Emerging roles of pathogens in Alzheimer disease

A review of the roles of pathogens in Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is one of the leading causes of dementia and is characterized by memory loss, mental and behavioral abnormalities, and impaired ability to perform daily activities. Even as a global disease that threatens human health, effective treatments to slow the progression of AD have not been found, despite intensive research and significant investment. In recent years, the role of infections in the etiology of AD has sparked intense debate. Pathogens invade the central nervous system through a damaged blood-brain barrier or nerve trunk and disrupt the neuronal structure and function as well as homeostasis of the brain microenvironment through a series of molecular biological events. In this review, we summarize the various pathogens involved in AD pathology, discuss potential interactions between pathogens and AD, and provide an overview of the promising future of anti-pathogenic therapies for AD.

Herpes simplex virus 1 accelerates the progression of Alzheimer's disease by modulating microglial phagocytosis and activating NLRP3 pathway

Accumulating evidence implicates that herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) has been linked to the development and progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD). HSV-1 infection induces β-amyloid (Aβ) deposition in vitro and in vivo, but the effect and precise mechanism remain elusive. Here, we show that HSV-1 infection of the brains of transgenic 5xFAD mice resulted in accelerated Aβ deposition, gliosis, and cognitive dysfunction. We demonstrate that HSV-1 infection induced the recruitment of microglia to the viral core to trigger microglial phagocytosis of HSV-GFP-positive neuronal cells. In addition, we reveal that the NLRP3 inflammasome pathway induced by HSV-1 infection played a crucial role in Aβ deposition and the progression of AD caused by HSV-1 infection. Blockade of the NLRP3 inflammasome signaling reduces Aβ deposition and alleviates cognitive decline in 5xFAD mice after HSV-1 infection. Our findings support the notion that HSV-1 infection is a key factor in the etiology of AD, demonstrating that NLRP3 inflammasome activation functions in the interface of HSV-1 infection and Aβ deposition in AD.

Nisin a probiotic bacteriocin mitigates brain microbiome dysbiosis and Alzheimer's disease-like neuroinflammation triggered by periodontal disease

INTRODUCTION

Periodontitis-related oral microbial dysbiosis is thought to contribute to Alzheimer's disease (AD) neuroinflammation and brain amyloid production. Since probiotics can modulate periodontitis/oral dysbiosis, this study examined the effects of a probiotic/lantibiotic, nisin, in modulating brain pathology triggered by periodontitis.

METHODS

A polymicrobial mouse model of periodontal disease was used to evaluate the effects of this disease on brain microbiome dysbiosis, neuroinflammation, Alzheimer's-related changes, and nisin's therapeutic potential in this context.

RESULTS

16S sequencing and real-time PCR data revealed that Nisin treatment mitigated the changes in the brain microbiome composition, diversity, and community structure, and reduced the levels of periodontal pathogen DNA in the brain induced by periodontal disease. Nisin treatment significantly decreased the mRNA expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines (Interleukin-1β/IL-1 β, Interleukin 6/IL-6, and Tumor Necrosis Factor α/TNF-α) in the brain that were elevated by periodontal infection. In addition, the concentrations of amyloid-β 42 (Aβ42), total Tau, and Tau (pS199) (445.69 ± 120.03, 1420.85 ± 331.40, 137.20 ± 36.01) were significantly higher in the infection group compared to the control group (193.01 ± 31.82, 384.27 ± 363.93, 6.09 ± 10.85), respectively. Nisin treatment markedly reduced the Aβ42 (261.80 ± 52.50), total Tau (865.37 ± 304.93), and phosphorylated Tau (82.53 ± 15.77) deposition in the brain of the infection group.

DISCUSSION

Nisin abrogation of brain microbiome dysbiosis induces beneficial effects on AD-like pathogenic changes and neuroinflammation, and thereby may serve as a potential therapeutic for periodontal-dysbiosis-related AD.

The amyloid cascade hypothesis: an updated critical review

Results from recent clinical trials of antibodies that target amyloid-β (Aβ) for Alzheimer's disease have created excitement and have been heralded as corroboration of the amyloid cascade hypothesis. However, while Aβ may contribute to disease, genetic, clinical, imaging and biochemical data suggest a more complex aetiology. Here we review the history and weaknesses of the amyloid cascade hypothesis in view of the new evidence obtained from clinical trials of anti-amyloid antibodies. These trials indicate that the treatments have either no or uncertain clinical effect on cognition. Despite the importance of amyloid in the definition of Alzheimer's disease, we argue that the data point to Aβ playing a minor aetiological role. We also discuss data suggesting that the concerted activity of many pathogenic factors contribute to Alzheimer's disease and propose that evolving multi-factor disease models will better underpin the search for more effective strategies to treat the disease.

Cardiovascular health, infection burden and their interactive association with brain volumetric and white matter integrity outcomes in the UK Biobank

BACKGROUND

Cardiovascular health is associated with brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) markers of pathology and infections may modulate this association.

METHODS

Using data from 38,803 adults (aged 40-70 years) and followed-up for 5-15 years, we tested associations of prevalent total (47.5%) and hospital-treated infection burden (9.7%) with brain structural and diffusion-weighted MRI (i.e., sMRI and dMRI, respectively) common in dementia phenome. Poor white matter tissue integrity was operationalized with lower global and tract-specific fractional anisotropy (FA) and higher mean diffusivity (MD). Volumetric sMRI outcomes included total, gray matter (GM), white matter (WM), frontal bilateral GM, white matter hyperintensity (WMH), and selected based on previous associations with dementia. Cardiovascular health was measured with Life's Essential 8 score (LE8) converted to tertiles. Multiple linear regression models were used, adjusting for intracranial volumes (ICV) for subcortical structures, and for demographic, socio-economic, and the Alzheimer's Disease polygenic risk score for all outcomes, among potential confounders.

RESULTS

In fully adjusted models, hospital-treated infections were inversely related to GM (β ± SE: -1042 ± 379, p = 0.006) and directly related to WMH as percent of ICV (Loge transformed) (β ± SE:+0.026 ± 0.007, p < 0.001). Both total and hospital-treated infections were associated with poor WMI, while the latter was inversely related to FA within the lowest LE8 tertile (β ± SE:-0.0011 ± 0.0003, p < 0.001, PLE8×IB < 0.05), a pattern detected for GM, Right Frontal GM, left accumbens and left hippocampus volumes. Within the uppermost LE8 tertile, total infection burden was linked to smaller right amygdala while being associated with larger left frontal GM and right putamen volumes, in the overall sample. Within that uppermost tertile of LE8, caudate volumes were also positively associated with hospital-treated infections.

CONCLUSIONS

Hospital-treated infections had more consistent deleterious effects on volumetric and white matter integrity brain neuroimaging outcomes compared with total infectious burden, particularly in poorer cardiovascular health groups. Further studies are needed in comparable populations, including longitudinal studies with multiple repeats on neuroimaging markers.

Evidence supportive of a bacterial component in the etiology for Alzheimer's disease and for a temporal-spatial development of a pathogenic microbiome in the brain

Background

Over the last few decades, a growing body of evidence has suggested a role for various infectious agents in Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathogenesis. Despite diverse pathogens (virus, bacteria, fungi) being detected in AD subjects' brains, research has focused on individual pathogens and only a few studies investigated the hypothesis of a bacterial brain microbiome. We profiled the bacterial communities present in non-demented controls and AD subjects' brains.

Results

We obtained postmortem samples from the brains of 32 individual subjects, comprising 16 AD and 16 control age-matched subjects with a total of 130 samples from the frontal and temporal lobes and the entorhinal cortex. We used full-length 16S rRNA gene amplification with Pacific Biosciences sequencing technology to identify bacteria. We detected bacteria in the brains of both cohorts with the principal bacteria comprising Cutibacterium acnes (formerly Propionibacterium acnes) and two species each of Acinetobacter and Comamonas genera. We used a hierarchical Bayesian method to detect differences in relative abundance among AD and control groups. Because of large abundance variances, we also employed a new analysis approach based on the Latent Dirichlet Allocation algorithm, used in computational linguistics. This allowed us to identify five sample classes, each revealing a different microbiota. Assuming that samples represented infections that began at different times, we ordered these classes in time, finding that the last class exclusively explained the existence or non-existence of AD.

Conclusions

The AD-related pathogenicity of the brain microbiome seems to be based on a complex polymicrobial dynamic. The time ordering revealed a rise and fall of the abundance of C. acnes with pathogenicity occurring for an off-peak abundance level in association with at least one other bacterium from a set of genera that included Methylobacterium, Bacillus, Caulobacter, Delftia, and Variovorax. C. acnes may also be involved with outcompeting the Comamonas species, which were strongly associated with non-demented brain microbiota, whose early destruction could be the first stage of disease. Our results are also consistent with a leaky blood-brain barrier or lymphatic network that allows bacteria, viruses, fungi, or other pathogens to enter the brain.

Contribution of viral and bacterial infections to senescence and immunosenescence

Cellular senescence is a key biological process characterized by irreversible cell cycle arrest. The accumulation of senescent cells creates a pro-inflammatory environment that can negatively affect tissue functions and may promote the development of aging-related diseases. Typical biomarkers related to senescence include senescence-associated β-galactosidase activity, histone H2A.X phosphorylation at serine139 (γH2A.X), and senescence-associated heterochromatin foci (SAHF) with heterochromatin protein 1γ (HP-1γ protein) Moreover, immune cells undergoing senescence, which is known as immunosenescence, can affect innate and adaptative immune functions and may elicit detrimental effects over the host's susceptibility to infectious diseases. Although associations between senescence and pathogens have been reported, clear links between both, and the related molecular mechanisms involved remain to be determined. Furthermore, it remains to be determined whether infections effectively induce senescence, the impact of senescence and immunosenescence over infections, or if both events coincidently share common molecular markers, such as γH2A.X and p53. Here, we review and discuss the most recent reports that describe cellular hallmarks and biomarkers related to senescence in immune and non-immune cells in the context of infections, seeking to better understand their relationships. Related literature was searched in Pubmed and Google Scholar databases with search terms related to the sections and subsections of this review.

A metagenomic study of gut viral markers in amyloid-positive Alzheimer's disease patients

BACKGROUND

Mounting evidence suggests the involvement of viruses in the development and treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, there remains a significant research gap in metagenomic studies investigating the gut virome of AD patients, leaving gut viral dysbiosis in AD unexplored. This study aimed to fill this gap by conducting a metagenomics analysis of the gut virome in both amyloid-positive AD patients (Aβ + ADs) and healthy controls (HCs), with the objective of identifying viral signatures linked with AD.

METHOD

Whole-genome sequence (WGS) data from 65 human participants, including 30 Aβ + ADs and 35 HCs, was obtained from the database NCBI SRA (Bio Project: PRJEB47976). The Metaphlan3 pipeline and linear discriminant analysis effect size (LEfSe) analysis were utilized for the bioinformatics process and the detection of viral signatures, respectively. In addition, the Benjamini-Hochberg method was applied with a significance cutoff of 0.05 to evaluate the false discovery rate for all biomarkers identified by LEfSe. The CombiROC model was employed to determine the discriminatory power of the viral signatures identified by LEfSe.

RESULTS

Compared to HCs, the gut virome profiles of Aβ + ADs showed lower alpha diversity, indicating a lower bacteriophage richness. The Siphoviridae family was decreased in Aβ + ADs. Significant decreases of Lactococcus phages were found in Aβ + ADs, including bIL285, Lactococcus phage bIL286, Lactococcus phage bIL309, and Lactococcus phage BK5 T, Lactococcus phage BM13, Lactococcus phage P335 sensu lato, Lactococcus phage phiLC3, Lactococcus phage r1t, Lactococcus phage Tuc2009, Lactococcus phage ul36, and Lactococcus virus bIL67. The predictive combined model of these viral signatures obtained an area under the curve of 0.958 when discriminating Aβ + ADs from HCs.

CONCLUSION

This is the first study to identify distinct viral signatures in the intestine that can be used to effectively distinguish individuals with AD from HCs.

Phytochemicals: A Promising Alternative for the Prevention of Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurological condition that worsens with ageing and affects memory and cognitive function. Presently more than 55 million individuals are affected by AD all over the world, and it is a leading cause of death in old age. The main purpose of this paper is to review the phytochemical constituents of different plants that are used for the treatment of AD. A thorough and organized review of the existing literature was conducted, and the data under the different sections were found using a computerized bibliographic search through the use of databases such as PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar, Scopus, CAB Abstracts, MEDLINE, EMBASE, INMEDPLAN, NATTS, and numerous other websites. Around 360 papers were screened, and, out of that, 258 papers were selected on the basis of keywords and relevant information that needed to be included in this review. A total of 55 plants belonging to different families have been reported to possess different bioactive compounds (galantamine, curcumin, silymarin, and many more) that play a significant role in the treatment of AD. These plants possess anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anticholinesterase, and anti-amyloid properties and are safe for consumption. This paper focuses on the taxonomic details of the plants, the mode of action of their phytochemicals, their safety, future prospects, limitations, and sustainability criteria for the effective treatment of AD.

Association between Periodontal Disease and Cognitive Impairment in Adults

INTRODUCTION

Periodontitis is a severe oral infection that can contribute to systemic inflammation. A large body of evidence suggests a role for systemic inflammation in the initiation of neurodegenerative disease. This systematic review synthesized data from observational studies to investigate the association between periodontitis and neuroinflammation in adults.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

A systematic literature search of PubMed, Web of Science, and Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) was performed for studies published from the date of inception up to September 2021. Search terms for the exposure "oral disease" and outcome "dementia", "neuroinflammation" and "cognitive decline" were used. Study selection and data extraction were independently undertaken by two reviewers. The final eligible articles were included only if the exposure is periodontitis and the outcome is cognitive impairment or dementia or a topic related to this condition, and if the study was conducted in an adult population. The quality and risk of bias were assessed by Newcastle Ottawa Scale (NOS). Qualitative synthesis was used to narratively synthesize the results. Six cohort studies, three cross-sectional studies, and two case-control studies met the inclusion criteria. These eleven studies were only narratively synthesized. Meta-analysis was not performed due to the methodological heterogeneity of the studies.

RESULTS

The results of included studies show that chronic periodontitis patients with at least eight years of exposure are at higher risk of developing cognitive decline and dementia. Oral health measures such as gingival inflammation, attachment loss, probing depth, bleeding on probing, and alveolar bone loss are associated with cognitive impairment. The reduction of epidermal growth factor (EGF), interleukin 8 (IL-8), interferon γ-induced protein 10 (IP-10), and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) in addition to over expression of interleukin 1-β (IL-1β) are significant in patients suffering from cognitive decline with pre-existing severe periodontitis.

CONCLUSIONS

All the included studies show evidence of an association between periodontitis and cognitive impairment or dementia and Alzheimer's disease pathology. Nonetheless, the mechanisms responsible for the association between periodontitis and dementia are still unclear and warrant further investigation.

Alzheimer's Disease and Neurosyphilis: Meaningful Commonalities and Differences of Clinical Phenotype and Pathophysiological Biomarkers

BACKGROUND

Neurosyphilis-associated cognitive and behavioral impairment- historically coined as "general paralysis of the insane"- share clinical and neuroradiological features with the neurodegenerative disease spectrum, in particular Alzheimer's disease (AD). Anatomopathological similarities have been extensively documented, i.e., neuronal loss, fibrillary alterations, and local amyloid-β deposition. Consequently, accurate classification and timely differential diagnosis may be challenging.

OBJECTIVE

To describe clinical, bio-humoral, brain MRI, FDG-PET, and amyloid-PET features in cases of neurosyphilis with an AD-like phenotypical presentation, as well as clinical outcome in terms of response to antibiotic therapy.

METHODS

We selected the studies comparing patients with AD and with neurosyphilis associated cognitive impairment, to investigate candidate biomarkers classifying the two neurological diseases.

RESULTS

The neuropsychological phenotype of general paralysis, characterized by episodic memory impairment and executive disfunction, substantially mimics clinical AD features. Neuroimaging often shows diffuse or medial temporal cortical atrophy, thus contributing to a high rate of misdiagnosis. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)-based analysis may provide supportive diagnostic value, since increased proteins or cells are often found in neurosyphilis, while published data on pathophysiological AD candidate biomarkers are controversial. Finally, psychometric testing using cross-domain cognitive tests, may highlight a wider range of compromised functions in neurosyphilis, involving language, attention, executive function, and spatial ability, which are atypical for AD.

CONCLUSION

Neurosyphilis should be considered a potential etiological differential diagnosis of cognitive impairment whenever imaging, neuropsychological or CSF features are atypical for AD, in order to promptly start antibiotic therapy and delay or halt cognitive decline and disease progression.

Implications of Microorganisms in Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a deadly brain degenerative disorder that leads to brain shrinkage and dementia. AD is manifested with hyperphosphorylated tau protein levels and amyloid beta (Aβ) peptide buildup in the hippocampus and cortex regions of the brain. The nervous tissue of AD patients also contains fungal proteins and DNA which are linked to bacterial infections, suggesting that polymicrobial infections also occur in the brains of those with AD. Both immunohistochemistry and next-generation sequencing (NGS) techniques were employed to assess fungal and bacterial infections in the brain tissue of AD patients and non-AD controls, with the most prevalent fungus genera detected in AD patients being Alternaria, Botrytis, Candida, and Malassezia. Interestingly, Fusarium was the most common genus detected in the control group. Both AD patients and controls were also detectable for Proteobacteria, followed by Firmicutes, Actinobacteria, and Bacteroides for bacterial infection. At the family level, Burkholderiaceae and Staphylococcaceae exhibited higher levels in the brains of those with AD than the brains of the control group. Accordingly, there is thought to be a viscous cycle of uncontrolled neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration in the brain, caused by agents such as the herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV1), Chlamydophilapneumonia, and Spirochetes, and the presence of apolipoprotein E4 (APOE4), which is associated with an increased proinflammatory response in the immune system. Systemic proinflammatory cytokines are produced by microorganisms such as Cytomegalovirus, Helicobacter pylori, and those related to periodontal infections. These can then cross the blood–brain barrier (BBB) and lead to the onset of dementia. Here, we reviewed the relationship between the etiology of AD and microorganisms (such as bacterial pathogens, Herpesviridae viruses, and periodontal pathogens) according to the evidence available to understand the pathogenesis of AD. These findings might guide a targeted anti-inflammatory therapeutic approach to AD.

Insights into the roles of bacterial infection and antibiotics in Parkinson’s disease

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is one of the most common neurodegenerative disorders, which is accompanied with the classical motor symptoms and a range of non-motor symptoms. Bacterial infection affects the neuroinflammation associated with the pathology of PD and various antibiotics have also been confirmed to play an important role not only in bacterial infection, but also in the PD progression. This mini-review summarized the role of common bacterial infection in PD and introduced several antibiotics that had anti-PD effects.

Human Palatine Tonsils Are Linked to Alzheimer’s Disease through Function of Reservoir of Amyloid Beta Protein Associated with Bacterial Infection

Amyloid-β (Aβ)-peptide production or deposition in the neuropathology of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) was shown to be caused by chronic inflammation that may be induced by infection, but the role of pathogenic-bacteria-related AD-associated Aβ is not yet clearly understood. In this study, we validated the hypothesis that there is a correlation between the Aβ-protein load and bacterial infection and that there are effects of bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), on the Aβ load in the inflammatory environment of human tonsils. Here, we detected Aβ-peptide deposits in human tonsil tissue as well as tissue similar to tonsilloliths found in the olfactory cleft. Interestingly, we demonstrated for the first time the presence of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) clustered around or embedded in the Aβ deposits. Notably, we showed that treatment with S. aureus upregulated the Aβ-protein load in cultures of human tonsil organoids and brain organoids, showing the new role of S. aureus in Aβ-protein aggregation. These findings suggest that a reservoir of Aβ and pathogenic bacteria may be a possible therapeutic target in human tonsils, supporting the treatment of antibiotics to prevent the deposition of Aβ peptides via the removal of pathogens in the intervention of AD pathogenesis.

Cerebral Organoids for Modeling of HSV-1-Induced-Amyloid β Associated Neuropathology and Phenotypic Rescue

Herpes simplex virus type I (HSV-1) infection is a potential risk factor involved in the Amyloid β (Aβ) associated neuropathology. However, further understanding of the neuropathological effects of the HSV-1 infection is hampered by the limitations of existing infection models due to the distinct differences between human brains and other mammalians’ brains. Here we generated cerebral organoid models derived from pluripotent stem cells to investigate the HSV-induced Aβ associated neuropathology and the role of antiviral drugs in the phenotypic rescue. Our results identified that the HSV-1-infected cerebral organoids recapitulated Aβ associated neuropathology including the multicellular Aβ deposition, dysregulated endogenous AD mediators, reactive gliosis, neuroinflammation, and neural loss, indicating that cerebral organoids offer an opportunity for modeling the interaction of HSV-1 with the complex phenotypes across the genetic, cellular, and tissue levels of the human Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Furthermore, we identified that two antiviral drugs, namely Ribavirin (RBV) and Valacyclovir (VCV), inhibited HSV-1 replication and rescued the neuropathological phenotypes associated with AD in the HSV-1-infected cerebral organoids, implying their therapeutic potential to slow down the progression of AD. Our study provides a high-fidelity human-relevant in-vitro HSV-1 infection model to reconstitute the multiscale neuropathological features associated with AD and discover therapeutic drug candidates relevant to the AD viral hypothesis.

Heterogeneity in Alzheimer's Disease Diagnosis and Progression Rates: Implications for Therapeutic Trials

The clinical presentation and the pathological processes underlying Alzheimer's disease (AD) can be very heterogeneous in severity, location, and composition including the amount and distribution of AB deposition and spread of neurofibrillary tangles in different brain regions resulting in atypical clinical patterns and the existence of distinct AD variants. Heterogeneity in AD may be related to demographic factors (such as age, sex, educational and socioeconomic level) and genetic factors, which influence underlying pathology, the cognitive and behavioral phenotype, rate of progression, the occurrence of neuropsychiatric features, and the presence of comorbidities (e.g., vascular disease, neuroinflammation). Heterogeneity is also manifest in the individual resilience to the development of neuropathology (brain reserve) and the ability to compensate for its cognitive and functional impact (cognitive and functional reserve). The variability in specific cognitive profiles and types of functional impairment may be associated with different progression rates, and standard measures assessing progression may not be equivalent for individual cognitive and functional profiles. Other factors, which may govern the presence, rate, and type of progression of AD, include the individuals' general medical health, the presence of specific systemic conditions, and lifestyle factors, including physical exercise, cognitive and social stimulation, amount of leisure activities, environmental stressors, such as toxins and pollution, and the effects of medications used to treat medical and behavioral conditions. These factors that affect progression are important to consider while designing a clinical trial to ensure, as far as possible, well-balanced treatment and control groups.

Exercise Modifies the Transcriptional Regulatory Features of Monocytes in Alzheimer's Patients: A Multi-Omics Integration Analysis Based on Single Cell Technology

Monocytes have been reported to be important mediators of the protective effect of exercise against the development of Alzheimer's disease (AD). This study aims explored the mechanism by which monocytes achieve this. Using single cell transcriptome analysis, results showed that CD14 + and CD16 + monocytes interacted with other cells in the circulating blood. TNF, CCR1, APP, and AREG, the key ligand-receptor-related genes, were found to be differentially expressed between exercise-treated and AD patients. The SCENIC analysis was performed to identify individual clusters of the key transcription factors (TFs). Nine clusters (M1-M9) were obtained from the co-expression network. Among the identified TFs, MAFB, HES4, and FOSL1 were found to be differentially expressed in AD. Moreover, the M4 cluster to which MAFB, HES4, and FOSL1 belonged was defined as the signature cluster for AD phenotype. Differential analysis by bulkRNA-seq revealed that the expression of TNF, CCR1, and APP were all upregulated after exercise (p < 0.05). And ATF3, MAFB, HES4, and KLF4 that were identified in M4 clusters may be the TFs that regulate TNF, CCR1, and APP in exercise prescription. After that, APP, CCR1, TNF, ATF3, KLF4, HES4, and MAFB formed a regulatory network in the ERADMT gene set, and all of them were mechanistically linked. The ERADMT gene set has been found to be a potential risk marker for the development of AD and can be used as an indicator of compliance to exercise therapy in AD patients. Using single-cell integration analysis, a network of exercise-regulating TFs in monocytes was constructed for AD disease. The constructed network reveals the mechanism by which exercise regulated monocytes to confer therapeutic benefits against AD and its complications. However, this study, as a bioinformatic research, requires further experimental validation.

An Association of Pathogens and Biofilms with Alzheimer's Disease

As one of the leading causes of dementia, Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a condition in which individuals experience progressive cognitive decline. Although it is known that beta-amyloid (Aβ) deposits and neurofibrillary tangles (NFT) of tau fibrils are hallmark characteristics of AD, the exact causes of these pathologies are still mostly unknown. Evidence that infectious diseases may cause AD pathology has been accumulating for decades. The association between microbial pathogens and AD is widely studied, and there are noticeable correlations between some bacterial species and AD pathologies, especially spirochetes and some of the oral microbes. Borrelia burgdorferi has been seen to correlate with Aβ plaques and NFTs in infected cells. Because of the evidence of spirochetes in AD patients, Treponema pallidum and other oral treponemes are speculated to be a potential cause of AD. T. pallidum has been seen to form aggregates in the brain when the disease disseminates to the brain that closely resemble the Aβ plaques of AD patients. This review examines the evidence as to whether pathogens could be the cause of AD and its pathology. It offers novel speculations that treponemes may be able to induce or correlate with Alzheimer's disease.

Lipopolysaccharide, Identified Using an Antibody and by PAS Staining, Is Associated With Corpora amylacea and White Matter Injury in Alzheimer's Disease and Aging Brain

Corpora amylacea (CA) increase in number and size with aging. Their origins and functions remain unknown. Previously, we found that Alzheimer's disease (AD) brains have more CA in the periventricular white matter (PVWM) compared to aging controls. In addition, CA is associated with neurodegeneration as indicated by colocalization of degraded myelin basic protein (dMBP) with periodic acid-Schiff (PAS), a CA marker. We also found that bacterial lipopolysaccharide is present in aging brains, with more LPS in AD compared with controls. Periodic acid-Schiff staining is used to identify CA by virtue of their high polysaccharide content. Despite the growing knowledge of CA as a contributor to AD pathology, the molecules that contribute to the polysaccharides in CA are not known. Notably, lipopolysaccharides (LPS) are important cell-surface polysaccharides found in all Gram-negative bacteria. However, it is unknown whether PAS could detect LPS, whether the LPS found in aging brains contribute to the polysaccharide found in CA, and whether LPS associate with myelin injury. In this study, we found that aging brains had a myelin deficit zone (MDZ) adjacent to the ventricles in PVWM. The MDZ contained vesicles, most of which were CA. LPS and dMBP levels were higher in AD than in control brains. LPS was colocalized with dMBP in the vesicles/CA, linking white matter injury with a bacterial pro-inflammatory molecule. The vesicles also contained oxidized fibers, C-reactive protein, NG2, and GALC, markers of oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) and oligodendrocyte cells (OLs), respectively. The vesicles/CA were surrounded by dense astrocyte processes in control and AD brains. LPS was co-localized with CA by double staining of PAS with LPS in aging brains. The relationship of LPS with PAS staining was confirmed by PAS staining of purified LPS on nitrocellulose membranes. These findings reveal that LPS is one of the polysaccharides found in CA which can be stained with PAS. In addition, vesicles/CA are associated with oxidized and damaged myelin. The LPS in these vesicles/CA may have contributed to this oxidative myelin damage and may have contributed to oxidative stress to OPCs and OLs which could impair the ability to repair damaged myelin in AD and control brains.

Integrated Bioinformatics Analysis Identifies Hub Genes Associated with Viral Infection and Alzheimer's Disease

BACKGROUND

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease, the etiology of which is unclear. Previous studies have suggested that some viruses are neurotropic and associated with AD.

OBJECTIVE

By using bioinformatics analysis, we investigated the potential association between viral infection and AD.

METHODS

A total of 5,066 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the temporal cortex between AD and control samples were identified. These DEGs were then examined via weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) and clustered into modules of genes with similar expression patterns. Of identified modules, module turquoise had the highest correlation with AD. The module turquoise was further characterized using Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways enrichment analysis.

RESULTS

Our results showed that the KEGG pathways of the module turquoise were mainly associated with viral infection signaling, specifically Herpes simplex virus, Human papillomavirus, and Epstein-Barr virus infections. A total of 126 genes were enriched in viral infection signaling pathways. In addition, based on values of module membership and gene significance, a total of 508 genes within the module were selected for further analysis. By intersecting these 508 genes with those 126 genes enriched in viral infection pathways, we identified 4 hub genes that were associated with both viral infection and AD: TLR2, COL1A2, NOTCH3, and ZNF132.

CONCLUSION

Through bioinformatics analysis, we demonstrated a potential link between viral infection and AD. These findings may provide a platform to further our understanding of AD pathogenesis.

Interrelationship between the 5-lipoxygenase pathway and microbial dysbiosis in the progression of Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is an age-related neurodegenerative disorder involving neurofibrillary tangles and amyloid plaques. The tau phosphorylation responsible for neurofibrillary tangles and amyloid deposition which causes plaques are both accelerated through the activity of 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO). In addition to these pathological pathways, 5-LO has also been linked to the neuro-inflammation associated with disease progression as well as to dysbiosis in the gut. Interestingly, gut dysbiosis itself has been correlated to AD development. Not only do gut metabolites have direct effects on the brain, but pro-inflammatory mediators such as LPS, BMAA and bacterial amyloids produced in the gut due to dysbiosis reach the brain causing increased neuro-inflammation. While microbial dysbiosis and 5-LO exert detrimental effects in the brain, the cause/effect relationship between these factors remain unknown. These issues may be addressed using mouse models of AD in the context of different knockout mice in the 5-LO pathway in specific pathogen-free, germ-free as well as gnotobiotic conditions.

Microbial Infections Are a Risk Factor for Neurodegenerative Diseases

Neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, comprise a family of disorders characterized by progressive loss of nervous system function. Neuroinflammation is increasingly recognized to be associated with many neurodegenerative diseases but whether it is a cause or consequence of the disease process is unclear. Of growing interest is the role of microbial infections in inciting degenerative neuroinflammatory responses and genetic factors that may regulate those responses. Microbial infections cause inflammation within the central nervous system through activation of brain-resident immune cells and infiltration of peripheral immune cells. These responses are necessary to protect the brain from lethal infections but may also induce neuropathological changes that lead to neurodegeneration. This review discusses the molecular and cellular mechanisms through which microbial infections may increase susceptibility to neurodegenerative diseases. Elucidating these mechanisms is critical for developing targeted therapeutic approaches that prevent the onset and slow the progression of neurodegenerative diseases.

Infectious etiology and amyloidosis in Alzheimer's disease: The puzzle continues

Recent studies have renewed the debate on infectious etiology in late-onset Alzheimer's disease. Bocharova et al. reported that abundant expression of human beta amyloid (Aβ) in the mouse brain (5XFAD animals) failed to protect against acute herpes simplex virus type 1 infection relative to control mice. While this study does not confirm the antiviral actions of Aβ, it neither supports nor disproves the hypothesis that infection with microbial pathogens is the major cause of Alzheimer's disease.

Exploring the Connection between Porphyromonas gingivalis and Neurodegenerative Diseases: A Pilot Quantitative Study on the Bacterium Abundance in Oral Cavity and the Amount of Antibodies in Serum

Recent studies support the hypothesis that microbes can seed some Alzheimer’s disease (AD) cases, leading to inflammation and overproduction of amyloid peptides. Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg) is a keystone pathogen of chronic periodontitis and has been identified as risk factor for the development and progression of AD. The present preliminary study aimed to quantify Pg abundance in neurodegenerative disease (ND) patients compared with neurologic patients without neurodegenerative disorders (no-ND) and healthy controls (HC) to determine possible association between Pg abundance and neurodegenerative process. Pg was quantified on DNA extracted from the oral samples of 49 patients and 29 HC by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Anti-Pg antibodies were also detected on patient serum samples by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). The Pg abundance in the oral cavity was significantly different among groups (p = 0.004). It was higher in ND than no-ND (p = 0.010) and HC (p = 0.008). The Pg abundance was correlated with the antibodies (p = 0.001) with different slopes between ND and no-ND (p = 0.037). Pg abundance was not correlated with oral indices and comorbidities. These results extend our understanding of the association between oral pathogens and AD to other neurodegenerative processes, confirming the hypothesis that oral pathogens can induce an antibody systemic response, influencing the progression of the disease.

Neuronal Damage and Neuroinflammation, a Bridge Between Bacterial Meningitis and Neurodegenerative Diseases

Bacterial meningitis is an inflammation of the meninges which covers and protects the brain and the spinal cord. Such inflammation is mostly caused by blood-borne bacteria that cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and finally invade the brain parenchyma. Pathogens such as Streptococcus pneumoniae, Neisseria meningitidis, and Haemophilus influenzae are the main etiological causes of bacterial meningitis. After trafficking across the BBB, bacterial pathogens in the brain interact with neurons, the fundamental units of Central Nervous System, and other types of glial cells. Although the specific molecular mechanism behind the interaction between such pathogens with neurons is still under investigation, it is clear that bacterial interaction with neurons and neuroinflammatory responses within the brain leads to neuronal cell death. Furthermore, clinical studies have shown indications of meningitis-caused dementia; and a variety of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and Huntington's disease are characterized by the loss of neurons, which, unlike many other eukaryotic cells, once dead or damaged, they are seldom replaced. The aim of this review article is to provide an overview of the knowledge on how bacterial pathogens in the brain damage neurons through direct and indirect interactions, and how the neuronal damage caused by bacterial pathogen can, in the long-term, influence the onset of neurodegenerative disorders.

G-Protein-Coupled Receptor SRBC-48 Protects against Dendrite Degeneration and Reduced Longevity Due to Infection

Increasing evidence suggests that deficient immune modulation and microbial infections underline neurodegeneration, but the mechanisms remain obscure. Here, we show that the G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) SRBC-48, which belongs to the class BC serpentine receptors, has a protective role in Caenorhabditis elegans dendrite degeneration caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection. Our results indicate that SRBC-48 functions in a cell-autonomous manner in AWC neurons to protect against infection-associated dendrite degeneration. The absence of SRBC-48 results in a reduced lifespan caused by a pathogen infection early in life that induces dendrite degeneration. The decreased longevity in animals deficient in SRBC-48 is due to uncontrolled activation of immune genes, particularly those regulated by the FOXO family transcription factor DAF-16 that is part of the insulin/insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1 receptor homolog DAF-2. These results reveal how an infection early in life can not only induce dendrite degeneration but also reduce lifespan.

Genes associated with amyloid-beta-induced inflammasome-mediated neuronal death identified using functional gene trap mutagenesis approach

Alzheimer's disease is an irreversible neurodegenerative disease, which accounts for most dementia cases. Neuroinflammation is increasingly recognised for its roles in Alzheimer's disease pathogenesis which, in part, links amyloid-beta to neuronal death. Neuroinflammatory signalling can be exhibited by neurons themselves, potentially leading to widespread neuronal cell death, although neuroinflammation is commonly associated with glial cells. The presence of the inflammasomes such as nucleotide-binding leucine-rich repeat receptors protein 1 in neurons accelerates amyloid-beta -induced neuroinflammation and has been shown to trigger neuronal pyroptosis in murine Alzheimer's disease models. However, the pathways involved in amyloid-beta activation of inflammasomes have yet to be elucidated. In this study, a gene trap mutagenesis approach was utilised to resolve the genes functionally involved in inflammasome signalling within neurons, and the mechanism behind amyloid-beta-induced neuronal death. The results indicate that amyloid-beta significantly accelerated neuroinflammatory cell death in the presence of a primed inflammasome (the NLR family pyrin domain-containing 1). The mutagenesis screen discovered the atypical mitochondrial Ras homolog family member T1 as a significant contributor to amyloid-beta-induced inflammasome -mediated neuronal death. The mutagenesis screen also identified two genes involved in transforming growth factor beta signalling, namely Transforming Growth Factor Beta Receptor 1 and SNW domain containing 1. Additionally, a gene associated with cytoskeletal reorganisation, SLIT-ROBO Rho GTPase Activating Protein 3 was found to be neuroprotective. In conclusion, these genes could play important roles in inflammasome signalling in neurons, which makes them promising therapeutic targets for future drug development against neuroinflammation in Alzheimer's disease.

Microbial Pathogenesis and Pathophysiology of Alzheimer's Disease: A Systematic Assessment of Microorganisms' Implications in the Neurodegenerative Disease

Microbial infections have been linked to the pathogenesis and pathophysiology of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other neurodegenerative diseases. The present study aimed to synthesise and assess global evidence of microbial pathogenesis and pathophysiology in AD (MPP-AD) and associated neurodegenerative conditions using integrated science mapping and content analytics to explore the associated research landscape. Relevant MPP-AD documents were retrieved from Web of Science and Scopus according to PRISMA principles and analysed for productivity/trend linked to authors/countries, thematic conceptual framework, and international collaborative networks. A total of 258 documents published from 136 sources to 39.42 average citations/document were obtained on MPP-AD. The co-authors per document were 7.6, and the collaboration index was 5.71. The annual research outputs increased tremendously in the last 6 years from 2014 to 2019, accounting for 66% compared with records in the early years from 1982 to 1990 (16%). The USA (n = 71, freq. = 30.34%), United Kingdom (n = 32, freq. = 13.68%) and China (n = 27, 11.54%) ranked in first three positions in term of country's productivity. Four major international collaboration clusters were found in MPP-AD research. The country collaboration network in MPP-AD was characteristic of sparse interaction and acquaintanceship (density = 0.11, diameter = 4). Overall, international collaboration is globally inadequate [centralisation statistics: degree (40.5%), closeness (4%), betweenness (23%), and eigenvector (76.7%)] against the robust authors' collaboration index of 5.71 in MPP-AD research. Furthermore, four conceptual thematic frameworks (CTF) namely, CTF#1, roles of microbial/microbiome infection and dysbiosis in cognitive dysfunctions; CTF#2, bacterial infection specific roles in dementia; CTF#3, the use of yeast as a model system for studying MPP-AD and remediation therapy; and CFT#4, flow cytometry elucidation of amyloid-beta and aggregation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae model. Finally, aetiology-based mechanisms of MPP-AD, namely, gut microbiota, bacterial infection, and viral infection, were comprehensively discussed. This study provides an overview of MPP-AD and serves as a stepping stone for future preparedness in MPP-AD-related research.

Amyloid-β: A double agent in Alzheimer's disease?

Amyloid-β (Aβ) accumulation is one of the cardinal pathological hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease and plays an important role in its pathogenesis. Although the neurotoxic effects of Aβ has been extensively studied, recent studies have revealed that it may also have protective effects. Here, we review novel findings that have shifted our understanding of the role of Aβ in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease. An in-depth and comprehensive understanding of Aβ will provide us with a broader perspective on the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.

Involvement and relationship of bacterial lipopolysaccharides and cyclooxygenases levels in Alzheimer's Disease and Mild Cognitive Impairment patients

This study reports elevated levels of bacterial lipopolysaccharides (LPSs) and cyclooxygenases (COX-1/2) in blood serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of Alzheimer's Disease (AD) and Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) patients compared to cognitively healthy individuals, indicating LPSs as promising biomarkers, especially in serum. LPSs, in both fluids, positively correlate with COX-1/2, Αβ₄₂ and tau and negatively with mental state. Furthermore, COX-2 is the main determinant of LPSs presence in serum, whereas COX-1 in CSF. These results underline the significance of microbial/ inflammatory involvement in dementia and offer novel perspectives on the roles of LPSs and COX in pathogenesis of AD.

The role of microbial infection in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease and the opportunity for protection by anti-microbial peptides

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia. Its pathology is primarily characterized by extracellular deposits of amyloid β peptide and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles. Current rationales to explain the pathogenesis of AD include amyloid cascade, inflammation, infection defense and anti-microbial protection hypotheses. This review focuses on recent advances in the infection hypothesis, in particular on those pathogenic microbes that act systemically, via periodontal and gastro-intestinal infection routes. It is proposed that the evidence convincingly supports that pathogenic microbial infection is associated with, and is likely a causative trigger for, AD pathology. Microbes can drive AD pathology by two main pathways: either by directly infecting the brain and stimulating amyloid-mediated defence (causative trigger) or indirectly, by stimulating the pro-inflammatory effects of infection. In this context, it follows that anti-microbial/anti-infection therapies could be effective for regulating the pathology and symptoms of AD, depending on the stage of disease. As long-term administration of traditional antibiotic therapy is not recommended, alternative antibiotic agents such as anti-microbial peptides (AMPs), could be preferred for intervention and disease management of AD.

Targeting Impaired Antimicrobial Immunity in the Brain for the Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia and aging is the most common risk factor for developing the disease. The etiology of AD is not known but AD may be considered as a clinical syndrome with multiple causal pathways contributing to it. The amyloid cascade hypothesis, claiming that excess production or reduced clearance of amyloid-beta (Aβ) and its aggregation into amyloid plaques, was accepted for a long time as the main cause of AD. However, many studies showed that Aβ is a frequent consequence of many challenges/pathologic processes occurring in the brain for decades. A key factor, sustained by experimental data, is that low-grade infection leading to production and deposition of Aβ, which has antimicrobial activity, precedes the development of clinically apparent AD. This infection is chronic, low grade, largely clinically silent for decades because of a nearly efficient antimicrobial immune response in the brain. A chronic inflammatory state is induced that results in neurodegeneration. Interventions that appear to prevent, retard or mitigate the development of AD also appear to modify the disease. In this review, we conceptualize further that the changes in the brain antimicrobial immune response during aging and especially in AD sufferers serve as a foundation that could lead to improved treatment strategies for preventing or decreasing the progression of AD in a disease-modifying treatment.

Current Strategies and Novel Drug Approaches for Alzheimer Disease

Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is a chronic, devastating dysfunction of neurons in the brain leading to dementia. It mainly arises due to neuronal injury in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus area of the brain and is clinically manifested as a progressive mental failure, disordered cognitive functions, personality changes, reduced verbal fluency and impairment of speech. The pathology behind AD is the formation of intraneuronal fibrillary tangles, deposition of amyloid plaque and decline in choline acetyltransferase and loss of cholinergic neurons. Tragically, the disease cannot be cured, but its progression can be halted. Various cholinesterase inhibitors available in the market like Tacrine, Donepezil, Galantamine, Rivastigmine, etc. are being used to manage the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease. The paper's objective is to throw light not only on the cellular/genetic basis of the disease, but also on the current trends and various strategies of treatment including the use of phytopharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals. Enormous literature survey was conducted and published articles of PubMed, Scifinder, Google Scholar, Clinical Trials.org and Alzheimer Association reports were studied intensively to consolidate the information on the strategies available to combat Alzheimer's disease. Currently, several strategies are being investigated for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. Immunotherapies targeting amyloid-beta plaques, tau protein and neural pathways are undergoing clinical trials. Moreover, antisense oligonucleotide methodologies are being approached as therapies for its management. Phytopharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals are also gaining attention in overcoming the symptoms related to AD. The present review article concludes that novel and traditional therapies simultaneously promise future hope for AD treatment.

Adiponectin Role in Neurodegenerative Diseases: Focus on Nutrition Review

Adiponectin is an adipokine produced by adipose tissue. It has numerous beneficial effects. In particular, it improves metabolic effects and glucose homeostasis, lipid profile, and is involved in the regulation of cytokine profile and immune cell production, having anti-inflammatory and immune-regulatory effects. Adiponectin’s role is already known in immune diseases and also in neurodegenerative diseases. Neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease, are a set of diseases of the central nervous system, characterized by a chronic and selective process of neuron cell death, which occurs mainly in relation to oxidative stress and neuroinflammation. Lifestyle is able to influence the development of these diseases. In particular, unhealthy nutrition on gut microbiota, influences its composition and predisposition to develop many diseases such as neurodegenerative diseases, given the importance of the “gut-brain” axis. There is a strong interplay between Adiponectin, gut microbiota, and brain-gut axis. For these reasons, a healthy diet composed of healthy nutrients such as probiotics, prebiotics, polyphenols, can prevent many metabolic and inflammatory diseases such as neurodegenerative diseases and obesity. The special Adiponectin role should be taken into account also, in order to be able to use this component as a therapeutic molecule.

Microglial response to experimental periodontitis in a murine model of Alzheimer's disease

Periodontal disease (PD) has been suggested to be a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD). We tested the impact of ligature-induced PD on 5xFAD mice and WT littermates. At baseline, 5xFAD mice presented significant alveolar bone loss compared to WT mice. After the induction of PD, both WT and 5xFAD mice experienced alveolar bone loss. PD increased the level of Iba1-immunostained microglia in WT mice. In 5xFAD mice, PD increased the level of insoluble Aβ42. The increased level in Iba1 immunostaining that parallels the accumulation of Aβ in 5xFAD mice was not affected by PD except for a decrease in the dentate gyrus. Analysis of double-label fluorescent images showed a decline in Iba1 in the proximity of Aβ plaques in 5xFAD mice with PD compared to those without PD suggesting a PD-induced decrease in plaque-associated microglia (PAM). PD reduced IL-6, MCP-1, GM-CSF, and IFN-γ in brains of WT mice and reduced IL-10 in 5xFAD mice. The data demonstrated that PD increases neuroinflammation in WT mice and disrupts the neuroinflammatory response in 5xFAD mice and suggest that microglia is central to the association between PD and AD.

Pharmacological Inhibition of Amyloidogenic APP Processing and Knock-Down of APP in Primary Human Macrophages Impairs the Secretion of Cytokines

It has been previously shown that the amyloid precursor protein (APP) support the innate immune defense as an immune receptor. Amyloid β (Aβ) peptides seem to have properties of an antimicrobial peptide and can act as opsonines. In APP-deficient mouse models, a reduced secretion of cytokines has been observed. Still, it is unclear whether this can be attributed to the lack of APP or to the missing secretion of Aβ peptides. We inhibited the secretion of Aβ peptides in primary human monocyte derived macrophages with the γ-secretase inhibitor N-[N-(3,5-Difluorophenacetyl)-L-alanyl]-S-phenylglycine-t-butyl-ester (DAPT) or the β-secretase inhibitor GL-189. Alternatively, we knocked down APP by transfection with siRNA. We measured tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα), interleukin 6 (IL-6) and interleukin (IL-10) by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and evaluated the phagocytotic activity by flow cytometry. We observed reduced concentrations of TNFα and IL-6 in the media of APP^k/d macrophages and after inhibition of the β-, or γ-secretase, especially after additional immunological activation with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Secretion of IL-10 was increased after pharmacological inhibition of APP processing when the macrophages were not immunologically activated but was decreased during LPS-induced inflammation in APP^k/d macrophages. No changes of the phagocytotic activity were observed. We conclude that macrophage APP and Aβ peptides support the initiation of an immune response and are involved in the regulation of TNFα, IL-6, and IL-10 secretion by human monocyte-derived macrophages.

Independent and Correlated Role of Apolipoprotein E ɛ4 Genotype and Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 in Alzheimer's Disease

The ɛ4 allele of the Apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene in individuals infected by Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) has been demonstrated to be a risk factor in Alzheimer's disease (AD). APOE-ɛ4 reduces the levels of neuronal cholesterol, interferes with the transportation of cholesterol, impairs repair of synapses, decreases the clearance of neurotoxic peptide amyloid-β (Aβ), and promotes the deposition of amyloid plaque, and eventually may cause development of AD. HSV-1 enters host cells and can infect the olfactory system, trigeminal ganglia, entorhinal cortex, and hippocampus, and may cause AD-like pathological changes. The lifecycle of HSV-1 goes through a long latent phase. HSV-1 induces neurotropic cytokine expression with pro-inflammatory action and inhibits antiviral cytokine production in AD. It should be noted that interferons display antiviral activity in HSV-1-infected AD patients. Reactivated HSV-1 is associated with infectious burden in cognitive decline and AD. Finally, HSV-1 DNA has been confirmed as present in human brains and is associated with APOEɛ4 in AD. HSV-1 and APOEɛ4 increase the risk of AD and relate to abnormal autophagy, higher concentrations of HSV-1 DNA in AD, and formation of Aβ plaques and neurofibrillary tangles.

Gingipain R1 and Lipopolysaccharide From Porphyromonas gingivalis Have Major Effects on Blood Clot Morphology and Mechanics

Background:Porphyromonas gingivalis and its inflammagens are associated with a number of systemic diseases, such as cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes (T2DM). The proteases, gingipains, have also recently been identified in the brains of Alzheimer's disease patients and in the blood of Parkinson's disease patients. Bacterial inflammagens, including lipopolysaccharides (LPSs) and various proteases in circulation, may drive systemic inflammation.

Methods: Here, we investigate the effects of the bacterial products LPS from Escherichia coli and Porphyromonas gingivalis, and also the P. gingivalis gingipain [recombinant P. gingivalis gingipain R1 (RgpA)], on clot architecture and clot formation in whole blood and plasma from healthy individuals, as well as in purified fibrinogen models. Structural analysis of clots was performed using confocal microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and AFM-Raman imaging. We use thromboelastography® (TEG®) and rheometry to compare the static and dynamic mechanical properties of clots.

Results: We found that these inflammagens may interact with fibrin(ogen) and this interaction causes anomalous blood clotting.

Conclusions: These techniques, in combination, provide insight into the effects of these bacterial products on cardiovascular health, and particularly clot structure and mechanics.

Amyloid beta peptide-degrading microbial enzymes and its implication in drug design

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a chronic and progressive neurological brain disorder. AD pathophysiology is mainly represented by formation of neuritic plaques and neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs). Neuritic plaques are made up of amyloid beta (Aβ) peptides, which play a central role in AD pathogenesis. In AD brain, Aβ peptide accumulates due to overproduction, insufficient clearance and defective proteolytic degradation. The degradation and cleavage mechanism of Aβ peptides by several human enzymes have been discussed previously. In the mean time, numerous experimental and bioinformatics reports indicated the significance of microbial enzymes having potential to degrade Aβ peptides. Thus, there is a need to shift the focus toward the substrate specificity and structure-function relationship of Aβ peptide-degrading microbial enzymes. Hence, in this review, we discussed in vitro and in silico studies of microbial enzymes viz. cysteine protease and zinc metallopeptidases having ability to degrade Aβ peptides. In silico study showed that cysteine protease can cleave Aβ peptide between Lys16-Cys17; similarly, several other enzymes also showed capability to degrade Aβ peptide at different sites. Thus, this review paves the way to explore the role of microbial enzymes in Aβ peptide degradation and to design new lead compounds for AD treatment.

[Alzheimer's disease, neuro-inflammation, and herpes viruses, a path that traces its way]

Infection of the brain with various types of pathogens, and the resulting inflammatory response, is becoming increasingly important in our understanding of the etiology of Alzheimer's disease (AD). The fact that several genes identified as risk factors are actually involved in the modulation of the immune response, as well as the very diversity of the infectious agents identified as possible actors in the evolution of this disease, argue in favor of the neuro-inflammatory hypothesis, as does the demonstration that the protein Aβ, one of the most important markers of AD, is an antimicrobial peptide. Among others, herpes viruses (mainly, but not only, HSV-1), which can establish latent infections in brain neurons, especially in the elder population, punctuated by episodes of reactivation following stress or immunosuppression, appear as very strong candidates to play an etiological role, if only as cofactors, of AD. Recent results show that, in human and rat neurons, infection with HSV-1 increases the formation of Aβ along the amyloidogenic pathway, as well as the phosphorylation of Tau proteins, another essential marker of AD. The growing evidence that chronic infections and defense mechanisms, including inflammatory processes, are at the heart of AD, warrants reviewing antiviral drugs such as acyclovir, and possibly vaccination, as potential avenues for AD control.

A 3D human brain-like tissue model of herpes-induced Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that causes cognitive decline, memory loss, and inability to perform everyday functions. Hallmark features of AD-including generation of amyloid plaques, neurofibrillary tangles, gliosis, and inflammation in the brain-are well defined; however, the cause of the disease remains elusive. Growing evidence implicates pathogens in AD development, with herpes simplex virus type I (HSV-1) gaining increasing attention as a potential causative agent. Here, we describe a multidisciplinary approach to produce physiologically relevant human tissues to study AD using human-induced neural stem cells (hiNSCs) and HSV-1 infection in a 3D bioengineered brain model. We report a herpes-induced tissue model of AD that mimics human disease with multicellular amyloid plaque-like formations, gliosis, neuroinflammation, and decreased functionality, completely in the absence of any exogenous mediators of AD. This model will allow for future studies to identify potential downstream drug targets for treating this devastating disease.

Latent Toxoplasmosis Effects on Rodents and Humans: How Much is Real and How Much is Media Hype?

Toxoplasma gondii is a ubiquitous, intracellular protozoan parasite with a broad range of intermediate hosts, including humans and rodents. In many hosts, T. gondii establishes a latent long-term infection by converting from its rapidly dividing or lytic form to its slowly replicating and encysting form. In humans and rodents, the major organ for encystment is the central nervous system (CNS), which has led many to investigate how this persistent CNS infection might influence rodent and human behavior and, more recently, neurodegenerative diseases.

Toxoplasma gondii is a ubiquitous, intracellular protozoan parasite with a broad range of intermediate hosts, including humans and rodents. In many hosts, T. gondii establishes a latent long-term infection by converting from its rapidly dividing or lytic form to its slowly replicating and encysting form. In humans and rodents, the major organ for encystment is the central nervous system (CNS), which has led many to investigate how this persistent CNS infection might influence rodent and human behavior and, more recently, neurodegenerative diseases. Given the interest in this topic, here we seek to take a global approach to the data for and against the effects of latent T. gondii on behavior and neurodegeneration and the proposed mechanisms that might underlie behavior modifications.

Gut Microbiota in Neurological Disorders

The incidence of neurological disorders such as multiple sclerosis (MS), Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD) is increasing throughout the world, but their pathogenesis remains unclear and successful treatment remains elusive. Bidirectional communications between the central nervous system and gut microbiota may play some role in the pathogenesis of the above disorders. Up to a thousand bacterial species reside in human intestine; they colonize the gut shortly after birth and remain for life. Numerous studies point to the role of microbiota composition in the development, course and treatment of MS, AD and PD.

Oral microbiota and Alzheimer's disease: Do all roads lead to Rome?

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative pathology affecting milions of people worldwide associated with deposition of senile plaques. While the genetic and environmental risk factors associated with the onset and consolidation of late onset AD are heterogeneous and sporadic, growing evidence also suggests a potential link between some infectious diseases caused by oral microbiota and AD. Oral microbiota dysbiosis is purported to contribute either directly to amyloid protein production, or indirectly to neuroinflammation, occurring as a consequence of bacterial invasion. Over the last decade, the development of Human Oral Microbiome database (HOMD) has deepened our understanding of oral microbes and their different roles during the human lifetime. Oral pathogens mostly cause caries, periodontal disease, and edentulism in aged population, and, in particular, alterations of the oral microbiota causing chronic periodontal disease have been associated with the risk of AD. Here we describe how different alterations of the oral microbiota may be linked to AD, highlighting the importance of a good oral hygiene for the prevention of oral microbiota dysbiosis.

Herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1) infection induces a potent but ineffective IFN-λ production in immune cells of AD and PD patients

Background

The sequential activation of immediate early (IE), early (E) and late (L) genes is required to allow productive herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) infection. Several evidences suggest that, together with inflammation, an immunological response incapable to counteract HSV-1 reactivation plays a role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s (AD) and Parkinson’s (PD) diseases. IFN-lambda (IFN-λ), a cytokine endowed with a robust antiviral activity, contains HSV-1 reactivation. HSV-1-induced IFN-λ, IL-10 and IL-1β as well as the expression of viral IE, E and L genes were analyzed in vitro in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of AD and PD patients as well as of healthy controls (HC).

Methods

PBMC of AD, PD and HC were in vitro infected with one multiplicity of infection (1 MOI) HSV-1. IE, E, and L viral genes transcription as well as IFN-λ, IL-10 and IL-1β production were analyzed.

Results

In HSV-1-infected cells of AD and PD patients compared to HC: (1) transcription of IE (ICP0, ICP27) genes was reduced whereas that of E (UL41, UL29) and L (UL48, LAT) genes was increased; (2) IFN-λ mRNA expression was increased. IL-1β was augmented and IL-10 was reduced in unstimulated cells of AD and PD compared to HC; HSV-1 infection significantly increased IL-10 production in HC alone.

Conclusions

Data herein show that a proinflammatory condition is present in AD and PD, in whom attempts to obstacle viral replication via an initial, possibly more potent IFN-λ-mediated control of IE viral genes is unsuccessful.

Degenerative protein modifications in the aging vasculature and central nervous system: A problem shared is not always halved

Aging influences the pathogenesis and progression of several major diseases affecting both the cardiovascular system (CVS) and central nervous system (CNS). Defining the common molecular features that underpin these disorders in these crucial body systems will likely lead to increased quality of life and improved 'health-span' in the global aging population. Degenerative protein modifications (DPMs) have been strongly implicated in the molecular pathogenesis of several age-related diseases affecting the CVS and CNS, including atherosclerosis, heart disease, dementia syndromes, and stroke. However, these isolated findings have yet to be integrated into a wider framework, which considers the possibility that, despite their distinct features, CVS and CNS disorders may in fact be closely related phenomena. In this work, we review the current literature describing molecular roles of the major age-associated DPMs thought to significantly impact on human health, including carbamylation, citrullination and deamidation. In particular, we focus on data indicating that specific DPMs are shared between multiple age-related diseases in both CVS and CNS settings. By contextualizing these data, we aim to assist future studies in defining the universal mechanisms that underpin both vascular and neurological manifestations of age-related protein degeneration.

The Nutritional Components of Beer and Its Relationship with Neurodegeneration and Alzheimer's Disease

The prevalence of degenerative diseases has risen in western countries. Growing evidence suggests that demenia and other cognition affectations are associated with ambient factors including specific nutrients, food ingredients or specific dietary patterns. Mediterranean diet adherence has been associated with various health benefits and decreased risk of many diseases, including neurodegenerative disorders. Beer, as part of this protective diet, contains compounds such as silicon and hops that could play a major role in preventing brain disorders. In this review, different topics regarding Mediterranean diet, beer and the consumption of their main compounds and their relation to neurological health have been addressed. Taking into account published results from our group and other studies, the hypothesis linking aluminum intoxication with dementia and/or Alzheimer’s disease and the potential role of regular beer has also been considered. Beer, in spite of its alcohol content, may have some health benefits; nonetheless, its consumption is not adequate for all subjects. Thus, this review analyzed some promising results of non-alcoholic beer on several mechanisms engaged in neurodegeneration such as inflammation, oxidation, and cholinesterase activity, and their contribution to the behavioral modifications induced by aluminum intoxication. The review ends by giving conclusions and suggesting future topics of research related to moderate beer consumption and/or the consumption of its major compounds as a potential instrument for protecting against neurodegenerative disease progression and the need to develop nutrigenetic and nutrigenomic studies in aged people and animal models.