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Ahanger IA, Dar TA. Small molecule modulators of Alpha-Synuclein Aggregation and Toxicity: Pioneering an Emerging Arsenal Against Parkinson's Disease. Ageing Res Rev 2024:102538. [PMID: 39389237 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2024.102538] [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: 06/21/2024] [Revised: 10/01/2024] [Accepted: 10/03/2024] [Indexed: 10/12/2024]
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is primarily characterized by loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta region of the brain and accumulation of aggregated forms of alpha-synuclein (α-Syn), an intrinsically disordered protein, in the form of Lewy Bodies and Lewy Neurites. Substantial evidences point to the aggregated/fibrillar forms of α-Syn as a central event in PD pathogenesis, underscoring the modulation of α-Syn aggregation as a promising strategy for PD treatment. Consequently, numerous anti-aggregation agents, spanning from small molecules to polymers, have been scrutinized for their potential to mitigate α-Syn aggregation and its associated toxicity. Among these, small molecule modulators like osmoprotectants, polyphenols, cellular metabolites, metals, and peptides have emerged as promising candidates with significant potential in PD management. This article offers a comprehensive overview of the effects of these small molecule modulators on the aggregation propensity and associated toxicity of α-Syn and its PD-associated mutants. It serves as a valuable resource for identifying and developing potent, non-invasive, non-toxic, and highly specific small molecule-based therapeutic arsenal for combating PD. Additionally, it raises pertinent questions aimed at guiding future research endeavours in the field of α-Syn aggregation remodelling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ishfaq Ahmad Ahanger
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, University of Kashmir, Srinagar 190006, Jammu and Kashmir, India.
| | - Tanveer Ali Dar
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, University of Kashmir, Srinagar 190006, Jammu and Kashmir, India.
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Milos T, Vuic B, Balic N, Farkas V, Nedic Erjavec G, Svob Strac D, Nikolac Perkovic M, Pivac N. Cerebrospinal fluid in the differential diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease: an update of the literature. Expert Rev Neurother 2024:1-17. [PMID: 39233323 DOI: 10.1080/14737175.2024.2400683] [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: 04/23/2024] [Accepted: 09/01/2024] [Indexed: 09/06/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The importance of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers in Alzheimer's disease (AD) diagnosis is rapidly increasing, and there is a growing interest in the use of CSF biomarkers in monitoring the response to therapy, especially in the light of newly available approaches to the therapy of neurodegenerative diseases. AREAS COVERED In this review we discuss the most relevant measures of neurodegeneration that are being used to distinguish patients with AD from healthy controls and individuals with mild cognitive impairment, in order to provide an overview of the latest information available in the scientific literature. We focus on markers related to amyloid processing, markers associated with neurofibrillary tangles, neuroinflammation, neuroaxonal injury and degeneration, synaptic loss and dysfunction, and markers of α-synuclein pathology. EXPERT OPINION In addition to neuropsychological evaluation, core CSF biomarkers (Aβ42, t-tau, and p-tau181) have been recommended for improvement of timely, accurate and differential diagnosis of AD, as well as to assess the risk and rate of disease progression. In addition to the core CSF biomarkers, various other markers related to synaptic dysfunction, neuroinflammation, and glial activation (neurogranin, SNAP-25, Nfl, YKL-40, TREM2) are now investigated and have yet to be validated for future potential clinical use in AD diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tina Milos
- Division of Molecular Medicine, Ruder Boskovic Institute, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Barbara Vuic
- Division of Molecular Medicine, Ruder Boskovic Institute, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Nikola Balic
- Division of Molecular Medicine, Ruder Boskovic Institute, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Vladimir Farkas
- Division of Molecular Medicine, Ruder Boskovic Institute, Zagreb, Croatia
| | | | | | | | - Nela Pivac
- Division of Molecular Medicine, Ruder Boskovic Institute, Zagreb, Croatia
- University of Applied Sciences Hrvatsko Zagorje Krapina, Krapina, Croatia
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Tosun D, Hausle Z, Iwaki H, Thropp P, Lamoureux J, Lee EB, MacLeod K, McEvoy S, Nalls M, Perrin RJ, Saykin AJ, Shaw LM, Singleton AB, Lebovitz R, Weiner MW, Blauwendraat C. A cross-sectional study of α-synuclein seed amplification assay in Alzheimer's disease neuroimaging initiative: Prevalence and associations with Alzheimer's disease biomarkers and cognitive function. Alzheimers Dement 2024; 20:5114-5131. [PMID: 38770829 PMCID: PMC11350010 DOI: 10.1002/alz.13858] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2024] [Revised: 03/22/2024] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology is defined by β-amyloid (Aβ) plaques and neurofibrillary tau, but Lewy bodies (LBs; 𝛼-synuclein aggregates) are a common co-pathology for which effective biomarkers are needed. METHODS A validated α-synuclein Seed Amplification Assay (SAA) was used on recent cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples from 1638 Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) participants, 78 with LB-pathology confirmation at autopsy. We compared SAA outcomes with neuropathology, Aβ and tau biomarkers, risk-factors, genetics, and cognitive trajectories. RESULTS SAA showed 79% sensitivity and 97% specificity for LB pathology, with superior performance in identifying neocortical (100%) compared to limbic (57%) and amygdala-predominant (60%) LB-pathology. SAA+ rate was 22%, increasing with disease stage and age. Higher Aβ burden but lower CSF p-tau181 associated with higher SAA+ rates, especially in dementia. SAA+ affected cognitive impairment in MCI and Early-AD who were already AD biomarker positive. DISCUSSION SAA is a sensitive, specific marker for LB-pathology. Its increase in prevalence with age and AD stages, and its association with AD biomarkers, highlights the clinical importance of α-synuclein co-pathology in understanding AD's nature and progression. HIGHLIGHTS SAA shows 79% sensitivity, 97% specificity for LB-pathology detection in AD. SAA positivity prevalence increases with disease stage and age. Higher Aβ burden, lower CSF p-tau181 linked with higher SAA+ rates in dementia. SAA+ impacts cognitive impairment in early disease stages. Study underpins need for wider LB-pathology screening in AD treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Duygu Tosun
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical ImagingUniversity of California San FranciscoSan FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
- Department of Veterans Affairs Medical CenterNorthern California Institute for Research and Education (NCIRE)San FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
| | - Zachary Hausle
- Department of Veterans Affairs Medical CenterNorthern California Institute for Research and Education (NCIRE)San FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
| | - Hirotaka Iwaki
- Center for Alzheimer's and Related DementiasNational Institute on Aging and National Institute of Neurological Disorders and StrokeNational Institutes of HealthBethesdaMarylandUSA
- DataTecnica LLCWashingtonDistrict of ColumbiaUSA
| | - Pamela Thropp
- Department of Veterans Affairs Medical CenterNorthern California Institute for Research and Education (NCIRE)San FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
| | | | - Edward B. Lee
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory MedicinePerelman School of Medicine University of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
| | | | | | - Michael Nalls
- Center for Alzheimer's and Related DementiasNational Institute on Aging and National Institute of Neurological Disorders and StrokeNational Institutes of HealthBethesdaMarylandUSA
- DataTecnica LLCWashingtonDistrict of ColumbiaUSA
- Laboratory of NeurogeneticsNational Institute on AgingNational Institutes of HealthBethesdaMarylandUSA
| | - Richard J. Perrin
- Department of Pathology & ImmunologyWashington University in St. LouisSt. LouisMissouriUSA
- Department of NeurologyWashington University in St. LouisSt. LouisMissouriUSA
| | - Andrew J. Saykin
- Center for NeuroimagingDepartment of Radiology and Imaging SciencesIndiana University School of MedicineIndianapolisIndianaUSA
- Indiana Alzheimer's Disease CenterIndiana University School of MedicineIndianapolisIndianaUSA
- Department of Medical and Molecular GeneticsIndiana University School of MedicineIndianapolisIndianaUSA
| | - Leslie M. Shaw
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory MedicinePerelman School of Medicine University of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Andrew B. Singleton
- Center for Alzheimer's and Related DementiasNational Institute on Aging and National Institute of Neurological Disorders and StrokeNational Institutes of HealthBethesdaMarylandUSA
- Laboratory of NeurogeneticsNational Institute on AgingNational Institutes of HealthBethesdaMarylandUSA
| | | | - Michael W. Weiner
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical ImagingUniversity of California San FranciscoSan FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
- Department of Veterans Affairs Medical CenterNorthern California Institute for Research and Education (NCIRE)San FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
| | - Cornelis Blauwendraat
- Center for Alzheimer's and Related DementiasNational Institute on Aging and National Institute of Neurological Disorders and StrokeNational Institutes of HealthBethesdaMarylandUSA
- Laboratory of NeurogeneticsNational Institute on AgingNational Institutes of HealthBethesdaMarylandUSA
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Abyadeh M, Gupta V, Paulo JA, Mahmoudabad AG, Shadfar S, Mirshahvaladi S, Gupta V, Nguyen CT, Finkelstein DI, You Y, Haynes PA, Salekdeh GH, Graham SL, Mirzaei M. Amyloid-beta and tau protein beyond Alzheimer's disease. Neural Regen Res 2024; 19:1262-1276. [PMID: 37905874 PMCID: PMC11467936 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.386406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2023] [Revised: 08/08/2023] [Accepted: 09/07/2023] [Indexed: 11/02/2023] Open
Abstract
ABSTRACT The aggregation of amyloid-beta peptide and tau protein dysregulation are implicated to play key roles in Alzheimer's disease pathogenesis and are considered the main pathological hallmarks of this devastating disease. Physiologically, these two proteins are produced and expressed within the normal human body. However, under pathological conditions, abnormal expression, post-translational modifications, conformational changes, and truncation can make these proteins prone to aggregation, triggering specific disease-related cascades. Recent studies have indicated associations between aberrant behavior of amyloid-beta and tau proteins and various neurological diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, as well as retinal neurodegenerative diseases like Glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration. Additionally, these proteins have been linked to cardiovascular disease, cancer, traumatic brain injury, and diabetes, which are all leading causes of morbidity and mortality. In this comprehensive review, we provide an overview of the connections between amyloid-beta and tau proteins and a spectrum of disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Vivek Gupta
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie Medical School, Macquarie University, Macquarie Park, North Ryde, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Joao A. Paulo
- Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Sina Shadfar
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie Medical School, Macquarie University, Macquarie Park, North Ryde, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Shahab Mirshahvaladi
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie Medical School, Macquarie University, Macquarie Park, North Ryde, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Veer Gupta
- School of Medicine, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia
| | - Christine T.O. Nguyen
- Department of Optometry and Vision Sciences, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine Dentistry and Health Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - David I. Finkelstein
- The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Yuyi You
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie Medical School, Macquarie University, Macquarie Park, North Ryde, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Paul A. Haynes
- School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University, Macquarie Park, NSW, Australia
| | - Ghasem H. Salekdeh
- School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University, Macquarie Park, NSW, Australia
| | - Stuart L. Graham
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie Medical School, Macquarie University, Macquarie Park, North Ryde, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Mehdi Mirzaei
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie Medical School, Macquarie University, Macquarie Park, North Ryde, Sydney, NSW, Australia
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Liu W, Li W, Liu Z, Li Y, Wang X, Guo M, Wang S, Wang S, Li Y, Jia J. Cerebrospinal fluid α-synuclein adds the risk of cognitive decline and is associated with tau pathology among non-demented older adults. Alzheimers Res Ther 2024; 16:103. [PMID: 38725083 PMCID: PMC11084056 DOI: 10.1186/s13195-024-01463-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2024] [Accepted: 04/19/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The role of α-synuclein in dementia has been recognized, yet its exact influence on cognitive decline in non-demented older adults is still not fully understood. METHODS A total of 331 non-demented individuals were included in the study from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI). Participants were divided into two distinct groups based on their α-synuclein levels: one with lower levels (α-synuclein-L) and another with higher levels (α-synuclein-H). Measurements included neuropsychiatric scales, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers, and blood transcriptomics. The linear mixed-effects model investigated the longitudinal changes in cognition. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and the Cox proportional hazards model were utilized to evaluate the effects of different levels of α-synuclein on dementia. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) was utilized to investigate the biological pathways related to cognitive impairment. Pearson correlation, multiple linear regression models, and mediation analysis were employed to investigate the relationship between α-synuclein and neurodegenerative biomarkers, and their potential mechanisms affecting cognition. RESULTS Higher CSF α-synuclein levels were associated with increased risk of cognitive decline and progression to dementia. Enrichment analysis highlighted the activation of tau-associated and immune response pathways in the α-synuclein-H group. Further correlation and regression analysis indicated that the CSF α-synuclein levels were positively correlated with CSF total tau (t-tau), phosphorylated tau (p-tau) 181, tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 (TNFR1) and intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1). Mediation analysis further elucidated that the detrimental effects of CSF α-synuclein on cognition were primarily mediated through CSF t-tau and p-tau. Additionally, it was observed that CSF α-synuclein influenced CSF t-tau and p-tau181 levels via inflammatory pathways involving CSF TNFR1 and ICAM-1. CONCLUSIONS These findings elucidate a significant connection between elevated levels of CSF α-synuclein and the progression of cognitive decline, highlighting the critical roles of activated inflammatory pathways and tau pathology in this association. They underscore the importance of monitoring CSF α-synuclein levels as a promising biomarker for identifying individuals at increased risk of cognitive deterioration and developing dementia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenying Liu
- Innovation Center for Neurological Disorders and Department of Neurology, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Diseases, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100053, China
| | - Wenwen Li
- Innovation Center for Neurological Disorders and Department of Neurology, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Diseases, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100053, China
| | - Zhaojun Liu
- Innovation Center for Neurological Disorders and Department of Neurology, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Diseases, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100053, China
| | - Yan Li
- The National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders & Beijing Key Laboratory of Mental Disorders, Beijing Anding Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- Advanced Innovation Center for Human Brain Protection, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Xuechu Wang
- The National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders & Beijing Key Laboratory of Mental Disorders, Beijing Anding Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- Advanced Innovation Center for Human Brain Protection, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Mengmeng Guo
- Innovation Center for Neurological Disorders and Department of Neurology, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Diseases, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100053, China
| | - Shiyuan Wang
- Innovation Center for Neurological Disorders and Department of Neurology, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Diseases, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100053, China
| | - Shuheng Wang
- Innovation Center for Neurological Disorders and Department of Neurology, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Diseases, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100053, China
| | - Yan Li
- Innovation Center for Neurological Disorders and Department of Neurology, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Diseases, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100053, China
| | - Jianping Jia
- Innovation Center for Neurological Disorders and Department of Neurology, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Diseases, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100053, China.
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Geriatric Cognitive Disorders, Beijing, 100053, China.
- Clinical Center for Neurodegenerative Disease and Memory Impairment, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100053, China.
- Center of Alzheimer's Disease, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Disorders, Beijing Institute of Brain Disorders, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100053, China.
- Key Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Ministry of Education, Beijing, 100053, China.
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Wang J, Dai L, Chen S, Zhang Z, Fang X, Zhang Z. Protein-protein interactions regulating α-synuclein pathology. Trends Neurosci 2024; 47:209-226. [PMID: 38355325 DOI: 10.1016/j.tins.2024.01.002] [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: 09/11/2023] [Revised: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 01/21/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024]
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc) and the formation of Lewy bodies (LBs). The main proteinaceous component of LBs is aggregated α-synuclein (α-syn). However, the mechanisms underlying α-syn aggregation are not yet fully understood. Converging lines of evidence indicate that, under certain pathological conditions, various proteins can interact with α-syn and regulate its aggregation. Understanding these protein-protein interactions is crucial for unraveling the molecular mechanisms contributing to PD pathogenesis. In this review we provide an overview of the current knowledge on protein-protein interactions that regulate α-syn aggregation. Additionally, we briefly summarize the methods used to investigate the influence of protein-protein interactions on α-syn aggregation and propagation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiannan Wang
- Department of Neurology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China
| | - Lijun Dai
- Department of Neurology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China
| | - Sichun Chen
- Department of Neurology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China
| | - Zhaohui Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China
| | - Xin Fang
- Department of Neurology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang 330000, China
| | - Zhentao Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China; TaiKang Center for Life and Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430000, China.
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Elbatrawy AA, Ademoye TA, Alnakhala H, Tripathi A, Zami A, Ostafe R, Dettmer U, Fortin JS. Discovery of small molecule benzothiazole and indole derivatives tackling tau 2N4R and α-synuclein fibrils. Bioorg Med Chem 2024; 100:117613. [PMID: 38330847 PMCID: PMC10921547 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2024.117613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2023] [Revised: 01/23/2024] [Accepted: 01/26/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024]
Abstract
Tau and α-synuclein aggregates are the main histopathological hallmarks present in Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), and other neurodegenerative disorders. Intraneuronal hyperphosphorylated tau accumulation is significantly connected to the degree of cognitive impairment in AD patients. In particular, the longest 2N4R tau isoform has a propensity to rapidly form oligomers and mature fibrils. On the other hand, misfolding of α-synuclein (α-syn) is the characteristic feature in PD and dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB). There is a strong crosstalk between the two prone-to-aggregation proteins as they coprecipitated in some brains of AD, PD, and DLB patients. Simultaneous targeting of both proteinaceous oligomers and aggregates is still challenging. Here, we rationally designed and synthesized benzothiazole- and indole-based compounds using the structural hybridization strategy between the benzothiazole N744 cyanine dye and the diphenyl pyrazole Anle138b that showed anti-aggregation activity towards 2N4R tau and α-syn, respectively. The anti-aggregation effect of the prepared compounds was monitored using the thioflavin-T (ThT) fluorescence assay, while transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was employed to detect fibrils upon the completion of a time-course study with the ThT assay. Moreover, the photo-induced crosslinking of unmodified protein (PICUP) assay was used to determine the formation of oligomers. Specifically, compounds 46 and 48 demonstrated the highest anti-aggregation activity by decreasing the ThT fluorescence to 4.0 and 14.8%, respectively, against α-syn. Although no noticeable effect on 2N4R tau oligomers, 46 showed promising anti-oligomer activity against α-syn. Both compounds induced a significantly high anti-aggregation effect against the two protein fibrils as visualized by TEM. Moreover, compound 48 remarkably inhibited α-syn inclusion and cell confluence using M17D cells. Collectively, compounds 46 and 48 could serve as a basic structure for further optimization to develop clinically active AD and PD disease-modifying agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed A Elbatrawy
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
| | - Taiwo A Ademoye
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
| | - Heba Alnakhala
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Arati Tripathi
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Ashique Zami
- Molecular Evolution, Protein Engineering, and Production facility in Discovery Park, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
| | - Raluca Ostafe
- Molecular Evolution, Protein Engineering, and Production facility in Discovery Park, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
| | - Ulf Dettmer
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Jessica S Fortin
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA.
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van der Gaag BL, Deshayes NAC, Breve JJP, Bol JGJM, Jonker AJ, Hoozemans JJM, Courade JP, van de Berg WDJ. Distinct tau and alpha-synuclein molecular signatures in Alzheimer's disease with and without Lewy bodies and Parkinson's disease with dementia. Acta Neuropathol 2024; 147:14. [PMID: 38198008 PMCID: PMC10781859 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-023-02657-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2023] [Revised: 11/10/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2024]
Abstract
Alpha-synuclein (aSyn) pathology is present in approximately 50% of Alzheimer's disease (AD) cases at autopsy and might impact the age-of-onset and disease progression in AD. Here, we aimed to determine whether tau and aSyn profiles differ between AD cases with Lewy bodies (AD-LB), pure AD and Parkinson's disease with dementia (PDD) cases using epitope-, post-translational modification- (PTM) and isoform-specific tau and aSyn antibody panels spanning from the N- to C-terminus. We included the middle temporal gyrus (MTG) and amygdala (AMY) of clinically diagnosed and pathologically confirmed cases and performed dot blotting, western blotting and immunohistochemistry combined with quantitative and morphological analyses. All investigated phospho-tau (pTau) species, except pT181, were upregulated in AD-LB and AD cases compared to PDD and control cases, but no significant differences were observed between AD-LB and AD subjects. In addition, tau antibodies targeting the proline-rich regions and C-terminus showed preferential binding to AD-LB and AD brain homogenates. Antibodies targeting C-terminal aSyn epitopes and pS129 aSyn showed stronger binding to AD-LB and PDD cases compared to AD and control cases. Two pTau species (pS198 and pS396) were specifically detected in the soluble protein fractions of AD-LB and AD subjects, indicative of early involvement of these PTMs in the multimerization process of tau. Other phospho-variants for both tau (pT212/S214, pT231 and pS422) and aSyn (pS129) were only detected in the insoluble protein fraction of AD-LB/AD and AD-LB/PDD cases, respectively. aSyn load was higher in the AMY of AD-LB cases compared to PDD cases, suggesting aggravated aSyn pathology under the presence of AD pathology, while tau load was similar between AD-LB and AD cases. Co-localization of pTau and aSyn could be observed within astrocytes of AD-LB cases within the MTG. These findings highlight a unique pathological signature for AD-LB cases compared to pure AD and PDD cases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bram L van der Gaag
- Section Clinical Neuroanatomy and Biobanking, Department of Anatomy and Neurosciences, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Neuroscience, Program Neurodegeneration, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Natasja A C Deshayes
- Section Clinical Neuroanatomy and Biobanking, Department of Anatomy and Neurosciences, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - John J P Breve
- Section Clinical Neuroanatomy and Biobanking, Department of Anatomy and Neurosciences, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - John G J M Bol
- Section Clinical Neuroanatomy and Biobanking, Department of Anatomy and Neurosciences, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Allert J Jonker
- Section Clinical Neuroanatomy and Biobanking, Department of Anatomy and Neurosciences, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Jeroen J M Hoozemans
- Amsterdam Neuroscience, Program Neurodegeneration, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Pathology, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | | | - Wilma D J van de Berg
- Section Clinical Neuroanatomy and Biobanking, Department of Anatomy and Neurosciences, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
- Amsterdam Neuroscience, Program Neurodegeneration, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
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9
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Schorova L, Bedard N, Khayachi A, Ho HH, Bolivar-Pedroso J, Huynh J, Piccirelli M, Wang Y, Plourde M, Luo W, Del Cid-Pellitero E, Shlaifer I, Castellanos-Montiel MJ, Yu Z, Valenzuela DVC, Lacalle-Aurioles M, Kriz A, Ye Y, Durcan TM, Wing SS. USP19 deubiquitinase inactivation regulates α-synuclein ubiquitination and inhibits accumulation of Lewy body-like aggregates in mice. NPJ Parkinsons Dis 2023; 9:157. [PMID: 38017009 PMCID: PMC10684503 DOI: 10.1038/s41531-023-00601-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2022] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 11/30/2023] Open
Abstract
The USP19 deubiquitinase is found in a locus associated with Parkinson's Disease (PD), interacts with chaperonins, and promotes secretion of α-synuclein (α-syn) through the misfolding-associated protein secretion (MAPS) pathway. Since these processes might modulate the processing of α-syn aggregates in PD, we inactivated USP19 (KO) in mice expressing the A53T mutation of α-syn and in whom α-syn preformed fibrils (PFF) had been injected in the striatum. Compared to WT, KO brains showed decreased accumulation of phospho-synuclein (pSyn) positive aggregates. This improvement was associated with less activation of microglia and improved performance in a tail-suspension test. Exposure of primary neurons from WT and KO mice to PFF in vitro also led to decreased accumulation of pSyn aggregates. KO did not affect uptake of PFF nor propagation of aggregates in the cultured neurons. We conclude that USP19 instead modulates intracellular dynamics of aggregates. At an early time following PFF injection when the number of pSyn-positive neurons were similar in WT and KO brains, the KO neurons contained less aggregates. KO brain aggregates stained more intensely with anti-ubiquitin antibodies. Immunoprecipitation of soluble proteins from WT and KO brains with antibodies to pSyn showed higher levels of ubiquitinated oligomeric species in the KO samples. We propose that the improved pathology in USP19 KO brains may arise from decreased formation or enhanced clearance of the more ubiquitinated aggregates and/or enhanced disassembly towards more soluble oligomeric species. USP19 inhibition may represent a novel therapeutic approach that targets the intracellular dynamics of α-syn complexes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lenka Schorova
- Department of Medicine, McGill University and Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Nathalie Bedard
- Department of Medicine, McGill University and Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Anouar Khayachi
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Hung-Hsiang Ho
- Integrated Program in Neuroscience, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Joao Bolivar-Pedroso
- Department of Medicine, McGill University and Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Julie Huynh
- Department of Biochemistry, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Mikaela Piccirelli
- Department of Medicine, McGill University and Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Yifei Wang
- Department of Medicine, McGill University and Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Marie Plourde
- Department of Medicine, McGill University and Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Wen Luo
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | | | - Irina Shlaifer
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - María José Castellanos-Montiel
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Integrated Program in Neuroscience, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Ziqi Yu
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | | | | | - Anita Kriz
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Yihong Ye
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Thomas M Durcan
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.
- Integrated Program in Neuroscience, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.
| | - Simon S Wing
- Department of Medicine, McGill University and Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada.
- Integrated Program in Neuroscience, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.
- Department of Biochemistry, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.
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10
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Ojeda A, Cofré V, Melo F, Caballero L, Fuentealba D, Cornejo A. α-Synuclein Drives Tau's Cytotoxic Aggregates Formation through Hydrophobic Interactions. Chempluschem 2023; 88:e202300257. [PMID: 37708459 DOI: 10.1002/cplu.202300257] [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: 05/30/2023] [Revised: 09/13/2023] [Accepted: 09/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/16/2023]
Abstract
Tau and α-synuclein are proteins involved in pathologies known as tauopathies and synucleinopathies, respectively. Moreover, evidence shows that there is a crosstalk between them as is seen in the brains of individuals with sporadic neurodegenerative disorders. Based on that, we present data showing that the hydrophobic α-peptide 71 VTGVTAVAQKTV82 induces the aggregation of the full-length tau fragment in the absence of heparin assessed by ThT. Moreover, AFM images reveal the presence of straight filaments and amorphous aggregates of full-length tau in the presence of the α-peptide. Additionally, ITC experiments showed the interaction of the α-peptide with tau full-length (441 amino acids),4R (amino acids from 244 to 369), and both hexapeptides 275 VQIINK280 and 306 VQIVYK311 through hydrophobic interactions. The Raman spectroscopy spectra showed conformational changes in the Amide region in the aggregates formed with full-length tau and α-syn peptide. Furthermore, the incubation of extracellular aggregates with N2a cells showed morphological differences in the cellular body and the nucleus suggesting cell death. Moreover,, the incubation of different types of aggregates in cell culture provokes the release of Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). Altogether, we found that α-synuclein peptide can drive the aggregation of full-length tau-provoking morphological and structural changes evoking cytotoxic effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Ojeda
- Escuela de Tecnología Médica, Universidad Andrés Bello, Echaurren 183, 8370071 Laboratorio Catem V., Santiago, Chile
| | - Valentina Cofré
- Escuela de Tecnología Médica, Universidad Andrés Bello, Echaurren 183, 8370071 Laboratorio Catem V., Santiago, Chile
| | - Francisco Melo
- Departamento de Física, Universidad de Santiago, Avenida Ecuador 3493, 9170124, Santiago, Chile
- Center for Soft Matter Research, SMAT-C Usach, Avenida Bernardo O'Higgins, 3363 Estación Central, Santiago, Chile
| | - Leonardo Caballero
- Departamento de Física, Universidad de Santiago, Avenida Ecuador 3493, 9170124, Santiago, Chile
- Center for Soft Matter Research, SMAT-C Usach, Avenida Bernardo O'Higgins, 3363 Estación Central, Santiago, Chile
| | - Denis Fuentealba
- Laboratorio de Química Supramolecular y Fotobiología, Departamento de Química Física, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile Macul, 7820436, Santiago, Chile
| | - Alberto Cornejo
- Escuela de Tecnología Médica, Universidad Andrés Bello, Echaurren 183, 8370071 Laboratorio Catem V., Santiago, Chile
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11
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He P, Gao Y, Shi L, Li Y, Jiang S, Tie Z, Qiu Y, Ma G, Zhang Y, Nie K, Wang L. Motor progression phenotypes in early-stage Parkinson's Disease: A clinical prediction model and the role of glymphatic system imaging biomarkers. Neurosci Lett 2023; 814:137435. [PMID: 37562710 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2023.137435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2023] [Revised: 08/06/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 08/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Substantial heterogeneity of motor symptoms in Parkinson's disease (PD) poses a challenge to disease prediction. OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to construct a nomogram model that can distinguish different longitudinal trajectories of motor symptom changes in early-stage PD patients. METHODS Data on 90 patients with 5-years of follow-up were collected from the Parkinson's Progression Marker Initiative (PPMI) cohort. We used a latent class mixed modeling (LCMM) to identify distinct progression patterns of motor symptoms, and backward stepwise logistic regression with baseline information was conducted to identify the potential predictors for motor trajectory and to develop a nomogram. The performance of the nomogram model was then evaluated using the optimism-corrected C-index for internal validation, the area under the curve (AUC) of the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve for discrimination, the calibration curve for predictive accuracy, and decision curve analysis (DCA) for its clinical value. RESULTS We identified two trajectories for motor progression patterns. The first, Class 1 (Motor deteriorated group), was characterized by sustained, continuously worsening motor symptoms, and the second, Class 2 (Motor stable group), had stable motor symptoms throughout the follow-up period. The best combination of 7 baseline variables was identified and assembled into the nomogram: Scopa-AUT [odds ratio (OR), 1.11; p = 0.091], Letter number sequencing (LNS) (OR, 0.76; p = 0.068), the asymmetry index of putamen (OR, 0.95; p = 0.034), mean caudate uptake (OR, 0.14; p = 0.086), CSF pTau/α-synuclein (OR, 0.00; p = 0.011), CSF tTau/Aβ (OR, 25434806; p = 0.025), and the index for diffusion tensor image analysis along the perivascular space (ALPS-index) (OR, 0.02; p = 0.030). The nomogram achieved good discrimination, with an original AUC of 0.901 (95% CI, 0.813-0.989), and the bias-corrected concordance index (C-index) with 1,000 bootstraps was 0.834. The calibration curve and DCA also suggested both the high accuracy and clinical usefulness of the nomogram, respectively. CONCLUSIONS This study proposes an effective nomogram to predict different motor progression patterns in early-stage PD. Furthermore, the imaging biomarker indicating glymphatic function could be an independent predictive factor for PD motor progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peikun He
- School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China; Department of Neurology, Guangdong Neuroscience Institute, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China; Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Treatment for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yuyuan Gao
- Department of Neurology, Guangdong Neuroscience Institute, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China; Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Treatment for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lin Shi
- Department of Imaging and Interventional Radiology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, NT, Hong Kong SAR, China; BrainNow Research Institute, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Yanyi Li
- Department of Neurology, Guangdong Neuroscience Institute, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shuolin Jiang
- Department of Neurology, Guangdong Neuroscience Institute, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zihui Tie
- Department of Neurology, Guangdong Neuroscience Institute, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yihui Qiu
- Department of Neurology, Guangdong Neuroscience Institute, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Guixian Ma
- Department of Neurology, Guangdong Neuroscience Institute, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China; Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Treatment for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yuhu Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Guangdong Neuroscience Institute, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China; Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Treatment for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Kun Nie
- Department of Neurology, Guangdong Neuroscience Institute, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China; Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Treatment for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
| | - Lijuan Wang
- School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China; Department of Neurology, Guangdong Neuroscience Institute, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China; Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Treatment for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
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12
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Zhang Y, Zhang J, Wang Y, Yao J. Global trends and prospects about synaptic plasticity in Alzheimer's disease: a bibliometric analysis. Front Aging Neurosci 2023; 15:1234719. [PMID: 37731952 PMCID: PMC10508060 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2023.1234719] [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: 06/09/2023] [Accepted: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 09/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Background and purpose In recent years, synaptic plasticity disorders have been identified as one of the key pathogenic factors and the early pathological characteristics of Alzheimer's disease (AD). In this study, we tried to use bibliometric analysis to gain a systematic understanding about synaptic plasticity in Alzheimer's disease. Methods We extracted relevant publications from the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) on August 29th, 2022. Then, we used CiteSpace, VOSviewer and other online bibliometric platforms to further analyze the obtained data. Results A total of 2,348 published articles and reviews about synaptic plasticity in AD from 2002 to 2022 were identified. During the past two decades, the overall trends of the numbers and citations of manuscripts were on the rise. The United States was the leading country with the largest number of publications which showed its crucial role in this field. The collaboration network analysis showed that the United States and China had the most frequent collaboration. In addition, Harvard University was the institution with the greatest number of publications and cited times. Among all authors, Selkoe DJ was the most influential author with the greatest cited times. The journal of Alzheimer's disease published the maximum number of documents in the field of synaptic plasticity in AD within 20 years. Furthermore, the results of keywords burst detection showed that the hot topics have shifted from the synaptic transmission, precursor protein and plaque formation to neuroinflammation, microglia and alpha synuclein. Conclusion This study analyzed 2,348 publications with 82,025 references covering the topic of synaptic plasticity in AD and presented the research trends. The results indicated that neuroinflammation, microglia and alpha synuclein were the current research hotspots, which implied the potential clinical applications to AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingying Zhang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Junyao Zhang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yinuo Wang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Junyan Yao
- Department of Anesthesiology, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Department of Anesthesiology, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
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13
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Samudra N, Lane-Donovan C, VandeVrede L, Boxer AL. Tau pathology in neurodegenerative disease: disease mechanisms and therapeutic avenues. J Clin Invest 2023; 133:e168553. [PMID: 37317972 PMCID: PMC10266783 DOI: 10.1172/jci168553] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Tauopathies are disorders associated with tau protein dysfunction and insoluble tau accumulation in the brain at autopsy. Multiple lines of evidence from human disease, as well as nonclinical translational models, suggest that tau has a central pathologic role in these disorders, historically thought to be primarily related to tau gain of toxic function. However, a number of tau-targeting therapies with various mechanisms of action have shown little promise in clinical trials in different tauopathies. We review what is known about tau biology, genetics, and therapeutic mechanisms that have been tested in clinical trials to date. We discuss possible reasons for failures of these therapies, such as use of imperfect nonclinical models that do not predict human effects for drug development; heterogeneity of human tau pathologies which may lead to variable responses to therapy; and ineffective therapeutic mechanisms, such as targeting of the wrong tau species or protein epitope. Innovative approaches to human clinical trials can help address some of the difficulties that have plagued our field's development of tau-targeting therapies thus far. Despite limited clinical success to date, as we continue to refine our understanding of tau's pathogenic mechanism(s) in different neurodegenerative diseases, we remain optimistic that tau-targeting therapies will eventually play a central role in the treatment of tauopathies.
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14
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Zhao N, Zhang Q, Yu F, Yao X, Liu H. The α-Synuclein Monomer May Have Different Misfolding Mechanisms in the Induction of α-Synuclein Fibrils with Different Polymorphs. Biomolecules 2023; 13:biom13040682. [PMID: 37189428 DOI: 10.3390/biom13040682] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2023] [Revised: 03/19/2023] [Accepted: 04/12/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023] Open
Abstract
The aggregation of alpha-synuclein (α-Syn) is closely related to the occurrence of some neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's disease. The misfolding of α-Syn monomer plays a key role in the formation of aggregates and extension of fibril. However, the misfolding mechanism of α-Syn remains elusive. Here, three different α-Syn fibrils (isolated from a diseased human brain, generated by in vitro cofactor-tau induction, and obtained by in vitro cofactor-free induction) were selected for the study. The misfolding mechanisms of α-Syn were uncovered by studying the dissociation of the boundary chains based on the conventional molecular dynamics (MD) and Steered MD simulations. The results showed that the dissociation paths of the boundary chains in the three systems were different. According to the reverse process of dissociation, we concluded that in the human brain system, the binding of the monomer and template starts from the C-terminal and gradually misfolds toward the N-terminal. In the cofactor-tau system, the monomer binding starts from residues 58-66 (contain β3), followed by the C-terminal coil (residues 67-79). Then, the N-terminal coil (residues 36-41) and residues 50-57 (contain β2) bind to the template, followed by residues 42-49 (contain β1). In the cofactor-free system, two misfolding paths were found. One is that the monomer binds to the N/C-terminal (β1/β6) and then binds to the remaining residues. The other one is that the monomer binds sequentially from the C- to N-terminal, similar to the human brain system. Furthermore, in the human brain and cofactor-tau systems, electrostatic interactions (especially from residues 58-66) are the main driving force during the misfolding process, whereas in the cofactor-free system, the contributions of electrostatic and van der Waals interactions are comparable. These results may provide a deeper understanding for the misfolding and aggregation mechanism of α-Syn.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nannan Zhao
- School of Pharmacy, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Qianqian Zhang
- Faculty of Applied Sciences, Macao Polytechnic University, Macao SAR, China
| | - Fansen Yu
- School of Pharmacy, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Xiaojun Yao
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Huanxiang Liu
- School of Pharmacy, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
- Faculty of Applied Sciences, Macao Polytechnic University, Macao SAR, China
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15
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The Relationships Among Metal Homeostasis, Mitochondria, and Locus Coeruleus in Psychiatric and Neurodegenerative Disorders: Potential Pathogenetic Mechanism and Therapeutic Implications. Cell Mol Neurobiol 2023; 43:963-989. [PMID: 35635600 DOI: 10.1007/s10571-022-01234-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2022] [Accepted: 05/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
While alterations in the locus coeruleus-noradrenergic system are present during early stages of neuropsychiatric disorders, it is unclear what causes these changes and how they contribute to other pathologies in these conditions. Data suggest that the onset of major depressive disorder and schizophrenia is associated with metal dyshomeostasis that causes glial cell mitochondrial dysfunction and hyperactivation in the locus coeruleus. The effect of the overactive locus coeruleus on the hippocampus, amygdala, thalamus, and prefrontal cortex can be responsible for some of the psychiatric symptoms. Although locus coeruleus overactivation may diminish over time, neuroinflammation-induced alterations are presumably ongoing due to continued metal dyshomeostasis and mitochondrial dysfunction. In early Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, metal dyshomeostasis and mitochondrial dysfunction likely induce locus coeruleus hyperactivation, pathological tau or α-synuclein formation, and neurodegeneration, while reduction of glymphatic and cerebrospinal fluid flow might be responsible for β-amyloid aggregation in the olfactory regions before the onset of dementia. It is possible that the overactive noradrenergic system stimulates the apoptosis signaling pathway and pathogenic protein formation, leading to further pathological changes which can occur in the presence or absence of locus coeruleus hypoactivation. Data are presented in this review indicating that although locus coeruleus hyperactivation is involved in pathological changes at prodromal and early stages of these neuropsychiatric disorders, metal dyshomeostasis and mitochondrial dysfunction are critical factors in maintaining ongoing neuropathology throughout the course of these conditions. The proposed mechanistic model includes multiple pharmacological sites that may be targeted for the treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders commonly.
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16
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I F. The unique neuropathological vulnerability of the human brain to aging. Ageing Res Rev 2023; 87:101916. [PMID: 36990284 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2023.101916] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2023] [Revised: 03/19/2023] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD)-related neurofibrillary tangles (NFT), argyrophilic grain disease (AGD), aging-related tau astrogliopathy (ARTAG), limbic predominant TDP-43 proteinopathy (LATE), and amygdala-predominant Lewy body disease (LBD) are proteinopathies that, together with hippocampal sclerosis, progressively appear in the elderly affecting from 50% to 99% of individuals aged 80 years, depending on the disease. These disorders usually converge on the same subject and associate with additive cognitive impairment. Abnormal Tau, TDP-43, and α-synuclein pathologies progress following a pattern consistent with an active cell-to-cell transmission and abnormal protein processing in the host cell. However, cell vulnerability and transmission pathways are specific for each disorder, albeit abnormal proteins may co-localize in particular neurons. All these alterations are unique or highly prevalent in humans. They all affect, at first, the archicortex and paleocortex to extend at later stages to the neocortex and other regions of the telencephalon. These observations show that the phylogenetically oldest areas of the human cerebral cortex and amygdala are not designed to cope with the lifespan of actual humans. New strategies aimed at reducing the functional overload of the human telencephalon, including optimization of dream repair mechanisms and implementation of artificial circuit devices to surrogate specific brain functions, appear promising.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ferrer I
- Department of Pathology and Experimental Therapeutics, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Emeritus Researcher of the Bellvitge Institute of Biomedical Research (IDIBELL), Barcelona, Spain; Biomedical Research Network of Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIBERNED), Barcelona, Spain; Institute of Neurosciences, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain.
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Guo Q, Kawahata I, Jia W, Wang H, Cheng A, Yabuki Y, Shioda N, Fukunaga K. α-Synuclein decoy peptide protects mice against α-synuclein-induced memory loss. CNS Neurosci Ther 2023; 29:1547-1560. [PMID: 36786129 PMCID: PMC10173724 DOI: 10.1111/cns.14120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2022] [Revised: 01/30/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 02/15/2023] Open
Abstract
AIMS We previously found that a decoy peptide derived from the C-terminal sequence of α-Synuclein (αSyn) prevents cytotoxic αSyn aggregation caused by fatty acid-binding protein 3 (FABP3) in vitro. In this study, we continued to utilize αSyn-derived peptides to further validate their effects on αSyn neurotoxicity and behavioral impairments in αSyn preformed fibrils (PFFs)-injected mouse model of Parkinson's disease (PD). METHODS Mice were injected with αSyn PFFs in the bilateral olfactory bulb (OB) and then were subjected to behavioral analysis at 2-week intervals post-injection. Peptides nasal administration was initiated one week after injection. Changes in phosphorylation of αSyn and neuronal damage in the OB were measured using immunostaining at week 4. The effect of peptides on the interaction between αSyn and FABP3 was examined using co-immunoprecipitation. RESULTS αSyn PFF-injected mice showed significant memory loss but no motor function impairment. Long-term nasal treatment with peptides effectively prevented memory impairment. In peptide-treated αSyn PFF-injected mice, the peptides entered the OB smoothly through the nasal cavity and were mainly concentrated in neurons in the mitral cell layer, significantly suppressing the excessive phosphorylation of αSyn and reducing the formation of αSyn-FABP3 oligomers, thereby preventing neuronal death. The addition of peptides also blocked the interaction of αSyn and FABP3 at the recombinant protein level, and its effect was strongest at molar concentrations comparable to those of αSyn and FABP3. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that the αSyn decoy peptide represents a novel therapeutic approach for reducing the accumulation of toxic αSyn-FABP3 oligomers in the brain, thereby preventing the progression of synucleinopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingyun Guo
- Key Laboratory of Brain Science Research & Transformation in Tropical Environment of Hainan Province, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, China.,Department of CNS Drug Innovation, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Ichiro Kawahata
- Department of CNS Drug Innovation, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Wenbin Jia
- Department of CNS Drug Innovation, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Haoyang Wang
- Department of CNS Drug Innovation, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - An Cheng
- Department of CNS Drug Innovation, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Yasushi Yabuki
- Department of Genomic Neurology, Institute of Molecular Embryology and Genetics, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Norifumi Shioda
- Department of Genomic Neurology, Institute of Molecular Embryology and Genetics, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Kohji Fukunaga
- Department of CNS Drug Innovation, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan.,BRI Pharma Incorporated, Sendai, Japan
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18
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Bagree G, Srivastava T, Mahasivam S, Sinha M, Bansal V, Ramanathan R, Priya S, Sharma SK. Differential interactions of α-synuclein conformers affect refolding and activity of proteins. J Biochem 2023; 173:107-114. [PMID: 36368019 DOI: 10.1093/jb/mvac095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2022] [Revised: 10/13/2022] [Accepted: 11/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The accumulation of protein aggregates as intracellular inclusions interferes with cellular protein homeostasis leading to protein aggregation diseases. Protein aggregation results in the formation of several protein conformers including oligomers and fibrils, where each conformer has its own structural characteristic and proteotoxic potential. The present study explores the effect of alpha-synuclein (α-syn) conformers on the activity and spontaneous refolding of firefly luciferase. Of the different conformers, α-syn monomers delayed the inactivation of luciferase under thermal stress conditions and enhanced the spontaneous refolding of luciferase. In contrast, the α-syn oligomers and fibrils adversely affected luciferase activity and refolding, where the oligomers inhibited spontaneous refolding, whereas a pronounced effect on the inactivation of native luciferase was observed in the case of fibrils. These results indicate that the oligomers and fibrils of α-syn interfere with the refolding of luciferase and promote its misfolding and aggregation. The study reveals the differential propensities of various conformers of a pathologically relevant protein in causing inactivation, structural modifications and misfolding of other proteins, consequently resulting in altered protein homeostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gayatri Bagree
- Food, Drug & Chemical Toxicology Group, CSIR-Indian Institute of Toxicology Research, Vishvigyan Bhawan, 31, Mahatma Gandhi Marg, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh 226001, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh 201002, India
- Ian Potter NanoBioSensing Facility, NanoBiotechnology Research Laboratory (NBRL), RMIT University School of Science, GPO Box 2476, Melbourne, VIC 3001, Australia
| | - Tulika Srivastava
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh 201002, India
- Systems Toxicology and Health Risk Assessment Group, CSIR-Indian Institute of Toxicology Research, Vishvigyan Bhawan, 31, Mahatma Gandhi Marg, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh 226001, India
| | - Sanje Mahasivam
- Ian Potter NanoBioSensing Facility, NanoBiotechnology Research Laboratory (NBRL), RMIT University School of Science, GPO Box 2476, Melbourne, VIC 3001, Australia
| | - Meetali Sinha
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh 201002, India
- Computational Toxicology Facility, CSIR-Indian Institute of Toxicology Research, Vishvigyan Bhawan, 31, Mahatma Gandhi Marg, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh 226001, India
| | - Vipul Bansal
- Ian Potter NanoBioSensing Facility, NanoBiotechnology Research Laboratory (NBRL), RMIT University School of Science, GPO Box 2476, Melbourne, VIC 3001, Australia
| | - Rajesh Ramanathan
- Ian Potter NanoBioSensing Facility, NanoBiotechnology Research Laboratory (NBRL), RMIT University School of Science, GPO Box 2476, Melbourne, VIC 3001, Australia
| | - Smriti Priya
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh 201002, India
- Systems Toxicology and Health Risk Assessment Group, CSIR-Indian Institute of Toxicology Research, Vishvigyan Bhawan, 31, Mahatma Gandhi Marg, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh 226001, India
| | - Sandeep K Sharma
- Food, Drug & Chemical Toxicology Group, CSIR-Indian Institute of Toxicology Research, Vishvigyan Bhawan, 31, Mahatma Gandhi Marg, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh 226001, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh 201002, India
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Ge WY, Deng X, Shi WP, Lin WJ, Chen LL, Liang H, Wang XT, Zhang TD, Zhao FZ, Guo WH, Yin DC. Amyloid Protein Cross-Seeding Provides a New Perspective on Multiple Diseases In Vivo. Biomacromolecules 2023; 24:1-18. [PMID: 36507729 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.2c01233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Amyloid protein cross-seeding is a peculiar phenomenon of cross-spreading among different diseases. Unlike traditional infectious ones, diseases caused by amyloid protein cross-seeding are spread by misfolded proteins instead of pathogens. As a consequence of the interactions among misfolded heterologous proteins or polypeptides, amyloid protein cross-seeding is considered to be the crucial cause of overlapping pathological transmission between various protein misfolding disorders (PMDs) in multiple tissues and cells. Here, we briefly review the phenomenon of cross-seeding among amyloid proteins. As an interesting example worth mentioning, the potential links between the novel coronavirus pneumonia (COVID-19) and some neurodegenerative diseases might be related to the amyloid protein cross-seeding, thus may cause an undesirable trend in the incidence of PMDs around the world. We then summarize the theoretical models as well as the experimental techniques for studying amyloid protein cross-seeding. Finally, we conclude with an outlook on the challenges and opportunities for basic research in this field. Cross-seeding of amyloid opens up a new perspective in our understanding of the process of amyloidogenesis, which is crucial for the development of new treatments for diseases. It is therefore valuable but still challenging to explore the cross-seeding system of amyloid protein as well as to reveal the structural basis and the intricate processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wan-Yi Ge
- Key Laboratory for Space Bioscience and Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710072, China
| | - Xudong Deng
- Key Laboratory for Space Bioscience and Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710072, China
| | - Wen-Pu Shi
- Key Laboratory for Space Bioscience and Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710072, China
| | - Wen-Juan Lin
- Key Laboratory for Space Bioscience and Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710072, China
| | - Liang-Liang Chen
- Key Laboratory for Space Bioscience and Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710072, China
| | - Huan Liang
- Key Laboratory for Space Bioscience and Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710072, China
| | - Xue-Ting Wang
- Key Laboratory for Space Bioscience and Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710072, China
| | - Tuo-Di Zhang
- Key Laboratory for Space Bioscience and Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710072, China.,Research Center of Clinical Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong 226001, China
| | - Feng-Zhu Zhao
- Key Laboratory for Space Bioscience and Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710072, China.,Non-commissioned Officer School, Army Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050081, China
| | - Wei-Hong Guo
- Key Laboratory for Space Bioscience and Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710072, China
| | - Da-Chuan Yin
- Key Laboratory for Space Bioscience and Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710072, China
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20
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Kim JR. Oligomerization by co-assembly of β-amyloid and α-synuclein. Front Mol Biosci 2023; 10:1153839. [PMID: 37021111 PMCID: PMC10067735 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2023.1153839] [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: 01/30/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2023] [Indexed: 04/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Aberrant self-assembly of an intrinsically disordered protein is a pathological hallmark of protein misfolding diseases, such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases (AD and PD, respectively). In AD, the 40-42 amino acid-long extracellular peptide, β-amyloid (Aβ), self-assembles into oligomers, which eventually aggregate into fibrils. A similar self-association of the 140 amino acid-long intracellular protein, α-synuclein (αS), is responsible for the onset of PD pathology. While Aβ and αS are primarily extracellular and intracellular polypeptides, respectively, there is evidence of their colocalization and pathological overlaps of AD and PD. This evidence has raised the likelihood of synergistic, toxic protein-protein interactions between Aβ and αS. This mini review summarizes the findings of studies on Aβ-αS interactions related to enhanced oligomerization via co-assembly, aiming to provide a better understanding of the complex biology behind AD and PD and common pathological mechanisms among the major neurodegenerative diseases.
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21
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Leitão AD, Spencer B, Sarsoza F, Ngolab J, Amalraj J, Masliah E, Wu C, Rissman RA. Hippocampal Reduction of α-Synuclein via RNA Interference Improves Neuropathology in Alzheimer's Disease Mice. J Alzheimers Dis 2023; 95:349-361. [PMID: 37522208 PMCID: PMC10578232 DOI: 10.3233/jad-230232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/23/2023] [Indexed: 08/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Alzheimer's disease (AD) cases are often characterized by the pathological accumulation of α-synuclein (α-syn) in addition to amyloid-β (Aβ) and tau hallmarks. The role of α-syn has been extensively studied in synucleinopathy disorders, but less so in AD. Recent studies have shown that α-syn may also play a role in AD and its downregulation may be protective against the toxic effects of Aβ accumulation. OBJECTIVE We hypothesized that selectively knocking down α-syn via RNA interference improves the neuropathological and biochemical findings in AD mice. METHODS Here we used amyloid precursor protein transgenic (APP-Tg) mice to model AD and explore pathologic and behavioral phenotypes with knockdown of α-syn using RNA interference. We selectively reduced α-syn levels by stereotaxic bilateral injection of either LV-shRNA α-syn or LV-shRNA-luc (control) into the hippocampus of AD mice. RESULTS We found that downregulation of α-syn results in significant reduction in the number of Aβ plaques. In addition, mice treated with LV-shRNA α-syn had amelioration of abnormal microglial activation (Iba1) and astrocytosis (GFAP) phenotypes in AD mice. CONCLUSION Our data suggests a novel link between Aβ and α-syn pathology as well as a new therapeutic angle for targeting AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- André D.G. Leitão
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Brian Spencer
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Floyd Sarsoza
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- VA San Diego Healthcare System, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Jennifer Ngolab
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Jessica Amalraj
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | | | - Chengbiao Wu
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Robert A. Rissman
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Department of Physiology and Neuroscience, Alzheimer’s Therapeutic Research Institute of the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, San Diego, CA, USA
- VA San Diego Healthcare System, La Jolla, CA, USA
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22
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Shim KH, Kang MJ, Youn YC, An SSA, Kim S. Alpha-synuclein: a pathological factor with Aβ and tau and biomarker in Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimers Res Ther 2022; 14:201. [PMID: 36587215 PMCID: PMC9805257 DOI: 10.1186/s13195-022-01150-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2022] [Accepted: 12/20/2022] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Alpha-synuclein (α-syn) is considered the main pathophysiological protein component of Lewy bodies in synucleinopathies. α-Syn is an intrinsically disordered protein (IDP), and several types of structural conformations have been reported, depending on environmental factors. Since IDPs may have distinctive functions depending on their structures, α-syn can play different roles and interact with several proteins, including amyloid-beta (Aβ) and tau, in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other neurodegenerative disorders. MAIN BODY In previous studies, α-syn aggregates in AD brains suggested a close relationship between AD and α-syn. In addition, α-syn directly interacts with Aβ and tau, promoting mutual aggregation and exacerbating the cognitive decline. The interaction of α-syn with Aβ and tau presented different consequences depending on the structural forms of the proteins. In AD, α-syn and tau levels in CSF were both elevated and revealed a high positive correlation. Especially, the CSF α-syn concentration was significantly elevated in the early stages of AD. Therefore, it could be a diagnostic marker of AD and help distinguish AD from other neurodegenerative disorders by incorporating other biomarkers. CONCLUSION The overall physiological and pathophysiological functions, structures, and genetics of α-syn in AD are reviewed and summarized. The numerous associations of α-syn with Aβ and tau suggested the significance of α-syn, as a partner of the pathophysiological roles in AD. Understanding the involvements of α-syn in the pathology of Aβ and tau could help address the unresolved issues of AD. In particular, the current status of the CSF α-syn in AD recommends it as an additional biomarker in the panel for AD diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyu Hwan Shim
- grid.256155.00000 0004 0647 2973Department of Bionano Technology, Gachon University, Seongnam-Si, Gyeonggi-Do Republic of Korea
| | - Min Ju Kang
- Department of Neurology, Veterans Health Service Medical Center, Veterans Medical Research Institute, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Young Chul Youn
- grid.411651.60000 0004 0647 4960Department of Neurology, Chung-Ang University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Seong Soo A. An
- grid.256155.00000 0004 0647 2973Department of Bionano Technology, Gachon University, Seongnam-Si, Gyeonggi-Do Republic of Korea
| | - SangYun Kim
- grid.412480.b0000 0004 0647 3378Department of Neurology, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital and Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seongnam-Si, Gyeonggi-Do Republic of Korea
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23
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Delic V, Karp JH, Guzman M, Arismendi GR, Stalnaker KJ, Burton JA, Murray KE, Stamos JP, Beck KD, Sokratian A, West AB, Citron BA. Repetitive mild TBI causes pTau aggregation in nigra without altering preexisting fibril induced Parkinson's-like pathology burden. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2022; 10:170. [PMID: 36435806 PMCID: PMC9701434 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-022-01475-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2022] [Accepted: 11/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Population studies have shown that traumatic brain injury (TBI) is associated with an increased risk for Parkinson's disease (PD) and among U.S. Veterans with a history of TBI this risk is 56% higher. The most common type of TBI is mild (mTBI) and often occurs repeatedly among athletes, military personnel, and victims of domestic violence. PD is classically characterized by deficits in fine motor movement control resulting from progressive neurodegeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc) midbrain region. This neurodegeneration is preceded by the predictable spread of characteristic alpha synuclein (αSyn) protein inclusions. Whether repetitive mTBI (r-mTBI) can nucleate PD pathology or accelerate prodromal PD pathology remains unknown. To answer this question, an injury device was constructed to deliver a surgery-free r-mTBI to rats and human-like PD pathology was induced by intracranial injection of recombinant αSyn preformed fibrils. At the 3-month endpoint, the r-mTBI caused encephalomalacia throughout the brain reminiscent of neuroimaging findings in patients with a history of mTBI, accompanied by astrocyte expansion and microglial activation. The pathology associated most closely with PD, which includes dopaminergic neurodegeneration in the SNpc and Lewy body-like αSyn inclusion burden in the surviving neurons, was not produced de novo by r-mTBI nor was the fibril induced preexisting pathology accelerated. r-mTBI did however cause aggregation of phosphorylated Tau (pTau) protein in nigra of rats with and without preexisting PD-like pathology. pTau aggregation was also found to colocalize with PFF induced αSyn pathology without r-mTBI. These findings suggest that r-mTBI induced pTau aggregate deposition in dopaminergic neurons may create an environment conducive to αSyn pathology nucleation and may add to preexisting proteinaceous aggregate burden.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vedad Delic
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, VA New Jersey Health Care System, Research and Development (Mailstop 15), Bldg. 16, Rm. 16-130, 385 Tremont Ave, East Orange, NJ, 07018, USA.
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Neuroscience, Rutgers- New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, 07103, USA.
- Rutgers School of Graduate Studies, Newark, NJ, 07103, USA.
| | - Joshua H Karp
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, VA New Jersey Health Care System, Research and Development (Mailstop 15), Bldg. 16, Rm. 16-130, 385 Tremont Ave, East Orange, NJ, 07018, USA
- Rutgers School of Graduate Studies, Newark, NJ, 07103, USA
| | - Maynard Guzman
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, VA New Jersey Health Care System, Research and Development (Mailstop 15), Bldg. 16, Rm. 16-130, 385 Tremont Ave, East Orange, NJ, 07018, USA
- Rutgers School of Graduate Studies, Newark, NJ, 07103, USA
| | - Gabriel R Arismendi
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, VA New Jersey Health Care System, Research and Development (Mailstop 15), Bldg. 16, Rm. 16-130, 385 Tremont Ave, East Orange, NJ, 07018, USA
- Neurology Service, VA New Jersey Health Care System, 385 Tremont Ave, East Orange, NJ, 07018, USA
- Department of Neurology, Rutgers- New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, 07103, USA
| | - Katherine J Stalnaker
- Neuro Behavioral Research Laboratory, VA New Jersey Health Care System, Research and Development (Mailstop 15), Bldg. 16, Rm. 16-130, 385 Tremont Ave, East Orange, NJ, 07018, USA
- Rutgers School of Graduate Studies, Newark, NJ, 07103, USA
| | - Julia A Burton
- Neuro Behavioral Research Laboratory, VA New Jersey Health Care System, Research and Development (Mailstop 15), Bldg. 16, Rm. 16-130, 385 Tremont Ave, East Orange, NJ, 07018, USA
| | - Kathleen E Murray
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, VA New Jersey Health Care System, Research and Development (Mailstop 15), Bldg. 16, Rm. 16-130, 385 Tremont Ave, East Orange, NJ, 07018, USA
- Rutgers School of Graduate Studies, Newark, NJ, 07103, USA
| | - Joshua P Stamos
- Neuro Behavioral Research Laboratory, VA New Jersey Health Care System, Research and Development (Mailstop 15), Bldg. 16, Rm. 16-130, 385 Tremont Ave, East Orange, NJ, 07018, USA
| | - Kevin D Beck
- Neuro Behavioral Research Laboratory, VA New Jersey Health Care System, Research and Development (Mailstop 15), Bldg. 16, Rm. 16-130, 385 Tremont Ave, East Orange, NJ, 07018, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Neuroscience, Rutgers- New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, 07103, USA
- Rutgers School of Graduate Studies, Newark, NJ, 07103, USA
| | - Arpine Sokratian
- Neurobiology Department, Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke Center for Neurodegeneration Research, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, 27710, USA
- Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, 27710, USA
| | - Andrew B West
- Neurobiology Department, Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke Center for Neurodegeneration Research, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, 27710, USA
- Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, 27710, USA
| | - Bruce A Citron
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, VA New Jersey Health Care System, Research and Development (Mailstop 15), Bldg. 16, Rm. 16-130, 385 Tremont Ave, East Orange, NJ, 07018, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Neuroscience, Rutgers- New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, 07103, USA
- Rutgers School of Graduate Studies, Newark, NJ, 07103, USA
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24
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The central role of tau in Alzheimer’s disease: From neurofibrillary tangle maturation to the induction of cell death. Brain Res Bull 2022; 190:204-217. [DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2022.10.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2022] [Revised: 09/29/2022] [Accepted: 10/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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25
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Dhakal S, Robang AS, Bhatt N, Puangmalai N, Fung L, Kayed R, Paravastu AK, Rangachari V. Distinct neurotoxic TDP-43 fibril polymorphs are generated by heterotypic interactions with α-Synuclein. J Biol Chem 2022; 298:102498. [PMID: 36116552 PMCID: PMC9587012 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2022.102498] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2022] [Revised: 09/08/2022] [Accepted: 09/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyloid aggregates of specific proteins constitute important pathological hallmarks in many neurodegenerative diseases, defining neuronal degeneration and disease onset. Recently, increasing numbers of patients show comorbidities and overlaps between multiple neurodegenerative diseases, presenting distinct phenotypes. Such overlaps are often accompanied by colocalizations of more than one amyloid protein, prompting the question of whether direct interactions between different amyloid proteins could generate heterotypic amyloids. To answer this question, we investigated the effect of α-synuclein (αS) on the DNA-binding protein TDP-43 aggregation inspired by their coexistence in pathologies such as Lewy body dementia and limbic predominant age-related TDP-43 encephalopathy. We previously showed αS and prion-like C-terminal domain (PrLD) of TDP-43 synergistically interact to generate toxic heterotypic aggregates. Here, we extend these studies to investigate whether αS induces structurally and functionally distinct polymorphs of PrLD aggregates. Using αS-PrLD heterotypic aggregates generated in two different stoichiometric proportions, we show αS can affect PrLD fibril forms. PrLD fibrils show distinctive residue level signatures determined by solid state NMR, dye-binding capability, proteinase K (PK) stability, and thermal stability toward SDS denaturation. Furthremore, by gold nanoparticle labeling and transmission electron microscopy, we show the presence of both αS and PrLD proteins within the same fibrils, confirming the existence of heterotypic amyloid fibrils. We also observe αS and PrLD colocalize in the cytosol of neuroblastoma cells and show that the heterotypic PrLD fibrils selectively induce synaptic dysfunction in primary neurons. These findings establish the existence of heterotypic amyloid and provide a molecular basis for the observed overlap between synucleinopathies and TDP-43 proteinopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shailendra Dhakal
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, School of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, Mississippi, USA; Center for Molecular and Cellular Biosciences, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, Mississippi, USA
| | - Alicia S Robang
- School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Nemil Bhatt
- Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Disorders, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA
| | - Nicha Puangmalai
- Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Disorders, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA
| | - Leiana Fung
- Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Disorders, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA
| | - Rakez Kayed
- Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Disorders, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA
| | - Anant K Paravastu
- School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
| | - Vijayaraghavan Rangachari
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, School of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, Mississippi, USA; Center for Molecular and Cellular Biosciences, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, Mississippi, USA.
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26
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CSF α-Synuclein and Tau as Biomarkers for Dementia With Lewy Bodies: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Alzheimer Dis Assoc Disord 2022; 36:368-373. [PMID: 36183420 DOI: 10.1097/wad.0000000000000516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2021] [Accepted: 04/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study investigated whether α-synuclein and tau in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) can be used as biomarkers to diagnose dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB). MATERIALS AND METHODS We retrieved 3303 studies with "Dementia with Lewy bodies," "α-synuclein," and "tau" as keywords. We formulated screening criteria, and 2 researchers completed the screening, quality evaluation, and data extraction tasks. Finally, 35 studies related to tau, and 14 studies related to α-synuclein were included. Review Manager 5.4 and Stata16 were used for meta-analysis. Subgroup, sensitivity, and meta-regression analyses were performed to identify sources of heterogeneity and strengthen the results. RESULTS Compared with the control group, DLB patients showed significantly higher CSF levels of tau [weighted mean difference=81.36 (59.82, 102.91); Z =7.40; P <0.00001], and lower CSF levels of α-synuclein [weighted mean difference=-95.25 (-162.02, -28.48); Z =2.80; P =0.005]. Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score, male ratio, and disease duration were not sources of heterogeneity on subgroup and meta-regression analyses. Sensitivity analysis revealed no significant differences. CONCLUSIONS Higher levels of tau and lower levels of α-synuclein were found in the CSF of patients with DLB compared with the control group. Therefore, CSF tau and α-synuclein levels may be diagnostic biomarkers for DLB.
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27
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Dasari AKR, Dillard L, Yi S, Viverette E, Hojjatian A, Sengupta U, Kayed R, Taylor KA, Borgnia MJ, Lim KH. Untwisted α-Synuclein Filaments Formed in the Presence of Lipid Vesicles. Biochemistry 2022; 61:1766-1773. [PMID: 36001818 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.2c00283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Accumulation of filamentous aggregates of α-synuclein is a pathological hallmark of several neurodegenerative diseases, including Parkinson's disease (PD). The interaction between α-synuclein and phospholipids has been shown to play a critical role in the aggregation of α-synuclein. Most structural studies have, however, been focused on α-synuclein filaments formed in the absence of lipids. Here, we report the structural investigation of α-synuclein filaments assembled under the quiescent condition in the presence of anionic lipid vesicles using electron microscopy (EM), including cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM). Our transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analyses reveal that α-synuclein forms curly protofilaments at an early stage of aggregation. The flexible protofilaments were then converted to long filaments after a longer incubation of 30 days. More detailed structural analyses using cryo-EM reveal that the long filaments adopt untwisted structures with different diameters, which have not been observed in previous α-synuclein fibrils formed in vitro. The untwisted filaments are rather similar to straight filaments with no observable twist that are extracted from patients with dementia with Lewy bodies. Our structural studies highlight the conformational diversity of α-synuclein filaments, requiring additional structural investigation of not only more ex vivo α-synuclein filaments but also in vitro α-synuclein filaments formed in the presence of diverse cofactors to better understand the molecular basis of diverse molecular conformations of α-synuclein filaments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anvesh K R Dasari
- Department of Chemistry, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina 27858, United States
| | - Lucas Dillard
- Department of Health and Human Services, Genome Integrity and Structural Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709, United States
| | - Sujung Yi
- Department of Chemistry, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina 27858, United States
| | - Elizabeth Viverette
- Department of Health and Human Services, Genome Integrity and Structural Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709, United States
| | - Alimohammad Hojjatian
- Institute of Molecular Biophysics, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida 32306-4380, United States
| | - Urmi Sengupta
- Departments of Neurology, Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas 77555, United States
| | - Rakez Kayed
- Departments of Neurology, Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas 77555, United States
| | - Kenneth A Taylor
- Institute of Molecular Biophysics, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida 32306-4380, United States
| | - Mario Juan Borgnia
- Department of Health and Human Services, Genome Integrity and Structural Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709, United States
| | - Kwang Hun Lim
- Department of Chemistry, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina 27858, United States
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28
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Sahoo S, Padhy AA, Kumari V, Mishra P. Role of Ubiquitin-Proteasome and Autophagy-Lysosome Pathways in α-Synuclein Aggregate Clearance. Mol Neurobiol 2022; 59:5379-5407. [PMID: 35699874 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-022-02897-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2022] [Accepted: 05/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Synuclein aggregation in neuronal cells is the primary underlying cause of synucleinopathies. Changes in gene expression patterns, structural modifications, and altered interactions with other cellular proteins often trigger aggregation of α-synuclein, which accumulates as oligomers or fibrils in Lewy bodies. Although fibrillar forms of α-synuclein are primarily considered pathological, recent studies have revealed that even the intermediate states of aggregates are neurotoxic, complicating the development of therapeutic interventions. Autophagy and ubiquitin-proteasome pathways play a significant role in maintaining the soluble levels of α-synuclein inside cells; however, the heterogeneous nature of the aggregates presents a significant bottleneck to its degradation by these cellular pathways. With studies focused on identifying the proteins that modulate synuclein aggregation and clearance, detailed mechanistic insights are emerging about the individual and synergistic effects of these degradation pathways in regulating soluble α-synuclein levels. In this article, we discuss the impact of α-synuclein aggregation on autophagy-lysosome and ubiquitin-proteasome pathways and the therapeutic strategies that target various aspects of synuclein aggregation or degradation via these pathways. Additionally, we also highlight the natural and synthetic compounds that have shown promise in alleviating the cellular damage caused due to synuclein aggregation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Subhashree Sahoo
- Department of Animal Biology, School of Life Sciences, University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad, 500046, India
| | - Amrita Arpita Padhy
- Department of Animal Biology, School of Life Sciences, University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad, 500046, India
| | - Varsha Kumari
- Department of Animal Biology, School of Life Sciences, University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad, 500046, India
| | - Parul Mishra
- Department of Animal Biology, School of Life Sciences, University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad, 500046, India.
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29
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Thrush RJ, Vadukul DM, Aprile FA. A Facile Method to Produce N-Terminally Truncated α-Synuclein. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:881480. [PMID: 35692420 PMCID: PMC9184721 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.881480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2022] [Accepted: 04/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
α-Synuclein is a key protein of the nervous system, which regulates the release and recycling of neurotransmitters in the synapses. It is also involved in several neurodegenerative conditions, including Parkinson's disease and Multiple System Atrophy, where it forms toxic aggregates. The N-terminus of α-synuclein is of particular interest as it has been linked to both the physiological and pathological functions of the protein and undergoes post-translational modification. One such modification, N-terminal truncation, affects the aggregation propensity of the protein in vitro and is also found in aggregates from patients' brains. To date, our understanding of the role of this modification has been limited by the many challenges of introducing biologically relevant N-terminal truncations with no overhanging starting methionine. Here, we present a method to produce N-terminally truncated variants of α-synuclein that do not carry extra terminal residues. We show that our method can generate highly pure protein to facilitate the study of this modification and its role in physiology and disease. Thanks to this method, we have determined that the first six residues of α-synuclein play an important role in the formation of the amyloids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca J. Thrush
- Department of Chemistry, Molecular Sciences Research Hub, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom,Institute of Chemical Biology, Molecular Sciences Research Hub, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Devkee M. Vadukul
- Department of Chemistry, Molecular Sciences Research Hub, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Francesco A. Aprile
- Department of Chemistry, Molecular Sciences Research Hub, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom,Institute of Chemical Biology, Molecular Sciences Research Hub, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom,*Correspondence: Francesco A. Aprile,
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30
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Pan L, Li C, Meng L, Tian Y, He M, Yuan X, Zhang G, Zhang Z, Xiong J, Chen G, Zhang Z. Tau accelerates α-synuclein aggregation and spreading in Parkinson's disease. Brain 2022; 145:3454-3471. [PMID: 35552614 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awac171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2021] [Revised: 04/15/2022] [Accepted: 04/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The aggregation and prion-like propagation of α-synuclein are involved in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease. However, the underlying mechanisms regulating the assembly and spreading of α-synuclein fibrils remain poorly understood. Tau co-deposits with α-synuclein in the brains of Parkinson's disease patients, suggesting a pathological interplay between them. Here we show that tau interacts with α-synuclein and accelerates its aggregation. Compared with pure α-synuclein fibrils, the tau-modified α-synuclein fibrils show enhanced seeding activity, inducing mitochondrial dysfunction, synaptic impairment, and neurotoxicity in vitro. Injection of the tau-modified α-synuclein fibrils into the striatum of mice induces more severe α-synuclein pathology, motor dysfunction, and cognitive impairment when compared with the mice injected with pure α-synuclein fibrils. Knockout of tau attenuates the propagation of α-synuclein pathology and Parkinson's disease-like symptoms both in mice injected with α-syn fibrils and α-syn A53 T transgenic mice. In conclusion, tau facilitates α-synuclein aggregation and propagation in Parkinson's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lina Pan
- Department of Neurology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China
| | - Chunrui Li
- Department of Neurology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China
| | - Lanxia Meng
- Department of Neurology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China
| | - Ye Tian
- Department of Neurology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China
| | - Mingyang He
- Hubei Provincial Institute for Food Supervision and Test, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Xin Yuan
- Department of Neurology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China
| | - Guoxin Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China
| | - Zhaohui Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China
| | - Jing Xiong
- Department of Neurology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China.,Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Guiqin Chen
- Department of Neurology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China
| | - Zhentao Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China
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31
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α-Synuclein at the Presynaptic Axon Terminal as a Double-Edged Sword. Biomolecules 2022; 12:biom12040507. [PMID: 35454096 PMCID: PMC9029495 DOI: 10.3390/biom12040507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2022] [Revised: 03/22/2022] [Accepted: 03/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
α-synuclein (α-syn) is a presynaptic, lipid-binding protein strongly associated with the neuropathology observed in Parkinson’s disease (PD), dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), and Alzheimer’s Disease (AD). In normal physiology, α-syn plays a pivotal role in facilitating endocytosis and exocytosis. Interestingly, mutations and modifications of precise α-syn domains interfere with α-syn oligomerization and nucleation that negatively affect presynaptic vesicular dynamics, protein expressions, and mitochondrial profiles. Furthermore, the integration of the α-syn oligomers into the presynaptic membrane results in pore formations, ion influx, and excitotoxicity. Targeted therapies against specific domains of α-syn, including the use of small organic molecules, monoclonal antibodies, and synthetic peptides, are being screened and developed. However, the prospect of an effective α-syn targeted therapy is still plagued by low permeability across the blood–brain barrier (BBB), and poor entry into the presynaptic axon terminals. The present review proposes a modification of current strategies, which includes the use of novel encapsulation technology, such as lipid nanoparticles, to bypass the BBB and deliver such agents into the brain.
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32
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Orr AA, Kuhlmann SK, Tamamis P. Computational design of a β-wrapin's N-terminal domain with canonical and non-canonical amino acid modifications mimicking curcumin's proposed inhibitory function. Biophys Chem 2022; 286:106805. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bpc.2022.106805] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2021] [Revised: 03/14/2022] [Accepted: 03/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
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Torres-Garcia L, P Domingues JM, Brandi E, Haikal C, Mudannayake JM, Brás IC, Gerhardt E, Li W, Svanbergsson A, Outeiro TF, Gouras GK, Li JY. Monitoring the interactions between alpha-synuclein and Tau in vitro and in vivo using bimolecular fluorescence complementation. Sci Rep 2022; 12:2987. [PMID: 35194057 PMCID: PMC8863885 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-06846-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2021] [Accepted: 01/31/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) and Alzheimer's disease (AD) are characterized by pathological accumulation and aggregation of different amyloidogenic proteins, α-synuclein (aSyn) in PD, and amyloid-β (Aβ) and Tau in AD. Strikingly, few PD and AD patients' brains exhibit pure pathology with most cases presenting mixed types of protein deposits in the brain. Bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC) is a technique based on the complementation of two halves of a fluorescent protein, which allows direct visualization of protein-protein interactions. In the present study, we assessed the ability of aSyn and Tau to interact with each other. For in vitro evaluation, HEK293 and human neuroblastoma cells were used, while in vivo studies were performed by AAV6 injection in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc) of mice and rats. We observed that the co-expression of aSyn and Tau led to the emergence of fluorescence, reflecting the interaction of the proteins in cell lines, as well as in mouse and rat SNpc. Thus, our data indicates that aSyn and Tau are able to interact with each other in a biologically relevant context, and that the BiFC assay is an effective tool for studying aSyn-Tau interactions in vitro and in different rodent models in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Torres-Garcia
- Experimental Dementia Research Unit, Department of Experimental Medical Science, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
- Neural Plasticity and Repair Unit, Department of Experimental Medical Science, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Joana M P Domingues
- Neural Plasticity and Repair Unit, Department of Experimental Medical Science, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, The Clifford Albbutt Building, Cambridge, UK
| | - Edoardo Brandi
- Neural Plasticity and Repair Unit, Department of Experimental Medical Science, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Caroline Haikal
- Neural Plasticity and Repair Unit, Department of Experimental Medical Science, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Janitha M Mudannayake
- Developmental and Regenerative Neurobiology, Department of Experimental Medical Science, and Lund Stem Cell Center, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Inês C Brás
- Department of Experimental Neurodegeneration, Center for Biostructural Imaging of Neurodegeneration, Center for Nanoscale Microscopy and Molecular Physiology of the Brain, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Ellen Gerhardt
- Department of Experimental Neurodegeneration, Center for Biostructural Imaging of Neurodegeneration, Center for Nanoscale Microscopy and Molecular Physiology of the Brain, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Wen Li
- Neural Plasticity and Repair Unit, Department of Experimental Medical Science, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
- Institute of Health Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Alexander Svanbergsson
- Neural Plasticity and Repair Unit, Department of Experimental Medical Science, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Tiago F Outeiro
- Department of Experimental Neurodegeneration, Center for Biostructural Imaging of Neurodegeneration, Center for Nanoscale Microscopy and Molecular Physiology of the Brain, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
- Max Planck Institute for Experimental Medicine, Göttingen, Germany
- Faculty of Medical Sciences, Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
- Scientific Employee With an Honorary Contract at German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Göttingen, Germany
| | - Gunnar K Gouras
- Experimental Dementia Research Unit, Department of Experimental Medical Science, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.
| | - Jia-Yi Li
- Neural Plasticity and Repair Unit, Department of Experimental Medical Science, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.
- Institute of Health Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, China.
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Simon C, Soga T, Okano HJ, Parhar I. α-Synuclein-mediated neurodegeneration in Dementia with Lewy bodies: the pathobiology of a paradox. Cell Biosci 2021; 11:196. [PMID: 34798911 PMCID: PMC8605528 DOI: 10.1186/s13578-021-00709-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2021] [Accepted: 11/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) is epitomized by the pathognomonic manifestation of α-synuclein-laden Lewy bodies within selectively vulnerable neurons in the brain. By virtue of prion-like inheritance, the α-synuclein protein inexorably undergoes extensive conformational metamorphoses and culminate in the form of fibrillar polymorphs, instigating calamitous damage to the brain's neuropsychological networks. This epiphenomenon is nebulous, however, by lingering uncertainty over the quasi "pathogenic" behavior of α-synuclein conformers in DLB pathobiology. Despite numerous attempts, a monolithic "α-synuclein" paradigm that is able to untangle the enigma enshrouding the clinicopathological spectrum of DLB has failed to emanate. In this article, we review conceptual frameworks of α-synuclein dependent cell-autonomous and non-autonomous mechanisms that are likely to facilitate the transneuronal spread of degeneration through the neuraxis. In particular, we describe how the progressive demise of susceptible neurons may evolve from cellular derangements perpetrated by α-synuclein misfolding and aggregation. Where pertinent, we show how these bona fide mechanisms may mutually accentuate α-synuclein-mediated neurodegeneration in the DLB brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher Simon
- Brain Research Institute, Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University Malaysia, Bandar Sunway, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Tomoko Soga
- Brain Research Institute, Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University Malaysia, Bandar Sunway, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Hirotaka James Okano
- Division of Regenerative Medicine, Research Center for Medical Sciences, The Jikei University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Ishwar Parhar
- Brain Research Institute, Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University Malaysia, Bandar Sunway, Selangor, Malaysia
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35
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Pan L, Meng L, He M, Zhang Z. Tau in the Pathophysiology of Parkinson's Disease. J Mol Neurosci 2021; 71:2179-2191. [PMID: 33459970 PMCID: PMC8585831 DOI: 10.1007/s12031-020-01776-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2020] [Accepted: 12/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The pathological hallmarks of Parkinson's disease (PD) are the progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra and the formation of Lewy bodies (LBs) in remaining neurons. LBs primarily consist of aggregated α-Synuclein (α-Syn). However, accumulating evidence suggests that Tau, which is associated with tauopathies such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), and argyrophilic grain disease, is also involved in the pathophysiology of PD. A genome-wide association study (GWAS) identified MAPT, the gene encoding the Tau protein, as a risk gene for PD. Autopsy of PD patients also revealed the colocalization of Tau and α-Syn in LBs. Experimental evidence has shown that Tau interacts with α-Syn and influences the pathology of α-Syn in PD. In this review, we discuss the structure and function of Tau and provide a summary of the current evidence supporting Tau's involvement as either an active or passive element in the pathophysiology of PD, which may provide novel targets for the early diagnosis and treatment of PD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lina Pan
- Department of Neurology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, China
| | - Lanxia Meng
- Department of Neurology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, China
| | - Mingyang He
- Department of Neurology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, China
| | - Zhentao Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, China.
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36
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Insights into Lewy body disease from rare neurometabolic disorders. J Neural Transm (Vienna) 2021; 128:1567-1575. [PMID: 34056672 PMCID: PMC8528771 DOI: 10.1007/s00702-021-02355-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2021] [Accepted: 05/13/2021] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Professor Kurt Jellinger is well known for his seminal work on the neuropathology of age-associated neurodegenerative disorders, particularly Lewy body diseases. However, it is less well known that he also contributed important insights into the neuropathological features of several paediatric neurometabolic diseases, including Alpers–Huttenlocher syndrome, a syndrome of mitochondrial disease caused by POLG mutations, and infantile neuroaxonal dystrophy, a phenotype resulting from PLA2G6 mutations. Despite these rare diseases occurring in early life, they share many important pathological overlaps with age-associated Lewy body disease, particularly dysregulation of α-synuclein. In this review, we describe several neurometabolic diseases linked to Lewy body disease mechanisms, and discuss the wider context to pathological overlaps between neurometabolic and Lewy body diseases. In particular, we will focus on how understanding disease mechanisms in neurometabolic disorders with dysregulated α-synuclein may generate insights into predisposing factors for α-synuclein aggregation in idiopathic Lewy body diseases.
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37
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Hojjatian A, Dasari AKR, Sengupta U, Taylor D, Daneshparvar N, Yeganeh FA, Dillard L, Michael B, Griffin RG, Borgnia MJ, Kayed R, Taylor KA, Lim KH. Tau induces formation of α-synuclein filaments with distinct molecular conformations. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2021; 554:145-150. [PMID: 33798940 PMCID: PMC8062303 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2021.03.091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2021] [Accepted: 03/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Recent structural investigation of amyloid filaments extracted from human patients demonstrated that the ex vivo filaments associated with different disease phenotypes adopt diverse molecular conformations, which are different from those of in vitro amyloid filaments. A very recent cryo-EM structural study also revealed that ex vivo α-synuclein filaments extracted from multiple system atrophy patients adopt distinct molecular structures from those of in vitro α-synuclein filaments, suggesting the presence of co-factors for α-synuclein aggregation in vivo. Here, we report structural characterizations of α-synuclein filaments formed in the presence of a potential co-factor, tau, using cryo-EM and solid-state NMR. Our cryo-EM structure of the tau-promoted α-synuclein filaments reveals some similarities to one of the previously reported polymorphs of in vitro α-synuclein filaments in the core region, while illustrating distinct conformations in the N- and C-terminal regions. The structural study highlights the conformational plasticity of α-synuclein filaments and the importance of the co-factors, requiring additional structural investigation of not only more ex vivo α-synuclein filaments, but also in vitro α-synuclein filaments formed in the presence of diverse co-factors. The comparative structural analyses will help better understand molecular basis of diverse structures of α-synuclein filaments and possible relevance of each structure to the disease phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alimohammad Hojjatian
- Institute of Molecular Biophysics, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, 32306-4380, USA
| | - Anvesh K R Dasari
- Department of Chemistry, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, 27858, USA
| | - Urmi Sengupta
- Departments of Neurology, Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, 77555, USA
| | - Dianne Taylor
- Institute of Molecular Biophysics, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, 32306-4380, USA
| | - Nadia Daneshparvar
- Institute of Molecular Biophysics, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, 32306-4380, USA
| | - Fatemeh Abbasi Yeganeh
- Institute of Molecular Biophysics, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, 32306-4380, USA
| | - Lucas Dillard
- Genome Integrity and Structural Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27709, USA
| | - Brian Michael
- Department of Chemistry and Francis Bitter Magnet Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Robert G Griffin
- Department of Chemistry and Francis Bitter Magnet Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Mario J Borgnia
- Genome Integrity and Structural Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27709, USA
| | - Rakez Kayed
- Departments of Neurology, Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, 77555, USA
| | - Kenneth A Taylor
- Institute of Molecular Biophysics, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, 32306-4380, USA
| | - Kwang Hun Lim
- Department of Chemistry, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, 27858, USA.
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Stoyka LE, Mahoney CL, Thrasher DR, Russell DL, Cook AK, Harris AT, Narayanan A, Janado TP, Standaert DG, Roberson ED, Volpicelli-Daley LA. Templated α-Synuclein Inclusion Formation Is Independent of Endogenous Tau. eNeuro 2021; 8:ENEURO.0458-20.2021. [PMID: 33972291 PMCID: PMC8213444 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0458-20.2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2020] [Revised: 04/07/2021] [Accepted: 04/14/2021] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Synucleinopathies including Parkinson's disease (PD) and dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) are characterized by neuronal intracellular inclusions of α-synuclein. PD dementia (PDD) and DLB are collectively the second most common cause of neurodegenerative dementia. In addition to associated inclusions, Lewy body diseases (LBDs) have dopaminergic neurodegeneration, motor defects and cognitive changes. The microtubule-associated protein tau has been implicated in LBDs, but the exact role of the protein and how it influences formation of α-synuclein inclusions is unknown. Reducing endogenous tau levels is protective in multiple models of Alzheimer's disease (AD), tauopathies, and in some transgenic synucleinopathy mouse models. Recombinant α-synuclein and tau proteins interact in vitro Here, we show tau and α-synuclein colocalize at excitatory presynaptic terminals. However, tau heterozygous and tau knock-out mice do not show a reduction in fibril-induced α-synuclein inclusions formation in primary cortical neurons, or after intrastriatal injections of fibrils at 1.5 month or six months later. At six months following intrastriatal injections, wild-type, tau heterozygous and tau knock-out mice showed a 50% reduction in dopamine neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc) compared with mice injected with α-synuclein monomer, but there were no statistically significant differences across genotypes. These data suggest the role of tau in the pathogenesis of LBDs is distinct from AD, and Lewy pathology formation may be independent of endogenous tau.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lindsay E Stoyka
- Center for Neurodegeneration and Experimental Therapeutics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294
| | - Casey L Mahoney
- Center for Neurodegeneration and Experimental Therapeutics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294
| | - Drake R Thrasher
- Center for Neurodegeneration and Experimental Therapeutics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294
| | - Drèson L Russell
- Center for Neurodegeneration and Experimental Therapeutics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294
| | - Anna K Cook
- Center for Neurodegeneration and Experimental Therapeutics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Laura A Volpicelli-Daley
- Center for Neurodegeneration and Experimental Therapeutics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294
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Fukui N, Yamamoto H, Miyabe M, Aoyama Y, Hongo K, Mizobata T, Kawahata I, Yabuki Y, Shinoda Y, Fukunaga K, Kawata Y. An α-synuclein decoy peptide prevents cytotoxic α-synuclein aggregation caused by fatty acid binding protein 3. J Biol Chem 2021; 296:100663. [PMID: 33862084 PMCID: PMC8131325 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2021.100663] [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: 06/06/2020] [Revised: 04/07/2021] [Accepted: 04/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
α-synuclein (αSyn) is a protein known to form intracellular aggregates during the manifestation of Parkinson’s disease. Previously, it was shown that αSyn aggregation was strongly suppressed in the midbrain region of mice that did not possess the gene encoding the lipid transport protein fatty acid binding protein 3 (FABP3). An interaction between these two proteins was detected in vitro, suggesting that FABP3 may play a role in the aggregation and deposition of αSyn in neurons. To characterize the molecular mechanisms that underlie the interactions between FABP3 and αSyn that modulate the cellular accumulation of the latter, in this report, we used in vitro fluorescence assays combined with fluorescence microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and quartz crystal microbalance assays to characterize in detail the process and consequences of FABP3–αSyn interaction. We demonstrated that binding of FABP3 to αSyn results in changes in the aggregation mechanism of the latter; specifically, a suppression of fibrillar forms of αSyn and also the production of aggregates with an enhanced cytotoxicity toward mice neuro2A cells. Because this interaction involved the C-terminal sequence region of αSyn, we tested a peptide derived from this region of αSyn (αSynP130-140) as a decoy to prevent the FABP3–αSyn interaction. We observed that the peptide competitively inhibited binding of αSyn to FABP3 in vitro and in cultured cells. We propose that administration of αSynP130-140 might be used to prevent the accumulation of toxic FABP3-αSyn oligomers in cells, thereby preventing the progression of Parkinson’s disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naoya Fukui
- Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Faculty of Engineering/Graduate School of Engineering, Tottori University, Tottori, Japan
| | - Hanae Yamamoto
- Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Faculty of Engineering/Graduate School of Engineering, Tottori University, Tottori, Japan
| | - Moe Miyabe
- Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Faculty of Engineering/Graduate School of Engineering, Tottori University, Tottori, Japan
| | - Yuki Aoyama
- Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Faculty of Engineering/Graduate School of Engineering, Tottori University, Tottori, Japan
| | - Kunihiro Hongo
- Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Faculty of Engineering/Graduate School of Engineering, Tottori University, Tottori, Japan; Department of Biomedical Science, Institute of Regenerative Medicine and Biofunction, Graduate School of Medical Science, Tottori University, Tottori, Japan; Center for Research on Green Sustainable Chemistry, Tottori University, Tottori, Japan
| | - Tomohiro Mizobata
- Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Faculty of Engineering/Graduate School of Engineering, Tottori University, Tottori, Japan; Department of Biomedical Science, Institute of Regenerative Medicine and Biofunction, Graduate School of Medical Science, Tottori University, Tottori, Japan; Center for Research on Green Sustainable Chemistry, Tottori University, Tottori, Japan
| | - Ichiro Kawahata
- Department of Pharmacology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Yasushi Yabuki
- Department of Pharmacology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Yasuharu Shinoda
- Department of Pharmacology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Kohji Fukunaga
- Department of Pharmacology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Yasushi Kawata
- Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Faculty of Engineering/Graduate School of Engineering, Tottori University, Tottori, Japan; Department of Biomedical Science, Institute of Regenerative Medicine and Biofunction, Graduate School of Medical Science, Tottori University, Tottori, Japan; Center for Research on Green Sustainable Chemistry, Tottori University, Tottori, Japan.
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40
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Dhakal S, Wyant CE, George HE, Morgan SE, Rangachari V. Prion-like C-Terminal Domain of TDP-43 and α-Synuclein Interact Synergistically to Generate Neurotoxic Hybrid Fibrils. J Mol Biol 2021; 433:166953. [PMID: 33771571 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2021.166953] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2020] [Revised: 03/04/2021] [Accepted: 03/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Aberrant aggregation and amyloid formation of tar DNA binding protein (TDP-43) and α-synuclein (αS) underlie frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and Parkinson's disease (PD), respectively. Amyloid inclusions of TDP-43 and αS are also commonly co-observed in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) and Alzheimer disease (AD). Emerging evidence from cellular and animal models show colocalization of the TDP-43 and αS aggregates, raising the possibility of direct interactions and co-aggregation between the two proteins. In this report, we set out to answer this question by investigating the interactions between αS and prion-like pathogenic C-terminal domain of TDP-43 (TDP-43 PrLD). PrLD is an aggregation-prone fragment generated both by alternative splicing as well as aberrant proteolytic cleavage of full length TDP-43. Our results indicate that two proteins interact in a synergistic manner to augment each other's aggregation towards hybrid fibrils. While monomers, oligomers and sonicated fibrils of αS seed TDP-43 PrLD monomers, TDP-43 PrLD fibrils failed to seed αS monomers indicating selectivity in interactions. Furthermore, αS modulates liquid droplets formed by TDP-43 PrLD and RNA to promote insoluble amyloid aggregates. Importantly, the cross-seeded hybrid aggregates show greater cytotoxicity as compared to the individual homotypic aggregates suggesting that the interactions between the two proteins have a discernable impact on cellular functions. Together, these results bring forth insights into TDP-43 PrLD - αS interactions that could help explain clinical and pathological presentations in patients with co-morbidities involving the two proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shailendra Dhakal
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, School of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS 39406, USA
| | - Courtney E Wyant
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, School of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS 39406, USA
| | - Hannah E George
- School of Polymer Science and Engineering, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS 39406, USA
| | - Sarah E Morgan
- School of Polymer Science and Engineering, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS 39406, USA
| | - Vijayaraghavan Rangachari
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, School of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS 39406, USA; Center for Molecular and Cellular Biosciences, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS 39406, USA.
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Nguyen PH, Ramamoorthy A, Sahoo BR, Zheng J, Faller P, Straub JE, Dominguez L, Shea JE, Dokholyan NV, De Simone A, Ma B, Nussinov R, Najafi S, Ngo ST, Loquet A, Chiricotto M, Ganguly P, McCarty J, Li MS, Hall C, Wang Y, Miller Y, Melchionna S, Habenstein B, Timr S, Chen J, Hnath B, Strodel B, Kayed R, Lesné S, Wei G, Sterpone F, Doig AJ, Derreumaux P. Amyloid Oligomers: A Joint Experimental/Computational Perspective on Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's Disease, Type II Diabetes, and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Chem Rev 2021; 121:2545-2647. [PMID: 33543942 PMCID: PMC8836097 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.0c01122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 386] [Impact Index Per Article: 128.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Protein misfolding and aggregation is observed in many amyloidogenic diseases affecting either the central nervous system or a variety of peripheral tissues. Structural and dynamic characterization of all species along the pathways from monomers to fibrils is challenging by experimental and computational means because they involve intrinsically disordered proteins in most diseases. Yet understanding how amyloid species become toxic is the challenge in developing a treatment for these diseases. Here we review what computer, in vitro, in vivo, and pharmacological experiments tell us about the accumulation and deposition of the oligomers of the (Aβ, tau), α-synuclein, IAPP, and superoxide dismutase 1 proteins, which have been the mainstream concept underlying Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), type II diabetes (T2D), and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) research, respectively, for many years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Phuong H Nguyen
- CNRS, UPR9080, Université de Paris, Laboratory of Theoretical Biochemistry, IBPC, Fondation Edmond de Rothschild, PSL Research University, Paris 75005, France
| | - Ayyalusamy Ramamoorthy
- Biophysics and Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-1055, United States
| | - Bikash R Sahoo
- Biophysics and Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-1055, United States
| | - Jie Zheng
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, The University of Akron, Akron, Ohio 44325, United States
| | - Peter Faller
- Institut de Chimie, UMR 7177, CNRS-Université de Strasbourg, 4 rue Blaise Pascal, 67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - John E Straub
- Department of Chemistry, Boston University, 590 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
| | - Laura Dominguez
- Facultad de Química, Departamento de Fisicoquímica, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City 04510, Mexico
| | - Joan-Emma Shea
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, and Department of Physics, University of California, Santa Barbara, California 93106, United States
| | - Nikolay V Dokholyan
- Department of Pharmacology and Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Penn State University College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania 17033, United States
- Department of Chemistry, and Biomedical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, United States
| | - Alfonso De Simone
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, U.K
- Molecular Biology, University of Naples Federico II, Naples 80138, Italy
| | - Buyong Ma
- Basic Science Program, Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc., Cancer and Inflammation Program, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, Maryland 21702, United States
- School of Pharmacy, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ruth Nussinov
- Basic Science Program, Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc., Cancer and Inflammation Program, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, Maryland 21702, United States
- Sackler Institute of Molecular Medicine, Department of Human Genetics and Molecular Medicine Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Saeed Najafi
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, and Department of Physics, University of California, Santa Barbara, California 93106, United States
| | - Son Tung Ngo
- Laboratory of Theoretical and Computational Biophysics & Faculty of Applied Sciences, Ton Duc Thang University, 33000 Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
| | - Antoine Loquet
- Institute of Chemistry & Biology of Membranes & Nanoobjects, (UMR5248 CBMN), CNRS, Université Bordeaux, Institut Européen de Chimie et Biologie, 33600 Pessac, France
| | - Mara Chiricotto
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Analytical Science, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, U.K
| | - Pritam Ganguly
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, and Department of Physics, University of California, Santa Barbara, California 93106, United States
| | - James McCarty
- Chemistry Department, Western Washington University, Bellingham, Washington 98225, United States
| | - Mai Suan Li
- Institute for Computational Science and Technology, SBI Building, Quang Trung Software City, Tan Chanh Hiep Ward, District 12, Ho Chi Minh City 700000, Vietnam
- Institute of Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Al. Lotnikow 32/46, 02-668 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Carol Hall
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695-7905, United States
| | - Yiming Wang
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695-7905, United States
| | - Yifat Miller
- Department of Chemistry and The Ilse Katz Institute for Nanoscale Science & Technology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Be'er Sheva 84105, Israel
| | | | - Birgit Habenstein
- Institute of Chemistry & Biology of Membranes & Nanoobjects, (UMR5248 CBMN), CNRS, Université Bordeaux, Institut Européen de Chimie et Biologie, 33600 Pessac, France
| | - Stepan Timr
- CNRS, UPR9080, Université de Paris, Laboratory of Theoretical Biochemistry, IBPC, Fondation Edmond de Rothschild, PSL Research University, Paris 75005, France
| | - Jiaxing Chen
- Department of Pharmacology and Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Penn State University College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania 17033, United States
| | - Brianna Hnath
- Department of Pharmacology and Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Penn State University College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania 17033, United States
| | - Birgit Strodel
- Institute of Complex Systems: Structural Biochemistry (ICS-6), Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany
| | - Rakez Kayed
- Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, and Departments of Neurology, Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas 77555, United States
| | - Sylvain Lesné
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Guanghong Wei
- Department of Physics, State Key Laboratory of Surface Physics, and Key Laboratory for Computational Physical Science, Multiscale Research Institute of Complex Systems, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, China
| | - Fabio Sterpone
- CNRS, UPR9080, Université de Paris, Laboratory of Theoretical Biochemistry, IBPC, Fondation Edmond de Rothschild, PSL Research University, Paris 75005, France
| | - Andrew J Doig
- Division of Neuroscience and Experimental Psychology, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT, U.K
| | - Philippe Derreumaux
- CNRS, UPR9080, Université de Paris, Laboratory of Theoretical Biochemistry, IBPC, Fondation Edmond de Rothschild, PSL Research University, Paris 75005, France
- Laboratory of Theoretical Chemistry, Ton Duc Thang University, 33000 Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Ton Duc Thang University, 33000 Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
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Siegert A, Rankovic M, Favretto F, Ukmar-Godec T, Strohäker T, Becker S, Zweckstetter M. Interplay between tau and α-synuclein liquid-liquid phase separation. Protein Sci 2021; 30:1326-1336. [PMID: 33452693 PMCID: PMC8197422 DOI: 10.1002/pro.4025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2020] [Revised: 01/11/2021] [Accepted: 01/12/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
In Parkinson's disease with dementia, up to 50% of patients develop a high number of tau‐containing neurofibrillary tangles. Tau‐based pathologies may thus act synergistically with the α‐synuclein pathology to confer a worse prognosis. A better understanding of the relationship between the two distinct pathologies is therefore required. Liquid–liquid phase separation (LLPS) of proteins has recently been shown to be important for protein aggregation involved in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, whereas tau phase separation has been linked to Alzheimer's disease. We therefore investigated the interaction of α‐synuclein with tau and its consequences on tau LLPS. We find α‐synuclein to have a low propensity for both, self‐coacervation and RNA‐mediated LLPS at pH 7.4. However, full‐length but not carboxy‐terminally truncated α‐synuclein efficiently partitions into tau/RNA droplets. We further demonstrate that Cdk2‐phosphorylation promotes the concentration of tau into RNA‐induced droplets, but at the same time decreases the amount of α‐synuclein inside the droplets. NMR spectroscopy reveals that the interaction of the carboxy‐terminal domain of α‐synuclein with the proline‐rich region P2 of tau is required for the recruitment of α‐synuclein into tau droplets. The combined data suggest that the concentration of α‐synuclein into tau‐associated condensates can contribute to synergistic aSyn/tau pathologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Siegert
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Göttingen, Germany
| | - Marija Rankovic
- Department for NMR-based Structural Biology, Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Filippo Favretto
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Göttingen, Germany
| | - Tina Ukmar-Godec
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Göttingen, Germany
| | - Timo Strohäker
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Göttingen, Germany
| | - Stefan Becker
- Department for NMR-based Structural Biology, Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Markus Zweckstetter
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Göttingen, Germany.,Department for NMR-based Structural Biology, Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, Göttingen, Germany
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Dopamine D2 Long Receptors Are Critical for Caveolae-Mediated α-Synuclein Uptake in Cultured Dopaminergic Neurons. Biomedicines 2021; 9:biomedicines9010049. [PMID: 33429895 PMCID: PMC7826971 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines9010049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2020] [Revised: 01/03/2021] [Accepted: 01/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
α-synuclein accumulation into dopaminergic neurons is a pathological hallmark of Parkinson's disease. We previously demonstrated that fatty acid-binding protein 3 (FABP3) is critical for α-synuclein uptake and propagation to accumulate in dopaminergic neurons. FABP3 is abundant in dopaminergic neurons and interacts with dopamine D2 receptors, specifically the long type (D2L). Here, we investigated the importance of dopamine D2L receptors in the uptake of α-synuclein monomers and their fibrils. We employed mesencephalic neurons derived from dopamine D2L
-/-, dopamine D2 receptor null (D2 null), FABP3-/-, and wild type C57BL6 mice, and analyzed the uptake ability of fluorescence-conjugated α-synuclein monomers and fibrils. We found that D2L receptors are co-localized with FABP3. Immunocytochemistry revealed that TH+ D2L-/- or D2 null neurons do not take up α-synuclein monomers. The deletion of α-synuclein C-terminus completely abolished the uptake to dopamine neurons. Likewise, dynasore, a dynamin inhibitor, and caveolin-1 knockdown also abolished the uptake. D2L and FABP3 were also critical for α-synuclein fibrils uptake. D2L and accumulated α-synuclein fibrils were well co-localized. These data indicate that dopamine D2L with a caveola structure coupled with FABP3 is critical for α-synuclein uptake by dopaminergic neurons, suggesting a novel pathogenic mechanism of synucleinopathies, including Parkinson's disease.
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Boiarska Z, Passarella D. Microtubule-targeting agents and neurodegeneration. Drug Discov Today 2020; 26:604-615. [PMID: 33279455 DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2020.11.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2020] [Revised: 11/17/2020] [Accepted: 11/28/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The association of microtubule (MT) breakdown with neurodegeneration and neurotoxicity has provided an emerging therapeutic approach for neurodegenerative diseases. Tubulin binders are able to modulate MT dynamics and, as a result, are of particular interest both as potential therapeutics and experimental tools used to validate this strategy. Here, we provide a comprehensive overview of current knowledge and recent advancements regarding MT-targeting approaches for neurodegeneration and evaluate the potential application of MT-targeting agents (MTAs) based on available preclinical and clinical data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zlata Boiarska
- Dipartimento di Chimica, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Golgi 19, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Daniele Passarella
- Dipartimento di Chimica, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Golgi 19, 20133 Milano, Italy.
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45
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Ulamec SM, Brockwell DJ, Radford SE. Looking Beyond the Core: The Role of Flanking Regions in the Aggregation of Amyloidogenic Peptides and Proteins. Front Neurosci 2020; 14:611285. [PMID: 33335475 PMCID: PMC7736610 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2020.611285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2020] [Accepted: 11/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyloid proteins are involved in many neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease [Tau, Amyloid β (Aβ)], Parkinson’s disease [alpha-synuclein (αSyn)], and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (TDP-43). Driven by the early observation of the presence of ordered structure within amyloid fibrils and the potential to develop inhibitors of their formation, a major goal of the amyloid field has been to elucidate the structure of the amyloid fold at atomic resolution. This has now been achieved for a wide variety of sequences using solid-state NMR, microcrystallography, X-ray fiber diffraction and cryo-electron microscopy. These studies, together with in silico methods able to predict aggregation-prone regions (APRs) in protein sequences, have provided a wealth of information about the ordered fibril cores that comprise the amyloid fold. Structural and kinetic analyses have also shown that amyloidogenic proteins often contain less well-ordered sequences outside of the amyloid core (termed here as flanking regions) that modulate function, toxicity and/or aggregation rates. These flanking regions, which often form a dynamically disordered “fuzzy coat” around the fibril core, have been shown to play key parts in the physiological roles of functional amyloids, including the binding of RNA and in phase separation. They are also the mediators of chaperone binding and membrane binding/disruption in toxic amyloid assemblies. Here, we review the role of flanking regions in different proteins spanning both functional amyloid and amyloid in disease, in the context of their role in aggregation, toxicity and cellular (dys)function. Understanding the properties of these regions could provide new opportunities to target disease-related aggregation without disturbing critical biological functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabine M Ulamec
- Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | - David J Brockwell
- Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | - Sheena E Radford
- Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
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46
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Farmer KM, Ghag G, Puangmalai N, Montalbano M, Bhatt N, Kayed R. P53 aggregation, interactions with tau, and impaired DNA damage response in Alzheimer's disease. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2020; 8:132. [PMID: 32778161 PMCID: PMC7418370 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-020-01012-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2020] [Accepted: 08/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The transcription factor, p53, is critical for many important cellular functions involved in genome integrity, including cell cycle control, DNA damage response, and apoptosis. Disruption of p53 results in a wide range of disorders including cancer, metabolic diseases, and neurodegenerative diseases. Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by protein aggregates that contribute to disease pathology. Although p53 is known to aggregate, its propensity to aggregate in AD has never been assessed. Moreover, AD neuropathology includes lethal cell cycle re-entry, excessive DNA damage, and abnormal cell death which are all controlled by p53. Here, we show p53 forms oligomers and fibrils in human AD brain, but not control brain. p53 oligomers can also be detected in htau and P301L mouse models. Additionally, we demonstrate that p53 interacts with tau, specifically tau oligomers, in AD brain and can be recapitulated by in vitro exogenous tau oligomer treatment in C57BL/6 primary neurons. p53 oligomers also colocalize, potentially seeding, endogenous p53 in primary neurons. Lastly, we demonstrate that in the presence of DNA damage, phosphorylated p53 is mislocalized outside the nucleus and p53-mediated DNA damage responders are significantly decreased in AD brain. Control brain shows a healthy DNA damage response, indicating a loss of nuclear p53 function in AD may be due to p53 aggregation and/or interactions with tau oligomers. Given the critical role of p53 in cellular physiology, the disruption of this crucial transcription factor may set an irreversible course towards neurodegeneration in AD and potentially other tauopathies, warranting further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathleen M. Farmer
- Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Blvd, Medical Research Building, Room 10.138C, Galveston, TX 77555-1045 USA
- Departments of Neurology, Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX USA
| | - Gaurav Ghag
- Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Blvd, Medical Research Building, Room 10.138C, Galveston, TX 77555-1045 USA
- Departments of Neurology, Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX USA
- Protein Sciences, Merck & Co Incorporated, South San Francisco, CA USA
| | - Nicha Puangmalai
- Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Blvd, Medical Research Building, Room 10.138C, Galveston, TX 77555-1045 USA
- Departments of Neurology, Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX USA
| | - Mauro Montalbano
- Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Blvd, Medical Research Building, Room 10.138C, Galveston, TX 77555-1045 USA
- Departments of Neurology, Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX USA
| | - Nemil Bhatt
- Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Blvd, Medical Research Building, Room 10.138C, Galveston, TX 77555-1045 USA
- Departments of Neurology, Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX USA
| | - Rakez Kayed
- Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Blvd, Medical Research Building, Room 10.138C, Galveston, TX 77555-1045 USA
- Departments of Neurology, Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX USA
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Lu J, Zhang S, Ma X, Jia C, Liu Z, Huang C, Liu C, Li D. Structural basis of the interplay between α-synuclein and Tau in regulating pathological amyloid aggregation. J Biol Chem 2020; 295:7470-7480. [PMID: 32291284 PMCID: PMC7247300 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra119.012284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2019] [Revised: 04/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyloid aggregation of pathological proteins is closely associated with a variety of neurodegenerative diseases, and α-synuclein (α-syn) deposition and Tau tangles are considered hallmarks of Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease, respectively. Intriguingly, α-syn and Tau have been found to co-deposit in the brains of individuals with dementia and parkinsonism, suggesting a potential role of cross-talk between these two proteins in neurodegenerative pathologies. Here we show that monomeric α-syn and the two variants of Tau, Tau23 and K19, synergistically promote amyloid fibrillation, leading to their co-aggregation in vitro NMR spectroscopy experiments revealed that α-syn uses its highly negatively charged C terminus to directly interact with Tau23 and K19. Deletion of the C terminus effectively abolished its binding to Tau23 and K19 as well as its synergistic effect on promoting their fibrillation. Moreover, an S129D substitution of α-syn, mimicking C-terminal phosphorylation of Ser129 in α-syn, which is commonly observed in the brains of Parkinson's disease patients with elevated α-syn phosphorylation levels, significantly enhanced the activity of α-syn in facilitating Tau23 and K19 aggregation. These results reveal the molecular basis underlying the direct interaction between α-syn and Tau. We proposed that this interplay might contribute to pathological aggregation of α-syn and Tau in neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinxia Lu
- Key Laboratory for the Genetics of Developmental and Neuropsychiatric Disorders (Ministry of Education), Bio-X Institutes, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Shengnan Zhang
- Interdisciplinary Research Center on Biology and Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 26 Qiuyue Road, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Xiaojuan Ma
- Interdisciplinary Research Center on Biology and Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 26 Qiuyue Road, Shanghai 201210, China; University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, 19 A Yuquan Road, Shijingshan District, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Chunyu Jia
- Interdisciplinary Research Center on Biology and Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 26 Qiuyue Road, Shanghai 201210, China; University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, 19 A Yuquan Road, Shijingshan District, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Zhenying Liu
- Interdisciplinary Research Center on Biology and Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 26 Qiuyue Road, Shanghai 201210, China; University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, 19 A Yuquan Road, Shijingshan District, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Chengan Huang
- Key Laboratory for the Genetics of Developmental and Neuropsychiatric Disorders (Ministry of Education), Bio-X Institutes, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Cong Liu
- Interdisciplinary Research Center on Biology and Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 26 Qiuyue Road, Shanghai 201210, China.
| | - Dan Li
- Key Laboratory for the Genetics of Developmental and Neuropsychiatric Disorders (Ministry of Education), Bio-X Institutes, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
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Gavín R, Lidón L, Ferrer I, del Río JA. The Quest for Cellular Prion Protein Functions in the Aged and Neurodegenerating Brain. Cells 2020; 9:cells9030591. [PMID: 32131451 PMCID: PMC7140396 DOI: 10.3390/cells9030591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2020] [Revised: 02/21/2020] [Accepted: 02/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Cellular (also termed ‘natural’) prion protein has been extensively studied for many years for its pathogenic role in prionopathies after misfolding. However, neuroprotective properties of the protein have been demonstrated under various scenarios. In this line, the involvement of the cellular prion protein in neurodegenerative diseases other than prionopathies continues to be widely debated by the scientific community. In fact, studies on knock-out mice show a vast range of physiological functions for the protein that can be supported by its ability as a cell surface scaffold protein. In this review, we first summarize the most commonly described roles of cellular prion protein in neuroprotection, including antioxidant and antiapoptotic activities and modulation of glutamate receptors. Second, in light of recently described interaction between cellular prion protein and some amyloid misfolded proteins, we will also discuss the molecular mechanisms potentially involved in protection against neurodegeneration in pathologies such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and Huntington’s diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosalina Gavín
- Molecular and Cellular Neurobiotechnology, Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Science Park of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain; (L.L.); (J.A.d.R.)
- Department of Cell Biology, Physiology and Immunology, Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
- Center for Networked Biomedical Research on Neurodegenerative Diseases (Ciberned), 28031 Barcelona, Spain;
- Institute of Neuroscience, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +34-93-4031185
| | - Laia Lidón
- Molecular and Cellular Neurobiotechnology, Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Science Park of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain; (L.L.); (J.A.d.R.)
- Department of Cell Biology, Physiology and Immunology, Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
- Center for Networked Biomedical Research on Neurodegenerative Diseases (Ciberned), 28031 Barcelona, Spain;
- Institute of Neuroscience, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Isidre Ferrer
- Center for Networked Biomedical Research on Neurodegenerative Diseases (Ciberned), 28031 Barcelona, Spain;
- Institute of Neuroscience, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Pathology and Experimental Therapeutics, University of Barcelona, 08907 Barcelona, Spain
- Senior Consultant, Bellvitge University Hospital, Hospitalet de Llobregat, 08907 Barcelona, Spain
- Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), Hospitalet de Llobregat, 08908 Barcelona, Spain
| | - José Antonio del Río
- Molecular and Cellular Neurobiotechnology, Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Science Park of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain; (L.L.); (J.A.d.R.)
- Department of Cell Biology, Physiology and Immunology, Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
- Center for Networked Biomedical Research on Neurodegenerative Diseases (Ciberned), 28031 Barcelona, Spain;
- Institute of Neuroscience, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
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Oláh J, Lehotzky A, Szunyogh S, Szénási T, Orosz F, Ovádi J. Microtubule-Associated Proteins with Regulatory Functions by Day and Pathological Potency at Night. Cells 2020; 9:E357. [PMID: 32033023 PMCID: PMC7072251 DOI: 10.3390/cells9020357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2019] [Revised: 01/30/2020] [Accepted: 02/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The sensing, integrating, and coordinating features of the eukaryotic cells are achieved by the complex ultrastructural arrays and multifarious functions of the cytoskeleton, including the microtubule network. Microtubules play crucial roles achieved by their decoration with proteins/enzymes as well as by posttranslational modifications. This review focuses on the Tubulin Polymerization Promoting Protein (TPPP/p25), a new microtubule associated protein, on its "regulatory functions by day and pathological functions at night". Physiologically, the moonlighting TPPP/p25 modulates the dynamics and stability of the microtubule network by bundling microtubules and enhancing the tubulin acetylation due to the inhibition of tubulin deacetylases. The optimal endogenous TPPP/p25 level is crucial for its physiological functions, to the differentiation of oligodendrocytes, which are the major constituents of the myelin sheath. Pathologically, TPPP/p25 forms toxic oligomers/aggregates with α-synuclein in neurons and oligodendrocytes in Parkinson's disease and Multiple System Atrophy, respectively; and their complex is a potential therapeutic drug target. TPPP/p25-derived microtubule hyperacetylation counteracts uncontrolled cell division. All these issues reveal the anti-mitotic and α-synuclein aggregation-promoting potency of TPPP/p25, consistent with the finding that Parkinson's disease patients have reduced risk for certain cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Judit Ovádi
- Institute of Enzymology, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, 1117 Budapest, Hungary; (J.O.); (A.L.); (S.S.); (T.S.); (F.O.)
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Werner T, Horvath I, Wittung-Stafshede P. Crosstalk Between Alpha-Synuclein and Other Human and Non-Human Amyloidogenic Proteins: Consequences for Amyloid Formation in Parkinson's Disease. JOURNAL OF PARKINSON'S DISEASE 2020; 10:819-830. [PMID: 32538869 PMCID: PMC7458506 DOI: 10.3233/jpd-202085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/13/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
It was recently shown (Sampson et al., Elife9, 2020) that an amyloidogenic protein, CsgA, present in E. coli biofilms in the gut can trigger Parkinson's disease in mice. This study emphasizes the possible role of the gut microbiome in modulation (and even initiation) of human neurodegenerative disorders, such as Parkinson's disease. As the CsgA protein was found to accelerate alpha-synuclein (the key amyloidogenic protein in Parkinson's disease) amyloid formation in vitro, this result suggests that also other amyloidogenic proteins from gut bacteria, and even from the diet (such as stable allergenic proteins), may be able to affect human protein conformations and thereby modulate amyloid-related diseases. In this review, we summarize what has been reported in terms of in vitro cross-reactivity studies between alpha-synuclein and other amyloidogenic human and non-human proteins. It becomes clear from the limited data that exist that there is a fine line between acceleration and inhibition, but that cross-reactivity is widespread, and it is more common for other proteins (among the studied cases) to accelerate alpha-synuclein amyloid formation than to block it. It is of high importance to expand investigations of cross-reactivity between amyloidogenic proteins to both reveal underlying mechanisms and links between human diseases, as well as to develop new treatments that may be based on an altered gut microbiome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tony Werner
- Department of Biology and Biological Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Istvan Horvath
- Department of Biology and Biological Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, Sweden
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