1
|
Latimer CS, Melief EJ, Ariza-Torres J, Howard K, Keen AR, Keene LM, Schantz AM, Sytsma TM, Wilson AM, Grabowski TJ, Darvas M, O'Connor KD, Nolan AL, Edlow BL, Mac Donald CL, Keene CD. Protocol for the Systematic Fixation, Circuit-Based Sampling, and Qualitative and Quantitative Neuropathological Analysis of Human Brain Tissue. Methods Mol Biol 2023; 2561:3-30. [PMID: 36399262 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2655-9_1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Human brain tissue has long been a critical resource for neuroanatomy and neuropathology, but with the advent of advanced imaging and molecular sequencing techniques, it has become possible to use human brain tissue to study, in great detail, the structural, molecular, and even functional underpinnings of human brain disease. In the century following the first description of Alzheimer's disease (AD), numerous technological advances applied to human tissue have enabled novel diagnostic approaches using diverse physical and molecular biomarkers, and many drug therapies have been tested in clinical trials (Schachter and Davis, Dialogues Clin Neurosci 2:91-100, 2000). The methods for brain procurement and tissue stabilization have remained somewhat consistently focused on formalin fixation and freezing. Although these methods have enabled research protocols of multiple modalities, new, more advanced technologies demand improved methodologies for the procurement, characterization, stabilization, and preparation of both normal and diseased human brain tissues. Here, we describe our current protocols for the procurement and characterization of fixed brain tissue, to enable systematic and precisely targeted diagnoses, and describe the novel, quantitative molecular, and neuroanatomical studies that broadly expand the use of formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue that will further our understanding of the mechanisms underlying human neuropathologies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Caitlin S Latimer
- University of Washington, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Erica J Melief
- University of Washington, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Jeanelle Ariza-Torres
- University of Washington, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Kim Howard
- University of Washington, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Amanda R Keen
- University of Washington, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Lisa M Keene
- University of Washington, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Aimee M Schantz
- University of Washington, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Trevor M Sytsma
- University of Washington, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Angela M Wilson
- University of Washington, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | - Martin Darvas
- University of Washington, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | - Amber L Nolan
- University of Washington, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Brian L Edlow
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Department of Neurology, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - C Dirk Keene
- University of Washington, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Seattle, WA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Kaisey M, Lashgari G, Fert-Bober J, Ontaneda D, Solomon AJ, Sicotte NL. An Update on Diagnostic Laboratory Biomarkers for Multiple Sclerosis. Curr Neurol Neurosci Rep 2022; 22:675-688. [PMID: 36269540 DOI: 10.1007/s11910-022-01227-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE For many patients, the multiple sclerosis (MS) diagnostic process can be lengthy, costly, and fraught with error. Recent research aims to address the unmet need for an accurate and simple diagnostic process through discovery of novel diagnostic biomarkers. This review summarizes recent studies on MS diagnostic fluid biomarkers, with a focus on blood biomarkers, and includes discussion of technical limitations and practical applicability. RECENT FINDINGS This line of research is in its early days. Accurate and easily obtainable biomarkers for MS have not yet been identified and validated, but several approaches to uncover them are underway. Continue efforts to define laboratory diagnostic biomarkers are likely to play an increasingly important role in defining MS at the earliest stages, leading to better long-term clinical outcomes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marwa Kaisey
- Cedars-Sinai Medical Center Department of Neurology, 127 S. San Vicente Blvd, A6600, Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA.
| | - Ghazal Lashgari
- Cedars-Sinai Medical Center Department of Neurology, 127 S. San Vicente Blvd, A6600, Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA
| | - Justyna Fert-Bober
- Cedars-Sinai Medical Center Department of Neurology, 127 S. San Vicente Blvd, A6600, Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA
| | - Daniel Ontaneda
- Mellen Center for Multiple Sclerosis, Neurological Institute, Cleveland Clinic, 9500 Euclid Ave. U10 Mellen Center, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA
| | - Andrew J Solomon
- Department of Neurological Sciences, Larner College of Medicine at the University of Vermont University Health Center, Arnold 2, 1 South Prospect Street, Burlington, VT, 05401, USA
| | - Nancy L Sicotte
- Cedars-Sinai Medical Center Department of Neurology, 127 S. San Vicente Blvd, A6600, Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Canine Cognitive Dysfunction (CCD) scores correlate with amyloid beta 42 levels in dog brain tissue. GeroScience 2021; 43:2379-2386. [PMID: 34417706 DOI: 10.1007/s11357-021-00422-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2021] [Accepted: 07/13/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a significant burden for human health that is increasing in prevalence as the global population ages. There is growing recognition that current preclinical models of AD are insufficient to recapitulate key aspects of the disease. Laboratory models for AD include mice, which do not naturally develop AD-like pathology during aging, and laboratory Beagle dogs, which do not share the human environment. In contrast, the companion dog shares the human environment and presents a genetically heterogeneous population of animals that might spontaneously develop age-associated AD-like pathology and cognitive dysfunction. Here, we quantitatively measured amyloid beta (Aβ42 or Abeta-42) levels in three areas of the companion dog brain (prefrontal cortex, temporal cortex, hippocampus/entorhinal cortex) and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) using a newly developed Luminex assay. We found significant positive correlations between Aβ42 and age in all three brain regions. Brain Aβ42 abundance in all three brain regions was also correlated with Canine Cognitive Dysfunction Scale score in a multivariate analysis. This latter effect remained significant when correcting for age, except in the temporal cortex. There was no correlation between Aβ42 in CSF and cognitive scores; however, we found a significant positive correlation between Aβ42 in CSF and body weight, as well as a significant negative correlation between Aβ42 in CSF and age. Our results support the suitability of the companion dog as a model for AD and illustrate the utility of veterinary biobanking to make biospecimens available to researchers for analysis.
Collapse
|
4
|
Shaffer RM, Li G, Adar SD, Dirk Keene C, Latimer CS, Crane PK, Larson EB, Kaufman JD, Carone M, Sheppard L. Fine Particulate Matter and Markers of Alzheimer's Disease Neuropathology at Autopsy in a Community-Based Cohort. J Alzheimers Dis 2021; 79:1761-1773. [PMID: 33459717 PMCID: PMC8061707 DOI: 10.3233/jad-201005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Evidence links fine particulate matter (PM2.5) to Alzheimer's disease (AD), but no community-based prospective cohort studies in older adults have evaluated the association between long-term exposure to PM2.5 and markers of AD neuropathology at autopsy. OBJECTIVE Using a well-established autopsy cohort and new spatiotemporal predictions of air pollution, we evaluated associations of 10-year PM2.5 exposure prior to death with Braak stage, Consortium to Establish a Registry for AD (CERAD) score, and combined AD neuropathologic change (ABC score). METHODS We used autopsy specimens (N = 832) from the Adult Changes in Thought (ACT) study, with enrollment ongoing since 1994. We assigned long-term exposure at residential address based on two-week average concentrations from a newly developed spatiotemporal model. To account for potential selection bias, we conducted inverse probability weighting. Adjusting for covariates with tiered models, we performed ordinal regression for Braak and CERAD and logistic regression for dichotomized ABC score. RESULTS 10-year average (SD) PM2.5 from death across the autopsy cohort was 8.2 (1.9) μg/m3. Average age (SD) at death was 89 (7) years. Each 1μg/m3 increase in 10-year average PM2.5 prior to death was associated with a suggestive increase in the odds of worse neuropathology as indicated by CERAD score (OR: 1.35 (0.90, 1.90)) but a suggestive decreased odds of neuropathology as defined by the ABC score (OR: 0.79 (0.49, 1.19)). There was no association with Braak stage (OR: 0.99 (0.64, 1.47)). CONCLUSION We report inconclusive associations between PM2.5 and AD neuropathology at autopsy among a cohort where 94% of individuals experienced 10-year exposures below the current EPA standard. Prior studies of AD risk factors and AD neuropathology are similarly inconclusive, suggesting alternative mechanistic pathways for disease or residual confounding.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rachel M. Shaffer
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington School of Public Health, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Ge Li
- VA Northwest Network Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center, VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, WA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center, VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Sara D. Adar
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - C. Dirk Keene
- Division of Neuropathology, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Caitlin S. Latimer
- Division of Neuropathology, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Paul K. Crane
- School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Eric B. Larson
- School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Joel D. Kaufman
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington School of Public Health, Seattle, WA, USA
- Departments of Medicine and Epidemiology, University of Washington School of Public Health, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Marco Carone
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Washington School of Public Health, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Lianne Sheppard
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington School of Public Health, Seattle, WA, USA
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Washington School of Public Health, Seattle, WA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Jellinger KA. Neuropathological assessment of the Alzheimer spectrum. J Neural Transm (Vienna) 2020; 127:1229-1256. [PMID: 32740684 DOI: 10.1007/s00702-020-02232-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2020] [Accepted: 07/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Alzheimer disease (AD), the most common form of dementia globally, classically defined a clinicopathological entity, is a heterogenous disorder with various pathobiological subtypes, currently referred to as Alzheimer continuum. Its morphological hallmarks are extracellular parenchymal β-amyloid (amyloid plaques) and intraneuronal (tau aggregates forming neurofibrillary tangles) lesions accompanied by synaptic loss and vascular amyloid deposits, that are essential for the pathological diagnosis of AD. In addition to "classical" AD, several subtypes with characteristic regional patterns of tau pathology have been described that show distinct clinical features, differences in age, sex distribution, biomarker levels, and patterns of key network destructions responsible for cognitive decline. AD is a mixed proteinopathy (amyloid and tau), frequently associated with other age-related co-pathologies, such as cerebrovascular lesions, Lewy and TDP-43 pathologies, hippocampal sclerosis, or argyrophilic grain disease. These and other co-pathologies essentially influence the clinical picture of AD and may accelerate disease progression. The purpose of this review is to provide a critical overview of AD pathology, its defining pathological substrates, and the heterogeneity among the Alzheimer spectrum entities that may provide a broader diagnostic coverage of this devastating disorder as a basis for implementing precision medicine approaches and for ultimate development of successful disease-modifying drugs for AD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kurt A Jellinger
- Institute of Clinical Neurobiology, Alberichgasse 5/13, 1150, Vienna, Austria.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Urfer SR, Latimer CS, Ladiges W, Keene CD, Benbow S, Harrison B, Promislow DE, Kaeberlein M, Kraemer BC, Wang A, Guscetti F, Darvas M. Cross species application of quantitative neuropathology assays developed for clinical Alzheimer's disease samples. PATHOBIOLOGY OF AGING & AGE RELATED DISEASES 2019; 9:1657768. [PMID: 31528297 PMCID: PMC6735310 DOI: 10.1080/20010001.2019.1657768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2019] [Accepted: 08/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
A major obstacle for preclinical testing of Alzheimer's disease (AD) therapies is the availability of translationally relevant AD models. Critical for the validation of such models is the application of the same approaches and techniques used for the neuropathological characterization of AD. Deposition of amyloid-β 42 (Aβ42) plaques and neurofibrillary tangles containing phospho-Tau (pTau) are the pathognomonic features of AD. In the neuropathologic evaluation of AD, immunohistochemistry (IHC) is the current standard method for detection of Aβ42 and pTau. Although IHC is indispensable for determining the distribution of AD pathology, it is of rather limited use for assessment of the quantity of AD pathology. We have recently developed Luminex-based assays for the quantitative assessment of Aβ42 and pTau in AD brains. These assays are based on the same antibodies that are used for the IHC-based diagnosis of AD neuropathologic change. Here we report the application and extension of such quantitative AD neuropathology assays to commonly used genetically engineered AD models and to animals that develop AD neuropathologic change as they age naturally. We believe that identifying AD models that have Aβ42 or pTau levels comparable to those observed in AD will greatly improve the ability to develop AD therapies. Abbreviations: Alzheimer's disease (AD); amyloid β 42 (Aβ42); phospho-Tau (pTau); immunohistochemistry (IHC).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Silvan R. Urfer
- Department of Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | - Warren Ladiges
- Department of Comparative Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - C. Dirk Keene
- Department of Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Sarah Benbow
- Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Veterans Affairs Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | | | - Matt Kaeberlein
- Department of Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Brian C Kraemer
- Department of Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Veterans Affairs Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Adrienne Wang
- Department of Biology, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA, USA
| | - Franco Guscetti
- Institute of Veterinary Pathology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Martin Darvas
- Department of Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| |
Collapse
|