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Arenaza-Urquijo EM, Boyle R, Casaletto K, Anstey KJ, Vila-Castelar C, Colverson A, Palpatzis E, Eissman JM, Kheng Siang Ng T, Raghavan S, Akinci M, Vonk JMJ, Machado LS, Zanwar PP, Shrestha HL, Wagner M, Tamburin S, Sohrabi HR, Loi S, Bartrés-Faz D, Dubal DB, Prashanthi V, Okonkwo O, Hohman TJ, Ewers M, Buckley RF. Sex and gender differences in cognitive resilience to aging and Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimers Dement 2024. [PMID: 38967222 DOI: 10.1002/alz.13844] [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: 11/08/2023] [Revised: 03/08/2024] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 07/06/2024]
Abstract
Sex and gender-biological and social constructs-significantly impact the prevalence of protective and risk factors, influencing the burden of Alzheimer's disease (AD; amyloid beta and tau) and other pathologies (e.g., cerebrovascular disease) which ultimately shape cognitive trajectories. Understanding the interplay of these factors is central to understanding resilience and resistance mechanisms explaining maintained cognitive function and reduced pathology accumulation in aging and AD. In this narrative review, the ADDRESS! Special Interest Group (Alzheimer's Association) adopted a multidisciplinary approach to provide the foundations and recommendations for future research into sex- and gender-specific drivers of resilience, including a sex/gender-oriented review of risk factors, genetics, AD and non-AD pathologies, brain structure and function, and animal research. We urge the field to adopt a sex/gender-aware approach to resilience to advance our understanding of the intricate interplay of biological and social determinants and consider sex/gender-specific resilience throughout disease stages. HIGHLIGHTS: Sex differences in resilience to cognitive decline vary by age and cognitive status. Initial evidence supports sex-specific distinctions in brain pathology. Findings suggest sex differences in the impact of pathology on cognition. There is a sex-specific change in resilience in the transition to clinical stages. Gender and sex factors warrant study: modifiable, immune, inflammatory, and vascular.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eider M Arenaza-Urquijo
- Environment and Health Over the Life Course Programme, Climate, Air Pollution, Nature and Urban Health Programme, Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Barcelona, Spain
- University of Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Rory Boyle
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Kaitlin Casaletto
- Department of Neurology, Memory and Aging Center, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Kaarin J Anstey
- University of New South Wales Ageing Futures Institute, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- School of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Sidney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Clara Vila-Castelar
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Aaron Colverson
- University of Florida Center for Arts in Medicine Interdisciplinary Research Lab, University of Florida, Center of Arts in Medicine, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Eleni Palpatzis
- Environment and Health Over the Life Course Programme, Climate, Air Pollution, Nature and Urban Health Programme, Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Barcelona, Spain
- University of Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jaclyn M Eissman
- Vanderbilt Memory and Alzheimer's Center, Department of Neurology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
- Vanderbilt Genetics Institute, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Ted Kheng Siang Ng
- Rush Institute for Healthy Aging and Department of Internal Medicine, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | | | - Muge Akinci
- Environment and Health Over the Life Course Programme, Climate, Air Pollution, Nature and Urban Health Programme, Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Barcelona, Spain
- University of Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jet M J Vonk
- Department of Neurology, Memory and Aging Center, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Luiza S Machado
- Graduate Program in Biological Sciences: Biochemistry, Universidade Federal Do Rio Grande Do Sul, Farroupilha, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Preeti P Zanwar
- Jefferson College of Population Health, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- The Network on Life Course and Health Dynamics and Disparities, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | | | - Maude Wagner
- Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Stefano Tamburin
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Hamid R Sohrabi
- Centre for Healthy Ageing, Health Future Institute, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Western Australia, Australia
- School of Psychology, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Samantha Loi
- Neuropsychiatry Centre, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - David Bartrés-Faz
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences & Institut de Neurociències, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Institut Guttmann, Institut Universitari de Neurorehabilitació adscrit a la Universitat Autónoma de Barcelona, Badalona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Dena B Dubal
- Department of Neurology and Weill Institute of Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
- Biomedical and Neurosciences Graduate Programs, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | | | - Ozioma Okonkwo
- Alzheimer's Disease Research Center and Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Timothy J Hohman
- Vanderbilt Memory and Alzheimer's Center, Department of Neurology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
- Vanderbilt Genetics Institute, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Michael Ewers
- Institute for Stroke and Dementia Research, Klinikum der Universität München, Ludwig Maximilians Universität (LMU), Munich, Germany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE, Munich), Munich, Germany
| | - Rachel F Buckley
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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Burmistrov DE, Gudkov SV, Franceschi C, Vedunova MV. Sex as a Determinant of Age-Related Changes in the Brain. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:7122. [PMID: 39000227 PMCID: PMC11241365 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25137122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2024] [Revised: 06/25/2024] [Accepted: 06/26/2024] [Indexed: 07/16/2024] Open
Abstract
The notion of notable anatomical, biochemical, and behavioral distinctions within male and female brains has been a contentious topic of interest within the scientific community over several decades. Advancements in neuroimaging and molecular biological techniques have increasingly elucidated common mechanisms characterizing brain aging while also revealing disparities between sexes in these processes. Variations in cognitive functions; susceptibility to and progression of neurodegenerative conditions, notably Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases; and notable disparities in life expectancy between sexes, underscore the significance of evaluating aging within the framework of gender differences. This comprehensive review surveys contemporary literature on the restructuring of brain structures and fundamental processes unfolding in the aging brain at cellular and molecular levels, with a focus on gender distinctions. Additionally, the review delves into age-related cognitive alterations, exploring factors influencing the acceleration or deceleration of aging, with particular attention to estrogen's hormonal support of the central nervous system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dmitriy E. Burmistrov
- Prokhorov General Physics Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 38 Vavilova St., 119991 Moscow, Russia;
| | - Sergey V. Gudkov
- Prokhorov General Physics Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 38 Vavilova St., 119991 Moscow, Russia;
- Institute of Biology and Biomedicine, Lobachevsky State University of Nizhny Novgorod, 23 Gagarin Ave., 603022 Nizhny Novgorod, Russia
| | - Claudio Franceschi
- Institute of Biology and Biomedicine, Lobachevsky State University of Nizhny Novgorod, 23 Gagarin Ave., 603022 Nizhny Novgorod, Russia
| | - Maria V. Vedunova
- Institute of Biology and Biomedicine, Lobachevsky State University of Nizhny Novgorod, 23 Gagarin Ave., 603022 Nizhny Novgorod, Russia
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Cui SS, Jiang QW, Chen SD. Sex difference in biological change and mechanism of Alzheimer’s disease: from macro- to micro-landscape. Ageing Res Rev 2023; 87:101918. [PMID: 36967089 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2023.101918] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2022] [Revised: 02/16/2023] [Accepted: 03/23/2023] [Indexed: 04/05/2023]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia and numerous studies reported a higher prevalence and incidence of AD among women. Although women have longer lifetime, longevity does not wholly explain the higher frequency and lifetime risk in women. It is important to understand sex differences in AD pathophysiology and pathogenesis, which could provide foundation for future clinical AD research. Here, we reviewed the most recent and relevant literature on sex differences in biological change of AD from macroscopical neuroimaging to microscopical pathologic change (neuronal degeneration, synaptic dysfunction, amyloid-beta and tau accumulation). We also discussed sex differences in cellular mechanisms related to AD (neuroinflammation, mitochondria dysfunction, oxygen stress, apoptosis, autophagy, blood-brain-barrier dysfunction, gut microbiome alteration, bulk and single cell/nucleus omics) and possible causes underlying these differences including sex-chromosome, sex hormone and hypothalamic-pituitary- adrenal (HPA) axis effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shi-Shuang Cui
- Department of Neurology & Institute of Neurology, Ruijin Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China; Department of Geriatrics, Ruijin Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Qian-Wen Jiang
- Department of Neurology & Institute of Neurology, Ruijin Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China; Department of Geriatrics, Ruijin Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Sheng-Di Chen
- Department of Neurology & Institute of Neurology, Ruijin Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China.
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Chesworth R, Cheng D, Staub C, Karl T. Effect of long-term cannabidiol on learning and anxiety in a female Alzheimer’s disease mouse model. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:931384. [PMID: 36238565 PMCID: PMC9551202 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.931384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2022] [Accepted: 09/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Cannabidiol is a promising potential therapeutic for neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Our laboratory has shown that oral CBD treatment prevents cognitive impairment in a male genetic mouse model of AD, the amyloid precursor protein 1 x presenilin 1 hemizygous (APPxPS1) mouse. However, as sex differences are evident in clinical populations and in AD mouse models, we tested the preventive potential of CBD therapy in female APPxPS1 mice. In this study, 2.5-month-old female wildtype-like (WT) and APPxPS1 mice were fed 20 mg/kg CBD or a vehicle via gel pellets daily for 8 months and tested at 10.5 months in behavioural paradigms relevant to cognition (fear conditioning, FC; cheeseboard, CB; and novel object recognition test, NORT) and anxiety-like behaviours (elevated plus maze, EPM). In the CB, CBD reduced latencies to find a food reward in APPxPS1 mice, compared to vehicle-treated APPxPS1 controls, and this treatment effect was not evident in WT mice. In addition, CBD also increased speed early in the acquisition of the CB task in APPxPS1 mice. In the EPM, CBD increased locomotion in APPxPS1 mice but not in WT mice, with no effects of CBD on anxiety-like behaviour. CBD had limited effects on the expression of fear memory. These results indicate preventive CBD treatment can have a moderate spatial learning-enhancing effect in a female amyloid-β-based AD mouse model. This suggests CBD may have some preventive therapeutic potential in female familial AD patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rose Chesworth
- School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, NSW, Australia
| | - David Cheng
- Neuroscience Research Australia, Randwick, NSW, Australia
| | - Chloe Staub
- School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, NSW, Australia
| | - Tim Karl
- School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, NSW, Australia
- Neuroscience Research Australia, Randwick, NSW, Australia
- *Correspondence: Tim Karl,
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Examination of Longitudinal Alterations in Alzheimer’s Disease-Related Neurogenesis in an APP/PS1 Transgenic Mouse Model, and the Effects of P33, a Putative Neuroprotective Agent Thereon. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms231810364. [PMID: 36142277 PMCID: PMC9499399 DOI: 10.3390/ijms231810364] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2022] [Revised: 09/05/2022] [Accepted: 09/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurogenesis plays a crucial role in cognitive processes. During aging and in Alzheimer’s disease (AD), altered neurogenesis and neuroinflammation are evident both in C57BL/6J, APPSwe/PS1dE9 (Tg) mice and humans. AD pathology may slow down upon drug treatment, for example, in a previous study of our group P33, a putative neuroprotective agent was found to exert advantageous effects on the elevated levels of APP, Aβ, and neuroinflammation. In the present study, we aimed to examine longitudinal alterations in neurogenesis, neuroinflammation and AD pathology in a transgenic (Tg) mouse model, and assessed the putative beneficial effects of long-term P33 treatment on AD-specific neurological alterations. Hippocampal cell proliferation and differentiation were significantly reduced between 8 and 12 months of age. Regarding neuroinflammation, significantly elevated astrogliosis and microglial activation were observed in 6- to 7-month-old Tg animals. The amounts of the molecules involved in the amyloidogenic pathway were altered from 4 months of age in Tg animals. P33-treatment led to significantly increased neurogenesis in 9-month-old animals. Our data support the hypothesis that altered neurogenesis may be a consequence of AD pathology. Based on our findings in the transgenic animal model, early pharmacological treatment before the manifestation of AD symptoms might ameliorate neurological decline.
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St-Pierre MK, VanderZwaag J, Loewen S, Tremblay MÈ. All roads lead to heterogeneity: The complex involvement of astrocytes and microglia in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease. Front Cell Neurosci 2022; 16:932572. [PMID: 36035256 PMCID: PMC9413962 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2022.932572] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2022] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
In recent years, glial cells have been acknowledged as key players in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), a neurodegenerative condition in which an accumulation of intracellular neurofibrillary tangles and extracellular fibrillar amyloid beta is notably observed in the central nervous system. Genome-wide association studies have shown, both in microglia and astrocytes, an increase in gene variants associated with a higher risk of developing late-onset AD. Microglia, the resident innate immune cells of the brain, and astrocytes, glial cells crucial for vascular integrity and neuronal support, both agglomerate near amyloid beta plaques and dystrophic neurites where they participate in the elimination of these harmful parenchymal elements. However, their role in AD pathogenesis has been challenging to resolve due to the highly heterogeneous nature of these cell populations, i.e., their molecular, morphological, and ultrastructural diversity, together with their ever-changing responsiveness and functions throughout the pathological course of AD. With the recent expansions in the field of glial heterogeneity through innovative advances in state-of-the-art microscopy and -omics techniques, novel concepts and questions arose, notably pertaining to how the diverse microglial and astrocytic states interact with each other and with the AD hallmarks, and how their concerted efforts/actions impact the progression of the disease. In this review, we discuss the recent advances and findings on the topic of glial heterogeneity, particularly focusing on the relationships of these cells with AD hallmarks (e.g., amyloid beta plaques, neurofibrillary tangles, synaptic loss, and dystrophic neurites) in murine models of AD pathology and post-mortem brain samples of patients with AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie-Kim St-Pierre
- Département de Médecine Moléculaire, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada
- Axe Neurosciences, Center de Recherche du CHU de Québec, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | - Jared VanderZwaag
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | - Sophia Loewen
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
- Department of Biology, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | - Marie-Ève Tremblay
- Département de Médecine Moléculaire, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada
- Axe Neurosciences, Center de Recherche du CHU de Québec, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
- Neurology and Neurosurgery Department, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Center for Advanced Materials and Related Technology (CAMTEC), University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
- *Correspondence: Marie-Ève Tremblay,
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Li L, Li J, Dai Y, Yang M, Liang S, Wang Z, Liu W, Chen L, Tao J. Electro-Acupuncture Improve the Early Pattern Separation in Alzheimer’s Disease Mice via Basal Forebrain-Hippocampus Cholinergic Neural Circuit. Front Aging Neurosci 2022; 13:770948. [PMID: 35185516 PMCID: PMC8847781 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2021.770948] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2021] [Accepted: 12/31/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Objectives To explore the effect of electro-acupuncture (EA) treatment on pattern separation and investigate the neural circuit mechanism involved in five familial mutations (5 × FAD) mice. Methods Five familial mutations mice were treated with EA at Baihui (DU20) and Shenting (DU24) acupoints for 30 min each, lasting for 4 weeks. Cognitive-behavioral tests were performed to evaluate the effects of EA treatment on cognitive functions. 1H-MRS, Nissl staining, immunohistochemistry, and immunofluorescence were performed to examine the cholinergic system alteration. Thioflavin S staining and 6E10 immunofluorescence were performed to detect the amyloid-β (Aβ). Furthermore, hM4Di designer receptors exclusively activated by designer drugs (DREADDs) virus and long-term clozapine-N-oxide injection were used to inhibit the medial septal and vertical limb of the diagonal band and dentate gyrus (MS/VDB-DG) cholinergic neural circuit. Cognitive-behavioral tests and immunofluorescence were performed to investigate the cholinergic neural circuit mechanism of EA treatment improving cognition in 5 × FAD mice. Results Electro-acupuncture treatment significantly improved spatial recognition memory and pattern separation impairment, regulated cholinergic system via reduction neuron loss, upregulation of choline/creatine, choline acetyltransferase, vesicular acetylcholine transporter, and downregulation of enzyme acetylcholinesterase in 5 × FAD mice. Aβ deposition was reduced after EA treatment. Subsequently, the monosynaptic hM4Di DREADDs virus tracing and inhibiting strategy showed that EA treatment activates the MS/VDB-DG cholinergic neural circuit to improve the early pattern separation. In addition, EA treatment activates this circuit to upregulating M1 receptors positive cells and promoting hippocampal neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus (DG). Conclusion Electro-acupuncture could improve the early pattern separation impairment by activating the MS/VDB-DG cholinergic neural circuit in 5 × FAD mice, which was related to the regulation of the cholinergic system and the promotion of neurogenesis by EA treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Long Li
- Rehabilitation Medical Technology Joint National Local Engineering Research Center, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, China
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Jianhong Li
- TCM Rehabilitation Research Center of SATCM, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, China
| | - Yaling Dai
- Rehabilitation Medical Technology Joint National Local Engineering Research Center, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, China
| | - Minguang Yang
- Rehabilitation Medical Technology Joint National Local Engineering Research Center, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, China
| | - Shengxiang Liang
- TCM Rehabilitation Research Center of SATCM, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, China
| | - Zhifu Wang
- College of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, China
| | - Weilin Liu
- College of Rehabilitation Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, China
| | - Lidian Chen
- Rehabilitation Medical Technology Joint National Local Engineering Research Center, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, China
| | - Jing Tao
- College of Rehabilitation Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Jing Tao,
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proNGF Involvement in the Adult Neurogenesis Dysfunction in Alzheimer's Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms221910744. [PMID: 34639085 PMCID: PMC8509282 DOI: 10.3390/ijms221910744] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2021] [Revised: 09/28/2021] [Accepted: 09/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
In recent decades, neurogenesis in the adult brain has been well demonstrated in a number of animal species, including humans. Interestingly, work with rodents has shown that adult neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus (DG) of the hippocampus is vital for some cognitive aspects, as increasing neurogenesis improves memory, while its disruption triggers the opposite effect. Adult neurogenesis declines with age and has been suggested to play a role in impaired progressive learning and memory loss seen in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Therefore, therapeutic strategies designed to boost adult hippocampal neurogenesis may be beneficial for the treatment of AD. The precursor forms of neurotrophins, such as pro-NGF, display remarkable increase during AD in the hippocampus and entorhinal cortex. In contrast to mature NGF, pro-NGF exerts adverse functions in survival, proliferation, and differentiation. Hence, we hypothesized that pro-NGF and its p75 neurotrophin receptor (p75NTR) contribute to disrupting adult hippocampal neurogenesis during AD. To test this hypothesis, in this study, we took advantage of the availability of mouse models of AD (APP/PS1), which display memory impairment, and AD human samples to address the role of pro-NGF/p75NTR signaling in different aspects of adult neurogenesis. First, we observed that DG doublecortin (DCX) + progenitors express p75NTR both, in healthy humans and control animals, although the percentage of DCX+ cells are significantly reduced in AD. Interestingly, the expression of p75NTR in these progenitors is significantly decreased in AD conditions compared to controls. In order to assess the contribution of the pro-NGF/p75NTR pathway to the memory deficits of APP/PS1 mice, we injected pro-NGF neutralizing antibodies (anti-proNGF) into the DG of control and APP/PS1 mice and animals are subjected to a Morris water maze test. Intriguingly, we observed that anti-pro-NGF significantly restored memory performance of APP/PS1 animals and significantly increase the percentage of DCX+ progenitors in the DG region of these animals. In summary, our results suggest that pro-NGF is involved in disrupting spatial memory in AD, at least in part by blocking adult neurogenesis. Moreover, we propose that adult neurogenesis alteration should be taken into consideration for better understanding of AD pathology. Additionally, we provide a new molecular entry point (pro-NGF/p75NTR signaling) as a promising therapeutic target in AD.
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Ruiter M, Herstel LJ, Wierenga CJ. Reduction of Dendritic Inhibition in CA1 Pyramidal Neurons in Amyloidosis Models of Early Alzheimer's Disease. J Alzheimers Dis 2021; 78:951-964. [PMID: 33074225 PMCID: PMC7739974 DOI: 10.3233/jad-200527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Background: In an early stage of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), before the formation of amyloid plaques, neuronal network hyperactivity has been reported in both patients and animal models. This suggests an underlying disturbance of the balance between excitation and inhibition. Several studies have highlighted the role of somatic inhibition in early AD, while less is known about dendritic inhibition. Objective: In this study we investigated how inhibitory synaptic currents are affected by elevated Aβ levels. Methods: We performed whole-cell patch clamp recordings of CA1 pyramidal neurons in organotypic hippocampal slice cultures after treatment with Aβ-oligomers and in hippocampal brain slices from AppNL-F-G mice (APP-KI). Results: We found a reduction of spontaneous inhibitory postsynaptic currents (sIPSCs) in CA1 pyramidal neurons in organotypic slices after 24 h Aβ treatment. sIPSCs with slow rise times were reduced, suggesting a specific loss of dendritic inhibitory inputs. As miniature IPSCs and synaptic density were unaffected, these results suggest a decrease in activity-dependent transmission after Aβ treatment. We observed a similar, although weaker, reduction in sIPSCs in CA1 pyramidal neurons from APP-KI mice compared to control. When separated by sex, the strongest reduction in sIPSC frequency was found in slices from male APP-KI mice. Consistent with hyperexcitability in pyramidal cells, dendritically targeting interneurons received slightly more excitatory input. GABAergic action potentials had faster kinetics in APP-KI slices. Conclusion: Our results show that Aβ affects dendritic inhibition via impaired action potential driven release, possibly due to altered kinetics of GABAergic action potentials. Reduced dendritic inhibition may contribute to neuronal hyperactivity in early AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marvin Ruiter
- Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Biophysics, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Lotte J Herstel
- Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Biophysics, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Corette J Wierenga
- Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Biophysics, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
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Jiang N, Cupolillo D, Grosjean N, Muller E, Deforges S, Mulle C, Amédée T. Impaired plasticity of intrinsic excitability in the dentate gyrus alters spike transfer in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease. Neurobiol Dis 2021; 154:105345. [PMID: 33766653 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2021.105345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2021] [Revised: 03/16/2021] [Accepted: 03/19/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease characterized by cognitive decline related to deficits in synaptic transmission and plasticity. We report in APP/PS1 mice, a double transgenic mouse model of AD, that females displayed an early burden of Aβ plaques load in the stratum moleculare of the dentate gyrus (DG) together with prominent neuroinflammatory activation of astrocytes and microglia. Robust deficits in hippocampus-dependent memory tasks were observed in APP/PS1 female mice as early as 3 months of age. We then studied the functional properties of the lateral perforant path (LPP) to DG granule cells. Remarkably DG granule cells displayed higher intrinsic excitability in APP/PS1 female mice. We showed that the long term potentiation of population spike amplitude induced by high frequency stimulation (HFS) at LPP-DG granule cells synapse is impaired in APP/PS1 female mice. HFS induced plasticity of intrinsic excitability in DG granule cells without inducing noticeable modification of synaptic strength. Furthermore, the enhanced intrinsic excitability was potentiated to a greater extent in APP/PS1 as compared to control mice following HFS. Our study shows that changes in the intrinsic excitability of DG granule cells in AD contribute to the dysfunctional transfer of information from the entorhinal cortex to the hippocampus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nan Jiang
- Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, INSERM, Bordeaux Imaging Center, BIC, UMS 3420, US 4, F-33000 Bordeaux, France
| | - Dario Cupolillo
- Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, INSERM, Bordeaux Imaging Center, BIC, UMS 3420, US 4, F-33000 Bordeaux, France
| | - Noelle Grosjean
- Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, INSERM, Bordeaux Imaging Center, BIC, UMS 3420, US 4, F-33000 Bordeaux, France
| | - Emeline Muller
- Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, INSERM, Bordeaux Imaging Center, BIC, UMS 3420, US 4, F-33000 Bordeaux, France
| | - Séverine Deforges
- Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, INSERM, Bordeaux Imaging Center, BIC, UMS 3420, US 4, F-33000 Bordeaux, France
| | - Christophe Mulle
- Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, INSERM, Bordeaux Imaging Center, BIC, UMS 3420, US 4, F-33000 Bordeaux, France
| | - Thierry Amédée
- Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, INSERM, Bordeaux Imaging Center, BIC, UMS 3420, US 4, F-33000 Bordeaux, France.
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11
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Chowen JA, Garcia-Segura LM. Role of glial cells in the generation of sex differences in neurodegenerative diseases and brain aging. Mech Ageing Dev 2021; 196:111473. [PMID: 33766745 DOI: 10.1016/j.mad.2021.111473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2021] [Revised: 03/14/2021] [Accepted: 03/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Diseases and aging-associated alterations of the nervous system often show sex-specific characteristics. Glial cells play a major role in the endogenous homeostatic response of neural tissue, and sex differences in the glial transcriptome and function have been described. Therefore, the possible role of these cells in the generation of sex differences in pathological alterations of the nervous system is reviewed here. Studies have shown that glia react to pathological insults with sex-specific neuroprotective and regenerative effects. At least three factors determine this sex-specific response of glia: sex chromosome genes, gonadal hormones and neuroactive steroid hormone metabolites. The sex chromosome complement determines differences in the transcriptional responses in glia after brain injury, while gonadal hormones and their metabolites activate sex-specific neuroprotective mechanisms in these cells. Since the sex-specific neuroprotective and regenerative activity of glial cells causes sex differences in the pathological alterations of the nervous system, glia may represent a relevant target for sex-specific therapeutic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie A Chowen
- Department of Endocrinology, Hospital Infantil Universitario Niño Jesús, Instituto de Investigación la Princesa, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutriciόn (CIBEROBN), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, and IMDEA Food Institute, CEIUAM+CSIC, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Luis M Garcia-Segura
- Instituto Cajal, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC) and Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Fragilidad y Envejecimiento Saludable (CIBERFES), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.
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12
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Yu CC, Du YJ, Wang SQ, Liu LB, Shen F, Wang L, Lin YF, Kong LH. Experimental Evidence of the Benefits of Acupuncture for Alzheimer's Disease: An Updated Review. Front Neurosci 2021; 14:549772. [PMID: 33408601 PMCID: PMC7779610 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2020.549772] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2020] [Accepted: 11/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
As the global population ages, the prevalence of Alzheimer's disease (AD), the most common form of dementia, is also increasing. At present, there are no widely recognized drugs able to ameliorate the cognitive dysfunction caused by AD. The failure of several promising clinical trials in recent years has highlighted the urgent need for novel strategies to both prevent and treat AD. Notably, a growing body of literature supports the efficacy of acupuncture for AD. In this review, we summarize the previously reported mechanisms of acupuncture's beneficial effects in AD, including the ability of acupuncture to modulate Aβ metabolism, tau phosphorylation, neurotransmitters, neurogenesis, synapse and neuron function, autophagy, neuronal apoptosis, neuroinflammation, cerebral glucose metabolism, and brain responses. Taken together, these findings suggest that acupuncture provides therapeutic effects for AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao-Chao Yu
- Department of Tuina, Shenzhen Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Shenzhen, China.,The Fourth Clinical College of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yan-Jun Du
- College of Acupuncture and Orthopedics, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, China
| | - Shu-Qin Wang
- Department of Tuina, Shenzhen Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Shenzhen, China.,The Fourth Clinical College of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen, China
| | - Le-Bin Liu
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Hubei Rongjun Hospital, Wuhan, China
| | - Feng Shen
- College of Acupuncture and Orthopedics, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, China
| | - Li Wang
- College of Acupuncture and Orthopedics, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, China
| | - Yuan-Fang Lin
- Department of Tuina, Shenzhen Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Shenzhen, China.,The Fourth Clinical College of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen, China
| | - Li-Hong Kong
- College of Acupuncture and Orthopedics, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, China
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13
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Richetin K, Steullet P, Pachoud M, Perbet R, Parietti E, Maheswaran M, Eddarkaoui S, Bégard S, Pythoud C, Rey M, Caillierez R, Q Do K, Halliez S, Bezzi P, Buée L, Leuba G, Colin M, Toni N, Déglon N. Tau accumulation in astrocytes of the dentate gyrus induces neuronal dysfunction and memory deficits in Alzheimer's disease. Nat Neurosci 2020; 23:1567-1579. [PMID: 33169029 DOI: 10.1038/s41593-020-00728-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 90] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2018] [Accepted: 09/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by the accumulation of the tau protein in neurons, neurodegeneration and memory loss. However, the role of non-neuronal cells in this chain of events remains unclear. In the present study, we found accumulation of tau in hilar astrocytes of the dentate gyrus of individuals with AD. In mice, the overexpression of 3R tau specifically in hilar astrocytes of the dentate gyrus altered mitochondrial dynamics and function. In turn, these changes led to a reduction of adult neurogenesis, parvalbumin-expressing neurons, inhibitory synapses and hilar gamma oscillations, which were accompanied by impaired spatial memory performances. Together, these results indicate that the loss of tau homeostasis in hilar astrocytes of the dentate gyrus is sufficient to induce AD-like symptoms, through the impairment of the neuronal network. These results are important for our understanding of disease mechanisms and underline the crucial role of astrocytes in hippocampal function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin Richetin
- Department of Psychiatry, Center for Psychiatric Neurosciences, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV) and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland. .,Laboratory of Neurotherapies and Neuromodulation, Neuroscience Research Center (CRN), Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV) and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland. .,Department of Clinical Neuroscience (DNC), Laboratory of Neurotherapies and Neuromodulation, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV) and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.
| | - Pascal Steullet
- Department of Psychiatry, Center for Psychiatric Neurosciences, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV) and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Mathieu Pachoud
- Laboratory of Neurotherapies and Neuromodulation, Neuroscience Research Center (CRN), Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV) and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.,Department of Clinical Neuroscience (DNC), Laboratory of Neurotherapies and Neuromodulation, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV) and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Romain Perbet
- Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, U1172 - LilNCog - Lille Neuroscience & Cognition, Lille, France
| | - Enea Parietti
- Department of Psychiatry, Center for Psychiatric Neurosciences, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV) and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Mathischan Maheswaran
- Laboratory of Neurotherapies and Neuromodulation, Neuroscience Research Center (CRN), Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV) and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.,Department of Clinical Neuroscience (DNC), Laboratory of Neurotherapies and Neuromodulation, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV) and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Sabiha Eddarkaoui
- Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, U1172 - LilNCog - Lille Neuroscience & Cognition, Lille, France
| | - Séverine Bégard
- Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, U1172 - LilNCog - Lille Neuroscience & Cognition, Lille, France
| | - Catherine Pythoud
- Laboratory of Neurotherapies and Neuromodulation, Neuroscience Research Center (CRN), Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV) and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.,Department of Clinical Neuroscience (DNC), Laboratory of Neurotherapies and Neuromodulation, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV) and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Maria Rey
- Laboratory of Neurotherapies and Neuromodulation, Neuroscience Research Center (CRN), Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV) and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.,Department of Clinical Neuroscience (DNC), Laboratory of Neurotherapies and Neuromodulation, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV) and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Raphaëlle Caillierez
- Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, U1172 - LilNCog - Lille Neuroscience & Cognition, Lille, France
| | - Kim Q Do
- Department of Psychiatry, Center for Psychiatric Neurosciences, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV) and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Sophie Halliez
- Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, U1172 - LilNCog - Lille Neuroscience & Cognition, Lille, France
| | - Paola Bezzi
- Department of Fundamental Neurosciences, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Luc Buée
- Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, U1172 - LilNCog - Lille Neuroscience & Cognition, Lille, France
| | - Geneviève Leuba
- Department of Psychiatry, Center for Psychiatric Neurosciences, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV) and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Morvane Colin
- Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, U1172 - LilNCog - Lille Neuroscience & Cognition, Lille, France
| | - Nicolas Toni
- Department of Psychiatry, Center for Psychiatric Neurosciences, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV) and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.
| | - Nicole Déglon
- Laboratory of Neurotherapies and Neuromodulation, Neuroscience Research Center (CRN), Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV) and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.,Department of Clinical Neuroscience (DNC), Laboratory of Neurotherapies and Neuromodulation, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV) and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
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14
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Spanos F, Liddelow SA. An Overview of Astrocyte Responses in Genetically Induced Alzheimer's Disease Mouse Models. Cells 2020; 9:E2415. [PMID: 33158189 PMCID: PMC7694249 DOI: 10.3390/cells9112415] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2020] [Revised: 10/26/2020] [Accepted: 11/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia. Despite many years of intense research, there is currently still no effective treatment. Multiple cell types contribute to disease pathogenesis, with an increasing body of data pointing to the active participation of astrocytes. Astrocytes play a pivotal role in the physiology and metabolic functions of neurons and other cells in the central nervous system. Because of their interactions with other cell types, astrocyte functions must be understood in their biologic context, thus many studies have used mouse models, of which there are over 190 available for AD research. However, none appear able to fully recapitulate the many functional changes in astrocytes reported in human AD brains. Our review summarizes the observations of astrocyte biology noted in mouse models of familial and sporadic AD. The limitations of AD mouse models will be discussed and current attempts to overcome these disadvantages will be described. With increasing understanding of the non-neuronal contributions to disease, the development of new methods and models will provide further insights and address important questions regarding the roles of astrocytes and other non-neuronal cells in AD pathophysiology. The next decade will prove to be full of exciting opportunities to address this devastating disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fokion Spanos
- Neuroscience Institute, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA;
| | - Shane A. Liddelow
- Neuroscience Institute, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA;
- Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA
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15
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Pomeshchik Y, Klementieva O, Gil J, Martinsson I, Hansen MG, de Vries T, Sancho-Balsells A, Russ K, Savchenko E, Collin A, Vaz AR, Bagnoli S, Nacmias B, Rampon C, Sorbi S, Brites D, Marko-Varga G, Kokaia Z, Rezeli M, Gouras GK, Roybon L. Human iPSC-Derived Hippocampal Spheroids: An Innovative Tool for Stratifying Alzheimer Disease Patient-Specific Cellular Phenotypes and Developing Therapies. Stem Cell Reports 2020; 15:256-273. [PMID: 32589876 PMCID: PMC7363942 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2020.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2019] [Revised: 06/01/2020] [Accepted: 06/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The hippocampus is important for memory formation and is severely affected in the brain with Alzheimer disease (AD). Our understanding of early pathogenic processes occurring in hippocampi in AD is limited due to tissue unavailability. Here, we report a chemical approach to rapidly generate free-floating hippocampal spheroids (HSs), from human induced pluripotent stem cells. When used to model AD, both APP and atypical PS1 variant HSs displayed increased Aβ42/Aβ40 peptide ratios and decreased synaptic protein levels, which are common features of AD. However, the two variants differed in tau hyperphosphorylation, protein aggregation, and protein network alterations. NeuroD1-mediated gene therapy in HSs-derived progenitors resulted in modulation of expression of numerous genes, including those involved in synaptic transmission. Thus, HSs can be harnessed to unravel the mechanisms underlying early pathogenic changes in the hippocampi of AD patients, and provide a robust platform for the development of therapeutic strategies targeting early stage AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuriy Pomeshchik
- iPSC Laboratory for CNS Disease Modeling, Department of Experimental Medical Science, BMC D10, Lund University, Lund SE-221 84, Sweden; Strategic Research Area MultiPark, Lund University, Lund SE-221 84, Sweden; Lund Stem Cell Center, Lund University, Lund SE-221 84, Sweden
| | - Oxana Klementieva
- Strategic Research Area MultiPark, Lund University, Lund SE-221 84, Sweden; Medical Microspectroscopy, Department of Experimental Medical Science, BMC B11, Lund University, Lund SE-221 84, Sweden; Experimental Dementia Research Unit, Department of Experimental Medical Science, BMC B11, Lund University, Lund SE-221 84, Sweden
| | - Jeovanis Gil
- Clinical Protein Science and Imaging, Department of Biomedical Engineering, BMC D13, Lund University, Lund SE-221 84, Sweden
| | - Isak Martinsson
- Strategic Research Area MultiPark, Lund University, Lund SE-221 84, Sweden; Experimental Dementia Research Unit, Department of Experimental Medical Science, BMC B11, Lund University, Lund SE-221 84, Sweden
| | - Marita Grønning Hansen
- Lund Stem Cell Center, Lund University, Lund SE-221 84, Sweden; Laboratory of Stem Cells and Restorative Neurology, Department of Clinical Sciences, BMC B10, Lund University, Lund SE-221 84, Sweden
| | - Tessa de Vries
- iPSC Laboratory for CNS Disease Modeling, Department of Experimental Medical Science, BMC D10, Lund University, Lund SE-221 84, Sweden; Strategic Research Area MultiPark, Lund University, Lund SE-221 84, Sweden; Lund Stem Cell Center, Lund University, Lund SE-221 84, Sweden
| | - Anna Sancho-Balsells
- iPSC Laboratory for CNS Disease Modeling, Department of Experimental Medical Science, BMC D10, Lund University, Lund SE-221 84, Sweden; Strategic Research Area MultiPark, Lund University, Lund SE-221 84, Sweden; Lund Stem Cell Center, Lund University, Lund SE-221 84, Sweden
| | - Kaspar Russ
- iPSC Laboratory for CNS Disease Modeling, Department of Experimental Medical Science, BMC D10, Lund University, Lund SE-221 84, Sweden; Strategic Research Area MultiPark, Lund University, Lund SE-221 84, Sweden; Lund Stem Cell Center, Lund University, Lund SE-221 84, Sweden
| | - Ekaterina Savchenko
- iPSC Laboratory for CNS Disease Modeling, Department of Experimental Medical Science, BMC D10, Lund University, Lund SE-221 84, Sweden; Strategic Research Area MultiPark, Lund University, Lund SE-221 84, Sweden; Lund Stem Cell Center, Lund University, Lund SE-221 84, Sweden
| | - Anna Collin
- Department of Clinical Genetics and Pathology, Office for Medical Services, Lund SE-221 85, Sweden
| | - Ana Rita Vaz
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal; Department of Biochemistry and Human Biology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Silvia Bagnoli
- Laboratorio di Neurogenetica, Dipartimento di Neuroscienze, Psicologia, Area del Farmaco e Salute del Bambino- NEUROFARBA, Università degli Studi di Firenze, Florence 50134, Italy; IRCCS Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi, Florence, Italy
| | - Benedetta Nacmias
- Laboratorio di Neurogenetica, Dipartimento di Neuroscienze, Psicologia, Area del Farmaco e Salute del Bambino- NEUROFARBA, Università degli Studi di Firenze, Florence 50134, Italy; IRCCS Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi, Florence, Italy
| | - Claire Rampon
- Centre de Recherches sur la Cognition Animale (CRCA), Centre de Biologie Intégrative (CBI), Université de Toulouse; CNRS, UPS, Toulouse Cedex 9, France
| | - Sandro Sorbi
- Laboratorio di Neurogenetica, Dipartimento di Neuroscienze, Psicologia, Area del Farmaco e Salute del Bambino- NEUROFARBA, Università degli Studi di Firenze, Florence 50134, Italy; IRCCS Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi, Florence, Italy
| | - Dora Brites
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal; Department of Biochemistry and Human Biology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - György Marko-Varga
- Clinical Protein Science and Imaging, Department of Biomedical Engineering, BMC D13, Lund University, Lund SE-221 84, Sweden
| | - Zaal Kokaia
- Lund Stem Cell Center, Lund University, Lund SE-221 84, Sweden; Laboratory of Stem Cells and Restorative Neurology, Department of Clinical Sciences, BMC B10, Lund University, Lund SE-221 84, Sweden
| | - Melinda Rezeli
- Clinical Protein Science and Imaging, Department of Biomedical Engineering, BMC D13, Lund University, Lund SE-221 84, Sweden
| | - Gunnar K Gouras
- Strategic Research Area MultiPark, Lund University, Lund SE-221 84, Sweden; Experimental Dementia Research Unit, Department of Experimental Medical Science, BMC B11, Lund University, Lund SE-221 84, Sweden
| | - Laurent Roybon
- iPSC Laboratory for CNS Disease Modeling, Department of Experimental Medical Science, BMC D10, Lund University, Lund SE-221 84, Sweden; Strategic Research Area MultiPark, Lund University, Lund SE-221 84, Sweden; Lund Stem Cell Center, Lund University, Lund SE-221 84, Sweden.
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16
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Sánchez OF, Rodríguez AV, Velasco-España JM, Murillo LC, Sutachan JJ, Albarracin SL. Role of Connexins 30, 36, and 43 in Brain Tumors, Neurodegenerative Diseases, and Neuroprotection. Cells 2020; 9:E846. [PMID: 32244528 PMCID: PMC7226843 DOI: 10.3390/cells9040846] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2019] [Revised: 02/15/2020] [Accepted: 02/24/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Gap junction (GJ) channels and their connexins (Cxs) are complex proteins that have essential functions in cell communication processes in the central nervous system (CNS). Neurons, astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, and microglial cells express an extraordinary repertory of Cxs that are important for cell to cell communication and diffusion of metabolites, ions, neurotransmitters, and gliotransmitters. GJs and Cxs not only contribute to the normal function of the CNS but also the pathological progress of several diseases, such as cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. Besides, they have important roles in mediating neuroprotection by internal or external molecules. However, regulation of Cx expression by epigenetic mechanisms has not been fully elucidated. In this review, we provide an overview of the known mechanisms that regulate the expression of the most abundant Cxs in the central nervous system, Cx30, Cx36, and Cx43, and their role in brain cancer, CNS disorders, and neuroprotection. Initially, we focus on describing the Cx gene structure and how this is regulated by epigenetic mechanisms. Then, the posttranslational modifications that mediate the activity and stability of Cxs are reviewed. Finally, the role of GJs and Cxs in glioblastoma, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and Huntington's diseases, and neuroprotection are analyzed with the aim of shedding light in the possibility of using Cx regulators as potential therapeutic molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oscar F. Sánchez
- Department of Nutrition and Biochemistry, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, 110911 Bogota, Colombia; (A.V.R.); (J.M.V.-E.); (L.C.M.); (J.-J.S.)
| | | | | | | | | | - Sonia-Luz Albarracin
- Department of Nutrition and Biochemistry, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, 110911 Bogota, Colombia; (A.V.R.); (J.M.V.-E.); (L.C.M.); (J.-J.S.)
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17
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Spritzer MD, Roy EA. Testosterone and Adult Neurogenesis. Biomolecules 2020; 10:biom10020225. [PMID: 32028656 PMCID: PMC7072323 DOI: 10.3390/biom10020225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2019] [Revised: 01/22/2020] [Accepted: 01/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
It is now well established that neurogenesis occurs throughout adulthood in select brain regions, but the functional significance of adult neurogenesis remains unclear. There is considerable evidence that steroid hormones modulate various stages of adult neurogenesis, and this review provides a focused summary of the effects of testosterone on adult neurogenesis. Initial evidence came from field studies with birds and wild rodent populations. Subsequent experiments with laboratory rodents have tested the effects of testosterone and its steroid metabolites upon adult neurogenesis, as well as the functional consequences of induced changes in neurogenesis. These experiments have provided clear evidence that testosterone increases adult neurogenesis within the dentate gyrus region of the hippocampus through an androgen-dependent pathway. Most evidence indicates that androgens selectively enhance the survival of newly generated neurons, while having little effect on cell proliferation. Whether this is a result of androgens acting directly on receptors of new neurons remains unclear, and indirect routes involving brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and glucocorticoids may be involved. In vitro experiments suggest that testosterone has broad-ranging neuroprotective effects, which will be briefly reviewed. A better understanding of the effects of testosterone upon adult neurogenesis could shed light on neurological diseases that show sex differences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark D. Spritzer
- Department of Biology, Middlebury College, Middlebury, VT 05753, USA
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: 802-443-5676
| | - Ethan A. Roy
- Graduate School of Education, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA;
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18
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Medeiros ADM, Silva RH. Sex Differences in Alzheimer’s Disease: Where Do We Stand? J Alzheimers Dis 2019; 67:35-60. [DOI: 10.3233/jad-180213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- André de Macêdo Medeiros
- Behavioral Neuroscience Laboratory, Department of Pharmacology, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
- Center of Health and Biological Sciences, Universidade Federal Rural do Semiárido, Mossoró, Brazil
| | - Regina Helena Silva
- Behavioral Neuroscience Laboratory, Department of Pharmacology, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
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19
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Cassé F, Richetin K, Toni N. Astrocytes' Contribution to Adult Neurogenesis in Physiology and Alzheimer's Disease. Front Cell Neurosci 2018; 12:432. [PMID: 30538622 PMCID: PMC6277517 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2018.00432] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2018] [Accepted: 10/31/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Adult neurogenesis is one of the most drastic forms of brain plasticity in adulthood and there is a growing body of evidence showing that, in the hippocampus, this process contributes to mechanisms of memory as well as depression. Interestingly, adult neurogenesis is tightly regulated by the neurogenic niche, which provides a structural and molecular scaffold for stem cell proliferation and the differentiation and functional integration of new neurons. In this review, we highlight the role of astrocytes in the regulation of adult neurogenesis in the context of cognitive function. We also discuss how the changes in astrocytes function may dysregulate adult neurogenesis and contribute to cognitive impairment in the context of Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frédéric Cassé
- Center for Psychiatric Neuroscience, Department of Psychiatry, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Kevin Richetin
- Center for Psychiatric Neuroscience, Department of Psychiatry, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Nicolas Toni
- Center for Psychiatric Neuroscience, Department of Psychiatry, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland
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20
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Schmid S, Rammes G, Blobner M, Kellermann K, Bratke S, Fendl D, Kaichuan Z, Schneider G, Jungwirth B. Cognitive decline in Tg2576 mice shows sex-specific differences and correlates with cerebral amyloid-beta. Behav Brain Res 2018; 359:408-417. [PMID: 30458163 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2018.11.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2018] [Revised: 11/15/2018] [Accepted: 11/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Patients suffering from Alzheimer's disease show a sex-dependent decline of cognitive function. The aim of this investigation was to show these differences in an animal model for Alzheimer's disease and to determine whether this effect is correlated to amyloid-beta-induced pathophysiological changes. Therefore, we assessed cognitive performance with the modified hole-board test in female and male Tg2576 and wild type mice at the age of 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, and 16 months and correlated these findings to the total amount of soluble amyloid-beta and insoluble amyloid deposits in the brain. Tg2576 mice perform worse than wild types. Female Tg2576 mice develop an accentuated cognitive impairment (wrong choice total) beginning at the age of 12 months compared to their male littermates. Alterations in the mice's behaviour do not show interference with these deficits. Cognitive impairment is correlated to the amount of soluble amyloid-beta and insoluble amyloid deposits in the brain in a sex-dependent manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian Schmid
- Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Ismaninger Str. 22, 81675 Munich, Germany.
| | - Gerhard Rammes
- Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Ismaninger Str. 22, 81675 Munich, Germany
| | - Manfred Blobner
- Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Ismaninger Str. 22, 81675 Munich, Germany
| | - Kristine Kellermann
- Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Ismaninger Str. 22, 81675 Munich, Germany
| | - Sebastian Bratke
- Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Ismaninger Str. 22, 81675 Munich, Germany
| | - Diana Fendl
- Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Ismaninger Str. 22, 81675 Munich, Germany
| | - Zhu Kaichuan
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Ludwig-Maximilians-University of Munich, Feodor-Lynen-Str. 17, 81377 Munich, Germany
| | - Gerhard Schneider
- Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Ismaninger Str. 22, 81675 Munich, Germany
| | - Bettina Jungwirth
- Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Ismaninger Str. 22, 81675 Munich, Germany
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21
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Xia X, Jiang Q, McDermott J, Han JDJ. Aging and Alzheimer's disease: Comparison and associations from molecular to system level. Aging Cell 2018; 17:e12802. [PMID: 29963744 PMCID: PMC6156542 DOI: 10.1111/acel.12802] [Citation(s) in RCA: 169] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2018] [Revised: 05/15/2018] [Accepted: 06/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease is the most prevalent cause of dementia, which is defined by the combined presence of amyloid and tau, but researchers are gradually moving away from the simple assumption of linear causality proposed by the original amyloid hypothesis. Aging is the main risk factor for Alzheimer's disease that cannot be explained by amyloid hypothesis. To evaluate how aging and Alzheimer's disease are intrinsically interwoven with each other, we review and summarize evidence from molecular, cellular, and system level. In particular, we focus on study designs, treatments, or interventions in Alzheimer's disease that could also be insightful in aging and vice versa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xian Xia
- CAS Key Laboratory of Computational Biology, CAS-MPG Partner Institute for Computational Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences; Chinese Academy of Sciences ; Shanghai China
| | - Quanlong Jiang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Computational Biology, CAS-MPG Partner Institute for Computational Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences; Chinese Academy of Sciences ; Shanghai China
| | - Joseph McDermott
- CAS Key Laboratory of Computational Biology, CAS-MPG Partner Institute for Computational Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences; Chinese Academy of Sciences ; Shanghai China
| | - Jing-Dong J. Han
- CAS Key Laboratory of Computational Biology, CAS-MPG Partner Institute for Computational Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences; Chinese Academy of Sciences ; Shanghai China
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22
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Gurvich C, Hoy K, Thomas N, Kulkarni J. Sex Differences and the Influence of Sex Hormones on Cognition through Adulthood and the Aging Process. Brain Sci 2018; 8:brainsci8090163. [PMID: 30154388 PMCID: PMC6162653 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci8090163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2018] [Revised: 08/23/2018] [Accepted: 08/23/2018] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Hormones of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis that regulate reproductive function have multiple effects on the development, maintenance and function of the brain. Sex differences in cognitive functioning have been reported in both health and disease, which may be partly attributed to sex hormones. The aim of the current paper was to provide a theoretical review of how sex hormones influence cognitive functioning across the lifespan as well as provide an overview of the literature on sex differences and the role of sex hormones in cognitive decline, specifically in relation to Alzheimer’s disease (AD). A summary of current hormone and sex-based interventions for enhancing cognitive functioning and/or reducing the risk of Alzheimer’s disease is also provided.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline Gurvich
- Monash Alfred Psychiatry Research Centre, Central Clinical School, Monash University and The Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, VIC 3004, Australia.
| | - Kate Hoy
- Monash Alfred Psychiatry Research Centre, Central Clinical School, Monash University and The Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, VIC 3004, Australia.
| | - Natalie Thomas
- Monash Alfred Psychiatry Research Centre, Central Clinical School, Monash University and The Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, VIC 3004, Australia.
| | - Jayashri Kulkarni
- Monash Alfred Psychiatry Research Centre, Central Clinical School, Monash University and The Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, VIC 3004, Australia.
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23
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Precision medicine and drug development in Alzheimer's disease: the importance of sexual dimorphism and patient stratification. Front Neuroendocrinol 2018; 50:31-51. [PMID: 29902481 DOI: 10.1016/j.yfrne.2018.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2018] [Revised: 05/29/2018] [Accepted: 06/07/2018] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases (ND) are among the leading causes of disability and mortality. Considerable sex differences exist in the occurrence of the various manifestations leading to cognitive decline. Alzheimer's disease (AD) exhibits substantial sexual dimorphisms and disproportionately affects women. Women have a higher life expectancy compared to men and, consequently, have more lifespan to develop AD. The emerging precision medicine and pharmacology concepts - taking into account the individual genetic and biological variability relevant for disease risk, prevention, detection, diagnosis, and treatment - are expected to substantially enhance our knowledge and management of AD. Stratifying the affected individuals by sex and gender is an important basic step towards personalization of scientific research, drug development, and care. We hypothesize that sex and gender differences, extending from genetic to psychosocial domains, are highly relevant for the understanding of AD pathophysiology, and for the conceptualization of basic/translational research and for clinical therapy trial design.
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24
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Hoeijmakers L, Meerhoff GF, de Vries JW, Ruigrok SR, van Dam AM, van Leuven F, Korosi A, Lucassen PJ. The age-related slow increase in amyloid pathology in APP.V717I mice activates microglia, but does not alter hippocampal neurogenesis. Neurobiol Aging 2018; 61:112-123. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2017.09.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2017] [Revised: 09/12/2017] [Accepted: 09/14/2017] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
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