1
|
Zampar S, Di Gregorio SE, Grimmer G, Watts JC, Ingelsson M. "Prion-like" seeding and propagation of oligomeric protein assemblies in neurodegenerative disorders. Front Neurosci 2024; 18:1436262. [PMID: 39161653 PMCID: PMC11330897 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2024.1436262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2024] [Accepted: 07/17/2024] [Indexed: 08/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Intra- or extracellular aggregates of proteins are central pathogenic features in most neurodegenerative disorders. The accumulation of such proteins in diseased brains is believed to be the end-stage of a stepwise aggregation of misfolded monomers to insoluble cross-β fibrils via a series of differently sized soluble oligomers/protofibrils. Several studies have shown how α-synuclein, amyloid-β, tau and other amyloidogenic proteins can act as nucleating particles and thereby share properties with misfolded forms, or strains, of the prion protein. Although the roles of different protein assemblies in the respective aggregation cascades remain unclear, oligomers/protofibrils are considered key pathogenic species. Numerous observations have demonstrated their neurotoxic effects and a growing number of studies have indicated that they also possess seeding properties, enabling their propagation within cellular networks in the nervous system. The seeding behavior of oligomers differs between the proteins and is also affected by various factors, such as size, shape and epitope presentation. Here, we are providing an overview of the current state of knowledge with respect to the "prion-like" behavior of soluble oligomers for several of the amyloidogenic proteins involved in neurodegenerative diseases. In addition to providing new insight into pathogenic mechanisms, research in this field is leading to novel diagnostic and therapeutic opportunities for neurodegenerative diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Zampar
- Krembil Brain Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Sonja E. Di Gregorio
- Krembil Brain Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Gustavo Grimmer
- Krembil Brain Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Joel C. Watts
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Martin Ingelsson
- Krembil Brain Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Public Health/Geriatrics, Rudbeck Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Bonavita R, Di Martino R, Cortone G, Prodomo A, Di Gennaro M, Scerra G, Panico V, Nuzzo S, Salvatore M, Williams SV, Vitale F, Caporaso MG, D’Agostino M, Pisani FM, Fleming A, Renna M. A method for the analysis of the oligomerization profile of the Huntington's disease-associated, aggregation-prone mutant huntingtin protein by isopycnic ultracentrifugation. Front Mol Biosci 2024; 11:1420691. [PMID: 38993838 PMCID: PMC11236693 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2024.1420691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2024] [Accepted: 05/31/2024] [Indexed: 07/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Conformational diseases, such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and Huntington's diseases as well as ataxias and fronto-temporal disorders, are part of common class of neurological disorders characterised by the aggregation and progressive accumulation of mutant proteins which display aberrant conformation. In particular, Huntington's disease (HD) is caused by mutations leading to an abnormal expansion in the polyglutamine (poly-Q) tract of the huntingtin protein (HTT), leading to the formation of inclusion bodies in neurons of affected patients. Furthermore, recent experimental evidence is challenging the conventional view of the disease by revealing the ability of mutant HTT to be transferred between cells by means of extracellular vesicles (EVs), allowing the mutant protein to seed oligomers involving both the mutant and wild type forms of the protein. There is still no successful strategy to treat HD. In addition, the current understanding of the biological processes leading to the oligomerization and aggregation of proteins bearing the poly-Q tract has been derived from studies conducted on isolated poly-Q monomers and oligomers, whose structural properties are still unclear and often inconsistent. Here we describe a standardised biochemical approach to analyse by isopycnic ultracentrifugation the oligomerization of the N-terminal fragment of mutant HTT. The dynamic range of our method allows one to detect large and heterogeneous HTT complexes. Hence, it could be harnessed for the identification of novel molecular determinants responsible for the aggregation and the prion-like spreading properties of HTT in the context of HD. Equally, it provides a tool to test novel small molecules or bioactive compounds designed to inhibit the aggregation of mutant HTT.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Raffaella Bonavita
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnologies, University of Naples “Federico II”, Naples, Italy
- Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, National Research Council, Naples, Italy
| | - Rosaria Di Martino
- Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, National Research Council, Naples, Italy
- Institute for Endocrinology and Experimental Oncology “G. Salvatore”, National Research Council, Naples, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Cortone
- Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, National Research Council, Naples, Italy
| | - Antonello Prodomo
- Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, National Research Council, Naples, Italy
| | - Mariagrazia Di Gennaro
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnologies, University of Naples “Federico II”, Naples, Italy
- Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, National Research Council, Naples, Italy
- Institute for Endocrinology and Experimental Oncology “G. Salvatore”, National Research Council, Naples, Italy
| | - Gianluca Scerra
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnologies, University of Naples “Federico II”, Naples, Italy
| | - Valentino Panico
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnologies, University of Naples “Federico II”, Naples, Italy
| | | | | | - Sarah V. Williams
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Fulvia Vitale
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnologies, University of Naples “Federico II”, Naples, Italy
| | - Maria Gabriella Caporaso
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnologies, University of Naples “Federico II”, Naples, Italy
| | - Massimo D’Agostino
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnologies, University of Naples “Federico II”, Naples, Italy
| | - Francesca M. Pisani
- Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, National Research Council, Naples, Italy
| | - Angeleen Fleming
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Maurizio Renna
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnologies, University of Naples “Federico II”, Naples, Italy
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Höfs L, Geißler-Lösch D, Wunderlich KM, Szegö EM, Van den Haute C, Baekelandt V, Hoyer W, Falkenburger BH. Evaluation of the Effect of β-Wrapin AS69 in a Mouse Model Based on Alpha-Synuclein Overexpression. Biomolecules 2024; 14:756. [PMID: 39062470 PMCID: PMC11274363 DOI: 10.3390/biom14070756] [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: 05/01/2024] [Revised: 06/03/2024] [Accepted: 06/19/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Aggregation of the protein α-Synuclein (αSyn) is a hallmark of Parkinson's disease (PD), dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) and multiple systems atrophy, and alleviating the extent of αSyn pathology is an attractive strategy against neurodegeneration. The engineered binding protein β-wrapin AS69 binds monomeric αSyn. AS69 reduces primary and secondary nucleation as well as fibril elongation in vitro. It also mitigates aSyn pathology in a mouse model based on intrastriatal injection of aSyn pre-formed fibrils (PFFs). Since the PFF-based model does not represent all aspects of PD, we tested here whether AS69 can reduce neurodegeneration resulting from αSyn overexpression. Human A53T-αSyn was overexpressed in the mouse Substantia nigra (SN) by using recombinant adeno-associated viral vector (rAAV). AS69 was also expressed by rAAV transduction. Behavioral tests and immunofluorescence staining were used as outcomes. Transduction with rAAV-αSyn resulted in αSyn pathology as reported by phospho-αSyn staining and caused degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the SN. The co-expression of rAAV-AS69 did not reduce αSyn pathology or the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons. We conclude that αSyn monomer binding by rAAV-AS69 was insufficient to protect from aSyn pathology resulting from αSyn overexpression.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lennart Höfs
- Department of Neurology, Technische Universität Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany (D.G.-L.)
- Deutsches Zentrum für Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen (DZNE), 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - David Geißler-Lösch
- Department of Neurology, Technische Universität Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany (D.G.-L.)
- Deutsches Zentrum für Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen (DZNE), 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Kristof M. Wunderlich
- Department of Neurology, Technische Universität Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany (D.G.-L.)
- Deutsches Zentrum für Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen (DZNE), 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Eva M. Szegö
- Department of Neurology, Technische Universität Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany (D.G.-L.)
- Deutsches Zentrum für Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen (DZNE), 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Chris Van den Haute
- Leuven Viral Vector Core, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
- Laboratory for Neurobiology and Gene Therapy, Department of Neurosciences, Leuven Brain Institute, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Veerle Baekelandt
- Leuven Viral Vector Core, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
- Laboratory for Neurobiology and Gene Therapy, Department of Neurosciences, Leuven Brain Institute, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Wolfgang Hoyer
- Institut für Physikalische Biologie, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
- Institute of Biological Information Processing (IBI-7), Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, 52428 Jülich, Germany
| | - Björn H. Falkenburger
- Department of Neurology, Technische Universität Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany (D.G.-L.)
- Deutsches Zentrum für Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen (DZNE), 01307 Dresden, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Bankapalli K, Thomas RE, Vincow ES, Milstein G, Fisher LV, Pallanck LJ. A Drosophila model for mechanistic investigation of tau protein spread. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.04.21.590466. [PMID: 38712083 PMCID: PMC11071371 DOI: 10.1101/2024.04.21.590466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/08/2024]
Abstract
Brain protein aggregates are a hallmark of neurodegenerative disease. Previous work indicates that specific protein components of these aggregates are toxic, including tau in Alzheimer's disease and related tauopathies. Increasing evidence also indicates that these toxic proteins traffic between cells in a prion-like fashion, thereby spreading pathology from one brain region to another. However, the mechanisms involved in trafficking are poorly understood. We therefore developed a transgenic Drosophila model to facilitate rapid evaluation of candidate tau trafficking modifiers. Our model uses the bipartite Q system to drive co-expression of tau and GFP in the fly eye. We find age-dependent tau spread into the brain, represented by detection of tau, but not GFP in the brain. We also found that tau trafficking was attenuated upon inhibition of the endocytic factor dynamin or the kinase glycogen synthase kinase-3β ( GSK-3β ). Further work revealed that dynamin promotes tau uptake in recipient tissues, whereas GSK-3β appears to promote tau spread via direct phosphorylation of tau. Our robust and flexible system will promote the identification of tau trafficking components involved in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases. SUMMARY STATEMENT The trafficking of toxic proteins in neurodegenerative disease is well-known but poorly understood. Our model will allow rapid and new insight into molecular mechanisms underlying this process.
Collapse
|
5
|
Marković M, Milošević J, Wang W, Cao Y. Passive Immunotherapies Targeting Amyloid- β in Alzheimer's Disease: A Quantitative Systems Pharmacology Perspective. Mol Pharmacol 2023; 105:1-13. [PMID: 37907353 DOI: 10.1124/molpharm.123.000726] [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: 05/24/2023] [Revised: 10/04/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 11/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by amyloid-β (Aβ) protein accumulation in the brain. Passive immunotherapies using monoclonal antibodies for targeting Aβ have shown promise for AD treatment. Indeed, recent US Food and Drug Administration approval of aducanumab and lecanemab, alongside positive donanemab Phase III results demonstrated clinical efficacy after decades of failed clinical trials for AD. However, the pharmacological basis distinguishing clinically effective from ineffective therapies remains unclear, impeding development of potent therapeutics. This study aimed to provide a quantitative perspective for effectively targeting Aβ with antibodies. We first reviewed the contradicting results associated with the amyloid hypothesis and the pharmacological basis of Aβ immunotherapy. Subsequently, we developed a quantitative systems pharmacology (QSP) model that describes the non-linear progression of Aβ pathology and the pharmacologic actions of the Aβ-targeting antibodies. Using the QSP model, we analyzed various scenarios for effective passive immunotherapy for AD. The model revealed that binding exclusively to the Aβ monomer has minimal effect on Aβ aggregation and plaque reduction, making the antibody affinity toward Aβ monomer unwanted, as it could become a distractive mechanism for plaque reduction. Neither early intervention, high brain penetration, nor increased dose could yield significant improvement of clinical efficacy for antibodies targeting solely monomers. Antibodies that bind all Aβ species but lack effector function exhibited moderate effects in plaque reduction. Our model highlights the importance of binding aggregate Aβ species and incorporating effector functions for efficient and early plaque reduction, guiding the development of more effective therapies for this devastating disease. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Despite previous unsuccessful attempts spanning several decades, passive immunotherapies utilizing monoclonal antibodies for targeting amyloid-beta (Aβ) have demonstrated promise with two recent FDA approvals. However, the pharmacological basis that differentiates clinically effective therapies from ineffective ones remains elusive. Our study offers a quantitative systems pharmacology perspective, emphasizing the significance of selectively targeting specific Aβ species and importance of antibody effector functions. This perspective sheds light on the development of more effective therapies for this devastating disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Milica Marković
- Division of Pharmacotherapy and Experimental Therapeutics, Eshelman School of Pharmacy (M.M., Y.C.) and Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, School of Medicine (Y.C.), University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, North Carolina; Department of Biochemistry (J.M.), University of Belgrade, Faculty of Chemistry, Belgrade, Serbia; and Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacometrics, Janssen Research & Development (W.W.), LLC, Spring House, Pennsylvania
| | - Jelica Milošević
- Division of Pharmacotherapy and Experimental Therapeutics, Eshelman School of Pharmacy (M.M., Y.C.) and Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, School of Medicine (Y.C.), University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, North Carolina; Department of Biochemistry (J.M.), University of Belgrade, Faculty of Chemistry, Belgrade, Serbia; and Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacometrics, Janssen Research & Development (W.W.), LLC, Spring House, Pennsylvania
| | - Weirong Wang
- Division of Pharmacotherapy and Experimental Therapeutics, Eshelman School of Pharmacy (M.M., Y.C.) and Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, School of Medicine (Y.C.), University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, North Carolina; Department of Biochemistry (J.M.), University of Belgrade, Faculty of Chemistry, Belgrade, Serbia; and Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacometrics, Janssen Research & Development (W.W.), LLC, Spring House, Pennsylvania
| | - Yanguang Cao
- Division of Pharmacotherapy and Experimental Therapeutics, Eshelman School of Pharmacy (M.M., Y.C.) and Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, School of Medicine (Y.C.), University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, North Carolina; Department of Biochemistry (J.M.), University of Belgrade, Faculty of Chemistry, Belgrade, Serbia; and Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacometrics, Janssen Research & Development (W.W.), LLC, Spring House, Pennsylvania
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Liu CF, Younes L, Tong XJ, Hinkle JT, Wang M, Phatak S, Xu X, Bu X, Looi V, Bang J, Tabrizi SJ, Scahill RI, Paulsen JS, Georgiou-Karistianis N, Faria AV, Miller MI, Ratnanather JT, Ross CA. Longitudinal imaging highlights preferential basal ganglia circuit atrophy in Huntington's disease. Brain Commun 2023; 5:fcad214. [PMID: 37744022 PMCID: PMC10516592 DOI: 10.1093/braincomms/fcad214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2022] [Revised: 05/09/2023] [Accepted: 08/17/2023] [Indexed: 09/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Huntington's disease is caused by a CAG repeat expansion in the Huntingtin gene (HTT), coding for polyglutamine in the Huntingtin protein, with longer CAG repeats causing earlier age of onset. The variable 'Age' × ('CAG'-L), where 'Age' is the current age of the individual, 'CAG' is the repeat length and L is a constant (reflecting an approximation of the threshold), termed the 'CAG Age Product' (CAP) enables the consideration of many individuals with different CAG repeat expansions at the same time for analysis of any variable and graphing using the CAG Age Product score as the X axis. Structural MRI studies have showed that progressive striatal atrophy begins many years prior to the onset of diagnosable motor Huntington's disease, confirmed by longitudinal multicentre studies on three continents, including PREDICT-HD, TRACK-HD and IMAGE-HD. However, previous studies have not clarified the relationship between striatal atrophy, atrophy of other basal ganglia structures, and atrophy of other brain regions. The present study has analysed all three longitudinal datasets together using a single image segmentation algorithm and combining data from a large number of subjects across a range of CAG Age Product score. In addition, we have used a strategy of normalizing regional atrophy to atrophy of the whole brain, in order to determine which regions may undergo preferential degeneration. This made possible the detailed characterization of regional brain atrophy in relation to CAG Age Product score. There is dramatic selective atrophy of regions involved in the basal ganglia circuit-caudate, putamen, nucleus accumbens, globus pallidus and substantia nigra. Most other regions of the brain appear to have slower but steady degeneration. These results support (but certainly do not prove) the hypothesis of circuit-based spread of pathology in Huntington's disease, possibly due to spread of mutant Htt protein, though other connection-based mechanisms are possible. Therapeutic targets related to prion-like spread of pathology or other mechanisms may be suggested. In addition, they have implications for current neurosurgical therapeutic approaches, since delivery of therapeutic agents solely to the caudate and putamen may miss other structures affected early, such as nucleus accumbens and output nuclei of the striatum, the substantia nigra and the globus pallidus.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chin-Fu Liu
- Center for Imaging Science, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
- Institute for Computational Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
| | - Laurent Younes
- Center for Imaging Science, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
- Institute for Computational Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
- Department of Applied Mathematics and Statistics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
| | - Xiao J Tong
- Division of Neurobiology, Department of Psychiatry, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore MD 21287, USA
| | - Jared T Hinkle
- Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
- Medical Scientist Training Program, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Maggie Wang
- Center for Imaging Science, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
| | - Sanika Phatak
- Center for Imaging Science, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
| | - Xin Xu
- Division of Magnetic Resonance, Department of Radiology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Xuan Bu
- Center for Imaging Science, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
- Institute for Computational Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
- Huaxi MR Research Center, Department of Radiology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China
| | - Vivian Looi
- Center for Imaging Science, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
- Institute for Computational Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
| | - Jee Bang
- Division of Neurobiology, Department of Psychiatry, Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Sarah J Tabrizi
- HD Research Centre, University College London Queen Square Institute of Neurology, UCL, London, UK
| | - Rachael I Scahill
- HD Research Centre, University College London Queen Square Institute of Neurology, UCL, London, UK
| | - Jane S Paulsen
- Department of Neurology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | - Nellie Georgiou-Karistianis
- School of Psychological Sciences and The Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria 3800, Australia
| | - Andreia V Faria
- Division of Magnetic Resonance, Department of Radiology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Michael I Miller
- Center for Imaging Science, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
- Institute for Computational Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
| | - J Tilak Ratnanather
- Center for Imaging Science, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
- Institute for Computational Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
| | - Christopher A Ross
- Division of Neurobiology, Department of Psychiatry, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore MD 21287, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
- Division of Neurobiology, Department of Psychiatry, Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Sharma P, Singh M. An ongoing journey of chalcone analogues as single and multi-target ligands in the field of Alzheimer's disease: A review with structural aspects. Life Sci 2023; 320:121568. [PMID: 36925061 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2023.121568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2022] [Revised: 03/03/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2023] [Indexed: 03/17/2023]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a chronic and irreversible neurodegenerative disorder with progressive dementia and cognitive impairment. AD poses severe health challenge in elderly people and become one of the leading causes of death worldwide. It possesses complex pathophysiology with several hypotheses (cholinergic hypothesis, amyloid hypothesis, tau hypothesis, oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction etc.). Several attempts have been made for the management of multifactorial AD. Acetylcholinesterase is the only target has been widely explored in the management of AD to the date. The current review set forth the chalcone based natural, semi-synthetic and synthetic compounds in the search of potential anti-Alzheimer's agents. The main highlights of current review emphasizes on chalcone target different enzymes and pathways like Acetylcholinesterase, β-secretase (BACE1), tau proteins, MAO, free radicals, Advanced glycation end Products (AGEs) etc. and their structure activity relationships contributing in the inhibition of above mentioned various targets of AD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pratibha Sharma
- Chitkara College of Pharmacy, Chitkara University, Punjab, India
| | - Manjinder Singh
- Chitkara College of Pharmacy, Chitkara University, Punjab, India.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Faris S, Jin W, Gibson J, Murray A, Smith N, He P, Zhang F, Linhardt R, Wang C. Small-molecule compound from AlphaScreen disrupts tau-glycan interface. Front Mol Biosci 2022; 9:1083225. [PMID: 36589242 PMCID: PMC9798536 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2022.1083225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2022] [Accepted: 11/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Tauopathies are neurodegenerative diseases characterized by intracellular abnormal tau deposits in the brain. Tau aggregates can propagate from one neuron to another in a prion-like manner, mediated by the interaction between tau and cell surface heparan sulfate proteoglycans. We developed an AlphaScreen assay, with His-tagged tau and biotinylated heparin, to represent the tau-HS interface to target the tau-glycan interface. Using our AlphaScreen assay, with a Z-factor of 0.65, we screened ∼300 compounds and discovered a small-molecule compound (herein referred to as A9), which can disrupt the tau-heparin interaction with micromolar efficacy. A9 also effectively inhibited heparin-induced tau aggregation in Thioflavin T fluorescence assays and attenuated tau internalization by H4 neuroglioma cells. These results strongly suggest that A9 can disrupt the tau-glycan interface in both in vitro molecular and cellular environments. We further determined that A9 interacts with heparin rather than tau and does so with micromolar binding affinity as shown by nuclear magnetic resonance and surface plasmon resonance experiments. A9 binds to heparin in a manner that blocks the sites where tau binds to heparin on the cell surface. These results demonstrate our AlphaScreen method as an effective method for targeting the tau-glycan interface in drug discovery and A9 as a promising lead compound for tauopathies, including Alzheimer's disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shannon Faris
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, United States
- Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, United States
| | - Weihua Jin
- Department of Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, China
| | - James Gibson
- Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, United States
| | - Anqesha Murray
- Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, United States
- Department of Biological Sciences, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, United States
| | - Nathan Smith
- Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, United States
- Department of Biological Sciences, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, United States
| | - Peng He
- Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, United States
| | - Fuming Zhang
- Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, United States
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, United States
| | - Robert Linhardt
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, United States
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, United States
| | - Chunyu Wang
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, United States
- Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, United States
- Department of Biological Sciences, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, United States
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Paoletti M, Caverzasi E, Mandelli ML, Brown JA, Henry RG, Miller BL, Rosen HJ, DeArmond SJ, Bastianello S, Seeley WW, Geschwind MD. Default Mode Network quantitative diffusion and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging correlates in sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. Hum Brain Mapp 2022; 43:4158-4173. [PMID: 35662331 PMCID: PMC9374887 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.25945] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2021] [Revised: 04/14/2022] [Accepted: 05/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Grey matter involvement is a well-known feature in sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (sCJD), yet precise anatomy-based quantification of reduced diffusivity is still not fully understood. Default Mode Network (DMN) areas have been recently demonstrated as selectively involved in sCJD, and functional connectivity has never been investigated in prion diseases. We analyzed the grey matter involvement using a quantitatively multi-parametric MRI approach. Specifically, grey matter mean diffusivity of 37 subjects with sCJD was compared with that of 30 age-matched healthy controls with a group-wise approach. Differences in mean diffusivity were also examined between the cortical (MM(V)1, MM(V)2C, and VV1) and subcortical (VV2 and MV2K) subgroups of sCJD for those with autopsy data available (n = 27, 73%). We also assessed resting-state functional connectivity of both ventral and dorsal components of DMN in a subset of subject with a rs-fMRI dataset available (n = 17). Decreased diffusivity was predominantly present in posterior cortical regions of the DMN, but also outside of the DMN in temporal areas and in a few limbic and frontal areas, in addition to extensive deep nuclei involvement. Both subcortical and cortical sCJD subgroups showed decreased diffusivity subcortically, whereas only the cortical type expressed significantly decreased diffusivity cortically, mainly in parietal, occipital, and medial-inferior temporal cortices bilaterally. Interestingly, we found abnormally increased connectivity in both dorsal and ventral components of the DMN in sCJD subjects compared with healthy controls. The significance and possible utility of functional imaging as a biomarker for tracking disease progression in prion disease needs to be explored further.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Matteo Paoletti
- Memory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for NeuroscienceUniversity of California San FranciscoSan FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
- Department of NeuroradiologyIRCCS Mondino FoundationPaviaItaly
| | - Eduardo Caverzasi
- Weill Institute for Neurosciences, Department of NeurologyUniversity of California San FranciscoSan FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
- Department of Brain and Behavioral SciencesUniversity of PaviaPaviaItaly
| | - Maria Luisa Mandelli
- Memory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for NeuroscienceUniversity of California San FranciscoSan FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
| | - Jesse A. Brown
- Memory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for NeuroscienceUniversity of California San FranciscoSan FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
| | - Roland G. Henry
- Weill Institute for Neurosciences, Department of NeurologyUniversity of California San FranciscoSan FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
- Graduate Group in BioengineeringUniversity of California San FranciscoSan FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical ImagingUniversity of California San FranciscoSan FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
| | - Bruce L. Miller
- Memory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for NeuroscienceUniversity of California San FranciscoSan FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
| | - Howard J. Rosen
- Memory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for NeuroscienceUniversity of California San FranciscoSan FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
| | | | - Stefano Bastianello
- Department of NeuroradiologyIRCCS Mondino FoundationPaviaItaly
- Department of Brain and Behavioral SciencesUniversity of PaviaPaviaItaly
| | - William W. Seeley
- Memory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for NeuroscienceUniversity of California San FranciscoSan FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
- Department of PathologyUniversity of CaliforniaSan FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
| | - Michael D. Geschwind
- Memory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for NeuroscienceUniversity of California San FranciscoSan FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Orengo JP, Nitschke L, van der Heijden ME, Ciaburri NA, Orr HT, Zoghbi HY. Reduction of mutant ATXN1 rescues premature death in a conditional SCA1 mouse model. JCI Insight 2022; 7:e154442. [PMID: 35290244 PMCID: PMC9089789 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.154442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 (SCA1) is an adult-onset neurodegenerative disorder. As disease progresses, motor neurons are affected, and their dysfunction contributes toward the inability to maintain proper respiratory function, a major driving force for premature death in SCA1. To investigate the isolated role of motor neurons in SCA1, we created a conditional SCA1 (cSCA1) mouse model. This model suppresses expression of the pathogenic SCA1 allele with a floxed stop cassette. cSCA1 mice crossed to a ubiquitous Cre line recapitulate all the major features of the original SCA1 mouse model; however, they took twice as long to develop. We found that the cSCA1 mice produced less than half of the pathogenic protein compared with the unmodified SCA1 mice at 3 weeks of age. In contrast, restricted expression of the pathogenic SCA1 allele in motor neurons only led to a decreased distance traveled of mice in the open field assay and did not affect body weight or survival. We conclude that a 50% or greater reduction of the mutant protein has a dramatic effect on disease onset and progression; furthermore, we conclude that expression of polyglutamine-expanded ATXN1 at this level specifically in motor neurons is not sufficient to cause premature lethality.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- James P. Orengo
- Department of Neurology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute at Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, Texas, USA
- Department of Neuroscience and
| | - Larissa Nitschke
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute at Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, Texas, USA
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Meike E. van der Heijden
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute at Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Nicholas A. Ciaburri
- Department of Neurology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute at Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Harry T. Orr
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Huda Y. Zoghbi
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute at Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, Texas, USA
- Department of Neuroscience and
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Houston, Texas, USA
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Dong S, Sun M, He C, Cheng H. Brain-gut-microbiota axis in Parkinson's disease: a historical review and future perspective. Brain Res Bull 2022; 183:84-93. [PMID: 35245613 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2022.02.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2021] [Revised: 02/15/2022] [Accepted: 02/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Siyu Dong
- Department of Neurology, First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, China
| | - Mei Sun
- Department of Neurology, First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, China
| | - Chuan He
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, the Affiliated Jiangsu Shengze Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, 215228, China.
| | - Hong Cheng
- Department of Neurology, First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, China.
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Kramer P. Mitochondria-Microbiota Interaction in Neurodegeneration. Front Aging Neurosci 2022; 13:776936. [PMID: 35002678 PMCID: PMC8733591 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2021.776936] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2021] [Accepted: 11/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s are the two best-known neurodegenerative diseases. Each is associated with the excessive aggregation in the brain and elsewhere of its own characteristic amyloid proteins. Yet the two afflictions have much in common and often the same amyloids play a role in both. These amyloids need not be toxic and can help regulate bile secretion, synaptic plasticity, and immune defense. Moreover, when they do form toxic aggregates, amyloids typically harm not just patients but their pathogens too. A major port of entry for pathogens is the gut. Keeping the gut’s microbe community (microbiota) healthy and under control requires that our cells’ main energy producers (mitochondria) support the gut-blood barrier and immune system. As we age, these mitochondria eventually succumb to the corrosive byproducts they themselves release, our defenses break down, pathogens or their toxins break through, and the side effects of inflammation and amyloid aggregation become problematic. Although it gets most of the attention, local amyloid aggregation in the brain merely points to a bigger problem: the systemic breakdown of the entire human superorganism, exemplified by an interaction turning bad between mitochondria and microbiota.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Peter Kramer
- Department of General Psychology, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
APP deficiency and HTRA2 modulates PrPc proteostasis in human cancer cells. BBA ADVANCES 2022; 2:100035. [PMID: 37082595 PMCID: PMC10074928 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadva.2021.100035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2021] [Revised: 12/09/2021] [Accepted: 12/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Cellular protein homeostasis (proteostasis) requires an accurate balance between protein biosynthesis, folding, and degradation, and its instability is causally related to human diseases and cancers. Here, we created numerous engineered cancer cell lines targeting APP (amyloid ß precursor protein) and/or PRNP (cellular prion) genes and we showed that APP knocking-down impaired PRNP mRNA level and vice versa, suggesting a link between their gene regulation. PRNPKD, APPKD and PRNPKD/APPKD HeLa cells encountered major difficulties to grow in a 3D tissue-like environment. Unexpectedly, we found a cytoplasmic accumulation of the PrPc protein without PRNP gene up regulation, in both APPKD and APPKO HeLa cells. Interestingly, APP and/or PRNP gene ablation enhanced the chaperone/serine protease HTRA2 gene expression, which is a protein processing quality factor involved in Alzheimer's disease. Importantly, HTRA2 gene silencing decreased PRNP mRNA level and lowered PrPc protein amounts, and conversely, HTRA2 overexpression increased PRNP gene regulation and enhanced membrane-anchored and cytoplasmic PrPc fractions. PrPc, APP and HTRA2 destabilized membrane-associated CD24 protein, suggesting changes in the lipid raft structure. Our data show for the first time that APP and the dual chaperone/serine protease HTRA2 protein could modulate PrPc proteostasis hampering cancer cell behavior.
Collapse
|
14
|
Su R, Zhou T. Alpha-Synuclein Induced Immune Cells Activation and Associated Therapy in Parkinson's Disease. Front Aging Neurosci 2021; 13:769506. [PMID: 34803660 PMCID: PMC8602361 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2021.769506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2021] [Accepted: 10/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder closely related to immunity. An important aspect of the pathogenesis of PD is the interaction between α-synuclein and a series of immune cells. Studies have shown that accumulation of α-synuclein can induce an autoimmune response that accelerates the progression of PD. This study discusses the mechanisms underlying the interaction between α-synuclein and the immune system. During the development of PD, abnormally accumulated α-synuclein becomes an autoimmune antigen that binds to Toll-like receptors (TLRs) that activate microglia, which differentiate into the microglia type 1 (M1) subtype. The microglia activate intracellular inflammatory pathways, induce the release of proinflammatory cytokines, and promote the differentiation of cluster of differentiation 4 + (CD4 +) T cells into proinflammatory T helper type 1 (Th1) and T helper type 17 (Th17) subtypes. Given the important role of α-synuclein in the immune system of the patients with PD, identifying potential targets of immunotherapy related to α-synuclein is critical for slowing disease progression. An enhanced understanding of immune-associated mechanisms in PD can guide the development of associated therapeutic strategies in the future.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ruichen Su
- Queen Mary School of Nanchang University, Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Tian Zhou
- School of Basic Medical Science, Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Jellinger KA, Wenning GK, Stefanova N. Is Multiple System Atrophy a Prion-like Disorder? Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:10093. [PMID: 34576255 PMCID: PMC8472631 DOI: 10.3390/ijms221810093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2021] [Revised: 09/16/2021] [Accepted: 09/16/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Multiple system atrophy (MSA) is a rapidly progressive, fatal neurodegenerative disease of uncertain aetiology that belongs to the family of α-synucleinopathies. It clinically presents with parkinsonism, cerebellar, autonomic, and motor impairment in variable combinations. Pathological hallmarks are fibrillary α-synuclein (αSyn)-rich glial cytoplasmic inclusions (GCIs) mainly involving oligodendroglia and to a lesser extent neurons, inducing a multisystem neurodegeneration, glial activation, and widespread demyelinization. The neuronal αSyn pathology of MSA has molecular properties different from Lewy bodies in Parkinson's disease (PD), both of which could serve as a pool of αSyn (prion) seeds that could initiate and drive the pathogenesis of synucleinopathies. The molecular cascade leading to the "prion-like" transfer of "strains" of aggregated αSyn contributing to the progression of the disease is poorly understood, while some presented evidence that MSA is a prion disease. However, this hypothesis is difficult to reconcile with postmortem analysis of human brains and the fact that MSA-like pathology was induced by intracerebral inoculation of human MSA brain homogenates only in homozygous mutant 53T mice, without production of disease-specific GCIs, or with replication of MSA prions in primary astrocyte cultures from transgenic mice expressing human αSyn. Whereas recent intrastriatal injection of Lewy body-derived or synthetic human αSyn fibrils induced PD-like pathology including neuronal αSyn aggregates in macaques, no such transmission of αSyn pathology in non-human primates by MSA brain lysate has been reported until now. Given the similarities between αSyn and prions, there is a considerable debate whether they should be referred to as "prions", "prion-like", "prionoids", or something else. Here, the findings supporting the proposed nature of αSyn as a prion and its self-propagation through seeding as well as the transmissibility of neurodegenerative disorders are discussed. The proof of disease causation rests on the concordance of scientific evidence, none of which has provided convincing evidence for the classification of MSA as a prion disease or its human transmission until now.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Gregor K. Wenning
- Division of Neurobiology, Department of Neurology, Medical University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria; (G.K.W.); (N.S.)
| | - Nadia Stefanova
- Division of Neurobiology, Department of Neurology, Medical University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria; (G.K.W.); (N.S.)
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Abstract
Tauopathies consist of over 25 different neurodegenerative diseases that include argyrophilic grain disease (AGD), progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), corticobasal degeneration (CBD), and Pick’s disease (PiD). Tauopathies are defined by brain accumulation of microtubule-associated protein tau in fibrillar aggregates, whose prevalence strongly correlates with dementia. Dominant mutations in tau cause neurodegenerative diseases, and most increase its aggregation propensity. Pathogenesis of tauopathies may involve pathological tau conformers that serve as templates to recruit native protein into growing assemblies and also move between brain cells to cause disease progression, similar to prions. Prions adopt pathological conformations, termed “strains,” that stably propagate in living systems, and create unique patterns of neuropathology. Data from multiple laboratories now suggest that tau acts as a prion. It propagates unique strains indefinitely in cultured cells, and when these are inoculated into mouse models, they create defined neuropathological patterns, which establish a direct link between conformation and disease. In humans, distinct fibril structures are associated with different diseases, but causality has not been established as in mice. Cryo-EM structures of tau fibrils isolated from tauopathy brains reveal distinct fibril cores across disease. Interestingly, the conformation of the tau monomer unit within different fibril subtypes from the same patient appears relatively preserved. This is consistent with data that the tau monomer samples an ensemble of conformations that act as distinct pathologic templates in the formation of restricted numbers of strains. The propensity of a tau monomer to adopt distinct conformations appears to be linked to defined local motifs that expose different patterns of amyloidogenic amino acid sequences. The prion hypothesis, which predicts that protein structure dictates resultant disease, has proved particularly useful to understand the diversity of human tauopathies. The challenge now is to develop methods to rapidly classify patients according to the structure of the underlying pathological protein assemblies to achieve more accurate diagnosis and effective therapy.
Collapse
|
17
|
Zhang H, Song Q, Yu G, Cao Z, Qiang X, Liu X, Deng Y. Phthalimide-(N-alkylbenzylamine) cysteamide hybrids as multifunctional agents against Alzheimer's disease: Design, synthesis, and biological evaluation. Chem Biol Drug Des 2021; 98:493-500. [PMID: 34143938 DOI: 10.1111/cbdd.13905] [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: 12/21/2020] [Revised: 04/13/2021] [Accepted: 06/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The complex pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) calls for multi-target approach for disease treatment. Herein, based on the MTDLs strategy, a series of phthalimide-(N-alkylbenzylamine) cysteamide hybrids were designed, synthesized, and investigated in vitro for the purpose. Most of the target compounds were found to be potential multi-target agents. In vitro results showed that compound 9e was the representative compound in this series, endowed with high EeAChE and HuAChE inhibitory potency (IC50 = 1.55 µm and 2.23 µm, respectively), good inhibitory activity against self-induced Aβ1-42 aggregation (36.08% at 25 µm), and moderate antioxidant capacity (ORAC-FL value was 0.68 Trolox equivalents). Molecular docking studies rationalized the binding mode of 9e in both PAS and CAS of AChE. Moreover, 9e displayed excellent ability to against H2 O2 -induced PC12 cell injury and penetrate BBB. Overall, these results highlighted that compound 9e was an effective and promising multi-target agent for further anti-AD drug development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Heng Zhang
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Drug-Targeting and Drug Delivery System of the Education Ministry and Sichuan Province, Sichuan Engineering Laboratory for Plant-Sourced Drug and Sichuan Research Center for Drug Precision Industrial Technology, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Qing Song
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Drug-Targeting and Drug Delivery System of the Education Ministry and Sichuan Province, Sichuan Engineering Laboratory for Plant-Sourced Drug and Sichuan Research Center for Drug Precision Industrial Technology, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Guangjun Yu
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Drug-Targeting and Drug Delivery System of the Education Ministry and Sichuan Province, Sichuan Engineering Laboratory for Plant-Sourced Drug and Sichuan Research Center for Drug Precision Industrial Technology, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Zhongcheng Cao
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Drug-Targeting and Drug Delivery System of the Education Ministry and Sichuan Province, Sichuan Engineering Laboratory for Plant-Sourced Drug and Sichuan Research Center for Drug Precision Industrial Technology, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Xiaoming Qiang
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Drug-Targeting and Drug Delivery System of the Education Ministry and Sichuan Province, Sichuan Engineering Laboratory for Plant-Sourced Drug and Sichuan Research Center for Drug Precision Industrial Technology, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Xiuxiu Liu
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Drug-Targeting and Drug Delivery System of the Education Ministry and Sichuan Province, Sichuan Engineering Laboratory for Plant-Sourced Drug and Sichuan Research Center for Drug Precision Industrial Technology, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yong Deng
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Drug-Targeting and Drug Delivery System of the Education Ministry and Sichuan Province, Sichuan Engineering Laboratory for Plant-Sourced Drug and Sichuan Research Center for Drug Precision Industrial Technology, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Zheng T, Zhang Z. Activated microglia facilitate the transmission of α-synuclein in Parkinson's disease. Neurochem Int 2021; 148:105094. [PMID: 34097990 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuint.2021.105094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2020] [Revised: 05/23/2021] [Accepted: 05/31/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is characterized by the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta and abnormal aggregates of α-synuclein protein called Lewy bodies. To date, there is no drug that can definitely slow down or stop the progression of this disease. The discovery of the cell-to-cell transmission of pathologic α-synuclein seeds offers the possibility to explore novel treatment strategies to prevent the spread of α-synuclein, with the purpose of slowing down the progression of PD in its tracks. Although recent studies have made tremendous progress in understanding how α-synuclein spreads throughout the brain, neuroinflammation seems to play a crucial role in the development of α-synuclein pathology in PD. The activation of microglia, one of the hallmarks of the neuroinflammatory process, is suggested to influence the neuron-to-neuron transmission of α-synuclein. This review summarizes how activated microglia facilitate this process, and focuses on the following mechanisms including the activation of microglia in PD, the reduced ability of activated microglia to clear α-synuclein and increased migratory capacity of microglia in PD, as well as the cooperation between microglia and exosomes in mediating α-synuclein release and propagation. In conclusion, this article help collate information on microglia in-relation to PD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tingting Zheng
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University (Zhejiang Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine), 54 Youdian Road, Hangzhou 310006, China
| | - Zhengxiang Zhang
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University (Zhejiang Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine), 54 Youdian Road, Hangzhou 310006, China.
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Younes K, Rojas JC, Wolf A, Sheng‐Yang GM, Paoletti M, Toller G, Caverzasi E, Luisa Mandelli M, Illán‐Gala I, Kramer JH, Cobigo Y, Miller BL, Rosen HJ, Geschwind MD. Selective vulnerability to atrophy in sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. Ann Clin Transl Neurol 2021; 8:1183-1199. [PMID: 33949799 PMCID: PMC8164858 DOI: 10.1002/acn3.51290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2020] [Revised: 11/16/2020] [Accepted: 12/04/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Identification of brain regions susceptible to quantifiable atrophy in sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (sCJD) should allow for improved understanding of disease pathophysiology and development of structural biomarkers that might be useful in future treatment trials. Although brain atrophy is not usually present by visual assessment of MRIs in sCJD, we assessed whether using voxel-based morphometry (VBM) can detect group-wise brain atrophy in sCJD. METHODS 3T brain MRI data were analyzed with VBM in 22 sCJD participants and 26 age-matched controls. Analyses included relationships of regional brain volumes with major clinical variables and dichotomization of the cohort according to expected disease duration based on prion molecular classification (i.e., short-duration/Fast-progressors (MM1, MV1, and VV2) vs. long-duration/Slow-progressors (MV2, VV1, and MM2)). Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to assess network-level interactions of atrophy between specific brain regions. RESULTS sCJD showed selective atrophy in cortical and subcortical regions overlapping with all but one region of the default mode network (DMN) and the insulae, thalami, and right occipital lobe. SEM showed that the effective connectivity model fit in sCJD but not controls. The presence of visual hallucinations correlated with right fusiform, bilateral thalami, and medial orbitofrontal atrophy. Interestingly, brain atrophy was present in both Fast- and Slow-progressors. Worse cognition was associated with bilateral mesial frontal, insular, temporal pole, thalamus, and cerebellum atrophy. INTERPRETATION Brain atrophy in sCJD preferentially affects specific cortical and subcortical regions, with an effective connectivity model showing strength and directionality between regions. Brain atrophy is present in Fast- and Slow-progressors, correlates with clinical findings, and is a potential biomarker in sCJD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kyan Younes
- Department of NeurologyWeill Institute for NeurosciencesMemory and Aging CenterUniversity of California, San Francisco (UCSF)San FranciscoCalifornia
| | - Julio C. Rojas
- Department of NeurologyWeill Institute for NeurosciencesMemory and Aging CenterUniversity of California, San Francisco (UCSF)San FranciscoCalifornia
| | - Amy Wolf
- Department of NeurologyWeill Institute for NeurosciencesMemory and Aging CenterUniversity of California, San Francisco (UCSF)San FranciscoCalifornia
| | - Goh M. Sheng‐Yang
- Department of NeurologyWeill Institute for NeurosciencesMemory and Aging CenterUniversity of California, San Francisco (UCSF)San FranciscoCalifornia
| | - Matteo Paoletti
- Department of NeurologyWeill Institute for NeurosciencesMemory and Aging CenterUniversity of California, San Francisco (UCSF)San FranciscoCalifornia
- Advanced Imaging and Radiomics CenterNeuroradiology DepartmentIRCCS Mondino FoundationPaviaItaly
| | - Gianina Toller
- Department of NeurologyWeill Institute for NeurosciencesMemory and Aging CenterUniversity of California, San Francisco (UCSF)San FranciscoCalifornia
| | - Eduardo Caverzasi
- Department of NeurologyUniversity of California, San Francisco (UCSF)San FranciscoCalifornia
| | - Maria Luisa Mandelli
- Department of NeurologyWeill Institute for NeurosciencesMemory and Aging CenterUniversity of California, San Francisco (UCSF)San FranciscoCalifornia
| | - Ignacio Illán‐Gala
- Department of NeurologyHospital de la Santa Creu i Sant PauUniversitat Autònoma de BarcelonaBarcelonaSpain
| | - Joel H. Kramer
- Department of NeurologyWeill Institute for NeurosciencesMemory and Aging CenterUniversity of California, San Francisco (UCSF)San FranciscoCalifornia
| | - Yann Cobigo
- Department of NeurologyWeill Institute for NeurosciencesMemory and Aging CenterUniversity of California, San Francisco (UCSF)San FranciscoCalifornia
| | - Bruce L. Miller
- Department of NeurologyWeill Institute for NeurosciencesMemory and Aging CenterUniversity of California, San Francisco (UCSF)San FranciscoCalifornia
| | - Howard J. Rosen
- Department of NeurologyWeill Institute for NeurosciencesMemory and Aging CenterUniversity of California, San Francisco (UCSF)San FranciscoCalifornia
| | - Michael D. Geschwind
- Department of NeurologyWeill Institute for NeurosciencesMemory and Aging CenterUniversity of California, San Francisco (UCSF)San FranciscoCalifornia
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Design, Synthesis, and Evaluation of Dihydropyranopyrazole Derivatives as Novel PDE2 Inhibitors for the Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease. Molecules 2021; 26:molecules26103034. [PMID: 34069639 PMCID: PMC8160813 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26103034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2021] [Revised: 05/12/2021] [Accepted: 05/14/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Phosphodiesterase 2 (PDE2) has been regarded as a novel target for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). In this study, we obtained (R)-LZ77 as a hit compound with moderate PDE2 inhibitory activity (IC50 = 261.3 nM) using a high-throughput virtual screening method based on molecular dynamics. Then, we designed and synthesized 28 dihydropyranopyrazole derivatives as PDE2 inhibitors. Among them, compound (+)-11h was the most potent PDE2 inhibitor, with an IC50 value of 41.5 nM. The molecular docking of PDE2-(+)-11h reveals that the 4-(trifluoromethyl)benzyl)oxyl side chain of the compound enters the H-pocket and forms strong hydrophobic interactions with L770/L809/F862, which improves inhibitory activity. The above results may provide insight for further structural optimization of highly potent PDE2 inhibitors and may lay the foundation for their use in the treatment of AD.
Collapse
|
21
|
Jiang MY, Han C, Zhang C, Zhou Q, Zhang B, Le ML, Huang MX, Wu Y, Luo HB. Discovery of effective phosphodiesterase 2 inhibitors with antioxidant activities for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2021; 41:128016. [PMID: 33838306 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2021.128016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2021] [Revised: 03/30/2021] [Accepted: 04/02/2021] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
The multi-target-directed-ligand (MTDL) strategy has been widely applied in the discovery of novel drugs for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD) because of the multifactorial pathological mechanisms of AD. Phosphodiesterase-2 (PDE2) has been identified to be a novel and promising target for AD. However, MTDL combining with the inhibitory activity against PDE2A and other anti-AD factors such as antioxidants has not been developed yet. Herein, a novel series of PDE2 inhibitors with antioxidant capacities were designed, synthesized, and evaluated. Most compounds showed remarkable inhibitory activities against PDE2A as well as antioxidant activities. Compound 6d was selected, which showed good IC50 of 6.1 nM against PDE2A, good antioxidant activity (ORAC (Trolox) = 8.4 eq.) and no cytotoxicity to SH-SY5Y cells. Molecular docking and dynamics simulations were applied for the rational design and explanation of structure-activity relationship (SAR) of lead compounds.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mei-Yan Jiang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, PR China
| | - Chuan Han
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, PR China
| | - Chen Zhang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, PR China
| | - Qian Zhou
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, PR China
| | - Bei Zhang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, PR China
| | - Mei-Ling Le
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, PR China
| | - Meng-Xing Huang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, PR China
| | - Yinuo Wu
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, PR China.
| | - Hai-Bin Luo
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, PR China
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Rábano A, Guerrero Márquez C, Juste RA, Geijo MV, Calero M. Medial Temporal Lobe Involvement in Human Prion Diseases: Implications for the Study of Focal Non Prion Neurodegenerative Pathology. Biomolecules 2021; 11:biom11030413. [PMID: 33802224 PMCID: PMC7998497 DOI: 10.3390/biom11030413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2021] [Revised: 03/07/2021] [Accepted: 03/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Human prion and non-prion neurodegenerative diseases share pathogenic mechanisms and neuropathological features. The lesion profile of a particular entity results from specific involvement of vulnerable neuron populations and connectivity circuits by a pathogenic protein isoform with strain-like properties. The lesion profile of the medial temporal lobe (MTL) was studied in postmortem tissue of 143 patients with human prion disease (HPD) including sporadic, genetic, and acquired forms. Most cases (90%) were classified according to PrPres type and/or PRNP codon 129 status, in addition to a full neuropathological profile. Mixed histotypes represented 29.4% of total sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (sCJD) cases. An intensity score of involvement including spongiosis and astrogliosis was determined for the amygdala, presubiculum, subiculum, entorhinal cortex, CA1 to CA4 sectors of the hippocampal cortex, and dentate gyrus. Connectivity hubs within the MTL presented the highest scores. Diverse lesion profiles were obtained for different types and subtypes of HPD. Impact of mixed PrPres types on the MTL lesion profile was higher for sCJDMV2K cases than in other histotypes. Differences between MTL profiles was globally consistent with current evidence on specific strains in HPD. These results may be relevant for the analysis of possible strain effects in focal non-prion neurodegenerative conditions limited to the MTL.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alberto Rábano
- Neuropathology Department, Alzheimer’s Disease Research Unit, CIEN Foundation, Institute of Health Carlos III, Queen Sofía Foundation Alzheimer Research Center, 28031 Madrid, Spain
- CIEN Foundation and Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Institute of Health Carlos III, 28031 Madrid, Spain;
- Correspondence:
| | - Carmen Guerrero Márquez
- Neurological Tissue Bank—HUFA Biobank, Hospital Universitario Fundación Alcorcón, 28922 Madrid, Spain;
| | - Ramón A. Juste
- Department of Animal Health, NEIKER-Basque Institute for Agricultural Research and Development, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Parque Científico y Tecnológico de Bizkaia P812, 48160 Derio, Spain; (R.A.J.); (M.V.G.)
| | - María V. Geijo
- Department of Animal Health, NEIKER-Basque Institute for Agricultural Research and Development, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Parque Científico y Tecnológico de Bizkaia P812, 48160 Derio, Spain; (R.A.J.); (M.V.G.)
| | - Miguel Calero
- CIEN Foundation and Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Institute of Health Carlos III, 28031 Madrid, Spain;
- Chronic Disease Program, Institute of Health Carlos III, 28222 Madrid, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
The Gut-Brain Axis: Two Ways Signaling in Parkinson's Disease. Cell Mol Neurobiol 2021; 42:315-332. [PMID: 33649989 DOI: 10.1007/s10571-021-01066-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2020] [Accepted: 02/15/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a chronic, progressive and second most prevalent neurological disorder affecting the motor system. Cardinal motor impairment and α-synucleinopathy are the characteristic features of PD. Recently, it has been identified that the gut-brain axis is substantially regulated by the gut microbiome (GM) through an immunological, neuroendocrine, and neural mechanism. However, disturbance in the gut-microbiome-brain axis in PD might proceed to gastrointestinal manifestations intermittently leading to the motor system and the PD pathogenesis itself. The gut microbial toxins may induce the production of α-synuclein (α-syn) aggregates in the enteric nervous system (ENS), which may proliferate and propagate in a prion-like-manner through the vagus nerve to the central nervous system (CNS); supporting the hypothesis that, GM might play a pivotal role in PD pathogenesis. Overstimulated innate immune system due to intestinal bacterial overgrowth or gut dysbiosis and the enhanced intestinal permeability may persuade systemic inflammation, while the activation of enteric glial cells and enteric neurons may contribute to α-synucleinopathy. Gut microbiota can bear a significant impact on neurological outcomes such as learning, memory and cognition. In this review paper, we summarize how the alterations in gut microbiota and ENS inflammation are associated with PD pathogenesis. The evidence supporting the causative role played by gut-associated dysbiosis and microbial byproducts, in the onset of PD is also discussed. We have highlighted the landmark discoveries in the field of PD particularly focusing on the gut-brain axis. A better comprehension of the interaction between the gut-brain axis, gut microbiota, and PD can usher in novel therapeutic and diagnostic approaches.
Collapse
|
24
|
Mbizvo GK, Ziso B, Larner AJ. Epilepsy and prion diseases: A narrative review. Epilepsy Behav 2021; 115:107630. [PMID: 33309427 DOI: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2020.107630] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2020] [Revised: 11/03/2020] [Accepted: 11/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Epileptic seizures have been described as one feature of prion diseases, but are an unusual clinical presentation. The aim of this narrative Review was to summarize current knowledge of epileptic seizures in the various forms of prion diseases, from a clinical perspective. Examination of the published literature identified no systematic studies; the evidence base is largely anecdotal, consisting mainly of case studies and small case series. Hence, uncertainty prevails as to seizure frequency, semiology, treatment, and pathogenesis in prion diseases. Seizures probably occur in around 10% of sporadic cases but less frequently in iatrogenic and familial forms, with the possible exception of the E200K mutation. The literature suggests a predominance of focal motor and nonconvulsive status epilepticus. Electroencephalographic accompaniments include periodic lateralized or generalized periodic epileptiform discharges (PLEDs, GPEDs), sometimes predating the more typical periodic sharp wave complexes. There are no convincing accounts of successful antiepileptic drug therapy. The underlying mechanisms of epileptogenesis in prion diseases may include loss of cellular prion protein function (PrPc) and aggregation of abnormally folded prion protein (PrPSc). The need for systematic studies and clinical trials to expand the evidence base surrounding epilepsy and prion diseases is evident.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gashirai K Mbizvo
- Cognitive Function Clinic, The Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool, United Kingdom.
| | - Besa Ziso
- Cognitive Function Clinic, The Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew J Larner
- Cognitive Function Clinic, The Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Veys L, Van Houcke J, Aerts J, Van Pottelberge S, Mahieu M, Coens A, Melki R, Moechars D, De Muynck L, De Groef L. Absence of Uptake and Prion-Like Spreading of Alpha-Synuclein and Tau After Intravitreal Injection of Preformed Fibrils. Front Aging Neurosci 2021; 12:614587. [PMID: 33519421 PMCID: PMC7843377 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2020.614587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2020] [Accepted: 12/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Although very different in etiology and symptoms, numerous neurodegenerative diseases can be classified as proteinopathies. More so, evidence indicates that the key misfolded proteins at the basis of different neuropathies might share common mechanisms of propagation. As such, the prion-like spreading of protein aggregates through the neural network is subject of intensive research focus and requires adequate models. Here, we made use of the well-defined architecture and large accessibility of the visual system, of which the retinotopic connections represent a simple route of anterograde signaling and an elegant model to investigate transsynaptic, prion-like spreading. In two independent studies, uptake and seeding of alpha-synuclein and tau were examined after intravitreal injection of preformed fibrils. However, extracellular matrix components in the vitreous space and at the vitreoretinal surface appeared to act as a barrier for the entry of both fibrils into the retina. These results show that further experimental refinement is needed to fully realize the potential of the visual system as a model for studying the molecular and cellular mechanisms of anterograde, transsynaptic spreading of prion-like proteins.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lien Veys
- Laboratory Neural Circuit Development and Regeneration, Department of Biology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jessie Van Houcke
- Department of Neuroscience, Janssen Research and Development, Division of Janssen Pharmaceutica NV, Beerse, Belgium
| | - Jeroen Aerts
- Department of Neuroscience, Janssen Research and Development, Division of Janssen Pharmaceutica NV, Beerse, Belgium
| | - Sophie Van Pottelberge
- Department of Neuroscience, Janssen Research and Development, Division of Janssen Pharmaceutica NV, Beerse, Belgium
| | - Michel Mahieu
- Department of Neuroscience, Janssen Research and Development, Division of Janssen Pharmaceutica NV, Beerse, Belgium
| | - Audrey Coens
- Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Disease, Institute François Jacob, MIRCen, CEA-CNRS, Fontenay aux Roses, France
| | - Ronald Melki
- Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Disease, Institute François Jacob, MIRCen, CEA-CNRS, Fontenay aux Roses, France
| | - Dieder Moechars
- Department of Neuroscience, Janssen Research and Development, Division of Janssen Pharmaceutica NV, Beerse, Belgium
| | - Louis De Muynck
- Department of Neuroscience, Janssen Research and Development, Division of Janssen Pharmaceutica NV, Beerse, Belgium
| | - Lies De Groef
- Laboratory Neural Circuit Development and Regeneration, Department of Biology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Spagnolli G, Massignan T, Astolfi A, Biggi S, Rigoli M, Brunelli P, Libergoli M, Ianeselli A, Orioli S, Boldrini A, Terruzzi L, Bonaldo V, Maietta G, Lorenzo NL, Fernandez LC, Codeseira YB, Tosatto L, Linsenmeier L, Vignoli B, Petris G, Gasparotto D, Pennuto M, Guella G, Canossa M, Altmeppen HC, Lolli G, Biressi S, Pastor MM, Requena JR, Mancini I, Barreca ML, Faccioli P, Biasini E. Pharmacological inactivation of the prion protein by targeting a folding intermediate. Commun Biol 2021; 4:62. [PMID: 33437023 PMCID: PMC7804251 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-020-01585-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2020] [Accepted: 12/09/2020] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent computational advancements in the simulation of biochemical processes allow investigating the mechanisms involved in protein regulation with realistic physics-based models, at an atomistic level of resolution. These techniques allowed us to design a drug discovery approach, named Pharmacological Protein Inactivation by Folding Intermediate Targeting (PPI-FIT), based on the rationale of negatively regulating protein levels by targeting folding intermediates. Here, PPI-FIT was tested for the first time on the cellular prion protein (PrP), a cell surface glycoprotein playing a key role in fatal and transmissible neurodegenerative pathologies known as prion diseases. We predicted the all-atom structure of an intermediate appearing along the folding pathway of PrP and identified four different small molecule ligands for this conformer, all capable of selectively lowering the load of the protein by promoting its degradation. Our data support the notion that the level of target proteins could be modulated by acting on their folding pathways, implying a previously unappreciated role for folding intermediates in the biological regulation of protein expression. Spagnolli, Massignan, Astolfi et al. design a new drug discovery approach, termed Pharmacological Protein Inactivation by Folding Intermediate Targeting, in which folding intermediates of disease-causing proteins are targeted. They test it on the cellular prion protein, identifying ligands stabilizing a folding intermediate and consequently promoting its degradation by the cellular quality control machinery.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Spagnolli
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology, University of Trento, 38123, Povo, TN, Italy.,Dulbecco Telethon Institute, University of Trento, 38123, Povo, TN, Italy
| | - Tania Massignan
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology, University of Trento, 38123, Povo, TN, Italy.,Dulbecco Telethon Institute, University of Trento, 38123, Povo, TN, Italy.,Sibylla Biotech SRL, 37121, Verona, VR, Italy
| | - Andrea Astolfi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Perugia, 06123, Perugia, PG, Italy
| | - Silvia Biggi
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology, University of Trento, 38123, Povo, TN, Italy.,Dulbecco Telethon Institute, University of Trento, 38123, Povo, TN, Italy
| | - Marta Rigoli
- Department of Physics, University of Trento, Povo, Trento, TN, Italy
| | - Paolo Brunelli
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology, University of Trento, 38123, Povo, TN, Italy.,Dulbecco Telethon Institute, University of Trento, 38123, Povo, TN, Italy
| | - Michela Libergoli
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology, University of Trento, 38123, Povo, TN, Italy.,Dulbecco Telethon Institute, University of Trento, 38123, Povo, TN, Italy
| | - Alan Ianeselli
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology, University of Trento, 38123, Povo, TN, Italy.,Dulbecco Telethon Institute, University of Trento, 38123, Povo, TN, Italy
| | - Simone Orioli
- Department of Physics, University of Trento, Povo, Trento, TN, Italy.,INFN-TIFPA, University of Trento, Povo, Trento, TN, Italy
| | - Alberto Boldrini
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology, University of Trento, 38123, Povo, TN, Italy.,Sibylla Biotech SRL, 37121, Verona, VR, Italy
| | - Luca Terruzzi
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology, University of Trento, 38123, Povo, TN, Italy.,Sibylla Biotech SRL, 37121, Verona, VR, Italy
| | - Valerio Bonaldo
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology, University of Trento, 38123, Povo, TN, Italy.,Dulbecco Telethon Institute, University of Trento, 38123, Povo, TN, Italy
| | - Giulia Maietta
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology, University of Trento, 38123, Povo, TN, Italy.,Dulbecco Telethon Institute, University of Trento, 38123, Povo, TN, Italy
| | - Nuria L Lorenzo
- CIMUS Biomedical Research Institute, University of Santiago de Compostela-IDIS, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Leticia C Fernandez
- CIMUS Biomedical Research Institute, University of Santiago de Compostela-IDIS, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Yaiza B Codeseira
- CIMUS Biomedical Research Institute, University of Santiago de Compostela-IDIS, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Laura Tosatto
- Institute of Biophysics, National Council of Research, 38123 Povo, Trento, TN, Italy
| | - Luise Linsenmeier
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20246, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Beatrice Vignoli
- Department of Physics, University of Trento, Povo, Trento, TN, Italy
| | - Gianluca Petris
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology, University of Trento, 38123, Povo, TN, Italy
| | - Dino Gasparotto
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology, University of Trento, 38123, Povo, TN, Italy.,Dulbecco Telethon Institute, University of Trento, 38123, Povo, TN, Italy
| | - Maria Pennuto
- Department of Biomedical Sciences (DBS), University of Padova, 35131, Padova, Italy.,Veneto Institute of Molecular Medicine (VIMM), 35129, Padova, Italy
| | - Graziano Guella
- Department of Physics, University of Trento, Povo, Trento, TN, Italy
| | - Marco Canossa
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology, University of Trento, 38123, Povo, TN, Italy
| | - Hermann C Altmeppen
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20246, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Graziano Lolli
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology, University of Trento, 38123, Povo, TN, Italy
| | - Stefano Biressi
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology, University of Trento, 38123, Povo, TN, Italy.,Dulbecco Telethon Institute, University of Trento, 38123, Povo, TN, Italy
| | - Manuel M Pastor
- RIAIDT, University of Santiago de Compostela-IDIS, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Jesús R Requena
- CIMUS Biomedical Research Institute, University of Santiago de Compostela-IDIS, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Ines Mancini
- Department of Physics, University of Trento, Povo, Trento, TN, Italy
| | - Maria L Barreca
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Perugia, 06123, Perugia, PG, Italy.
| | - Pietro Faccioli
- Department of Physics, University of Trento, Povo, Trento, TN, Italy. .,INFN-TIFPA, University of Trento, Povo, Trento, TN, Italy.
| | - Emiliano Biasini
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology, University of Trento, 38123, Povo, TN, Italy. .,Dulbecco Telethon Institute, University of Trento, 38123, Povo, TN, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Exosomal tau with seeding activity is released from Alzheimer's disease synapses, and seeding potential is associated with amyloid beta. J Transl Med 2021; 101:1605-1617. [PMID: 34462532 PMCID: PMC8590975 DOI: 10.1038/s41374-021-00644-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2020] [Revised: 07/07/2021] [Accepted: 07/09/2021] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Synaptic transfer of tau has long been hypothesized from the human pathology pattern and has been demonstrated in vitro and in vivo, but the precise mechanisms remain unclear. Extracellular vesicles such as exosomes have been suggested as a mechanism, but not all tau is exosomal. The present experiments use a novel flow cytometry assay to quantify depolarization of synaptosomes by KCl after loading with FM2-10, which induces a fluorescence reduction associated with synaptic vesicle release; the degree of reduction in cryopreserved human samples equaled that seen in fresh mouse synaptosomes. Depolarization induced the release of vesicles in the size range of exosomes, along with tetraspanin markers of extracellular vesicles. A number of tau peptides were released, including tau oligomers; released tau was primarily unphosphorylated and C-terminal truncated, with Aβ release just above background. When exosomes were immunopurified from release supernatants, a prominent tau band showed a dark smeared appearance of SDS-stable oligomers along with the exosomal marker syntenin-1, and these exosomes induced aggregation in the HEK tau biosensor assay. However, the flow-through did not seed aggregation. Size exclusion chromatography of purified released exosomes shows faint signals from tau in the same fractions that show a CD63 band, an exosomal size signal, and seeding activity. Crude synaptosomes from control, tauopathy, and AD cases demonstrated lower seeding in tauopathy compared to AD that is correlated with the measured Aβ42 level. These results show that AD synapses release exosomal tau that is C-terminal-truncated, oligomeric, and with seeding activity that is enhanced by Aβ. Taken together with previous findings, these results are consistent with a direct prion-like heterotypic seeding of tau by Aβ within synaptic terminals, with subsequent loading of aggregated tau onto exosomes that are released and competent for tau seeding activity.
Collapse
|
28
|
Campolo M, Filippone A, Biondo C, Mancuso G, Casili G, Lanza M, Cuzzocrea S, Esposito E, Paterniti I. TLR7/8 in the Pathogenesis of Parkinson's Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21249384. [PMID: 33317145 PMCID: PMC7763162 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21249384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2020] [Revised: 12/02/2020] [Accepted: 12/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuroinflammation and autoimmune mechanisms have a key part in the pathogenesis of Parkinson’s disease (PD). Therefore, we evaluated the role of Toll-like receptors (TLRs) as a link between inflammation and autoimmunity in PD. An in vivo model of PD was performed by administration of 1-metil 4-fenil 1,2,3,6-tetraidro-piridina (MPTP) at the dose of 20 mg/kg every 2 h for a total administration of 80/kg, both in single Knock Out (KO) mice for TLR7, TLR 8, and TLR9 and in double KO mice for TLR 7/8-/-. All animals were compared with WT animals used as a control group. All animals were sacrificed after 7 days form the first administration of MPTP. The genetic absence of TLR 7 and 8 modified the PD pathway, increasing the immunoreactivity for TH and DAT compared to PD groups and decreasing microglia and astrocytes activation. Moreover, the deletion of TLR7 and TLR8 significantly reduced T-cell infiltration in the substantia nigra and lymph nodes, suggesting a reduction of T-cell activation. Therefore, our result highlights a possibility that an immunotherapy approach, by using a dual antagonist of TLR 7 and 8, could be considered as a possible target to develop new therapies for Parkinson diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michela Campolo
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmacological and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Viale Ferdinando Stagno D’alcontres, 31-98166 Messina, Italy; (M.C.); (A.F.); (G.C.); (M.L.); (S.C.); (E.E.)
| | - Alessia Filippone
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmacological and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Viale Ferdinando Stagno D’alcontres, 31-98166 Messina, Italy; (M.C.); (A.F.); (G.C.); (M.L.); (S.C.); (E.E.)
| | - Carmelo Biondo
- Metchnikoff Laboratory, Department of Human Pathology and Medicine, University of Messina, 31-98166 Messina, Italy; (C.B.); (G.M.)
| | - Giuseppe Mancuso
- Metchnikoff Laboratory, Department of Human Pathology and Medicine, University of Messina, 31-98166 Messina, Italy; (C.B.); (G.M.)
| | - Giovanna Casili
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmacological and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Viale Ferdinando Stagno D’alcontres, 31-98166 Messina, Italy; (M.C.); (A.F.); (G.C.); (M.L.); (S.C.); (E.E.)
| | - Marika Lanza
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmacological and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Viale Ferdinando Stagno D’alcontres, 31-98166 Messina, Italy; (M.C.); (A.F.); (G.C.); (M.L.); (S.C.); (E.E.)
| | - Salvatore Cuzzocrea
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmacological and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Viale Ferdinando Stagno D’alcontres, 31-98166 Messina, Italy; (M.C.); (A.F.); (G.C.); (M.L.); (S.C.); (E.E.)
- Department of Pharmacological and Physiological Science, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63104, USA
| | - Emanuela Esposito
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmacological and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Viale Ferdinando Stagno D’alcontres, 31-98166 Messina, Italy; (M.C.); (A.F.); (G.C.); (M.L.); (S.C.); (E.E.)
| | - Irene Paterniti
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmacological and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Viale Ferdinando Stagno D’alcontres, 31-98166 Messina, Italy; (M.C.); (A.F.); (G.C.); (M.L.); (S.C.); (E.E.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-090-676-5208
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Venkataraman L, Fair SR, McElroy CA, Hester ME, Fu H. Modeling neurodegenerative diseases with cerebral organoids and other three-dimensional culture systems: focus on Alzheimer's disease. Stem Cell Rev Rep 2020; 18:696-717. [PMID: 33180261 PMCID: PMC7658915 DOI: 10.1007/s12015-020-10068-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Many neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, frontotemporal dementia, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and Huntington’s disease, are characterized by the progressive accumulation of abnormal proteinaceous assemblies in specific cell types and regions of the brain, leading to cellular dysfunction and brain damage. Although animal- and in vitro-based studies of NDs have provided the field with an extensive understanding of some of the mechanisms underlying these diseases, findings from these studies have not yielded substantial progress in identifying treatment options for patient populations. This necessitates the development of complementary model systems that are better suited to recapitulate human-specific features of ND pathogenesis. Three-dimensional (3D) culture systems, such as cerebral organoids generated from human induced pluripotent stem cells, hold significant potential to model NDs in a complex, tissue-like environment. In this review, we discuss the advantages of 3D culture systems and 3D modeling of NDs, especially AD and FTD. We also provide an overview of the challenges and limitations of the current 3D culture systems. Finally, we propose a few potential future directions in applying state-of-the-art technologies in 3D culture systems to understand the mechanisms of NDs and to accelerate drug discovery. Graphical abstract ![]()
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lalitha Venkataraman
- Department of Neuroscience, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, 616 Biomedical Research Tower, 460 W. 12th Ave, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - Summer R Fair
- The Steve and Cindy Rasmussen Institute for Genomic Medicine, Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, 575 Children's Crossroad, Columbus, OH, 43215, USA
- College of Medicine, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Craig A McElroy
- College of Pharmacy, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Mark E Hester
- Department of Neuroscience, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, 616 Biomedical Research Tower, 460 W. 12th Ave, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA.
- The Steve and Cindy Rasmussen Institute for Genomic Medicine, Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, 575 Children's Crossroad, Columbus, OH, 43215, USA.
- Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA.
| | - Hongjun Fu
- Department of Neuroscience, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, 616 Biomedical Research Tower, 460 W. 12th Ave, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Spagnolli G, Requena JR, Biasini E. Understanding prion structure and conversion. PROGRESS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCE 2020; 175:19-30. [PMID: 32958233 DOI: 10.1016/bs.pmbts.2020.07.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Since their original identification, prions have represented enigmatic agents that defy the classical concept of genetic inheritance. For almost four decades, the high-resolution structure of PrPSc, the infectious and misfolded counterpart of the cellular prion protein (PrPC), has remained elusive, mostly due to technical challenges posed by its high insolubility and aggregation propensity. As a result, such a lack of information has critically hampered the search for an effective therapy against prion diseases. Nevertheless, multiple attempts to get insights into the structure of PrPSc have provided important experimental constraints that, despite being at limited resolution, are paving the way for the application of computer-aided technologies to model the three-dimensional architecture of prions and their templated replication mechanism. Here, we review the most relevant studies carried out so far to elucidate the conformation of infectious PrPSc and offer an overview of the most advanced molecular models to explain prion structure and conversion.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Spagnolli
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology (CIBIO), Trento, TN, Italy; Dulbecco Telethon Institute, University of Trento, Trento, TN, Italy
| | - Jesús R Requena
- CIMUS Biomedical Research Institute & Department of Medical Sciences, University of Santiago de Compostela-IDIS, Santiago, Spain
| | - Emiliano Biasini
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology (CIBIO), Trento, TN, Italy; Dulbecco Telethon Institute, University of Trento, Trento, TN, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Cherry JD, Babcock KJ, Goldstein LE. Repetitive Head Trauma Induces Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy by Multiple Mechanisms. Semin Neurol 2020; 40:430-438. [PMID: 32674181 DOI: 10.1055/s-0040-1713620] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Exposure to repetitive neurotrauma increases lifetime risk for developing progressive cognitive deficits, neurobehavioral abnormalities, and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). CTE is a tau protein neurodegenerative disease first identified in boxers and recently described in athletes participating in other contact sports (notably American football, ice hockey, rugby, and wrestling) and in military veterans with blast exposure. Currently, CTE can only be diagnosed by neuropathological examination of the brain after death. The defining diagnostic lesion of CTE consists of patchy perivascular accumulations of hyperphosphorylated tau protein that localize in the sulcal depths of the cerebral cortex. Neuronal abnormalities, axonopathy, neurovascular dysfunction, and neuroinflammation are triggered by repetitive head impacts (RHIs) and likely act as catalysts for CTE pathogenesis and progression. However, the specific mechanisms that link RHI to CTE are unknown. This review will explore two important areas of CTE pathobiology. First, we will review what is known about the biomechanical properties of RHI that initiate CTE-related pathologies. Second, we will provide an overview of key features of CTE neuropathology and how these contribute to abnormal tau hyperphosphorylation, accumulation, and spread.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan D Cherry
- Boston University Alzheimer's Disease and CTE Center, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts.,Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts.,Department of Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts.,VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Katharine J Babcock
- Boston University Alzheimer's Disease and CTE Center, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts.,VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, Massachusetts.,Molecular Aging and Development Laboratory, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts.,Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Lee E Goldstein
- Boston University Alzheimer's Disease and CTE Center, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts.,Department of Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts.,Molecular Aging and Development Laboratory, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts.,Boston University College of Engineering, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Zhang P, Jiang MY, Le ML, Zhang B, Zhou Q, Wu Y, Zhang C, Luo HB. Design, synthesis and evaluation of pyrazolopyrimidinone derivatives as novel PDE9A inhibitors for treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2020; 30:127254. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2020.127254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2020] [Revised: 04/29/2020] [Accepted: 05/07/2020] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
|
33
|
Choi YR, Kim JB, Kang SJ, Noh HR, Jou I, Joe EH, Park SM. The dual role of c-src in cell-to-cell transmission of α-synuclein. EMBO Rep 2020; 21:e48950. [PMID: 32372484 DOI: 10.15252/embr.201948950] [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: 07/25/2019] [Revised: 04/02/2020] [Accepted: 04/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is characterized by the loss of dopaminergic neurons located in the substantia nigra pars compacta and the presence of proteinaceous inclusions called Lewy bodies and Lewy neurites in numerous brain regions. Increasing evidence indicates that Lewy pathology progressively involves additional regions of the nervous system as the disease advances, and the prion-like propagation of α-synuclein (α-syn) pathology promotes PD progression. Accordingly, the modulation of α-syn transmission may be important for the development of disease-modifying therapies in patients with PD. Here, we demonstrate that α-syn fibrils induce c-src activation in neurons, which depends on the FcγRIIb-SHP-1/-2-c-src pathway and enhances signals for the uptake of α-syn into neurons. Blockade of c-src activation inhibits the uptake of α-syn and the formation of Lewy body-like inclusions. Furthermore, the blockade of c-src activation also inhibits the release of α-syn via activation of autophagy. The brain-permeable c-src inhibitor, saracatinib, efficiently reduces α-syn propagation into neighboring regions in an in vivo model system. These results suggest a new therapeutic target against progressive PD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yu Ree Choi
- Department of Pharmacology, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, Korea.,Center for Convergence Research of Neurological Disorders, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, Korea.,Department of Biomedical Sciences, BK21 Plus Program, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, Korea
| | - Jae-Bong Kim
- Department of Pharmacology, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, Korea.,Center for Convergence Research of Neurological Disorders, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, Korea.,Department of Biomedical Sciences, BK21 Plus Program, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, Korea
| | - Seo-Jun Kang
- Department of Pharmacology, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, Korea.,Center for Convergence Research of Neurological Disorders, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, Korea.,Department of Biomedical Sciences, BK21 Plus Program, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, Korea
| | - Hye Rin Noh
- Department of Pharmacology, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, Korea.,Center for Convergence Research of Neurological Disorders, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, Korea.,Department of Biomedical Sciences, BK21 Plus Program, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, Korea
| | - Ilo Jou
- Department of Pharmacology, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, Korea.,Department of Biomedical Sciences, BK21 Plus Program, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, Korea
| | - Eun-Hye Joe
- Department of Pharmacology, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, Korea.,Center for Convergence Research of Neurological Disorders, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, Korea.,Department of Biomedical Sciences, BK21 Plus Program, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, Korea
| | - Sang Myun Park
- Department of Pharmacology, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, Korea.,Center for Convergence Research of Neurological Disorders, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, Korea.,Department of Biomedical Sciences, BK21 Plus Program, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, Korea
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Tian Y, Meng L, Zhang Z. What is strain in neurodegenerative diseases? Cell Mol Life Sci 2020; 77:665-676. [PMID: 31531680 PMCID: PMC11105091 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-019-03298-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2019] [Revised: 08/11/2019] [Accepted: 09/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease, are characterized by the aggregation of misfolded proteins, including Aβ, tau and α-synuclein. It is well recognized that these misfolded proteins are able to self-propagate and spread throughout the nervous system and cause neuronal injury in a way that resembles prion disease. These disease-specific misfolded proteins demonstrate unique features, including the seeding barrier, the conformational memory effect, strain selection and strain evolution, based on the presence of various strains. However, the accurate definition of the term strain remains to be clarified. Here, a clear interpretation is proposed by a retrospective of its history in prion research and the recent progress in neurodegeneration research. Furthermore, the causes contributing to the genesis of various strains are also summarized. Deeper insight into strains helps us to understand the phenomena we observe in this field and it also enlightens us on the elusive mechanisms and management of neurodegeneration.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ye Tian
- Department of Neurology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, China
| | - Lanxia Meng
- Department of Neurology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, China
| | - Zhentao Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, China.
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Stopschinski BE, Thomas TL, Nadji S, Darvish E, Fan L, Holmes BB, Modi AR, Finnell JG, Kashmer OM, Estill-Terpack S, Mirbaha H, Luu HS, Diamond MI. A synthetic heparinoid blocks Tau aggregate cell uptake and amplification. J Biol Chem 2020; 295:2974-2983. [PMID: 31974166 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra119.010353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2019] [Revised: 01/21/2020] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Tau aggregation underlies neurodegeneration in Alzheimer's disease and related tauopathies. We and others have proposed that transcellular propagation of pathology is mediated by Tau prions, which are ordered protein assemblies that faithfully replicate in vivo and cause specific biological effects. The prion model predicts the release of aggregates from a first-order cell and subsequent uptake into a second-order cell. The assemblies then serve as templates for their own replication, a process termed "seeding." We have previously observed that heparan sulfate proteoglycans on the cell surface mediate the cellular uptake of Tau aggregates. This interaction is blocked by heparin, a sulfated glycosaminoglycan. Indeed, heparin-like molecules, or heparinoids, have previously been proposed as a treatment for PrP prion disorders. However, heparin is not ideal for managing chronic neurodegeneration, because it is difficult to synthesize in defined sizes, may have poor brain penetration because of its negative charge, and is a powerful anticoagulant. Therefore, we sought to generate an oligosaccharide that would bind Tau and block its cellular uptake and seeding, without exhibiting anticoagulation activity. We created a compound, SN7-13, from pentasaccharide units and tested it in a range of assays that measured direct binding of Tau to glycosaminoglycans and inhibition of Tau uptake and seeding in cells. SN7-13 does not inhibit coagulation, binds Tau with low nanomolar affinity, and inhibits cellular Tau aggregate propagation similarly to standard porcine heparin. This synthetic heparinoid could facilitate the development of agents to treat tauopathy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Barbara E Stopschinski
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390; Department of Neurology, RWTH University Aachen, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Talitha L Thomas
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390
| | - Sourena Nadji
- PharmaRen Discovery LLC, Berkeley, Missouri 63134-3115
| | - Eric Darvish
- PharmaRen Discovery LLC, Berkeley, Missouri 63134-3115
| | - Linfeng Fan
- Shanghai Acana Pharmtech Co. Ltd., Berkeley, Missouri 63134-3115
| | - Brandon B Holmes
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390; Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, California 94143
| | - Anuja R Modi
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390
| | - Jordan G Finnell
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390
| | - Omar M Kashmer
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390
| | - Sandi Estill-Terpack
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390
| | - Hilda Mirbaha
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390
| | - Hung S Luu
- Department of Pathology, Children's Health, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390
| | - Marc I Diamond
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390.
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
Zhao Y, Li X, Yang Y, Si S, Deng C, Wu H. A simple aptasensor for Aβ 40 oligomers based on tunable mismatched base pairs of dsDNA and graphene oxide. Biosens Bioelectron 2019; 149:111840. [PMID: 31726274 DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2019.111840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2019] [Revised: 10/30/2019] [Accepted: 11/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
β-amyloid 1-40 oligomers (Aβ40O) is considered to be one of the important biomarkers for the diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD). To explore a method with excellent performance is favorable for measuring the low concentration of Aβ40O in AD patients. Here, we developed a simple and fast method with a double stranded DNA (dsDNA)/graphene oxide (GO) based sensor, which was a fluorescent probe for a highly sensitive detection of Aβ40O down to 0.1 nM with a linear detectable range from 0.1 nM to 40 nM. The proposed sensor effectively reduced non-specific adsorption and improved the specificity of detection because of the covalent conjugation of a binding DNA (bDNA) containing Aβ40O-targeting aptamer (AptAβ) onto GO surface, as well as the optimization of the number of mismatch base pairs of dsDNA. Moreover, AD patients and healthy persons were distinguished by this present method. All advantages of this method are exactly what the clinical detection of AD biomarkers need. This novel aptasensor might pave a way towards the early diagnosis of AD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yana Zhao
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Central South University, Changsha, 410083, China
| | - Xin Li
- Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Academy of Military Sciences, Beijing, 100850, China
| | - Yuan Yang
- Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 3G9, Canada
| | - Shihui Si
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Central South University, Changsha, 410083, China
| | - Chunyan Deng
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Central South University, Changsha, 410083, China.
| | - Huiyun Wu
- Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Academy of Military Sciences, Beijing, 100850, China.
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Abstract
Despite recent successes in understanding the genetics of Parkinson’s disease (PD), the causes of late-onset sporadic PD remain elusive. Many of the epidemiologic findings on PD etiology have been challenged by alternative explanations such as reverse causation. This is mainly because PD often takes decades to develop before it can be diagnosed late in life. Convincing evidence shows that this prodromal stage of PD is characterized by various prodromal symptoms such as olfactory impairment and rapid-eye-movement sleep behavior disorder (RBD). As they likely reflect PD pathogenesis years, if not decades, before nigrostriatal involvement, research on these symptoms may represent an unprecedented opportunity to dissect the etiology of PD. Using PD prodromal symptoms as intermediate phenotypes, we may be able to identify factors that contribute to the development of these symptoms and factors that modify their progression to clinical PD. Further, this line of research will also enable examinations of novel etiological hypotheses of PD development such as the microbiome and prion hypotheses. In this article, the author used olfactory impairment and RBD as examples to illustrate the promises and challenges of epidemiologic research on prodromal symptoms to understand PD etiology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Honglei Chen
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
Marsh AP. Molecular mechanisms of proteinopathies across neurodegenerative disease: a review. Neurol Res Pract 2019; 1:35. [PMID: 33324900 PMCID: PMC7650105 DOI: 10.1186/s42466-019-0039-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2019] [Accepted: 08/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Although there is a range of different symptoms across neurodegenerative diseases, they have been noted to have common pathogenic features. An archetypal feature shared between these diseases is protein misfolding; however, the mechanism behind the proteins abnormalities is still under investigation. There is an emerging hypothesis in the literature that the mechanisms that lead to protein misfolding may be shared across neurodegenerative processes, suggesting a common underlying pathology. Main body This review discusses the literature to date of the shared features of protein misfolding, failures in proteostasis, and potential propagation pathways across the main neurodegenerative disorders. Conclusion The current data suggests, despite overarching processes being shared, that the molecular events implicated in protein pathology are distinct across common neurodegenerative disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alexander P Marsh
- School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK.,School of Psychological Science, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| |
Collapse
|
39
|
Mou L, Ding W, Fernandez-Funez P. Open questions on the nature of Parkinson's disease: from triggers to spreading pathology. J Med Genet 2019; 57:73-81. [PMID: 31484719 DOI: 10.1136/jmedgenet-2019-106210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2019] [Revised: 06/16/2019] [Accepted: 06/23/2019] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a movement disorder identified more than 200 years ago; today it is defined by specific motor symptoms that together receive the name of parkinsonism. PD diagnosis is reached with the full parkinsonian syndrome, but in recent years, a series of non-motor symptoms have arisen as intrinsic components of PD. These non-motor symptoms are variable, creating a widely heterogenous disease presentation. Some non-motor symptoms appear in late disease stages and are explained as the natural progression of PD pathology into other brain centres, including the frontal cortex. Other symptoms can appear a decade or earlier preceding PD diagnosis, particularly hyposmia (loss of smell) and constipation. These early symptoms and the accompanying protein pathology have stimulated a lively conversation about the origin and nature of PD and other related conditions: some authors propose that PD starts in the olfactory mucosa and the gut due to direct exposure to toxins or pathogens. This pathology then travels by anatomically interconnected networks to the midbrain to cause motor symptoms and the cortex to cause late complications. Other models propose that PD develops in multiple independent foci that do not require pathology spread. We will review these hypotheses in the context of recent developments regarding the spread of amyloids and propose a mixed model where a multifocal origin explains the variable presentation of PD, while cell-to-cell spread explains stereotypical disease progression.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lei Mou
- Neurology, Rizhao Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Rizhao, China
| | - Wei Ding
- Neurology, Rizhao Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Rizhao, China
| | - Pedro Fernandez-Funez
- Biomedical Sciences, University of Minnesota Medical School - Duluth Campus, Duluth, Minnesota, USA
| |
Collapse
|
40
|
George S, Rey NL, Tyson T, Esquibel C, Meyerdirk L, Schulz E, Pierce S, Burmeister AR, Madaj Z, Steiner JA, Escobar Galvis ML, Brundin L, Brundin P. Microglia affect α-synuclein cell-to-cell transfer in a mouse model of Parkinson's disease. Mol Neurodegener 2019; 14:34. [PMID: 31419995 PMCID: PMC6697982 DOI: 10.1186/s13024-019-0335-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 141] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2018] [Accepted: 08/08/2019] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cell-to-cell propagation of α-synuclein (α-syn) aggregates is thought to contribute to the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD) and underlie the spread of α-syn neuropathology. Increased pro-inflammatory cytokine levels and activated microglia are present in PD and activated microglia can promote α-syn aggregation. However, it is unclear how microglia influence α-syn cell-to-cell transfer. METHODS We developed a clinically relevant mouse model to monitor α-syn prion-like propagation between cells; we transplanted wild-type mouse embryonic midbrain neurons into a mouse striatum overexpressing human α-syn (huα-syn) following adeno-associated viral injection into the substantia nigra. In this system, we depleted or activated microglial cells and determined the effects on the transfer of huα-syn from host nigrostriatal neurons into the implanted dopaminergic neurons, using the presence of huα-syn within the grafted cells as a readout. RESULTS First, we compared α-syn cell-to-cell transfer between host mice with a normal number of microglia to mice in which we had pharmacologically ablated 80% of the microglia from the grafted striatum. With fewer host microglia, we observed increased accumulation of huα-syn in grafted dopaminergic neurons. Second, we assessed the transfer of α-syn into grafted neurons in the context of microglia activated by one of two stimuli, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or interleukin-4 (IL-4). LPS exposure led to a strong activation of microglial cells (as determined by microglia morphology, cytokine production and an upregulation in genes involved in the inflammatory response in the LPS-injected mice by RNA sequencing analysis). LPS-injected mice had significantly higher amounts of huα-syn in grafted neurons. In contrast, injection of IL-4 did not change the proportion of grafted dopamine neurons that contained huα-syn relative to controls. As expected, RNA sequencing analysis on striatal tissue revealed differential gene expression between LPS and IL-4-injected mice; with the genes upregulated in tissue from mice injected with LPS including several of those involved in an inflammatory response. CONCLUSIONS The absence or the hyperstimulation of microglia affected α-syn transfer in the brain. Our results suggest that under resting, non-inflammatory conditions, microglia modulate the transfer of α-syn. Pharmacological regulation of neuroinflammation could represent a future avenue for limiting the spread of PD neuropathology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sonia George
- Center for Neurodegenerative Science, Van Andel Research Institute, 333 Bostwick Ave., N.E., Grand Rapids, Michigan 49503 USA
| | - Nolwen L. Rey
- Center for Neurodegenerative Science, Van Andel Research Institute, 333 Bostwick Ave., N.E., Grand Rapids, Michigan 49503 USA
- Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Institut François Jacob, MIRCen, CEA, CNRS, 92265 Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
| | - Trevor Tyson
- Center for Neurodegenerative Science, Van Andel Research Institute, 333 Bostwick Ave., N.E., Grand Rapids, Michigan 49503 USA
| | - Corinne Esquibel
- Optical Imaging Core, Van Andel Research Institute, Grand Rapids, MI USA
| | - Lindsay Meyerdirk
- Center for Neurodegenerative Science, Van Andel Research Institute, 333 Bostwick Ave., N.E., Grand Rapids, Michigan 49503 USA
| | - Emily Schulz
- Center for Neurodegenerative Science, Van Andel Research Institute, 333 Bostwick Ave., N.E., Grand Rapids, Michigan 49503 USA
| | - Steven Pierce
- Center for Neurodegenerative Science, Van Andel Research Institute, 333 Bostwick Ave., N.E., Grand Rapids, Michigan 49503 USA
| | - Amanda R. Burmeister
- Center for Neurodegenerative Science, Van Andel Research Institute, 333 Bostwick Ave., N.E., Grand Rapids, Michigan 49503 USA
| | - Zachary Madaj
- Bioinformatics and Biostatistics Core, Van Andel Research Institute, Grand Rapids, MI USA
| | - Jennifer A. Steiner
- Center for Neurodegenerative Science, Van Andel Research Institute, 333 Bostwick Ave., N.E., Grand Rapids, Michigan 49503 USA
| | - Martha L. Escobar Galvis
- Center for Neurodegenerative Science, Van Andel Research Institute, 333 Bostwick Ave., N.E., Grand Rapids, Michigan 49503 USA
| | - Lena Brundin
- Center for Neurodegenerative Science, Van Andel Research Institute, 333 Bostwick Ave., N.E., Grand Rapids, Michigan 49503 USA
| | - Patrik Brundin
- Center for Neurodegenerative Science, Van Andel Research Institute, 333 Bostwick Ave., N.E., Grand Rapids, Michigan 49503 USA
| |
Collapse
|
41
|
Dou X, Huang H, Li Y, Jiang L, Wang Y, Jin H, Jiao N, Zhang L, Zhang L, Liu Z. Multistage Screening Reveals 3-Substituted Indolin-2-one Derivatives as Novel and Isoform-Selective c-Jun N-terminal Kinase 3 (JNK3) Inhibitors: Implications to Drug Discovery for Potential Treatment of Neurodegenerative Diseases. J Med Chem 2019; 62:6645-6664. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.9b00537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaodong Dou
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Huixia Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Yibo Li
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Lan Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Yanxing Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Hongwei Jin
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Ning Jiao
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Lihe Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Liangren Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Zhenming Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
| |
Collapse
|
42
|
Santos SF, de Oliveira HL, Yamada ES, Neves BC, Pereira A. The Gut and Parkinson's Disease-A Bidirectional Pathway. Front Neurol 2019; 10:574. [PMID: 31214110 PMCID: PMC6558190 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2019.00574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 99] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2019] [Accepted: 05/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Humans evolved a symbiotic relationship with their gut microbiome, a complex microbial community composed of bacteria, archaea, protists, and viruses, including bacteriophages. The enteric nervous system (ENS) is a gateway for the bidirectional communication between the brain and the gut, mostly through the vagus nerve (VN). Environmental exposure plays a pivotal role in both the composition and functionality of the gut microbiome and may contribute to susceptibility to neurodegenerative disorders, such as Parkinson's disease (PD). The neuropathological hallmark of PD is the widespread appearance of alpha-synuclein aggregates in both the central and peripheral nervous systems, including the ENS. Many studies suggest that gut toxins can induce the formation of α-syn aggregates in the ENS, which may then be transmitted in a prion-like manner to the CNS through the VN. PD is strongly associated with aging and its negative effects on homeostatic mechanisms protecting from inflammation, oxidative stress, and protein malfunction. In this mini-review, we revisit some landmark discoveries in the field of Parkinson's research and focus on the gut-brain axis. In the process, we highlight evidence showing gut-associated dysbiosis and related microbial-derived components as important players and risk factors for PD. Therefore, the gut microbiome emerges as a potential target for protective measures aiming to prevent PD onset.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Susanne Fonseca Santos
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Institute of Biology, Federal University of Pará, Belém, Brazil
| | - Hadassa Loth de Oliveira
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Chemistry, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Elizabeth Sumi Yamada
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Institute of Biology, Federal University of Pará, Belém, Brazil
| | - Bianca Cruz Neves
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Chemistry, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Antonio Pereira
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Institute of Biology, Federal University of Pará, Belém, Brazil.,Department of Electrical and Biomedical Engineering, Institute of Technology, Federal University of Pará, Belém, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
43
|
Bonfanti S, Lionetti MC, Fumagalli MR, Chirasani VR, Tiana G, Dokholyan NV, Zapperi S, La Porta CAM. Molecular mechanisms of heterogeneous oligomerization of huntingtin proteins. Sci Rep 2019; 9:7615. [PMID: 31110208 PMCID: PMC6527588 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-44151-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2019] [Accepted: 05/07/2019] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
There is still no successful strategy to treat Huntington's disease, an inherited autosomal disorder associated with the aggregation of mutated forms of the huntingtin protein containing polyglutamine tracts with more than 36 repeats. Recent experimental evidence is challenging the conventional view of the disease by revealing transcellular transfer of mutated huntingtin proteins which are able to seed oligomers involving wild type forms of the protein. Here we decipher the molecular mechanism of this unconventional heterogeneous oligomerization by performing discrete molecular dynamics simulations. We identify the most probable oligomer conformations and the molecular regions that can be targeted to destabilize them. Our computational findings are complemented experimentally by fluorescence-lifetime imaging microscopy/fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FLIM-FRET) of cells co-transfected with huntingtin proteins containing short and large polyglutamine tracts. Our work clarifies the structural features responsible for heterogeneous huntingtin aggregation with possible implications to contrast the prion-like spreading of Huntington's disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Bonfanti
- Center for Complexity and Biosystems, Department of Physics, University of Milan, Via Celoria 16, 20133, Milano, Italy
| | - Maria Chiara Lionetti
- Center for Complexity and Biosystems, Department of Environmental Science and Policy, University of Milano, via Celoria 26, 20133, Milano, Italy
| | - Maria Rita Fumagalli
- Center for Complexity and Biosystems, Department of Environmental Science and Policy, University of Milano, via Celoria 26, 20133, Milano, Italy
| | - Venkat R Chirasani
- Departments of Pharmacology and Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, 17033, USA
| | - Guido Tiana
- Center for Complexity and Biosystems, Department of Physics, University of Milan, Via Celoria 16, 20133, Milano, Italy
| | - Nikolay V Dokholyan
- Departments of Pharmacology and Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, 17033, USA
| | - Stefano Zapperi
- Center for Complexity and Biosystems, Department of Physics, University of Milan, Via Celoria 16, 20133, Milano, Italy
- CNR - Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Istituto di Chimica della Materia Condensata e di Tecnologie per l'Energia, Via R. Cozzi 53, 20125, Milano, Italy
| | - Caterina A M La Porta
- Center for Complexity and Biosystems, Department of Environmental Science and Policy, University of Milano, via Celoria 26, 20133, Milano, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
44
|
Aggregated Tau activates NLRP3-ASC inflammasome exacerbating exogenously seeded and non-exogenously seeded Tau pathology in vivo. Acta Neuropathol 2019; 137:599-617. [PMID: 30721409 PMCID: PMC6426830 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-018-01957-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 261] [Impact Index Per Article: 52.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2018] [Revised: 12/28/2018] [Accepted: 12/28/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Brains of Alzheimer's disease patients are characterized by the presence of amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles, both invariably associated with neuroinflammation. A crucial role for NLRP3-ASC inflammasome [NACHT, LRR and PYD domains-containing protein 3 (NLRP3)-Apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a CARD (ASC)] in amyloid-beta (Aβ)-induced microgliosis and Aβ pathology has been unequivocally identified. Aβ aggregates activate NLRP3-ASC inflammasome (Halle et al. in Nat Immunol 9:857-865, 2008) and conversely NLRP3-ASC inflammasome activation exacerbates amyloid pathology in vivo (Heneka et al. in Nature 493:674-678, 2013), including by prion-like ASC-speck cross-seeding (Venegas et al. in Nature 552:355-361, 2017). However, the link between inflammasome activation, as crucial sensor of innate immunity, and Tau remains unexplored. Here, we analyzed whether Tau aggregates acting as prion-like Tau seeds can activate NLRP3-ASC inflammasome. We demonstrate that Tau seeds activate NLRP3-ASC-dependent inflammasome in primary microglia, following microglial uptake and lysosomal sorting of Tau seeds. Next, we analyzed the role of inflammasome activation in prion-like or templated seeding of Tau pathology and found significant inhibition of exogenously seeded Tau pathology by ASC deficiency in Tau transgenic mice. We furthermore demonstrate that chronic intracerebral administration of the NLRP3 inhibitor, MCC950, inhibits exogenously seeded Tau pathology. Finally, ASC deficiency also decreased non-exogenously seeded Tau pathology in Tau transgenic mice. Overall our findings demonstrate that Tau-seeding competent, aggregated Tau activates the ASC inflammasome through the NLRP3-ASC axis, and we demonstrate an exacerbating role of the NLRP3-ASC axis on exogenously and non-exogenously seeded Tau pathology in Tau mice in vivo. The NLRP3-ASC inflammasome, which is an important sensor of innate immunity and intensively explored for its role in health and disease, hence presents as an interesting therapeutic approach to target three crucial pathogenetic processes in AD, including prion-like seeding of Tau pathology, Aβ pathology and neuroinflammation.
Collapse
|
45
|
Tsutsumi R, Hori Y, Seki T, Kurauchi Y, Sato M, Oshima M, Hisatsune A, Katsuki H. Involvement of exosomes in dopaminergic neurodegeneration by microglial activation in midbrain slice cultures. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2019; 511:427-433. [PMID: 30803759 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2019.02.076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2019] [Accepted: 02/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the progressive degeneration of dopamine neurons in the substantia nigra. Microglial activation is frequently observed in the brains of patients with PD and animal models. Interferon-γ (IFN-γ)/lipopolysaccharide (LPS) treatment triggers microglial activation and the reduction of dopamine neurons in midbrain slice cultures. We have previously reported that nitric oxide (NO) is mainly involved in this dopaminergic degeneration. However, this degeneration was not completely suppressed by the inhibition of NO synthesis, suggesting that factors other than NO also contribute to dopaminergic neurodegeneration. Exosomes are extracellular vesicles with diameters of 40-200 nm that contain various proteins and micro RNAs and are regarded as a novel factor that mediates cell-to-cell interactions. Previous studies have demonstrated that exosome release is enhanced by microglial stimulation and that microglia-derived exosomes increases neuronal apoptosis. In the present study, we investigated whether exosomes are involved in dopaminergic neurodegeneration triggered by microglial activation in midbrain slice cultures. IFN-γ/LPS treatment to the midbrain slice cultures activated microglia, increased exosomal release, and decreased dopamine neurons. GW4869, an inhibitor of a neutral sphingomyelinase 2, decreased exosomal release and significantly prevented dopaminergic neurodegeneration by IFN-γ/LPS without affecting NO production. In contrast, D609, an inhibitor of sphingomyelin synthase and NO synthase, did not affect dopaminergic neurodegeneration, although it strongly inhibited NO production. The protective effect mediated by inhibition of NO synthase would be counteracted by enhanced exosomal release caused by D609 treatment. In addition, dopaminergic neurodegeneration is triggered by the treatment of exosomes isolated from culture media of IFN-γ/LPS-treated slices. These results suggest that exosomes are involved in dopaminergic neurodegeneration by microglial activation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Reiho Tsutsumi
- Department of Chemico-Pharmacological Sciences, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Yuria Hori
- Department of Chemico-Pharmacological Sciences, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Takahiro Seki
- Department of Chemico-Pharmacological Sciences, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan.
| | - Yuki Kurauchi
- Department of Chemico-Pharmacological Sciences, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Masahiro Sato
- Department of Chemico-Pharmacological Sciences, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Mutsumi Oshima
- Department of Chemico-Pharmacological Sciences, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Akinori Hisatsune
- Priority Organization for Innovation and Excellence, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan; Program for Leading Graduate Schools "HIGO (Health Life Science: Interdisciplinary and Glocal Oriented) Program", Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Katsuki
- Department of Chemico-Pharmacological Sciences, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
46
|
TIA1 regulates the generation and response to toxic tau oligomers. Acta Neuropathol 2019; 137:259-277. [PMID: 30465259 PMCID: PMC6377165 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-018-1937-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2018] [Revised: 10/31/2018] [Accepted: 11/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
RNA binding proteins (RBPs) are strongly linked to the pathophysiology of motor neuron diseases. Recent studies show that RBPs, such as TIA1, also contribute to the pathophysiology of tauopathy. RBPs co-localize with tau pathology, and reduction of TIA1 protects against tau-mediated neurodegeneration. The mechanism through which TIA1 reduction protects against tauopathy, and whether TIA1 modulates the propagation of tau, are unknown. Previous studies indicate that the protective effect of TIA1 depletion correlates with both the reduction of oligomeric tau and the reduction of pathological TIA1 positive tau inclusions. In the current report, we used a novel tau propagation approach to test whether TIA1 is required for producing toxic tau oligomers and whether TIA1 reduction would provide protection against the spread of these oligomers. The approach used young PS19 P301S tau mice at an age at which neurodegeneration would normally not yet occur and seeding oligomeric or fibrillar tau by injection into hippocampal CA1 region. We find that propagation of exogenous tau oligomers (but not fibrils) across the brain drives neurodegeneration in this model. We demonstrate that TIA1 reduction essentially brackets the pathophysiology of tau, being required for the production of tau oligomers, as well as regulating the response of neurons to propagated toxic tau oligomers. These results indicate that RNA binding proteins modulate the pathophysiology of tau at multiple levels and provide insights into possible therapeutic approaches to reduce the spread of neurodegeneration in tauopathy.
Collapse
|
47
|
Synthesis and evaluation of clioquinol-rolipram/roflumilast hybrids as multitarget-directed ligands for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. Eur J Med Chem 2019; 163:512-526. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2018.12.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2018] [Revised: 12/04/2018] [Accepted: 12/06/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
|
48
|
Hu J, Huang YD, Pan T, Zhang T, Su T, Li X, Luo HB, Huang L. Design, Synthesis, and Biological Evaluation of Dual-Target Inhibitors of Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and Phosphodiesterase 9A (PDE9A) for the Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease. ACS Chem Neurosci 2019; 10:537-551. [PMID: 30252439 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.8b00376] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
A series of dual-target AChE/PDE9A inhibitor compounds were designed, synthesized, and evaluated as anti-Alzheimer's Disease (AD) agents. Among these target compounds, 11a (AChE: IC50 = 0.048 μM; PDE9A: IC50 = 0.530 μM) and 11b (AChE: IC50 = 0.223 μM; PDE9A: IC50 = 0.285 μM) exhibited excellent and balanced dual-target AChE/PDE9A inhibitory activities. Meanwhile, those two compounds possess good blood-brain barrier (BBB) penetrability and low neurotoxicity. Especially, 11a and 11b could ameliorate learning deficits induced by scopolamine (Scop). Moreover, 11a could also improve cognitive and spatial memory in Aβ25-35-induced cognitive deficit mice in the Morris water-maze test. In summary, our research developed a series of potential dual-target AChE/PDE9A inhibitors, and the data indicated that 11a was a promising candidate drug for the treatment of AD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jinhui Hu
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Ya-Dan Huang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Tingting Pan
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Tianhua Zhang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Tao Su
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Xingshu Li
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Hai-Bin Luo
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Ling Huang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| |
Collapse
|
49
|
Tau Interacting Proteins: Gaining Insight into the Roles of Tau in Health and Disease. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2019; 1184:145-166. [PMID: 32096036 DOI: 10.1007/978-981-32-9358-8_13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Tau is most intensely studied in relation to its executive role in Tauopathies, a family of neurodegenerative disorders characterized by the accumulation of Tau aggregates [15, 21, 38, 75, 89, 111, 121, 135, 175, 176, 192]. Tau aggregation in the different Tauopathies differs in the affected cell type, the structure of aggregates and Tau isoform composition. However, in all Tauopathies, accumulation of pathological Tau in well-characterized and well-defined brain regions, correlates strongly with symptoms associated with the dysfunction of this brain region. Hence, symptoms of neurodegenerative Tauopathies can range from motoric to cognitive and behavioral symptoms, even extending to deterioration of vital functions when the disease progresses, or combinations of different symptoms governed by the affected brain regions. The most common Tauopathies are corticobasal degeneration (CBD), Pick's disease, progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) and frontotemporal dementias with parkinsonism linked to chromosome 17 (FTDP-17). However a growing number of diseases are characterized by Tau aggregation amounting to a large family of more than 20 disorders [176]. Most Tauopathies are sporadic, and are hence linked to a combination of environmental and genetic risk factors. However, mutations in MAPT have been identified which are autosomal dominantly linked to Tauopathies, including FTDP, PSP and CBD [94, 163, 185] (Alzforum, https://www.alzforum.org/mutations/mapt ). More than 80 mutations have been identified in MAPT, both in intronic and exonic regions of the human MAPT. These mutations can be classified as missense mutations or splicing mutations. Most missense mutations cluster in or near the microtubule binding site of Tau, while most splicing mutations affect the splicing of exon 10 (encoding the R2 domain), and hence affect the 3R/4R ratio. While Alzheimer's disease (AD), is the most prevalent Tauopathy, no mutations in MAPT associated with AD have been identified. Brains of AD patients are pathologically characterized by the combined presence of amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles [171]. Familial forms of AD, termed early onset familial AD (EOFAD) with clinical mutations in APP or PS1/2, have an early onset, and are invariably characterized by the combined presence of amyloid and Tau pathology [24, 80, 170]. These EOFAD cases, identify a causal link between APP/PS1 misprocessing and the development of Tau pathology and neurodegeneration [80, 170]. Furthermore, combined genetic, pathological, biomarker and in vivo modelling data, indicate that amyloid pathology precedes Tau pathology, and support a role for Aβ as initiator and Tau as executor in the pathogenetic process of AD [80, 96, 97]. Hence, AD is often considered as a secondary Tauopathy (similar as for Down syndrome patients), in contrast to the primary Tauopathies described above. Tau aggregates in Tauopathies vary with respect to the ratio of different Tau isoforms (3R/4R), to the cell types displaying Tau aggregation and the structure of the aggregates. However, in all Tauopathies a strong correlation between progressive development of pathological Tau accumulation and the loss of the respective brain functions is observed.
Collapse
|
50
|
Emborg ME. Nonhuman Primate Models of Neurodegenerative Disorders. ILAR J 2018; 58:190-201. [PMID: 28985333 DOI: 10.1093/ilar/ilx021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2016] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's (AD), Huntington's (HD), and Parkinson's (PD) disease are age-related neurodegenerative disorders characterized by progressive neuronal cell death. Although each disease has particular pathologies and symptoms, accumulated evidence points to similar mechanisms of neurodegeneration, including inflammation, oxidative stress, and protein aggregation. A significant body of research is ongoing to understand how these pathways affect each other and what ultimately triggers the onset of the disease. Experiments in nonhuman primates (NHPs) account for only 5% of all research in animals. Yet the impact of NHP studies for clinical translation is much greater, especially for neurodegenerative disorders, as NHPs have a complex cognitive and motor functions and highly developed neuroanatomy. New NHP models are emerging to better understand pathology and improve the platform in which to test novel therapies. The goal of this report is to review NHP models of AD, HD, and PD in the context of the current understanding of these diseases and their contribution to the development of novel therapies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marina E Emborg
- Preclinical Parkinson's Research Program, Wisconsin National Primate Research Center.,Department of Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin
| |
Collapse
|