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Chu D, Yang X, Wang J, Zhou Y, Gu JH, Miao J, Wu F, Liu F. Tau truncation in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease: a narrative review. Neural Regen Res 2024; 19:1221-1232. [PMID: 37905868 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.385853] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 07/25/2023] [Indexed: 11/02/2023] Open
Abstract
ABSTRACT Alzheimer's disease is characterized by two major neuropathological hallmarks-the extracellular β-amyloid plaques and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles consisting of aggregated and hyperphosphorylated Tau protein. Recent studies suggest that dysregulation of the microtubule-associated protein Tau, especially specific proteolysis, could be a driving force for Alzheimer's disease neurodegeneration. Tau physiologically promotes the assembly and stabilization of microtubules, whereas specific truncated fragments are sufficient to induce abnormal hyperphosphorylation and aggregate into toxic oligomers, resulting in them gaining prion-like characteristics. In addition, Tau truncations cause extensive impairments to neural and glial cell functions and animal cognition and behavior in a fragment-dependent manner. This review summarizes over 60 proteolytic cleavage sites and their corresponding truncated fragments, investigates the role of specific truncations in physiological and pathological states of Alzheimer's disease, and summarizes the latest applications of strategies targeting Tau fragments in the diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dandan Chu
- Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Tissue Engineering Technology Products, Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Xingyue Yang
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Jing Wang
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Yan Zhou
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Jin-Hua Gu
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Affiliated Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Jin Miao
- Laboratory of Animal Center, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Feng Wu
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Fei Liu
- Department of Neurochemistry, Inge Grundke-Iqbal Research Floor, New York State Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities, Staten Island, NY, USA
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2
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Phillips JS, Adluru N, Chung MK, Radhakrishnan H, Olm CA, Cook PA, Gee JC, Cousins KAQ, Arezoumandan S, Wolk DA, McMillan CT, Grossman M, Irwin DJ. Greater white matter degeneration and lower structural connectivity in non-amnestic vs. amnestic Alzheimer's disease. Front Neurosci 2024; 18:1353306. [PMID: 38567286 PMCID: PMC10986184 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2024.1353306] [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: 12/10/2023] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Multimodal evidence indicates Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by early white matter (WM) changes that precede overt cognitive impairment. WM changes have overwhelmingly been investigated in typical, amnestic mild cognitive impairment and AD; fewer studies have addressed WM change in atypical, non-amnestic syndromes. We hypothesized each non-amnestic AD syndrome would exhibit WM differences from amnestic and other non-amnestic syndromes. Materials and methods Participants included 45 cognitively normal (CN) individuals; 41 amnestic AD patients; and 67 patients with non-amnestic AD syndromes including logopenic-variant primary progressive aphasia (lvPPA, n = 32), posterior cortical atrophy (PCA, n = 17), behavioral variant AD (bvAD, n = 10), and corticobasal syndrome (CBS, n = 8). All had T1-weighted MRI and 30-direction diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI). We performed whole-brain deterministic tractography between 148 cortical and subcortical regions; connection strength was quantified by tractwise mean generalized fractional anisotropy. Regression models assessed effects of group and phenotype as well as associations with grey matter volume. Topological analyses assessed differences in persistent homology (numbers of graph components and cycles). Additionally, we tested associations of topological metrics with global cognition, disease duration, and DWI microstructural metrics. Results Both amnestic and non-amnestic patients exhibited lower WM connection strength than CN participants in corpus callosum, cingulum, and inferior and superior longitudinal fasciculi. Overall, non-amnestic patients had more WM disease than amnestic patients. LvPPA patients had left-lateralized WM degeneration; PCA patients had reductions in connections to bilateral posterior parietal, occipital, and temporal areas. Topological analysis showed the non-amnestic but not the amnestic group had more connected components than controls, indicating persistently lower connectivity. Longer disease duration and cognitive impairment were associated with more connected components and fewer cycles in individuals' brain graphs. Discussion We have previously reported syndromic differences in GM degeneration and tau accumulation between AD syndromes; here we find corresponding differences in WM tracts connecting syndrome-specific epicenters. Determining the reasons for selective WM degeneration in non-amnestic AD is a research priority that will require integration of knowledge from neuroimaging, biomarker, autopsy, and functional genetic studies. Furthermore, longitudinal studies to determine the chronology of WM vs. GM degeneration will be key to assessing evidence for WM-mediated tau spread.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey S. Phillips
- Penn Frontotemporal Degeneration Center, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- Department of Neurology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Nagesh Adluru
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
- Department of Radiology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Moo K. Chung
- Department of Biostatistics and Medical Informatics, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Hamsanandini Radhakrishnan
- Penn Frontotemporal Degeneration Center, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- Department of Neurology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Christopher A. Olm
- Penn Frontotemporal Degeneration Center, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- Department of Neurology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Philip A. Cook
- Penn Image Computing and Science Laboratory, Department of Radiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - James C. Gee
- Penn Image Computing and Science Laboratory, Department of Radiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Katheryn A. Q. Cousins
- Penn Frontotemporal Degeneration Center, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- Department of Neurology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Sanaz Arezoumandan
- Penn Frontotemporal Degeneration Center, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - David A. Wolk
- Department of Neurology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- Penn Memory Center, University of Pennsylvania Health System, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Corey T. McMillan
- Penn Frontotemporal Degeneration Center, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- Department of Neurology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Murray Grossman
- Penn Frontotemporal Degeneration Center, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- Department of Neurology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - David J. Irwin
- Penn Frontotemporal Degeneration Center, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- Department of Neurology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
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3
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Gao Y, Wang Y, Lei H, Xu Z, Li S, Yu H, Xie J, Zhang Z, Liu G, Zhang Y, Zheng J, Wang JZ. A novel transgenic mouse line with hippocampus-dominant and inducible expression of truncated human tau. Transl Neurodegener 2023; 12:51. [PMID: 37950283 PMCID: PMC10637005 DOI: 10.1186/s40035-023-00379-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2023] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Intraneuronal accumulation of hyperphosphorylated tau is a defining hallmark of Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, mouse models imitating AD-exclusive neuronal tau pathologies are lacking. METHODS We generated a new tet-on transgenic mouse model expressing truncated human tau N1-368 (termed hTau368), a tau fragment increased in the brains of AD patients and aged mouse brains. Doxycycline (dox) was administered in drinking water to induce hTau368 expression. Immunostaining and Western blotting were performed to measure the tau level. RNA sequencing was performed to evaluate gene expression, and several behavioral tests were conducted to evaluate mouse cognitive functions, emotion and locomotion. RESULTS Dox treatment for 1-2 months at a young age induced overt and reversible human tau accumulation in the brains of hTau368 transgenic mice, predominantly in the hippocampus. Meanwhile, the transgenic mice exhibited AD-like high level of tau phosphorylation, glial activation, loss of mature neurons, impaired hippocampal neurogenesis, synaptic degeneration and cognitive deficits. CONCLUSIONS This study developed a well-characterized and easy-to-use tool for the investigations and drug development for AD and other tauopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Gao
- Department of Pathophysiology, Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education for Neurological Disorders, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China.
| | - Yuying Wang
- Department of Pathophysiology, Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education for Neurological Disorders, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Huiyang Lei
- Department of Pathophysiology, Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education for Neurological Disorders, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Zhendong Xu
- Department of Pathophysiology, Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education for Neurological Disorders, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Shihong Li
- Department of Pathophysiology, Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education for Neurological Disorders, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Haitao Yu
- Department of Pathophysiology, Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education for Neurological Disorders, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Jiazhao Xie
- Department of Pathophysiology, Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education for Neurological Disorders, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Zhentao Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Gongping Liu
- Department of Pathophysiology, Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education for Neurological Disorders, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Yao Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education for Neurological Disorders, Department of Endocrine, Liyuan Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430077, China.
| | - Jie Zheng
- Neuroscience Research Institute and Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China.
- Key Laboratory for Neuroscience, Ministry of Education/National Health Commission, Peking University, Beijing, 100083, China.
| | - Jian-Zhi Wang
- Department of Pathophysiology, Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education for Neurological Disorders, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China.
- Co-Innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, 226000, China.
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Olesen MA, Quintanilla RA. Pathological Impact of Tau Proteolytical Process on Neuronal and Mitochondrial Function: a Crucial Role in Alzheimer's Disease. Mol Neurobiol 2023; 60:5691-5707. [PMID: 37332018 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-023-03434-4] [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: 01/24/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/20/2023]
Abstract
Tau protein plays a pivotal role in the central nervous system (CNS), participating in microtubule stability, axonal transport, and synaptic communication. Research interest has focused on studying the role of post-translational tau modifications in mitochondrial failure, oxidative damage, and synaptic impairment in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Soluble tau forms produced by its pathological cleaved induced by caspases could lead to neuronal injury contributing to oxidative damage and cognitive decline in AD. For example, the presence of tau cleaved by caspase-3 has been suggested as a relevant factor in AD and is considered a previous event before neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) formation.Interestingly, we and others have shown that caspase-cleaved tau in N- or C- terminal sites induce mitochondrial bioenergetics defects, axonal transport impairment, neuronal injury, and cognitive decline in neuronal cells and murine models. All these abnormalities are considered relevant in the early neurodegenerative manifestations such as memory and cognitive failure reported in AD. Therefore, in this review, we will discuss for the first time the importance of truncated tau by caspases activation in the pathogenesis of AD and how its negative actions could impact neuronal function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margrethe A Olesen
- Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Facultad de Ciencias de La Salud, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Universidad Autónoma de Chile, El Llano Subercaseaux 2801, 5to Piso, San Miguel, 8910060, Santiago, Chile
| | - Rodrigo A Quintanilla
- Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Facultad de Ciencias de La Salud, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Universidad Autónoma de Chile, El Llano Subercaseaux 2801, 5to Piso, San Miguel, 8910060, Santiago, Chile.
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5
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Flach M, Leu C, Martinisi A, Skachokova Z, Frank S, Tolnay M, Stahlberg H, Winkler DT. Trans-seeding of Alzheimer-related tau protein by a yeast prion. Alzheimers Dement 2022; 18:2481-2492. [PMID: 35142027 PMCID: PMC10078693 DOI: 10.1002/alz.12581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2020] [Revised: 12/01/2021] [Accepted: 12/10/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Abnormal tau protein aggregates constitute a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease. The mechanisms underlying the initiation of tau aggregation in sporadic neurodegeneration remain unclear. Here we investigate whether a non-human prion can seed tau aggregation. Due to their structural similarity with tau aggregates, we chose Sup35NM yeast prion domain fibrils for explorative tau seedings. Upon in vitro incubation with tau monomers, Sup35NM fibrils promoted the formation of morphologically distinct tau fibril strains. In vivo, intrahippocampal inoculation of Sup35NM fibrils accentuated tau pathology in P301S tau transgenic mice. Thus, our results provide first in vivo evidence for heterotypic cross-species seeding of a neurodegenerative human prion-like protein by a yeast prion. This opens up the conceptual perspective that non-mammalian prions present in the human microbiome could be involved in the initiation of protein misfolding in neurodegenerative disorders, a mechanism for which we propose the term "trans-seeding."
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Flach
- Institute of Medical Genetics and Pathology, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland.,Department of Neurology, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Cedric Leu
- Center for Cellular Imaging and NanoAnalytics (C-CINA), Biozentrum, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Alfonso Martinisi
- Institute of Medical Genetics and Pathology, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland.,Department of Neurology, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Zhiva Skachokova
- Institute of Medical Genetics and Pathology, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Stephan Frank
- Institute of Medical Genetics and Pathology, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Markus Tolnay
- Institute of Medical Genetics and Pathology, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Henning Stahlberg
- Center for Cellular Imaging and NanoAnalytics (C-CINA), Biozentrum, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - David T Winkler
- Institute of Medical Genetics and Pathology, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland.,Department of Neurology, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland.,Neurology, Medical University Clinic, Kantonsspital Baselland, Liestal, Switzerland
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6
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Guha S, Cheng A, Carroll T, King D, Koren SA, Swords S, Nehrke K, Johnson GVW. Selective disruption of Drp1-independent mitophagy and mitolysosome trafficking by an Alzheimer's disease relevant tau modification in a novel Caenorhabditis elegans model. Genetics 2022; 222:iyac104. [PMID: 35916724 PMCID: PMC9434186 DOI: 10.1093/genetics/iyac104] [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: 02/25/2022] [Accepted: 07/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Accumulation of inappropriately phosphorylated tau into neurofibrillary tangles is a defining feature of Alzheimer's disease, with Tau pT231 being an early harbinger of tau pathology. Previously, we demonstrated that expressing a single genomic copy of human phosphomimetic mutant tau (T231E) in Caenorhabditis elegans drove age-dependent neurodegeneration. A critical finding was that T231E, unlike wild-type tau, completely and selectively suppressed oxidative stress-induced mitophagy. Here, we used dynamic imaging approaches to analyze T231E-associated changes in mitochondria and mitolysosome morphology, abundance, trafficking, and stress-induced mitophagy as a function of mitochondrial fission mediator dynamin-related protein 1, which has been demonstrated to interact with hyper phosphorylated tau and contribute to Alzheimer's disease pathogenesis, as well as Pink1, a well-recognized mediator of mitochondrial quality control that works together with Parkin to support stress-induced mitophagy. T231E impacted both mitophagy and mitolysosome neurite trafficking with exquisite selectivity, sparing macroautophagy as well as lysosome and autolysosome trafficking. Both oxidative-stress-induced mitophagy and the ability of T231E to suppress it were independent of drp-1, but at least partially dependent on pink-1. Organelle trafficking was more complicated, with drp-1 and pink-1 mutants exerting independent effects, but generally supported the idea that the mitophagy phenotype is of greater physiologic impact in T231E. Collectively, our results refine the mechanistic pathway through which T231E causes neurodegeneration, demonstrating pathologic selectivity for mutations that mimic tauopathy-associated post-translational modifications, physiologic selectivity for organelles that contain damaged mitochondria, and molecular selectivity for dynamin-related protein 1-independent, Pink1-dependent, perhaps adaptive, and mitophagy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanjib Guha
- Department of Anesthesiology & Perioperative Medicine, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | - Anson Cheng
- Department of Anesthesiology & Perioperative Medicine, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | - Trae Carroll
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | - Dennisha King
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | - Shon A Koren
- Department of Anesthesiology & Perioperative Medicine, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | - Sierra Swords
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA
| | - Keith Nehrke
- Department of Medicine, Nephrology Division, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | - Gail V W Johnson
- Department of Anesthesiology & Perioperative Medicine, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
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7
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Asadzadeh J, Ruchti E, Jiao W, Limoni G, MacLachlan C, Small SA, Knott G, Santa-Maria I, McCabe BD. Retromer deficiency in Tauopathy models enhances the truncation and toxicity of Tau. Nat Commun 2022; 13:5049. [PMID: 36030267 PMCID: PMC9420134 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-32683-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2018] [Accepted: 08/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Alteration of the levels, localization or post-translational processing of the microtubule associated protein Tau is associated with many neurodegenerative disorders. Here we develop adult-onset models for human Tau (hTau) toxicity in Drosophila that enable age-dependent quantitative measurement of central nervous system synapse loss and axonal degeneration, in addition to effects upon lifespan, to facilitate evaluation of factors that may contribute to Tau-dependent neurodegeneration. Using these models, we interrogate the interaction of hTau with the retromer complex, an evolutionarily conserved cargo-sorting protein assembly, whose reduced activity has been associated with both Parkinson’s and late onset Alzheimer’s disease. We reveal that reduction of retromer activity induces a potent enhancement of hTau toxicity upon synapse loss, axon retraction and lifespan through a specific increase in the production of a C-terminal truncated isoform of hTau. Our data establish a molecular and subcellular mechanism necessary and sufficient for the depletion of retromer activity to exacerbate Tau-dependent neurodegeneration. Tau and the Retromer complex are both linked to Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease. Using Drosophila neurodegeneration models, this study finds that low retromer activity induces a specific increase of a highly toxic truncated form of human Tau.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jamshid Asadzadeh
- Brain Mind Institute, EPFL - Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Evelyne Ruchti
- Brain Mind Institute, EPFL - Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Wei Jiao
- Brain Mind Institute, EPFL - Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Greta Limoni
- Brain Mind Institute, EPFL - Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Catherine MacLachlan
- BioEM Facility, EPFL - Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Scott A Small
- Department of Neurology, Columbia University, New York, USA.,Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain, Columbia University, New York, USA
| | - Graham Knott
- Brain Mind Institute, EPFL - Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.,BioEM Facility, EPFL - Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Ismael Santa-Maria
- Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain, Columbia University, New York, USA.,Department of Pathology & Cell Biology, Columbia University, New York, USA.,Facultad Ciencias Experimentales, Universidad Francisco de Vitoria, Pozuelo de Alarcón, Madrid, Spain
| | - Brian D McCabe
- Brain Mind Institute, EPFL - Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.
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8
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Fourest-Lieuvin A, Vinit A, Blot B, Perrot A, Denarier E, Saudou F, Arnal I. Controlled Tau Cleavage in Cells Reveals Abnormal Localizations of Tau Fragments. Neuroscience 2022; 518:162-177. [PMID: 35995336 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2022.08.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2021] [Revised: 06/08/2022] [Accepted: 08/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
In several forms of dementia, such as Alzheimer's disease, the cytoskeleton-associated protein tau undergoes proteolysis, giving rise to fragments that have a toxic impact on neuronal homeostasis. How these fragments interact with cellular structures, in particular with the cytoskeleton, is currently incompletely understood. Here, we developed a method, derived from a Tobacco Etch Virus (TEV) protease system, to induce controlled cleavage of tau at specific sites. Five tau proteins containing specific TEV recognition sites corresponding to pathological proteolytic sites were engineered, and tagged with GFP at one end and mCherry at the other. Following controlled cleavage to produce GFP-N-terminal and C-terminal-mCherry fragments, we followed the fate of tau fragments in cells. Our results showed that whole engineered tau proteins associate with the cytoskeleton similarly to the non-modified tau, whereas tau fragments adopted different localizations with respect to the actin and microtubule cytoskeletons. These distinct localizations were confirmed by expressing each separate fragment in cells. Some cleavages - in particular cleavages at amino-acid positions 124 or 256 - displayed a certain level of cellular toxicity, with an unusual relocalization of the N-terminal fragments to the nucleus. Based on the data presented here, inducible cleavage of tau by the TEV protease appears to be a valuable tool to reproduce tau fragmentation in cells and study the resulting consequences on cell physiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne Fourest-Lieuvin
- Université Grenoble Alpes, INSERM, U1216, CEA, CNRS, CHU Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble Institut Neurosciences, 38000 Grenoble, France.
| | - Angélique Vinit
- Université Grenoble Alpes, INSERM, U1216, CEA, CNRS, CHU Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble Institut Neurosciences, 38000 Grenoble, France
| | - Béatrice Blot
- Université Grenoble Alpes, INSERM, U1216, CEA, CNRS, CHU Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble Institut Neurosciences, 38000 Grenoble, France
| | - Anthime Perrot
- Université Grenoble Alpes, INSERM, U1216, CEA, CNRS, CHU Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble Institut Neurosciences, 38000 Grenoble, France
| | - Eric Denarier
- Université Grenoble Alpes, INSERM, U1216, CEA, CNRS, CHU Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble Institut Neurosciences, 38000 Grenoble, France
| | - Frédéric Saudou
- Université Grenoble Alpes, INSERM, U1216, CEA, CNRS, CHU Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble Institut Neurosciences, 38000 Grenoble, France
| | - Isabelle Arnal
- Université Grenoble Alpes, INSERM, U1216, CEA, CNRS, CHU Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble Institut Neurosciences, 38000 Grenoble, France.
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9
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Jackson NA, Guerrero-Muñoz MJ, Castillo-Carranza DL. The prion-like transmission of tau oligomers via exosomes. Front Aging Neurosci 2022; 14:974414. [PMID: 36062141 PMCID: PMC9434014 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2022.974414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2022] [Accepted: 07/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The conversion and transmission of misfolded proteins established the basis for the prion concept. Neurodegenerative diseases are considered “prion-like” disorders that lack infectivity. Among them, tauopathies are characterized by the conversion of native tau protein into an abnormally folded aggregate. During the progression of the disease, misfolded tau polymerizes into oligomers and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs). While the toxicity of NFTs is an ongoing debate, the contribution of tau oligomers to early onset neurodegenerative pathogenesis is accepted. Tau oligomers are readily transferred from neuron to neuron propagating through the brain inducing neurodegeneration. Recently, transmission of tau oligomers via exosomes is now proposed. There is still too much to uncover about tau misfolding and propagation. Here we summarize novel findings of tau oligomers transmission and propagation via exosomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noel A. Jackson
- School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston, MA, United States
| | | | - Diana L. Castillo-Carranza
- School of Medicine, University of Monterrey, San Pedro Garza García, Mexico
- *Correspondence: Diana L. Castillo-Carranza,
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10
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Boyarko B, Hook V. Human Tau Isoforms and Proteolysis for Production of Toxic Tau Fragments in Neurodegeneration. Front Neurosci 2021; 15:702788. [PMID: 34744602 PMCID: PMC8566764 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.702788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2021] [Accepted: 09/09/2021] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The human tau protein is implicated in a wide range of neurodegenerative “tauopathy” diseases, consisting of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and frontotemporal lobar degeneration which includes progressive supranuclear palsy, corticobasal degeneration, Pick’s disease, and FTLD-tau (frontotemporal dementia with parkinsonism caused by MAPT mutations). Tau gene transcripts in the human brain undergo alternative splicing to yield 6 different tau protein isoforms that are expressed in different ratios in neurodegeneration which result in tau pathology of paired-helical filaments, neurofibrillary tangles, and tau fibrillar aggregates with detrimental microtubule destabilization. Protease-mediated tau truncation is an important post-translational modification (PTM) which drives neurodegeneration in a tau fragment-dependent manner. While numerous tau fragments have been identified, knowledge of the proteolytic steps that convert each parent tau isoform into specific truncated tau fragments has not yet been fully defined. An improved understanding of the relationships between tau isoforms and their proteolytic processing to generate neurotoxic tau fragments is important to the field. This review evaluates tau isoform expression patterns including PTMs and mutations that influence proteolysis of tau to generate toxic fragments that drive cognitive deficits in AD and other tauopathy models. This assessment identifies the gap in the field on understanding the details of proteolytic steps used to convert each tau isoform into fragments. Knowledge of the processing mechanisms of tau isoforms can lead to new protease targeted drug strategies to prevent the formation of toxic tau fragments in tauopathy neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ben Boyarko
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Vivian Hook
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States.,Department of Neurosciences and Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
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11
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Siano G, Falcicchia C, Origlia N, Cattaneo A, Di Primio C. Non-Canonical Roles of Tau and Their Contribution to Synaptic Dysfunction. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms221810145. [PMID: 34576308 PMCID: PMC8466023 DOI: 10.3390/ijms221810145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [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: 08/18/2021] [Revised: 09/12/2021] [Accepted: 09/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Tau plays a central role in a group of neurodegenerative disorders collectively named tauopathies. Despite the wide range of diverse symptoms at the onset and during the progression of the pathology, all tauopathies share two common hallmarks, namely the misfolding and aggregation of Tau protein and progressive synaptic dysfunctions. Tau aggregation correlates with cognitive decline and behavioural impairment. The mechanistic link between Tau misfolding and the synaptic dysfunction is still unknown, but this correlation is well established in the human brain and also in tauopathy mouse models. At the onset of the pathology, Tau undergoes post-translational modifications (PTMs) inducing the detachment from the cytoskeleton and its release in the cytoplasm as a soluble monomer. In this condition, the physiological enrichment in the axon is definitely disrupted, resulting in Tau relocalization in the cell soma and in dendrites. Subsequently, Tau aggregates into toxic oligomers and amyloidogenic forms that disrupt synaptic homeostasis and function, resulting in neuronal degeneration. The involvement of Tau in synaptic transmission alteration in tauopathies has been extensively reviewed. Here, we will focus on non-canonical Tau functions mediating synapse dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giacomo Siano
- Laboratory of Biology, BIO@SNS, Scuola Normale Superiore, Piazza dei Cavalieri 7, 56126 Pisa, Italy;
| | - Chiara Falcicchia
- Institute of Neuroscience, Italian National Research Council, Via Moruzzi 1, 56124 Pisa, Italy; (C.F.); (N.O.)
| | - Nicola Origlia
- Institute of Neuroscience, Italian National Research Council, Via Moruzzi 1, 56124 Pisa, Italy; (C.F.); (N.O.)
| | - Antonino Cattaneo
- Laboratory of Biology, BIO@SNS, Scuola Normale Superiore, Piazza dei Cavalieri 7, 56126 Pisa, Italy;
- European Brain Research Institute (EBRI), Fondazione Rita Levi-Montalcini, Viale Regina Elena 295, 00161 Roma, Italy
- Correspondence: (A.C.); (C.D.P.)
| | - Cristina Di Primio
- Institute of Neuroscience, Italian National Research Council, Via Moruzzi 1, 56124 Pisa, Italy; (C.F.); (N.O.)
- Correspondence: (A.C.); (C.D.P.)
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12
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Vogels T, Vargová G, Brezováková V, Quint WH, Hromádka T. Viral Delivery of Non-Mutated Human Truncated Tau to Neurons Recapitulates Key Features of Human Tauopathy in Wild-Type Mice. J Alzheimers Dis 2021; 77:551-568. [PMID: 32675411 DOI: 10.3233/jad-200047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Neuronal accumulation of hyperphosphorylated and truncated tau aggregates is one of the major defining factors and key drivers of neurodegeneration in Alzheimer's disease and other tauopathies. OBJECTIVE We developed an AAV-induced model of tauopathy mediated by human truncated tau protein without familial frontotemporal dementia-related mutations to study tau propagation and the functional consequences of tau pathology. METHODS We performed targeted transductions of the hippocampus or entorhinal cortex in adult mice followed by histological analysis to study the progression of hippocampal tau pathology and tau spreading. We performed behavioral analysis of mice with AAV-induced hippocampal tau pathology. RESULTS AAV-induced hippocampal tau pathology was characterized by tau hyperphosphorylation (AT8 positivity), sarkosyl insolubility, and the presence of neurofibrillary tangles. AAV-induced tau pathology was associated with microgliosis and hypertrophic astrocytes in the absence of cognitive deficits. Additionally, the co-expression of mCherry fluorescent protein and human truncated tau enabled us to detect both local spreading of human tau and spreading from the entorhinal cortex to the synaptically connected dentate gyrus. CONCLUSION Targeted delivery of AAV with truncated tau protein into subcortical and cortical structures of mammalian brains represents an efficient approach for creating temporally and spatially well-defined tau pathology suitable for in vivo studies of tau propagation and neuronal circuit deficits in Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Vogels
- Axon Neuroscience R & D Services SE, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Gréta Vargová
- Institute of Neuroimmunology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | | | | | - Tomáš Hromádka
- Axon Neuroscience R & D Services SE, Bratislava, Slovakia.,Institute of Neuroimmunology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia
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13
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García-Escudero V, Ruiz-Gabarre D, Gargini R, Pérez M, García E, Cuadros R, Hernández IH, Cabrera JR, García-Escudero R, Lucas JJ, Hernández F, Ávila J. A new non-aggregative splicing isoform of human Tau is decreased in Alzheimer's disease. Acta Neuropathol 2021; 142:159-177. [PMID: 33934221 PMCID: PMC8217066 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-021-02317-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2020] [Revised: 04/21/2021] [Accepted: 04/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Tauopathies, including Alzheimer's disease (AD) and frontotemporal lobar degeneration with Tau pathology (FTLD-tau), are a group of neurodegenerative disorders characterized by Tau hyperphosphorylation. Post-translational modifications of Tau such as phosphorylation and truncation have been demonstrated to be an essential step in the molecular pathogenesis of these tauopathies. In this work, we demonstrate the existence of a new, human-specific truncated form of Tau generated by intron 12 retention in human neuroblastoma cells and, to a higher extent, in human RNA brain samples, using qPCR and further confirming the results on a larger database of human RNA-seq samples. Diminished protein levels of this new Tau isoform are found by Westernblotting in Alzheimer's patients' brains (Braak I n = 3; Braak II n = 6, Braak III n = 3, Braak IV n = 1, and Braak V n = 10, Braak VI n = 8) with respect to non-demented control subjects (n = 9), suggesting that the lack of this truncated isoform may play an important role in the pathology. This new Tau isoform exhibits similar post-transcriptional modifications by phosphorylation and affinity for microtubule binding, but more interestingly, is less prone to aggregate than other Tau isoforms. Finally, we present evidence suggesting this new Tau isoform could be linked to the inhibition of GSK3β, which would mediate intron 12 retention by modulating the serine/arginine rich splicing factor 2 (SRSF2). Our results show the existence of an important new isoform of Tau and suggest that further research on this less aggregation-prone Tau may help to develop future therapies for Alzheimer's disease and other tauopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vega García-Escudero
- Departamento de Anatomía, Histología y Neurociencia, School of Medicine, Autonoma de Madrid University (UAM), Arzobispo Morcillo, 4, 28029, Madrid, Spain
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Autonoma de Madrid University (UAM), Arzobispo Morcillo, 4, 28029, Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Biología Molecular "Severo Ochoa" (CSIC-UAM). Nicolás Cabrera, 1. Cantoblanco, 28049, Madrid, Spain
| | - Daniel Ruiz-Gabarre
- Departamento de Anatomía, Histología y Neurociencia, School of Medicine, Autonoma de Madrid University (UAM), Arzobispo Morcillo, 4, 28029, Madrid, Spain
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Autonoma de Madrid University (UAM), Arzobispo Morcillo, 4, 28029, Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Biología Molecular "Severo Ochoa" (CSIC-UAM). Nicolás Cabrera, 1. Cantoblanco, 28049, Madrid, Spain
| | - Ricardo Gargini
- Centro de Biología Molecular "Severo Ochoa" (CSIC-UAM). Nicolás Cabrera, 1. Cantoblanco, 28049, Madrid, Spain
- Neurooncology Unit, Instituto de Salud Carlos III-UFIEC, 28220, Madrid, Spain
| | - Mar Pérez
- Departamento de Anatomía, Histología y Neurociencia, School of Medicine, Autonoma de Madrid University (UAM), Arzobispo Morcillo, 4, 28029, Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Biología Molecular "Severo Ochoa" (CSIC-UAM). Nicolás Cabrera, 1. Cantoblanco, 28049, Madrid, Spain
| | - Esther García
- Centro de Biología Molecular "Severo Ochoa" (CSIC-UAM). Nicolás Cabrera, 1. Cantoblanco, 28049, Madrid, Spain
| | - Raquel Cuadros
- Centro de Biología Molecular "Severo Ochoa" (CSIC-UAM). Nicolás Cabrera, 1. Cantoblanco, 28049, Madrid, Spain
| | - Ivó H Hernández
- Centro de Biología Molecular "Severo Ochoa" (CSIC-UAM). Nicolás Cabrera, 1. Cantoblanco, 28049, Madrid, Spain
| | - Jorge R Cabrera
- Unidad de Investigación, Fundación Hospital de Jove, 33290, Gijón, Spain
| | - Ramón García-Escudero
- Molecular Oncology Unit, CIEMAT, Ave Complutense, 40, 28040, Madrid, Spain
- Hospital 12 Octubre Research Institute/CIEMAT, Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cancer (CIBERONC), Valderrebollo, 5, 28031, Madrid, Spain
| | - José J Lucas
- Centro de Biología Molecular "Severo Ochoa" (CSIC-UAM). Nicolás Cabrera, 1. Cantoblanco, 28049, Madrid, Spain
- Networking Research Center on Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIBERNED), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28031, Madrid, Spain
| | - Félix Hernández
- Centro de Biología Molecular "Severo Ochoa" (CSIC-UAM). Nicolás Cabrera, 1. Cantoblanco, 28049, Madrid, Spain
- Networking Research Center on Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIBERNED), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28031, Madrid, Spain
| | - Jesús Ávila
- Centro de Biología Molecular "Severo Ochoa" (CSIC-UAM). Nicolás Cabrera, 1. Cantoblanco, 28049, Madrid, Spain.
- Networking Research Center on Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIBERNED), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28031, Madrid, Spain.
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14
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Robert A, Schöll M, Vogels T. Tau Seeding Mouse Models with Patient Brain-Derived Aggregates. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:6132. [PMID: 34200180 PMCID: PMC8201271 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22116132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2021] [Revised: 05/31/2021] [Accepted: 06/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Tauopathies are a heterogeneous class of neurodegenerative diseases characterized by intracellular inclusions of aggregated tau proteins. Tau aggregates in different tauopathies have distinct structural features and can be found in different cell types. Transgenic animal models overexpressing human tau have been used for over two decades in the research of tau pathology. However, these models poorly recapitulate the heterogeneity of tauopathies found in human brains. Recent findings demonstrate that injection of purified tau aggregates from the brains of human tauopathy patients recapitulates both the structural features and cell-type specificity of the tau pathology of the donor tauopathy. These models may therefore have unique translational value in the study of functional consequences of tau pathology, tau-based diagnostics, and tau targeting therapeutics. This review provides an update of the literature relating to seeding-based tauopathy and their potential applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aiko Robert
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Queen Square, Institute of Neurology, University College London, London WC1N 3BG, UK; (A.R.); (M.S.)
| | - Michael Schöll
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Queen Square, Institute of Neurology, University College London, London WC1N 3BG, UK; (A.R.); (M.S.)
- Wallenberg Centre for Molecular and Translational Medicine and the Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, University of Gothenburg, 413 45 Gothenburg, Sweden
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, University of Gothenburg, 413 45 Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Thomas Vogels
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Queen Square, Institute of Neurology, University College London, London WC1N 3BG, UK; (A.R.); (M.S.)
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, University of Gothenburg, 413 45 Gothenburg, Sweden
- Sylics (Synaptologics B.V.), 3721 MA Bilthoven, The Netherlands
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15
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Jayan P, Vahid AA, Kizhakkeduth ST, Muhammed SOH, Shibina AB, Vijayan V. Direct Observation of the Self-Aggregation of R3R4 Bi-repeat of Tau Protein. Chembiochem 2021; 22:2093-2097. [PMID: 33826208 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.202100013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2021] [Revised: 04/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Different cryo-EM derived atomic models of in vivo tau filaments from patients with tauopathies consisted of R3 and R4 repeats of the microtubule-binding domain. In comparison, only the R3 repeat forms the core of the heparin-induced fibrils of the three repeat tau isoforms. For developing therapeutics, it is desirable to have an in vitro tau aggregation system producing fibrils corresponding to the disease morphology. Here we report the self-aggregation of truncated tau segment R3R4 peptide without requiring heparin for aggregation induction. We used NMR spectroscopy and other biophysical methods to monitor the self-aggregation of R3R4. We identified the hexapeptide region in R3 and β-turn region in R4 as the aggregation initiating region of the protein. The solid-state NMR of self-aggregated R3R4 fibrils demonstrated that in addition to R3 residues, residues of R4 were also part of the fibril filaments. The presence of both R3 and R4 residues in the aggregation process and the core of fibril filaments suggest that the aggregation of R3R4 might resemble the in vivo aggregation process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Parvathy Jayan
- School of Chemistry, IISER Thiruvananthapuram, Maruthamala P.O, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India
| | - Arshad A Vahid
- School of Chemistry, IISER Thiruvananthapuram, Maruthamala P.O, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India
| | - Safwa T Kizhakkeduth
- School of Chemistry, IISER Thiruvananthapuram, Maruthamala P.O, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India
| | - Shafeek O H Muhammed
- School of Chemistry, IISER Thiruvananthapuram, Maruthamala P.O, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India
| | - Ajmala B Shibina
- School of Chemistry, IISER Thiruvananthapuram, Maruthamala P.O, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India
| | - Vinesh Vijayan
- School of Chemistry, IISER Thiruvananthapuram, Maruthamala P.O, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India
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16
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Martinisi A, Flach M, Sprenger F, Frank S, Tolnay M, Winkler DT. Severe oligomeric tau toxicity can be reversed without long-term sequelae. Brain 2021; 144:963-974. [PMID: 33484116 PMCID: PMC8041046 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awaa445] [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: 05/08/2020] [Revised: 09/24/2020] [Accepted: 10/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Tau is a microtubule stabilizing protein that forms abnormal aggregates in many neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer's disease. We have previously shown that co-expression of fragmented and full-length tau in P301SxTAU62on tau transgenic mice results in the formation of oligomeric tau species and causes severe paralysis. This paralysis is fully reversible once expression of the tau fragment is halted, even though P301S tau expression is maintained. Whereas various strategies to target tau aggregation have been developed, little is known about the long-term consequences of reverted tau toxicity. Therefore, we studied the long-term motor fitness of recovered, formerly paralysed P301SxTAU62on-off mice. To assess the seeding competence of oligomeric toxic tau species, we also inoculated ALZ17 mice with brainstem homogenates from paralysed P301SxTAU62on mice. Counter-intuitively, after recovery from paralysis due to oligomeric tau species expression, ageing P301SxTAU62on-off mice did not develop more motor impairment or tau pathology when compared to heterozygous P301S tau transgenic littermates. Thus, toxic tau species causing extensive neuronal dysfunction can be cleared without inducing seeding effects. Moreover, these toxic tau species also lack long-term tau seeding effects upon intrahippocampal inoculation into ALZ17 mice. In conclusion, tau species can be neurotoxic in the absence of seeding-competent tau aggregates, and mice can clear these tau forms permanently without tau seeding or spreading effects. These observations suggest that early targeting of non-fibrillar tau species may represent a therapeutically effective intervention in tauopathies. On the other hand, the absent seeding competence of early toxic tau species also warrants caution when using seeding-based tests for preclinical tauopathy diagnostics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alfonso Martinisi
- Institute of Medical Genetics and Pathology, University Hospital Basel, CH-4031 Basel, Switzerland
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Basel, CH-4031 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Martin Flach
- Institute of Medical Genetics and Pathology, University Hospital Basel, CH-4031 Basel, Switzerland
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Basel, CH-4031 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Frederik Sprenger
- Institute of Medical Genetics and Pathology, University Hospital Basel, CH-4031 Basel, Switzerland
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Basel, CH-4031 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Stephan Frank
- Institute of Medical Genetics and Pathology, University Hospital Basel, CH-4031 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Markus Tolnay
- Institute of Medical Genetics and Pathology, University Hospital Basel, CH-4031 Basel, Switzerland
| | - David T Winkler
- Institute of Medical Genetics and Pathology, University Hospital Basel, CH-4031 Basel, Switzerland
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Basel, CH-4031 Basel, Switzerland
- Neurology, Medical University Clinic, Kantonsspital Baselland, 4410 Liestal, Switzerland
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17
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Noël A, Foveau B, LeBlanc AC. Caspase-6-cleaved Tau fails to induce Tau hyperphosphorylation and aggregation, neurodegeneration, glial inflammation, and cognitive deficits. Cell Death Dis 2021; 12:227. [PMID: 33649324 PMCID: PMC7921451 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-021-03506-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2021] [Revised: 02/03/2021] [Accepted: 02/04/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Active Caspase-6 (Casp6) and Tau cleaved by Casp6 at amino acids 402 (Tau∆D402) and 421 (Tau∆D421) are present in early Alzheimer disease intraneuronal neurofibrillary tangles, which are made primarily of filamentous Tau aggregates. To assess whether Casp6 cleavage of Tau contributes to Tau pathology and Casp6-mediated age-dependent cognitive impairment, we generated transgenic knock-in mouse models that conditionally express full-length human Tau (hTau) 0N4R only (CTO) or together with human Casp6 (hCasp6) (CTC). Region-specific hippocampal and cortical hCasp6 and hTau expression were confirmed with western blot and immunohistochemistry in 2-25-month-old brains. Casp6 activity was confirmed with Tau∆D421 and Tubulin cleaved by Casp6 immunopositivity in 3-25-month-old CTC, but not in CTO, brains. Immunoprecipitated Tau∆D402 was detected in both CTC and CTO brains, but was more abundant in CTC brains. Intraneuronal hippocampal Tau hyperphosphorylation at S202/T205, S422, and T231, and Tau conformational change were absent in both CTC and CTO brains. A slight accumulation of Tau phosphorylated at S396/404 and S202 was observed in Cornu Ammonis 1 (CA1) hippocampal neuron soma of CTC compared to CTO brains. Eighteen-month-old CTC brains showed rare argentophilic deposits that increased by 25 months, whereas CTO brains only displayed them sparsely at 25 months. Tau microtubule binding was equivalent in CTC and CTO hippocampi. Episodic and spatial memory measured with novel object recognition and Barnes maze, respectively, remained normal in 3-25-month-old CTC and CTO mice, in contrast to previously observed impairments in ACL mice expressing equivalent levels of hCasp6 only. Consistently, the CTC and CTO hippocampal CA1 region displayed equivalent dendritic spine density and no glial inflammation. Together, these results reveal that active hCasp6 co-expression with hTau generates Tau cleavage and rare age-dependent argentophilic deposits but fails to induce cognitive deficits, neuroinflammation, and Tau pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anastasia Noël
- Bloomfield Center for Research in Aging, Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Bénédicte Foveau
- Bloomfield Center for Research in Aging, Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Andréa C LeBlanc
- Bloomfield Center for Research in Aging, Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, QC, Canada.
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.
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18
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Song L, Wells EA, Robinson AS. Critical Molecular and Cellular Contributors to Tau Pathology. Biomedicines 2021; 9:190. [PMID: 33672982 PMCID: PMC7918468 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines9020190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2021] [Revised: 02/07/2021] [Accepted: 02/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Tauopathies represent a group of neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer's disease (AD) that are characterized by the deposition of filamentous tau aggregates in the brain. The pathogenesis of tauopathies starts from the formation of toxic 'tau seeds' from hyperphosphorylated tau monomers. The presence of specific phosphorylation sites and heat shock protein 90 facilitates soluble tau protein aggregation. Transcellular propagation of pathogenic tau into synaptically connected neuronal cells or adjacent glial cells via receptor-mediated endocytosis facilitate disease spread through the brain. While neuroprotective effects of glial cells-including phagocytotic microglial and astroglial phenotypes-have been observed at the early stage of neurodegeneration, dysfunctional neuronal-glial cellular communication results in a series of further pathological consequences as the disease progresses, including abnormal axonal transport, synaptic degeneration, and neuronal loss, accompanied by a pro-inflammatory microenvironment. Additionally, the discovery of microtubule-associated protein tau (MAPT) gene mutations and the strongest genetic risk factor of tauopathies-an increase in the presence of the ε2 allele of apolipoprotein E (ApoE)-provide important clues to understanding tau pathology progression. In this review, we describe the crucial signaling pathways and diverse cellular contributors to the progression of tauopathies. A systematic understanding of disease pathogenesis provides novel insights into therapeutic targets within altered signaling pathways and is of great significance for discovering effective treatments for tauopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Anne Skaja Robinson
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA; (L.S.); (E.A.W.)
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Lo CH, Sachs JN. The role of wild-type tau in Alzheimer's disease and related tauopathies. JOURNAL OF LIFE SCIENCES (WESTLAKE VILLAGE, CALIF.) 2020; 2:1-17. [PMID: 33665646 PMCID: PMC7929479 DOI: 10.36069/jols/20201201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Tau oligomers have recently emerged as the principal toxic species in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and tauopathies. Tau oligomers are spontaneously self-assembled soluble tau proteins that are formed prior to fibrils, and they have been shown to play a central role in neuronal cell death and in the induction of neurodegeneration in animal models. As the therapeutic paradigm shifts to targeting toxic tau oligomers, this suggests the focus to study tau oligomerization in species that are less susceptible to fibrillization. While truncated and mutation containing tau as well as the isolated repeat domains are particularly prone to fibrillization, the wild-type (WT) tau proteins have been shown to be resistant to fibril formation in the absence of aggregation inducers. In this review, we will summarize and discuss the toxicity of WT tau both in vitro and in vivo, as well as its involvement in tau oligomerization and cell-to-cell propagation of pathology. Understanding the role of WT tau will enable more effective biomarker development and therapeutic discovery for treatment of AD and tauopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chih Hung Lo
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455
- Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115
| | - Jonathan N. Sachs
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455
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20
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Quintanilla RA, Tapia-Monsalves C, Vergara EH, Pérez MJ, Aranguiz A. Truncated Tau Induces Mitochondrial Transport Failure Through the Impairment of TRAK2 Protein and Bioenergetics Decline in Neuronal Cells. Front Cell Neurosci 2020; 14:175. [PMID: 32848607 PMCID: PMC7406829 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2020.00175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2020] [Accepted: 05/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Mitochondria are highly specialized organelles essential for the synapse, and their impairment contributes to the neurodegeneration in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Previously, we studied the role of caspase-3-cleaved tau in mitochondrial dysfunction in AD. In neurons, the presence of this AD-relevant tau form induced mitochondrial fragmentation with a concomitant reduction in the expression of Opa1, a mitochondrial fission regulator. More importantly, we showed that caspase-cleaved tau affects mitochondrial transport, decreasing the number of moving mitochondria in the neuronal processes without affecting their velocity rate. However, the molecular mechanisms involved in these events are unknown. We studied the possible role of motor proteins (kinesin 1 and dynein) and mitochondrial protein adaptors (RhoT1/T2, syntaphilin, and TRAK2) in the mitochondrial transport failure induced by caspase-cleaved tau. We expressed green fluorescent protein (GFP), GFP-full-length, and GPF-caspase-3-cleaved tau proteins in rat hippocampal neurons and immortalized cortical neurons (CN 1.4) and analyzed the expression and localization of these proteins involved in mitochondrial transport regulation. We observed that hippocampal neurons expressing caspase-cleaved tau showed a significant accumulation of a mitochondrial population in the soma. These changes were accompanied by evident mitochondrial bioenergetic deficits, including depolarization, oxidative stress, and a significant reduction in ATP production. More critically, caspase-cleaved tau significantly decreased the expression of TRAK2 in immortalized and primary hippocampal neurons without affecting RhoT1/T2 and syntaphilin levels. Also, when we analyzed the expression of motor proteins-Kinesin 1 (KIF5) and Dynein-we did not detect changes in their expression, localization, and binding to the mitochondria. Interestingly, the expression of truncated tau significantly increases the association of TRAK2 with mitochondria compared with neuronal cells expressing full-length tau. Altogether these results indicate that caspase-cleaved tau may affect mitochondrial transport through the increase of TRAK2-mitochondria binding and reduction of ATP production available for the process of movement of these organelles. These observations are novel and represent a set of exciting findings whereby tau pathology could affect mitochondrial distribution in neurons, an event that may contribute to synaptic failure observed in AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rodrigo A. Quintanilla
- Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Universidad Autónoma de Chile, Santiago, Chile
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21
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Feng ST, Wang ZZ, Yuan YH, Sun HM, Chen NH, Zhang Y. Update on the association between alpha-synuclein and tau with mitochondrial dysfunction: Implications for Parkinson's disease. Eur J Neurosci 2020; 53:2946-2959. [PMID: 32031280 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.14699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2019] [Revised: 01/13/2020] [Accepted: 01/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
The critical role of mitochondrial dysfunction in the pathological mechanisms of neurodegenerative disorders, particularly Parkinson's disease (PD), is well established. Compelling evidence indicates that Parkinson's proteins (e.g., α-synuclein, Parkin, PINK1, DJ-1, and LRRK2) are associated with mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress in PD. Significantly, there is a possible central role of alpha-synuclein (α-Syn) in the occurrence of mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress by the mediation of different signaling pathways. Also, tau, traditionally considered as the main component of neurofibrillary tangles, aggregates and amplifies the neurotoxic effects on mitochondria by interacting with α-Syn. Moreover, oxidative stress caused by mitochondrial dysfunction favors assembly of both α-Syn and tau and also plays a key role in the formation of protein aggregates. In this review, we provide an overview of the relationship between these two pathological proteins and mitochondrial dysfunction in PD, and also summarize the underlying mechanisms in the interplay of α-Syn aggregation and phosphorylated tau targeting the mitochondria, to find new strategies to prevent PD processing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Si-Tong Feng
- Department of Anatomy, School of Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Zhen-Zhen Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substances and Functions of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica & Neuroscience Center, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Yu-He Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substances and Functions of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica & Neuroscience Center, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Hong-Mei Sun
- Department of Anatomy, School of Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Nai-Hong Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substances and Functions of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica & Neuroscience Center, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Yi Zhang
- Department of Anatomy, School of Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
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22
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Giagkou N, Höglinger GU, Stamelou M. Progressive supranuclear palsy. INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF NEUROBIOLOGY 2019; 149:49-86. [PMID: 31779824 DOI: 10.1016/bs.irn.2019.10.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized pathologically by 4 repeat tau deposition in various cell types and anatomical regions. Richardson's syndrome (RS) is the initially described and one of the clinical phenotypes associated with PSP pathology, characterized by vertical supranuclear gaze paly in particular downwards, postural instability with early falls and subcortical frontal dementia. PSP can manifest as several other clinical phenotypes, including PSP-parkinsonism, -pure akinesia with gait freezing, -frontotemporal dementia, - corticobasal syndrome, - speech/language impairment. RS can also have a pathologic diagnosis other than PSP, including corticobasal degeneration, FTD-TDP-43 and others. New clinical diagnostic criteria take into account this phenotypic variability in an attempt to diagnose the disease earlier, given the current lack of a validated biomarker. At present, therapeutic options for PSP are symptomatic and insufficient. Recent large neuroprotective trials have failed to provide a positive clinical outcome, however, have led to the design of better studies that are ongoing and hold promise for a neuroprotective treatment for PSP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikolaos Giagkou
- Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders Department, HYGEIA Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Günter U Höglinger
- Department for Neurology Hannover Medical School (MHH), Hannover, Germany; German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Munich, Germany
| | - Maria Stamelou
- Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders Department, HYGEIA Hospital, Athens, Greece; Aiginiteion Hospital, First Department of Neurology, University of Athens, Greece; Clinic for Neurology, Philipps University, Marburg, Germany
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23
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Thüne K, Schmitz M, Villar-Piqué A, Altmeppen HC, Schlomm M, Zafar S, Glatzel M, Llorens F, Zerr I. The cellular prion protein and its derived fragments in human prion diseases and their role as potential biomarkers. Expert Rev Mol Diagn 2019; 19:1007-1018. [PMID: 31512940 DOI: 10.1080/14737159.2019.1667231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Introduction: Human prion diseases are a heterogeneous group of incurable and debilitating conditions characterized by a progressive degeneration of the central nervous system. The conformational changes of the cellular prion protein and its formation into an abnormal isoform, spongiform degeneration, neuronal loss, and neuroinflammation are central to prion disease pathogenesis. It has been postulated that truncated variants of aggregation-prone proteins are implicated in neurodegenerative mechanisms. An increasing body of evidence indicates that proteolytic fragments and truncated variants of the prion protein are formed and accumulated in the brain of prion disease patients. These prion protein variants provide a high degree of relevance to disease pathology and diagnosis. Areas covered: In the present review, we summarize the current knowledge on the occurrence of truncated prion protein species and their potential roles in pathophysiological states during prion diseases progression. In addition, we discuss their usability as a diagnostic biomarker in prion diseases. Expert opinion: Either as a primary factor in the formation of prion diseases or as a consequence from neuropathological affection, abnormal prion protein variants and fragments may provide independent information about mechanisms of prion conversion, pathological states, or disease progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katrin Thüne
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Göttingen and German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) - site Göttingen , Göttingen , Germany
| | - Matthias Schmitz
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Göttingen and German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) - site Göttingen , Göttingen , Germany
| | - Anna Villar-Piqué
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Göttingen and German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) - site Göttingen , Göttingen , Germany.,Network Center for Biomedical Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, Institute Carlos III, Ministry of Health, CIBERNED, Hospitalet de Llobregat , Spain
| | | | - Markus Schlomm
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Göttingen and German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) - site Göttingen , Göttingen , Germany
| | - Saima Zafar
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Göttingen and German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) - site Göttingen , Göttingen , Germany
| | - Markus Glatzel
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Medical Center HH-Eppendorf (UKE) , Hamburg , Germany
| | - Franc Llorens
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Göttingen and German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) - site Göttingen , Göttingen , Germany.,Network Center for Biomedical Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, Institute Carlos III, Ministry of Health, CIBERNED, Hospitalet de Llobregat , Spain.,Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), Hospitalet de Llobregat , Barcelona , Spain
| | - Inga Zerr
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Göttingen and German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) - site Göttingen , Göttingen , Germany
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24
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Ferrer I, Zelaya MV, Aguiló García M, Carmona M, López-González I, Andrés-Benito P, Lidón L, Gavín R, Garcia-Esparcia P, Del Rio JA. Relevance of host tau in tau seeding and spreading in tauopathies. Brain Pathol 2019; 30:298-318. [PMID: 31397930 DOI: 10.1111/bpa.12778] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2019] [Accepted: 06/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Human tau seeding and spreading occur following intracerebral inoculation of brain homogenates obtained from tauopathies in transgenic mice expressing natural or mutant tau, and in wild-type (WT) mice. The present study was geared to learning about the patterns of tau seeding, the cells involved and the characteristics of tau following intracerebral inoculation of homogenates from primary age-related tauopathy (PART: neuronal 4Rtau and 3Rtau), aging-related tau astrogliopathy (ARTAG: astrocytic 4Rtau) and globular glial tauopathy (GGT: 4Rtau with neuronal deposits and specific tau inclusions in astrocytes and oligodendrocytes). For this purpose, young and adult WT mice were inoculated unilaterally in the hippocampus or in the lateral corpus callosum with sarkosyl-insoluble fractions from PART, ARTAG and GGT cases, and were killed at variable periods of three to seven months. Brains were processed for immunohistochemistry in paraffin sections. Tau seeding occurred in the ipsilateral hippocampus and corpus callosum and spread to the septal nuclei, periventricular hypothalamus and contralateral corpus callosum, respectively. Tau deposits were mainly found in neurons, oligodendrocytes and threads; the deposits were diffuse or granular, composed of phosphorylated tau, tau with abnormal conformation and 3Rtau and 4Rtau independently of the type of tauopathy. Truncated tau at the aspartic acid 421 and ubiquitination were absent. Tau deposits had the characteristics of pre-tangles. A percentage of intracellular tau deposits co-localized with active (phosphorylated) tau kinases p38 and ERK 1/2. Present study shows that seeding and spreading of human tau into the brain of WT mice involves neurons and glial cells, mainly oligodendrocytes, thereby supporting the idea of a primary role of oligodendrogliopathy, together with neuronopathy, in the progression of tauopathies. In addition, it suggests that human tau inoculation modifies murine tau metabolism with the production and deposition of 3Rtau and 4Rtau, and by activation of specific tau kinases in affected cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isidro Ferrer
- Department of Pathology and Experimental Therapeutics, University of Barcelona, Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain.,Bellvitge University Hospital, IDIBELL (Bellvitge Biomedical Research Centre), Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain.,CIBERNED (Network Centre of Biomedical Research of Neurodegenerative Diseases), Institute of Health Carlos III, Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness, Madrid, Spain.,Institute of Neurosciences, University of Barcelona, Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain
| | - Maria Victoria Zelaya
- Pathological Anatomy Department, Hospital of Navarra, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra (IdiSNA), Pamplona, Spain
| | - Meritxell Aguiló García
- Department of Pathology and Experimental Therapeutics, University of Barcelona, Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain
| | - Margarita Carmona
- Department of Pathology and Experimental Therapeutics, University of Barcelona, Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain.,CIBERNED (Network Centre of Biomedical Research of Neurodegenerative Diseases), Institute of Health Carlos III, Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness, Madrid, Spain
| | - Irene López-González
- Department of Pathology and Experimental Therapeutics, University of Barcelona, Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain.,CIBERNED (Network Centre of Biomedical Research of Neurodegenerative Diseases), Institute of Health Carlos III, Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness, Madrid, Spain
| | - Pol Andrés-Benito
- Department of Pathology and Experimental Therapeutics, University of Barcelona, Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain.,CIBERNED (Network Centre of Biomedical Research of Neurodegenerative Diseases), Institute of Health Carlos III, Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness, Madrid, Spain
| | - Laia Lidón
- Molecular and Cellular Neurobiotechnology, Institute of Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), Barcelona Institute for Science and Technology, Parc Científic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Rosalina Gavín
- Molecular and Cellular Neurobiotechnology, Institute of Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), Barcelona Institute for Science and Technology, Parc Científic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Paula Garcia-Esparcia
- Department of Pathology and Experimental Therapeutics, University of Barcelona, Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain.,CIBERNED (Network Centre of Biomedical Research of Neurodegenerative Diseases), Institute of Health Carlos III, Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness, Madrid, Spain
| | - José Antonio Del Rio
- CIBERNED (Network Centre of Biomedical Research of Neurodegenerative Diseases), Institute of Health Carlos III, Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness, Madrid, Spain.,Institute of Neurosciences, University of Barcelona, Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain.,Molecular and Cellular Neurobiotechnology, Institute of Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), Barcelona Institute for Science and Technology, Parc Científic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Department of Cell Biology, Physiology and Immunology, Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain
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25
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Abstract
Animal models are indispensable tools for Alzheimer disease (AD) research. Over the course of more than two decades, an increasing number of complementary rodent models has been generated. These models have facilitated testing hypotheses about the aetiology and progression of AD, dissecting the associated pathomechanisms and validating therapeutic interventions, thereby providing guidance for the design of human clinical trials. However, the lack of success in translating rodent data into therapeutic outcomes may challenge the validity of the current models. This Review critically evaluates the genetic and non-genetic strategies used in AD modelling, discussing their strengths and limitations, as well as new opportunities for the development of better models for the disease.
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26
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Sandusky-Beltran LA, Kovalenko A, Ma C, Calahatian JIT, Placides DS, Watler MD, Hunt JB, Darling AL, Baker JD, Blair LJ, Martin MD, Fontaine SN, Dickey CA, Lussier AL, Weeber EJ, Selenica MLB, Nash KR, Gordon MN, Morgan D, Lee DC. Spermidine/spermine-N 1-acetyltransferase ablation impacts tauopathy-induced polyamine stress response. Alzheimers Res Ther 2019; 11:58. [PMID: 31253191 PMCID: PMC6599347 DOI: 10.1186/s13195-019-0507-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2018] [Accepted: 05/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Tau stabilizes microtubules; however, in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and tauopathies, tau becomes hyperphosphorylated, aggregates, and results in neuronal death. Our group recently uncovered a unique interaction between polyamine metabolism and tau fate. Polyamines exert an array of physiological effects that support neuronal function and cognitive processing. Specific stimuli can elicit a polyamine stress response (PSR), resulting in altered central polyamine homeostasis. Evidence suggests that elevations in polyamines following a short-term stressor are beneficial; however, persistent stress and subsequent PSR activation may lead to maladaptive polyamine dysregulation, which is observed in AD, and may contribute to neuropathology and disease progression. METHODS Male and female mice harboring tau P301L mutation (rTg4510) were examined for a tau-induced central polyamine stress response (tau-PSR). The direct effect of tau-PSR byproducts on tau fibrillization and oligomerization were measured using a thioflavin T assay and a N2a split superfolder GFP-Tau (N2a-ssGT) cell line, respectively. To therapeutically target the tau-PSR, we bilaterally injected caspase 3-cleaved tau truncated at aspartate 421 (AAV9 Tau ΔD421) into the hippocampus and cortex of spermidine/spermine-N1-acetyltransferase (SSAT), a key regulator of the tau-PSR, knock out (SSAT-/-), and wild type littermates, and the effects on tau neuropathology, polyamine dysregulation, and behavior were measured. Lastly, cellular models were employed to further examine how SSAT repression impacted tau biology. RESULTS Tau induced a unique tau-PSR signature in rTg4510 mice, notably in the accumulation of acetylated spermidine. In vitro, higher-order polyamines prevented tau fibrillization but acetylated spermidine failed to mimic this effect and even promoted fibrillization and oligomerization. AAV9 Tau ΔD421 also elicited a unique tau-PSR in vivo, and targeted disruption of SSAT prevented the accumulation of acetylated polyamines and impacted several tau phospho-epitopes. Interestingly, SSAT knockout mice presented with altered behavior in the rotarod task, the elevated plus maze, and marble burying task, thus highlighting the impact of polyamine homeostasis within the brain. CONCLUSION These data represent a novel paradigm linking tau pathology and polyamine dysfunction and that targeting specific arms within the polyamine pathway may serve as new targets to mitigate certain components of the tau phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leslie A. Sandusky-Beltran
- 0000 0001 2353 285Xgrid.170693.aByrd Alzheimer’s Institute, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of South Florida, 4001 E. Fletcher Ave, Tampa, FL 33613 USA
- 0000 0004 1936 8753grid.137628.9Neuroscience Institute, Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, New York University School of Medicine, 1 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10016 USA
| | - Andrii Kovalenko
- 0000 0001 2353 285Xgrid.170693.aByrd Alzheimer’s Institute, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of South Florida, 4001 E. Fletcher Ave, Tampa, FL 33613 USA
| | - Chao Ma
- 0000 0001 2353 285Xgrid.170693.aByrd Alzheimer’s Institute, Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33613 USA
| | - John Ivan T. Calahatian
- 0000 0001 2353 285Xgrid.170693.aByrd Alzheimer’s Institute, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of South Florida, 4001 E. Fletcher Ave, Tampa, FL 33613 USA
| | - Devon S. Placides
- 0000 0001 2353 285Xgrid.170693.aByrd Alzheimer’s Institute, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of South Florida, 4001 E. Fletcher Ave, Tampa, FL 33613 USA
| | - Mallory D. Watler
- 0000 0001 2353 285Xgrid.170693.aByrd Alzheimer’s Institute, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of South Florida, 4001 E. Fletcher Ave, Tampa, FL 33613 USA
| | - Jerry B. Hunt
- 0000 0001 2353 285Xgrid.170693.aByrd Alzheimer’s Institute, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of South Florida, 4001 E. Fletcher Ave, Tampa, FL 33613 USA
| | - April L. Darling
- 0000 0001 2353 285Xgrid.170693.aByrd Alzheimer’s Institute, Department of Molecular Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33613 USA
| | - Jeremy D. Baker
- 0000 0001 2353 285Xgrid.170693.aByrd Alzheimer’s Institute, Department of Molecular Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33613 USA
| | - Laura J. Blair
- 0000 0001 2353 285Xgrid.170693.aByrd Alzheimer’s Institute, Department of Molecular Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33613 USA
| | - Mackenzie D. Martin
- 0000 0001 2353 285Xgrid.170693.aByrd Alzheimer’s Institute, Department of Molecular Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33613 USA
| | - Sarah N. Fontaine
- 0000 0001 2353 285Xgrid.170693.aByrd Alzheimer’s Institute, Department of Molecular Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33613 USA
| | - Chad A. Dickey
- 0000 0001 2353 285Xgrid.170693.aByrd Alzheimer’s Institute, Department of Molecular Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33613 USA
| | - April L. Lussier
- 0000 0001 2353 285Xgrid.170693.aByrd Alzheimer’s Institute, Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33613 USA
| | - Edwin J. Weeber
- 0000 0001 2353 285Xgrid.170693.aByrd Alzheimer’s Institute, Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33613 USA
| | - Maj-Linda B. Selenica
- 0000 0001 2353 285Xgrid.170693.aByrd Alzheimer’s Institute, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of South Florida, 4001 E. Fletcher Ave, Tampa, FL 33613 USA
| | - Kevin R. Nash
- 0000 0001 2353 285Xgrid.170693.aByrd Alzheimer’s Institute, Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33613 USA
| | - Marcia N. Gordon
- 0000 0001 2353 285Xgrid.170693.aByrd Alzheimer’s Institute, Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33613 USA
- 0000 0001 2150 1785grid.17088.36Department of Translational Science & Molecular Medicine, Michigan State University, 400 Monroe Ave NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503 USA
| | - Dave Morgan
- 0000 0001 2353 285Xgrid.170693.aByrd Alzheimer’s Institute, Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33613 USA
- 0000 0001 2150 1785grid.17088.36Department of Translational Science & Molecular Medicine, Michigan State University, 400 Monroe Ave NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503 USA
| | - Daniel C. Lee
- 0000 0001 2353 285Xgrid.170693.aByrd Alzheimer’s Institute, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of South Florida, 4001 E. Fletcher Ave, Tampa, FL 33613 USA
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27
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Skachokova Z, Martinisi A, Flach M, Sprenger F, Naegelin Y, Steiner-Monard V, Sollberger M, Monsch AU, Goedert M, Tolnay M, Winkler DT. Cerebrospinal fluid from Alzheimer's disease patients promotes tau aggregation in transgenic mice. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2019; 7:72. [PMID: 31064413 PMCID: PMC6503541 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-019-0725-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2019] [Accepted: 04/17/2019] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Tau is a microtubule stabilizing protein that forms aggregates in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Tau derived from AD patients’ brains induces tau aggregation in a prion-like manner when injected into susceptible mouse models. Here we investigated whether cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) collected from patients diagnosed with probable AD or mild cognitive impairment (MCI) likely due to AD harbors a prion-like tau seeding potential. CSF was injected intrahippocampally into young P301S tau transgenic mice. CSF obtained from AD or MCI patients increased hippocampal tau hyperphosphorylation and tau tangle formation in these mice at 4 months post-seeding. Tau pathology was also accentuated in the contralateral hippocampus, and in anterior and posterior directions, indicative of spreading. We provide first evidence for in vivo prion-like properties of AD patients’ CSF, accelerating tau pathology in susceptible tau transgenic mice. This demonstrates that biologically active tau seeds reach the CSF compartment in AD. Further studies may help to evaluate strain specific properties of CSF derived tau bioseeds, and to assess their diagnostic potential.
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28
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Kounakis K, Tavernarakis N. The Cytoskeleton as a Modulator of Aging and Neurodegeneration. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2019; 1178:227-245. [PMID: 31493230 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-25650-0_12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The cytoskeleton consists of filamentous protein polymers that form organized structures, contributing to a multitude of cell life aspects. It includes three types of polymers: the actin microfilaments, the microtubules and the intermediate filaments. Decades of research have implicated the cytoskeleton in processes that regulate cellular and organismal aging, as well as neurodegeneration associated with injury or neurodegenerative disease, such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, or Charcot Marie Tooth disease. Here, we provide a brief overview of cytoskeletal structure and function, and discuss experimental evidence linking cytoskeletal function and dynamics with aging and neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Konstantinos Kounakis
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas, Heraklion, Greece.,Department of Basic Sciences, Medical School, University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece
| | - Nektarios Tavernarakis
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas, Heraklion, Greece. .,Department of Basic Sciences, Medical School, University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece.
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29
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Abstract
Elevated levels of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and prostaglandins (PGs) are involved in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD), which is characterized by the accumulation of β-amyloid protein (Aβ) and tau hyperphosphorylation. However, the gaps in our knowledge of the roles of COX-2 and PGs in AD have not been filled. Here, we summarized the literature showing that COX-2 dysregulation obviously influences abnormal cleavage of β-amyloid precursor protein, aggregation and deposition of Aβ in β-amyloid plaques and the inclusion of phosphorylated tau in neurofibrillary tangles. Neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, synaptic plasticity, neurotoxicity, autophagy, and apoptosis have been assessed to elucidate the mechanisms of COX-2 regulation of AD. Notably, an imbalance of these factors ultimately produces cognitive decline. The current review substantiates our understanding of the mechanisms of COX-2-induced AD and establishes foundations for the design of feasible therapeutic strategies to treat AD.-Guan, P.-P., Wang, P. Integrated communications between cyclooxygenase-2 and Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pei-Pei Guan
- College of Life and Health Sciences, Northeastern University, Shenyang, China
| | - Pu Wang
- College of Life and Health Sciences, Northeastern University, Shenyang, China
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30
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Novak P, Cehlar O, Skrabana R, Novak M. Tau Conformation as a Target for Disease-Modifying Therapy: The Role of Truncation. J Alzheimers Dis 2018; 64:S535-S546. [DOI: 10.3233/jad-179942] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Petr Novak
- Institute of Neuroimmunology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Ondrej Cehlar
- Institute of Neuroimmunology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Rostislav Skrabana
- Institute of Neuroimmunology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Michal Novak
- Institute of Neuroimmunology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia
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31
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Skrabana R, Kovacech B, Filipcik P, Zilka N, Jadhav S, Smolek T, Kontsekova E, Novak M. Neuronal Expression of Truncated Tau Efficiently Promotes Neurodegeneration in Animal Models: Pitfalls of Toxic Oligomer Analysis. J Alzheimers Dis 2018; 58:1017-1025. [PMID: 28527208 DOI: 10.3233/jad-161124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Animal models of neurodegeneration induced by neuronal expression of truncated tau protein emerge as an important tool for understanding the pathogenesis of human tauopathies and for therapy development. Here we highlight common features of truncated tau models and make a critical assessment of possible pitfalls in their analysis. Particularly, the amount of soluble tau oligomers, which are suspected to be neurotoxic agents participating on the spreading of pathology inside the brain, may be overestimated due to a post-lysis oxidative tau oligomerization. Using a mouse brain lysate spiked with recombinant truncated and full length tau forms, we show that tau oligomers might inadvertently be produced during the isolation procedure. This finding is further corroborated by the analysis of brain lysates originated from a mouse model expressing truncated tau variant. Our results underline the necessity of thiol-protecting conditions during the analysis of tau oligomers involved in the etiopathogenesis of various tauopathies including Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rostislav Skrabana
- AXON Neuroscience R&D Services SE, Bratislava, Slovakia.,Institute of Neuroimmunology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Branislav Kovacech
- AXON Neuroscience R&D Services SE, Bratislava, Slovakia.,Institute of Neuroimmunology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Peter Filipcik
- AXON Neuroscience R&D Services SE, Bratislava, Slovakia.,Institute of Neuroimmunology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Norbert Zilka
- AXON Neuroscience R&D Services SE, Bratislava, Slovakia.,Institute of Neuroimmunology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Santosh Jadhav
- AXON Neuroscience R&D Services SE, Bratislava, Slovakia.,Institute of Neuroimmunology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Tomas Smolek
- AXON Neuroscience R&D Services SE, Bratislava, Slovakia.,Institute of Neuroimmunology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Eva Kontsekova
- AXON Neuroscience R&D Services SE, Bratislava, Slovakia.,Institute of Neuroimmunology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Michal Novak
- Institute of Neuroimmunology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia.,AXON Neuroscience SE, Larnaca, Cyprus
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Abstract
A pathway from the natively unfolded microtubule-associated protein Tau to a highly structured amyloid fibril underlies human Tauopathies. This ordered assembly causes disease and represents the gain of toxic function. In recent years, evidence has accumulated to suggest that Tau inclusions form first in a small number of brain cells, from where they propagate to other regions, resulting in neurodegeneration and disease. Propagation of pathology is often called prion-like, which refers to the capacity of an assembled protein to induce the same abnormal conformation in a protein of the same kind, initiating a self-amplifying cascade. In addition, prion-like encompasses the release of protein aggregates from brain cells and their uptake by neighboring cells. In mice, the intracerebral injection of Tau inclusions induces the ordered assembly of monomeric Tau, followed by its spreading to distant brain regions. Conformational differences between Tau aggregates from transgenic mouse brain and in vitro assembled recombinant protein account for the greater seeding potency of brain aggregates. Short fibrils constitute the major species of seed-competent Tau in the brains of transgenic mice. The existence of multiple human Tauopathies with distinct fibril morphologies has led to the suggestion that different molecular conformers (or strains) of aggregated Tau exist.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michel Goedert
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge CB2 0QH, United Kingdom;
| | - David S Eisenberg
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095
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Quinn JP, Corbett NJ, Kellett KAB, Hooper NM. Tau Proteolysis in the Pathogenesis of Tauopathies: Neurotoxic Fragments and Novel Biomarkers. J Alzheimers Dis 2018; 63:13-33. [PMID: 29630551 PMCID: PMC5900574 DOI: 10.3233/jad-170959] [Citation(s) in RCA: 101] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/31/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
With predictions showing that 131.5 million people worldwide will be living with dementia by 2050, an understanding of the molecular mechanisms underpinning disease is crucial in the hunt for novel therapeutics and for biomarkers to detect disease early and/or monitor disease progression. The metabolism of the microtubule-associated protein tau is altered in different dementias, the so-called tauopathies. Tau detaches from microtubules, aggregates into oligomers and neurofibrillary tangles, which can be secreted from neurons, and spreads through the brain during disease progression. Post-translational modifications exacerbate the production of both oligomeric and soluble forms of tau, with proteolysis by a range of different proteases being a crucial driver. However, the impact of tau proteolysis on disease progression has been overlooked until recently. Studies have highlighted that proteolytic fragments of tau can drive neurodegeneration in a fragment-dependent manner as a result of aggregation and/or transcellular propagation. Proteolytic fragments of tau have been found in the cerebrospinal fluid and plasma of patients with different tauopathies, providing an opportunity to develop these fragments as novel disease progression biomarkers. A range of therapeutic strategies have been proposed to halt the toxicity associated with proteolysis, including reducing protease expression and/or activity, selectively inhibiting protease-substrate interactions, and blocking the action of the resulting fragments. This review highlights the importance of tau proteolysis in the pathogenesis of tauopathies, identifies putative sites during tau fragment-mediated neurodegeneration that could be targeted therapeutically, and discusses the potential use of proteolytic fragments of tau as biomarkers for different tauopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- James P. Quinn
- Division of Neuroscience and Experimental Psychology, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, UK
| | - Nicola J. Corbett
- Division of Neuroscience and Experimental Psychology, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, UK
| | - Katherine A. B. Kellett
- Division of Neuroscience and Experimental Psychology, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, UK
| | - Nigel M. Hooper
- Division of Neuroscience and Experimental Psychology, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, UK
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Mudher A, Colin M, Dujardin S, Medina M, Dewachter I, Alavi Naini SM, Mandelkow EM, Mandelkow E, Buée L, Goedert M, Brion JP. What is the evidence that tau pathology spreads through prion-like propagation? Acta Neuropathol Commun 2017; 5:99. [PMID: 29258615 PMCID: PMC5735872 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-017-0488-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 229] [Impact Index Per Article: 32.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2017] [Accepted: 10/30/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Emerging experimental evidence suggests that the spread of tau pathology in the brain in Tauopathies reflects the propagation of abnormal tau species along neuroanatomically connected brain areas. This propagation could occur through a "prion-like" mechanism involving transfer of abnormal tau seeds from a "donor cell" to a "recipient cell" and recruitment of normal tau in the latter to generate new tau seeds. This review critically appraises the evidence that the spread of tau pathology occurs via such a "prion-like" mechanism and proposes a number of recommendations for directing future research. Recommendations for definitions of frequently used terms in the tau field are presented in an attempt to clarify and standardize interpretation of research findings. Molecular and cellular factors affecting tau aggregation are briefly reviewed, as are potential contributions of physiological and pathological post-translational modifications of tau. Additionally, the experimental evidence for tau seeding and "prion-like" propagation of tau aggregation that has emerged from cellular assays and in vivo models is discussed. Propagation of tau pathology using "prion-like" mechanisms is expected to incorporate several steps including cellular uptake, templated seeding, secretion and intercellular transfer through synaptic and non-synaptic pathways. The experimental findings supporting each of these steps are reviewed. The clinical validity of these experimental findings is then debated by considering the supportive or contradictory findings from patient samples. Further, the role of physiological tau release in this scenario is examined because emerging data shows that tau is secreted but the physiological function (if any) of this secretion in the context of propagation of pathological tau seeds is unclear. Bona fide prions exhibit specific properties, including transmission from cell to cell, tissue to tissue and organism to organism. The propagation of tau pathology has so far not been shown to exhibit all of these steps and how this influences the debate of whether or not abnormal tau species can propagate in a "prion-like" manner is discussed. The exact nature of tau seeds responsible for propagation of tau pathology in human tauopathies remains controversial; it might be tightly linked to the existence of tau strains stably propagating peculiar patterns of neuropathological lesions, corresponding to the different patterns seen in human tauopathies. That this is a property shared by all seed-competent tau conformers is not yet firmly established. Further investigation is also required to clarify the relationship between propagation of tau aggregates and tau-induced toxicity. Genetic variants identified as risks factors for tauopathies might play a role in propagation of tau pathology, but many more studies are needed to document this. The contribution of selective vulnerability of neuronal populations, as an alternative to prion-like mechanisms to explain spreading of tau pathology needs to be clarified. Learning from the prion field will be helpful to enhance our understanding of propagation of tau pathology. Finally, development of better models is expected to answer some of these key questions and allow for the testing of propagation-centred therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amrit Mudher
- University of Southampton, Biological Sciences, Faculty of Natural and Environmental Sciences, SO17 1BJ, Southampton, UK.
| | - Morvane Colin
- Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU-Lille, UMR-S 1172, LabEx DISTALZ, 59000, Lille, France
| | - Simon Dujardin
- Department of Neurology, MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Miguel Medina
- Network Center for Biomedical Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIBERNED), Madrid, Spain; CIEN Foundation, Queen Sofia Foundation Alzheimer Center, Madrid, Spain
| | - Ilse Dewachter
- Dementia Research Group, BioMedical Research Institute, Hasselt University, 3500, Hasselt, Belgium
| | - Seyedeh Maryam Alavi Naini
- Institut de Biologie Paris Seine-Laboratoire Neuroscience Paris Seine INSERM UMRS 1130, CNRS UMR 8246, UPMC UM 118 Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris, France
| | - Eva-Maria Mandelkow
- DZNE (German Ctr. Neurodegen. Diseases), Bonn, Germany
- CAESAR Research Center, Bonn, Germany
- DESY, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Eckhard Mandelkow
- DZNE (German Ctr. Neurodegen. Diseases), Bonn, Germany
- CAESAR Research Center, Bonn, Germany
- DESY, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Luc Buée
- Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU-Lille, UMR-S 1172, LabEx DISTALZ, 59000, Lille, France
| | - Michel Goedert
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Francis Crick Avenue, CB2 0QH, Cambridge, UK
| | - Jean-Pierre Brion
- Laboratory of Histology, Neuroanatomy and Neuropathology Université Libre de Bruxelles, Faculty of Medicine, ULB Neuroscience Institute (UNI) 808, route de Lennik 1070, Brussels, Belgium.
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Tseng E, Tang HT, AlOlaby RR, Hickey L, Tassone F. Altered expression of the FMR1 splicing variants landscape in premutation carriers. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-GENE REGULATORY MECHANISMS 2017; 1860:1117-1126. [PMID: 28888471 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagrm.2017.08.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2017] [Revised: 08/26/2017] [Accepted: 08/26/2017] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
FMR1 premutation carriers (55-200 CGG repeats) are at risk for developing Fragile X-associated Tremor/Ataxia Syndrome (FXTAS), an adult onset neurodegenerative disorder. Approximately 20% of female carriers will develop Fragile X-associated Primary Ovarian Insufficiency (FXPOI), in addition to a number of clinical problems affecting premutation carriers throughout their life span. Marked elevation in FMR1 mRNA levels have been observed with premutation alleles resulting in RNA toxicity, the leading molecular mechanism proposed for the FMR1 associated disorders observed in premutation carriers. The FMR1 gene undergoes alternative splicing and we have recently reported that the relative abundance of all FMR1 mRNA isoforms is significantly increased in premutation carriers. In this study, we characterized the transcriptional FMR1 isoforms distribution pattern in different tissues and identified a total of 49 isoforms, some of which observed only in premutation carriers and which might play a role in the pathogenesis of FXTAS. Further, we investigated the distribution pattern and expression levels of the FMR1 isoforms in asymptomatic premutation carriers and in those with FXTAS and found no significant differences between the two groups. Our findings suggest that the characterization of the expression levels of the different FMR1 isoforms is fundamental for understanding the regulation of the FMR1 gene as imbalance in their expression could lead to an altered functional diversity with neurotoxic consequences. Their characterization will also help to elucidating the mechanism(s) by which "toxic gain of function" of the FMR1 mRNA may play a role in FXTAS and/or in the other FMR1-associated conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Hiu-Tung Tang
- Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, UC Davis, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
| | - Reem Rafik AlOlaby
- Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, UC Davis, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
| | - Luke Hickey
- Pacific Biosciences, Inc., Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA
| | - Flora Tassone
- Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, UC Davis, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA; MIND Institute, UC Davis, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA.
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36
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Nicholls SB, DeVos SL, Commins C, Nobuhara C, Bennett RE, Corjuc DL, Maury E, Eftekharzadeh B, Akingbade O, Fan Z, Roe AD, Takeda S, Wegmann S, Hyman BT. Characterization of TauC3 antibody and demonstration of its potential to block tau propagation. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0177914. [PMID: 28531180 PMCID: PMC5439699 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0177914] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2016] [Accepted: 05/05/2017] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The spread of neurofibrillary tangle (NFT) pathology through the human brain is a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), which is thought to be caused by the propagation of “seeding” competent soluble misfolded tau. “TauC3”, a C-terminally truncated form of tau that is generated by caspase-3 cleavage at D421, has previously been observed in NFTs and has been implicated in tau toxicity. Here we show that TauC3 is found in the seeding competent high molecular weight (HMW) protein fraction of human AD brain. Using a specific TauC3 antibody, we were able to substantially block the HMW tau seeding activity of human AD brain extracts in an in vitro tau seeding FRET assay. We propose that TauC3 could contribute to the templated tau misfolding that leads to NFT spread in AD brains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha B. Nicholls
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Department of Neurology, MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease, Charlestown, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Sarah L. DeVos
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Department of Neurology, MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease, Charlestown, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Caitlin Commins
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Department of Neurology, MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease, Charlestown, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Chloe Nobuhara
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Department of Neurology, MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease, Charlestown, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Rachel E. Bennett
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Department of Neurology, MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease, Charlestown, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Diana L. Corjuc
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Department of Neurology, MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease, Charlestown, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Eduardo Maury
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Department of Neurology, MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease, Charlestown, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Bahareh Eftekharzadeh
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Department of Neurology, MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease, Charlestown, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Ololade Akingbade
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Department of Neurology, MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease, Charlestown, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Zhanyun Fan
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Department of Neurology, MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease, Charlestown, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Allyson D. Roe
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Department of Neurology, MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease, Charlestown, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Shuko Takeda
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Department of Neurology, MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease, Charlestown, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Susanne Wegmann
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Department of Neurology, MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease, Charlestown, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Bradley T. Hyman
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Department of Neurology, MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease, Charlestown, Massachusetts, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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37
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Andrés-Benito P, Fernández-Dueñas V, Carmona M, Escobar LA, Torrejón-Escribano B, Aso E, Ciruela F, Ferrer I. Locus coeruleus at asymptomatic early and middle Braak stages of neurofibrillary tangle pathology. Neuropathol Appl Neurobiol 2017; 43:373-392. [PMID: 28117912 DOI: 10.1111/nan.12386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2016] [Revised: 01/19/2017] [Accepted: 01/24/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
AIMS The present study analyses molecular characteristics of the locus coeruleus (LC) and projections to the amygdala and hippocampus at asymptomatic early and middle Braak stages of neurofibrillary tangle (NFT) pathology. METHODS Immunohistochemistry, whole-transcriptome arrays and RT-qPCR in LC and western blotting in hippocampus and amygdala in a cohort of asymptomatic individuals at stages I-IV of NFT pathology were used. RESULTS NFTs in the LC increased in parallel with colocalized expression of tau kinases, increased neuroketal adducts and decreased superoxide dismutase 1 in neurons with hyperphosphorylated tau and decreased voltage-dependent anion channel in neurons containing truncated tau were found. These were accompanied by increased microglia and AIF1, CD68, PTGS2, IL1β, IL6 and TNF-α gene expression. Whole-transcriptome arrays revealed upregulation of genes coding for proteins associated with heat shock protein binding and genes associated with ATP metabolism and downregulation of genes coding for DNA-binding proteins and members of the small nucleolar RNAs family, at stage IV when compared with stage I. Tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) immunoreactivity was preserved in neurons of the LC, but decreased TH and increased α2A adrenergic receptor protein levels were found in the hippocampus and the amygdala. CONCLUSIONS Complex alteration of several metabolic pathways occurs in the LC accompanying NFT formation at early and middle asymptomatic stages of NFT pathology. Dopaminergic/noradrenergic denervation and increased expression of α2A adrenergic receptor in the hippocampus and amygdala occur at first stage of NFT pathology, suggesting compensatory activation in the face of decreased adrenergic input occurring before clinical evidence of cognitive impairment and depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Andrés-Benito
- Institut de Neuropatologia, Servei d'Anatomia Patològica, Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge, Barcelona, Spain
| | - V Fernández-Dueñas
- Unitat de Farmacologia, Departament Patologia i Terapèutica Experimental, IDIBELL, Universitat de Barcelona, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain.,Institut de Neurociències, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - M Carmona
- Institut de Neuropatologia, Servei d'Anatomia Patològica, Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge, Barcelona, Spain
| | - L A Escobar
- Institut de Neuropatologia, Servei d'Anatomia Patològica, Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge, Barcelona, Spain
| | - B Torrejón-Escribano
- Unitat de Biologia (BT-E), Serveis Cientifics I Tecnics, Universitat de Barcelona, Madrid, Spain
| | - E Aso
- Institut de Neuropatologia, Servei d'Anatomia Patològica, Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge, Barcelona, Spain.,Departament de Patologia i Terapèutica Experimental, Universitat de Barcelona, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Madrid, Spain
| | - F Ciruela
- Unitat de Farmacologia, Departament Patologia i Terapèutica Experimental, IDIBELL, Universitat de Barcelona, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain.,Institut de Neurociències, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - I Ferrer
- Institut de Neuropatologia, Servei d'Anatomia Patològica, Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge, Barcelona, Spain.,Institut de Neurociències, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Departament de Patologia i Terapèutica Experimental, Universitat de Barcelona, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Madrid, Spain.,CIBERNED, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
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38
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Pérez MJ, Vergara-Pulgar K, Jara C, Cabezas-Opazo F, Quintanilla RA. Caspase-Cleaved Tau Impairs Mitochondrial Dynamics in Alzheimer’s Disease. Mol Neurobiol 2017; 55:1004-1018. [DOI: 10.1007/s12035-017-0385-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2016] [Accepted: 01/04/2017] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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39
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Avila J, Jiménez JS, Sayas CL, Bolós M, Zabala JC, Rivas G, Hernández F. Tau Structures. Front Aging Neurosci 2016; 8:262. [PMID: 27877124 PMCID: PMC5099159 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2016.00262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2016] [Accepted: 10/21/2016] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Tau is a microtubule-associated protein that plays an important role in axonal stabilization, neuronal development, and neuronal polarity. In this review, we focus on the primary, secondary, tertiary, and quaternary tau structures. We describe the structure of tau from its specific residues until its conformation in dimers, oligomers, and larger polymers in physiological and pathological situations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jesus Avila
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa (Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas-UAM)Madrid, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades NeurodegenerativasMadrid, Spain
| | - Juan S Jiménez
- Departamento de Química Física Aplicada, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid Madrid, Spain
| | - Carmen L Sayas
- Centre for Biomedical Research of the Canary Islands, Institute for Biomedical Technologies, University of La Laguna Tenerife, Spain
| | - Marta Bolós
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa (Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas-UAM)Madrid, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades NeurodegenerativasMadrid, Spain
| | - Juan C Zabala
- Departamento de Biología Molecular, Facultad de Medicina, IDIVAL-Universidad de Cantabria Santander, Spain
| | - Germán Rivas
- Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas Madrid, Spain
| | - Felix Hernández
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa (Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas-UAM)Madrid, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades NeurodegenerativasMadrid, Spain
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40
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Braak H, Del Tredici K. Potential Pathways of Abnormal Tau and α-Synuclein Dissemination in Sporadic Alzheimer's and Parkinson's Diseases. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Biol 2016; 8:a023630. [PMID: 27580631 PMCID: PMC5088528 DOI: 10.1101/cshperspect.a023630] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Experimental data indicate that transneuronal propagation of abnormal protein aggregates in neurodegenerative proteinopathies, such as sporadic Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD), is capable of a self-propagating process that leads to a progression of neurodegeneration and accumulation of prion-like particles. The mechanisms by which misfolded tau and α-synuclein possibly spread from one involved nerve cell to the next in the neuronal chain to induce abnormal aggregation are still unknown. Based on findings from studies of human autopsy cases, we review potential pathways and mechanisms related to axonal and transneuronal dissemination of tau (sporadic AD) and α-synuclein (sporadic PD) aggregates between anatomically interconnected regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heiko Braak
- Clinical Neuroanatomy Section/Department of Neurology, Center for Biomedical Research, University of Ulm, Helmholtzstrasse 8/1, 89081 Ulm, Germany
| | - Kelly Del Tredici
- Clinical Neuroanatomy Section/Department of Neurology, Center for Biomedical Research, University of Ulm, Helmholtzstrasse 8/1, 89081 Ulm, Germany
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41
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Secretion of full-length tau or tau fragments in a cell culture model. Neurosci Lett 2016; 634:63-69. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2016.09.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2016] [Revised: 09/14/2016] [Accepted: 09/16/2016] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
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