Generation of App knock-in mice reveals deletion mutations protective against Alzheimer's disease-like pathology

Rethinking neurodegenerative diseases: neurometabolic concept linking lipid oxidation to diseases in the central nervous system

ABSTRACT

Currently, there is a lack of effective medicines capable of halting or reversing the progression of neurodegenerative disorders, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, or Alzheimer's disease. Given the unmet medical need, it is necessary to reevaluate the existing paradigms of how to target these diseases. When considering neurodegenerative diseases from a systemic neurometabolic perspective, it becomes possible to explain the shared pathological features. This innovative approach presented in this paper draws upon extensive research conducted by the authors and researchers worldwide. In this review, we highlight the importance of metabolic mitochondrial dysfunction in the context of neurodegenerative diseases. We provide an overview of the risk factors associated with developing neurodegenerative disorders, including genetic, epigenetic, and environmental factors. Additionally, we examine pathological mechanisms implicated in these diseases such as oxidative stress, accumulation of misfolded proteins, inflammation, demyelination, death of neurons, insulin resistance, dysbiosis, and neurotransmitter disturbances. Finally, we outline a proposal for the restoration of mitochondrial metabolism, a crucial aspect that may hold the key to facilitating curative therapeutic interventions for neurodegenerative disorders in forthcoming advancements.

Long term rescue of Alzheimer's deficits in vivo by one-time gene-editing of App C-terminus

Gene-editing technologies promise to create a new class of therapeutics that can achieve permanent correction with a single intervention. Besides eliminating mutant alleles in familial disease, gene-editing can also be used to favorably manipulate upstream pathophysiologic events and alter disease-course in wider patient populations, but few such feasible therapeutic avenues have been reported. Here we use CRISPR-Cas9 to edit the last exon of amyloid precursor protein (App), relevant for Alzheimer's disease (AD). Our strategy effectively eliminates an endocytic (YENPTY) motif at APP C-terminus, while preserving the N-terminus and compensatory APP-homologues. This manipulation favorably alters events along the amyloid-pathway - inhibiting toxic APP-β-cleavage fragments (including Aβ) and upregulating neuroprotective APP-α-cleavage products. AAV-driven editing ameliorates neuropathologic, electrophysiologic, and behavioral deficits in an AD knockin mouse model. Effects persist for many months, and no abnormalities are seen in WT mice even after germline App-editing; underlining overall efficacy and safety. Pathologic alterations in the glial-transcriptome of App-KI mice, as seen by single nuclei RNA-sequencing (sNuc-Seq), are also normalized by App C-terminus editing. Our strategy takes advantage of innate transcriptional rules that render terminal exons insensitive to nonsense-decay, and the upstream manipulation is expected to be effective for all forms of AD. These studies offer a path for a one-time disease-modifying treatment for AD.

Pterostilbene nanoemulsion promotes Nrf2 signaling pathway to downregulate oxidative stress for treating Alzheimer's disease

Pterostilbene, a stilbene compound, demonstrates neuroprotective effects through its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. However, pterostilbene exhibits low bioavailability. We developed a pterostilbene nanoemulsion with better release stability and particle size. Behavioral tests, including the Y maze, new object recognition, and water maze, revealed that the pterostilbene nanoemulsion demonstrated a more significant effect on improving learning and memory function than pterostilbene. Immunofluorescence analysis revealed that pterostilbene nanoemulsion was more potent in safeguarding hippocampal neurons and inhibiting apoptosis and oxidative stress than pterostilbene. Further results from the Western blot and quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction indicated that the enhanced efficacy of pterostilbene nanoemulsion may be attributed to its stronger promotion of the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 signaling pathway. Hence, enhanced drug delivery efficiency decreased dosage requirements and increased the bioavailability of pterostilbene, thereby potentially providing a safe, effective, and convenient treatment option for patients with Alzheimer's disease.

Application of CRISPR/Cas9 System in the Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease and Neurodegenerative Diseases

Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and Huntington's are some of the most common neurological disorders, which affect millions of people worldwide. Although there have been many treatments for these diseases, there are still no effective treatments to treat or completely stop these disorders. Perhaps the lack of proper treatment for these diseases can be related to various reasons, but the poor results related to recent clinical research also prompted doctors to look for new treatment approaches. In this regard, various researchers from all over the world have provided many new treatments, one of which is CRISPR/Cas9. Today, the CRISPR/Cas9 system is mostly used for genetic modifications in various species. In addition, by using the abilities available in the CRISPR/Cas9 system, researchers can either remove or modify DNA sequences, which in this way can establish a suitable and useful treatment method for the treatment of genetic diseases that have undergone mutations. We conducted a non-systematic review of articles and study results from various databases, including PubMed, Medline, Web of Science, and Scopus, in recent years. and have investigated new treatment methods in neurodegenerative diseases with a focus on Alzheimer's disease. Then, in the following sections, the treatment methods were classified into three groups: anti-tau, anti-amyloid, and anti-APOE regimens. Finally, we discussed various applications of the CRISPR/Cas-9 system in Alzheimer's disease. Today, using CRISPR/Cas-9 technology, scientists create Alzheimer's disease models that have a more realistic phenotype and reveal the processes of pathogenesis; following the screening of defective genes, they establish treatments for this disease.

Role and application of CRISPR-Cas9 in the management of Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a serious health issue that has a significant social and economic impact worldwide. One of the key aetiological signs of the disease is a gradual reduction in cognitive function and irreversible neuronal death. According to a 2019 global report, more than 5.8 million people in the United States (USA) alone have received an AD diagnosis, with 45% of those people falling into the 75-84 years age range. According to the predictions, there will be 15 million affected people in the USA by 2050 due to the disease's steadily rising patient population. Cognitive function and memory formation steadily decline as a result of an irreversible neuron loss in AD, a chronic neurodegenerative illness. Amyloid-beta and phosphorylated Tau are produced and accumulate in large amounts, and glial cells are overactive. Additionally, weakened neurotrophin signalling and decreased synapse function are crucial aspects of AD. Memory loss, apathy, depression, and irritability are among the primary symptoms. The aetiology, pathophysiology, and causes of both cognitive decline and synaptic dysfunction are poorly understood despite extensive investigation. CRISPR/Cas9 is a promising gene-editing technique since it can fix certain gene sequences and has a lot of potential for treating AD and other human disorders. Regardless of hereditary considerations, an altered Aβ metabolism is frequently seen in familial and sporadic AD. Therefore, since mutations in the PSEN-1, PSEN-2 and APP genes are a contributing factor to familial AD, CRISPR/Cas9 technology could address excessive Aβ production or mutations in these genes. Overall, the potential of CRISPR-Cas9 technology outweighs it as currently the greatest gene-editing tool available for researching neurodegenerative diseases like AD.

Exosomes for CRISPR-Cas9 Delivery: The Cutting Edge in Genome Editing

Gene mutation correction was challenging until the discovery of clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) and CRISPR-associated protein (Cas). CRISPR is a new era for genome modification, and this technology has bypassed the limitations of previous methods such as zinc-finger nuclease and transcription activator-like effector nuclease. Currently, this method is becoming the method of choice for gene-editing purposes, especially therapeutic gene editing in diseases such as cardiovascular, neurological, renal, genetic, optical, and stem cell, as well as blood disorders and muscular degeneration. However, finding the optimum delivery system capable of carrying this large complex persists as the main challenge of this technology. Therefore, it would be ideal if the delivery vehicle could direct the introduction of editing functions to specific cells in a multicellular organism. Exosomes are membrane-bound vesicles with high biocompatibility and low immunogenicity; they offer the best and most reliable way to fill the CRISPR/Cas9 system delivery gap. This review presents the current evidence on the molecular mechanisms and challenges of CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome modification. Also, the role of CRISPR/Cas9 in the development of treatment and diagnosis of numerous disorders, from malignancies to viral infections, has been discussed. Lastly, the focus is on new advances in exosome-delivery technologies that may play a role in CRISPR/Cas9 delivery for future clinical settings.

Using Stems to Bear Fruit: Deciphering the Role of Alzheimer's Disease Risk Loci in Human-Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Microglia

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disorder globally. In people aged 65 and older, it is estimated that 1 in 9 currently live with the disease. With aging being the greatest risk factor for disease onset, the physiological, social and economic burden continues to rise. Thus, AD remains a public health priority. Since 2007, genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified over 80 genomic loci with variants associated with increased AD risk. Although some variants are beginning to be characterized, the effects of many risk loci remain to be elucidated. One advancement which may help provide a patient-focused approach to tackle this issue is the application of gene editing technology and human-induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs). The relatively non-invasive acquisition of cells from patients with known AD risk loci may provide important insights into the pathological role of these risk variants. Of the risk genes identified, many have been associated with the immune system, including ABCA7, CLU, MEF2C, PICALM and TREM2-genes known to be highly expressed in microglia. This review will detail the potential of using hiPSC-derived microglia to help clarify the role of immune-associated genetic risk variants in AD.

CRISPR-Cas9 in Alzheimer's disease: Therapeutic trends, modalities, and challenges

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder with no known cure, which has prompted the exploration of novel therapeutic approaches. The clustered regularly interspaced palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-CRISPR-associated protein 9 (Cas9) tool has generated significant interest for its potential in AD therapeutics by correcting faulty genes. Our report comprehensively reviews emerging applications for CRISPR-Cas9 in developing in vitro and in vivo models for AD research and therapeutics. We further assess its ability to identify and validate genetic markers and potential therapeutic targets for AD. Moreover, we review the current challenges and delivery strategies for the in vivo application of CRISPR-Cas9 in AD therapeutics.

Vector enabled CRISPR gene editing - A revolutionary strategy for targeting the diversity of brain pathologies

Brain pathologies are considered one of the greatest contributors of death and disability worldwide. Neurodegenerative Alzheimer's disease is the second leading cause of death in adults, whilst brain cancers including glioblastoma multiforme in adults, and pediatric-type high-grade gliomas in children remain largely untreatable. A further compounding issue for patients with brain pathologies is that of long-term neuropsychiatric sequela - as a symptom or arising from high dose therapeutic intervention. The major challenge to effective, low dose treatment is finding therapeutics that successfully cross the blood-brain barrier and target aberrant cellular processes, while having minimum effect on essential cellular processes, and healthy bystander cells. Following over 30 years of research, CRISPR technology has emerged as a biomedical tour de force with the potential to revolutionise the treatment of both neurological and cancer related brain pathologies. The aim of this review is to take stock of the progress made in CRISPR technology in relation to treating brain pathologies. Specifically, we will describe studies which look beyond design, synthesis, and theoretical application; and focus instead on in vivo studies with translation potential. Along with discussing the latest breakthrough techniques being applied within the CRISPR field, we aim to provide a prospective on the knowledge gaps that exist and challenges that still lay ahead for CRISPR technology prior to successful application in the brain disease treatment field.

CRISPR: a tool with potential for genomic reprogramming in neurological disorders

The intricate neural circuitry of the brain necessitates precise and synchronized transcriptional programs. Any disturbance during embryonic or adult development, whether caused by genetic or environmental factors, may result in refractory and recurrent neurological disorders. Inadequate knowledge of the pathogenic mechanisms underlying neurological disorders is the primary obstacle to the development of effective treatments, necessitating the development of alternative therapeutic approaches to identify rational molecular targets. Recently, with the evolution of CRISPR-Cas9 technology, an engineered RNA system provides precise and highly effective correction or silencing of disease-causing mutations by modulating expression and thereby avoiding the limitations of the RNA interference strategy. This article discusses the CRISPR-Cas9 technology, its mechanisms, and the limitations of the new technology. We provide a glimpse of how the far-reaching implications of CRISPR can open new avenues for the development of tools to combat neurological disorders, as well as a review of recent attempts by neuroscientists to launch therapeutic correction.

Advances in CRISPR therapeutics

The clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) renaissance was catalysed by the discovery that RNA-guided prokaryotic CRISPR-associated (Cas) proteins can create targeted double-strand breaks in mammalian genomes. This finding led to the development of CRISPR systems that harness natural DNA repair mechanisms to repair deficient genes more easily and precisely than ever before. CRISPR has been used to knock out harmful mutant genes and to fix errors in coding sequences to rescue disease phenotypes in preclinical studies and in several clinical trials. However, most genetic disorders result from combinations of mutations, deletions and duplications in the coding and non-coding regions of the genome and therefore require sophisticated genome engineering strategies beyond simple gene knockout. To overcome this limitation, the toolbox of natural and engineered CRISPR-Cas systems has been dramatically expanded to include diverse tools that function in human cells for precise genome editing and epigenome engineering. The application of CRISPR technology to edit the non-coding genome, modulate gene regulation, make precise genetic changes and target infectious diseases has the potential to lead to curative therapies for many previously untreatable diseases.

Dual-Ligand Near-Infrared Luminescent Lanthanide-Based Metal-Organic Framework Coupled with In Vivo Microdialysis for Highly Sensitive Ratiometric Detection of Zn2+ in a Mouse Model of Alzheimer's Disease

Zinc, which is the second most abundant trace element in the human central nervous system, is closely associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, attempts to develop highly sensitive and selective sensing systems for Zn²⁺ in the brain have not been successful. Here, we used a one-step solvothermal method to design and prepare a metal-organic framework (MOF) containing the dual ligands, terephthalic acid (H₂BDC) and 2,2':6',2″-terpyridine (TPY), with Eu³⁺ as a metal node. This MOF is denoted as Eu-MOF/BDC-TPY. Adjustment of the size and morphology of Eu-MOF/BDC-TPY allowed the dual ligands to produce multiple luminescence peaks, which could be interpreted via ratiometric fluorescence to detect Zn²⁺ using the ratio of Eu³⁺-based emission, as the internal reference, and ligand-based emission, as the indicator. Thus, Eu-MOF/BDC-TPY not only displayed higher selectivity than other metal cations but also offered a highly accurate, sensitive, wide linear, color change-based technique for detecting Zn²⁺ at concentrations ranging from 1 nM to 2 μM, with a low limit of detection (0.08 nM). Moreover, Eu-MOF/BDC-TPY maintained structural stability and displayed a fluorescence intensity of at least 95.4% following storage in water for 6 months. More importantly, Eu-MOF/BDC-TPY sensed the presence of Zn²⁺ markedly rapidly (within 5 s), which was very useful in practical application. Furthermore, the results of our ratiometric luminescent method-based analysis of Zn²⁺ in AD mouse brains were consistent with those obtained using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.

Applications of CRISPR-Cas9 in Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders

Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and Huntington’s disease represent some of the most prevalent neurodegenerative disorders afflicting millions of people worldwide. Unfortunately, there is a lack of efficacious treatments to cure or stop the progression of these disorders. While the causes of such a lack of therapies can be attributed to various reasons, the disappointing results of recent clinical trials suggest the need for novel and innovative approaches. Since its discovery, there has been a growing excitement around the potential for CRISPR-Cas9 mediated gene editing to identify novel mechanistic insights into disease pathogenesis and to mediate accurate gene therapy. To this end, the literature is rich with experiments aimed at generating novel models of these disorders and offering proof-of-concept studies in preclinical animal models validating the great potential and versatility of this gene-editing system. In this review, we provide an overview of how the CRISPR-Cas9 systems have been used in these neurodegenerative disorders.

A Review of CRISPR Cas9 for Alzheimer’s Disease: Treatment Strategies and Could target APOE e4, APP, and PSEN-1 Gene using CRISPR cas9 Prevent the Patient from Alzheimer’s Disease?

   A Review of CRISPR Cas9 for Alzheimer’s Disease: Treatment Strategies and Could target APOE e4, APP, and PSEN-1 Gene using CRISPR cas9 Prevent the Patient from Alzheimer’s Disease? BACKGROUND: Alzheimer’s disease is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the formation of β-amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles from hyperphosphorylated tau. Several studies suggest that targeting the deletion of the APOE e4, PSEN-1, and APP will reduce tau phosphorylation and Aβ protein accumulation, a crucial hypothesis for the causation of Alzheimer’s disease. APOE e4, PSEN-1, and APP with genome editing Clustered Regular interspersed Short Palindromic Repeats-CRISPR-related (CRISPR/Cas9) are thought to have therapeutic promise for Alzheimer’s disease.AIM: The purpose of this study was to determine whether targeting APOE e4, PSEN-1, and APP using CRISPR/Cas9 is an effective therapeutic and whether it has a long-term effect on Alzheimer’s disease.METHODS: The method used in this study summarized articles by examining the titles and abstracts of specific specified keywords. In this situation, the author picked the title and abstract that matched PubMed, Google Scholar, Science Direct, Cochrane, and the Frontiers in Neuroscience; this was followed by checking to see whether the paper was available in full-text. Eventually, the researcher will study the entire article to decide if it is valuable and relevant to the issue.RESULTS: CRISPR/Cas9 deletion of APOE e4, PSEN-1, and APP in induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC’s) and g2576 mice as APP mutant models reduce tau phosphorylation and Aβ protein accumulation from neurofibrillary tangles and prevent cell death, vascular damage, and dementia. Furthermore, CRISPR/Cas9 deletion in APOE e4, PSEN-1, and APP improved neuronal cell resilience to oxidative stress and inflammation.CONCLUSION: APOE e4, PSEN-1, and APP deletion by genome editing CRISPR/Cas9 is effective to reduce tau phosphorylation and Aβ protein accumulation from neurofibrillary tangles, cell death, vascular damage, and dementia. However, further research is needed to determine the side effects and safety of its use.

Exploring the Involvement of the Amyloid Precursor Protein A673T Mutation against Amyloid Pathology and Alzheimer's Disease in Relation to Therapeutic Editing Tools

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is biologically defined as a complex neurodegenerative condition with a multilayered nature that leads to a progressive decline in cognitive function and irreversible neuronal loss. It is one of the primary diseases among elderly individuals. With an increasing incidence and a high failure rate for pharmaceutical options that are merely symptom-targeting and supportive with many side effects, there is an urgent need for alternative strategies. Despite extensive knowledge on the molecular basis of AD, progress concerning effective disease-modifying therapies has proven to be a challenge. The ability of the CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing system to help identify target molecules or to generate new preclinical disease models could shed light on the pathogenesis of AD and provide promising therapeutic possibilities. Here, we sought to highlight the current understanding of the involvement of the A673T mutation in amyloid pathology, focusing on its roles in protective mechanisms against AD, in relation to the recent status of available therapeutic editing tools.

Recent Advances in the Modeling of Alzheimer's Disease

Since 1995, more than 100 transgenic (Tg) mouse models of Alzheimer's disease (AD) have been generated in which mutant amyloid precursor protein (APP) or APP/presenilin 1 (PS1) cDNA is overexpressed ( 1st generation models ). Although many of these models successfully recapitulate major pathological hallmarks of the disease such as amyloid β peptide (Aβ) deposition and neuroinflammation, they have suffered from artificial phenotypes in the form of overproduced or mislocalized APP/PS1 and their functional fragments, as well as calpastatin deficiency-induced early lethality, calpain activation, neuronal cell death without tau pathology, endoplasmic reticulum stresses, and inflammasome involvement. Such artifacts bring two important uncertainties into play, these being (1) why the artifacts arise, and (2) how they affect the interpretation of experimental results. In addition, destruction of endogenous gene loci in some Tg lines by transgenes has been reported. To overcome these concerns, single App knock-in mouse models harboring the Swedish and Beyreuther/Iberian mutations with or without the Arctic mutation (AppNL-G-F and AppNL-F mice) were developed ( 2nd generation models ). While these models are interesting given that they exhibit Aβ pathology, neuroinflammation, and cognitive impairment in an age-dependent manner, the model with the Artic mutation, which exhibits an extensive pathology as early as 6 months of age, is not suitable for investigating Aβ metabolism and clearance because the Aβ in this model is resistant to proteolytic degradation and is therefore prone to aggregation. Moreover, it cannot be used for preclinical immunotherapy studies owing to the discrete affinity it shows for anti-Aβ antibodies. The weakness of the latter model (without the Arctic mutation) is that the pathology may require up to 18 months before it becomes sufficiently apparent for experimental investigation. Nevertheless, this model was successfully applied to modulating Aβ pathology by genome editing, to revealing the differential roles of neprilysin and insulin-degrading enzyme in Aβ metabolism, and to identifying somatostatin receptor subtypes involved in Aβ degradation by neprilysin. In addition to discussing these issues, we also provide here a technical guide for the application of App knock-in mice to AD research. Subsequently, a new double knock-in line carrying the AppNL-F and Psen1 P117L/WT mutations was generated, the pathogenic effect of which was found to be synergistic. A characteristic of this 3rd generation model is that it exhibits more cored plaque pathology and neuroinflammation than the AppNL-G-F line, and thus is more suitable for preclinical studies of disease-modifying medications targeting Aβ. Furthermore, a derivative AppG-F line devoid of Swedish mutations which can be utilized for preclinical studies of β-secretase modifier(s) was recently created. In addition, we introduce a new model of cerebral amyloid angiopathy that may be useful for analyzing amyloid-related imaging abnormalities that can be caused by anti-Aβ immunotherapy. Use of the App knock-in mice also led to identification of the α-endosulfine-K ATP channel pathway as components of the somatostatin-evoked physiological mechanisms that reduce Aβ deposition via the activation of neprilysin. Such advances have provided new insights for the prevention and treatment of preclinical AD. Because tau pathology plays an essential role in AD pathogenesis, knock-in mice with human tau wherein the entire murine Mapt gene has been humanized were generated. Using these mice, the carboxy-terminal PDZ ligand of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (CAPON) was discovered as a mediator linking tau pathology to neurodegeneration and showed that tau humanization promoted pathological tau propagation. Finally, we describe and discuss the current status of mutant human tau knock-in mice and a non-human primate model of AD that we have successfully created.

Brain-wide Cas9-mediated cleavage of a gene causing familial Alzheimer's disease alleviates amyloid-related pathologies in mice

The pathology of familial Alzheimer's disease, which is caused by dominant mutations in the gene that encodes amyloid-beta precursor protein (APP) and in those that encode presenilin 1 and presenilin 2, is characterized by extracellular amyloid plaques and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles in multiple brain regions. Here we show that the brain-wide selective disruption of a mutated APP allele in transgenic mouse models carrying the human APP Swedish mutation alleviates amyloid-beta-associated pathologies for at least six months after a single intrahippocampal administration of an adeno-associated virus that encodes both Cas9 and a single-guide RNA that targets the mutation. We also show that the deposition of amyloid-beta, as well as microgliosis, neurite dystrophy and the impairment of cognitive performance, can all be ameliorated when the CRISPR-Cas9 construct is delivered intravenously via a modified adeno-associated virus that can cross the blood-brain barrier. Brain-wide disease-modifying genome editing could represent a viable strategy for the treatment of familial Alzheimer's disease and other monogenic diseases that affect multiple brain regions.

Application of CRISPR/Cas9 in Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive and irreversible neurodegenerative disorder clinically characterized by cognitive impairment, abnormal behavior, and social deficits, which is intimately linked with excessive β-amyloid (Aβ) protein deposition along with many other misfolded proteins, neurofibrillary tangles formed by hyperphosphorylated tau protein aggregates, and mitochondrial damage in neurons, leading to neuron loss. Currently, research on the pathological mechanism of AD has been elucidated for decades, still no effective treatment for this complex disease was developed, and the existing therapeutic strategies are extremely erratic, thereby leading to irreversible and progressive cognitive decline in AD patients. Due to gradually mental dyscapacitating of AD patients, AD not only brings serious physical and psychological suffering to patients themselves, but also imposes huge economic burdens on family and society. Accordingly, it is very imperative to recapitulate the progress of gene editing-based precision medicine in the emerging fields. In this review, we will mainly focus on the application of CRISPR/Cas9 technique in the fields of AD research and gene therapy, and summarize the application of CRISPR/Cas9 in the aspects of AD model construction, screening of pathogenic genes, and target therapy. Finally, the development of delivery systems, which is a major challenge that hinders the clinical application of CRISPR/Cas9 technology will also be discussed.

Gene Therapy Approach with an Emphasis on Growth Factors: Theoretical and Clinical Outcomes in Neurodegenerative Diseases

The etiology of many neurological diseases affecting the central nervous system (CNS) is unknown and still needs more effective and specific therapeutic approaches. Gene therapy has a promising future in treating neurodegenerative disorders by correcting the genetic defects or by therapeutic protein delivery and is now an attraction for neurologists to treat brain disorders, like Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, spinal muscular atrophy, spinocerebellar ataxia, epilepsy, Huntington’s disease, stroke, and spinal cord injury. Gene therapy allows the transgene induction, with a unique expression in cells’ substrate. This article mainly focuses on the delivering modes of genetic materials in the CNS, which includes viral and non-viral vectors and their application in gene therapy. Despite the many clinical trials conducted so far, data have shown disappointing outcomes. The efforts done to improve outcomes, efficacy, and safety in the identification of targets in various neurological disorders are also discussed here. Adapting gene therapy as a new therapeutic approach for treating neurological disorders seems to be promising, with early detection and delivery of therapy before the neuron is lost, helping a lot the development of new therapeutic options to translate to the clinic.

CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing: New hope for Alzheimer's disease therapeutics

•

Mutations in APP, PSEN1 and PSEN2 are known factors for AD pathobiology.

•

CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing approach hold promises in AD management.

•

CRISPR/Cas9 is utilized to help correct anomalous genetic functions.

•

Off-target mutations may impair the functionality of edited cells.

•

Non-viral vectors show better efficacy and safety than viral vectors.

Background

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is an insidious, irreversible, and progressive neurodegenerative health condition manifesting as cognitive deficits and amyloid beta (Aβ) plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. Approximately 50 million individuals are affected by AD, and the number is rapidly increasing globally. This review explores the role of CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing in the management of AD and its clinical manifestations.

Aim of Review

This review aims to provide a deep insight into the recent progress in CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome editing and its use against neurodegenerative disorders, specifically AD. However, we have referred to its use against parkinsons’s disease (PD), Huntington’s disease (HD), and other human diseases, as is one of the most promising and emerging technologies for disease treatment.

Key Scientific Concepts of Review

The pathophysiology of AD is known to be linked with gene mutations, that is, presenilin (PSEN) and amyloid beta precursor protein (APP). However, clinical trials focused at the genetic level could not meet the desired efficiency. The CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing tool is one of the most powerful technologies for correcting inconsistent genetic signatures and now extensively used for AD management. It has significant potential for the correction of undesired gene mutations associated with AD. This technology has allowed the development of empirical AD models, therapeutic lines, and diagnostic approaches for better understanding the nervous system, from in vitro to in vivo models.

Gene Therapy for Neurodegenerative Disease: Clinical Potential and Directions

The pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs) is complex and diverse. Over the decades, our understanding of NDD has been limited to pathological features. However, recent advances in gene sequencing have facilitated elucidation of NDD at a deeper level. Gene editing techniques have uncovered new genetic links to phenotypes, promoted the development of novel treatment strategies and equipped researchers with further means to construct effective cell and animal models. The current review describes the history of evolution of gene editing tools, with the aim of improving overall understanding of this technology, and focuses on the four most common NDD disorders to demonstrate the potential future applications and research directions of gene editing.

Genetic Variants and Oxidative Stress in Alzheimer's Disease

In an aging society, the number of people suffering from Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is still growing. Currently, intensive research is being carried out on the pathogenesis of AD. The results of these studies indicated that oxidative stress plays an important role in the onset and development of this disease. Moreover, in AD oxidative stress is generated by both genetic and biochemical factors as well as the functioning of the systems responsible for their formation and removal. The genetic factors associated with the regulation of the redox system include TOMM40, APOE, LPR, MAPT, APP, PSEN1 and PSEN2 genes. The most important biochemical parameters related to the formation of oxidative species in AD are p53, Homocysteine (Hcy) and a number of others. The formation of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) is also related to the efficiency of the DNA repair system, the effectiveness of the apoptosis, autophagy and mitophagy processes as well as the antioxidant potential. However, these factors are responsible for the development of many disorders, often with similar clinical symptoms, especially in the early stages of the disease. The discovery of markers of the early diagnosis of AD may contribute to the introduction of pharmacotherapy and slow down the progression of this disease.

A comprehensive guide to studying inflammasome activation and cell death

Inflammasomes are multimeric heterogeneous mega-Dalton protein complexes that play key roles in the host innate immune response to infection and sterile insults. Assembly of the inflammasome complex following infection or injury begins with the oligomerization of the upstream inflammasome-forming sensor and proceeds through a multistep process of well-coordinated events and downstream effector functions. Together, these steps enable elegant experimental readouts with which to reliably assess the successful activation of the inflammasome complex and cell death. Here, we describe a comprehensive protocol that details several in vitro (in bone marrow-derived macrophages) and in vivo (in mice) strategies for activating the inflammasome and explain how to subsequently assess multiple downstream effects in parallel to unequivocally establish the activation status of the inflammasome and cell death pathways. Our workflow assesses inflammasome activation via the formation of the apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a CARD (ASC) speck; cleavage of caspase-1 and gasdermin D; release of IL-1β, IL-18, caspase-1, and lactate dehydrogenase from the cell; and real-time analysis of cell death by imaging. Analyses take up to ~24 h to complete. Overall, our multifaceted approach provides a comprehensive and consistent protocol for assessing inflammasome activation and cell death.

Applying gene-editing technology to elucidate the functional consequence of genetic and epigenetic variation in Alzheimer's disease

Recent studies have highlighted a potential role of genetic and epigenetic variation in the development of Alzheimer's disease. Application of the CRISPR-Cas genome-editing platform has enabled investigation of the functional impact that Alzheimer's disease-associated gene mutations have on gene expression. Moreover, recent advances in the technology have led to the generation of CRISPR-Cas-based tools that allow for high-throughput interrogation of different risk variants to elucidate the interplay between genomic regulatory features, epigenetic modifications, and chromatin structure. In this review, we examine the various iterations of the CRISPR-Cas system and their potential application for exploring the complex interactions and disruptions in gene regulatory circuits that contribute to Alzheimer's disease.

CRISPR/Cas9 novel therapeutic road for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases

CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic Repeats)/Cas9 is a new genetic editing technology that can be a beneficial method to advance gene therapy. CRISPR technology is a defense system of some bacteria against invading viruses. Genome editing based on the CRISPR/Cas9 system is an efficient and potential technology that can be a viable alternative to traditional methods. This system is a compound of a short guide RNAs (gRNAs) for identifying the target DNA sequence and Cas9 protein as nuclease for breaking and cutting of DNA. In this review, recent advances in the CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome editing tools are presented as well as their use in gene therapy strategies for the treatment of neurological disorders including Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, and Huntington's disease.

CRISPR/Cas: An intriguing genomic editing tool with prospects in treating neurodegenerative diseases

The CRISPR/Cas genome editing tool has led to a revolution in biological research. Its ability to target multiple genomic loci simultaneously allows its application in gene function and genomic manipulation studies. Its involvement in the sequence specific gene editing in different backgrounds has changed the scenario of treating genetic diseases. By unravelling the mysteries behind complex neuronal circuits, it not only paved way in understanding the pathogenesis of the disease but helped in the development of large animal models of different neuronal diseases; thereby opened the gateways of successfully treating different neuronal diseases. This review explored the possibility of using of CRISPR/Cas in engineering DNA at the embryonic stage, as well as during the functioning of different cell types in the brain, to delineate implications related to the use of this super-specialized genome editing tool to overcome various neurodegenerative diseases that arise as a result of genetic mutations.

Next Generation Precision Medicine: CRISPR-mediated Genome Editing for the Treatment of Neurodegenerative Disorders

Despite significant advancements in the field of molecular neurobiology especially neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration, the highly complex molecular mechanisms underlying neurodegenerative diseases remain elusive. As a result, the development of the next generation neurotherapeutics has experienced a considerable lag phase. Recent advancements in the field of genome editing offer a new template for dissecting the precise molecular pathways underlying the complex neurodegenerative disorders. We believe that the innovative genome and transcriptome editing strategies offer an excellent opportunity to decipher novel therapeutic targets, develop novel neurodegenerative disease models, develop neuroimaging modalities, develop next-generation diagnostics as well as develop patient-specific precision-targeted personalized therapies to effectively treat neurodegenerative disorders including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Frontotemporal dementia etc. Here, we review the latest developments in the field of CRISPR-mediated genome editing and provide unbiased futuristic insights regarding its translational potential to improve the treatment outcomes and minimize financial burden. However, despite significant advancements, we would caution the scientific community that since the CRISPR field is still evolving, currently we do not know the full spectrum of CRISPR-mediated side effects. In the wake of the recent news regarding CRISPR-edited human babies being born in China, we urge the scientific community to maintain high scientific and ethical standards and utilize CRISPR for developing in vitro disease in a dish model, in vivo testing in nonhuman primates and lower vertebrates and for the development of neurotherapeutics for the currently incurable neurodegenerative disorders. Graphical Abstract.

Screening for Dementia Caused by Modifiable Lifestyle Choices Using Hybrid PET/MRI

Significant advances in positron emission tomography (PET) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) brain imaging in the early detection of dementia indicate that hybrid PET/MRI would be an effective tool to screen for dementia in the population living with lifestyle risk factors. Here we investigate the associated costs and benefits along with the needed imaging infrastructure. A demographic analysis determined the prevalence of dementia and its incidence. The expected value of the screening program was calculated assuming a sensitivity and specificity of 0.9, a prevalence of 0.1, a QALY factor of 0.348, a willingness to pay $114,000 CAD and the cost per PET/MRI scan of $2,000 CAD. It was assumed that each head PET/MRI could screen 3,000 individuals per year. The prevalence of dementia is increasing by almost two-fold every 20 years due to the increased population at ages where dementia is more prevalent. It has been shown that a five-year delay in the incidence of dementia would decrease the prevalence by some 45%. In Canada, a five-year delay corresponds to a health care savings of $27,000 CAD per subject per year. The expected value for screening was estimated at $23,745 CAD. The number of subjects to be screened per year in Canada, USA, and China between 60 and 79 was 11,405,000. The corresponding number of head-only hybrid PET/MRI systems needed is 3,800. A brain PET/MRI screening program is financially justifiable with respect to health care costs and justifies the continuing development of MRI compatible brain PET technology.