Disease (sAD) Mouse Model. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms222212158. [PMID: 34830036 PMCID: PMC8618605 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222212158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2021] [Revised: 11/04/2021] [Accepted: 11/07/2021] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Tau cleavage plays a crucial role in the onset and progression of Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), a widespread neurodegenerative disease whose incidence is expected to increase in the next years. While genetic and familial forms of AD (fAD) occurring early in life represent less than 1%, the sporadic and late-onset ones (sAD) are the most common, with ageing being an important risk factor. Intracerebroventricular (ICV) infusion of streptozotocin (STZ)—a compound used in the systemic induction of diabetes due to its ability to damage the pancreatic β cells and to induce insulin resistance—mimics in rodents several behavioral, molecular and histopathological hallmarks of sAD, including memory/learning disturbance, amyloid-β (Aβ) accumulation, tau hyperphosphorylation, oxidative stress and brain glucose hypometabolism. We have demonstrated that pathological truncation of tau at its N-terminal domain occurs into hippocampi from two well-established transgenic lines of fAD animal models, such as Tg2576 and 3xTg mice, and that it’s in vivo neutralization via intravenous (i.v.) administration of the cleavage-specific anti-tau 12A12 monoclonal antibody (mAb) is strongly neuroprotective. Here, we report the therapeutic efficacy of 12A12mAb in STZ-infused mice after 14 days (short-term immunization, STIR) and 21 days (long-term immunization regimen, LTIR) of i.v. delivery. A virtually complete recovery was detected after three weeks of 12A12mAb immunization in both novel object recognition test (NORT) and object place recognition task (OPRT). Consistently, three weeks of this immunization regimen relieved in hippocampi from ICV-STZ mice the AD-like up-regulation of amyloid precursor protein (APP), the tau hyperphosphorylation and neuroinflammation, likely due to modulation of the PI3K/AKT/GSK3-β axis and the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activities. Cerebral oxidative stress, mitochondrial impairment, synaptic and histological alterations occurring in STZ-infused mice were also strongly attenuated by 12A12mAb delivery. These results further strengthen the causal role of N-terminal tau cleavage in AD pathogenesis and indicate that its specific neutralization by non-invasive administration of 12A12mAb can be a therapeutic option for both fAD and sAD patients, as well as for those showing type 2 diabetes as a comorbidity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Latina
- European Brain Research Institute (EBRI), Viale Regina Elena 295, 00161 Rome, Italy; (V.L.); (P.C.); (F.L.R.); (F.M.)
| | - Giacomo Giacovazzo
- IRCSS Santa Lucia Foundation, Via Fosso del Fiorano 64-65, 00143 Rome, Italy;
| | - Pietro Calissano
- European Brain Research Institute (EBRI), Viale Regina Elena 295, 00161 Rome, Italy; (V.L.); (P.C.); (F.L.R.); (F.M.)
| | - Anna Atlante
- Institute of Biomembranes, Bioenergetics and Molecular Biotechnologies (IBIOM)-CNR, Via Amendola 122/O, 70126 Bari, Italy;
| | - Federico La Regina
- European Brain Research Institute (EBRI), Viale Regina Elena 295, 00161 Rome, Italy; (V.L.); (P.C.); (F.L.R.); (F.M.)
| | - Francesca Malerba
- European Brain Research Institute (EBRI), Viale Regina Elena 295, 00161 Rome, Italy; (V.L.); (P.C.); (F.L.R.); (F.M.)
| | - Marco Dell’Aquila
- Area of Pathology, Department of Woman and Child Health and Public Health, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Istituto di Anatomia Patologica, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Largo Francesco Vito, 1, 00168 Rome, Italy; (M.D.); (E.S.)
| | - Egidio Stigliano
- Area of Pathology, Department of Woman and Child Health and Public Health, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Istituto di Anatomia Patologica, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Largo Francesco Vito, 1, 00168 Rome, Italy; (M.D.); (E.S.)
| | - Bijorn Omar Balzamino
- Research Laboratories in Ophthalmology, IRCCS-Fondazione Bietti, Via Santo Stefano Rotondo, 6I, 00184 Rome, Italy; (B.O.B.); (A.M.)
| | - Alessandra Micera
- Research Laboratories in Ophthalmology, IRCCS-Fondazione Bietti, Via Santo Stefano Rotondo, 6I, 00184 Rome, Italy; (B.O.B.); (A.M.)
| | - Roberto Coccurello
- IRCSS Santa Lucia Foundation, Via Fosso del Fiorano 64-65, 00143 Rome, Italy;
- Institute for Complex System (ISC)-CNR, Via dei Taurini 19, 00185 Rome, Italy
- Correspondence: (R.C.); (G.A.)
| | - Giuseppina Amadoro
- European Brain Research Institute (EBRI), Viale Regina Elena 295, 00161 Rome, Italy; (V.L.); (P.C.); (F.L.R.); (F.M.)
- Institute of Translational Pharmacology (IFT)-CNR, Via Fosso del Cavaliere 100, 00133 Rome, Italy
- Correspondence: (R.C.); (G.A.)
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22
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Boyarko B, Hook V. Human Tau Isoforms and Proteolysis for Production of Toxic Tau Fragments in Neurodegeneration. Front Neurosci 2021; 15:702788. [PMID: 34744602 PMCID: PMC8566764 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.702788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2021] [Accepted: 09/09/2021] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The human tau protein is implicated in a wide range of neurodegenerative “tauopathy” diseases, consisting of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and frontotemporal lobar degeneration which includes progressive supranuclear palsy, corticobasal degeneration, Pick’s disease, and FTLD-tau (frontotemporal dementia with parkinsonism caused by MAPT mutations). Tau gene transcripts in the human brain undergo alternative splicing to yield 6 different tau protein isoforms that are expressed in different ratios in neurodegeneration which result in tau pathology of paired-helical filaments, neurofibrillary tangles, and tau fibrillar aggregates with detrimental microtubule destabilization. Protease-mediated tau truncation is an important post-translational modification (PTM) which drives neurodegeneration in a tau fragment-dependent manner. While numerous tau fragments have been identified, knowledge of the proteolytic steps that convert each parent tau isoform into specific truncated tau fragments has not yet been fully defined. An improved understanding of the relationships between tau isoforms and their proteolytic processing to generate neurotoxic tau fragments is important to the field. This review evaluates tau isoform expression patterns including PTMs and mutations that influence proteolysis of tau to generate toxic fragments that drive cognitive deficits in AD and other tauopathy models. This assessment identifies the gap in the field on understanding the details of proteolytic steps used to convert each tau isoform into fragments. Knowledge of the processing mechanisms of tau isoforms can lead to new protease targeted drug strategies to prevent the formation of toxic tau fragments in tauopathy neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ben Boyarko
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Vivian Hook
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States.,Department of Neurosciences and Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
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23
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Patro S, Ratna S, Yamamoto HA, Ebenezer AT, Ferguson DS, Kaur A, McIntyre BC, Snow R, Solesio ME. ATP Synthase and Mitochondrial Bioenergetics Dysfunction in Alzheimer's Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:11185. [PMID: 34681851 PMCID: PMC8539681 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222011185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2021] [Revised: 10/12/2021] [Accepted: 10/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disorder in our society, as the population ages, its incidence is expected to increase in the coming decades. The etiopathology of this disease still remains largely unclear, probably because of the highly complex and multifactorial nature of AD. However, the presence of mitochondrial dysfunction has been broadly described in AD neurons and other cellular populations within the brain, in a wide variety of models and organisms, including post-mortem humans. Mitochondria are complex organelles that play a crucial role in a wide range of cellular processes, including bioenergetics. In fact, in mammals, including humans, the main source of cellular ATP is the oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS), a process that occurs in the mitochondrial electron transfer chain (ETC). The last enzyme of the ETC, and therefore the ulterior generator of ATP, is the ATP synthase. Interestingly, in mammalian cells, the ATP synthase can also degrade ATP under certain conditions (ATPase), which further illustrates the crucial role of this enzyme in the regulation of cellular bioenergetics and metabolism. In this collaborative review, we aim to summarize the knowledge of the presence of dysregulated ATP synthase, and of other components of mammalian mitochondrial bioenergetics, as an early event in AD. This dysregulation can act as a trigger of the dysfunction of the organelle, which is a clear component in the etiopathology of AD. Consequently, the pharmacological modulation of the ATP synthase could be a potential strategy to prevent mitochondrial dysfunction in AD.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Maria E. Solesio
- Department of Biology, College of Arts and Sciences, Rutgers University, Camden, NJ 08103, USA; (S.P.); (S.R.); (H.A.Y.); (A.T.E.); (D.S.F.); (A.K.); (B.C.M.); (R.S.)
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24
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Sinsky J, Pichlerova K, Hanes J. Tau Protein Interaction Partners and Their Roles in Alzheimer's Disease and Other Tauopathies. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:9207. [PMID: 34502116 PMCID: PMC8431036 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22179207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2021] [Revised: 08/23/2021] [Accepted: 08/25/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Tau protein plays a critical role in the assembly, stabilization, and modulation of microtubules, which are important for the normal function of neurons and the brain. In diseased conditions, several pathological modifications of tau protein manifest. These changes lead to tau protein aggregation and the formation of paired helical filaments (PHF) and neurofibrillary tangles (NFT), which are common hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease and other tauopathies. The accumulation of PHFs and NFTs results in impairment of physiological functions, apoptosis, and neuronal loss, which is reflected as cognitive impairment, and in the late stages of the disease, leads to death. The causes of this pathological transformation of tau protein haven't been fully understood yet. In both physiological and pathological conditions, tau interacts with several proteins which maintain their proper function or can participate in their pathological modifications. Interaction partners of tau protein and associated molecular pathways can either initiate and drive the tau pathology or can act neuroprotective, by reducing pathological tau proteins or inflammation. In this review, we focus on the tau as a multifunctional protein and its known interacting partners active in regulations of different processes and the roles of these proteins in Alzheimer's disease and tauopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Jozef Hanes
- Institute of Neuroimmunology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dubravska Cesta 9, 845 10 Bratislava, Slovakia; (J.S.); (K.P.)
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25
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Kim SH, Farrell K, Cosentino S, Vonsattel JPG, Faust PL, Cortes EP, Bennet DA, Louis ED, Crary JF. Tau Isoform Profile in Essential Tremor Diverges From Other Tauopathies. J Neuropathol Exp Neurol 2021; 80:835-843. [PMID: 34363663 DOI: 10.1093/jnen/nlab073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Patients with essential tremor (ET) frequently develop concurrent dementia, which is often assumed to represent co-morbid Alzheimer disease (AD). Autopsy studies have identified a spectrum of tau pathologies in ET and tau isoforms have not been examined in ET. We performed immunoblotting using autopsy cerebral cortical tissue from patients with ET (n = 13), progressive supranuclear palsy ([PSP], n = 10), Pick disease ([PiD], n = 2), and AD (n = 7). Total tau in ET samples was similar to that in PSP and PiD but was significantly lower than that in AD. Abnormal tau levels measured using the AT8 phospho-tau specific (S202/T205/S208) monoclonal antibody in ET were similar to those in PSP but were lower than in PiD and AD. In aggregates, tau with 3 microtubule-binding domain repeats (3R) was significantly higher in AD than ET, while tau with 4 repeats (4R) was significantly higher in PSP. Strikingly, the total tau without N-terminal inserts in ET was significantly lower than in PSP, PiD, and AD, but total tau with other N-terminal inserts was not. Monomeric tau with one insert in ET was similar to that in PSP and PiD was lower than in AD. Thus, ET brains exhibit an expression profile of tau protein isoforms that diverges from that of other tauopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soong Ho Kim
- From the Department of Pathology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA (SHK, KF, EC, JFC).,Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA (SHK, JFC).,Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA (SHK, KF, EC, JFC).,Ronald M. Loeb Center for Alzheimer's Disease, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA (SHK, KF, EC, JFC)
| | - Kurt Farrell
- From the Department of Pathology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA (SHK, KF, EC, JFC).,Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA (SHK, KF, EC, JFC).,Ronald M. Loeb Center for Alzheimer's Disease, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA (SHK, KF, EC, JFC)
| | - Stephanie Cosentino
- Cognitive Neuroscience Division, Department of Neurology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York, USA (SC); G.H. Sergievsky Center, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York, USA (SC, JPV).,Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA (SC, JPV)
| | - Jean-Paul G Vonsattel
- Cognitive Neuroscience Division, Department of Neurology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York, USA (SC); G.H. Sergievsky Center, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York, USA (SC, JPV).,Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA (SC, JPV).,Department of Pathology & Cell Biology, Columbia University Medical Center and the New York Presbyterian Hospital, New York, New York, USA (JPV, PLF)
| | - Phyllis L Faust
- Department of Pathology & Cell Biology, Columbia University Medical Center and the New York Presbyterian Hospital, New York, New York, USA (JPV, PLF)
| | - Etty P Cortes
- From the Department of Pathology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA (SHK, KF, EC, JFC).,Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA (SHK, KF, EC, JFC).,Ronald M. Loeb Center for Alzheimer's Disease, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA (SHK, KF, EC, JFC).,Neuropathology Brain Bank & Research CoRE, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA (EC, JFC)
| | - David A Bennet
- Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois, USA (DAB)
| | - Elan D Louis
- Department of Neurology, University of Texas Southwestern, Dallas, Texas, USA (EDL)
| | - John F Crary
- From the Department of Pathology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA (SHK, KF, EC, JFC).,Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA (SHK, JFC).,Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA (SHK, KF, EC, JFC).,Ronald M. Loeb Center for Alzheimer's Disease, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA (SHK, KF, EC, JFC).,Neuropathology Brain Bank & Research CoRE, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA (EC, JFC)
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26
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Villavicencio Tejo F, Quintanilla RA. Contribution of the Nrf2 Pathway on Oxidative Damage and Mitochondrial Failure in Parkinson and Alzheimer's Disease. Antioxidants (Basel) 2021; 10:1069. [PMID: 34356302 PMCID: PMC8301100 DOI: 10.3390/antiox10071069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2021] [Revised: 06/13/2021] [Accepted: 06/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The increase in human life expectancy has become a challenge to reduce the deleterious consequences of aging. Nowadays, an increasing number of the population suffer from age-associated neurodegenerative diseases including Parkinson's disease (PD) and Alzheimer's disease (AD). These disorders present different signs of neurodegeneration such as mitochondrial dysfunction, inflammation, and oxidative stress. Accumulative evidence suggests that the transcriptional factor nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf2) plays a vital defensive role orchestrating the antioxidant response in the brain. Nrf2 activation promotes the expression of several antioxidant enzymes that exert cytoprotective effects against oxidative damage and mitochondrial impairment. In this context, several studies have proposed a role of Nrf2 in the pathogenesis of PD and AD. Thus, we consider it important to summarize the ongoing literature related to the effects of the Nrf2 pathway in the context of these diseases. Therefore, in this review, we discuss the mechanisms involved in Nrf2 activity and its connection with mitochondria, energy supply, and antioxidant response in the brain. Furthermore, we will lead our discussion to identify the participation of the Nrf2 pathway in mitochondrial impairment and neurodegeneration present in PD and AD. Finally, we will discuss the therapeutic effects that the Nrf2 pathway activation could have on the cognitive impairment, neurodegeneration, and mitochondrial failure present in PD and AD.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Rodrigo A Quintanilla
- Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Autónoma de Chile, Santiago 8910060, Chile;
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27
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Chemical Stimulation of Rodent and Human Cortical Synaptosomes: Implications in Neurodegeneration. Cells 2021; 10:cells10051174. [PMID: 34065927 PMCID: PMC8151714 DOI: 10.3390/cells10051174] [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] [Received: 04/08/2021] [Revised: 04/29/2021] [Accepted: 05/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Synaptic plasticity events, including long-term potentiation (LTP), are often regarded as correlates of brain functions of memory and cognition. One of the central players in these plasticity-related phenomena is the α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazole-4-propionate receptor (AMPAR). Increased levels of AMPARs on postsynaptic membranes thus constitute a biochemical measure of LTP. Isolated synaptic terminals (synaptosomes) are an excellent ex vivo tool to monitor synaptic physiology in healthy and diseased brains, particularly in human research. We herein describe three protocols for chemically-induced LTP (cLTP) in synaptosomes from both rodent and human brain tissues. Two of these chemical stimulation protocols are described for the first time in synaptosomes. A pharmacological block of synaptosomal actin dynamics confirmed the efficiency of the cLTP protocols. Furthermore, the study prototypically evaluated the deficiency of cLTP in cortical synaptosomes obtained from human cases of early-onset Alzheimer’s disease (EOAD) and frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FLTD), as well as an animal model that mimics FLTD.
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28
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A Walk in the Memory, from the First Functional Approach up to Its Regulatory Role of Mitochondrial Bioenergetic Flow in Health and Disease: Focus on the Adenine Nucleotide Translocator. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22084164. [PMID: 33920595 PMCID: PMC8073645 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22084164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2021] [Revised: 04/11/2021] [Accepted: 04/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The mitochondrial adenine nucleotide translocator (ANT) plays the fundamental role of gatekeeper of cellular energy flow, carrying out the reversible exchange of ADP for ATP across the inner mitochondrial membrane. ADP enters the mitochondria where, through the oxidative phosphorylation process, it is the substrate of Fo-F1 ATP synthase, producing ATP that is dispatched from the mitochondrion to the cytoplasm of the host cell, where it can be used as energy currency for the metabolic needs of the cell that require energy. Long ago, we performed a method that allowed us to monitor the activity of ANT by continuously detecting the ATP gradually produced inside the mitochondria and exported in the extramitochondrial phase in exchange with externally added ADP, under conditions quite close to a physiological state, i.e., when oxidative phosphorylation takes place. More than 30 years after the development of the method, here we aim to put the spotlight on it and to emphasize its versatile applicability in the most varied pathophysiological conditions, reviewing all the studies, in which we were able to observe what really happened in the cell thanks to the use of the "ATP detecting system" allowing the functional activity of the ANT-mediated ADP/ATP exchange to be measured.
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29
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Jia K, Du H. Mitochondrial Permeability Transition: A Pore Intertwines Brain Aging and Alzheimer's Disease. Cells 2021; 10:649. [PMID: 33804048 PMCID: PMC8001058 DOI: 10.3390/cells10030649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2020] [Revised: 03/04/2021] [Accepted: 03/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Advanced age is the greatest risk factor for aging-related brain disorders including Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, the detailed mechanisms that mechanistically link aging and AD remain elusive. In recent years, a mitochondrial hypothesis of brain aging and AD has been accentuated. Mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP) is a mitochondrial response to intramitochondrial and intracellular stresses. mPTP overactivation has been implicated in mitochondrial dysfunction in aging and AD brains. This review summarizes the up-to-date progress in the study of mPTP in aging and AD and attempts to establish a link between brain aging and AD from a perspective of mPTP-mediated mitochondrial dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kun Jia
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, The University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66045, USA;
| | - Heng Du
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, The University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66045, USA;
- Higuchi Biosciences Center, The University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66045, USA
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30
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Latina V, Giacovazzo G, Cordella F, Balzamino BO, Micera A, Varano M, Marchetti C, Malerba F, Florio R, Ercole BB, La Regina F, Atlante A, Coccurello R, Di Angelantonio S, Calissano P, Amadoro G. Systemic delivery of a specific antibody targeting the pathological N-terminal truncated tau peptide reduces retinal degeneration in a mouse model of Alzheimer's Disease. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2021; 9:38. [PMID: 33750467 PMCID: PMC7942014 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-021-01138-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2020] [Accepted: 02/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Retina and optic nerve are sites of extra-cerebral manifestations of Alzheimer's Disease (AD). Amyloid-β (Aβ) plaques and neurofibrillary tangles of hyperphosphorylated tau protein are detected in eyes from AD patients and transgenic animals in correlation with inflammation, reduction of synapses, visual deficits, loss of retinal cells and nerve fiber. However, neither the pathological relevance of other post-translational tau modifications-such as truncation with generation of toxic fragments-nor the potential neuroprotective action induced by their in vivo clearance have been investigated in the context of AD retinal degeneration. We have recently developed a monoclonal tau antibody (12A12mAb) which selectively targets the neurotoxic 20-22 kDa NH2-derived peptide generated from pathological truncation at the N-terminal domain of tau without cross-reacting with its full-length normal protein. Previous studies have shown that 12A12mAb, when intravenously (i.v.)-injected into 6-month-old Tg2576 animals, markedly improves their AD-like, behavioural and neuropathological syndrome. By taking advantage of this well-established tau-directed immunization regimen, we found that 12A12mAb administration also exerts a beneficial action on biochemical, morphological and metabolic parameters (i.e. APP/Aβ processing, tau hyperphosphorylation, neuroinflammation, synaptic proteins, microtubule stability, mitochondria-based energy production, neuronal death) associated with ocular injury in the AD phenotype. These findings prospect translational implications in the AD field by: (1) showing for the first time that cleavage of tau takes part in several pathological changes occurring in vivo in affected retinas and vitreous bodies and that its deleterious effects are successfully antagonized by administration of the specific 12A12mAb; (2) shedding further insights on the tight connections between neurosensory retina and brain, in particular following tau-based immunotherapy. In our view, the parallel response we detected in this preclinical animal model, both in the eye and in the hippocampus, following i.v. 12A12mAb injection opens novel diagnostic and therapeutic avenues for the clinical management of cerebral and extracerebral AD signs in human beings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Latina
- European Brain Research Institute (EBRI), Viale Regina Elena 295, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Giacomo Giacovazzo
- IRCSS Santa Lucia Foundation, Via Fosso del Fiorano 64-65, 00143 Rome, Italy
| | - Federica Cordella
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Rome La Sapienza, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy
- Center for Life Nanoscience, Istituto Italiano Di Tecnologia, Viale Regina Elena 291, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Bijorn Omar Balzamino
- Research Laboratories in Ophthalmology, IRCCS - Fondazione Bietti, Via Santo Stefano Rotondo, 6, 00184 Rome, Italy
| | - Alessandra Micera
- Research Laboratories in Ophthalmology, IRCCS - Fondazione Bietti, Via Santo Stefano Rotondo, 6, 00184 Rome, Italy
| | - Monica Varano
- Research Laboratories in Ophthalmology, IRCCS - Fondazione Bietti, Via Santo Stefano Rotondo, 6, 00184 Rome, Italy
| | - Cristina Marchetti
- European Brain Research Institute (EBRI), Viale Regina Elena 295, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca Malerba
- European Brain Research Institute (EBRI), Viale Regina Elena 295, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Rita Florio
- European Brain Research Institute (EBRI), Viale Regina Elena 295, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Bruno Bruni Ercole
- European Brain Research Institute (EBRI), Viale Regina Elena 295, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Federico La Regina
- European Brain Research Institute (EBRI), Viale Regina Elena 295, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Anna Atlante
- Institute of Biomembranes, Bioenergetics and Molecular Biotechnologies (IBIOM)-CNR, Via Amendola 122/O, 70126 Bari, Italy
| | - Roberto Coccurello
- IRCSS Santa Lucia Foundation, Via Fosso del Fiorano 64-65, 00143 Rome, Italy
- Institute for Complex System (ISC)-CNR, Via dei Taurini 19, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Silvia Di Angelantonio
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Rome La Sapienza, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy
- Center for Life Nanoscience, Istituto Italiano Di Tecnologia, Viale Regina Elena 291, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Pietro Calissano
- European Brain Research Institute (EBRI), Viale Regina Elena 295, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Giuseppina Amadoro
- European Brain Research Institute (EBRI), Viale Regina Elena 295, 00161 Rome, Italy
- Institute of Translational Pharmacology (IFT), National Research Council (CNR), Via Fosso del Cavaliere 100, 00133 Rome, Italy
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Jara C, Cerpa W, Tapia-Rojas C, Quintanilla RA. Tau Deletion Prevents Cognitive Impairment and Mitochondrial Dysfunction Age Associated by a Mechanism Dependent on Cyclophilin-D. Front Neurosci 2021; 14:586710. [PMID: 33679286 PMCID: PMC7928299 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2020.586710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2020] [Accepted: 12/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Aging is an irreversible process and the primary risk factor for the development of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Mitochondrial impairment is a process that generates oxidative damage and ATP deficit; both factors are important in the memory decline showed during normal aging and AD. Tau is a microtubule-associated protein, with a strong influence on both the morphology and physiology of neurons. In AD, tau protein undergoes post-translational modifications, which could play a relevant role in the onset and progression of this disease. Also, these abnormal forms of tau could be present during the physiological aging that could be related to memory impairment present during this stage. We previously showed that tau ablation improves mitochondrial function and cognitive abilities in young wild-type mice. However, the possible contribution of tau during aging that could predispose to the development of AD is unclear. Here, we show that tau deletion prevents cognitive impairment and improves mitochondrial function during normal aging as indicated by a reduction in oxidative damage and increased ATP production. Notably, we observed a decrease in cyclophilin-D (CypD) levels in aged tau−/− mice, resulting in increased calcium buffering and reduced mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP) opening. The mPTP is a mitochondrial structure, whose opening is dependent on CypD expression, and new evidence suggests that this could play an essential role in the neurodegenerative process showed during AD. In contrast, hippocampal CypD overexpression in aged tau−/− mice impairs mitochondrial function evidenced by an ATP deficit, increased mPTP opening, and memory loss; all effects were observed in the AD pathology. Our results indicate that the absence of tau prevents age-associated cognitive impairment by maintaining mitochondrial function and reducing mPTP opening through a CypD-dependent mechanism. These findings are novel and represent an important advance in the study of how tau contributes to the cognitive and mitochondrial failure present during aging and AD in the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Jara
- Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Universidad Autónoma de Chile, Santiago, Chile.,Laboratory of Neurobiology of Aging, Centro de Biología Celular y Biomedicina (CEBICEM), Universidad San Sebastián, Santiago, Chile
| | - Waldo Cerpa
- Laboratorio de Función y Patología Neuronal, Departamento de Biología Celular y Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Cheril Tapia-Rojas
- Laboratory of Neurobiology of Aging, Centro de Biología Celular y Biomedicina (CEBICEM), Universidad San Sebastián, Santiago, Chile
| | - Rodrigo A Quintanilla
- Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Universidad Autónoma de Chile, Santiago, Chile
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Ai J, Wang H, Chu P, Shopit A, Niu M, Ahmad N, Tesfaldet T, Wang FH, Fang JN, Li X, Tang SJ, Qing Ju Han, Han G, Peng J, Tang Z. The neuroprotective effects of phosphocreatine on Amyloid Beta 25-35-induced differentiated neuronal cell death through inhibition of AKT /GSK-3β /Tau/APP /CDK5 pathways in vivo and vitro. Free Radic Biol Med 2021; 162:181-190. [PMID: 33131696 DOI: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2020.10.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2020] [Accepted: 10/03/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Alzheimer (AD) is a degenerative disease that can lead memory loss and behavioral dysfunction. Aβ protein and phosphorylation of Tau protein are related to the onset of AD. However, at present, its treatment and drugs are limited. The purpose of our study is to evaluate whether phosphocreatine (PCr) could protect neuronal injury induced by Aβ protein in vivo and in vitro through AKT/GSK-3β/Tau/APP/CDK5 pathways. Differentiated PC-12 cells were cultured with Aβ25-35 for 24 h, while the mice were injected with D-Galactose for eight weeks, both of them were pretreated with PCr for 2 h. The results showed PCr could obviously induce cells and hippocampus apoptosis using DAPI and TUNEL. PCr decreased the levels of intercellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde (MDA), and increased the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD). Besides, the apoptosis pathway was detected using Western blot, showing that PCr could significantly reduce caspase-3, caspase-9, Bcl-2/Bax expression in vivo and in vitro. At the same time, PCr could decreased Ca2+ and apoptosis by Flow Cytometry in PC-12 cells. We observed that the morphological alteration of hippocampus injury was mitigated with the pretreatment of PCr. Furthermore, PCr pretreatment could decrease Aβ25-35-induced PC-12 cells apoptosis with APP cDNA transfection, which up-regulated AKT/GSK-3β/CDK5 pathways and induced Tau phosphorylation. In summary, PCr could reduce Aβ25-35 toxicity to protect neuronal cells via AKT/GSK-3β/CDK5 pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Ai
- Acad Integrated Med & Collage of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacology, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116044, China
| | - Hongyan Wang
- Acad Integrated Med & Collage of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacology, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116044, China
| | - Peng Chu
- Acad Integrated Med & Collage of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacology, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116044, China
| | - Abdullah Shopit
- Acad Integrated Med & Collage of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacology, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116044, China
| | - Mengyue Niu
- Acad Integrated Med & Collage of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacology, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116044, China
| | - Nisar Ahmad
- Acad Integrated Med & Collage of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacology, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116044, China
| | - Tsehaye Tesfaldet
- Acad Integrated Med & Collage of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacology, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116044, China
| | - Fu Han Wang
- Acad Integrated Med & Collage of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacology, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116044, China
| | - Jia Ni Fang
- Acad Integrated Med & Collage of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacology, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116044, China
| | - Xiaodong Li
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Shi Jie Tang
- Acad Integrated Med & Collage of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacology, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116044, China
| | - Qing Ju Han
- Acad Integrated Med & Collage of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacology, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116044, China
| | - Guozhu Han
- Acad Integrated Med & Collage of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacology, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116044, China
| | - Jinyong Peng
- Acad Integrated Med & Collage of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacology, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116044, China
| | - Zeyao Tang
- Acad Integrated Med & Collage of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacology, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116044, China.
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Yang CC, Jia XY, Zhang L, Li YL, Zhang ZJ, Li L, Zhang L. Shenqi Xingnao Granules ameliorates cognitive impairments and Alzheimer’s disease-like pathologies in APP/PS1 mouse model. CHINESE HERBAL MEDICINES 2020; 12:421-429. [PMID: 36120170 PMCID: PMC9476633 DOI: 10.1016/j.chmed.2020.04.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2020] [Revised: 04/06/2020] [Accepted: 04/26/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective Alzheimer's disease (AD) is along with cognitive decline due to amyloid-β (Aβ) plaques, tau hyperphosphorylation, and neuron loss. Shenqi Xingnao Granules (SQXN), a traditional Chinese medicine, significantly ameliorated the cognitive function and daily living abilities of patients with AD. However, till date, no study has investigated the mechanism of action of SQXN on AD. The present study aimed to verify the effects of SQXN treatment on cognitive impairments and AD-like pathologies in APP/PS1 mice. Methods Four-month-old APP/PS1 transgenic (Tg) mice were randomly divided into a model group and SQXN-treated (3.5, 7, 14 g/kg per day) groups. Learning-memory abilities were determined by Morris water maze and object recognition test. All mice were sacrificed and the brain samples were collected after 75 d. The soluble Aβ contents were detected by Elisa kit; The levels of expression of NeuN, APP, phosphorylated tau and related protein were measured by Western blotting; The inflammation factors were detected by the proinflammatory panel kit. Results Four-month-old APP/PS1 mice were administered SQXN by oral gavage for 2.5 months. Using the Morris water maze tests and Novel object recognition, we found that SQXN restored behavioral deficits in the experimental group of Tg mice when compared with the controls. SQXN also inhibited neuronal loss (NeuN marker). SQXN treatment decreased soluble Aβ42 through inhibiting the expression of sAPPβ and BACE-1 without regulating full-length amyloid precursor protein (FL APP). Insulin degrading enzyme (IDE), the Aβ degrading enzyme, were increased by SQXN. In addition, SQXN reduced hyperphosphorylated tau protein levels and prevented excessive activation of p-GSK-3β in the brain of APP/PS1 mice. Compared with APP/PS1 transgenic negative mice, IFN-γ, IL-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-12p70, KC/GRO and TNF-α were not obviously changed in the brain of 6.5-month-old APP/PS1 transgenic (Tg) mice. However, SQXN could inhibited the expression of IL-2. Conclusion These results demonstrate that SQXN ameliorates the cognitive impairments in APP/PS1 mice. The possible mechanisms involve its inhibition of neuronal loss, soluble Aβ deposition, tau hyperphosphorylation and inflammation.
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Ahmad F, Liu P. Synaptosome as a tool in Alzheimer's disease research. Brain Res 2020; 1746:147009. [PMID: 32659233 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2020.147009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2020] [Revised: 06/21/2020] [Accepted: 07/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Synapse dysfunction is an integral feature of Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathophysiology. In fact, prodromal manifestation of structural and functional deficits in synapses much prior to appearance of overt pathological hallmarks of the disease indicates that AD might be considered as a degenerative disorder of the synapses. Several research instruments and techniques have allowed us to study synaptic function and plasticity and their alterations in pathological conditions, such as AD. One such tool is the biochemically isolated preparations of detached and resealed synaptic terminals, the "synaptosomes". Because of the preservation of many of the physiological processes such as metabolic and enzymatic activities, synaptosomes have proved to be an indispensable ex vivo model system to study synapse physiology both when isolated from fresh or cryopreserved tissues, and from animal or human post-mortem tissues. This model system has been tremendously successful in the case of post-mortem tissues because of their accessibility relative to acute brain slices or cultures. The current review details the use of synaptosomes in AD research and its potential as a valuable tool in furthering our understanding of the pathogenesis and in devising and testing of therapeutic strategies for the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Faraz Ahmad
- Department of Anatomy, School of Biomedical Sciences, Brain Research New Zealand, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.
| | - Ping Liu
- Department of Anatomy, School of Biomedical Sciences, Brain Research New Zealand, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
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Corsetti V, Borreca A, Latina V, Giacovazzo G, Pignataro A, Krashia P, Natale F, Cocco S, Rinaudo M, Malerba F, Florio R, Ciarapica R, Coccurello R, D’Amelio M, Ammassari-Teule M, Grassi C, Calissano P, Amadoro G. Passive immunotherapy for N-truncated tau ameliorates the cognitive deficits in two mouse Alzheimer's disease models. Brain Commun 2020; 2:fcaa039. [PMID: 32954296 PMCID: PMC7425324 DOI: 10.1093/braincomms/fcaa039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2019] [Revised: 02/05/2020] [Accepted: 02/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Clinical and neuropathological studies have shown that tau pathology better correlates with the severity of dementia than amyloid plaque burden, making tau an attractive target for the cure of Alzheimer's disease. We have explored whether passive immunization with the 12A12 monoclonal antibody (26-36aa of tau protein) could improve the Alzheimer's disease phenotype of two well-established mouse models, Tg2576 and 3xTg mice. 12A12 is a cleavage-specific monoclonal antibody which selectively binds the pathologically relevant neurotoxic NH226-230 fragment (i.e. NH2htau) of tau protein without cross-reacting with its full-length physiological form(s). We found out that intravenous administration of 12A12 monoclonal antibody into symptomatic (6 months old) animals: (i) reaches the hippocampus in its biologically active (antigen-binding competent) form and successfully neutralizes its target; (ii) reduces both pathological tau and amyloid precursor protein/amyloidβ metabolisms involved in early disease-associated synaptic deterioration; (iii) improves episodic-like type of learning/memory skills in hippocampal-based novel object recognition and object place recognition behavioural tasks; (iv) restores the specific up-regulation of the activity-regulated cytoskeleton-associated protein involved in consolidation of experience-dependent synaptic plasticity; (v) relieves the loss of dendritic spine connectivity in pyramidal hippocampal CA1 neurons; (vi) rescues the Alzheimer's disease-related electrophysiological deficits in hippocampal long-term potentiation at the CA3-CA1 synapses; and (vii) mitigates the neuroinflammatory response (reactive gliosis). These findings indicate that the 20-22 kDa NH2-terminal tau fragment is crucial target for Alzheimer's disease therapy and prospect immunotherapy with 12A12 monoclonal antibody as safe (normal tau-preserving), beneficial approach in contrasting the early Amyloidβ-dependent and independent neuropathological and cognitive alterations in affected subjects.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Antonella Borreca
- Humanitas University Laboratory of Pharmacology and Brain Pathology, Neuro Center, 20089 Milan, Italy
- Institute of Neuroscience, 20129 Milan, Italy
| | | | | | | | - Paraskevi Krashia
- IRCSS Santa Lucia Foundation, 00143 Rome, Italy
- Department of Medicine, University Campus Bio-Medico, 00128 Rome, Italy
- Department of Science and Technology for Humans and Environment, University Campus Bio-medico, 00128 Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca Natale
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Sara Cocco
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Marco Rinaudo
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | | | - Rita Florio
- European Brain Research Institute (EBRI), 00161 Rome, Italy
| | | | - Roberto Coccurello
- IRCSS Santa Lucia Foundation, 00143 Rome, Italy
- Institute for Complex Systems (ISC), CNR, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Marcello D’Amelio
- IRCSS Santa Lucia Foundation, 00143 Rome, Italy
- Department of Medicine, University Campus Bio-Medico, 00128 Rome, Italy
- Department of Science and Technology for Humans and Environment, University Campus Bio-medico, 00128 Rome, Italy
| | | | - Claudio Grassi
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
- Institute of Human Physiology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | | | - Giuseppina Amadoro
- European Brain Research Institute (EBRI), 00161 Rome, Italy
- Institute of Translational Pharmacology (IFT)–National Research Council (CNR), 00133 Rome, Italy
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Huang HJ, Huang CY, Lee M, Lin JY, Hsieh-Li HM. Puerariae Radix Prevents Anxiety and Cognitive Deficits in Mice Under Oligomeric Aβ-Induced Stress. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF CHINESE MEDICINE 2020; 47:1459-1481. [PMID: 31752523 DOI: 10.1142/s0192415x19500757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
To evaluate the therapeutic effects of Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) for Alzheimer's disease (AD), we evaluated five CHMs in oligomeric Aβ25-35-treated mouse primary hippocampal neuronal cultures. The aqueous extract from the root of Pueraria lobata (Puerariae Radix; PR) showed better neuroprotective effects than did the other four CHM aqueous extracts, including Gardenia jasminoides, Eleutherococcus senticosus, Rhodiola rosea, and Panax, in the primary culture treated with saline or oligomeric Aβ25-35. Furthermore, the neuroprotective effects of aqueous extract of PR were also better than its well-known active compound, puerarin, against the neurotoxicity of oligomeric Aβ25-35 in a primary culture. For in vivo experiments, C57BL/6J male mice that received direct infusion of soluble oligomeric Aβ25-35 into the bilateral hippocampal CA1 subregion were used as an alternative AD mouse model. The effects and molecular mechanisms of chronic systemic administration of PR aqueous extract were evaluated in the alternative AD model. PR aqueous extract prevented anxiety and cognitive impairment in mice associated with a decrease in the levels of Aβ deposition, tau protein phosphorylation, inflammation, loss of noradrenergic, and serotonergic neurons and an increase in the levels of synaptophysin and insulin degrading enzyme (IDE) against the toxicity of oligomeric Aβ25-35. Furthermore, no obvious damage to the liver and kidney was detected after chronic systemic administration of PR aqueous extract. Therefore, using PR could be a safer, more effective therapeutic strategy than using its active compound puerarin to prevent both cognitive and noncognitive dysfunction and related pathological features of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hei-Jen Huang
- Department of Nursing, Mackay Junior College of Medicine, Nursing, and Management, Taipei 11260, Taiwan
| | - Ching-Yi Huang
- Department of Life Science, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei 11677, Taiwan
| | - Mingchung Lee
- Brion Research Institute, New Taipei City 23143, Taiwan
| | - Jung-Yaw Lin
- Department of Life Science, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei 11677, Taiwan
| | - Hsiu Mei Hsieh-Li
- Department of Life Science, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei 11677, Taiwan
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Rani L, Mittal J, Mallajosyula SS. Effect of Phosphorylation and O-GlcNAcylation on Proline-Rich Domains of Tau. J Phys Chem B 2020; 124:1909-1918. [PMID: 32065850 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.9b11720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
The microtubule-associated protein Tau (MAPT) is a phosphoprotein in neurons of the brain. Aggregation of Tau is the leading cause of tauopathies such as Alzheimer's disease. Tau undergoes several post-translational modifications of which phosphorylation and O-GlcNAcylation are key chemical modifications. Tau aggregates into paired helical filaments and neurofibrillary tangles upon hyperphosphorylation, whereas O-GlcNAcylation stabilizes the soluble form of Tau. How specific phosphorylation and/or O-GlcNAcylation events influence Tau conformations remains largely unknown due to the disordered nature of Tau. In this study, we have investigated the phosphorylation- and O-GlcNAcylation-induced conformational effects on a Tau segment (Tau225-246) from the proline-rich domain (P2), by performing metadynamics simulations. We study two different phosphorylation patterns: Tau225-246, phosphorylated at T231 and S235, and Tau225-246, phosphorylated at T231, S235, S237, and S238. We also study O-GlcNAcylation at T231 and S235. We find that phosphorylation leads to the formation of strong salt-bridge contacts with adjacent lysine and arginine residues, which disrupts the native β-sheet structure observed in Tau225-246. We also observe the formation of a transient α-helix (238SAKSRLQ244) when Tau225-246 is phosphorylated at four sites. In contrast, O-GlcNAcylation shows only modest structural effects, and the resultant structure resembles the native form of the peptide. Our studies suggest the opposing structural effects of both protein post-translational modifications (PTMs) and the importance of salt bridges in governing the conformational preferences upon phosphorylation, highlighting the role of proximal arginine and lysine upon hyperphosphorylation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lata Rani
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar, Gandhinagar382355, Gujarat, India
| | - Jeetain Mittal
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania18015, United States
| | - Sairam S Mallajosyula
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar, Gandhinagar382355, Gujarat, India
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Quntanilla RA, Tapia-Monsalves C. The Role of Mitochondrial Impairment in Alzheimer´s Disease Neurodegeneration: The Tau Connection. Curr Neuropharmacol 2020; 18:1076-1091. [PMID: 32448104 PMCID: PMC7709157 DOI: 10.2174/1570159x18666200525020259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2019] [Revised: 04/23/2020] [Accepted: 05/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Accumulative evidence has shown that mitochondrial dysfunction plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Mitochondrial impairment actively contributes to the synaptic and cognitive failure that characterizes AD. The presence of soluble pathological forms of tau like hyperphosphorylated at Ser396 and Ser404 and cleaved at Asp421 by caspase 3, negatively impacts mitochondrial bioenergetics, transport, and morphology in neurons. These adverse effects against mitochondria health will contribute to the synaptic impairment and cognitive decline in AD. Current studies suggest that mitochondrial failure induced by pathological tau forms is likely the result of the opening of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP). mPTP is a mitochondrial mega-channel that is activated by increases in calcium and is associated with mitochondrial stress and apoptosis. This structure is composed of different proteins, where Ciclophilin D (CypD) is considered to be the primary mediator of mPTP activation. Also, new studies suggest that mPTP contributes to Aβ pathology and oxidative stress in AD. Further, inhibition of mPTP through the reduction of CypD expression prevents cognitive and synaptic impairment in AD mouse models. More importantly, tau protein contributes to the physiological regulation of mitochondria through the opening/interaction with mPTP in hippocampal neurons. Therefore, in this paper, we will discuss evidence that suggests an important role of pathological forms of tau against mitochondrial health. Also, we will discuss the possible role of mPTP in the mitochondrial impairment produced by the presence of tau pathology and its impact on synaptic function present in AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rodrigo A. Quntanilla
- Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Universidad Autónoma de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Carola Tapia-Monsalves
- Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Universidad Autónoma de Chile, Santiago, Chile
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Amadoro G, Latina V, Corsetti V, Calissano P. N-terminal tau truncation in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD): Developing a novel diagnostic and therapeutic approach. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2019; 1866:165584. [PMID: 31676377 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2019.165584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2019] [Revised: 09/23/2019] [Accepted: 09/24/2019] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Tau truncation occurs at early stages during the development of human Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other tauopathy dementias. Tau cleavage, particularly in its N-terminal projection domain, is able to drive per se neurodegeneration, regardless of its pro-aggregative pathway(s) and in fragment(s)-dependent way. In this short review, we highlight the pathological relevance of the 20-22 kDa NH2-truncated tau fragment which is endowed with potent neurotoxic "gain-of-function" action(s), both in vitro and in vivo. An extensive comment on its clinical value as novel progression/diagnostic biomarker and potential therapeutic target in the context of tau-mediated neurodegeneration is also provided.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Amadoro
- European Brain Research Institute (EBRI), Viale Regina Elena 295, 00161 Rome, Italy; Institute of Translational Pharmacology (IFT)-CNR, Via Fosso del Cavaliere 100, 00133 Rome, Italy.
| | - V Latina
- European Brain Research Institute (EBRI), Viale Regina Elena 295, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - V Corsetti
- European Brain Research Institute (EBRI), Viale Regina Elena 295, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - P Calissano
- European Brain Research Institute (EBRI), Viale Regina Elena 295, 00161 Rome, Italy
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40
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Perini G, Ciasca G, Minelli E, Papi M, Palmieri V, Maulucci G, Nardini M, Latina V, Corsetti V, Florenzano F, Calissano P, De Spirito M, Amadoro G. Dynamic structural determinants underlie the neurotoxicity of the N-terminal tau 26-44 peptide in Alzheimer's disease and other human tauopathies. Int J Biol Macromol 2019; 141:278-289. [PMID: 31470053 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2019.08.220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2019] [Revised: 08/10/2019] [Accepted: 08/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
The intrinsically disordered tau protein plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other human tauopathies. Abnormal post-translational modifications of tau, such as truncation, are causally involved in the onset/development of these neurodegenerative diseases. In this context, the AD-relevant N-terminal fragment mapping between 26 and 44 amino acids of protein (tau26-44) is interesting, being endowed with potent neurotoxic effects in vitro and in vivo. However, the understanding of the mechanism(s) of tau26-44 toxicity is a challenging task because, similarly to the full-length tau, it does not have a unique 3D structure but exists as dynamic ensemble of conformations. Here we use Atomic Force Spectroscopy, Small Angle X-ray Scattering and Molecular Dynamics simulation to gather structural and functional information on the tau26-44. We highlight the presence, the type and the location of its temporary secondary structures and we unveil the occurrence of relevant transient tertiary conformations that could contribute to tau26-44 toxicity. Data are compared with those obtained on the biologically-inactive, reverse-sequence (tau44-26 peptide) which has the same mass, charge, aminoacidic composition as well as the same overall unfolded character of tau26-44.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giordano Perini
- Istituto di Fisica, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Roma, Italy; Fondazione Policlinico A. Gemelli IRCCS, Roma, Italy
| | - Gabriele Ciasca
- Istituto di Fisica, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Roma, Italy; Fondazione Policlinico A. Gemelli IRCCS, Roma, Italy.
| | - Eleonora Minelli
- Istituto di Fisica, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Roma, Italy; Fondazione Policlinico A. Gemelli IRCCS, Roma, Italy
| | - Massimiliano Papi
- Istituto di Fisica, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Roma, Italy; Fondazione Policlinico A. Gemelli IRCCS, Roma, Italy
| | - Valentina Palmieri
- Istituto di Fisica, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Roma, Italy; Fondazione Policlinico A. Gemelli IRCCS, Roma, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Maulucci
- Istituto di Fisica, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Roma, Italy; Fondazione Policlinico A. Gemelli IRCCS, Roma, Italy
| | - Matteo Nardini
- Istituto di Fisica, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Roma, Italy; Fondazione Policlinico A. Gemelli IRCCS, Roma, Italy
| | - Valentina Latina
- European Brain Research Institute (EBRI), Viale Regina Elena 295, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Veronica Corsetti
- European Brain Research Institute (EBRI), Viale Regina Elena 295, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Fulvio Florenzano
- European Brain Research Institute (EBRI), Viale Regina Elena 295, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Pietro Calissano
- European Brain Research Institute (EBRI), Viale Regina Elena 295, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Marco De Spirito
- Istituto di Fisica, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Roma, Italy; Fondazione Policlinico A. Gemelli IRCCS, Roma, Italy
| | - Giuseppina Amadoro
- European Brain Research Institute (EBRI), Viale Regina Elena 295, 00161 Rome, Italy; Institute of Translational Pharmacology (IFT)-CNR, Via Fosso del Cavaliere 100, 00133 Rome, Italy.
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Feng ST, Wang ZZ, Yuan YH, Sun HM, Chen NH, Zhang Y. Mangiferin: A multipotent natural product preventing neurodegeneration in Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease models. Pharmacol Res 2019; 146:104336. [PMID: 31271846 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2019.104336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2019] [Revised: 06/27/2019] [Accepted: 06/28/2019] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD) are recognized as the universal neurodegenerative diseases, with the involvement of misfolded proteins pathology, leading to oxidative stress, glial cells activation, neuroinflammation, mitochondrial dysfunction, and cellular apoptosis. Several discoveries indicate that accumulation of pathogenic proteins, i.e. amyloid β (Aβ), the microtubule-binding protein tau, and α-synuclein, are parallel with oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, and mitochondrial dysfunction. Whether the causative factors are misfolded proteins or these pathophysiological changes, leading to neurodegeneration still remain ambiguous. Importantly, directing pharmacological researches towards the prevention of AD and PD seem a promising approach to detect these complicating mechanisms, and provide new insight into therapy for AD and PD patients. Mangiferin (MGF, 2-C-β-D-glucopyranosyl-1, 3, 6, 7-tetrahydroxyxanthone), well-known as a natural product, is detached from multiple plants, including Mangifera indica L. With the structure of C-glycosyl and phenolic moiety, MGF possesses multipotent properties starting from anti-oxidant effects, to the alleviation of mitochondrial dysfunction, neuroinflammation, and cellular apoptosis. In particular, MGF can cross the blood-brain barrier to exert neuronal protection. Different researches implicate that MGF is able to protect the central nervous system from oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, neuroinflammation, and apoptosis under in vitro and in vivo models. Additional facts support that MGF plays a role in improving the declined memory and cognition of rat models. Taken together, the neuroprotective capacity of MGF may stand out as an agent candidate for AD and PD therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Si-Tong Feng
- Department of Anatomy, School of Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 102488, China
| | - Zhen-Zhen Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substances and Functions of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica & Neuroscience Center, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, China
| | - Yu-He Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substances and Functions of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica & Neuroscience Center, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, China
| | - Hong-Mei Sun
- Department of Anatomy, School of Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 102488, China
| | - Nai-Hong Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substances and Functions of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica & Neuroscience Center, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, China
| | - Yi Zhang
- Department of Anatomy, School of Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 102488, China.
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Woo JAA, Liu T, Fang CC, Cazzaro S, Kee T, LePochat P, Yrigoin K, Penn C, Zhao X, Wang X, Liggett SB, Kang DE. Activated cofilin exacerbates tau pathology by impairing tau-mediated microtubule dynamics. Commun Biol 2019; 2:112. [PMID: 30911686 PMCID: PMC6430779 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-019-0359-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2018] [Accepted: 02/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder and the most common form of dementia. While the accumulation of Aβ is pivotal to the etiology of AD, both the microtubule-associated protein tau (MAPT) and the F-actin severing protein cofilin are necessary for the deleterious effects of Aβ. However, the molecular link between tau and cofilin remains unclear. In this study, we found that cofilin competes with tau for direct microtubule binding in vitro, in cells, and in vivo, which inhibits tau-induced microtubule assembly. Genetic reduction of cofilin mitigates tauopathy and synaptic defects in Tau-P301S mice and movement deficits in tau transgenic C. elegans. The pathogenic effects of cofilin are selectively mediated by activated cofilin, as active but not inactive cofilin selectively interacts with tubulin, destabilizes microtubules, and promotes tauopathy. These results therefore indicate that activated cofilin plays an essential intermediary role in neurotoxic signaling that promotes tauopathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jung-A. A. Woo
- USF Health Byrd Alzheimer’s Institute, University of South Florida, Morsani College of Medicine, Tampa, FL 33613 USA
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology, University of South Florida, Morsani College of Medicine, Tampa, FL 33613 USA
| | - Tian Liu
- USF Health Byrd Alzheimer’s Institute, University of South Florida, Morsani College of Medicine, Tampa, FL 33613 USA
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of South Florida, Morsani College of Medicine, Tampa, FL 33613 USA
| | - Cenxiao C. Fang
- USF Health Byrd Alzheimer’s Institute, University of South Florida, Morsani College of Medicine, Tampa, FL 33613 USA
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of South Florida, Morsani College of Medicine, Tampa, FL 33613 USA
| | - Sara Cazzaro
- USF Health Byrd Alzheimer’s Institute, University of South Florida, Morsani College of Medicine, Tampa, FL 33613 USA
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of South Florida, Morsani College of Medicine, Tampa, FL 33613 USA
| | - Teresa Kee
- USF Health Byrd Alzheimer’s Institute, University of South Florida, Morsani College of Medicine, Tampa, FL 33613 USA
| | - Patrick LePochat
- USF Health Byrd Alzheimer’s Institute, University of South Florida, Morsani College of Medicine, Tampa, FL 33613 USA
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of South Florida, Morsani College of Medicine, Tampa, FL 33613 USA
| | - Ksenia Yrigoin
- USF Health Byrd Alzheimer’s Institute, University of South Florida, Morsani College of Medicine, Tampa, FL 33613 USA
| | - Courtney Penn
- USF Health Byrd Alzheimer’s Institute, University of South Florida, Morsani College of Medicine, Tampa, FL 33613 USA
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of South Florida, Morsani College of Medicine, Tampa, FL 33613 USA
| | - Xingyu Zhao
- USF Health Byrd Alzheimer’s Institute, University of South Florida, Morsani College of Medicine, Tampa, FL 33613 USA
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of South Florida, Morsani College of Medicine, Tampa, FL 33613 USA
| | - Xinming Wang
- USF Health Byrd Alzheimer’s Institute, University of South Florida, Morsani College of Medicine, Tampa, FL 33613 USA
| | - Stephen B. Liggett
- USF Health Byrd Alzheimer’s Institute, University of South Florida, Morsani College of Medicine, Tampa, FL 33613 USA
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology, University of South Florida, Morsani College of Medicine, Tampa, FL 33613 USA
| | - David E. Kang
- USF Health Byrd Alzheimer’s Institute, University of South Florida, Morsani College of Medicine, Tampa, FL 33613 USA
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of South Florida, Morsani College of Medicine, Tampa, FL 33613 USA
- James A. Haley Veteran’s Administration Hospital, Tampa, FL 33612 USA
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Cicognola C, Brinkmalm G, Wahlgren J, Portelius E, Gobom J, Cullen NC, Hansson O, Parnetti L, Constantinescu R, Wildsmith K, Chen HH, Beach TG, Lashley T, Zetterberg H, Blennow K, Höglund K. Novel tau fragments in cerebrospinal fluid: relation to tangle pathology and cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease. Acta Neuropathol 2019; 137:279-296. [PMID: 30547227 PMCID: PMC6514201 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-018-1948-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 116] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2018] [Revised: 12/10/2018] [Accepted: 12/10/2018] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Tau is an axonal microtubule-binding protein. Tau pathology in brain and increased tau concentration in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) are hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Most of tau in CSF is present as fragments. We immunoprecipitated tau from CSF and identified several endogenous peptides ending at amino acid (aa) 123 or 224 using high-resolution mass spectrometry. We raised neo-epitope-specific antibodies against tau fragments specifically ending at aa 123 and 224, respectively. With these antibodies, we performed immunohistochemistry on brain tissue and designed immunoassays measuring N-123, N-224, and x-224 tau. Immunoassays were applied to soluble brain fractions from pathologically confirmed subjects (81 AD patients, 33 controls), CSF from three cross-sectional and two longitudinal cohorts (a total of 133 AD, 38 MCI, 20 MCI-AD, 31 PSP, 15 CBS patients, and 91 controls), and neuronally- and peripherally-derived extracellular vesicles (NDEVs and PDEVs, respectively) in serum from four AD patients and four controls. Anti-tau 224 antibody stained neurofibrillary tangles and neuropil threads, while anti-tau 123 only showed weak cytoplasmic staining in AD. N-224 tau was lower in the AD soluble brain fraction compared to controls, while N-123 tau showed similar levels. N-224 tau was higher in AD compared to controls in all CSF cohorts (p < 0.001), but not N-123 tau. Decrease in cognitive performance and conversion from MCI to AD were associated with increased baseline CSF levels of N-224 tau (p < 0.0001). N-224 tau concentrations in PSP and CBS were significantly lower than in AD (p < 0.0001) and did not correlate to t-tau and p-tau. In a longitudinal cohort, CSF N-224 tau levels were stable over 6 months, with no significant effect of treatment with AChE inhibitors. N-224 tau was present in NDEVs, while N-123 tau showed comparable concentrations in both vesicle types. We suggest that N-123 tau is produced both in CNS and PNS and represents a general marker of tau metabolism, while N-224 tau is neuron-specific, present in the tangles, secreted in CSF, and upregulated in AD, suggesting a link between tau cleavage and propagation, tangle pathology, and cognitive decline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Cicognola
- Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, The Sahlgrenska Academy at University of Gothenburg, Göteborgsvägen 31, House V3/SU, 43180, Mölndal, Sweden.
| | - Gunnar Brinkmalm
- Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, The Sahlgrenska Academy at University of Gothenburg, Göteborgsvägen 31, House V3/SU, 43180, Mölndal, Sweden
| | - Jessica Wahlgren
- Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, The Sahlgrenska Academy at University of Gothenburg, Göteborgsvägen 31, House V3/SU, 43180, Mölndal, Sweden
| | - Erik Portelius
- Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, The Sahlgrenska Academy at University of Gothenburg, Göteborgsvägen 31, House V3/SU, 43180, Mölndal, Sweden
- Clinical Neurochemistry Laboratory, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Mölndal, Sweden
| | - Johan Gobom
- Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, The Sahlgrenska Academy at University of Gothenburg, Göteborgsvägen 31, House V3/SU, 43180, Mölndal, Sweden
- Clinical Neurochemistry Laboratory, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Mölndal, Sweden
| | - Nicholas C Cullen
- Department of Neurology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Oskar Hansson
- Clinical Memory Research Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences Malmö, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
- Memory Clinic, Skåne University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden
| | - Lucilla Parnetti
- Department of Medicine, Center for Memory Disturbances, Laboratory of Clinical Neurochemistry, Neurology Clinic, University of Perugia, Santa Maria della Misericordia Hospital, Perugia, Italy
| | - Radu Constantinescu
- Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Department of Neurology, The Sahlgrenska Academy at University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Kristin Wildsmith
- Biomarker Development Department, Genentech, South San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Hsu-Hsin Chen
- Biomarker Discovery Department, Genentech, South San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Thomas G Beach
- Civin Laboratory for Neuropathology, Banner Sun Health Research Institute, Sun City, AZ, USA
| | - Tammaryn Lashley
- Queen Square Brain Bank for Neurological Disorders, Department of Movement Disorders, Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Henrik Zetterberg
- Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, The Sahlgrenska Academy at University of Gothenburg, Göteborgsvägen 31, House V3/SU, 43180, Mölndal, Sweden
- Clinical Neurochemistry Laboratory, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Mölndal, Sweden
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Institute of Neurology Queen Square, London, UK
- UK Dementia Research Institute at UCL, London, UK
| | - Kaj Blennow
- Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, The Sahlgrenska Academy at University of Gothenburg, Göteborgsvägen 31, House V3/SU, 43180, Mölndal, Sweden
- Clinical Neurochemistry Laboratory, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Mölndal, Sweden
| | - Kina Höglund
- Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, The Sahlgrenska Academy at University of Gothenburg, Göteborgsvägen 31, House V3/SU, 43180, Mölndal, Sweden
- Clinical Neurochemistry Laboratory, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Mölndal, Sweden
- Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Center for Alzheimer Research, Division for Neurogeriatrics, Karolinska Institutet, Novum, Huddinge, Stockholm, Sweden
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Briston T, Hicks AR. Mitochondrial dysfunction and neurodegenerative proteinopathies: mechanisms and prospects for therapeutic intervention. Biochem Soc Trans 2018; 46:829-842. [PMID: 29986938 PMCID: PMC6103456 DOI: 10.1042/bst20180025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2018] [Revised: 05/10/2018] [Accepted: 05/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Neurodegenerative proteinopathies are a group of pathologically similar, progressive disorders of the nervous system, characterised by structural alterations within and toxic misfolding of susceptible proteins. Oligomerisation of Aβ, tau, α-synuclein and TDP-43 leads to a toxin gain- or loss-of-function contributing to the phenotype observed in Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal dementia. Misfolded proteins can adversely affect mitochondria, and post-mitotic neurones are especially sensitive to metabolic dysfunction. Misfolded proteins impair mitochondrial dynamics (morphology and trafficking), preventing functional mitochondria reaching the synapse, the primary site of ATP utilisation. Furthermore, a direct association of misfolded proteins with mitochondria may precipitate or augment dysfunctional oxidative phosphorylation and mitochondrial quality control, causing redox dyshomeostasis observed in disease. As such, a significant interest lies in understanding mechanisms of mitochondrial toxicity in neurodegenerative disorders and in dissecting these mechanisms with a view of maintaining mitochondrial homeostasis in disease. Recent advances in understanding mitochondrially controlled cell death pathways and elucidating the mitochondrial permeability pore bioarchitecture are beginning to present new avenues to target neurodegeneration. Novel mitochondrial roles of deubiquitinating enzymes are coming to light and present an opportunity for a new class of proteins to target therapeutically with the aim of promoting mitophagy and the ubiquitin-proteasome system. The brain is enormously metabolically active, placing a large emphasis on maintaining ATP supply. Therefore, identifying mechanisms to sustain mitochondrial function may represent a common intervention point across all proteinopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Briston
- Neurology Innovation Centre, Hatfield Research Laboratories, Eisai Ltd, Hatfield, U.K.
| | - Amy R Hicks
- Neurology Innovation Centre, Hatfield Research Laboratories, Eisai Ltd, Hatfield, U.K
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45
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Pérez MJ, Jara C, Quintanilla RA. Contribution of Tau Pathology to Mitochondrial Impairment in Neurodegeneration. Front Neurosci 2018; 12:441. [PMID: 30026680 PMCID: PMC6041396 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2018.00441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 95] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2018] [Accepted: 06/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Tau is an essential protein that physiologically promotes the assembly and stabilization of microtubules, and participates in neuronal development, axonal transport, and neuronal polarity. However, in a number of neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease (AD), tau undergoes pathological modifications in which soluble tau assembles into insoluble filaments, leading to synaptic failure and neurodegeneration. Mitochondria are responsible for energy supply, detoxification, and communication in brain cells, and important evidence suggests that mitochondrial failure could have a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of AD. In this context, our group and others investigated the negative effects of tau pathology on specific neuronal functions. In particular, we observed that the presence of these tau forms could affect mitochondrial function at three different levels: (i) mitochondrial transport, (ii) morphology, and (iii) bioenergetics. Therefore, mitochondrial dysfunction mediated by anomalous tau modifications represents a novel mechanism by which these forms contribute to the pathogenesis of AD. In this review, we will discuss the main results reported on pathological tau modifications and their effects on mitochondrial function and their importance for the synaptic communication and neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- María J Pérez
- Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Universidad Autónoma de Chile, Santiago, Chile.,Centro de Investigación y Estudio del Consumo de Alcohol en Adolescentes (CIAA), Santiago, Chile
| | - Claudia Jara
- Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Universidad Autónoma de Chile, Santiago, Chile.,Centro de Investigación y Estudio del Consumo de Alcohol en Adolescentes (CIAA), Santiago, Chile
| | - Rodrigo A Quintanilla
- Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Universidad Autónoma de Chile, Santiago, Chile.,Centro de Investigación y Estudio del Consumo de Alcohol en Adolescentes (CIAA), Santiago, Chile
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Phosphorylation of different tau sites during progression of Alzheimer's disease. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2018; 6:52. [PMID: 29958544 PMCID: PMC6027763 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-018-0557-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 204] [Impact Index Per Article: 34.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2018] [Accepted: 06/19/2018] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer’s disease is characterized by accumulation of amyloid plaques and tau aggregates in several cortical brain regions. Tau phosphorylation causes formation of neurofibrillary tangles and neuropil threads. Phosphorylation at tau Ser202/Thr205 is well characterized since labeling of this site is used to assign Braak stage based on occurrence of neurofibrillary tangles. Only little is known about the spatial and temporal phosphorylation profile of other phosphorylated tau (ptau) sites. Here, we investigate total tau and ptau at residues Tyr18, Ser199, Ser202/Thr205, Thr231, Ser262, Ser396, Ser422 as well as amyloid-β plaques in human brain tissue of AD patients and controls. Allo- and isocortical brain regions were evaluated applying rater-independent automated quantification based on digital image analysis. We found that the level of ptau at several residues, like Ser199, Ser202/Thr205, and Ser422 was similar in healthy controls and Braak stages I to IV but was increased in Braak stage V/VI throughout the entire isocortex and transentorhinal cortex. Quantification of ThioS-stained plaques showed a similar pattern. Only tau phosphorylation at Tyr18 and Thr231 was already significantly increased in the transentorhinal region at Braak stage III/IV and hence showed a progressive increase with increasing Braak stages. Additionally, the increase in phosphorylation relative to controls was highest at Tyr18, Thr231 and Ser199. By contrast, Ser396 tau and Ser262 tau showed only a weak phosphorylation in all analyzed brain regions and only minor progression. Our results suggest that the ptau burden in the isocortex is comparable between all analyzed ptau sites when using a quantitative approach while levels of ptau at Tyr18 or Thr231 in the transentorhinal region are different between all Braak stages. Hence these sites could be crucial in the pathogenesis of AD already at early stages and therefore represent putative novel therapeutic targets.
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Current Concepts of Neurodegenerative Mechanisms in Alzheimer's Disease. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2018; 2018:3740461. [PMID: 29707568 PMCID: PMC5863339 DOI: 10.1155/2018/3740461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 94] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2017] [Accepted: 02/07/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases are hereditary or sporadic conditions that result in the progressive loss of the structure and function of neurons as well as neuronal death. Although a range of diseases lie under this umbrella term, Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD) are the most common neurodegenerative diseases that affect a large population around the globe. Alzheimer's disease is characterized by the abnormal accumulation of extracellular amyloid-β plaques and intraneuronal neurofibrillary tangles in brain regions and manifests as a type of dementia in aged individuals that results in memory loss, multiple cognitive abnormalities, and intellectual disabilities that interfere with quality of life. Since the discovery of AD, a wealth of new information has emerged that delineates the causes, mechanisms of disease, and potential therapeutic agents, but an effective remedy to cure the diseases has not been identified yet. This could be because of the complexity of the disease process, as it involves various contributing factors that include environmental factors and genetic predispositions. This review summarizes the current understanding on neurodegenerative mechanisms that lead to the emergence of the pathology of AD.
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AD-Related N-Terminal Truncated Tau Is Sufficient to Recapitulate In Vivo the Early Perturbations of Human Neuropathology: Implications for Immunotherapy. Mol Neurobiol 2018; 55:8124-8153. [PMID: 29508283 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-018-0974-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2017] [Accepted: 02/19/2018] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
The NH2tau 26-44 aa (i.e., NH2htau) is the minimal biologically active moiety of longer 20-22-kDa NH2-truncated form of human tau-a neurotoxic fragment mapping between 26 and 230 amino acids of full-length protein (htau40)-which is detectable in presynaptic terminals and peripheral CSF from patients suffering from AD and other non-AD neurodegenerative diseases. Nevertheless, whether its exogenous administration in healthy nontransgenic mice is able to elicit a neuropathological phenotype resembling human tauopathies has not been yet investigated. We explored the in vivo effects evoked by subchronic intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) infusion of NH2htau or its reverse counterpart into two lines of young (2-month-old) wild-type mice (C57BL/6 and B6SJL). Six days after its accumulation into hippocampal parenchyma, significant impairment in memory/learning performance was detected in NH2htau-treated group in association with reduced synaptic connectivity and neuroinflammatory response. Compromised short-term plasticity in paired-pulse facilitation paradigm (PPF) was detected in the CA3/CA1 synapses from NH2htau-impaired animals along with downregulation in calcineurin (CaN)-stimulated pCREB/c-Fos pathway(s). Importantly, these behavioral, synaptotoxic, and neuropathological effects were independent from the genetic background, occurred prior to frank neuronal loss, and were specific because no alterations were detected in the control group infused with its reverse counterpart. Finally, a 2.0-kDa peptide which biochemically and immunologically resembles the injected NH2htau was endogenously detected in vivo, being present in hippocampal synaptosomal preparations from AD subjects. Given that the identification of the neurotoxic tau species is mandatory to develop a more effective tau-based immunological approach, our evidence can have important translational implications for cure of human tauopathies.
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Di Natale G, Bellia F, Sciacca MF, Campagna T, Pappalardo G. Tau-peptide fragments and their copper(II) complexes: Effects on Amyloid-β aggregation. Inorganica Chim Acta 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ica.2017.09.061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
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50
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Oxidant/Antioxidant Imbalance in Alzheimer's Disease: Therapeutic and Diagnostic Prospects. OXIDATIVE MEDICINE AND CELLULAR LONGEVITY 2018; 2018:6435861. [PMID: 29636850 PMCID: PMC5831771 DOI: 10.1155/2018/6435861] [Citation(s) in RCA: 154] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2017] [Accepted: 12/18/2017] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia and a great socioeconomic burden in the aging society. Compelling evidence demonstrates that molecular change characteristics for AD, such as oxidative stress and amyloid β (Aβ) oligomerization, precede by decades the onset of clinical dementia and that the disease represents a biological and clinical continuum of stages, from asymptomatic to severely impaired. Nevertheless, the sequence of the early molecular alterations and the interplay between them are incompletely understood. This review presents current knowledge about the oxidative stress-induced impairments and compromised oxidative stress defense mechanisms in AD brain and the cross-talk between various pathophysiological insults, with the focus on excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and Aβ overproduction at the early stages of the disease. Prospects for AD therapies targeting oxidant/antioxidant imbalance are being discussed, as well as for the development of novel oxidative stress-related, blood-based biomarkers for early, noninvasive AD diagnostics.
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