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Frazier HN, Braun DJ, Bailey CS, Coleman MJ, Davis VA, Dundon SR, McLouth CJ, Muzyk HC, Powell DK, Rogers CB, Roy SM, Van Eldik LJ. A small molecule p38α MAPK inhibitor, MW150, attenuates behavioral deficits and neuronal dysfunction in a mouse model of mixed amyloid and vascular pathologies. Brain Behav Immun Health 2024; 40:100826. [PMID: 39161874 PMCID: PMC11331815 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbih.2024.100826] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2024] [Accepted: 07/20/2024] [Indexed: 08/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Inhibition of p38 alpha mitogen activated protein kinase (p38α) has shown great promise as a treatment for Alzheimer's disease (AD) in preclinical tests. However, previous preclinical studies were performed in "pure" models of AD pathology. A vast majority of AD patients have comorbid dementia-contributing pathologies, particularly some form of vascular damage. The present study therefore aimed to test the potential of p38α inhibition to address dysfunction in the context of comorbid amyloid and vascular pathologies. Methods An amyloid overexpressing mouse strain (5xFAD) was placed on an 8-week long diet to induce the hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy) model of small vessel disease. Mice were treated with the brain-penetrant small molecule p38α inhibitor MW150 for the duration of the HHcy diet, and subsequently underwent behavioral, neuroimaging, electrophysiological, or biochemical/immunohistochemical analyses. Results MW150 successfully reduced behavioral impairment in the Morris Water Maze, corresponding with attenuation of synaptic loss, reduction in tau phosphorylation, and a partial normalization of electrophysiological parameters. No effect of MW150 was observed on the amyloid, vascular, or neuroinflammatory endpoints measured. Conclusions This study provides proof-of-principle that the inhibition of p38α is able to provide benefit even in the context of mixed pathological contributions to cognitive impairment. Interestingly, the benefit was mediated primarily via rescue of neuronal function without any direct effects on the primary pathologies. These data suggest a potential use for p38 inhibitors in the preservation of cognition across contexts, and in particular AD, either alone or as an adjunct to other AD therapies (i.e. anti-amyloid approaches). Future studies to delineate the precise neuronal pathways implicated in the benefit may help define other specific comorbid conditions amenable to this type of approach or suggest future refinement in pharmacological targeting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hilaree N. Frazier
- Sanders-Brown Center on Aging, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40536, USA
| | - David J. Braun
- Sanders-Brown Center on Aging, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40536, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40536, USA
| | - Caleb S. Bailey
- Sanders-Brown Center on Aging, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40536, USA
| | - Meggie J. Coleman
- Sanders-Brown Center on Aging, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40536, USA
| | - Verda A. Davis
- Sanders-Brown Center on Aging, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40536, USA
| | - Stephen R. Dundon
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging & Spectroscopy Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40536, USA
| | | | - Hana C. Muzyk
- Sanders-Brown Center on Aging, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40536, USA
| | - David K. Powell
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40536, USA
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging & Spectroscopy Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40536, USA
| | - Colin B. Rogers
- Sanders-Brown Center on Aging, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40536, USA
| | - Saktimayee M. Roy
- Department of Pharmacology, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
| | - Linda J. Van Eldik
- Sanders-Brown Center on Aging, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40536, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40536, USA
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2
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Heuer SE, Bloss EB, Howell GR. Strategies to dissect microglia-synaptic interactions during aging and in Alzheimer's disease. Neuropharmacology 2024; 254:109987. [PMID: 38705570 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2024.109987] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2024] [Revised: 04/29/2024] [Accepted: 05/02/2024] [Indexed: 05/07/2024]
Abstract
Age is the largest risk factor for developing Alzheimer's disease (AD), a neurodegenerative disorder that causes a progressive and severe dementia. The underlying cause of cognitive deficits seen in AD is thought to be the disconnection of neural circuits that control memory and executive functions. Insight into the mechanisms by which AD diverges from normal aging will require identifying precisely which cellular events are driven by aging and which are impacted by AD-related pathologies. Since microglia, the brain-resident macrophages, are known to have critical roles in the formation and maintenance of neural circuits through synaptic pruning, they are well-positioned to modulate synaptic connectivity in circuits sensitive to aging or AD. In this review, we provide an overview of the current state of the field and on emerging technologies being employed to elucidate microglia-synaptic interactions in aging and AD. We also discuss the importance of leveraging genetic diversity to study how these interactions are shaped across more realistic contexts. We propose that these approaches will be essential to define specific aging- and disease-relevant trajectories for more personalized therapeutics aimed at reducing the effects of age or AD pathologies on the brain. This article is part of the Special Issue on "Microglia".
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah E Heuer
- The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, ME, 04609, USA; Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, 02111, USA
| | - Erik B Bloss
- The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, ME, 04609, USA; Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, 02111, USA; Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and Engineering, University of Maine, Orono, ME, 04469, USA.
| | - Gareth R Howell
- The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, ME, 04609, USA; Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, 02111, USA; Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and Engineering, University of Maine, Orono, ME, 04469, USA.
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3
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Gómez-Pascual A, Glikman DM, Ng HX, Tomkins JE, Lu L, Xu Y, Ashbrook DG, Kaczorowski C, Kempermann G, Killmar J, Mozhui K, Ohlenschläger O, Aebersold R, Ingram DK, Williams EG, Williams RW, Overall RW, Jucker M, de Bakker DEM. The Pgb1 locus controls glycogen aggregation in astrocytes of the aged hippocampus without impacting cognitive function. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.11.22.567373. [PMID: 38045339 PMCID: PMC10690248 DOI: 10.1101/2023.11.22.567373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/05/2023]
Abstract
In aged humans and mice, aggregates of hypobranched glycogen molecules called polyglucosan bodies (PGBs) accumulate in hippocampal astrocytes. PGBs are known to drive cognitive decline in neurological diseases but remain largely unstudied in the context of typical brain aging. Here, we show that PGBs arise in autophagy-dysregulated astrocytes of the aged C57BL/6J mouse hippocampus. To map the genetic cause of age-related PGB accumulation, we quantified PGB burden in 32 fully sequenced BXD-recombinant inbred mouse strains, which display a 400-fold variation in hippocampal PGB burden at 16-18 months of age. A major modifier locus was mapped to chromosome 1 at 72-75 Mb, which we defined as the Pgb1 locus. To evaluate candidate genes and downstream mechanisms by which Pgb1 controls the aggregation of glycogen, extensive hippocampal transcriptomic and proteomic datasets were produced for aged mice of the BXD family. We utilized these datasets to identify Smarcal1 and Usp37 as potential regulators of PGB accumulation. To assess the effect of PGB burden on age-related cognitive decline, we performed phenome-wide association scans, transcriptomic analyses as well as conditioned fear memory and Y-maze testing. Importantly, we did not find any evidence suggesting a negative impact of PGBs on cognition. Taken together, our study demonstrates that the Pgb1 locus controls glycogen aggregation in astrocytes of the aged hippocampus without affecting age-related cognitive decline.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Gómez-Pascual
- Department of Information and Communications Engineering, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | | | - H X Ng
- Department of Cognitive Science University of California, San Diego, USA
| | - J E Tomkins
- Centre for Misfolding Diseases, Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Aligning Science Across Parkinson's (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, MD, 20815
| | - L Lu
- Department of Genetics, Genomics and Informatics, University of Tennessee Health Center, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Y Xu
- Department of Cellular Neurology, Hertie-Institute for Clinical Brain Research, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Tübingen, Germany
| | - D G Ashbrook
- Department of Genetics, Genomics and Informatics, University of Tennessee Health Center, Memphis, TN, USA
| | | | - G Kempermann
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Dresden, Germany
| | - J Killmar
- Department of Genetics, Genomics and Informatics, University of Tennessee Health Center, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - K Mozhui
- Department of Genetics, Genomics and Informatics, University of Tennessee Health Center, Memphis, TN, USA
- Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Center, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - O Ohlenschläger
- Leibniz Institute on Aging - Fritz Lipmann Institute (FLI), Jena, Germany
| | - R Aebersold
- Department of Biology, Institute of Molecular Systems Biology, ETH Zurich. Zurich, Switzerland
| | - D K Ingram
- Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, USA
| | - E G Williams
- Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine, University of Luxembourg, Belval, Luxembourg
| | - R W Williams
- Department of Genetics, Genomics and Informatics, University of Tennessee Health Center, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - R W Overall
- Humboldt University of Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - M Jucker
- Department of Cellular Neurology, Hertie-Institute for Clinical Brain Research, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Tübingen, Germany
| | - D E M de Bakker
- Leibniz Institute on Aging - Fritz Lipmann Institute (FLI), Jena, Germany
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4
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Rentsch P, Ganesan K, Langdon A, Konen LM, Vissel B. Toward the development of a sporadic model of Alzheimer's disease: comparing pathologies between humanized APP and the familial J20 mouse models. Front Aging Neurosci 2024; 16:1421900. [PMID: 39040546 PMCID: PMC11260812 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2024.1421900] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2024] [Accepted: 06/03/2024] [Indexed: 07/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Finding successful therapies for individuals with Alzheimer's disease (AD) remains an ongoing challenge. One contributing factor is that the mouse models commonly used in preclinical research primarily mimic the familial form of AD, whereas the vast majority of human cases are sporadic. Accordingly, for a sporadic mouse model of AD, incorporating the multifactorial aspects of the disease is of utmost importance. Methods In the current study, we exposed humanized Aβ knock-in mice (hAβ-KI) to weekly low-dose lipopolysaccharide (LPS) injections until 24 weeks of age and compared the development of AD pathologies to the familial AD mouse model known as the J20 mice. Results At the early time point of 24 weeks, hAβ-KI mice and J20 mice exhibited spatial memory impairments in the Barnes maze. Strikingly, both hAβ-KI mice and J20 mice showed significant loss of dendritic spines when compared to WT controls, despite the absence of Aβ plaques in hAβ-KI mice at 24 weeks of age. Glial cell numbers remained unchanged in hAβ-KI mice compared to WT, and LPS exposure in hAβ-KI mice did not result in memory deficits and failed to exacerbate any other examined AD pathology. Conclusion The study highlights the potential of hAβ-KI mice as a model for sporadic AD, demonstrating early cognitive deficits and synaptic alterations despite no evidence of Aβ plaque formation. These findings underscore the importance of considering multifactorial influences in sporadic AD pathogenesis and the need for innovative models to advance our understanding and treatment strategies for this complex disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peggy Rentsch
- Centre for Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine, St. Vincent's Centre for Applied Medical Research, St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- UNSW St Vincent's Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Kiruthika Ganesan
- School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Alexander Langdon
- School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Lyndsey M. Konen
- Centre for Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine, St. Vincent's Centre for Applied Medical Research, St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Bryce Vissel
- Centre for Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine, St. Vincent's Centre for Applied Medical Research, St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- UNSW St Vincent's Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
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5
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Goettemoeller AM, Banks E, Kumar P, Olah VJ, McCann KE, South K, Ramelow CC, Eaton A, Duong DM, Seyfried NT, Weinshenker D, Rangaraju S, Rowan MJ. Entorhinal cortex vulnerability to human APP expression promotes hyperexcitability and tau pathology. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.11.06.565629. [PMID: 39005389 PMCID: PMC11244896 DOI: 10.1101/2023.11.06.565629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/16/2024]
Abstract
Preventative treatment for Alzheimer's Disease is of dire importance, and yet, cellular mechanisms underlying early regional vulnerability in Alzheimer's Disease remain unknown. In human patients with Alzheimer's Disease, one of the earliest observed pathophysiological correlates to cognitive decline is hyperexcitability. In mouse models, early hyperexcitability has been shown in the entorhinal cortex, the first cortical region impacted by Alzheimer's Disease. The origin of hyperexcitability in early-stage disease and why it preferentially emerges in specific regions is unclear. Using cortical-region and cell-type-specific proteomics coupled with ex vivo and in vivo electrophysiology, we uncovered differential susceptibility to human-specific amyloid precursor protein (hAPP) in a model of sporadic Alzheimer's. Unexpectedly, our findings reveal that early entorhinal hyperexcitability may result from intrinsic vulnerability of parvalbumin (PV) interneurons, rather than the suspected layer II excitatory neurons. This vulnerability of entorhinal PV interneurons is specific to hAPP, as it could not be recapitulated with increased murine APP expression. However, partial replication of the findings could be seen after introduction of a murine APP chimera containing a humanized amyloid-beta sequence. Surprisingly, neurons in the Somatosensory Cortex showed no such vulnerability to adult-onset hAPP expression. hAPP-induced hyperexcitability in entorhinal cortex could be ameliorated by enhancing PV interneuron excitability in vivo. Co-expression of human Tau with hAPP decreased circuit hyperexcitability, but at the expense of increased pathological tau species. This study suggests early disease interventions targeting non-excitatory cell types may protect regions with early vulnerability to pathological symptoms of Alzheimer's Disease and downstream cognitive decline.
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6
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Huang HX, Inglese P, Tang J, Yagoubi R, Correia GDS, Horneffer-van der Sluis VM, Camuzeaux S, Wu V, Kopanitsa MV, Willumsen N, Jackson JS, Barron AM, Saito T, Saido TC, Gentlemen S, Takats Z, Matthews PM. Mass spectrometry imaging highlights dynamic patterns of lipid co-expression with Aβ plaques in mouse and human brains. J Neurochem 2024; 168:1193-1214. [PMID: 38372586 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.16042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2023] [Revised: 11/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/20/2024]
Abstract
Lipids play crucial roles in the susceptibility and brain cellular responses to Alzheimer's disease (AD) and are increasingly considered potential soluble biomarkers in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and plasma. To delineate the pathological correlations of distinct lipid species, we conducted a comprehensive characterization of both spatially localized and global differences in brain lipid composition in AppNL-G-F mice with spatial and bulk mass spectrometry lipidomic profiling, using human amyloid-expressing (h-Aβ) and WT mouse brains controls. We observed age-dependent increases in lysophospholipids, bis(monoacylglycerol) phosphates, and phosphatidylglycerols around Aβ plaques in AppNL-G-F mice. Immunohistology-based co-localization identified associations between focal pro-inflammatory lipids, glial activation, and autophagic flux disruption. Likewise, in human donors with varying Braak stages, similar studies of cortical sections revealed co-expression of lysophospholipids and ceramides around Aβ plaques in AD (Braak stage V/VI) but not in earlier Braak stage controls. Our findings in mice provide evidence of temporally and spatially heterogeneous differences in lipid composition as local and global Aβ-related pathologies evolve. Observing similar lipidomic changes associated with pathological Aβ plaques in human AD tissue provides a foundation for understanding differences in CSF lipids with reported clinical stage or disease severity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helen Xuexia Huang
- Section of Bioanalytical Chemistry, Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Imperial College London, London, UK
- UK Dementia Research Institute at Imperial College London, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Paolo Inglese
- Section of Bioanalytical Chemistry, Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Imperial College London, London, UK
- National Phenome Centre, Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Jiabin Tang
- Department of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Riad Yagoubi
- Section of Bioanalytical Chemistry, Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Imperial College London, London, UK
- UK Dementia Research Institute at Imperial College London, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Gonçalo D S Correia
- Section of Bioanalytical Chemistry, Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Imperial College London, London, UK
- National Phenome Centre, Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | | | - Stephane Camuzeaux
- National Phenome Centre, Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Vincen Wu
- Section of Bioanalytical Chemistry, Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Maksym V Kopanitsa
- UK Dementia Research Institute at Imperial College London, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Nanet Willumsen
- UK Dementia Research Institute at Imperial College London, Imperial College London, London, UK
- Department of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Johanna S Jackson
- UK Dementia Research Institute at Imperial College London, Imperial College London, London, UK
- Department of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Anna M Barron
- Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Takashi Saito
- Laboratory for Proteolytic Neuroscience, RIKEN Center for Brain Science, Saitama, Japan
- Department of Neurocognitive Science, Institute of Brain Science, Nagoya City University, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
| | - Takaomi C Saido
- Laboratory for Proteolytic Neuroscience, RIKEN Center for Brain Science, Saitama, Japan
- Department of Neurocognitive Science, Institute of Brain Science, Nagoya City University, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
| | - Steve Gentlemen
- Department of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Zoltan Takats
- Section of Bioanalytical Chemistry, Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Paul M Matthews
- UK Dementia Research Institute at Imperial College London, Imperial College London, London, UK
- Department of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK
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7
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Amartumur S, Nguyen H, Huynh T, Kim TS, Woo RS, Oh E, Kim KK, Lee LP, Heo C. Neuropathogenesis-on-chips for neurodegenerative diseases. Nat Commun 2024; 15:2219. [PMID: 38472255 PMCID: PMC10933492 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-46554-8] [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: 10/04/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Developing diagnostics and treatments for neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) is challenging due to multifactorial pathogenesis that progresses gradually. Advanced in vitro systems that recapitulate patient-like pathophysiology are emerging as alternatives to conventional animal-based models. In this review, we explore the interconnected pathogenic features of different types of ND, discuss the general strategy to modelling NDs using a microfluidic chip, and introduce the organoid-on-a-chip as the next advanced relevant model. Lastly, we overview how these models are being applied in academic and industrial drug development. The integration of microfluidic chips, stem cells, and biotechnological devices promises to provide valuable insights for biomedical research and developing diagnostic and therapeutic solutions for NDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarnai Amartumur
- Department of Biophysics, Institute of Quantum Biophysics, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, 16419, Korea
| | - Huong Nguyen
- Department of Biophysics, Institute of Quantum Biophysics, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, 16419, Korea
| | - Thuy Huynh
- Department of Biophysics, Institute of Quantum Biophysics, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, 16419, Korea
| | - Testaverde S Kim
- Center for Integrated Nanostructure Physics (CINAP), Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Suwon, 16419, Korea
| | - Ran-Sook Woo
- Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, College of Medicine, Eulji University, Daejeon, 34824, Korea
| | - Eungseok Oh
- Department of Neurology, Chungnam National University Hospital, Daejeon, 35015, Korea
| | - Kyeong Kyu Kim
- Department of Precision Medicine, Graduate School of Basic Medical Science (GSBMS), Institute for Anti-microbial Resistance Research and Therapeutics, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Suwon, 16419, Korea
| | - Luke P Lee
- Department of Biophysics, Institute of Quantum Biophysics, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, 16419, Korea.
- Harvard Medical School, Division of Engineering in Medicine and Renal Division, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
- Department of Bioengineering, Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA.
| | - Chaejeong Heo
- Department of Biophysics, Institute of Quantum Biophysics, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, 16419, Korea.
- Center for Integrated Nanostructure Physics (CINAP), Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Suwon, 16419, Korea.
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8
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Ifediora N, Canoll P, Hargus G. Human stem cell transplantation models of Alzheimer's disease. Front Aging Neurosci 2024; 16:1354164. [PMID: 38450383 PMCID: PMC10915253 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2024.1354164] [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: 12/12/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 03/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most frequent form of dementia. It is characterized by pronounced neuronal degeneration with formation of neurofibrillary tangles and deposition of amyloid β throughout the central nervous system. Animal models have provided important insights into the pathogenesis of AD and they have shown that different brain cell types including neurons, astrocytes and microglia have important functions in the pathogenesis of AD. However, there are difficulties in translating promising therapeutic observations in mice into clinical application in patients. Alternative models using human cells such as human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) may provide significant advantages, since they have successfully been used to model disease mechanisms in neurons and in glial cells in neurodegenerative diseases in vitro and in vivo. In this review, we summarize recent studies that describe the transplantation of human iPSC-derived neurons, astrocytes and microglial cells into the forebrain of mice to generate chimeric transplantation models of AD. We also discuss opportunities, challenges and limitations in using differentiated human iPSCs for in vivo disease modeling and their application for biomedical research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nkechime Ifediora
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Peter Canoll
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Gunnar Hargus
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
- Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer’s Disease and the Aging Brain, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
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9
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De Bastiani MA, Bellaver B, Carello-Collar G, Zimmermann M, Kunach P, Lima-Filho RA, Forner S, Martini AC, Pascoal TA, Lourenco MV, Rosa-Neto P, Zimmer ER. Cross-species comparative hippocampal transcriptomics in Alzheimer's disease. iScience 2024; 27:108671. [PMID: 38292167 PMCID: PMC10824791 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.108671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2022] [Revised: 07/11/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a multifactorial pathology, with most cases having a sporadic origin. Recently, knock-in (KI) mouse models, such as the novel humanized amyloid-β (hAβ)-KI, have been developed to better resemble sporadic human AD. METHODS Here, we compared hippocampal publicly available transcriptomic profiles of transgenic (5xFAD and APP/PS1) and KI (hAβ-KI) mouse models with early- (EOAD) and late- (LOAD) onset AD patients. RESULTS The three mouse models presented more Gene Ontology biological processes terms and enriched signaling pathways in common with LOAD than with EOAD individuals. Experimental validation of consistently dysregulated genes revealed five altered in mice (SLC11A1, S100A6, CD14, CD33, and C1QB) and three in humans (S100A6, SLC11A1, and KCNK). Finally, we identified 17 transcription factors potentially acting as master regulators of AD. CONCLUSION Our cross-species analyses revealed that the three mouse models presented a remarkable similarity to LOAD, with the hAβ-KI being the more specific one.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Antônio De Bastiani
- Graduate Program in Biological Sciences: Biochemistry, Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Health Basic Sciences, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, State of Rio Grande do Sul 90035-003, Brazil
| | - Bruna Bellaver
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Giovanna Carello-Collar
- Graduate Program in Biological Sciences: Biochemistry, Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Health Basic Sciences, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, State of Rio Grande do Sul 90035-003, Brazil
| | - Maria Zimmermann
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Montréal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montréal, Québec H3A 1A1, Canada
- Translational Neuroimaging Laboratory, McGill University, Montréal, Québec H4H 1R3, Canada
| | - Peter Kunach
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Montréal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montréal, Québec H3A 1A1, Canada
- Translational Neuroimaging Laboratory, McGill University, Montréal, Québec H4H 1R3, Canada
- Douglas Hospital Research Centre, Montreal, Québec H4H 1R3, Canada
| | - Ricardo A.S. Lima-Filho
- Institute of Medical Biochemistry Leopoldo de Meis, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, State of Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil
| | - Stefania Forner
- Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders (UCI MIND), University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Alessandra Cadete Martini
- Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Tharick A. Pascoal
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Mychael V. Lourenco
- Institute of Medical Biochemistry Leopoldo de Meis, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, State of Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil
| | - Pedro Rosa-Neto
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Montréal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montréal, Québec H3A 1A1, Canada
- Translational Neuroimaging Laboratory, McGill University, Montréal, Québec H4H 1R3, Canada
- Douglas Hospital Research Centre, Montreal, Québec H4H 1R3, Canada
| | - Eduardo R. Zimmer
- Graduate Program in Biological Sciences: Biochemistry, Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Health Basic Sciences, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, State of Rio Grande do Sul 90035-003, Brazil
- Department of Pharmacology, ICBS, UFRGS, Porto Alegre, State of Rio Grande do Sul 90035-003, Brazil
- Graduate Program in Biological Sciences: Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Department of Pharmacology, ICBS, UFRGS, Porto Alegre, State of Rio Grande do Sul 90035-003, Brazil
- Brain Institute of Rio Grande Do Sul, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande Do Sul, Porto Alegre, State of Rio Grande do Sul 90610-000, Brazil
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10
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Chen Y, Fernandez Z, Scheel N, Gifani M, Zhu DC, Counts SE, Dorrance AM, Razansky D, Yu X, Qian W, Qian C. Novel inductively coupled ear-bars (ICEs) to enhance restored fMRI signal from susceptibility compensation in rats. Cereb Cortex 2024; 34:bhad479. [PMID: 38100332 PMCID: PMC10793587 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhad479] [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: 08/17/2023] [Revised: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Functional magnetic resonance imaging faces inherent challenges when applied to deep-brain areas in rodents, e.g. entorhinal cortex, due to the signal loss near the ear cavities induced by susceptibility artifacts and reduced sensitivity induced by the long distance from the surface array coil. Given the pivotal roles of deep brain regions in various diseases, optimized imaging techniques are needed. To mitigate susceptibility-induced signal losses, we introduced baby cream into the middle ear. To enhance the detection sensitivity of deep brain regions, we implemented inductively coupled ear-bars, resulting in approximately a 2-fold increase in sensitivity in entorhinal cortex. Notably, the inductively coupled ear-bar can be seamlessly integrated as an add-on device, without necessitating modifications to the scanner interface. To underscore the versatility of inductively coupled ear-bars, we conducted echo-planner imaging-based task functional magnetic resonance imaging in rats modeling Alzheimer's disease. As a proof of concept, we also demonstrated resting-state-functional magnetic resonance imaging connectivity maps originating from the left entorhinal cortex-a central hub for memory and navigation networks-to amygdala hippocampal area, Insular Cortex, Prelimbic Systems, Cingulate Cortex, Secondary Visual Cortex, and Motor Cortex. This work demonstrates an optimized procedure for acquiring large-scale networks emanating from a previously challenging seed region by conventional magnetic resonance imaging detectors, thereby facilitating improved observation of functional magnetic resonance imaging outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Chen
- Department of High-field Magnetic Resonance, Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, Tuebingen 72076, Germany
- Department of Radiology and Cognitive Imaging Research Center, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, United States
| | - Zachary Fernandez
- Department of Radiology and Cognitive Imaging Research Center, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, United States
- Neuroscience Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, United States
| | - Norman Scheel
- Department of Radiology and Cognitive Imaging Research Center, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, United States
| | - Mahsa Gifani
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, United States
| | - David C Zhu
- Department of Radiology and Cognitive Imaging Research Center, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, United States
- Neuroscience Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, United States
| | - Scott E Counts
- Neuroscience Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, United States
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, United States
- Department of Family Medicine, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, United States
- Department of Hauenstein Neurosciences Center, Mercy Health Saint Mary’s Hospital, Grand Rapids, MI 49508, United States
- Michigan Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, Ann Arbor, MI 48105, United States
| | - Anne M Dorrance
- Neuroscience Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, United States
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, United States
| | - Daniel Razansky
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology and Institute for Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Medicine, University of Zurich, Zurich 8006, Switzerland
- Department of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering, ETH Zurich, Institute for Biomedical Engineering, , Zurich 8092, Switzerland
- Zurich Neuroscience Center, Zurich 8057, Switzerland
| | - Xin Yu
- Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02114, United States
| | - Wei Qian
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, United States
| | - Chunqi Qian
- Department of Radiology and Cognitive Imaging Research Center, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, United States
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, United States
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11
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Valentin-Escalera J, Leclerc M, Calon F. High-Fat Diets in Animal Models of Alzheimer's Disease: How Can Eating Too Much Fat Increase Alzheimer's Disease Risk? J Alzheimers Dis 2024; 97:977-1005. [PMID: 38217592 PMCID: PMC10836579 DOI: 10.3233/jad-230118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 01/15/2024]
Abstract
High dietary intake of saturated fatty acids is a suspected risk factor for neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease (AD). To decipher the causal link behind these associations, high-fat diets (HFD) have been repeatedly investigated in animal models. Preclinical studies allow full control over dietary composition, avoiding ethical concerns in clinical trials. The goal of the present article is to provide a narrative review of reports on HFD in animal models of AD. Eligibility criteria included mouse models of AD fed a HFD defined as > 35% of fat/weight and western diets containing > 1% cholesterol or > 15% sugar. MEDLINE and Embase databases were searched from 1946 to August 2022, and 32 preclinical studies were included in the review. HFD-induced obesity and metabolic disturbances such as insulin resistance and glucose intolerance have been replicated in most studies, but with methodological variability. Most studies have found an aggravating effect of HFD on brain Aβ pathology, whereas tau pathology has been much less studied, and results are more equivocal. While most reports show HFD-induced impairment on cognitive behavior, confounding factors may blur their interpretation. In summary, despite conflicting results, exposing rodents to diets highly enriched in saturated fat induces not only metabolic defects, but also cognitive impairment often accompanied by aggravated neuropathological markers, most notably Aβ burden. Although there are important variations between methods, particularly the lack of diet characterization, these studies collectively suggest that excessive intake of saturated fat should be avoided in order to lower the incidence of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josue Valentin-Escalera
- Faculté de Pharmacie, Université Laval, Québec, Canada
- Axe Neurosciences, Centre de recherche du centre Hospitalier de l'Université Laval (CHUL), Québec, Canada
- Institut sur la Nutrition et les Aliments Fonctionnels, Québec, Canada
- OptiNutriBrain - Laboratoire International Associé (NutriNeuro France-INAF Canada)
| | - Manon Leclerc
- Faculté de Pharmacie, Université Laval, Québec, Canada
- Axe Neurosciences, Centre de recherche du centre Hospitalier de l'Université Laval (CHUL), Québec, Canada
- Institut sur la Nutrition et les Aliments Fonctionnels, Québec, Canada
- OptiNutriBrain - Laboratoire International Associé (NutriNeuro France-INAF Canada)
| | - Frédéric Calon
- Faculté de Pharmacie, Université Laval, Québec, Canada
- Axe Neurosciences, Centre de recherche du centre Hospitalier de l'Université Laval (CHUL), Québec, Canada
- Institut sur la Nutrition et les Aliments Fonctionnels, Québec, Canada
- OptiNutriBrain - Laboratoire International Associé (NutriNeuro France-INAF Canada)
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12
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Eckman EA, Clausen DM, Solé-Domėnech S, Lee CW, Sinobas-Pereira C, Domalewski RJ, Nichols MR, Pacheco-Quinto J. Nascent Aβ42 Fibrillization in Synaptic Endosomes Precedes Plaque Formation in a Mouse Model of Alzheimer's-like β-Amyloidosis. J Neurosci 2023; 43:8812-8824. [PMID: 37884349 PMCID: PMC10727180 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1318-23.2023] [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: 06/26/2023] [Revised: 10/05/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Accumulation of amyloid-β peptide (Aβ) aggregates in synapses may contribute to the profound synaptic loss characteristic of Alzheimer's disease (AD). The origin of synaptic Aβ aggregates remains elusive, but loss of endosomal proteostasis may trigger their formation. In this study, we identified the synaptic compartments where Aβ accumulates, and performed a longitudinal analysis of synaptosomes isolated from brains of TgCRND8 APP transgenic mice of either sex. To evaluate the specific contribution of Aβ-degrading protease endothelin-converting enzyme (ECE-1) to synaptic/endosomal Aβ homeostasis, we analyzed the effect of partial Ece1 KO in brain and complete ECE1 KO in SH-SY5Y cells. Global inhibition of ECE family members was used to further assess their role in preventing synaptic Aβ accumulation. Results showed that, before extracellular amyloid deposition, synapses were burdened with detergent-soluble Aβ monomers, oligomers, and fibrils. Levels of all soluble Aβ species declined thereafter, as Aβ42 turned progressively insoluble and accumulated in Aβ-producing synaptic endosomal vesicles with characteristics of multivesicular bodies. Accordingly, fibrillar Aβ was detected in brain exosomes. ECE-1-deficient mice had significantly increased endogenous synaptosomal Aβ42 levels, and protease inhibitor experiments showed that, in TgCRND8 mice, synaptic Aβ42 became nearly resistant to degradation by ECE-related proteases. Our study supports that Aβ accumulating in synapses is produced locally, within endosomes, and does not require the presence of amyloid plaques. ECE-1 is a determinant factor controlling the accumulation and fibrillization of nascent Aβ in endosomes and, in TgCRND8 mice, Aβ overproduction causes rapid loss of Aβ42 solubility that curtails ECE-mediated degradation.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Deposition of aggregated Aβ in extracellular plaques is a defining feature of AD. Aβ aggregates also accumulate in synapses and may contribute to the profound synaptic loss and cognitive dysfunction typical of the disease. However, it is not clear whether synaptotoxic Aβ is mainly derived from plaques or if it is produced and aggregated locally, within affected synaptic compartments. Filling this knowledge gap is important for the development of an effective treatment for AD, as extracellular and intrasynaptic pools of Aβ may not be equally modulated by immunotherapies or other therapeutic approaches. In this manuscript, we provide evidence that Aβ aggregates building up in synapses are formed locally, within synaptic endosomes, because of disruptions in nascent Aβ proteostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth A Eckman
- Biomedical Research Institute of New Jersey, Cedar Knolls, New Jersey 07927
| | - Dana M Clausen
- Biomedical Research Institute of New Jersey, Cedar Knolls, New Jersey 07927
| | | | - Chris W Lee
- Biomedical Research Institute of New Jersey, Cedar Knolls, New Jersey 07927
| | - Cristina Sinobas-Pereira
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, University of Missouri-St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri 63121
| | - Ryan J Domalewski
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, University of Missouri-St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri 63121
| | - Michael R Nichols
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, University of Missouri-St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri 63121
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13
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Li X, Quan M, Wei Y, Wang W, Xu L, Wang Q, Jia J. Critical thinking of Alzheimer's transgenic mouse model: current research and future perspective. SCIENCE CHINA. LIFE SCIENCES 2023; 66:2711-2754. [PMID: 37480469 DOI: 10.1007/s11427-022-2357-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2022] [Accepted: 04/23/2023] [Indexed: 07/24/2023]
Abstract
Transgenic models are useful tools for studying the pathogenesis of and drug development for Alzheimer's Disease (AD). AD models are constructed usually using overexpression or knock-in of multiple pathogenic gene mutations from familial AD. Each transgenic model has its unique behavioral and pathological features. This review summarizes the research progress of transgenic mouse models, and their progress in the unique mechanism of amyloid-β oligomers, including the first transgenic mouse model built in China based on a single gene mutation (PSEN1 V97L) found in Chinese familial AD. We further summarized the preclinical findings of drugs using the models, and their future application in exploring the upstream mechanisms and multitarget drug development in AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyue Li
- Innovation Center for Neurological Disorders and Department of Neurology, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100053, China
| | - Meina Quan
- Innovation Center for Neurological Disorders and Department of Neurology, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100053, China
- National Medical Center for Neurological Diseases and National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Diseases, Beijing, 100053, China
| | - Yiping Wei
- Innovation Center for Neurological Disorders and Department of Neurology, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100053, China
| | - Wei Wang
- Innovation Center for Neurological Disorders and Department of Neurology, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100053, China
- National Medical Center for Neurological Diseases and National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Diseases, Beijing, 100053, China
| | - Lingzhi Xu
- Innovation Center for Neurological Disorders and Department of Neurology, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100053, China
| | - Qi Wang
- Innovation Center for Neurological Disorders and Department of Neurology, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100053, China
- National Medical Center for Neurological Diseases and National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Diseases, Beijing, 100053, China
| | - Jianping Jia
- Innovation Center for Neurological Disorders and Department of Neurology, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100053, China.
- National Medical Center for Neurological Diseases and National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Diseases, Beijing, 100053, China.
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Geriatric Cognitive Disorders, Beijing, 100053, China.
- Clinical Center for Neurodegenerative Disease and Memory Impairment, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100053, China.
- Center of Alzheimer's Disease, Beijing Institute of Brain Disorders, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Disorders, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100053, China.
- Key Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Ministry of Education, Beijing, 100053, China.
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14
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Jia K, Tian J, Wang T, Guo L, Xuan Z, Swerdlow RH, Du H. Mitochondria-sequestered Aβ renders synaptic mitochondria vulnerable in the elderly with a risk of Alzheimer disease. JCI Insight 2023; 8:e174290. [PMID: 37991017 PMCID: PMC10721326 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.174290] [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: 08/02/2023] [Accepted: 10/13/2023] [Indexed: 11/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Mitochondria are critical for neurophysiology, and mitochondrial dysfunction constitutes a characteristic pathology in both brain aging and Alzheimer disease (AD). Whether mitochondrial deficiency in brain aging and AD is mechanistically linked, however, remains controversial. We report a correlation between intrasynaptosomal amyloid β 42 (Aβ42) and synaptic mitochondrial bioenergetics inefficiency in both aging and amnestic mild cognitive impairment, a transitional stage between normal aging and AD. Experiments using a mouse model expressing nonmutant humanized Aβ (humanized Aβ-knockin [hAβ-KI] mice) confirmed the association of increased intramitochondrial sequestration of Aβ42 with exacerbated synaptic mitochondrial dysfunction in an aging factor- and AD risk-bearing context. Also, in comparison with global cerebral Aβ, intramitochondrial Aβ was relatively preserved from activated microglial phagocytosis in aged hAβ-KI mice. The most parsimonious interpretation of our results is that aging-related mitochondrial Aβ sequestration renders synaptic mitochondrial dysfunction in the transitional stage between normal aging and AD. Mitochondrial dysfunction in both brain aging and the prodromal stage of AD may follow a continuous transition in response to escalated intraneuronal, especially intramitochondrial Aβ, accumulation. Moreover, our findings further implicate a pivotal role of mitochondria in harboring early amyloidosis during the conversion from normal to pathological aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kun Jia
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, USA
| | - Jing Tian
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, USA
| | - Tienju Wang
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, USA
| | - Lan Guo
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, USA
| | - Zhenyu Xuan
- Department of Biological Sciences, Center for Systems Biology, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, Texas, USA
| | - Russell H. Swerdlow
- Alzheimer’s Disease Center, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas, USA
| | - Heng Du
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, USA
- Alzheimer’s Disease Center, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas, USA
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15
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Jeong H, Pan Y, Akhter F, Volkow ND, Zhu D, Du C. Impairment of cerebral vascular reactivity and resting blood flow in early-staged transgenic AD mice: in vivo optical imaging studies. RESEARCH SQUARE 2023:rs.3.rs-3579916. [PMID: 37987006 PMCID: PMC10659553 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-3579916/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2023]
Abstract
Background Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder with progressive cognitive decline in aging individuals that poses a significant challenge to patients due to an incomplete understanding of its etiology and lack of effective interventions. While "the Amyloid Cascade Hypothesis," the abnormal accumulation of amyloid-β in the brain, has been the most prevalent theory for AD, mounting evidence from clinical and epidemiological studies suggest that defects in cerebral vessels and hypoperfusion appear prior to other pathological manifestations and might contribute to AD, leading to "the Vascular Hypothesis." However, assessment of structural and functional integrity of the cerebral vasculature in vivo in the brain from AD rodent models has been challenging owing to the limited spatiotemporal resolution of conventional imaging technologies. Methods We employed two in vivo imaging technologies, i.e., Dual-Wavelength Imaging (DWI) and Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT), to evaluate cerebrovascular reactivity (CVR; responsiveness of blood vessels to vasoconstriction as triggered by cocaine) in a relatively large field of view of the cortex in vivo, and 3D quantitative cerebrovascular blood flow (CBF) imaging in living transgenic AD mice at single vessel resolution. Results Our results showed significantly impaired CVR and reduced CBF in basal state in transgenic AD mice compared to non-transgenic littermates in an early stage of AD progression. Changes in total hemoglobin (Δ[HbT]) in response to vasoconstriction were significantly attenuated in AD mice, especially in arteries and tissue, and the recovery time of Δ[HbT] after vasoconstriction was shorter for AD than WT in all types of vessels and cortical tissue, thereby indicating hypoperfusion and reduced vascular flexibility. Additionally, our 3D OCT images revealed that CBF velocities in arteries were slower and that the microvascular network was severely disrupted in the brain of AD mice. Conclusions These results suggest significant vascular impairment in basal CBF and dynamic CVR in the neurovascular network in a rodent model of AD at an early stage of the disease. These cutting-edge in vivo optical imaging tools offer an innovative venue for detecting early neurovascular dysfunction in relation to AD pathology and pave the way for clinical translation of early diagnosis and elucidation of AD pathogenesis in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyomin Jeong
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
| | - Yingtian Pan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
| | - Firoz Akhter
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
| | - Nora D. Volkow
- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20857, USA
| | - Donghui Zhu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
| | - Congwu Du
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
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16
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D'Adamio L. Transfixed by transgenics: how pathology assumptions are slowing progress in Alzheimer's disease and related dementia research. EMBO Mol Med 2023; 15:e18479. [PMID: 37750482 PMCID: PMC10630870 DOI: 10.15252/emmm.202318479] [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: 08/07/2023] [Revised: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 09/08/2023] [Indexed: 09/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Model organisms of human diseases are invaluable tools for unraveling pathogenic mechanisms, identifying potential targets for drug development, and evaluating the therapeutic efficacy of candidates in preclinical trials. The utility of model organisms hinges upon their ability to faithfully replicate the underlying pathogenic mechanisms of the human disease. For rodent models of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and AD-related dementias (ADRD), the limited translatability to human disease raises concerns about their overall utility. What factors contribute to this limitation? Is AD inherently too complex to be accurately modeled in nonhumans? Is the divergence between rodent brains and the human brain so pronounced that rodents are unsuitable as model organisms for AD? Or is it plausible that the commonly used rodent models don't capture the genuine pathogenic mechanisms underlying these diseases? This editorial discusses the challenges associated with transgenic models of AD and ADRD and offers some alternative approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luciano D'Adamio
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology & Neuroscience New Jersey Medical School, Brain Health Institute, Jacqueline Krieger Klein Center in Alzheimer's Disease and Neurodegeneration Research, RutgersThe State University of New JerseyNewarkNJUSA
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17
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Goettemoeller AM, Banks E, McCann KE, Kumar P, South K, Olah VJ, Ramelow CC, Duong DM, Seyfried NT, Rangaraju S, Weinshenker D, Rowan MJM. Entorhinal cortex vulnerability to human APP expression promotes hyperexcitability and tau pathology. RESEARCH SQUARE 2023:rs.3.rs-3370607. [PMID: 37987015 PMCID: PMC10659529 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-3370607/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2023]
Abstract
Preventative treatment for Alzheimer's Disease is of dire importance, and yet, cellular mechanisms underlying early regional vulnerability in Alzheimer's Disease remain unknown. In human patients with Alzheimer's Disease, one of the earliest observed pathophysiological correlates to cognitive decline is hyperexcitability1. In mouse models, early hyperexcitability has been shown in the entorhinal cortex, the first cortical region impacted by Alzheimer's Disease2-4. The origin of hyperexcitability in early-stage disease and why it preferentially emerges in specific regions is unclear. Using cortical-region and cell-type- specific proteomics and patch-clamp electrophysiology, we uncovered differential susceptibility to human-specific amyloid precursor protein (hAPP) in a model of sporadic Alzheimer's. Unexpectedly, our findings reveal that early entorhinal hyperexcitability may result from intrinsic vulnerability of parvalbumin interneurons, rather than the suspected layer II excitatory neurons. This vulnerability of entorhinal PV interneurons is specific to hAPP, as it could not be recapitulated with increased murine APP expression. Furthermore, the Somatosensory Cortex showed no such vulnerability to adult-onset hAPP expression, likely resulting from PV-interneuron variability between the two regions based on physiological and proteomic evaluations. Interestingly, entorhinal hAPP-induced hyperexcitability was quelled by co-expression of human Tau at the expense of increased pathological tau species. This study suggests early disease interventions targeting non-excitatory cell types may protect regions with early vulnerability to pathological symptoms of Alzheimer's Disease and downstream cognitive decline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annie M Goettemoeller
- Department of Cell Biology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, 30322
- GDBBS Graduate Program, Laney Graduate School, Emory University
| | - Emmie Banks
- Department of Cell Biology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, 30322
- GDBBS Graduate Program, Laney Graduate School, Emory University
| | | | - Prateek Kumar
- Department of Neurology, Emory University School of Medicine
| | - Kelly South
- Department of Cell Biology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, 30322
- GDBBS Graduate Program, Laney Graduate School, Emory University
| | - Viktor J Olah
- Department of Cell Biology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, 30322
| | - Christina C Ramelow
- Department of Neurology, Emory University School of Medicine
- GDBBS Graduate Program, Laney Graduate School, Emory University
| | - Duc M Duong
- Department of Neurology, Emory University School of Medicine
- Department of Biochemistry, Emory University
| | - Nicholas T Seyfried
- Department of Neurology, Emory University School of Medicine
- Department of Biochemistry, Emory University
- Center for Neurodegenerative Disease, Emory University School of Medicine
| | - Srikant Rangaraju
- Department of Neurology, Emory University School of Medicine
- GDBBS Graduate Program, Laney Graduate School, Emory University
| | | | - Matthew JM Rowan
- Department of Cell Biology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, 30322
- Center for Neurodegenerative Disease, Emory University School of Medicine
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18
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Sharma H, Chang KA, Hulme J, An SSA. Mammalian Models in Alzheimer's Research: An Update. Cells 2023; 12:2459. [PMID: 37887303 PMCID: PMC10605533 DOI: 10.3390/cells12202459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2023] [Revised: 10/09/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023] Open
Abstract
A form of dementia distinct from healthy cognitive aging, Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a complex multi-stage disease that currently afflicts over 50 million people worldwide. Unfortunately, previous therapeutic strategies developed from murine models emulating different aspects of AD pathogenesis were limited. Consequently, researchers are now developing models that express several aspects of pathogenesis that better reflect the clinical situation in humans. As such, this review seeks to provide insight regarding current applications of mammalian models in AD research by addressing recent developments and characterizations of prominent transgenic models and their contributions to pathogenesis as well as discuss the advantages, limitations, and application of emerging models that better capture genetic heterogeneity and mixed pathologies observed in the clinical situation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Himadri Sharma
- Department of Bionano Technology, Gachon Bionano Research Institute, Gachon University, 1342 Seongnam-daero, Sujeong-gu, Seongnam-si 461-701, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Keun-A Chang
- Neuroscience Research Institute, Gachon University, Incheon 21565, Republic of Korea
| | - John Hulme
- Department of Bionano Technology, Gachon Bionano Research Institute, Gachon University, 1342 Seongnam-daero, Sujeong-gu, Seongnam-si 461-701, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Seong Soo A. An
- Department of Bionano Technology, Gachon Bionano Research Institute, Gachon University, 1342 Seongnam-daero, Sujeong-gu, Seongnam-si 461-701, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea
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19
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Reddy PH, Kshirsagar S, Bose C, Pradeepkiran JA, Hindle A, Singh SP, Reddy AP. Rlip overexpression reduces oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction in Alzheimer's disease: Mechanistic insights. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2023; 1869:166759. [PMID: 37225106 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2023.166759] [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: 04/10/2023] [Revised: 05/12/2023] [Accepted: 05/15/2023] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease that affects a large proportion of the aging population. RalBP1 (Rlip) is a stress-activated protein that plays a crucial role in oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction in aging and neurodegenerative diseases but its precise role in the progression of AD is unclear. The purpose of our study is to understand the role of Rlip in the progression and pathogenesis of AD in mutant APP/amyloid beta (Aβ)-expressed mouse primary hippocampal (HT22) hippocampal neurons. In the current study, we used HT22 neurons that express mAPP, transfected with Rlip-cDNA and/or RNA silenced, and studied cell survival, mitochondrial respiration, mitochondrial function, immunoblotting & immunofluorescence analysis of synaptic and mitophagy protein's and colocalization of Rlip and mutant APP/Aβ proteins and mitochondrial length and number. We also assessed Rlip levels in autopsy brains from AD patients and control subjects. We found cell survival was decreased in mAPP-HT22 cells and RNA-silenced HT22 cells. However, cell survival was increased in Rlip-overexpressed mAPP-HT22 cells. Oxygen consumption rate (OCR) was decreased in mAPP-HT22 cells and RNA-silenced Rlip-HT22 cells. OCR was increased in Rlip-overexpressed in mAPP-HT22 cells. Mitochondrial function was defective in mAPP-HT22 cells and RNA silenced Rlip in HT22 cells, however, it was rescued in Rlip overexpressed mAPP-HT22 cells. Synaptic and mitophagy proteins were decreased in mAPP-HT22 cells, further reducing RNA-silenced Rlip-HT22 cells. However, these were increased in mAPP+Rlip-HT22 cells. Colocalization analysis revealed Rlip is colocalized with mAPP/Aβ. An increased number of mitochondria and decreased mitochondrial length were found in mAPP-HT22 cells. These were rescued in Rlip overexpressed mAPP-HT22 cells. Reduced Rlip levels were found in autopsy brains from AD patients. These observations strongly suggest that Rlip deficiency causes oxidative stress/mitochondrial dysfunction and Rlip overexpression reduced these defects.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Hemachandra Reddy
- Department of Internal Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA; Nutritional Sciences Department, College of Human Sciences, Texas Tech University, 1301 Akron Ave, Lubbock, TX 79409, USA; Neurology, Departments of School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA; Public Health Department of Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA; Department of Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences, School Health Professions, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA; Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA.
| | - Sudhir Kshirsagar
- Department of Internal Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA
| | - Chhanda Bose
- Department of Internal Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA
| | | | - Ashly Hindle
- Department of Internal Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA
| | - Sharda P Singh
- Department of Internal Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA
| | - Arubala P Reddy
- Nutritional Sciences Department, College of Human Sciences, Texas Tech University, 1301 Akron Ave, Lubbock, TX 79409, USA
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20
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Cozachenco D, Zimmer ER, Lourenco MV. Emerging concepts towards a translational framework in Alzheimer's disease. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2023; 152:105246. [PMID: 37236385 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2023] [Revised: 05/20/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Over the past decades, significant efforts have been made to understand the precise mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD), the most common cause of dementia. However, clinical trials targeting AD pathological hallmarks have consistently failed. Refinement of AD conceptualization, modeling, and assessment is key to developing successful therapies. Here, we review critical findings and discuss emerging ideas to integrate molecular mechanisms and clinical approaches in AD. We further propose a refined workflow for animal studies incorporating multimodal biomarkers used in clinical studies - delineating critical paths for drug discovery and translation. Addressing unresolved questions with the proposed conceptual and experimental framework may accelerate the development of effective disease-modifying strategies for AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danielle Cozachenco
- Institute of Medical Biochemistry Leopoldo de Meis, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Eduardo R Zimmer
- Department of Pharmacology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Graduate Program in Biological Sciences: Biochemistry (PPGBioq), UFRGS, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Pharmacology and Therapeutics (PPGFT), UFRGS, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; McGill Centre for Studies in Aging, McGill University, Montreal, Canada; Brain Institute of Rio Grande do Sul, PUCRS, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
| | - Mychael V Lourenco
- Institute of Medical Biochemistry Leopoldo de Meis, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
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21
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De La Torre AL, Huynh TN, Chang CCY, Pooler DB, Ness DB, Lewis LD, Pannem S, Feng Y, Samkoe KS, Hickey WF, Chang TY. Stealth Liposomes Encapsulating a Potent ACAT1/SOAT1 Inhibitor F12511: Pharmacokinetic, Biodistribution, and Toxicity Studies in Wild-Type Mice and Efficacy Studies in Triple Transgenic Alzheimer's Disease Mice. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:11013. [PMID: 37446191 PMCID: PMC10341764 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241311013] [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: 05/07/2023] [Revised: 06/22/2023] [Accepted: 06/28/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Cholesterol is essential for cellular function and is stored as cholesteryl esters (CEs). CEs biosynthesis is catalyzed by the enzymes acyl-CoA:cholesterol acyltransferase 1 and 2 (ACAT1 and ACAT2), with ACAT1 being the primary isoenzyme in most cells in humans. In Alzheimer's Disease, CEs accumulate in vulnerable brain regions. Therefore, ACATs may be promising targets for treating AD. F12511 is a high-affinity ACAT1 inhibitor that has passed phase 1 safety tests for antiatherosclerosis. Previously, we developed a nanoparticle system to encapsulate a large concentration of F12511 into a stealth liposome (DSPE-PEG2000 with phosphatidylcholine). Here, we injected the nanoparticle encapsulated F12511 (nanoparticle F) intravenously (IV) in wild-type mice and performed an HPLC/MS/MS analysis and ACAT enzyme activity measurement. The results demonstrated that F12511 was present within the mouse brain after a single IV but did not overaccumulate in the brain or other tissues after repeated IVs. A histological examination showed that F12511 did not cause overt neurological or systemic toxicity. We then showed that a 2-week IV delivery of nanoparticle F to aging 3xTg AD mice ameliorated amyloidopathy, reduced hyperphosphorylated tau and nonphosphorylated tau, and reduced neuroinflammation. This work lays the foundation for nanoparticle F to be used as a possible therapy for AD and other neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrianna L. De La Torre
- Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH 03755, USA; (A.L.D.L.T.)
| | - Thao N. Huynh
- Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH 03755, USA; (A.L.D.L.T.)
| | - Catherine C. Y. Chang
- Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH 03755, USA; (A.L.D.L.T.)
| | - Darcy B. Pooler
- Clinical Pharmacology Shared Resource, Norris Cotton Cancer Center, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, NH 03766, USA
| | - Dylan B. Ness
- Clinical Pharmacology Shared Resource, Norris Cotton Cancer Center, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, NH 03766, USA
| | - Lionel D. Lewis
- Clinical Pharmacology Shared Resource, Norris Cotton Cancer Center, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, NH 03766, USA
| | - Sanjana Pannem
- Thayer School of Engineering, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH 03755, USA; (S.P.); (Y.F.)
| | - Yichen Feng
- Thayer School of Engineering, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH 03755, USA; (S.P.); (Y.F.)
| | - Kimberley S. Samkoe
- Thayer School of Engineering, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH 03755, USA; (S.P.); (Y.F.)
| | - William F. Hickey
- Department of Pathology, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, NH 03766, USA;
| | - Ta Yuan Chang
- Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH 03755, USA; (A.L.D.L.T.)
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22
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Li X, Le L, Shi Q, Xu H, Wang C, Xiong Y, Wang X, Wu G, Liu Q, Du X. Zinc exacerbates tau-induced Alzheimer-like pathology in C57BL/6J mice. Int J Biol Macromol 2023; 242:124652. [PMID: 37150371 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.124652] [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: 01/10/2023] [Revised: 04/15/2023] [Accepted: 04/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
The pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is highly complex and multifactorial. Compared with Aβ, the pathological changes associated with tau are more related to the clinical symptoms and more indicative of the severity of AD. Studies have shown that the direct interaction between tau and Zn2+ plays an important role in tau toxicity, however, the mechanism by which Zn2+ contributes to tau-induced neurotoxicity is not fully understood. Our previous studies have found that Zn2+ bound to the third repeat unit of the microtubule-binding domain of tau (R3) with moderate affinity and induced R3 to form oligomers, thus increased the toxicity of R3 to nerve cells. Here, we demonstrated that Zn2+ binding to R3 (Zn2++R3) significantly reduced cognitive ability and increased blood lipid and glucose levels of C57BL/6J mice. In addition, Zn2++R3, not Zn2+ or R3 alone, markedly enhanced the endogenous Aβ and tau pathology and damaged the neurons of C57BL/6J mice. The study suggests that the main reason for the toxicity of Zn2+ may be the formation of Zn2+ and tau complex. Thus, preventing the combination of Zn2+ and tau may be a potential strategy for AD treatment. Furthermore, as the C57BL/6J mice injected with Zn2++R3 complex showed behavioral deficits, deposition of Aβ plaques and tau tangles, and the death of neurons within 45 days. Thus, they can be considered as a fast sporadic AD or other tauopathies mouse model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuexia Li
- College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Plant Epigenetics, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518055, China; Tianjin Institute for Food Safety Inspection Technology, Tianjin 300308, China; Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen 518055, China.
| | - Linfeng Le
- College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Plant Epigenetics, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518055, China.
| | - Qingqing Shi
- Department of Psychiatry, Xijing Hospital, Air Force Medical University, Xi'an 710032, Shaanxi, China.
| | - Hao Xu
- College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Plant Epigenetics, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518055, China.
| | - Chao Wang
- Shenzhen Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shenzhen 518055, China.
| | - Yufang Xiong
- College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Plant Epigenetics, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518055, China.
| | - Xun Wang
- Shijiazhuang City Drainage Monitoring Station, Shijiazhuang 050091, China
| | - Guoli Wu
- College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Plant Epigenetics, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518055, China.
| | - Qiong Liu
- College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Plant Epigenetics, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518055, China; Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen 518055, China.
| | - Xiubo Du
- College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Plant Epigenetics, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518055, China; Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen 518055, China.
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23
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Sha S, Chaigneau T, Krantic S. Pre-symptomatic synaptic dysfunction and longitudinal decay of hippocampal synaptic function in APPPS1 mouse model of Alzheimer's disease is sex-independent. Brain Res Bull 2023; 198:36-49. [PMID: 37080395 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2023.04.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2022] [Revised: 03/19/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 04/22/2023]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is an incurable, age-related and progressive neurodegenerative disease characterized by cognitive impairments. Deficits in synaptic plasticity were reported in various models of AD-like pathology and are considered as an early contributing factor of cognitive impairment. However, the majority of previous studies were focused on overt, symptomatic stages of pathology and assessed long-term potentiation (LTP), whereas long-term depression (LTD) was much less investigated and the precise nature of its involvement remains poorly defined. To better understand the earliest synaptic dysfunctions along the pre-symptomatic stage of AD-like pathology, we performed a detailed analysis of underlying mechanisms and quantified basal synaptic activity, presynaptic release probability, and synaptic plasticity such as post-tetanic potentiation (PTP), as well as LTP and LTD. These parameters were studied in APPPS1 mouse model at two time points (early- and mid-) along the pre-symptomatic stage, which were compared with alterations monitored at two later time-points, i.e. the onset of cognitive deficits and the overt stage of full-blown pathology. Because sex is known to be an instrumental biological parameter in AD pathophysiology, all alterations were assessed in both males and females. Our data show that, as compared to wild-type (WT) littermates, initial neuronal hyperexcitability, seen at early pre-symptomatic stage shifts subsequently towards hypoexcitability at mid-pre-symptomatic stage and remains impaired at advanced stages. The pre-symptomatic changes also involve increased synaptic plasticity as assessed by paired-pulse facilitation (PPF), which returns to basal level at the onset of pathology and remains stable afterwards. Synaptic plasticity is impaired by mid-pre-symptomatic stage and manifests as lowered LTP and absence of LTD induction, the latter being reported here for the first time. Observed LTP and LTD impairments both persist in older APPPS1 mice. Remarkably, none of the observed differences was gender-dependent. Altogether, our data evidence that major impairments in basal synaptic efficacy and plasticity are detectable already during mid-pre-symptomatic stage of AD-like pathogenesis and likely involve hyperexcitability as the underlying mechanism. Our study also uncovers synaptic alterations that may become critical read-outs for testing the efficiency of novel, pre-symptomatic stage-targeted therapies for AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sha Sha
- Sorbonne Université, Inserm, Centre de Recherche Saint-Antoine, CRSA, Immune System and Neuroinflammation Laboratory, Hôpital Saint-Antoine, F-75012 Paris, France; Department of Physiology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China
| | - Thomas Chaigneau
- Sorbonne Université, Inserm, Centre de Recherche Saint-Antoine, CRSA, Immune System and Neuroinflammation Laboratory, Hôpital Saint-Antoine, F-75012 Paris, France
| | - Slavica Krantic
- Sorbonne Université, Inserm, Centre de Recherche Saint-Antoine, CRSA, Immune System and Neuroinflammation Laboratory, Hôpital Saint-Antoine, F-75012 Paris, France.
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24
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Sonsalla MM, Lamming DW. Geroprotective interventions in the 3xTg mouse model of Alzheimer's disease. GeroScience 2023:10.1007/s11357-023-00782-w. [PMID: 37022634 PMCID: PMC10400530 DOI: 10.1007/s11357-023-00782-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2023] [Accepted: 03/23/2023] [Indexed: 04/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is an age-associated neurodegenerative disease. As the population ages, the increasing prevalence of AD threatens massive healthcare costs in the coming decades. Unfortunately, traditional drug development efforts for AD have proven largely unsuccessful. A geroscience approach to AD suggests that since aging is the main driver of AD, targeting aging itself may be an effective way to prevent or treat AD. Here, we discuss the effectiveness of geroprotective interventions on AD pathology and cognition in the widely utilized triple-transgenic mouse model of AD (3xTg-AD) which develops both β-amyloid and tau pathologies characteristic of human AD, as well as cognitive deficits. We discuss the beneficial impacts of calorie restriction (CR), the gold standard for geroprotective interventions, and the effects of other dietary interventions including protein restriction. We also discuss the promising preclinical results of geroprotective pharmaceuticals, including rapamycin and medications for type 2 diabetes. Though these interventions and treatments have beneficial effects in the 3xTg-AD model, there is no guarantee that they will be as effective in humans, and we discuss the need to examine these interventions in additional animal models as well as the urgent need to test if some of these approaches can be translated from the lab to the bedside for the treatment of humans with AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle M Sonsalla
- Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2500 Overlook Terrace, VAH C3127 Research 151, Madison, WI, 53705, USA
- William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital, Madison, WI, 53705, USA
- Comparative Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
| | - Dudley W Lamming
- Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2500 Overlook Terrace, VAH C3127 Research 151, Madison, WI, 53705, USA.
- William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital, Madison, WI, 53705, USA.
- Comparative Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53706, USA.
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25
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Theerasri A, Janpaijit S, Tencomnao T, Prasansuklab A. Beyond the classical amyloid hypothesis in Alzheimer's disease: Molecular insights into current concepts of pathogenesis, therapeutic targets, and study models. WIREs Mech Dis 2023; 15:e1591. [PMID: 36494193 DOI: 10.1002/wsbm.1591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2022] [Revised: 11/19/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is one of the progressive neurodegenerative disorders and the most common cause of dementia in the elderly worldwide causing difficulties in the daily life of the patient. AD is characterized by the aberrant accumulation of β-amyloid plaques and tau protein-containing neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) in the brain giving rise to neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, synaptic failure, and eventual neuronal cell death. The total cost of care in AD treatment and related health care activities is enormous and pharmaceutical drugs approved by Food and Drug Administration have not manifested sufficient efficacy in protection and therapy. In recent years, there are growing studies that contribute a fundamental understanding to AD pathogenesis, AD-associated risk factors, and pharmacological intervention. However, greater molecular process-oriented research in company with suitable experimental models is still of the essence to enhance the prospects for AD therapy and cell lines as a disease model are still the major part of this milestone. In this review, we provide an insight into molecular mechanisms, particularly the recent concept in gut-brain axis, vascular dysfunction and autophagy, and current models used in the study of AD. Here, we emphasized the importance of therapeutic strategy targeting multiple mechanisms together with utilizing appropriate models for the discovery of novel effective AD therapy. This article is categorized under: Neurological Diseases > Molecular and Cellular Physiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Atsadang Theerasri
- Graduate Program in Clinical Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Department of Clinical Chemistry, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand.,Natural Products for Neuroprotection and Anti-ageing Research Unit, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Sakawrat Janpaijit
- Graduate Program in Clinical Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Department of Clinical Chemistry, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand.,Natural Products for Neuroprotection and Anti-ageing Research Unit, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Tewin Tencomnao
- Natural Products for Neuroprotection and Anti-ageing Research Unit, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand.,Department of Clinical Chemistry, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Anchalee Prasansuklab
- Natural Products for Neuroprotection and Anti-ageing Research Unit, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand.,College of Public Health Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
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26
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Huat TJ, Onraet T, Camats-Perna J, Newcombe EA, Ngo KC, Sue AN, Mirzaei M, LaFerla FM, Medeiros R. Deletion of MyD88 in astrocytes prevents β-amyloid-induced neuropathology in mice. Glia 2023; 71:431-449. [PMID: 36271704 PMCID: PMC9970273 DOI: 10.1002/glia.24285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2022] [Revised: 10/04/2022] [Accepted: 10/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
As the understanding of immune responses in Alzheimer's disease (AD) is in its early phases, there remains an urgency to identify the cellular and molecular processes driving chronic inflammation. In AD, a subpopulation of astrocytes acquires a neurotoxic phenotype which prompts them to lose typical physiological features. While the underlying molecular mechanisms are still unknown, evidence suggests that myeloid differentiation primary response 88 (MyD88) adaptor protein may play a role in coordinating these cells' immune responses in AD. Herein, we combined studies in human postmortem samples with a conditional genetic knockout mouse model to investigate the link between MyD88 and astrocytes in AD. In silico analyses of bulk and cell-specific transcriptomic data from human postmortem brains demonstrated an upregulation of MyD88 expression in astrocytes in AD versus non-AD individuals. Proteomic studies revealed an increase in glial fibrillary acidic protein in multiple brain regions of AD subjects. These studies also showed that although overall MyD88 steady-state levels were unaffected by AD, this protein was enriched in astrocytes near amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. Functional studies in mice indicated that the deletion of astrocytic MyD88 protected animals from the acute synaptic toxicity and cognitive impairment caused by the intracerebroventricular administration of β-amyloid (Aβ). Lastly, unbiased proteomic analysis revealed that loss of astrocytic MyD88 resulted in altered astrocyte reactivity, lower levels of immune-related proteins, and higher expression of synaptic-related proteins in response to Aβ. Our studies provide evidence of the pivotal role played by MyD88 in the regulation of astrocytes response to AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tee Jong Huat
- Clem Jones Centre for Ageing Dementia Research, Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland. Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- Centre for Stem Cell Ageing and Regenerative Engineering, The University of Queensland. Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Tessa Onraet
- Clem Jones Centre for Ageing Dementia Research, Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland. Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Judith Camats-Perna
- Clem Jones Centre for Ageing Dementia Research, Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland. Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Estella A. Newcombe
- Clem Jones Centre for Ageing Dementia Research, Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland. Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Kim C. Ngo
- Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, University of California, Irvine. Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Ashley N. Sue
- Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, University of California, Irvine. Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Mehdi Mirzaei
- Clinical Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University. Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Frank M. LaFerla
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine. Irvine, CA, USA
- Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, University of California, Irvine. Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Rodrigo Medeiros
- Clem Jones Centre for Ageing Dementia Research, Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland. Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, University of California, Irvine. Irvine, CA, USA
- Correspondence: Rodrigo Medeiros, University of California, Irvine, 3400A Biological Sciences III, Irvine, CA 92697-4545.
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27
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Tian J, Du E, Jia K, Wang T, Guo L, Zigman JM, Du H. Elevated Ghrelin Promotes Hippocampal Ghrelin Receptor Defects in Humanized Amyloid-β Knockin Mice During Aging. J Alzheimers Dis 2023; 96:1579-1592. [PMID: 38007666 PMCID: PMC10841720 DOI: 10.3233/jad-231002] [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] [Indexed: 11/27/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Emerging evidence has revealed that dysregulation of the hormone ghrelin and its receptor, growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHSR), contributes to the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Specifically, defective GHSR function and resultant hippocampal ghrelin resistance are linked to hippocampal synaptic injury in AD paradigms. Also, AD patients exhibit elevated ghrelin activation. However, the detailed molecular mechanisms of hippocampal GHSR dysfunction and the relevance of ghrelin elevation to hippocampal ghrelin resistance in AD-relevant pathological settings are not fully understood. OBJECTIVE In the current study, we employed a recently established mouse line of AD risk [humanized amyloid beta knockin (hAβ KI mice), also referred to as a mouse model of late-onset AD in previous literature] to further define the role of ghrelin system dysregulation in the development of AD. METHODS We employed multidisciplinary techniques to determine the change of plasma ghrelin and the functional status of GHSR in hAβ KI mice as well as primary neuron cultures. RESULTS We observed concurrent plasma ghrelin elevation and hippocampal GHSR desensitization with disease progression. Further examination excluded the possibility that ghrelin elevation is a compensatory change in response to GHSR dysfunction. In contrast, further in vitro and in vivo results show that agonist-mediated overstimulation potentiates GHSR desensitization through enhanced GHSR internalization. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that circulating ghrelin elevation is a pathological event underlying hippocampal GHSR dysfunction, culminating in hippocampal ghrelin resistance and resultant synaptic injury in late-onset AD-related settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Tian
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, The University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, USA
| | - Eric Du
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, The University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, USA
- Blue Valley West High School, Overland Park, KS, USA
| | - Kun Jia
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, The University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, USA
| | - Tienju Wang
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, The University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, USA
| | - Lan Guo
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, The University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, USA
| | - Jeffrey M. Zigman
- Department of Internal Medicine, Center for Hypothalamic Research, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Heng Du
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, The University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, USA
- Alzheimer’s disease Research Center (ADRC), Department of Neurology, The University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, USA
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28
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Longitudinal Analysis of the Microbiome and Metabolome in the 5xfAD Mouse Model of Alzheimer's Disease. mBio 2022; 13:e0179422. [PMID: 36468884 PMCID: PMC9765021 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.01794-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent reports implicate gut microbiome dysbiosis in the onset and progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD), yet studies involving model animals overwhelmingly omit the microbial perspective. Here, we evaluate longitudinal microbiomes and metabolomes from a popular transgenic mouse model for familial AD (5xfAD). Cecal and fecal samples from 5xfAD and wild-type B6J (WT) mice from 4 to 18 months of age were subjected to shotgun Illumina sequencing. Metabolomics was performed on plasma and feces from a subset of the same animals. Significant genotype, sex, age, and cage-specific differences were observed in the microbiome, with the variance explained by genotype at 4 and 18 months of age rising from 0.9 to 9% and 0.3 to 8% for the cecal and fecal samples, respectively. Bacteria at significantly higher abundances in AD mice include multiple Alistipes spp., two Ligilactobacillus spp., and Lactobacillus sp. P38, while multiple species of Turicibacter, Lactobacillus johnsonii, and Romboutsia ilealis were less abundant. Turicibacter is similarly depleted in people with AD, and members of this genus both consume and induce the production of gut-derived serotonin. Contradicting previous findings in humans, serotonin is significantly more concentrated in the blood of older 5xfAD animals compared to their WT littermates. 5xfAD animals exhibited significantly lower plasma concentrations of carnosine and the lysophospholipid lysoPC a C18:1. Correlations between the microbiome and metabolome were also explored. Taken together, these findings strengthen the link between Turicibacter abundance and AD, provide a basis for further microbiome studies of murine models for AD, and suggest that greater control over animal model microbiomes is needed in AD research. IMPORTANCE Microorganisms residing within the gastrointestinal tract are implicated in the onset and progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD) through the mediation of inflammation, exchange of small-molecules across the blood-brain barrier, and stimulation of the vagus nerve. Unfortunately, most animal models for AD are housed under conditions that do not reflect real-world human microbial exposure and do not sufficiently account for (or meaningfully consider) variations in the microbiome. An improved understanding of AD model animal microbiomes will increase model efficacy and the translatability of research findings into humans. Here, we present the characterization of the microbiome and metabolome of the 5xfAD mouse model, which is one of the most common animal models for familial AD. The manuscript highlights the importance of considering the microbiome in study design and aims to lay the groundwork for future studies involving mouse models for AD.
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Dentoni G, Naia L, Portal B, Leal NS, Nilsson P, Lindskog M, Ankarcrona M. Mitochondrial Alterations in Neurons Derived from the Murine AppNL-F Knock-In Model of Alzheimer’s Disease. J Alzheimers Dis 2022; 90:565-583. [DOI: 10.3233/jad-220383] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Background: Alzheimer’s disease (AD) research has relied on mouse models overexpressing human mutant A βPP; however, newer generation knock-in models allow for physiological expression of amyloid-β protein precursor (AβPP) containing familial AD mutations where murine AβPP is edited with a humanized amyloid-β (Aβ) sequence. The AppNL-F mouse model has shown substantial similarities to AD brains developing late onset cognitive impairment. Objective: In this study, we aimed to characterize mature primary cortical neurons derived from homozygous AppNL-F embryos, especially to identify early mitochondrial alterations in this model. Methods: Primary cultures of AppNL-F neurons kept in culture for 12–15 days were used to measure Aβ levels, secretase activity, mitochondrial functions, mitochondrial-ER contacts, synaptic function, and cell death. Results: We detected higher levels of Aβ42 released from AppNL-F neurons as compared to wild-type neurons. AppNL-F neurons, also displayed an increased Aβ42/Aβ40 ratio, similar to adult AppNL-F mouse brain. Interestingly, we found an upregulation in mitochondrial oxygen consumption with concomitant downregulation in glycolytic reserve. Furthermore, AppNL-F neurons were more susceptible to cell death triggered by mitochondrial electron transport chain inhibition. Juxtaposition between ER and mitochondria was found to be substantially upregulated, which may account for upregulated mitochondrial-derived ATP production. However, anterograde mitochondrial movement was severely impaired in this model along with loss in synaptic vesicle protein and impairment in pre- and post-synaptic function. Conclusion: We show that widespread mitochondrial alterations can be detected in AppNL-F neurons in vitro, where amyloid plaque deposition does not occur, suggesting soluble and oligomeric Aβ-species being responsible for these alterations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giacomo Dentoni
- Department of Neurobiology, Karolinska Institutet, Care Science and Society, Division of Neurogeriatrics, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Luana Naia
- Department of Neurobiology, Karolinska Institutet, Care Science and Society, Division of Neurogeriatrics, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Benjamin Portal
- Department of Neuroscience, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Nuno Santos Leal
- Department of Neurobiology, Karolinska Institutet, Care Science and Society, Division of Neurogeriatrics, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Per Nilsson
- Department of Neurobiology, Karolinska Institutet, Care Science and Society, Division of Neurogeriatrics, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Maria Lindskog
- Department of Neuroscience, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Maria Ankarcrona
- Department of Neurobiology, Karolinska Institutet, Care Science and Society, Division of Neurogeriatrics, Stockholm, Sweden
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Kshirsagar S, Alvir RV, Pradeepkiran JA, Hindle A, Vijayan M, Ramasubramaniam B, Kumar S, Reddy AP, Reddy PH. A Combination Therapy of Urolithin A+EGCG Has Stronger Protective Effects Than Single Drug Urolithin A in a Humanized Amyloid Beta Knockin Mice for Late-Onset Alzheimer’s Disease. Cells 2022; 11:cells11172660. [PMID: 36078067 PMCID: PMC9454743 DOI: 10.3390/cells11172660] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2022] [Revised: 08/23/2022] [Accepted: 08/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
In the current study, for the first time, we study mitophagy enhancer urolithin A and a combination of urolithin A+green tea extract EGCG against human Aβ peptide-induced mitochondrial and synaptic, dendritic, inflammatory toxicities and behavioral changes in humanized homozygous amyloid beta knockin (hAbKI) mice of late-onset Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Our findings reveal significantly increased positive effects of urolithin A and a combination treatment of urolithin A+EGCG in hAbKI mice for phenotypic behavioral changes including motor coordination, locomotion/exploratory activity, spatial learning and working memory. mRNA and protein levels of mitochondrial fusion, synaptic, mitophagy and autophagy genes were upregulated, and mitochondrial fission genes are downregulated in urolithin A and combine treatment in hAbKI mice; however, the effect is stronger in combined treatment. Immunofluorescence analysis of hippocampal brain sections shows similar findings of mRNA and protein levels. Mitochondrial dysfunction is significantly reduced in both treatment groups, but a stronger reduction is observed in combined treatment. Dendritic spines and lengths are significantly increased in both treatment groups, but the effect is stronger in combined treatment. The fragmented number of mitochondria is reduced, and mitochondrial length is increased, and mitophagosomal formations are increased in both the groups, but the effect is stronger in the combined treatment. The levels of amyloid beta (Aβ) 40 and Aβ42 are reduced in both treatments, however, the reduction is higher for combined treatment. These observations suggest that urolithin A is protective against human Aβ peptide-induced toxicities; however, combined treatment of urolithin A+EGCG is effective and stronger, indicating that combined therapy is promising to treat late-onset AD patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sudhir Kshirsagar
- Department of Internal Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, 3601 4th Street, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA
| | - Rainier Vladlen Alvir
- Department of Internal Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, 3601 4th Street, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA
| | - Jangampalli Adi Pradeepkiran
- Department of Internal Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, 3601 4th Street, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA
| | - Ashly Hindle
- Department of Internal Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, 3601 4th Street, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA
| | - Murali Vijayan
- Department of Internal Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, 3601 4th Street, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA
| | - Bhagavathi Ramasubramaniam
- Department of Internal Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, 3601 4th Street, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA
| | - Subodh Kumar
- Department of Internal Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, 3601 4th Street, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA
- Center of Emphasis in Neuroscience, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, El Paso, TX 79905, USA
| | - Arubala P. Reddy
- Nutritional Sciences Department, College of Human Sciences, Texas Tech University, 1301 Akron Ave, Lubbock, TX 79409, USA
| | - P. Hemachandra Reddy
- Department of Internal Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, 3601 4th Street, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA
- Nutritional Sciences Department, College of Human Sciences, Texas Tech University, 1301 Akron Ave, Lubbock, TX 79409, USA
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA
- Department of Neurology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA
- Department of Public Health, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA
- Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-806-743-3194
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Wander CM, Tsujimoto THM, Ervin JF, Wang C, Maranto SM, Bhat V, Dallmeier JD, Wang SHJ, Lin FC, Scott WK, Holtzman DM, Cohen TJ. Corpora amylacea are associated with tau burden and cognitive status in Alzheimer's disease. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2022; 10:110. [PMID: 35941704 PMCID: PMC9361643 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-022-01409-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2022] [Accepted: 07/16/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Corpora amylacea (CA) and their murine analogs, periodic acid Schiff (PAS) granules, are age-related, carbohydrate-rich structures that serve as waste repositories for aggregated proteins, damaged cellular organelles, and other cellular debris. The structure, morphology, and suspected functions of CA in the brain imply disease relevance. Despite this, the link between CA and age-related neurodegenerative diseases, particularly Alzheimer's disease (AD), remains poorly defined. We performed a neuropathological analysis of mouse PAS granules and human CA and correlated these findings with AD progression. Increased PAS granule density was observed in symptomatic tau transgenic mice and APOE knock-in mice. Using a cohort of postmortem AD brain samples, we examined CA in cognitively normal and dementia patients across Braak stages with varying APOE status. We identified a Braak-stage dependent bimodal distribution of CA in the dentate gyrus, with CA accumulating and peaking by Braak stages II-III, then steadily declining with increasing tau burden. Refined analysis revealed an association of CA levels with both cognition and APOE status. Finally, tau was detected in whole CA present in human patient cerebrospinal fluid, highlighting CA-tau as a plausible prodromal AD biomarker. Our study connects hallmarks of the aging brain with the emergence of AD pathology and suggests that CA may act as a compensatory factor that becomes depleted with advancing tau burden.
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Affiliation(s)
- Connor M. Wander
- grid.10698.360000000122483208Department of Neurology, UNC Neuroscience Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC USA ,grid.410711.20000 0001 1034 1720Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC USA
| | | | - John F. Ervin
- grid.26009.3d0000 0004 1936 7961Bryan Brain Bank, Department of Neurology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC USA
| | - Chanung Wang
- grid.4367.60000 0001 2355 7002Department of Neurology, Hope Center for Neurological Disorders, Knight Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO USA
| | - Spencer M. Maranto
- grid.10698.360000000122483208Department of Neurology, UNC Neuroscience Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC USA
| | - Vanya Bhat
- grid.10698.360000000122483208Department of Neurology, UNC Neuroscience Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC USA
| | - Julian D. Dallmeier
- grid.26790.3a0000 0004 1936 8606Brain Endowment Bank, Department of Neurology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL USA
| | - Shih-Hsiu Jerry Wang
- grid.26009.3d0000 0004 1936 7961Bryan Brain Bank, Department of Neurology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC USA ,grid.26009.3d0000 0004 1936 7961Department of Pathology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC USA
| | - Feng-Chang Lin
- grid.410711.20000 0001 1034 1720Department of Biostatistics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC USA
| | - William K. Scott
- grid.26790.3a0000 0004 1936 8606Brain Endowment Bank, Department of Neurology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL USA ,grid.26790.3a0000 0004 1936 8606John P. Hussman Institute for Human Genomics, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL USA ,grid.26790.3a0000 0004 1936 8606Dr. John T. Macdonald Foundation Department of Human Genetics, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL USA
| | - David M. Holtzman
- grid.4367.60000 0001 2355 7002Department of Neurology, Hope Center for Neurological Disorders, Knight Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO USA
| | - Todd J. Cohen
- grid.10698.360000000122483208Department of Neurology, UNC Neuroscience Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC USA ,grid.410711.20000 0001 1034 1720Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC USA
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Shared pathophysiology: Understanding stroke and Alzheimer’s disease. Clin Neurol Neurosurg 2022; 218:107306. [PMID: 35636382 DOI: 10.1016/j.clineuro.2022.107306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2022] [Revised: 05/03/2022] [Accepted: 05/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
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Ammassari-Teule M. Inbred Mice Again at Stake: How the Cognitive Profile of the Wild-Type Mouse Background Discloses Pathogenic Effects of APP Mutations. Front Behav Neurosci 2022; 16:868473. [PMID: 35813596 PMCID: PMC9260142 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2022.868473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2022] [Accepted: 05/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Increasing efforts have been made in the last decades to increase the face validity of Alzheimer's disease (AD) mouse models. Main advancements have consisted in generating AD mutations closer to those identified in humans, enhancing genetic diversity of wild-type backgrounds, and choosing protocols much apt to reveal AD-like cognitive dysfunctions. Nevertheless, two aspects remain less considered: the cognitive specialization of inbred strains used as recipient backgrounds of mutations and the heuristic importance of studying destabilization of memory circuits in pre-symptomatic mice facing cognitive challenges. This article underscores the relevance of these behavioral/experimental aspects by reviewing data which show that (i) inbred mice differ in their innate predisposition to rely on episodic vs. procedural memory, which implicates differential sensitivity to mutations aimed at disrupting temporal lobe-dependent memory, and that (ii) investigating training-driven neural alterations in asymptomatic mutants unveils early synaptic damage, which considerably anticipates detection of AD first signs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martine Ammassari-Teule
- Laboratory of Psychobiology, Department of Experimental Neuroscience, Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy
- National Research Council, Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Rome, Italy
- *Correspondence: Martine Ammassari-Teule
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Xia D, Lianoglou S, Sandmann T, Calvert M, Suh JH, Thomsen E, Dugas J, Pizzo ME, DeVos SL, Earr TK, Lin CC, Davis S, Ha C, Leung AWS, Nguyen H, Chau R, Yulyaningsih E, Lopez I, Solanoy H, Masoud ST, Liang CC, Lin K, Astarita G, Khoury N, Zuchero JY, Thorne RG, Shen K, Miller S, Palop JJ, Garceau D, Sasner M, Whitesell JD, Harris JA, Hummel S, Gnörich J, Wind K, Kunze L, Zatcepin A, Brendel M, Willem M, Haass C, Barnett D, Zimmer TS, Orr AG, Scearce-Levie K, Lewcock JW, Di Paolo G, Sanchez PE. Novel App knock-in mouse model shows key features of amyloid pathology and reveals profound metabolic dysregulation of microglia. Mol Neurodegener 2022; 17:41. [PMID: 35690868 PMCID: PMC9188195 DOI: 10.1186/s13024-022-00547-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2021] [Accepted: 05/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Genetic mutations underlying familial Alzheimer's disease (AD) were identified decades ago, but the field is still in search of transformative therapies for patients. While mouse models based on overexpression of mutated transgenes have yielded key insights in mechanisms of disease, those models are subject to artifacts, including random genetic integration of the transgene, ectopic expression and non-physiological protein levels. The genetic engineering of novel mouse models using knock-in approaches addresses some of those limitations. With mounting evidence of the role played by microglia in AD, high-dimensional approaches to phenotype microglia in those models are critical to refine our understanding of the immune response in the brain. METHODS We engineered a novel App knock-in mouse model (AppSAA) using homologous recombination to introduce three disease-causing coding mutations (Swedish, Arctic and Austrian) to the mouse App gene. Amyloid-β pathology, neurodegeneration, glial responses, brain metabolism and behavioral phenotypes were characterized in heterozygous and homozygous AppSAA mice at different ages in brain and/ or biofluids. Wild type littermate mice were used as experimental controls. We used in situ imaging technologies to define the whole-brain distribution of amyloid plaques and compare it to other AD mouse models and human brain pathology. To further explore the microglial response to AD relevant pathology, we isolated microglia with fibrillar Aβ content from the brain and performed transcriptomics and metabolomics analyses and in vivo brain imaging to measure energy metabolism and microglial response. Finally, we also characterized the mice in various behavioral assays. RESULTS Leveraging multi-omics approaches, we discovered profound alteration of diverse lipids and metabolites as well as an exacerbated disease-associated transcriptomic response in microglia with high intracellular Aβ content. The AppSAA knock-in mouse model recapitulates key pathological features of AD such as a progressive accumulation of parenchymal amyloid plaques and vascular amyloid deposits, altered astroglial and microglial responses and elevation of CSF markers of neurodegeneration. Those observations were associated with increased TSPO and FDG-PET brain signals and a hyperactivity phenotype as the animals aged. DISCUSSION Our findings demonstrate that fibrillar Aβ in microglia is associated with lipid dyshomeostasis consistent with lysosomal dysfunction and foam cell phenotypes as well as profound immuno-metabolic perturbations, opening new avenues to further investigate metabolic pathways at play in microglia responding to AD-relevant pathogenesis. The in-depth characterization of pathological hallmarks of AD in this novel and open-access mouse model should serve as a resource for the scientific community to investigate disease-relevant biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan Xia
- Denali Therapeutics, Inc., 161 Oyster Point Blvd, South San Francisco, California, 94080 USA
| | - Steve Lianoglou
- Denali Therapeutics, Inc., 161 Oyster Point Blvd, South San Francisco, California, 94080 USA
| | - Thomas Sandmann
- Denali Therapeutics, Inc., 161 Oyster Point Blvd, South San Francisco, California, 94080 USA
| | - Meredith Calvert
- Denali Therapeutics, Inc., 161 Oyster Point Blvd, South San Francisco, California, 94080 USA
| | - Jung H. Suh
- Denali Therapeutics, Inc., 161 Oyster Point Blvd, South San Francisco, California, 94080 USA
| | - Elliot Thomsen
- Denali Therapeutics, Inc., 161 Oyster Point Blvd, South San Francisco, California, 94080 USA
| | - Jason Dugas
- Denali Therapeutics, Inc., 161 Oyster Point Blvd, South San Francisco, California, 94080 USA
| | - Michelle E. Pizzo
- Denali Therapeutics, Inc., 161 Oyster Point Blvd, South San Francisco, California, 94080 USA
| | - Sarah L. DeVos
- Denali Therapeutics, Inc., 161 Oyster Point Blvd, South San Francisco, California, 94080 USA
| | - Timothy K. Earr
- Denali Therapeutics, Inc., 161 Oyster Point Blvd, South San Francisco, California, 94080 USA
| | - Chia-Ching Lin
- Denali Therapeutics, Inc., 161 Oyster Point Blvd, South San Francisco, California, 94080 USA
| | - Sonnet Davis
- Denali Therapeutics, Inc., 161 Oyster Point Blvd, South San Francisco, California, 94080 USA
| | - Connie Ha
- Denali Therapeutics, Inc., 161 Oyster Point Blvd, South San Francisco, California, 94080 USA
| | - Amy Wing-Sze Leung
- Denali Therapeutics, Inc., 161 Oyster Point Blvd, South San Francisco, California, 94080 USA
| | - Hoang Nguyen
- Denali Therapeutics, Inc., 161 Oyster Point Blvd, South San Francisco, California, 94080 USA
| | - Roni Chau
- Denali Therapeutics, Inc., 161 Oyster Point Blvd, South San Francisco, California, 94080 USA
| | - Ernie Yulyaningsih
- Denali Therapeutics, Inc., 161 Oyster Point Blvd, South San Francisco, California, 94080 USA
| | - Isabel Lopez
- Denali Therapeutics, Inc., 161 Oyster Point Blvd, South San Francisco, California, 94080 USA
| | - Hilda Solanoy
- Denali Therapeutics, Inc., 161 Oyster Point Blvd, South San Francisco, California, 94080 USA
| | - Shababa T. Masoud
- Denali Therapeutics, Inc., 161 Oyster Point Blvd, South San Francisco, California, 94080 USA
| | - Chun-chi Liang
- Denali Therapeutics, Inc., 161 Oyster Point Blvd, South San Francisco, California, 94080 USA
| | - Karin Lin
- Denali Therapeutics, Inc., 161 Oyster Point Blvd, South San Francisco, California, 94080 USA
| | - Giuseppe Astarita
- Denali Therapeutics, Inc., 161 Oyster Point Blvd, South San Francisco, California, 94080 USA
| | - Nathalie Khoury
- Denali Therapeutics, Inc., 161 Oyster Point Blvd, South San Francisco, California, 94080 USA
| | - Joy Yu Zuchero
- Denali Therapeutics, Inc., 161 Oyster Point Blvd, South San Francisco, California, 94080 USA
| | - Robert G. Thorne
- Denali Therapeutics, Inc., 161 Oyster Point Blvd, South San Francisco, California, 94080 USA
- Department of Pharmaceutics, University of Minnesota, 9-177 Weaver-Densford Hall, 308 Harvard St. SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455 USA
| | - Kevin Shen
- Gladstone Institute of Neurological Disease, San Francisco, CA 94158 USA
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158 USA
| | - Stephanie Miller
- Gladstone Institute of Neurological Disease, San Francisco, CA 94158 USA
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158 USA
| | - Jorge J. Palop
- Gladstone Institute of Neurological Disease, San Francisco, CA 94158 USA
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158 USA
| | | | | | | | | | - Selina Hummel
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) Munich, 81377 Munich, Germany
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital of Munich, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Johannes Gnörich
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) Munich, 81377 Munich, Germany
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital of Munich, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Karin Wind
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) Munich, 81377 Munich, Germany
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital of Munich, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Lea Kunze
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) Munich, 81377 Munich, Germany
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital of Munich, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Artem Zatcepin
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) Munich, 81377 Munich, Germany
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital of Munich, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Matthias Brendel
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) Munich, 81377 Munich, Germany
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital of Munich, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Michael Willem
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital of Munich, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Christian Haass
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) Munich, 81377 Munich, Germany
- Metabolic Biochemistry, Biomedical Center (BMC), Faculty of Medicine, Ludwig- Maximilians-Universität, München, 81377 Munich, Germany
- Munich Cluster for Systems Neurology (SyNergy), 81377 Munich, Germany
| | - Daniel Barnett
- Appel Alzheimer’s Disease Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY USA
- Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY USA
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY USA
| | - Till S. Zimmer
- Appel Alzheimer’s Disease Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY USA
- Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY USA
| | - Anna G. Orr
- Appel Alzheimer’s Disease Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY USA
- Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY USA
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY USA
| | - Kimberly Scearce-Levie
- Denali Therapeutics, Inc., 161 Oyster Point Blvd, South San Francisco, California, 94080 USA
| | - Joseph W. Lewcock
- Denali Therapeutics, Inc., 161 Oyster Point Blvd, South San Francisco, California, 94080 USA
| | - Gilbert Di Paolo
- Denali Therapeutics, Inc., 161 Oyster Point Blvd, South San Francisco, California, 94080 USA
| | - Pascal E. Sanchez
- Denali Therapeutics, Inc., 161 Oyster Point Blvd, South San Francisco, California, 94080 USA
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Watamura N, Sato K, Shiihashi G, Iwasaki A, Kamano N, Takahashi M, Sekiguchi M, Mihira N, Fujioka R, Nagata K, Hashimoto S, Saito T, Ohshima T, Saido TC, Sasaguri H. An isogenic panel of App knock-in mouse models: Profiling β-secretase inhibition and endosomal abnormalities. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2022; 8:eabm6155. [PMID: 35675411 PMCID: PMC9177067 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abm6155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2021] [Accepted: 04/22/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
We previously developed single App knock-in mouse models of Alzheimer's disease (AD) that harbor the Swedish and Beyreuther/Iberian mutations with or without the Arctic mutation (AppNL-G-F and AppNL-F mice). We have now generated App knock-in mice devoid of the Swedish mutations (AppG-F mice) and evaluated its characteristics. Amyloid β peptide (Aβ) pathology was exhibited by AppG-F mice from 6 to 8 months of age and was accompanied by neuroinflammation. Aβ-secretase inhibitor, verubecestat, attenuated Aβ production in AppG-F mice, but not in AppNL-G-F mice, indicating that the AppG-F mice are more suitable for preclinical studies of β-secretase inhibition given that most patients with AD do not carry the Swedish mutations. Comparison of isogenic App knock-in lines revealed that multiple factors, including elevated C-terminal fragment β (CTF-β) and humanization of Aβ might influence endosomal alterations in vivo. Thus, experimental comparisons between different isogenic App, knock-in mouse lines will provide previously unidentified insights into our understanding of the etiology of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naoto Watamura
- Laboratory for Proteolytic Neuroscience, RIKEN Center for Brain Science, 2-1 Hirosawa, Wako, Saitama 351-0198, Japan
| | - Kaori Sato
- Laboratory for Proteolytic Neuroscience, RIKEN Center for Brain Science, 2-1 Hirosawa, Wako, Saitama 351-0198, Japan
- Laboratory for Molecular Brain Science, Department of Life Science and Medical Bioscience, Waseda University, Shinjuku, Tokyo 162-8480, Japan
| | - Gen Shiihashi
- Neurological Institute, Shonan Keiiku Hospital, 4360 Endo, Fujisawa, Kanagawa 252-0816, Japan
| | - Ayami Iwasaki
- Yamaguchi University School of Medicine, 1-1-1 Minamikogushi, Ube, Yamaguchi 755-8505, Japan
| | - Naoko Kamano
- Laboratory for Proteolytic Neuroscience, RIKEN Center for Brain Science, 2-1 Hirosawa, Wako, Saitama 351-0198, Japan
| | - Mika Takahashi
- Laboratory for Proteolytic Neuroscience, RIKEN Center for Brain Science, 2-1 Hirosawa, Wako, Saitama 351-0198, Japan
| | - Misaki Sekiguchi
- Laboratory for Proteolytic Neuroscience, RIKEN Center for Brain Science, 2-1 Hirosawa, Wako, Saitama 351-0198, Japan
| | - Naomi Mihira
- Laboratory for Proteolytic Neuroscience, RIKEN Center for Brain Science, 2-1 Hirosawa, Wako, Saitama 351-0198, Japan
| | - Ryo Fujioka
- Laboratory for Proteolytic Neuroscience, RIKEN Center for Brain Science, 2-1 Hirosawa, Wako, Saitama 351-0198, Japan
| | - Kenichi Nagata
- Department of Functional Anatomy and Neuroscience, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Aichi 466-8550, Japan
| | - Shoko Hashimoto
- Laboratory for Proteolytic Neuroscience, RIKEN Center for Brain Science, 2-1 Hirosawa, Wako, Saitama 351-0198, Japan
| | - Takashi Saito
- Laboratory for Proteolytic Neuroscience, RIKEN Center for Brain Science, 2-1 Hirosawa, Wako, Saitama 351-0198, Japan
- Department of Neurocognitive Science, Institute of Brain Science, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya, Aichi 467-8601, Japan
| | - Toshio Ohshima
- Laboratory for Molecular Brain Science, Department of Life Science and Medical Bioscience, Waseda University, Shinjuku, Tokyo 162-8480, Japan
| | - Takaomi C. Saido
- Laboratory for Proteolytic Neuroscience, RIKEN Center for Brain Science, 2-1 Hirosawa, Wako, Saitama 351-0198, Japan
| | - Hiroki Sasaguri
- Laboratory for Proteolytic Neuroscience, RIKEN Center for Brain Science, 2-1 Hirosawa, Wako, Saitama 351-0198, Japan
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Farrell C, Mumford P, Wiseman FK. Rodent Modeling of Alzheimer's Disease in Down Syndrome: In vivo and ex vivo Approaches. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:909669. [PMID: 35747206 PMCID: PMC9209729 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.909669] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Accepted: 05/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
There are an estimated 6 million people with Down syndrome (DS) worldwide. In developed countries, the vast majority of these individuals will develop Alzheimer's disease neuropathology characterized by the accumulation of amyloid-β (Aβ) plaques and tau neurofibrillary tangles within the brain, which leads to the early onset of dementia (AD-DS) and reduced life-expectancy. The mean age of onset of clinical dementia is ~55 years and by the age of 80, approaching 100% of individuals with DS will have a dementia diagnosis. DS is caused by trisomy of chromosome 21 (Hsa21) thus an additional copy of a gene(s) on the chromosome must cause the development of AD neuropathology and dementia. Indeed, triplication of the gene APP which encodes the amyloid precursor protein is sufficient and necessary for early onset AD (EOAD), both in people who have and do not have DS. However, triplication of other genes on Hsa21 leads to profound differences in neurodevelopment resulting in intellectual disability, elevated incidence of epilepsy and perturbations to the immune system. This different biology may impact on how AD neuropathology and dementia develops in people who have DS. Indeed, genes on Hsa21 other than APP when in three-copies can modulate AD-pathogenesis in mouse preclinical models. Understanding this biology better is critical to inform drug selection for AD prevention and therapy trials for people who have DS. Here we will review rodent preclinical models of AD-DS and how these can be used for both in vivo and ex vivo (cultured cells and organotypic slice cultures) studies to understand the mechanisms that contribute to the early development of AD in people who have DS and test the utility of treatments to prevent or delay the development of disease.
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Garcia G, Fernandes A, Stein F, Brites D. Protective Signature of IFNγ-Stimulated Microglia Relies on miR-124-3p Regulation From the Secretome Released by Mutant APP Swedish Neuronal Cells. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:833066. [PMID: 35620289 PMCID: PMC9127204 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.833066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2021] [Accepted: 03/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Microglia-associated inflammation and miRNA dysregulation are key players in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) pathophysiology. Previously, we showed miR-124 upregulation in APP Swedish SH-SY5Y (SWE) and PSEN1 iPSC-derived neurons and its propagation by the secretome (soluble and exosomal fractions). After modulation with miR-124 mimic/inhibitor, we identified common responsive mechanisms between such models. We also reported miR-124 colocalization with microglia in AD patient hippocampi. Herein, we determined how miR-124 modulation in SWE cells influences microglia polarized subtypes in the context of inflammation. We used a coculture system without cell-to-cell contact formed by miR-124 modulated SWE cells and human CHME3 microglia stimulated with interferon-gamma (IFNγ-MG), in which we assessed their adopted gene/miRNA profile and proteomic signature. The increase of miR-124 in SWE cells/secretome (soluble and exosomal) was mimicked in IFNγ-MG. Treatment of SWE cells with the miR-124 inhibitor led to RAGE overexpression and loss of neuronal viability, while the mimic caused RAGE/HMGB1 downregulation and prevented mitochondria membrane potential loss. When accessing the paracrine effects on microglia, SWE miR-124 inhibitor favored their IFNγ-induced inflammatory signature (upregulated RAGE/HMGB1/iNOS/IL-1β; downregulated IL-10/ARG-1), while the mimic reduced microglia activation (downregulated TNF-α/iNOS) and deactivated extracellular MMP-2/MMP-9 levels. Microglia proteomics identified 113 responsive proteins to SWE miR-124 levels, including a subgroup of 17 proteins involved in immune function/inflammation and/or miR-124 targets. A total of 72 proteins were downregulated (e.g., MAP2K6) and 21 upregulated (e.g., PAWR) by the mimic, while the inhibitor also upregulated 21 proteins and downregulated 17 (e.g., TGFB1, PAWR, and EFEMP1). Other targets were associated with neurodevelopmental mechanisms, synaptic function, and vesicular trafficking. To examine the source of miR-124 variations in microglia, we silenced the RNase III endonuclease Dicer1 to block miRNA canonical biogenesis. Despite this suppression, the coculture with SWE cells/exosomes still raised microglial miR-124 levels, evidencing miR-124 transfer from neurons to microglia. This study is pioneer in elucidating that neuronal miR-124 reshapes microglia plasticity and in revealing the relevance of neuronal survival in mechanisms underlying inflammation in AD-associated neurodegeneration. These novel insights pave the way for the application of miRNA-based neuropharmacological strategies in AD whenever miRNA dysregulated levels are identified during patient stratification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gonçalo Garcia
- Neuroinflammation, Signaling and Neuroregeneration Laboratory, Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal.,Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Medicines, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Adelaide Fernandes
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Medicines, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal.,Central Nervous System, Blood and Peripheral Inflammation, Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Frank Stein
- Proteomics Core Facility, European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Dora Brites
- Neuroinflammation, Signaling and Neuroregeneration Laboratory, Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
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Sanchez-Varo R, Mejias-Ortega M, Fernandez-Valenzuela JJ, Nuñez-Diaz C, Caceres-Palomo L, Vegas-Gomez L, Sanchez-Mejias E, Trujillo-Estrada L, Garcia-Leon JA, Moreno-Gonzalez I, Vizuete M, Vitorica J, Baglietto-Vargas D, Gutierrez A. Transgenic Mouse Models of Alzheimer's Disease: An Integrative Analysis. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:5404. [PMID: 35628216 PMCID: PMC9142061 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23105404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2022] [Accepted: 05/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) constitutes the most prominent form of dementia among elderly individuals worldwide. Disease modeling using murine transgenic mice was first initiated thanks to the discovery of heritable mutations in amyloid precursor protein (APP) and presenilins (PS) genes. However, due to the repeated failure of translational applications from animal models to human patients, along with the recent advances in genetic susceptibility and our current understanding on disease biology, these models have evolved over time in an attempt to better reproduce the complexity of this devastating disease and improve their applicability. In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview about the major pathological elements of human AD (plaques, tauopathy, synaptic damage, neuronal death, neuroinflammation and glial dysfunction), discussing the knowledge that available mouse models have provided about the mechanisms underlying human disease. Moreover, we highlight the pros and cons of current models, and the revolution offered by the concomitant use of transgenic mice and omics technologies that may lead to a more rapid improvement of the present modeling battery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raquel Sanchez-Varo
- Departamento Biologia Celular, Genetica y Fisiologia, Instituto de Investigacion Biomedica de Malaga-IBIMA, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Malaga, 29071 Malaga, Spain; (R.S.-V.); (M.M.-O.); (J.J.F.-V.); (C.N.-D.); (L.C.-P.); (L.V.-G.); (E.S.-M.); (L.T.-E.); (J.A.G.-L.); (I.M.-G.)
- Centro de Investigacion Biomedica en Red Sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), 28031 Madrid, Spain; (M.V.); (J.V.)
- Departamento Fisiologia Humana, Histologia Humana, Anatomia Patologica y Educacion Fisica y Deportiva, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Malaga, 29071 Malaga, Spain
| | - Marina Mejias-Ortega
- Departamento Biologia Celular, Genetica y Fisiologia, Instituto de Investigacion Biomedica de Malaga-IBIMA, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Malaga, 29071 Malaga, Spain; (R.S.-V.); (M.M.-O.); (J.J.F.-V.); (C.N.-D.); (L.C.-P.); (L.V.-G.); (E.S.-M.); (L.T.-E.); (J.A.G.-L.); (I.M.-G.)
- Centro de Investigacion Biomedica en Red Sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), 28031 Madrid, Spain; (M.V.); (J.V.)
| | - Juan Jose Fernandez-Valenzuela
- Departamento Biologia Celular, Genetica y Fisiologia, Instituto de Investigacion Biomedica de Malaga-IBIMA, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Malaga, 29071 Malaga, Spain; (R.S.-V.); (M.M.-O.); (J.J.F.-V.); (C.N.-D.); (L.C.-P.); (L.V.-G.); (E.S.-M.); (L.T.-E.); (J.A.G.-L.); (I.M.-G.)
- Centro de Investigacion Biomedica en Red Sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), 28031 Madrid, Spain; (M.V.); (J.V.)
| | - Cristina Nuñez-Diaz
- Departamento Biologia Celular, Genetica y Fisiologia, Instituto de Investigacion Biomedica de Malaga-IBIMA, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Malaga, 29071 Malaga, Spain; (R.S.-V.); (M.M.-O.); (J.J.F.-V.); (C.N.-D.); (L.C.-P.); (L.V.-G.); (E.S.-M.); (L.T.-E.); (J.A.G.-L.); (I.M.-G.)
- Centro de Investigacion Biomedica en Red Sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), 28031 Madrid, Spain; (M.V.); (J.V.)
| | - Laura Caceres-Palomo
- Departamento Biologia Celular, Genetica y Fisiologia, Instituto de Investigacion Biomedica de Malaga-IBIMA, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Malaga, 29071 Malaga, Spain; (R.S.-V.); (M.M.-O.); (J.J.F.-V.); (C.N.-D.); (L.C.-P.); (L.V.-G.); (E.S.-M.); (L.T.-E.); (J.A.G.-L.); (I.M.-G.)
- Centro de Investigacion Biomedica en Red Sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), 28031 Madrid, Spain; (M.V.); (J.V.)
| | - Laura Vegas-Gomez
- Departamento Biologia Celular, Genetica y Fisiologia, Instituto de Investigacion Biomedica de Malaga-IBIMA, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Malaga, 29071 Malaga, Spain; (R.S.-V.); (M.M.-O.); (J.J.F.-V.); (C.N.-D.); (L.C.-P.); (L.V.-G.); (E.S.-M.); (L.T.-E.); (J.A.G.-L.); (I.M.-G.)
- Centro de Investigacion Biomedica en Red Sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), 28031 Madrid, Spain; (M.V.); (J.V.)
| | - Elisabeth Sanchez-Mejias
- Departamento Biologia Celular, Genetica y Fisiologia, Instituto de Investigacion Biomedica de Malaga-IBIMA, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Malaga, 29071 Malaga, Spain; (R.S.-V.); (M.M.-O.); (J.J.F.-V.); (C.N.-D.); (L.C.-P.); (L.V.-G.); (E.S.-M.); (L.T.-E.); (J.A.G.-L.); (I.M.-G.)
- Centro de Investigacion Biomedica en Red Sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), 28031 Madrid, Spain; (M.V.); (J.V.)
| | - Laura Trujillo-Estrada
- Departamento Biologia Celular, Genetica y Fisiologia, Instituto de Investigacion Biomedica de Malaga-IBIMA, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Malaga, 29071 Malaga, Spain; (R.S.-V.); (M.M.-O.); (J.J.F.-V.); (C.N.-D.); (L.C.-P.); (L.V.-G.); (E.S.-M.); (L.T.-E.); (J.A.G.-L.); (I.M.-G.)
- Centro de Investigacion Biomedica en Red Sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), 28031 Madrid, Spain; (M.V.); (J.V.)
| | - Juan Antonio Garcia-Leon
- Departamento Biologia Celular, Genetica y Fisiologia, Instituto de Investigacion Biomedica de Malaga-IBIMA, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Malaga, 29071 Malaga, Spain; (R.S.-V.); (M.M.-O.); (J.J.F.-V.); (C.N.-D.); (L.C.-P.); (L.V.-G.); (E.S.-M.); (L.T.-E.); (J.A.G.-L.); (I.M.-G.)
- Centro de Investigacion Biomedica en Red Sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), 28031 Madrid, Spain; (M.V.); (J.V.)
| | - Ines Moreno-Gonzalez
- Departamento Biologia Celular, Genetica y Fisiologia, Instituto de Investigacion Biomedica de Malaga-IBIMA, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Malaga, 29071 Malaga, Spain; (R.S.-V.); (M.M.-O.); (J.J.F.-V.); (C.N.-D.); (L.C.-P.); (L.V.-G.); (E.S.-M.); (L.T.-E.); (J.A.G.-L.); (I.M.-G.)
- Centro de Investigacion Biomedica en Red Sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), 28031 Madrid, Spain; (M.V.); (J.V.)
- Department of Neurology, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Marisa Vizuete
- Centro de Investigacion Biomedica en Red Sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), 28031 Madrid, Spain; (M.V.); (J.V.)
- Departamento Bioquimica y Biologia Molecular, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Sevilla, Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla (IBIS)-Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocio/CSIC, 41012 Seville, Spain
| | - Javier Vitorica
- Centro de Investigacion Biomedica en Red Sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), 28031 Madrid, Spain; (M.V.); (J.V.)
- Departamento Bioquimica y Biologia Molecular, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Sevilla, Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla (IBIS)-Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocio/CSIC, 41012 Seville, Spain
| | - David Baglietto-Vargas
- Departamento Biologia Celular, Genetica y Fisiologia, Instituto de Investigacion Biomedica de Malaga-IBIMA, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Malaga, 29071 Malaga, Spain; (R.S.-V.); (M.M.-O.); (J.J.F.-V.); (C.N.-D.); (L.C.-P.); (L.V.-G.); (E.S.-M.); (L.T.-E.); (J.A.G.-L.); (I.M.-G.)
- Centro de Investigacion Biomedica en Red Sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), 28031 Madrid, Spain; (M.V.); (J.V.)
| | - Antonia Gutierrez
- Departamento Biologia Celular, Genetica y Fisiologia, Instituto de Investigacion Biomedica de Malaga-IBIMA, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Malaga, 29071 Malaga, Spain; (R.S.-V.); (M.M.-O.); (J.J.F.-V.); (C.N.-D.); (L.C.-P.); (L.V.-G.); (E.S.-M.); (L.T.-E.); (J.A.G.-L.); (I.M.-G.)
- Centro de Investigacion Biomedica en Red Sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), 28031 Madrid, Spain; (M.V.); (J.V.)
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Pradeepkiran JA, Hindle A, Kshirsagar S, Reddy PH. Are mitophagy enhancers therapeutic targets for Alzheimer's disease? Biomed Pharmacother 2022; 149:112918. [PMID: 35585708 PMCID: PMC9148418 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2022.112918] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2021] [Revised: 03/18/2022] [Accepted: 03/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Healthy mitochondria are essential for functional bioenergetics, calcium signaling, and balanced redox homeostasis. Dysfunctional mitochondria are a central aspect of aging and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). The formation and accumulation of amyloid beta (Aβ) and hyperphosphorylated tau (P-tau) play large roles in the cellular changes seen in AD, including mitochondrial dysfunction, synaptic damage, neuronal loss, and defective mitophagy. Mitophagy is the cellular process whereby damaged mitochondria are selectively removed, and it plays an important role in mitochondrial quality control. Dysfunctional mitochondria are associated with increased reactive oxygen species and increased levels of Aβ, P-tau and Drp1, which together trigger mitophagy and autophagy. Impaired mitophagy causes the progressive accumulation of defective organelles and damaged mitochondria, and it has been hypothesized that the restoration of mitophagy may offer therapeutic benefits to AD patients. This review highlights the challenges of pharmacologically inducing mitophagy through two different signaling cascades: 1) The PINK1/parkin-dependent pathway and 2) the PINK1/parkin-independent pathway, with an emphasis on abnormal mitochondrial interactions with Aβ and P-Tau, which alter mitophagy in an age-dependent manner. This article also summarizes recent studies on the effects of mitophagy enhancers, including urolithin A, NAD+, actinonin, and tomatidine, on mutant APP/Aβ and mutant Tau. Findings from our lab have revealed that mitophagy enhancers can suppress APP/Aβ-induced and mutant Tau-induced mitochondrial and synaptic dysfunctions in mouse and cell line models of AD. Finally, we discuss the mechanisms underlying the beneficial health effects of mitophagy enhancers like urolithin A, NAD+, resveratrol and spermidine in AD.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ashly Hindle
- Department of Internal Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA
| | - Sudhir Kshirsagar
- Department of Internal Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA
| | - P Hemachandra Reddy
- Department of Internal Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA; Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA; Department of Neurology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA; Department of Public Health, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA; Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA.
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40
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Koller EJ, Comstock M, Bean JC, Escobedo G, Park KW, Jankowsky JL. Temporal and spatially controlled APP transgene expression using Cre-dependent alleles. Dis Model Mech 2022; 15:dmm049330. [PMID: 35394029 PMCID: PMC9118045 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.049330] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2021] [Accepted: 03/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Although a large number of mouse models have been made to study Alzheimer's disease, only a handful allow experimental control over the location or timing of the protein being used to drive pathology. Other fields have used the Cre and the tamoxifen-inducible CreER driver lines to achieve precise spatial and temporal control over gene deletion and transgene expression, yet these tools have not been widely used in studies of neurodegeneration. Here, we describe two strategies for harnessing the wide range of Cre and CreER driver lines to control expression of disease-associated amyloid precursor protein (APP) in modeling Alzheimer's amyloid pathology. We show that CreER-based spatial and temporal control over APP expression can be achieved with existing lines by combining a Cre driver with a tetracycline-transactivator (tTA)-dependent APP responder using a Cre-to-tTA converter line. We then describe a new mouse line that places APP expression under direct control of Cre recombinase using an intervening lox-stop-lox cassette. Mating this allele with a CreER driver allows both spatial and temporal control over APP expression, and with it, amyloid onset. This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily J. Koller
- Department of Neuroscience, Huffington Center on Aging, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Melissa Comstock
- Department of Neuroscience, Huffington Center on Aging, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Jonathan C. Bean
- Department of Neuroscience, Huffington Center on Aging, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Gabriel Escobedo
- Department of Neuroscience, Huffington Center on Aging, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Kyung-Won Park
- Department of Neuroscience, Huffington Center on Aging, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Joanna L. Jankowsky
- Department of Neuroscience, Huffington Center on Aging, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Departments of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Molecular and Cellular Biology, Huffington Center on Aging, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
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Genetically modified mice for research on human diseases: A triumph for Biotechnology or a work in progress? THE EUROBIOTECH JOURNAL 2022. [DOI: 10.2478/ebtj-2022-0008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Genetically modified mice are engineered as models for human diseases. These mouse models include inbred strains, mutants, gene knockouts, gene knockins, and ‘humanized’ mice. Each mouse model is engineered to mimic a specific disease based on a theory of the genetic basis of that disease. For example, to test the amyloid theory of Alzheimer’s disease, mice with amyloid precursor protein genes are engineered, and to test the tau theory, mice with tau genes are engineered. This paper discusses the importance of mouse models in basic research, drug discovery, and translational research, and examines the question of how to define the “best” mouse model of a disease. The critiques of animal models and the caveats in translating the results from animal models to the treatment of human disease are discussed. Since many diseases are heritable, multigenic, age-related and experience-dependent, resulting from multiple gene-gene and gene-environment interactions, it will be essential to develop mouse models that reflect these genetic, epigenetic and environmental factors from a developmental perspective. Such models would provide further insight into disease emergence, progression and the ability to model two-hit and multi-hit theories of disease. The summary examines the biotechnology for creating genetically modified mice which reflect these factors and how they might be used to discover new treatments for complex human diseases such as cancers, neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative diseases.
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Reagan AM, Onos KD, Heuer SE, Sasner M, Howell GR. Improving mouse models for the study of Alzheimer's disease. Curr Top Dev Biol 2022; 148:79-113. [PMID: 35461569 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ctdb.2021.12.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a complex neurodegenerative disease whose risk is influenced by genetic and environmental factors. Although a number of pathological hallmarks have been extensively studied over the last several decades, a complete picture of disease initiation and progression remains unclear. We now understand that numerous cell types and systems are involved in AD pathogenesis, and that this cellular profile may present differently for each individual, making the creation of relevant mouse models challenging. However, with increasingly diverse data made available by genome-wide association studies, we can identify and examine new genes and pathways involved in genetic risk for AD, many of which involve vascular health and inflammation. When developing mouse models, it is critical to assess (1) an aging timeline that represents onset and progression in humans, (2) genetic variants and context, (3) environmental factors present in human populations that result in both neuropathological and functional changes-themes that we address in this chapter.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Sarah E Heuer
- The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, ME, United States; Graduate Biomedical Sciences, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States
| | | | - Gareth R Howell
- The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, ME, United States; Graduate Biomedical Sciences, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States; Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and Engineering, University of Maine, Orono, ME, United States.
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43
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Shetty AK. Can rapamycin slow down memory decline in Alzheimer's disease with seizures? Brain 2022; 145:14-16. [PMID: 35277718 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awab474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2021] [Accepted: 12/16/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
This scientific commentary refers to ‘The role of mTORC1 activation in seizure-induced exacerbation of Alzheimer’s disease’ by Gourmaud et al. (doi:10.1093/brain/awab268).
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashok K Shetty
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Medicine, Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Texas A&M University College of Medicine, College Station, TX, USA
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Cell models for Down syndrome-Alzheimer’s disease research. Neuronal Signal 2022; 6:NS20210054. [PMID: 35449591 PMCID: PMC8996251 DOI: 10.1042/ns20210054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2021] [Revised: 03/07/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Down syndrome (DS) is the most common chromosomal abnormality and leads to intellectual disability, increased risk of cardiac defects, and an altered immune response. Individuals with DS have an extra full or partial copy of chromosome 21 (trisomy 21) and are more likely to develop early-onset Alzheimer’s disease (AD) than the general population. Changes in expression of human chromosome 21 (Hsa21)-encoded genes, such as amyloid precursor protein (APP), play an important role in the pathogenesis of AD in DS (DS-AD). However, the mechanisms of DS-AD remain poorly understood. To date, several mouse models with an extra copy of genes syntenic to Hsa21 have been developed to characterise DS-AD-related phenotypes. Nonetheless, due to genetic and physiological differences between mouse and human, mouse models cannot faithfully recapitulate all features of DS-AD. Cells differentiated from human-induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), isolated from individuals with genetic diseases, can be used to model disease-related cellular and molecular pathologies, including DS. In this review, we will discuss the limitations of mouse models of DS and how these can be addressed using recent advancements in modelling DS using human iPSCs and iPSC-mouse chimeras, and potential applications of iPSCs in preclinical studies for DS-AD.
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Kshirsagar S, Alvir RV, Hindle A, Kumar S, Vijayan M, Pradeepkiran JA, Reddy AP, Ramasubramanian B, Reddy PH. Early Cellular, Molecular, Morphological and Behavioral Changes in the Humanized Amyloid-Beta-Knock-In Mouse Model of Late-Onset Alzheimer's Disease. Cells 2022; 11:cells11040733. [PMID: 35203382 PMCID: PMC8869866 DOI: 10.3390/cells11040733] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2022] [Revised: 02/12/2022] [Accepted: 02/15/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The purpose of our study is to investigate early cellular, molecular, morphological and behavioral changes in humanized amyloid-beta-knock-in (hAbKI) mice. Using seven-month-old homozygous hAbKI mice, we studied behavioral phenotype parameters, including spatial learning and memory (Morris Water Maze), locomotor activity (open field), working memory (Y-maze) and motor coordination (rotarod); mRNA abundance, protein levels, soluble amyloid-beta 40 and 42 levels and regional immunoreactivities of key markers of mitochondrial dynamics, mitochondrial biogenesis, synaptic health, mitophagy and autophagy; mitochondrial function and using transmission electron microscopy & Golgi–Cox staining, we assessed mitochondrial morphology and dendritic spines. Our extensive behavioral analysis revealed that seven-month-old hAbKI mice showed impairments in motor coordination, reduced locomotor and exploration activities, impairments in working memory and spatial learning and memory. Our mRNA and protein analyses revealed the increased expression of mitochondrial-fission genes and reduced expression of mitochondrial-fusion, mitochondrial-biogenesis, synaptic, autophagy and mitophagy genes in seven-month-old hAbKI mice. An immunofluorescence analysis revealed altered immunoreactivities and agreed with the immunoblot results. Transmission-electron-microscopy data revealed increased mitochondrial fragmentation and reduced mitochondrial length in both hippocampal and cortical tissues of seven-month-old hAbKI mice and mitochondrial function defective. A Golgi–Cox-staining analysis revealed reduced dendritic spines in both cerebral cortices and hippocampi of hAbKI mice. Soluble amyloid-beta (1–40 and 1–42) were detected in three-month-old hAbKI mice and progressively increased in seven-month-old mice. These observations suggest that the human amyloid-beta peptide is sufficient to cause behavioral, mitochondrial, synaptic and ultrastructural changes in seven-month-old hAbKI mice. Our study findings also suggest that hAbKI mice might serve as a model for preclinical studies of preventive therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sudhir Kshirsagar
- Department of Internal Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA; (S.K.); (R.V.A.); (A.H.); (S.K.); (M.V.); (J.A.P.); (B.R.)
| | - Rainier Vladlen Alvir
- Department of Internal Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA; (S.K.); (R.V.A.); (A.H.); (S.K.); (M.V.); (J.A.P.); (B.R.)
| | - Ashly Hindle
- Department of Internal Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA; (S.K.); (R.V.A.); (A.H.); (S.K.); (M.V.); (J.A.P.); (B.R.)
| | - Subodh Kumar
- Department of Internal Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA; (S.K.); (R.V.A.); (A.H.); (S.K.); (M.V.); (J.A.P.); (B.R.)
| | - Murali Vijayan
- Department of Internal Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA; (S.K.); (R.V.A.); (A.H.); (S.K.); (M.V.); (J.A.P.); (B.R.)
| | - Jangampalli Adi Pradeepkiran
- Department of Internal Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA; (S.K.); (R.V.A.); (A.H.); (S.K.); (M.V.); (J.A.P.); (B.R.)
| | - Arubala P. Reddy
- Nutritional Sciences Department, College of Human Sciences, Texas Tech University, 1301 Akron Ave, Lubbock, TX 79409, USA;
| | - Bhagavathi Ramasubramanian
- Department of Internal Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA; (S.K.); (R.V.A.); (A.H.); (S.K.); (M.V.); (J.A.P.); (B.R.)
| | - P. Hemachandra Reddy
- Department of Internal Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA; (S.K.); (R.V.A.); (A.H.); (S.K.); (M.V.); (J.A.P.); (B.R.)
- Neuroscience & Pharmacology Department, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA
- Neurology, Departments of School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA
- Public Health Department of Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA
- Department of Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences, School Health Professions, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA
- Correspondence:
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Sundaramoorthy TH, Castanho I. The Neuroepigenetic Landscape of Vertebrate and Invertebrate Models of Neurodegenerative Diseases. Epigenet Insights 2022; 15:25168657221135848. [PMID: 36353727 PMCID: PMC9638687 DOI: 10.1177/25168657221135848] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2022] [Accepted: 10/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Vertebrate and invertebrate models of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, have been paramount to our understanding of the pathophysiology of these conditions; however, the brain epigenetic landscape is less well established in these disease models. DNA methylation, histone modifications, and microRNAs are among commonly studied mechanisms of epigenetic regulation. Genome-wide studies and candidate studies of specific methylation marks, histone marks, and microRNAs have demonstrated the dysregulation of these mechanisms in models of neurodegenerative diseases; however, the studies to date are scarce and inconclusive and the implications of many of these changes are still not fully understood. In this review, we summarize epigenetic changes reported to date in the brain of vertebrate and invertebrate models used to study neurodegenerative diseases, specifically diseases affecting the aging population. We also discuss caveats of epigenetic research so far and the use of disease models to understand neurodegenerative diseases, with the aim of improving the use of model organisms in this context in future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Isabel Castanho
- University of Exeter Medical School,
University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
- Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center,
Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA,
USA
- Isabel Castanho, University of Exeter
Medical School, University of Exeter, Exeter, EX2 5DW, UK. Emails:
;
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Ni R. Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Animal Models of Alzheimer's Disease Amyloidosis. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:12768. [PMID: 34884573 PMCID: PMC8657987 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222312768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2021] [Revised: 11/18/2021] [Accepted: 11/23/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyloid-beta (Aβ) plays an important role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease. Aberrant Aβ accumulation induces neuroinflammation, cerebrovascular alterations, and synaptic deficits, leading to cognitive impairment. Animal models recapitulating the Aβ pathology, such as transgenic, knock-in mouse and rat models, have facilitated the understanding of disease mechanisms and the development of therapeutics targeting Aβ. There is a rapid advance in high-field MRI in small animals. Versatile high-field magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) sequences, such as diffusion tensor imaging, arterial spin labeling, resting-state functional MRI, anatomical MRI, and MR spectroscopy, as well as contrast agents, have been developed for preclinical imaging in animal models. These tools have enabled high-resolution in vivo structural, functional, and molecular readouts with a whole-brain field of view. MRI has been used to visualize non-invasively the Aβ deposits, synaptic deficits, regional brain atrophy, impairment in white matter integrity, functional connectivity, and cerebrovascular and glymphatic system in animal models of Alzheimer's disease amyloidosis. Many of the readouts are translational toward clinical MRI applications in patients with Alzheimer's disease. In this review, we summarize the recent advances in MRI for visualizing the pathophysiology in amyloidosis animal models. We discuss the outstanding challenges in brain imaging using MRI in small animals and propose future outlook in visualizing Aβ-related alterations in the brains of animal models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruiqing Ni
- Institute for Biomedical Engineering, ETH Zurich & University of Zurich, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland;
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Zurich, 8952 Zurich, Switzerland
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Ni R. Positron Emission Tomography in Animal Models of Alzheimer's Disease Amyloidosis: Translational Implications. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2021; 14:1179. [PMID: 34832961 PMCID: PMC8623863 DOI: 10.3390/ph14111179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2021] [Revised: 11/13/2021] [Accepted: 11/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Animal models of Alzheimer's disease amyloidosis that recapitulate cerebral amyloid-beta pathology have been widely used in preclinical research and have greatly enabled the mechanistic understanding of Alzheimer's disease and the development of therapeutics. Comprehensive deep phenotyping of the pathophysiological and biochemical features in these animal models is essential. Recent advances in positron emission tomography have allowed the non-invasive visualization of the alterations in the brain of animal models and in patients with Alzheimer's disease. These tools have facilitated our understanding of disease mechanisms and provided longitudinal monitoring of treatment effects in animal models of Alzheimer's disease amyloidosis. In this review, we focus on recent positron emission tomography studies of cerebral amyloid-beta accumulation, hypoglucose metabolism, synaptic and neurotransmitter receptor deficits (cholinergic and glutamatergic system), blood-brain barrier impairment, and neuroinflammation (microgliosis and astrocytosis) in animal models of Alzheimer's disease amyloidosis. We further propose the emerging targets and tracers for reflecting the pathophysiological changes and discuss outstanding challenges in disease animal models and future outlook in the on-chip characterization of imaging biomarkers towards clinical translation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruiqing Ni
- Institute for Biomedical Engineering, ETH & University of Zurich, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland;
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Zurich, 8952 Zurich, Switzerland
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