1
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Luo S, Wang Y, Hisatsune T. P2Y1 receptor in Alzheimer's disease. Neural Regen Res 2025; 20:440-453. [PMID: 38819047 PMCID: PMC11317937 DOI: 10.4103/nrr.nrr-d-23-02103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2023] [Revised: 03/15/2024] [Accepted: 03/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease is the most frequent form of dementia characterized by the deposition of amyloid-beta plaques and neurofibrillary tangles consisting of hyperphosphorylated tau. Targeting amyloid-beta plaques has been a primary direction for developing Alzheimer's disease treatments in the last decades. However, existing drugs targeting amyloid-beta plaques have not fully yielded the expected results in the clinic, necessitating the exploration of alternative therapeutic strategies. Increasing evidence unravels that astrocyte morphology and function alter in the brain of Alzheimer's disease patients, with dysregulated astrocytic purinergic receptors, particularly the P2Y1 receptor, all of which constitute the pathophysiology of Alzheimer's disease. These receptors are not only crucial for maintaining normal astrocyte function but are also highly implicated in neuroinflammation in Alzheimer's disease. This review delves into recent insights into the association between P2Y1 receptor and Alzheimer's disease to underscore the potential neuroprotective role of P2Y1 receptor in Alzheimer's disease by mitigating neuroinflammation, thus offering promising avenues for developing drugs for Alzheimer's disease and potentially contributing to the development of more effective treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shan Luo
- Department of Integrated Biosciences, The University of Tokyo, Kashiwa, Japan
| | - Yifei Wang
- Department of Integrated Biosciences, The University of Tokyo, Kashiwa, Japan
| | - Tatsuhiro Hisatsune
- Department of Integrated Biosciences, The University of Tokyo, Kashiwa, Japan
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2
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Kamei N, Ikeda K, Ohmoto Y, Fujisaki S, Shirata R, Maki M, Miyata M, Miyauchi Y, Nishiyama N, Yamada M, Ohigashi Y, Takeda-Morishita M. Insulin-inspired hippocampal neuron-targeting technology for protein drug delivery. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2407936121. [PMID: 39348543 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2407936121] [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: 04/20/2024] [Accepted: 09/03/2024] [Indexed: 10/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Hippocampal neurons can be the first to be impaired with neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer's disease (AD). Most drug candidates for causal therapy of AD cannot either enter the brain or accumulate around hippocampal neurons. Here, we genetically engineered insulin-fusion proteins, called hippocampal neuron-targeting (Ht) proteins, for targeting protein drugs to hippocampal neurons because insulin tends to accumulate in the neuronal cell layers of the hippocampus. In vitro examinations clarified that insulin and Ht proteins were internalized into the cultured hippocampal neurons through insulin receptor-mediated macropinocytosis. Cysteines were key determinants of the delivery of Ht proteins to hippocampal neurons, and insulin B chain mutant was most potent in delivering cargo proteins. In vivo accumulation of Ht proteins to hippocampal neuronal layers occurred after intracerebroventricular administration. Thus, hippocampal neuron-targeting technology can provide great help for developing protein drugs against neurodegenerative disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noriyasu Kamei
- Laboratory of Drug Delivery Systems, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kobe Gakuin University, Chuo-ku, Kobe, Hyogo 650-8586, Japan
| | - Kento Ikeda
- Laboratory of Drug Delivery Systems, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kobe Gakuin University, Chuo-ku, Kobe, Hyogo 650-8586, Japan
| | - Yuka Ohmoto
- Laboratory of Drug Delivery Systems, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kobe Gakuin University, Chuo-ku, Kobe, Hyogo 650-8586, Japan
| | - Seita Fujisaki
- Laboratory of Drug Delivery Systems, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kobe Gakuin University, Chuo-ku, Kobe, Hyogo 650-8586, Japan
| | - Ryusei Shirata
- Laboratory of Drug Delivery Systems, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kobe Gakuin University, Chuo-ku, Kobe, Hyogo 650-8586, Japan
| | - Maya Maki
- Laboratory of Drug Delivery Systems, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kobe Gakuin University, Chuo-ku, Kobe, Hyogo 650-8586, Japan
| | - Mika Miyata
- Laboratory of Drug Delivery Systems, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kobe Gakuin University, Chuo-ku, Kobe, Hyogo 650-8586, Japan
| | - Yuki Miyauchi
- Laboratory of Drug Delivery Systems, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kobe Gakuin University, Chuo-ku, Kobe, Hyogo 650-8586, Japan
| | - Nanaka Nishiyama
- Laboratory of Drug Delivery Systems, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kobe Gakuin University, Chuo-ku, Kobe, Hyogo 650-8586, Japan
| | - Mana Yamada
- Laboratory of Drug Delivery Systems, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kobe Gakuin University, Chuo-ku, Kobe, Hyogo 650-8586, Japan
| | - Yuna Ohigashi
- Laboratory of Drug Delivery Systems, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kobe Gakuin University, Chuo-ku, Kobe, Hyogo 650-8586, Japan
| | - Mariko Takeda-Morishita
- Laboratory of Drug Delivery Systems, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kobe Gakuin University, Chuo-ku, Kobe, Hyogo 650-8586, Japan
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3
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Sumner CJ, Miller TM. The expanding application of antisense oligonucleotides to neurodegenerative diseases. J Clin Invest 2024; 134:e186116. [PMID: 39352381 PMCID: PMC11444189 DOI: 10.1172/jci186116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/03/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Charlotte J. Sumner
- Departments of Neurology, Neuroscience, and Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore Maryland, USA
| | - Timothy M. Miller
- Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
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4
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Kunach P, Vaquer-Alicea J, Smith MS, Monistrol J, Hopewell R, Moquin L, Therriault J, Tissot C, Rahmouni N, Massarweh G, Soucy JP, Guiot MC, Shoichet BK, Rosa-Neto P, Diamond MI, Shahmoradian SH. Cryo-EM structure of Alzheimer's disease tau filaments with PET ligand MK-6240. Nat Commun 2024; 15:8497. [PMID: 39353896 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-52265-x] [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: 10/11/2023] [Accepted: 08/28/2024] [Indexed: 10/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Positron Emission Tomography (PET) ligands have advanced Alzheimer's disease (AD) diagnosis and treatment. Using autoradiography and cryo-EM, we identify AD brain tissue with elevated tau burden, purify filaments, and determine the structure of second-generation high avidity PET ligand MK-6240 at 2.31 Å resolution, which bound at a 1:1 ratio within the cleft of tau paired-helical filament (PHF), engaging with glutamine 351, lysine 353, and isoleucine 360. This information elucidates the basis of MK-6240 PET in quantifying PHF deposits in AD and may facilitate the structure-based design of superior ligands against tau amyloids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Kunach
- Department of Neurology, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, Dallas, TX, US
| | - Jaime Vaquer-Alicea
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, Dallas, TX, US
| | - Matthew S Smith
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, UCSF, San Francisco, CA, US
- Program of Biophysics, UCSF, San Francisco, CA, US
| | - Jim Monistrol
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, Dallas, TX, US
| | | | - Luc Moquin
- Montreal Neurological Institute, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | | | - Cecile Tissot
- Department of Neurology, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Nesrine Rahmouni
- Department of Neurology, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | | | | | - Marie-Christine Guiot
- Department of Neurology, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Montreal Neurological Institute, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Brian K Shoichet
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, UCSF, San Francisco, CA, US
| | - Pedro Rosa-Neto
- Department of Neurology, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.
| | - Marc I Diamond
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, Dallas, TX, US.
| | - Sarah H Shahmoradian
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, Dallas, TX, US.
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5
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Xiao Y, Wei L, Su J, Lei H, Sun F, Li M, Li S, Wang X, Zheng J, Wang JZ. A tau dephosphorylation-targeting chimeraselectively recruits protein phosphatase-1 to ameliorate Alzheimer's disease and tauopathies. Cell Chem Biol 2024:S2451-9456(24)00395-7. [PMID: 39353434 DOI: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2024.09.003] [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: 11/06/2023] [Revised: 06/12/2024] [Accepted: 09/09/2024] [Indexed: 10/04/2024]
Abstract
Abnormal accumulation of hyperphosphorylated tau (pTau) is a major cause of neurodegeneration in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and related tauopathies. Therefore, reducing pTau holds therapeutic promise for these diseases. Here, we developed a chimeric peptide, named D20, for selective facilitation of tau dephosphorylation by recruiting protein phosphatase 1 (PP1) to tau. PP1 is one of the active phosphatases that dephosphorylates tau. In both cultured primary hippocampal neurons and mouse models for AD or related tauopathies, we demonstrated that single-dose D20 treatment significantly reduced pTau by dephosphorylation at multiple AD-related sites and total tau (tTau) levels were also decreased. Multiple-dose administration of D20 through tail vein injection in 3xTg AD mice effectively ameliorated tau-associated pathologies with improved cognitive functions. Importantly, at therapeutic doses, D20 did not cause detectable toxicity in cultured neurons, neural cells, or peripheral organs in mice. These results suggest that D20 is a promising drug candidate for AD and related tauopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Xiao
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medicine, Key Laboratory of Education Ministry of China/Hubei Province for Neurological Disorders, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China; Institute of Artificial Intelligence, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Linyu Wei
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medicine, Key Laboratory of Education Ministry of China/Hubei Province for Neurological Disorders, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China; Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang 453004, China
| | - Jingfen Su
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medicine, Key Laboratory of Education Ministry of China/Hubei Province for Neurological Disorders, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Huiyang Lei
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medicine, Key Laboratory of Education Ministry of China/Hubei Province for Neurological Disorders, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Fei Sun
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medicine, Key Laboratory of Education Ministry of China/Hubei Province for Neurological Disorders, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Mengzhu Li
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medicine, Key Laboratory of Education Ministry of China/Hubei Province for Neurological Disorders, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Shihong Li
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medicine, Key Laboratory of Education Ministry of China/Hubei Province for Neurological Disorders, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China; Department of Anesthesiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou 341000, China
| | - Xiaochuan Wang
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medicine, Key Laboratory of Education Ministry of China/Hubei Province for Neurological Disorders, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China; Institute of Artificial Intelligence, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China.
| | - Jie Zheng
- Neuroscience Research Institute and Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Key Laboratory for Neuroscience, Ministry of Education/National Health Commission, Peking University, Beijing 100083, China; Beijing Life Science Academy, Beijing 102209, China.
| | - Jian-Zhi Wang
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medicine, Key Laboratory of Education Ministry of China/Hubei Province for Neurological Disorders, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China.
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6
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Tartaglia MC, Ingelsson M. Molecular Therapeutics in Development to Treat Alzheimer's Disease. Mol Diagn Ther 2024:10.1007/s40291-024-00738-6. [PMID: 39316339 DOI: 10.1007/s40291-024-00738-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/08/2024] [Indexed: 09/25/2024]
Abstract
Until recently, only symptomatic therapies, in the form of acetylcholine esterase inhibitors and NMDA-receptor antagonists, have been available for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. However, advancements in our understanding of the amyloid cascade hypothesis have led to a development of disease-modifying therapeutic strategies. These include immunotherapies based on an infusion of monoclonal antibodies against amyloid-β, three of which have been approved for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease in the USA (one of them, lecanemab, has also been approved in several other countries). They all lead to a dramatic reduction of amyloid plaques in the brain, whereas their clinical effects have been more limited. Moreover, they can all lead to side effects in the form of amyloid-related imaging abnormalities. Ongoing developments aim at facilitating their administration, further improving their effects and reducing the risk for amyloid-related imaging abnormalities. Moreover, a number of anti-tau immunotherapies are in clinical trials, but none has so far shown any robust effects on symptoms or pathology. Another line of development is represented by gene therapy. To date, only antisense oligonucleotides against amyloid precursor protein/amyloid-β and tau have reached the clinical trial stage but a variety of gene editing strategies, such as clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats/Cas9-mediated non-homologous end joining, base editing, and prime editing, have all shown promise on preclinical disease models. In addition, a number of other pharmacological compounds targeting a multitude of biochemical processes, believed to be centrally involved in Alzheimer's disease, are currently being evaluated in clinical trials. This article delves into current and future perspectives on the treatment of Alzheimer's disease, with an emphasis on immunotherapeutic and gene therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Carmela Tartaglia
- Krembil Brain Institute, University Health Network, 6th Floor, 60 Leonard Ave, Toronto, ON, M5T 0S8, Canada
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Martin Ingelsson
- Krembil Brain Institute, University Health Network, 6th Floor, 60 Leonard Ave, Toronto, ON, M5T 0S8, Canada.
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
- Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
- Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Geriatrics, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
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7
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Karlsson L, Vogel J, Arvidsson I, Åström K, Strandberg O, Seidlitz J, Bethlehem RAI, Stomrud E, Ossenkoppele R, Ashton NJ, Zetterberg H, Blennow K, Palmqvist S, Smith R, Janelidze S, La Joie R, Rabinovici GD, Binette AP, Mattsson-Carlgren N, Hansson O. A machine learning-based prediction of tau load and distribution in Alzheimer's disease using plasma, MRI and clinical variables. MEDRXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES 2024:2024.05.31.24308264. [PMID: 38853877 PMCID: PMC11160861 DOI: 10.1101/2024.05.31.24308264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2024]
Abstract
Tau positron emission tomography (PET) is a reliable neuroimaging technique for assessing regional load of tau pathology in the brain, commonly used in Alzheimer's disease (AD) research and clinical trials. However, its routine clinical use is limited by cost and accessibility barriers. Here we explore using machine learning (ML) models to predict clinically useful tau-PET composites from low-cost and non-invasive features, e.g., basic clinical variables, plasma biomarkers, and structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Results demonstrated that models including plasma biomarkers yielded the most accurate predictions of tau-PET burden (best model: R-squared=0.66-0.68), with especially high contribution from plasma P-tau217. In contrast, MRI variables stood out as best predictors (best model: R-squared=0.28-0.42) of asymmetric tau load between the two hemispheres (an example of clinically relevant spatial information). The models showed high generalizability to external test cohorts with data collected at multiple sites. Based on these results, we also propose a proof-of-concept two-step classification workflow, demonstrating how the ML models can be translated to a clinical setting. This study uncovers current potential in predicting tau-PET information from scalable cost-effective variables, which could improve diagnosis and prognosis of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linda Karlsson
- Clinical Memory Research Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences in Malmö, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Jacob Vogel
- Clinical Memory Research Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences in Malmö, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
- Department of Clinical Sciences, SciLifeLab, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Ida Arvidsson
- Centre for Mathematical Sciences, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Kalle Åström
- Centre for Mathematical Sciences, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Olof Strandberg
- Clinical Memory Research Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences in Malmö, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Jakob Seidlitz
- Penn/CHOP Lifespan Brain Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104 USA
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, 19104 USA
- Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104 USA
| | - Richard A. I. Bethlehem
- University of Cambridge, Department of Psychology, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, CB2 3EB, UK
| | - Erik Stomrud
- Clinical Memory Research Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences in Malmö, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
- Memory Clinic, Skåne University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden
| | - Rik Ossenkoppele
- Clinical Memory Research Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences in Malmö, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
- Alzheimer Center Amsterdam, Department of Neurology, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Nicholas J. Ashton
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, the Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Mölndal, Sweden
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, Maurice Wohl Institute Clinical Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, UK
| | - Henrik Zetterberg
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, the Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Mölndal, Sweden
- Clinical Neurochemistry Laboratory, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Mölndal, Sweden
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London, UK
- UK Dementia Research Institute at UCL, London, UK
- Hong Kong Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong, China
- Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Kaj Blennow
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, the Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Mölndal, Sweden
- Clinical Neurochemistry Laboratory, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Mölndal, Sweden
- Paris Brain Institute, ICM, Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, Sorbonne University, Paris, France
- Neurodegenerative Disorder Research Center, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, and Department of Neurology, Institute on Aging and Brain Disorders, University of Science and Technology of China and First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Hefei, P.R. China
| | - Sebastian Palmqvist
- Clinical Memory Research Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences in Malmö, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
- Memory Clinic, Skåne University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden
| | - Ruben Smith
- Clinical Memory Research Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences in Malmö, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
- Memory Clinic, Skåne University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden
| | - Shorena Janelidze
- Clinical Memory Research Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences in Malmö, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Renaud La Joie
- Department of Neurology, Memory and Aging Center, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Gil D. Rabinovici
- Department of Neurology, Memory and Aging Center, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Alexa Pichet Binette
- Clinical Memory Research Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences in Malmö, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Niklas Mattsson-Carlgren
- Clinical Memory Research Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences in Malmö, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
- Memory Clinic, Skåne University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden
| | - Oskar Hansson
- Clinical Memory Research Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences in Malmö, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
- Memory Clinic, Skåne University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden
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8
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Gregory JA, Hickey CM, Chavez J, Cacace AM. New therapies on the horizon: Targeted protein degradation in neuroscience. Cell Chem Biol 2024; 31:1688-1698. [PMID: 39303702 DOI: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2024.08.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2024] [Revised: 08/21/2024] [Accepted: 08/21/2024] [Indexed: 09/22/2024]
Abstract
This minireview explores the burgeoning field of targeted protein degradation (TPD) and its promising applications in neuroscience and clinical development. TPD offers innovative strategies for modulating protein levels, presenting a paradigm shift in small-molecule drug discovery and therapeutic interventions. Importantly, small-molecule protein degraders specifically target and remove pathogenic proteins from central nervous system cells without the drug delivery challenges of genomic and antibody-based modalities. Here, we review recent advancements in TPD technologies, highlight proteolysis targeting chimera (PROTAC) protein degrader molecules with proximity-induced degradation event-driven and iterative pharmacology, provide applications in neuroscience research, and discuss the high potential for translation of TPD into clinical settings.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Juan Chavez
- Arvinas, Inc., 5 Science Park, New Haven, CT 06511, USA
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9
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Yamaguchi T, Hamano T, Sada K, Asano R, Kanaan NM, Sasaki H, Yen SH, Kitazaki Y, Endo Y, Enomoto S, Shirafuji N, Ikawa M, Yamamura O, Fujita Y, Aoki K, Naiki H, Morishima M, Saito Y, Murayama S, Nakamoto Y. Syk inhibitors reduce tau protein phosphorylation and oligomerization. Neurobiol Dis 2024; 201:106656. [PMID: 39233131 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2024.106656] [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: 07/14/2024] [Revised: 08/23/2024] [Accepted: 08/31/2024] [Indexed: 09/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Spleen tyrosine kinase (Syk), a non-receptor-type tyrosine kinase, has a wide range of physiological functions. A possible role of Syk in Alzheimer's disease (AD) has been proposed. We evaluated the localization of Syk in the brains of patients with AD and control participants. Human neuroblastoma M1C cells harboring wild-type tau (4R0N) were used with the tetracycline off (TetOff) induction system. In this model of neuronal tauopathy, the effects of the Syk inhibitors-BAY 61-3606 and R406-on tau phosphorylation and oligomerization were explored using several phosphorylated tau-specific antibodies and an oligomeric tau antibody, and the effects of these Syk inhibitors on autophagy were examined using western blot analyses. Moreover, the effects of the Syk inhibitor R406 were evaluated in vivo using wild-type mice. In AD brains, Syk and phosphorylated tau colocalized in the cytosol. In M1C cells, Syk protein (72 kDa) was detected using western blot analysis. Syk inhibitors decreased the expression levels of several tau phosphoepitopes including PHF-1, CP13, AT180, and AT270. Syk inhibitors also decreased the levels of caspase-cleaved tau (TauC3), a pathological tau form. Syk inhibitors increased inactivated glycogen synthase kinase 3β expression and decreased active p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase expression and demethylated protein phosphatase 2 A levels, indicating that Syk inhibitors inactivate tau kinases and activate tau phosphatases. Syk inhibitors also activated autophagy, as indicated by increased LC3II and decreased p62 levels. In vivo, the Syk inhibitor R406 decreased phosphorylated tau levels in wild-type mice. These findings suggest that Syk inhibitors offer novel therapeutic strategies for tauopathies, including AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomohisa Yamaguchi
- Second Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Fukui, Fukui, Japan
| | - Tadanori Hamano
- Second Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Fukui, Fukui, Japan; Department of Aging and Dementia (DAD), Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Fukui, Fukui, Japan; Life Science Innovation Center, University of Fukui, Fukui, Japan.
| | - Kiyonao Sada
- Department of Genome Science and Microbiology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Fukui, Fukui, Japan
| | - Rei Asano
- Second Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Fukui, Fukui, Japan
| | - Nicholas M Kanaan
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, MI, USA
| | - Hirohito Sasaki
- Second Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Fukui, Fukui, Japan
| | - Shu-Hui Yen
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic Jacksonville, FL, USA
| | - Yuki Kitazaki
- Second Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Fukui, Fukui, Japan
| | - Yoshinori Endo
- Second Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Fukui, Fukui, Japan
| | - Soichi Enomoto
- Second Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Fukui, Fukui, Japan
| | - Norimichi Shirafuji
- Second Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Fukui, Fukui, Japan
| | - Masamichi Ikawa
- Second Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Fukui, Fukui, Japan
| | - Osamu Yamamura
- Second Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Fukui, Fukui, Japan
| | - Youshi Fujita
- Department of Neurology, Fujita Neurological Hospital, Fukui, Japan
| | - Koji Aoki
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Fukui, Fukui, Japan
| | - Hironobu Naiki
- Department of Molecular Pathology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Fukui, Fukui, Japan
| | - Maho Morishima
- Brain Bank for Aging Research, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute for Geriatrics and Gerontology, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yuko Saito
- Brain Bank for Aging Research, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute for Geriatrics and Gerontology, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shigeo Murayama
- Brain Bank for Aging Research, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute for Geriatrics and Gerontology, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yasunari Nakamoto
- Second Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Fukui, Fukui, Japan
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10
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Iwatsubo T. Development of disease-modifying therapies against Alzheimer's disease. Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 2024; 78:491-494. [PMID: 38842037 DOI: 10.1111/pcn.13681] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2024] [Revised: 04/04/2024] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 06/07/2024]
Abstract
To successfully develop disease-modifying therapies (DMT) against Alzheimer's disease (AD), it is important to target the mild stage of the disease, before the pathological changes progress and dementia symptoms are fully manifested. To this end, the AD Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI), a large-scale observational study, was initiated in the U.S. with the goal of development of DMT that are effective in the early stages of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) by utilizing imaging and biomarkers. In Japan, J-ADNI enrolled and followed up 537 patients, mainly with MCI, and established a platform for evaluation including amyloid PET, and demonstrated a high similarity in the clinical course of amyloid-positive MCI (prodromal AD) in Japan and the U.S. In 2023, the anti-Aβ antibody lecanemab successfully completed a Phase III clinical trial for early AD (prodromal AD + mild AD dementia) and was granted regulatory approval and made available both in the US and Japan. Also, phase III trial of donanemab was completed successful. The J-TRC study was initiated in Japan as a "trial ready cohort (TRC)" consisting of participants who met the eligibility criteria for participation in preclinical and prodromal AD trials. Based on such a platform, the development of DMT for AD will progress more rapidly in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takeshi Iwatsubo
- Department of Neuropathology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Japan
- National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Kodaira, Japan
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11
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Benn J, Cheng S, Keeling S, Smith AE, Vaysburd MJ, Böken D, Miller LVC, Katsinelos T, Franco C, Dupré E, Danis C, Landrieu I, Buée L, Klenerman D, James LC, McEwan WA. Aggregate-selective removal of pathological tau by clustering-activated degraders. Science 2024; 385:1009-1016. [PMID: 39208111 DOI: 10.1126/science.adp5186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2024] [Accepted: 07/25/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024]
Abstract
Selective degradation of pathological protein aggregates while sparing monomeric forms is of major therapeutic interest. The E3 ligase tripartite motif-containing protein 21 (TRIM21) degrades antibody-bound proteins in an assembly state-specific manner due to the requirement of TRIM21 RING domain clustering for activation, yet effective targeting of intracellular assemblies remains challenging. Here, we fused the RING domain of TRIM21 to a target-specific nanobody to create intracellularly expressed constructs capable of selectively degrading assembled proteins. We evaluated this approach against green fluorescent protein-tagged histone 2B (H2B-GFP) and tau, a protein that undergoes pathological aggregation in Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative diseases. RING-nanobody degraders prevented or reversed tau aggregation in culture and in vivo, with minimal impact on monomeric tau. This approach may have therapeutic potential for the many disorders driven by intracellular protein aggregation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan Benn
- UK Dementia Research Institute at the University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0AH, UK
| | - Shi Cheng
- UK Dementia Research Institute at the University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0AH, UK
| | - Sophie Keeling
- UK Dementia Research Institute at the University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0AH, UK
| | - Annabel E Smith
- UK Dementia Research Institute at the University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0AH, UK
| | | | - Dorothea Böken
- UK Dementia Research Institute at the University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0AH, UK
| | | | - Taxiarchis Katsinelos
- UK Dementia Research Institute at the University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0AH, UK
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge CB2 0QH, UK
| | | | - Elian Dupré
- CNRS EMR9002-BSI-Integrative Structural Biology, LabEx DISTALZ, F-59000 Lille, France
- Université Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1167-RID-AGE, Risk Factors and Molecular Determinants of Aging-Related Diseases, F-59000 Lille, France
| | - Clément Danis
- CNRS EMR9002-BSI-Integrative Structural Biology, LabEx DISTALZ, F-59000 Lille, France
- Université Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1167-RID-AGE, Risk Factors and Molecular Determinants of Aging-Related Diseases, F-59000 Lille, France
- Université Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, Lille Neuroscience & Cognition, LabEx DISTALZ, F-59000 Lille, France
| | - Isabelle Landrieu
- CNRS EMR9002-BSI-Integrative Structural Biology, LabEx DISTALZ, F-59000 Lille, France
- Université Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1167-RID-AGE, Risk Factors and Molecular Determinants of Aging-Related Diseases, F-59000 Lille, France
| | - Luc Buée
- Université Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, Lille Neuroscience & Cognition, LabEx DISTALZ, F-59000 Lille, France
| | - David Klenerman
- UK Dementia Research Institute at the University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0AH, UK
| | - Leo C James
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge CB2 0QH, UK
| | - William A McEwan
- UK Dementia Research Institute at the University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0AH, UK
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12
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Ressler HW, Humphrey J, Vialle RA, Babrowicz B, Kandoi S, Raj T, Dickson DW, Ertekin-Taner N, Crary JF, Farrell K. MAPT haplotype-associated transcriptomic changes in progressive supranuclear palsy. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2024; 12:135. [PMID: 39154163 PMCID: PMC11330133 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-024-01839-3] [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: 06/07/2024] [Accepted: 07/28/2024] [Indexed: 08/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) is a neurodegenerative movement and cognitive disorder characterized by abnormal accumulation of the microtubule-associated protein tau in the brain. Biochemically, inclusions in PSP are enriched for tau proteoforms with four microtubule-binding domain repeats (4R), an isoform that arises from alternative tau pre-mRNA splicing. While preferential aggregation and reduced degradation of 4R tau protein is thought to play a role in inclusion formation and toxicity, an alternative hypothesis is that altered expression of tau mRNA isoforms plays a causal role. This stems from the observation that PSP is associated with common variation in the tau gene (MAPT) at the 17q21.31 locus which contains low copy number repeats flanking a large recurrent genomic inversion. The complex genomic structural changes at the locus give rise to two dominant haplotypes, termed H1 and H2, that have the potential to markedly influence gene expression. Here, we explored haplotype-dependent differences in gene expression using a bulk RNA-seq dataset derived from human post-mortem brain tissue from PSP (n = 84) and controls (n = 77) using a rigorous computational pipeline, including alternative pre-mRNA splicing. We found 3579 differentially expressed genes in the temporal cortex and 10,011 in the cerebellum. We also found 7214 differential splicing events in the temporal cortex and 18,802 in the cerebellum. In the cerebellum, total tau mRNA levels and the proportion of transcripts encoding 4R tau were significantly increased in PSP compared to controls. In the temporal cortex, the proportion of reads that expressed 4R tau was increased in cases compared to controls. 4R tau mRNA levels were significantly associated with the H1 haplotype in the temporal cortex. Further, we observed a marked haplotype-dependent difference in KANSL1 expression that was strongly associated with H1 in both brain regions. These findings support the hypothesis that sporadic PSP is associated with haplotype-dependent increases in 4R tau mRNA that might play a causal role in this disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hadley W Ressler
- Department of Pathology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 1 Gustave L. Levy Place Box 1194, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Neuropathology Brain Bank and Research CoRE, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jack Humphrey
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Ronald M. Loeb Center for Alzheimer's Disease, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences and Icahn Institute for Data Science and Genomic Technology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Estelle and Daniel Maggin Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Ricardo A Vialle
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Ronald M. Loeb Center for Alzheimer's Disease, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences and Icahn Institute for Data Science and Genomic Technology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Estelle and Daniel Maggin Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Bergan Babrowicz
- Department of Pathology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 1 Gustave L. Levy Place Box 1194, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Neuropathology Brain Bank and Research CoRE, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Shrishtee Kandoi
- Department of Pathology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 1 Gustave L. Levy Place Box 1194, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Department of Artificial Intelligence and Human Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Neuropathology Brain Bank and Research CoRE, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Towfique Raj
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Ronald M. Loeb Center for Alzheimer's Disease, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences and Icahn Institute for Data Science and Genomic Technology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Estelle and Daniel Maggin Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | | | | | - John F Crary
- Department of Pathology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 1 Gustave L. Levy Place Box 1194, New York, NY, 10029, USA.
- Department of Artificial Intelligence and Human Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
- Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
- Neuropathology Brain Bank and Research CoRE, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Kurt Farrell
- Department of Pathology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 1 Gustave L. Levy Place Box 1194, New York, NY, 10029, USA.
- Department of Artificial Intelligence and Human Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
- Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
- Neuropathology Brain Bank and Research CoRE, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
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13
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Jackson RJ, Melloni A, Fykstra DP, Serrano-Pozo A, Shinobu L, Hyman BT. Astrocyte tau deposition in progressive supranuclear palsy is associated with dysregulation of MAPT transcription. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2024; 12:132. [PMID: 39138580 PMCID: PMC11323491 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-024-01844-6] [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: 05/02/2024] [Accepted: 07/31/2024] [Indexed: 08/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by 4R tau deposition in neurons as well as in astrocytes and oligodendrocytes. While astrocytic tau deposits are rarely observed in normal aging (so-called aging-related tau astrogliopathy, ARTAG) and Alzheimer's disease (AD), astrocytic tau in the form of tufted astrocytes is a pathognomonic hallmark of PSP. Classical biochemical experiments emphasized tau synthesis in neurons in the central nervous system, suggesting that astrocytic tau inclusions might be derived from uptake of extracellular neuronal-derived tau. However, recent single-nucleus RNAseq experiments highlight the fact that MAPT, the gene encoding tau, is also expressed by astrocytes, albeit in lower amounts. We, therefore, revisited the question of whether astrocyte-driven expression of tau might contribute to astrocytic tau aggregates in PSP by performing fluorescent in situ hybridization/immunohistochemical co-localization in human postmortem brain specimens from individuals with PSP and AD with ARTAG as well as normal controls. We find that, in PSP but not in AD, tau-immunoreactive astrocytes have higher levels of MAPT mRNA compared to astrocytes that do not have tau aggregates. These results suggest that astrocytic responses in PSP are unique to this tauopathy and support the possibility that fundamental changes in PSP astrocyte-endogenous mRNA biology contribute to increased synthesis of tau protein and underlies the formation of the astrocytic tau deposits characteristic of PSP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosemary J Jackson
- Massachusetts General Hospital, 114 16th Street, Charlestown, MA, 02129, USA
| | - Alexandra Melloni
- Massachusetts General Hospital, 114 16th Street, Charlestown, MA, 02129, USA
| | - Dustin P Fykstra
- Massachusetts General Hospital, 114 16th Street, Charlestown, MA, 02129, USA
| | | | - Leslie Shinobu
- Bristol Myers Squibb, Neuroscience Thematic Research Center, 250 Water Street, Charlestown, MA, 02141, USA
| | - Bradley T Hyman
- Massachusetts General Hospital, 114 16th Street, Charlestown, MA, 02129, USA.
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14
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Bougea A, Gourzis P. Biomarker-Based Precision Therapy for Alzheimer's Disease: Multidimensional Evidence Leading a New Breakthrough in Personalized Medicine. J Clin Med 2024; 13:4661. [PMID: 39200803 PMCID: PMC11355840 DOI: 10.3390/jcm13164661] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2024] [Revised: 07/25/2024] [Accepted: 08/05/2024] [Indexed: 09/02/2024] Open
Abstract
(1) Background: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a worldwide neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the buildup of abnormal proteins in the central nervous system and cognitive decline. Since no radical therapy exists, only symptomatic treatments alleviate symptoms temporarily. In this review, we will explore the latest advancements in precision medicine and biomarkers for AD, including their potential to revolutionize the way we diagnose and treat this devastating condition. (2) Methods: A literature search was performed combining the following Medical Subject Heading (MeSH) terms on PubMed: "Alzheimer's disease", "biomarkers", "APOE", "APP", "GWAS", "cerebrospinal fluid", "polygenic risk score", "Aβ42", "τP-181", " p-tau217", "ptau231", "proteomics", "total tau protein", and "precision medicine" using Boolean operators. (3) Results: Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified numerous genetic variants associated with AD risk, while a transcriptomic analysis has revealed dysregulated gene expression patterns in the brains of individuals with AD. The proteomic and metabolomic profiling of biological fluids, such as blood, urine, and CSF, and neuroimaging biomarkers have also yielded potential biomarkers of AD that could be used for the early diagnosis and monitoring of disease progression. (4) Conclusion: By leveraging a combination of the above biomarkers, novel ultrasensitive immunoassays, mass spectrometry methods, and metabolomics, researchers are making significant strides towards personalized healthcare for individuals with AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anastasia Bougea
- 1st Department of Neurology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 15772 Athens, Greece
| | - Philippos Gourzis
- 1st Department of Psychiatry, University of Patras, 26504 Rio, Greece;
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15
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Zhang X, Wang J, Zhang Z, Ye K. Tau in neurodegenerative diseases: molecular mechanisms, biomarkers, and therapeutic strategies. Transl Neurodegener 2024; 13:40. [PMID: 39107835 PMCID: PMC11302116 DOI: 10.1186/s40035-024-00429-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2023] [Accepted: 07/05/2024] [Indexed: 09/14/2024] Open
Abstract
The deposition of abnormal tau protein is characteristic of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and a class of neurodegenerative diseases called tauopathies. Physiologically, tau maintains an intrinsically disordered structure and plays diverse roles in neurons. Pathologically, tau undergoes abnormal post-translational modifications and forms oligomers or fibrous aggregates in tauopathies. In this review, we briefly introduce several tauopathies and discuss the mechanisms mediating tau aggregation and propagation. We also describe the toxicity of tau pathology. Finally, we explore the early diagnostic biomarkers and treatments targeting tau. Although some encouraging results have been achieved in animal experiments and preclinical studies, there is still no cure for tauopathies. More in-depth basic and clinical research on the pathogenesis of tauopathies is necessary.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xingyu Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, China
| | - Jiangyu Wang
- Department of Neurology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, China
| | - Zhentao Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, China.
- Taikang Center for Life and Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430000, China.
| | - Keqiang Ye
- Faculty of Life and Health Sciences, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, 518055, China.
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16
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Thirumalai S, Patani R, Hung C. Therapeutic potential of APP antisense oligonucleotides for Alzheimer's disease and down syndrome-related Alzheimer's disease. Mol Neurodegener 2024; 19:57. [PMID: 39075597 PMCID: PMC11287964 DOI: 10.1186/s13024-024-00745-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2024] [Accepted: 07/12/2024] [Indexed: 07/31/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Srishruthi Thirumalai
- UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, Zayed Centre for Research into Rare Disease in Children, 20 Guilford Street, London, WC1N 1DZ, UK
| | - Rickie Patani
- Human Stem Cells and Neurodegeneration Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London, NW1 1AT, UK.
- Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, WC1N 3BG, UK.
| | - Christy Hung
- UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, Zayed Centre for Research into Rare Disease in Children, 20 Guilford Street, London, WC1N 1DZ, UK.
- Department of Neuroscience, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
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17
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Parra Bravo C, Naguib SA, Gan L. Cellular and pathological functions of tau. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol 2024:10.1038/s41580-024-00753-9. [PMID: 39014245 DOI: 10.1038/s41580-024-00753-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/10/2024] [Indexed: 07/18/2024]
Abstract
Tau protein is involved in various cellular processes, including having a canonical role in binding and stabilization of microtubules in neurons. Tauopathies are neurodegenerative diseases marked by the abnormal accumulation of tau protein aggregates in neurons, as seen, for example, in conditions such as frontotemporal dementia and Alzheimer disease. Mutations in tau coding regions or that disrupt tau mRNA splicing, tau post-translational modifications and cellular stress factors (such as oxidative stress and inflammation) increase the tendency of tau to aggregate and interfere with its clearance. Pathological tau is strongly implicated in the progression of neurodegenerative diseases, and the propagation of tau aggregates is associated with disease severity. Recent technological advancements, including cryo-electron microscopy and disease models derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells, have increased our understanding of tau-related pathology in neurodegenerative conditions. Substantial progress has been made in deciphering tau aggregate structures and the molecular mechanisms that underlie protein aggregation and toxicity. In this Review, we discuss recent insights into the diverse cellular functions of tau and the pathology of tau inclusions and explore the potential for therapeutic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Celeste Parra Bravo
- Helen and Robert Appel Alzheimer's Disease Research Institute, Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences, New York, NY, USA
| | - Sarah A Naguib
- Helen and Robert Appel Alzheimer's Disease Research Institute, Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Li Gan
- Helen and Robert Appel Alzheimer's Disease Research Institute, Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences, New York, NY, USA.
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18
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Liu Y, Xia X, Zheng M, Shi B. Bio-Nano Toolbox for Precision Alzheimer's Disease Gene Therapy. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2024; 36:e2314354. [PMID: 38778446 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202314354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2023] [Revised: 05/01/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most burdensome aging-associated neurodegenerative disorder, and its treatment encounters numerous failures during drug development. Although there are newly approved in-market β-amyloid targeting antibody solutions, pathological heterogeneity among patient populations still challenges the treatment outcome. Emerging advances in gene therapies offer opportunities for more precise personalized medicine; while, major obstacles including the pathological heterogeneity among patient populations, the puzzled mechanism for druggable target development, and the precision delivery of functional therapeutic elements across the blood-brain barrier remain and limit the use of gene therapy for central neuronal diseases. Aiming for "precision delivery" challenges, nanomedicine provides versatile platforms that may overcome the targeted delivery challenges for AD gene therapy. In this perspective, to picture a toolbox for AD gene therapy strategy development, the most recent advances from benchtop to clinics are highlighted, possibly available gene therapy targets, tools, and delivery platforms are outlined, their challenges as well as rational design elements are addressed, and perspectives in this promising research field are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Liu
- Department of Radiotherapy and Translational Medicine Center, Huaihe Hospital of Henan University, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan, 475000, China
- Henan-Macquarie University Joint Centre for Biomedical Innovation, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan, 475004, China
| | - Xue Xia
- Department of Radiotherapy and Translational Medicine Center, Huaihe Hospital of Henan University, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan, 475000, China
- Henan-Macquarie University Joint Centre for Biomedical Innovation, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan, 475004, China
- Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, 2109, Australia
| | - Meng Zheng
- Department of Radiotherapy and Translational Medicine Center, Huaihe Hospital of Henan University, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan, 475000, China
- Henan-Macquarie University Joint Centre for Biomedical Innovation, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan, 475004, China
| | - Bingyang Shi
- Henan-Macquarie University Joint Centre for Biomedical Innovation, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan, 475004, China
- Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, 2109, Australia
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19
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Chen KS, Koubek EJ, Sakowski SA, Feldman EL. Stem cell therapeutics and gene therapy for neurologic disorders. Neurotherapeutics 2024; 21:e00427. [PMID: 39096590 PMCID: PMC11345629 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurot.2024.e00427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2024] [Revised: 07/22/2024] [Accepted: 07/22/2024] [Indexed: 08/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Rapid advances in biological knowledge and technological innovation have greatly advanced the fields of stem cell and gene therapies to combat a broad spectrum of neurologic disorders. Researchers are currently exploring a variety of stem cell types (e.g., embryonic, progenitor, induced pluripotent) and various transplantation strategies, each with its own advantages and drawbacks. Similarly, various gene modification techniques (zinc finger, TALENs, CRISPR-Cas9) are employed with various delivery vectors to modify underlying genetic contributors to neurologic disorders. While these two individual fields continue to blaze new trails, it is the combination of these technologies which enables genetically engineered stem cells and vastly increases investigational and therapeutic opportunities. The capability to culture and expand stem cells outside the body, along with their potential to correct genetic abnormalities in patient-derived cells or enhance cells with extra gene products, unleashes the full biological potential for innovative, multifaceted approaches to treat complex neurological disorders. In this review, we provide an overview of stem cell and gene therapies in the context of neurologic disorders, highlighting recent advances and current shortcomings, and discuss prospects for future therapies in clinical settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin S Chen
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; NeuroNetwork for Emerging Therapies, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; Department of Neurosurgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Emily J Koubek
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; NeuroNetwork for Emerging Therapies, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Stacey A Sakowski
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; NeuroNetwork for Emerging Therapies, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Eva L Feldman
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; NeuroNetwork for Emerging Therapies, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
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20
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By S, Kahl A, Cogswell PM. Alzheimer's Disease Clinical Trials: What Have We Learned From Magnetic Resonance Imaging. J Magn Reson Imaging 2024. [PMID: 39031716 DOI: 10.1002/jmri.29462] [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: 03/04/2024] [Revised: 05/13/2024] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 07/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the leading cause of cognitive impairment and dementia worldwide with rising prevalence, incidence and mortality. Despite many decades of research, there remains an unmet need for disease-modifying treatment that can significantly alter the progression of disease. Recently, with United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) drug approvals, there have been tremendous advances in this area, with agents demonstrating effects on cognition and biomarkers. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) plays an instrumental role in these trials. This review article aims to outline how MRI is used for screening eligibility, monitoring safety and measuring efficacy in clinical trials, leaning on the landscape of past and recent AD clinical trials that have used MRI as examples; further, insight on promising MRI biomarkers for future trials is provided. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 1. TECHNICAL EFFICACY: Stage 4.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha By
- Bristol Myers Squibb, Lawrenceville, New Jersey, USA
| | - Anja Kahl
- Bristol Myers Squibb, Lawrenceville, New Jersey, USA
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21
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Yang J, Zhi W, Wang L. Role of Tau Protein in Neurodegenerative Diseases and Development of Its Targeted Drugs: A Literature Review. Molecules 2024; 29:2812. [PMID: 38930877 PMCID: PMC11206543 DOI: 10.3390/molecules29122812] [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: 04/26/2024] [Revised: 06/07/2024] [Accepted: 06/08/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Tau protein is a microtubule-associated protein that is widely distributed in the central nervous system and maintains and regulates neuronal morphology and function. Tau protein aggregates abnormally and forms neurofibrillary tangles in neurodegenerative diseases, disrupting the structure and function of neurons and leading to neuronal death, which triggers the initiation and progression of neurological disorders. The aggregation of tau protein in neurodegenerative diseases is associated with post-translational modifications, which may affect the hydrophilicity, spatial conformation, and stability of tau protein, promoting tau protein aggregation and the formation of neurofibrillary tangles. Therefore, studying the role of tau protein in neurodegenerative diseases and the mechanism of aberrant aggregation is important for understanding the mechanism of neurodegenerative diseases and finding therapeutic approaches. This review describes the possible mechanisms by which tau protein promotes neurodegenerative diseases, the post-translational modifications of tau protein and associated influencing factors, and the current status of drug discovery and development related to tau protein, which may contribute to the development of new therapeutic approaches to alleviate or treat neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiakai Yang
- Graduate Collaborative Training Base of Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, China;
- Beijing Institute of Radiation Medicine, 27 Taiping Road, Beijing 100850, China
| | - Weijia Zhi
- Beijing Institute of Radiation Medicine, 27 Taiping Road, Beijing 100850, China
| | - Lifeng Wang
- Graduate Collaborative Training Base of Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, China;
- Beijing Institute of Radiation Medicine, 27 Taiping Road, Beijing 100850, China
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22
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Aya F, Valcárcel J. Shaping human brain development and vulnerability through alternative splicing. CELL GENOMICS 2024; 4:100584. [PMID: 38870907 PMCID: PMC11228946 DOI: 10.1016/j.xgen.2024.100584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2024] [Revised: 05/16/2024] [Accepted: 05/16/2024] [Indexed: 06/15/2024]
Abstract
Alternative splicing contributes to shaping lineage-specific gene expression and phenotypes. In this issue of Cell Genomics, Recinos, Bao, Wang, et al.1 report that the balance between splicing isoforms of the microtubule-associated protein Tau in the brain is differentially regulated among primates by the RNA-binding protein MBNL2, with consequences for protein aggregation and neurodegeneration in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francisco Aya
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain; Department of Medical Oncology, IDIBAPS, Hospital Clinic, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Juan Valcárcel
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain; Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats (ICREA), Barcelona, Spain.
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23
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Wen J, Tian YE, Skampardoni I, Yang Z, Cui Y, Anagnostakis F, Mamourian E, Zhao B, Toga AW, Zaleskey A, Davatzikos C. The Genetic Architecture of Biological Age in Nine Human Organ Systems. MEDRXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES 2024:2023.06.08.23291168. [PMID: 37398441 PMCID: PMC10312870 DOI: 10.1101/2023.06.08.23291168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/04/2023]
Abstract
Understanding the genetic basis of biological aging in multi-organ systems is vital for elucidating age-related disease mechanisms and identifying therapeutic interventions. This study characterized the genetic architecture of the biological age gap (BAG) across nine human organ systems in 377,028 individuals of European ancestry from the UK Biobank. We discovered 393 genomic loci-BAG pairs (P-value<5×10-8) linked to the brain, eye, cardiovascular, hepatic, immune, metabolic, musculoskeletal, pulmonary, and renal systems. We observed BAG-organ specificity and inter-organ connections. Genetic variants associated with the nine BAGs are predominantly specific to the respective organ system while exerting pleiotropic effects on traits linked to multiple organ systems. A gene-drug-disease network confirmed the involvement of the metabolic BAG-associated genes in drugs targeting various metabolic disorders. Genetic correlation analyses supported Cheverud's Conjecture1 - the genetic correlation between BAGs mirrors their phenotypic correlation. A causal network revealed potential causal effects linking chronic diseases (e.g., Alzheimer's disease), body weight, and sleep duration to the BAG of multiple organ systems. Our findings shed light on promising therapeutic interventions to enhance human organ health within a complex multi-organ network, including lifestyle modifications and potential drug repositioning strategies for treating chronic diseases. All results are publicly available at https://labs-laboratory.com/medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junhao Wen
- Laboratory of AI and Biomedical Science (LABS), Keck School of Medicine of USC, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Ye Ella Tian
- Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, Department of Psychiatry, Melbourne Medical School, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Ioanna Skampardoni
- Artificial Intelligence in Biomedical Imaging Laboratory (AIBIL), Center for AI and Data Science for Integrated Diagnostics (AID), Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA
| | - Zhijian Yang
- Artificial Intelligence in Biomedical Imaging Laboratory (AIBIL), Center for AI and Data Science for Integrated Diagnostics (AID), Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA
| | - Yuhan Cui
- Artificial Intelligence in Biomedical Imaging Laboratory (AIBIL), Center for AI and Data Science for Integrated Diagnostics (AID), Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA
| | - Filippos Anagnostakis
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Elizabeth Mamourian
- Artificial Intelligence in Biomedical Imaging Laboratory (AIBIL), Center for AI and Data Science for Integrated Diagnostics (AID), Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA
| | - Bingxin Zhao
- Department of Statistics and Data Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Arthur W. Toga
- Laboratory of Neuro Imaging (LONI), Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute, Keck School of Medicine of USC, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Andrew Zaleskey
- Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, Department of Psychiatry, Melbourne Medical School, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Christos Davatzikos
- Artificial Intelligence in Biomedical Imaging Laboratory (AIBIL), Center for AI and Data Science for Integrated Diagnostics (AID), Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA
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24
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Matsubayashi T, Yoshioka K, Lei Mon SS, Katsuyama M, Jia C, Yamaguchi T, Hara RI, Nagata T, Nakagawa O, Obika S, Yokota T. Favorable efficacy and reduced acute neurotoxicity by antisense oligonucleotides with 2',4'-BNA/LNA with 9-(aminoethoxy)phenoxazine. MOLECULAR THERAPY. NUCLEIC ACIDS 2024; 35:102161. [PMID: 38978695 PMCID: PMC11229412 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2024.102161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 07/10/2024]
Abstract
An increasing number of antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) have been approved for clinical use. However, improvements of both efficacy and safety in the central nervous system (CNS) are crucial for the treatment with CNS diseases. We aimed to overcome the crucial issues by our development of various gapmer ASOs with a novel nucleoside derivative including a 2',4'-BNA/LNA with 9-(aminoethoxy)phenoxazine (BNAP-AEO). The various gapmer ASOs with BNAP-AEO were evaluated for thermal stability, in vitro and in vivo efficacy, and acute CNS toxicity. Thermal stability analysis of the duplexes with their complementary RNAs showed that ASOs with BNAP-AEO had a higher binding affinity than those without BNAP-AEO. In vitro assays, when transfected into neuroblastoma cell lines, demonstrated that ASOs with BNAP-AEO, had a more efficient gene silencing effect than those without BNAP-AEO. In vivo assays, involving intracerebroventricular injections into mice, revealed ASOs with BNAP-AEO potently suppressed gene expression in the brain. Surprisingly, the acute CNS toxicity in mice, as assessed through open field tests and scoring systems, was significantly lower for ASOs with BNAP-AEO than for those without BNAP-AEO. This study underscores the efficient gene-silencing effect and low acute CNS toxicity of ASOs incorporating BNAP-AEO, indicating the potential for future therapeutic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taiki Matsubayashi
- Department of Neurology and Neurological Science, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-Ku, Tokyo 113-8519, Japan
| | - Kotaro Yoshioka
- Department of Neurology and Neurological Science, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-Ku, Tokyo 113-8519, Japan
| | - Su Su Lei Mon
- Department of Neurology and Neurological Science, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-Ku, Tokyo 113-8519, Japan
| | - Maho Katsuyama
- Department of Neurology and Neurological Science, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-Ku, Tokyo 113-8519, Japan
| | - Chunyan Jia
- Department of Neurology and Neurological Science, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-Ku, Tokyo 113-8519, Japan
| | - Takao Yamaguchi
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka University, 1-6 Yamadaoka Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Rintaro Iwata Hara
- Department of Neurology and Neurological Science, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-Ku, Tokyo 113-8519, Japan
| | - Tetsuya Nagata
- Department of Neurology and Neurological Science, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-Ku, Tokyo 113-8519, Japan
| | - Osamu Nakagawa
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka University, 1-6 Yamadaoka Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tokushima Bunri University, 180 Nishihamahoji, Yamashiro-cho, Tokushima 770-8514, Japan
| | - Satoshi Obika
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka University, 1-6 Yamadaoka Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Takanori Yokota
- Department of Neurology and Neurological Science, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-Ku, Tokyo 113-8519, Japan
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25
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Shanks HRC, Chen K, Reiman EM, Blennow K, Cummings JL, Massa SM, Longo FM, Börjesson-Hanson A, Windisch M, Schmitz TW. p75 neurotrophin receptor modulation in mild to moderate Alzheimer disease: a randomized, placebo-controlled phase 2a trial. Nat Med 2024; 30:1761-1770. [PMID: 38760589 PMCID: PMC11186782 DOI: 10.1038/s41591-024-02977-w] [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: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 05/19/2024]
Abstract
p75 neurotrophin receptor (p75NTR) signaling pathways substantially overlap with degenerative networks active in Alzheimer disease (AD). Modulation of p75NTR with the first-in-class small molecule LM11A-31 mitigates amyloid-induced and pathological tau-induced synaptic loss in preclinical models. Here we conducted a 26-week randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blinded phase 2a safety and exploratory endpoint trial of LM11A-31 in 242 participants with mild to moderate AD with three arms: placebo, 200 mg LM11A-31 and 400 mg LM11A-31, administered twice daily by oral capsules. This trial met its primary endpoint of safety and tolerability. Within the prespecified secondary and exploratory outcome domains (structural magnetic resonance imaging, fluorodeoxyglucose positron-emission tomography and cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers), significant drug-placebo differences were found, consistent with the hypothesis that LM11A-31 slows progression of pathophysiological features of AD; no significant effect of active treatment was observed on cognitive tests. Together, these results suggest that targeting p75NTR with LM11A-31 warrants further investigation in larger-scale clinical trials of longer duration. EU Clinical Trials registration: 2015-005263-16 ; ClinicalTrials.gov registration: NCT03069014 .
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Grants
- R35 AG071476 NIA NIH HHS
- P30 AG072980 NIA NIH HHS
- SG-23-1038904 QC Alzheimer's Association
- 2022-00732 Vetenskapsrådet (Swedish Research Council)
- P20 GM109025 NIGMS NIH HHS
- R01 AG053798 NIA NIH HHS
- R35AG71476 U.S. Department of Health & Human Services | NIH | National Institute on Aging (U.S. National Institute on Aging)
- ZEN-21-848495 Alzheimer's Association
- R01 AG051596 NIA NIH HHS
- P20GM109025 U.S. Department of Health & Human Services | NIH | National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
- 453677 Gouvernement du Canada | Canadian Institutes of Health Research (Instituts de Recherche en Santé du Canada)
- P20 AG068053 NIA NIH HHS
- 2017-00915 Vetenskapsrådet (Swedish Research Council)
- U01 AG024904 NIA NIH HHS
- R01AG053798 U.S. Department of Health & Human Services | NIH | National Institute on Aging (U.S. National Institute on Aging)
- R25 AG083721-01 U.S. Department of Health & Human Services | NIH | National Institute on Aging (U.S. National Institute on Aging)
- R25 AG083721 NIA NIH HHS
- Jonathan and Joshua Memorial Foundation Government of Ontario
- U.S. Department of Health & Human Services | NIH | National Institute on Aging (U.S. National Institute on Aging)
- State of Arizona
- Alzheimer’s Association
- the Swedish state under the agreement between the Swedish government and the County Councils, the ALF-agreement (#ALFGBG-715986 and #ALFGBG-965240), the Swedish Alzheimer Foundation (#AF-930351, #AF-939721 and #AF-968270), Hjärnfonden, Sweden (#FO2017-0243 and #ALZ2022-0006), La Fondation Recherche Alzheimer (FRA), Paris, France, the Kirsten and Freddy Johansen Foundation, Copenhagen, Denmark, and Familjen Rönströms Stiftelse, Stockholm, Sweden.
- U.S. Department of Health & Human Services | NIH | National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
- Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation (ADDF)
- Ted and Maria Quirk Endowment; Joy Chambers-Grundy Endowment.
- San Francisco VA Health Care System
- National Institutes of Aging (NIA AD Pilot Trial 1R01AG051596) PharmatrophiX (Menlo Park, California)
- Alzheimer’s Society of Canada (176677)
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Affiliation(s)
- Hayley R C Shanks
- Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.
- Robarts Research Institute, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.
- Western Institute for Neuroscience, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.
| | - Kewei Chen
- Banner Alzheimer's Institute, Phoenix, AZ, USA
- College of Medicine-Phoenix, University of Arizona, Phoenix, AZ, USA
- College of Health Solutions, Arizona State University, Downtown, Phoenix, AZ, USA
| | - Eric M Reiman
- Banner Alzheimer's Institute, Phoenix, AZ, USA
- College of Medicine-Phoenix, University of Arizona, Phoenix, AZ, USA
- Translational Genomics Research Institute, Phoenix, AZ, USA
- Arizona Alzheimer's Consortium, Phoenix, AZ, USA
- ASU-Banner Neurodegenerative Disease Research Center, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
| | - Kaj Blennow
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Mölndal, Sweden
- Clinical Neurochemistry Laboratory, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Mölndal, Sweden
| | - Jeffrey L Cummings
- Chambers-Grundy Center for Transformative Neuroscience, Department of Brain Health, School of Integrated Health Sciences, University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV), Las Vegas, NV, USA
| | - Stephen M Massa
- San Francisco Veterans Affairs Health Care System, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | | | - Anne Börjesson-Hanson
- Clinical Trials, Department of Aging, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | - Taylor W Schmitz
- Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.
- Robarts Research Institute, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.
- Western Institute for Neuroscience, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.
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26
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Lin R, Jin L, Xue Y, Zhang Z, Huang H, Chen D, Liu Q, Mao Z, Wu Z, Tao Q. Hybrid Membrane-Coated Nanoparticles for Precise Targeting and Synergistic Therapy in Alzheimer's Disease. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2024; 11:e2306675. [PMID: 38647399 PMCID: PMC11200089 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202306675] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2023] [Revised: 04/01/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024]
Abstract
The blood brain barrier (BBB) limits the application of most therapeutic drugs for neurological diseases (NDs). Hybrid cell membrane-coated nanoparticles derived from different cell types can mimic the surface properties and functionalities of the source cells, further enhancing their targeting precision and therapeutic efficacy. Neuroinflammation has been increasingly recognized as a critical factor in the pathogenesis of various NDs, especially Alzheimer's disease (AD). In this study, a novel cell membrane coating is designed by hybridizing the membrane from platelets and chemokine (C-C motif) receptor 2 (CCR2) cells are overexpressed to cross the BBB and target neuroinflammatory lesions. Past unsuccessful endeavors in AD drug development underscore the challenge of achieving favorable outcomes when utilizing single-mechanism drugs.Two drugs with different mechanisms of actions into liposomes are successfully loaded to realize multitargeting treatment. In a transgenic mouse model for familial AD (5xFAD), the administration of these drug-loaded hybrid cell membrane liposomes results in a significant reduction in amyloid plaque deposition, neuroinflammation, and cognitive impairments. Collectively, the hybrid cell membrane-coated nanomaterials offer new opportunities for precise drug delivery and disease-specific targeting, which represent a versatile platform for targeted therapy in AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rong‐Rong Lin
- Department of Neurology and Research Center of Neurology in Second Affiliated Hospital, and Liangzhu LaboratoryZhejiang University School of MedicineHangzhou310009China
| | - Lu‐Lu Jin
- MOE Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Synthesis and FunctionalizationDepartment of Polymer Science and EngineeringZhejiang UniversityHangzhou310027China
| | - Yan‐Yan Xue
- Department of Neurology and Research Center of Neurology in Second Affiliated Hospital, and Liangzhu LaboratoryZhejiang University School of MedicineHangzhou310009China
| | - Zhe‐Sheng Zhang
- Department of Neurology and Research Center of Neurology in Second Affiliated Hospital, and Liangzhu LaboratoryZhejiang University School of MedicineHangzhou310009China
| | - Hui‐Feng Huang
- Department of Neurology and Research Center of Neurology in Second Affiliated Hospital, and Liangzhu LaboratoryZhejiang University School of MedicineHangzhou310009China
| | - Dian‐Fu Chen
- Department of Neurology and Research Center of Neurology in Second Affiliated Hospital, and Liangzhu LaboratoryZhejiang University School of MedicineHangzhou310009China
| | - Qian Liu
- Department of Neurology and Research Center of Neurology in Second Affiliated Hospital, and Liangzhu LaboratoryZhejiang University School of MedicineHangzhou310009China
| | - Zheng‐Wei Mao
- MOE Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Synthesis and FunctionalizationDepartment of Polymer Science and EngineeringZhejiang UniversityHangzhou310027China
| | - Zhi‐Ying Wu
- Department of Neurology and Research Center of Neurology in Second Affiliated Hospital, and Liangzhu LaboratoryZhejiang University School of MedicineHangzhou310009China
- MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Science and Brain‐Machine IntegrationSchool of Brain Science and Brain MedicineZhejiang UniversityHangzhou310058China
- CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence TechnologyShanghai200031China
| | - Qing‐Qing Tao
- Department of Neurology and Research Center of Neurology in Second Affiliated Hospital, and Liangzhu LaboratoryZhejiang University School of MedicineHangzhou310009China
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27
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Yao S, Kasargod A, Chiu R, Torgerson TR, Kupiec-Weglinski JW, Dery KJ. The Coming Age of Antisense Oligos for the Treatment of Hepatic Ischemia/Reperfusion (IRI) and Other Liver Disorders: Role of Oxidative Stress and Potential Antioxidant Effect. Antioxidants (Basel) 2024; 13:678. [PMID: 38929116 PMCID: PMC11200799 DOI: 10.3390/antiox13060678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2024] [Revised: 05/21/2024] [Accepted: 05/27/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Imbalances in the redox state of the liver arise during metabolic processes, inflammatory injuries, and proliferative liver disorders. Acute exposure to intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) results from high levels of oxidative stress (OxS) that occur in response to hepatic ischemia/reperfusion injury (IRI) and metabolic diseases of the liver. Antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) are an emerging class of gene expression modulators that target RNA molecules by Watson-Crick binding specificity, leading to RNA degradation, splicing modulation, and/or translation interference. Here, we review ASO inhibitor/activator strategies to modulate transcription and translation that control the expression of enzymes, transcription factors, and intracellular sensors of DNA damage. Several small-interfering RNA (siRNA) drugs with N-acetyl galactosamine moieties for the liver have recently been approved. Preclinical studies using short-activating RNAs (saRNAs), phosphorodiamidate morpholino oligomers (PMOs), and locked nucleic acids (LNAs) are at the forefront of proof-in-concept therapeutics. Future research targeting intracellular OxS-related pathways in the liver may help realize the promise of precision medicine, revolutionizing the customary approach to caring for and treating individuals afflicted with liver-specific conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Kenneth J. Dery
- The Dumont-UCLA Transplantation Center, Department of Surgery, Division of Liver and Pancreas Transplantation, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
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28
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Tondo G, De Marchi F, Bonardi F, Menegon F, Verrini G, Aprile D, Anselmi M, Mazzini L, Comi C. Novel Therapeutic Strategies in Alzheimer's Disease: Pitfalls and Challenges of Anti-Amyloid Therapies and Beyond. J Clin Med 2024; 13:3098. [PMID: 38892809 PMCID: PMC11172489 DOI: 10.3390/jcm13113098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2024] [Revised: 05/21/2024] [Accepted: 05/23/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) causes a significant challenge to global healthcare systems, with limited effective treatments available. This review examines the landscape of novel therapeutic strategies for AD, focusing on the shortcomings of traditional therapies against amyloid-beta (Aβ) and exploring emerging alternatives. Despite decades of research emphasizing the role of Aβ accumulation in AD pathogenesis, clinical trials targeting Aβ have obtained disappointing results, highlighting the complexity of AD pathophysiology and the need for investigating other therapeutic approaches. In this manuscript, we first discuss the challenges associated with anti-Aβ therapies, including limited efficacy and potential adverse effects, underscoring the necessity of exploring alternative mechanisms and targets. Thereafter, we review promising non-Aβ-based strategies, such as tau-targeted therapies, neuroinflammation modulation, and gene and stem cell therapy. These approaches offer new avenues for AD treatment by addressing additional pathological hallmarks and downstream effects beyond Aβ deposition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giacomo Tondo
- Neurology Unit, Department of Translational Medicine, Maggiore della Carità Hospital, University of Piemonte Orientale, 28100 Novara, Italy; (G.T.); (F.B.); (F.M.); (G.V.); (D.A.); (M.A.); (L.M.)
| | - Fabiola De Marchi
- Neurology Unit, Department of Translational Medicine, Maggiore della Carità Hospital, University of Piemonte Orientale, 28100 Novara, Italy; (G.T.); (F.B.); (F.M.); (G.V.); (D.A.); (M.A.); (L.M.)
| | - Francesca Bonardi
- Neurology Unit, Department of Translational Medicine, Maggiore della Carità Hospital, University of Piemonte Orientale, 28100 Novara, Italy; (G.T.); (F.B.); (F.M.); (G.V.); (D.A.); (M.A.); (L.M.)
| | - Federico Menegon
- Neurology Unit, Department of Translational Medicine, Maggiore della Carità Hospital, University of Piemonte Orientale, 28100 Novara, Italy; (G.T.); (F.B.); (F.M.); (G.V.); (D.A.); (M.A.); (L.M.)
| | - Gaia Verrini
- Neurology Unit, Department of Translational Medicine, Maggiore della Carità Hospital, University of Piemonte Orientale, 28100 Novara, Italy; (G.T.); (F.B.); (F.M.); (G.V.); (D.A.); (M.A.); (L.M.)
| | - Davide Aprile
- Neurology Unit, Department of Translational Medicine, Maggiore della Carità Hospital, University of Piemonte Orientale, 28100 Novara, Italy; (G.T.); (F.B.); (F.M.); (G.V.); (D.A.); (M.A.); (L.M.)
| | - Matteo Anselmi
- Neurology Unit, Department of Translational Medicine, Maggiore della Carità Hospital, University of Piemonte Orientale, 28100 Novara, Italy; (G.T.); (F.B.); (F.M.); (G.V.); (D.A.); (M.A.); (L.M.)
| | - Letizia Mazzini
- Neurology Unit, Department of Translational Medicine, Maggiore della Carità Hospital, University of Piemonte Orientale, 28100 Novara, Italy; (G.T.); (F.B.); (F.M.); (G.V.); (D.A.); (M.A.); (L.M.)
| | - Cristoforo Comi
- Neurology Unit, Department of Translational Medicine, Sant’Andrea Hospital, University of Piemonte Orientale, Corso Abbiate 21, 13100 Vercelli, Italy;
- Interdisciplinary Research Center of Autoimmune Diseases (IRCAD), University of Piemonte Orientale, 28100 Novara, Italy
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29
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Muolokwu CE, Chaulagain B, Gothwal A, Mahanta AK, Tagoe B, Lamsal B, Singh J. Functionalized nanoparticles to deliver nucleic acids to the brain for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. Front Pharmacol 2024; 15:1405423. [PMID: 38855744 PMCID: PMC11157074 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1405423] [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: 03/22/2024] [Accepted: 05/03/2024] [Indexed: 06/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Brain-targeted gene delivery across the blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a significant challenge in the 21st century for the healthcare sector, particularly in developing an effective treatment strategy against Alzheimer's disease (AD). The Internal architecture of the brain capillary endothelium restricts bio-actives entry into the brain. Additionally, therapy with nucleic acids faces challenges like vulnerability to degradation by nucleases and potential immune responses. Functionalized nanocarrier-based gene delivery approaches have resulted in safe and effective platforms. These nanoparticles (NPs) have demonstrated efficacy in protecting nucleic acids from degradation, enhancing transport across the BBB, increasing bioavailability, prolonging circulation time, and regulating gene expression of key proteins involved in AD pathology. We provided a detailed review of several nanocarriers and targeting ligands such as cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs), endogenous proteins, and antibodies. The utilization of functionalized NPs extends beyond a singular system, serving as a versatile platform for customization in related neurodegenerative diseases. Only a few numbers of bioactive regimens can go through the BBB. Thus, exploring functionalized NPs for brain-targeted gene delivery is of utmost necessity. Currently, genes are considered high therapeutic potential molecules for altering any disease-causing gene. Through surface modification, nanoparticulate systems can be tailored to address various diseases by replacing the target-specific molecule on their surface. This review article presents several nanoparticulate delivery systems, such as lipid NPs, polymeric micelles, exosomes, and polymeric NPs, for nucleic acids delivery to the brain and the functionalization strategies explored in AD research.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Jagdish Singh
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, College of Health and Human Sciences, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND, United States
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30
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Zhang D, Zhang W, Ming C, Gao X, Yuan H, Lin X, Mao X, Wang C, Guo X, Du Y, Shao L, Yang R, Lin Z, Wu X, Huang TY, Wang Z, Zhang YW, Xu H, Zhao Y. P-tau217 correlates with neurodegeneration in Alzheimer's disease, and targeting p-tau217 with immunotherapy ameliorates murine tauopathy. Neuron 2024; 112:1676-1693.e12. [PMID: 38513667 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2024.02.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2023] [Revised: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024]
Abstract
Neuronal loss is the central issue in Alzheimer's disease (AD), yet no treatment developed so far can halt AD-associated neurodegeneration. Here, we developed a monoclonal antibody (mAb2A7) against 217 site-phosphorylated human tau (p-tau217) and observed that p-tau217 levels positively correlated with brain atrophy and cognitive impairment in AD patients. Intranasal administration efficiently delivered mAb2A7 into male PS19 tauopathic mouse brain with target engagement and reduced tau pathology/aggregation with little effect on total soluble tau. Further, mAb2A7 treatment blocked apoptosis-associated neuronal loss and brain atrophy, reversed cognitive deficits, and improved motor function in male tauopathic mice. Proteomic analysis revealed that mAb2A7 treatment reversed alterations mainly in proteins associated with synaptic functions observed in murine tauopathy and AD brain. An antibody (13G4) targeting total tau also attenuated tau-associated pathology and neurodegeneration but impaired the motor function of male tauopathic mice. These results implicate p-tau217 as a potential therapeutic target for AD-associated neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Denghong Zhang
- Center for Brain Sciences, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, Institute of Neuroscience, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Disease and Aging Research, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361005, China
| | - Wei Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Tangdu Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710038, China
| | - Chen Ming
- Department of Public Health and Medicinal Administration, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Macao SAR 999078, China; Ministry of Education Frontiers Science Center for Precision Oncology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Macao SAR 999078, China; Centre for Cognitive and Brain Sciences, University of Macau, Macao SAR 999078, China
| | - Xuheng Gao
- Center for Brain Sciences, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, Institute of Neuroscience, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Disease and Aging Research, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361005, China
| | - Huilong Yuan
- Center for Brain Sciences, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, Institute of Neuroscience, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Disease and Aging Research, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361005, China
| | - Xiaojie Lin
- Center for Brain Sciences, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, Institute of Neuroscience, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Disease and Aging Research, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361005, China
| | - Xinru Mao
- Center for Brain Sciences, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, Institute of Neuroscience, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Disease and Aging Research, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361005, China
| | - Chunping Wang
- Center for Brain Sciences, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, Institute of Neuroscience, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Disease and Aging Research, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361005, China
| | - Xiaoyi Guo
- Center for Brain Sciences, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, Institute of Neuroscience, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Disease and Aging Research, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361005, China
| | - Ying Du
- Department of Neurology, Tangdu Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710038, China
| | - Lin Shao
- Center for Brain Sciences, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, Institute of Neuroscience, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Disease and Aging Research, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361005, China
| | - Renzhi Yang
- Institute for Brain Science and Disease, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
| | - Zhihao Lin
- Center for Brain Sciences, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, Institute of Neuroscience, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Disease and Aging Research, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361005, China
| | - Xilin Wu
- Department of Neurology, Center for Cognitive Neurology, Institute of Clinical Neurology, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, Fujian 350001, China
| | - Timothy Y Huang
- Degenerative Diseases Program, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Zhanxiang Wang
- Center for Brain Sciences, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, Institute of Neuroscience, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Disease and Aging Research, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361005, China
| | - Yun-Wu Zhang
- Center for Brain Sciences, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, Institute of Neuroscience, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Disease and Aging Research, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361005, China
| | - Huaxi Xu
- Center for Brain Sciences, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, Institute of Neuroscience, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Disease and Aging Research, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361005, China
| | - Yingjun Zhao
- Center for Brain Sciences, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, Institute of Neuroscience, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Disease and Aging Research, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361005, China.
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Voskobiynyk Y, Li Z, Cochran JN, Davis MN, Carullo NVN, Creed RB, Buckingham SC, Hall AM, Wilson SM, Roberson ED. Excitoprotective effects of conditional tau reduction in excitatory neurons and in adulthood. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.05.14.594246. [PMID: 38798487 PMCID: PMC11118377 DOI: 10.1101/2024.05.14.594246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
Tau reduction is a promising therapeutic strategy for Alzheimer's disease. In numerous models, tau reduction via genetic knockout is beneficial, at least in part due to protection against hyperexcitability and seizures, but the underlying mechanisms are unclear. Here we describe the generation and initial study of a new conditional Tau flox model to address these mechanisms. Given the protective effects of tau reduction against hyperexcitability, we compared the effects of selective tau reduction in excitatory or inhibitory neurons. Tau reduction in excitatory neurons mimicked the protective effects of global tau reduction, while tau reduction in inhibitory neurons had the opposite effect and increased seizure susceptibility. Since most prior studies used knockout mice lacking tau throughout development, we crossed Tau flox mice with inducible Cre mice and found beneficial effects of tau reduction in adulthood. Our findings support the effectiveness of tau reduction in adulthood and indicate that excitatory neurons may be a key site for its excitoprotective effects. SUMMARY A new conditional tau knockout model was generated to study the protective effects of tau reduction against hyperexcitability. Conditional tau reduction in excitatory, but not inhibitory, neurons was excitoprotective, and induced tau reduction in adulthood was excitoprotective without adverse effects.
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Li J, Haj Ebrahimi A, Ali AB. Advances in Therapeutics to Alleviate Cognitive Decline and Neuropsychiatric Symptoms of Alzheimer's Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:5169. [PMID: 38791206 PMCID: PMC11121252 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25105169] [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: 04/09/2024] [Revised: 05/02/2024] [Accepted: 05/06/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Dementia exists as a 'progressive clinical syndrome of deteriorating mental function significant enough to interfere with activities of daily living', with the most prevalent type of dementia being Alzheimer's disease (AD), accounting for about 80% of diagnosed cases. AD is associated with an increased risk of comorbidity with other clinical conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, and neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) including, agitation, anxiety, and depression as well as increased mortality in late life. For example, up to 70% of patients diagnosed with AD are affected by anxiety. As aging is the major risk factor for AD, this represents a huge global burden in ageing populations. Over the last 10 years, significant efforts have been made to recognize the complexity of AD and understand the aetiology and pathophysiology of the disease as well as biomarkers for early detection. Yet, earlier treatment options, including acetylcholinesterase inhibitors and glutamate receptor regulators, have been limited as they work by targeting the symptoms, with only the more recent FDA-approved drugs being designed to target amyloid-β protein with the aim of slowing down the progression of the disease. However, these drugs may only help temporarily, cannot stop or reverse the disease, and do not act by reducing NPS associated with AD. The first-line treatment options for the management of NPS are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors/selective noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs/SNRIs) targeting the monoaminergic system; however, they are not rational drug choices for the management of anxiety disorders since the GABAergic system has a prominent role in their development. Considering the overall treatment failures and side effects of currently available medication, there is an unmet clinical need for rationally designed therapies for anxiety disorders associated with AD. In this review, we summarize the current status of the therapy of AD and aim to highlight novel angles for future drug therapy in our ongoing efforts to alleviate the cognitive deficits and NPS associated with this devastating disease.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Afia B. Ali
- UCL School of Pharmacy, University College London, 29-39 Brunswick Square, London WC1N 1AX, UK; (J.L.); (A.H.E.)
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Gouveia Roque C, Phatnani H, Hengst U. The broken Alzheimer's disease genome. CELL GENOMICS 2024; 4:100555. [PMID: 38697121 PMCID: PMC11099344 DOI: 10.1016/j.xgen.2024.100555] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2023] [Revised: 02/25/2024] [Accepted: 04/07/2024] [Indexed: 05/04/2024]
Abstract
The complex pathobiology of late-onset Alzheimer's disease (AD) poses significant challenges to therapeutic and preventative interventions. Despite these difficulties, genomics and related disciplines are allowing fundamental mechanistic insights to emerge with clarity, particularly with the introduction of high-resolution sequencing technologies. After all, the disrupted processes at the interface between DNA and gene expression, which we call the broken AD genome, offer detailed quantitative evidence unrestrained by preconceived notions about the disease. In addition to highlighting biological pathways beyond the classical pathology hallmarks, these advances have revitalized drug discovery efforts and are driving improvements in clinical tools. We review genetic, epigenomic, and gene expression findings related to AD pathogenesis and explore how their integration enables a better understanding of the multicellular imbalances contributing to this heterogeneous condition. The frontiers opening on the back of these research milestones promise a future of AD care that is both more personalized and predictive.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cláudio Gouveia Roque
- Center for Genomics of Neurodegenerative Disease, New York Genome Center, New York, NY 10013, USA; The Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA.
| | - Hemali Phatnani
- Center for Genomics of Neurodegenerative Disease, New York Genome Center, New York, NY 10013, USA; Department of Neurology, Center for Translational and Computational Neuroimmunology, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Ulrich Hengst
- The Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA; Department of Pathology & Cell Biology, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA.
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Sanghai N, Vuong B, Burak Berk A, Afridi MSK, Tranmer GK. Current Small Molecule-Based Medicinal Chemistry Approaches for Neurodegeneration Therapeutics. ChemMedChem 2024; 19:e202300705. [PMID: 38329887 DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.202300705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2023] [Revised: 02/07/2024] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024]
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs) like Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), and Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) possess multifactorial aetiologies. In recent years, our understanding of the biochemical and molecular pathways across NDDs has increased, however, new advances in small molecule-based therapeutic strategies targeting NDDs are obscure and scarce. Moreover, NDDs have been studied for more than five decades, however, there is a paucity of drugs that can treat NDDs. Further, the highly lipoidal blood-brain barrier (BBB) limits the uptake of many therapeutic molecules into the brain and is a complicating factor in the development of new agents to treat neurodegeneration. Considering the highly complex nature of NDDs, the association of multiple risk factors, and the challenges to overcome the BBB junction, medicinal chemists have developed small organic molecule-based novel approaches to target NDDs over the last few decades, such as designing lipophilic molecules and applying prodrug strategies. Attempts have been made to utilize a multitarget approach to modulate different biochemical molecular pathways involved in NDDs, in addition to, medicinal chemists making better decisions in identifying optimized drug candidates for the central nervous system (CNS) by using web-based computational tools. To increase the clinical success of these drug candidates, an in vitro assay modeling the BBB has been utilized by medicinal chemists in the pre-clinical phase as a further screening measure of small organic molecules. Herein, we examine some of the intriguing strategies taken by medicinal chemists to design small organic molecules to combat NDDs, with the intention of increasing our awareness of neurodegenerative therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nitesh Sanghai
- College of Pharmacy, Rady Faculty of Health Science, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0T5, Canada
| | - Billy Vuong
- College of Pharmacy, Rady Faculty of Health Science, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0T5, Canada
| | - Ahmet Burak Berk
- College of Pharmacy, Rady Faculty of Health Science, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0T5, Canada
| | | | - Geoffrey K Tranmer
- College of Pharmacy, Rady Faculty of Health Science, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0T5, Canada
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Singh H, Das A, Khan MM, Pourmotabbed T. New insights into the therapeutic approaches for the treatment of tauopathies. Neural Regen Res 2024; 19:1020-1026. [PMID: 37862204 PMCID: PMC10749630 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.385288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2023] [Revised: 07/05/2023] [Accepted: 08/10/2023] [Indexed: 10/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Tauopathies are a group of neurological disorders, including Alzheimer's disease and frontotemporal dementia, which involve progressive neurodegeneration, cognitive deficits, and aberrant tau protein accumulation. The development of tauopathies cannot currently be stopped or slowed down by treatment measures. Given the significant contribution of tau burden in primary tauopathies and the strong association between pathogenic tau accumulation and cognitive deficits, there has been a lot of interest in creating therapies that can alleviate tau pathology and render neuroprotective effects. Recently, small molecules, immunotherapies, and gene therapy have been used to reduce the pathological tau burden and prevent neurodegeneration in animal models of tauopathies. However, the major pitfall of the current therapeutic approach is the difficulty of drugs and gene-targeting modalities to cross the blood-brain barrier and their unintended side effects. In this review, the current therapeutic strategies used for tauopathies including the use of oligonucleotide-based gene therapy approaches that have shown a promising result for the treatment of tauopathies and Alzheimer's disease in preclinical animal models, have been discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Himanshi Singh
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Biochemistry, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA
- Department of Biotechnology, Delhi Technological University, Shahbad Daulatpur, Delhi, India
- Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Asmita Das
- Department of Biotechnology, Delhi Technological University, Shahbad Daulatpur, Delhi, India
| | - Mohammad Moshahid Khan
- Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA
- Neuroscience Institute, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA
- Center for Muscle, Metabolism and Neuropathology, Division of Regenerative and Rehabilitation Sciences and Department of Physical Therapy, College of Health Professions, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Tayebeh Pourmotabbed
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Biochemistry, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA
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Elitt MS, Tesar PJ. Pelizaeus-Merzbacher disease: on the cusp of myelin medicine. Trends Mol Med 2024; 30:459-470. [PMID: 38582621 PMCID: PMC11081862 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmed.2024.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2024] [Revised: 03/05/2024] [Accepted: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/08/2024]
Abstract
Pelizaeus-Merzbacher disease (PMD) is caused by mutations in the proteolipid protein 1 (PLP1) gene encoding proteolipid protein (PLP). As a major component of myelin, mutated PLP causes progressive neurodegeneration and eventually death due to severe white matter deficits. Medical care has long been limited to symptomatic treatments, but first-in-class PMD therapies with novel mechanisms now stand poised to enter clinical trials. Here, we review PMD disease mechanisms and outline rationale for therapeutic interventions, including PLP1 suppression, cell transplantation, iron chelation, and intracellular stress modulation. We discuss available preclinical data and their implications on clinical development. With several novel treatments on the horizon, PMD is on the precipice of a new era in the diagnosis and treatment of patients suffering from this debilitating disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew S Elitt
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA.
| | - Paul J Tesar
- Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA.
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Oosthoek M, Vermunt L, de Wilde A, Bongers B, Antwi-Berko D, Scheltens P, van Bokhoven P, Vijverberg EGB, Teunissen CE. Utilization of fluid-based biomarkers as endpoints in disease-modifying clinical trials for Alzheimer's disease: a systematic review. Alzheimers Res Ther 2024; 16:93. [PMID: 38678292 PMCID: PMC11055304 DOI: 10.1186/s13195-024-01456-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2023] [Accepted: 04/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/29/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Clinical trials in Alzheimer's disease (AD) had high failure rates for several reasons, including the lack of biological endpoints. Fluid-based biomarkers may present a solution to measure biologically relevant endpoints. It is currently unclear to what extent fluid-based biomarkers are applied to support drug development. METHODS We systematically reviewed 272 trials (clinicaltrials.gov) with disease-modifying therapies starting between 01-01-2017 and 01-01-2024 and identified which CSF and/or blood-based biomarker endpoints were used per purpose and trial type. RESULTS We found that 44% (N = 121) of the trials employed fluid-based biomarker endpoints among which the CSF ATN biomarkers (Aβ (42/40), p/tTau) were used most frequently. In blood, inflammatory cytokines, NFL, and pTau were most frequently employed. Blood- and CSF-based biomarkers were used approximately equally. Target engagement biomarkers were used in 26% (N = 72) of the trials, mainly in drugs targeting inflammation and amyloid. Lack of target engagement markers is most prominent in synaptic plasticity/neuroprotection, neurotransmitter receptor, vasculature, epigenetic regulators, proteostasis and, gut-brain axis targeting drugs. Positive biomarker results did not always translate to cognitive effects, most commonly the small significant reductions in CSF tau isoforms that were seen following anti-Tau treatments. On the other hand, the positive anti-amyloid trials results on cognitive function were supported by clear effect in most fluid markers. CONCLUSIONS As the field moves towards primary prevention, we expect an increase in the use of fluid-based biomarkers to determine disease modification. Use of blood-based biomarkers will rapidly increase, but CSF markers remain important to determine brain-specific treatment effects. With improving techniques, new biomarkers can be found to diversify the possibilities in measuring treatment effects and target engagement. It remains important to interpret biomarker results in the context of the trial and be aware of the performance of the biomarker. Diversifying biomarkers could aid in the development of surrogacy biomarkers for different drug targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marlies Oosthoek
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Neurochemistry Laboratory, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, De Boelelaan 1117, 1081 HV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
| | - Lisa Vermunt
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Neurochemistry Laboratory, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, De Boelelaan 1117, 1081 HV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Arno de Wilde
- EQT Life Sciences, Johannes Vermeersplein 9, 1071 DV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Bram Bongers
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Neurochemistry Laboratory, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, De Boelelaan 1117, 1081 HV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Daniel Antwi-Berko
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Neurochemistry Laboratory, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, De Boelelaan 1117, 1081 HV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Philip Scheltens
- EQT Life Sciences, Johannes Vermeersplein 9, 1071 DV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Alzheimer Center, Department of Neurology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, De Boelelaan 1117, 1081 HV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | | | - Everard G B Vijverberg
- Alzheimer Center, Department of Neurology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, De Boelelaan 1117, 1081 HV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Charlotte E Teunissen
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Neurochemistry Laboratory, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, De Boelelaan 1117, 1081 HV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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Gee MS, Kwon E, Song MH, Jeon SH, Kim N, Lee JK, Koo T. CRISPR base editing-mediated correction of a tau mutation rescues cognitive decline in a mouse model of tauopathy. Transl Neurodegener 2024; 13:21. [PMID: 38610033 PMCID: PMC11010288 DOI: 10.1186/s40035-024-00415-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Min Sung Gee
- College of Pharmacy, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, 02447, Republic of Korea
| | - Eunji Kwon
- Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Graudate School, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, 02447, Republic of Korea
| | - Myeong-Hoon Song
- Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Graudate School, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, 02447, Republic of Korea
| | - Seung Ho Jeon
- College of Pharmacy, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, 02447, Republic of Korea
| | - Namkwon Kim
- College of Pharmacy, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, 02447, Republic of Korea
| | - Jong Kil Lee
- College of Pharmacy, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, 02447, Republic of Korea.
| | - Taeyoung Koo
- College of Pharmacy, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, 02447, Republic of Korea.
- Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Graudate School, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, 02447, Republic of Korea.
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, 02447, Republic of Korea.
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Lane RM, Darreh-Shori T, Junge C, Li D, Yang Q, Edwards AL, Graham DL, Moore K, Mummery CJ. Onset of Alzheimer disease in apolipoprotein ɛ4 carriers is earlier in butyrylcholinesterase K variant carriers. BMC Neurol 2024; 24:116. [PMID: 38594621 PMCID: PMC11003149 DOI: 10.1186/s12883-024-03611-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/11/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The authors sought to examine the impact of the K-variant of butyrylcholinesterase (BCHE-K) carrier status on age-at-diagnosis of Alzheimer disease (AD) in APOE4 carriers. METHODS Patients aged 50-74 years with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarker-confirmed AD, were recruited to clinical trial (NCT03186989 since June 14, 2017). Baseline demographics, disease characteristics, and biomarkers were evaluated in 45 patients according to BCHE-K and APOE4 allelic status in this post-hoc study. RESULTS In APOE4 carriers (N = 33), the mean age-at-diagnosis of AD in BCHE-K carriers (n = 11) was 6.4 years earlier than in BCHE-K noncarriers (n = 22, P < .001, ANOVA). In APOE4 noncarriers (N = 12) there was no observed influence of BCHE-K. APOE4 carriers with BCHE-K also exhibited slightly higher amyloid and tau accumulations compared to BCHE-K noncarriers. A predominantly amyloid, limited tau, and limbic-amnestic phenotype was exemplified by APOE4 homozygotes with BCHE-K. In the overall population, multiple regression analyses demonstrated an association of amyloid accumulation with APOE4 carrier status (P < .029), larger total brain ventricle volume (P < .021), less synaptic injury (Ng, P < .001), and less tau pathophysiology (p-tau181, P < .005). In contrast, tau pathophysiology was associated with more neuroaxonal damage (NfL, P = .002), more synaptic injury (Ng, P < .001), and higher levels of glial activation (YKL-40, P = .01). CONCLUSION These findings have implications for the genetic architecture of prognosis in early AD, not the genetics of susceptibility to AD. In patients with early AD aged less than 75 years, the mean age-at-diagnosis of AD in APOE4 carriers was reduced by over 6 years in BCHE-K carriers versus noncarriers. The functional status of glia may explain many of the effects of APOE4 and BCHE-K on the early AD phenotype. TRIAL REGISTRATION NCT03186989 since June 14, 2017.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roger M Lane
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals, 2855 Gazelle Court, Carlsbad, CA, 92010, USA.
| | - Taher Darreh-Shori
- Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Center for Alzheimer Research, Division of Clinical Geriatric, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Candice Junge
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals, 2855 Gazelle Court, Carlsbad, CA, 92010, USA
| | - Dan Li
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals, 2855 Gazelle Court, Carlsbad, CA, 92010, USA
| | - Qingqing Yang
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals, 2855 Gazelle Court, Carlsbad, CA, 92010, USA
| | | | | | - Katrina Moore
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals, 2855 Gazelle Court, Carlsbad, CA, 92010, USA
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40
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Facal CL, Fernández Bessone I, Muñiz JA, Pereyra AE, Pedroncini O, Páez-Paz I, Clerici-Delville R, Arnaiz C, Urrutia L, Falasco G, Argañaraz CV, Saez T, Marin-Burgin A, Soiza-Reilly M, Falzone T, Avale ME. Tau reduction with artificial microRNAs modulates neuronal physiology and improves tauopathy phenotypes in mice. Mol Ther 2024; 32:1080-1095. [PMID: 38310353 PMCID: PMC11163272 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2024.01.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2023] [Revised: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 02/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Abnormal tau accumulation is the hallmark of several neurodegenerative diseases, named tauopathies. Strategies aimed at reducing tau in the brain are promising therapeutic interventions, yet more precise therapies would require targeting specific nuclei and neuronal subpopulations affected by disease while avoiding global reduction of physiological tau. Here, we developed artificial microRNAs directed against the human MAPT mRNA to dwindle tau protein by engaging the endogenous RNA interference pathway. In human differentiated neurons in culture, microRNA-mediated tau reduction diminished neuronal firing without affecting neuronal morphology or impairing axonal transport. In the htau mouse model of tauopathy, we locally expressed artificial microRNAs in the prefrontal cortex (PFC), an area particularly vulnerable to initiating tau pathology in this model. Tau knockdown prevented the accumulation of insoluble and hyperphosphorylated tau, modulated firing activity of putative pyramidal neurons, and improved glucose uptake in the PFC. Moreover, such tau reduction prevented cognitive decline in aged htau mice. Our results suggest target engagement of designed tau-microRNAs to effectively reduce tau pathology, providing a proof of concept for a potential therapeutic approach based on local tau knockdown to rescue tauopathy-related phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolina Lucía Facal
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular (INGEBI), CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Iván Fernández Bessone
- Instituto de Biología Celular y Neurociencias (IBCN), Universidad de Buenos Aires, CONICET-UBA, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Javier Andrés Muñiz
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular (INGEBI), CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - A Ezequiel Pereyra
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular (INGEBI), CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Olivia Pedroncini
- Instituto de Investigación en Biomedicina de Buenos Aires (IBioBA), Partner Institute of the Max Planck Society, CONICET-MPSP, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Indiana Páez-Paz
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular (INGEBI), CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Ramiro Clerici-Delville
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular (INGEBI), CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Cayetana Arnaiz
- Instituto de Investigación en Biomedicina de Buenos Aires (IBioBA), Partner Institute of the Max Planck Society, CONICET-MPSP, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Leandro Urrutia
- Centro de imágenes Moleculares, FLENI, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Germán Falasco
- Centro de imágenes Moleculares, FLENI, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Carla Verónica Argañaraz
- Instituto de Fisiología Biología Molecular y Neurociencias (IFIBYNE), Universidad de Buenos Aires, CONICET-UBA, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Trinidad Saez
- Instituto de Biología Celular y Neurociencias (IBCN), Universidad de Buenos Aires, CONICET-UBA, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Antonia Marin-Burgin
- Instituto de Investigación en Biomedicina de Buenos Aires (IBioBA), Partner Institute of the Max Planck Society, CONICET-MPSP, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Mariano Soiza-Reilly
- Instituto de Fisiología Biología Molecular y Neurociencias (IFIBYNE), Universidad de Buenos Aires, CONICET-UBA, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Tomás Falzone
- Instituto de Biología Celular y Neurociencias (IBCN), Universidad de Buenos Aires, CONICET-UBA, Buenos Aires, Argentina; Instituto de Investigación en Biomedicina de Buenos Aires (IBioBA), Partner Institute of the Max Planck Society, CONICET-MPSP, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - María Elena Avale
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular (INGEBI), CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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Belgrad J, Fakih HH, Khvorova A. Nucleic Acid Therapeutics: Successes, Milestones, and Upcoming Innovation. Nucleic Acid Ther 2024; 34:52-72. [PMID: 38507678 PMCID: PMC11302270 DOI: 10.1089/nat.2023.0068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Nucleic acid-based therapies have become the third major drug class after small molecules and antibodies. The role of nucleic acid-based therapies has been strengthened by recent regulatory approvals and tremendous clinical success. In this review, we look at the major obstacles that have hindered the field, the historical milestones that have been achieved, and what is yet to be resolved and anticipated soon. This review provides a view of the key innovations that are expanding nucleic acid capabilities, setting the stage for the future of nucleic acid therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jillian Belgrad
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Hassan H. Fakih
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Anastasia Khvorova
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
- Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
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Pauwels EK, Boer GJ. Alzheimer's Disease: A Suitable Case for Treatment with Precision Medicine? Med Princ Pract 2024; 33:000538251. [PMID: 38471490 PMCID: PMC11324226 DOI: 10.1159/000538251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 03/06/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common cause of neurodegenerative impairment in elderly people. Clinical characteristics include short-term memory loss, confusion, hallucination, agitation, and behavioural disturbance. Owing to evolving research in biomarkers AD can be discovered at early onset, but the disease is currently considered a continuum, which suggests that pharmacotherapy is most efficacious in the preclinical phase, possibly 15 - 20 years before discernible onset. Present developments in AD therapy aim to respond to this understanding and go beyond the drug families that relieve clinical symptoms. Another important factor in this development is the emergence of precision medicine that aims to tailor treatment to specific patients or patient subgroups. This relatively new platform would categorize AD patients on the basis of parameters like clinical aspects, brain imaging, genetic profiling, clinical genetics and epidemiological factors. This review enlarges on recent progress in the design and clinical use of antisense molecules, antibodies, antioxidants, small molecules and gene editing to stop AD progress and possibly reverse the disease on the basis of relevant biomarkers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ernest K.J. Pauwels
- Leiden University and Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Gerard J. Boer
- Netherlands Institute for Brain Research, Royal Academy of Arts and Sciences, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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Jiang Y, Uhm H, Ip FC, Ouyang L, Lo RMN, Cheng EYL, Cao X, Tan CMC, Law BCH, Ortiz‐Romero P, Puig‐Pijoan A, Fernández‐Lebrero A, Contador J, Mok KY, Hardy J, Kwok TCY, Mok VCT, Suárez‐Calvet M, Zetterberg H, Fu AKY, Ip NY. A blood-based multi-pathway biomarker assay for early detection and staging of Alzheimer's disease across ethnic groups. Alzheimers Dement 2024; 20:2000-2015. [PMID: 38183344 PMCID: PMC10984431 DOI: 10.1002/alz.13676] [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: 10/05/2023] [Revised: 12/01/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/08/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Existing blood-based biomarkers for Alzheimer's disease (AD) mainly focus on its pathological features. However, studies on blood-based biomarkers associated with other biological processes for a comprehensive evaluation of AD status are limited. METHODS We developed a blood-based, multiplex biomarker assay for AD that measures the levels of 21 proteins involved in multiple biological pathways. We evaluated the assay's performance for classifying AD and indicating AD-related endophenotypes in three independent cohorts from Chinese or European-descent populations. RESULTS The 21-protein assay accurately classified AD (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve [AUC] = 0.9407 to 0.9867) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI; AUC = 0.8434 to 0.8945) while also indicating brain amyloid pathology. Moreover, the assay simultaneously evaluated the changes of five biological processes in individuals and revealed the ethnic-specific dysregulations of biological processes upon AD progression. DISCUSSION This study demonstrated the utility of a blood-based, multi-pathway biomarker assay for early screening and staging of AD, providing insights for patient stratification and precision medicine. HIGHLIGHTS The authors developed a blood-based biomarker assay for Alzheimer's disease. The 21-protein assay classifies AD/MCI and indicates brain amyloid pathology. The 21-protein assay can simultaneously assess activities of five biological processes. Ethnic-specific dysregulations of biological processes in AD were revealed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanbing Jiang
- Division of Life ScienceState Key Laboratory of Molecular Neuroscience, Molecular Neuroscience CenterThe Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, KowloonHKSARChina
| | - Hyebin Uhm
- Division of Life ScienceState Key Laboratory of Molecular Neuroscience, Molecular Neuroscience CenterThe Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, KowloonHKSARChina
| | - Fanny C. Ip
- Hong Kong Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, InnoHKHKSARChina
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain ScienceDisease and Drug DevelopmentHKUST Shenzhen Research InstituteShenzhenGuangdongChina
| | - Li Ouyang
- Hong Kong Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, InnoHKHKSARChina
| | - Ronnie M. N. Lo
- Division of Life ScienceState Key Laboratory of Molecular Neuroscience, Molecular Neuroscience CenterThe Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, KowloonHKSARChina
- Hong Kong Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, InnoHKHKSARChina
| | - Elaine Y. L. Cheng
- Division of Life ScienceState Key Laboratory of Molecular Neuroscience, Molecular Neuroscience CenterThe Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, KowloonHKSARChina
- Hong Kong Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, InnoHKHKSARChina
| | - Xiaoyun Cao
- Hong Kong Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, InnoHKHKSARChina
| | - Clara M. C. Tan
- Hong Kong Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, InnoHKHKSARChina
| | - Brian C. H. Law
- Hong Kong Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, InnoHKHKSARChina
| | - Paula Ortiz‐Romero
- Barcelonaβeta Brain Research Center (BBRC)Pasqual Maragall FoundationBarcelonaSpain
- Hospital del Mar Research InstituteBarcelonaSpain
| | - Albert Puig‐Pijoan
- Hospital del Mar Research InstituteBarcelonaSpain
- Cognitive Decline Unit, Department of NeurologyHospital Del MarBarcelonaSpain
- Medicine DepartmentUniversitat Autònoma de BarcelonaBarcelonaSpain
- ERA‐Net on Cardiovascular Diseases (ERA‐CVD) ConsortiumBarcelonaSpain
| | - Aida Fernández‐Lebrero
- Barcelonaβeta Brain Research Center (BBRC)Pasqual Maragall FoundationBarcelonaSpain
- Hospital del Mar Research InstituteBarcelonaSpain
- Cognitive Decline Unit, Department of NeurologyHospital Del MarBarcelonaSpain
- ERA‐Net on Cardiovascular Diseases (ERA‐CVD) ConsortiumBarcelonaSpain
- Department of Medicine and Life SciencesUniversitat Pompeu FabraBarcelonaSpain
| | - José Contador
- Barcelonaβeta Brain Research Center (BBRC)Pasqual Maragall FoundationBarcelonaSpain
- Hospital del Mar Research InstituteBarcelonaSpain
- Cognitive Decline Unit, Department of NeurologyHospital Del MarBarcelonaSpain
| | - Kin Y. Mok
- Division of Life ScienceState Key Laboratory of Molecular Neuroscience, Molecular Neuroscience CenterThe Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, KowloonHKSARChina
- Hong Kong Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, InnoHKHKSARChina
- Department of Neurodegenerative DiseaseQueen Square Institute of NeurologyUniversity College LondonLondonUK
| | - John Hardy
- Hong Kong Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, InnoHKHKSARChina
- Department of Neurodegenerative DiseaseQueen Square Institute of NeurologyUniversity College LondonLondonUK
- UK Dementia Research InstituteUniversity College LondonLondonUK
| | - Timothy C. Y. Kwok
- Therese Pei Fong Chow Research Centre for Prevention of DementiaDivision of GeriatricsDepartment of Medicine and TherapeuticsThe Chinese University of Hong Kong, ShatinHKSARChina
| | - Vincent C. T. Mok
- Lau Tat‐chuen Research Centre of Brain Degenerative Diseases in ChineseGerald Choa Neuroscience InstituteLui Che Woo Institute of Innovative MedicineLi Ka Shing Institute of Health SciencesDivision of NeurologyDepartment of Medicine and TherapeuticsThe Chinese University of Hong Kong, ShatinHKSARChina
| | - Marc Suárez‐Calvet
- Barcelonaβeta Brain Research Center (BBRC)Pasqual Maragall FoundationBarcelonaSpain
- Hospital del Mar Research InstituteBarcelonaSpain
- Cognitive Decline Unit, Department of NeurologyHospital Del MarBarcelonaSpain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Fragilidad y Envejecimiento Saludable (CIBERFES)MadridSpain
| | - Henrik Zetterberg
- Hong Kong Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, InnoHKHKSARChina
- Department of Neurodegenerative DiseaseQueen Square Institute of NeurologyUniversity College LondonLondonUK
- UK Dementia Research InstituteUniversity College LondonLondonUK
- Department of Psychiatry and NeurochemistryInstitute of Neuroscience and Physiologythe Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of GothenburgGothenburgSweden
- Clinical Neurochemistry LaboratorySahlgrenska University HospitalMölndalSweden
- Wisconsin Alzheimer's Disease Research CenterUniversity of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public HealthUniversity of Wisconsin‐MadisonMadisonWisconsinUSA
| | - Amy K. Y. Fu
- Division of Life ScienceState Key Laboratory of Molecular Neuroscience, Molecular Neuroscience CenterThe Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, KowloonHKSARChina
- Hong Kong Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, InnoHKHKSARChina
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain ScienceDisease and Drug DevelopmentHKUST Shenzhen Research InstituteShenzhenGuangdongChina
| | - Nancy Y. Ip
- Division of Life ScienceState Key Laboratory of Molecular Neuroscience, Molecular Neuroscience CenterThe Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, KowloonHKSARChina
- Hong Kong Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, InnoHKHKSARChina
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain ScienceDisease and Drug DevelopmentHKUST Shenzhen Research InstituteShenzhenGuangdongChina
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Ahmad F, Karan A, Sharma R, Sharma NS, Sundar V, Jayaraj R, Mukherjee S, DeCoster MA. Evolving therapeutic interventions for the management and treatment of Alzheimer's disease. Ageing Res Rev 2024; 95:102229. [PMID: 38364913 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2024.102229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2023] [Revised: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 02/10/2024] [Indexed: 02/18/2024]
Abstract
Alzheimer's Disease (AD) patients experience diverse symptoms, including memory loss, cognitive impairment, behavioral abnormalities, mood changes, and mental issues. The fundamental objective of this review is to discuss novel therapeutic approaches, with special emphasis on recently approved marketed formulations for the treatment of AD, especially Aducanumab, the first FDA approved moiety that surpasses the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and reduces amyloid plaques in the brain, thereby reducing associated cognitive decline. However, it is still in the phase IV trial and is to be completed by 2030. Other drugs such as lecanemab are also under clinical trial and has recently been approved by the FDA and is also discussed here. In this review, we also focus on active and passive immunotherapy for AD as well as several vaccines, such as amyloid-beta epitope-based vaccines, amyloid-beta DNA vaccines, and stem cell therapy for AD, which are in clinical trials. Furthermore, ongoing pre-clinical trials associated with AD and other novel strategies such as curcumin-loaded nanoparticles, Crispr/ cas9, precision medicine, as well as some emerging therapies like anti-sense therapy are also highlighted. Additionally, we discuss some off-labeled drugs like non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID), anti-diabetic drugs, and lithium, which can manage symptoms of AD and different non-pharmacological approaches are also covered which can help to manage AD. In summary, we have tried to cover all the therapeutic interventions which are available for the treatment and management of AD under sections approved, clinical phase, pre-clinical phase or futuristic interventions, off-labelled drugs, and non-pharmacological interventions for AD, offering positive findings and well as challenges that remain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Faizan Ahmad
- Department of Medical Elementology and Toxicology, Jamia Hamdard University, Delhi, India
| | - Anik Karan
- Department of Mechanical and Bioengineering, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, USA.
| | - Rashi Sharma
- Department of Biotechnology, Delhi Technological University, Bawana, Delhi, India
| | - Navatha Shree Sharma
- Department of Surgery Transplant, University of Nebraska Medical Centre, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Vaishnavi Sundar
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Centre, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Richard Jayaraj
- Department of Paediatrics, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, UAE
| | - Sudip Mukherjee
- Biomedical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology- Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Mark A DeCoster
- Cellular Neuroscience Laboratory, Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering and Science, Louisiana Tech University, Ruston, LA, USA; Cellular Neuroscience Laboratory, Institute for Micromanufacturing, College of Engineering and Science, Louisiana Tech University, Ruston, LA, USA.
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45
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Meisl G. The thermodynamics of neurodegenerative disease. BIOPHYSICS REVIEWS 2024; 5:011303. [PMID: 38525484 PMCID: PMC10957229 DOI: 10.1063/5.0180899] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2023] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/26/2024]
Abstract
The formation of protein aggregates in the brain is a central aspect of the pathology of many neurodegenerative diseases. This self-assembly of specific proteins into filamentous aggregates, or fibrils, is a fundamental biophysical process that can easily be reproduced in the test tube. However, it has been difficult to obtain a clear picture of how the biophysical insights thus obtained can be applied to the complex, multi-factorial diseases and what this means for therapeutic strategies. While new, disease-modifying therapies are now emerging, for the most devastating disorders, such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease, they still fall well short of offering a cure, and few drug design approaches fully exploit the wealth of mechanistic insights that has been obtained in biophysical studies. Here, I attempt to provide a new perspective on the role of protein aggregation in disease, by phrasing the problem in terms of a system that, under constant energy consumption, attempts to maintain a healthy, aggregate-free state against the thermodynamic driving forces that inexorably push it toward pathological aggregation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georg Meisl
- WaveBreak Therapeutics Ltd., Chemistry of Health, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, United Kingdom
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46
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Lane-Donovan C, Boxer AL. Disentangling tau: One protein, many therapeutic approaches. Neurotherapeutics 2024; 21:e00321. [PMID: 38278659 PMCID: PMC10963923 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurot.2024.e00321] [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: 10/31/2023] [Revised: 01/09/2024] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 01/28/2024] Open
Abstract
The tauopathies encompass over 20 adult neurodegenerative diseases and are characterized by the dysfunction and accumulation of insoluble tau protein. Among them, Alzheimer's disease, frontotemporal dementia, and progressive supranuclear palsy collectively impact millions of patients and their families worldwide. Despite years of drug development using a variety of mechanisms of action, no therapeutic directed against tau has been approved for clinical use. This raises important questions about our current model of tau pathology and invites thoughtful consideration of our approach to nonclinical models and clinical trial design. In this article, we review what is known about the biology and genetics of tau, placing it in the context of current and failed clinical trials. We highlight potential reasons for the lack of success to date and offer suggestions for new pathways in therapeutic development. Overall, our viewpoint to the future is optimistic for this important group of neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Courtney Lane-Donovan
- Memory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, 675 Nelson Rising Lane, Suite 190, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA.
| | - Adam L Boxer
- Memory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, 675 Nelson Rising Lane, Suite 190, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
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Kubota M, Endo H, Takahata K, Tagai K, Suzuki H, Onaya M, Sano Y, Yamamoto Y, Kurose S, Matsuoka K, Seki C, Shinotoh H, Kawamura K, Zhang MR, Takado Y, Shimada H, Higuchi M. In vivo PET classification of tau pathologies in patients with frontotemporal dementia. Brain Commun 2024; 6:fcae075. [PMID: 38510212 PMCID: PMC10953627 DOI: 10.1093/braincomms/fcae075] [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: 08/23/2023] [Revised: 12/23/2023] [Accepted: 02/29/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Frontotemporal dementia refers to a group of neurodegenerative disorders with diverse clinical and neuropathological features. In vivo neuropathological assessments of frontotemporal dementia at an individual level have hitherto not been successful. In this study, we aim to classify patients with frontotemporal dementia based on topologies of tau protein aggregates captured by PET with 18F-florzolotau (aka 18F-APN-1607 and 18F-PM-PBB3), which allows high-contrast imaging of diverse tau fibrils in Alzheimer's disease as well as in non-Alzheimer's disease tauopathies. Twenty-six patients with frontotemporal dementia, 15 with behavioural variant frontotemporal dementia and 11 with other frontotemporal dementia phenotypes, and 20 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were included in this study. They underwent PET imaging of amyloid and tau depositions with 11C-PiB and 18F-florzolotau, respectively. By combining visual and quantitative analyses of PET images, the patients with behavioural variant frontotemporal dementia were classified into the following subgroups: (i) predominant tau accumulations in frontotemporal and frontolimbic cortices resembling three-repeat tauopathies (n = 3), (ii) predominant tau accumulations in posterior cortical and subcortical structures indicative of four-repeat tauopathies (n = 4); (iii) amyloid and tau accumulations consistent with Alzheimer's disease (n = 4); and (iv) no overt amyloid and tau pathologies (n = 4). Despite these distinctions, clinical symptoms and localizations of brain atrophy did not significantly differ among the identified behavioural variant frontotemporal dementia subgroups. The patients with other frontotemporal dementia phenotypes were also classified into similar subgroups. The results suggest that PET with 18F-florzolotau potentially allows the classification of each individual with frontotemporal dementia on a neuropathological basis, which might not be possible by symptomatic and volumetric assessments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manabu Kubota
- Department of Functional Brain Imaging, Institute for Quantum Medical Science, Quantum Life and Medical Science Directorate, National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology, Chiba 263-8555, Japan
- Department of Psychiatry, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Sakyo-ku Kyoto 606-8507, Japan
| | - Hironobu Endo
- Department of Functional Brain Imaging, Institute for Quantum Medical Science, Quantum Life and Medical Science Directorate, National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology, Chiba 263-8555, Japan
| | - Keisuke Takahata
- Department of Functional Brain Imaging, Institute for Quantum Medical Science, Quantum Life and Medical Science Directorate, National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology, Chiba 263-8555, Japan
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
| | - Kenji Tagai
- Department of Functional Brain Imaging, Institute for Quantum Medical Science, Quantum Life and Medical Science Directorate, National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology, Chiba 263-8555, Japan
- Department of Psychiatry, Jikei University Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo 105-8461, Japan
| | - Hisaomi Suzuki
- Department of Functional Brain Imaging, Institute for Quantum Medical Science, Quantum Life and Medical Science Directorate, National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology, Chiba 263-8555, Japan
- Department of Psychiatry, National Hospital OrganizationShimofusa Psychiatric Center, Chiba 266-0007, Japan
| | - Mitsumoto Onaya
- Department of Psychiatry, National Hospital OrganizationShimofusa Psychiatric Center, Chiba 266-0007, Japan
| | - Yasunori Sano
- Department of Functional Brain Imaging, Institute for Quantum Medical Science, Quantum Life and Medical Science Directorate, National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology, Chiba 263-8555, Japan
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
| | - Yasuharu Yamamoto
- Department of Functional Brain Imaging, Institute for Quantum Medical Science, Quantum Life and Medical Science Directorate, National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology, Chiba 263-8555, Japan
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
| | - Shin Kurose
- Department of Functional Brain Imaging, Institute for Quantum Medical Science, Quantum Life and Medical Science Directorate, National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology, Chiba 263-8555, Japan
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
| | - Kiwamu Matsuoka
- Department of Functional Brain Imaging, Institute for Quantum Medical Science, Quantum Life and Medical Science Directorate, National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology, Chiba 263-8555, Japan
- Department of Psychiatry, Nara Medical University, Nara 634-8521, Japan
| | - Chie Seki
- Department of Functional Brain Imaging, Institute for Quantum Medical Science, Quantum Life and Medical Science Directorate, National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology, Chiba 263-8555, Japan
| | - Hitoshi Shinotoh
- Department of Functional Brain Imaging, Institute for Quantum Medical Science, Quantum Life and Medical Science Directorate, National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology, Chiba 263-8555, Japan
| | - Kazunori Kawamura
- Department of Advanced Nuclear Medicine Sciences, Institute for Quantum Medical Science, Quantum Life and Medical Science Directorate, National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology, Chiba 263-8555, Japan
| | - Ming-Rong Zhang
- Department of Advanced Nuclear Medicine Sciences, Institute for Quantum Medical Science, Quantum Life and Medical Science Directorate, National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology, Chiba 263-8555, Japan
| | - Yuhei Takado
- Department of Functional Brain Imaging, Institute for Quantum Medical Science, Quantum Life and Medical Science Directorate, National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology, Chiba 263-8555, Japan
| | - Hitoshi Shimada
- Department of Functional Brain Imaging, Institute for Quantum Medical Science, Quantum Life and Medical Science Directorate, National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology, Chiba 263-8555, Japan
- Department of Functional Neurology and Neurosurgery, Center for Integrated Human Brain Science, Brain Research Institute, Niigata University, Niigata 951-8585, Japan
| | - Makoto Higuchi
- Department of Functional Brain Imaging, Institute for Quantum Medical Science, Quantum Life and Medical Science Directorate, National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology, Chiba 263-8555, Japan
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Greeny A, Nair A, Sadanandan P, Satarker S, Famurewa AC, Nampoothiri M. Epigenetic Alterations in Alzheimer's Disease: Impact on Insulin Signaling and Advanced Drug Delivery Systems. BIOLOGY 2024; 13:157. [PMID: 38534427 DOI: 10.3390/biology13030157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2024] [Revised: 02/25/2024] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative condition that predominantly affects the hippocampus and the entorhinal complex, leading to memory lapse and cognitive impairment. This can have a negative impact on an individual's behavior, speech, and ability to navigate their surroundings. AD is one of the principal causes of dementia. One of the most accepted theories in AD, the amyloid β (Aβ) hypothesis, assumes that the buildup of the peptide Aβ is the root cause of AD. Impaired insulin signaling in the periphery and central nervous system has been considered to have an effect on the pathophysiology of AD. Further, researchers have shifted their focus to epigenetic mechanisms that are responsible for dysregulating major biochemical pathways and intracellular signaling processes responsible for directly or indirectly causing AD. The prime epigenetic mechanisms encompass DNA methylation, histone modifications, and non-coding RNA, and are majorly responsible for impairing insulin signaling both centrally and peripherally, thus leading to AD. In this review, we provide insights into the major epigenetic mechanisms involved in causing AD, such as DNA methylation and histone deacetylation. We decipher how the mechanisms alter peripheral insulin signaling and brain insulin signaling, leading to AD pathophysiology. In addition, this review also discusses the need for newer drug delivery systems for the targeted delivery of epigenetic drugs and explores targeted drug delivery systems such as nanoparticles, vesicular systems, networks, and other nano formulations in AD. Further, this review also sheds light on the future approaches used for epigenetic drug delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alosh Greeny
- Department of Pharmacology, Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal 576104, India
| | - Ayushi Nair
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Amrita School of Pharmacy, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Amrita Health Science Campus, Kochi 682041, India
| | - Prashant Sadanandan
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Amrita School of Pharmacy, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Amrita Health Science Campus, Kochi 682041, India
| | - Sairaj Satarker
- Department of Pharmacology, Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal 576104, India
| | - Ademola C Famurewa
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medical Sciences, Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike, Ikwo 482123, Nigeria
| | - Madhavan Nampoothiri
- Department of Pharmacology, Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal 576104, India
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49
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Rogers BB, Anderson AG, Lauzon SN, Davis MN, Hauser RM, Roberts SC, Rodriguez-Nunez I, Trausch-Lowther K, Barinaga EA, Hall PI, Knuesel MT, Taylor JW, Mackiewicz M, Roberts BS, Cooper SJ, Rizzardi LF, Myers RM, Cochran JN. Neuronal MAPT expression is mediated by long-range interactions with cis-regulatory elements. Am J Hum Genet 2024; 111:259-279. [PMID: 38232730 PMCID: PMC10870142 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2023.12.015] [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: 11/28/2023] [Revised: 12/12/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Tauopathies are a group of neurodegenerative diseases defined by abnormal aggregates of tau, a microtubule-associated protein encoded by MAPT. MAPT expression is near absent in neural progenitor cells (NPCs) and increases during differentiation. This temporally dynamic expression pattern suggests that MAPT expression could be controlled by transcription factors and cis-regulatory elements specific to differentiated cell types. Given the relevance of MAPT expression to neurodegeneration pathogenesis, identification of such elements is relevant to understanding disease risk and pathogenesis. Here, we performed chromatin conformation assays (HiC & Capture-C), single-nucleus multiomics (RNA-seq+ATAC-seq), bulk ATAC-seq, and ChIP-seq for H3K27ac and CTCF in NPCs and differentiated neurons to nominate candidate cis-regulatory elements (cCREs). We assayed these cCREs using luciferase assays and CRISPR interference (CRISPRi) experiments to measure their effects on MAPT expression. Finally, we integrated cCRE annotations into an analysis of genetic variation in neurodegeneration-affected individuals and control subjects. We identified both proximal and distal regulatory elements for MAPT and confirmed the regulatory function for several regions, including three regions centromeric to MAPT beyond the H1/H2 haplotype inversion breakpoint. We also found that rare and predicted damaging genetic variation in nominated CREs was nominally depleted in dementia-affected individuals relative to control subjects, consistent with the hypothesis that variants that disrupt MAPT enhancer activity, and thereby reduced MAPT expression, may be protective against neurodegenerative disease. Overall, this study provides compelling evidence for pursuing detailed knowledge of CREs for genes of interest to permit better understanding of disease risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brianne B Rogers
- HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, Huntsville, AL 35806, USA; University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | | | - Shelby N Lauzon
- HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, Huntsville, AL 35806, USA
| | - M Natalie Davis
- HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, Huntsville, AL 35806, USA
| | - Rebecca M Hauser
- HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, Huntsville, AL 35806, USA
| | - Sydney C Roberts
- HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, Huntsville, AL 35806, USA
| | | | | | - Erin A Barinaga
- HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, Huntsville, AL 35806, USA
| | - Paige I Hall
- HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, Huntsville, AL 35806, USA
| | | | - Jared W Taylor
- HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, Huntsville, AL 35806, USA
| | - Mark Mackiewicz
- HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, Huntsville, AL 35806, USA
| | - Brian S Roberts
- HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, Huntsville, AL 35806, USA
| | - Sara J Cooper
- HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, Huntsville, AL 35806, USA
| | | | - Richard M Myers
- HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, Huntsville, AL 35806, USA.
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50
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Guo X, Yan L, Zhang D, Zhao Y. Passive immunotherapy for Alzheimer's disease. Ageing Res Rev 2024; 94:102192. [PMID: 38219962 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2024.102192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2023] [Revised: 12/03/2023] [Accepted: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 01/16/2024]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disease characterized by cognitive impairment with few therapeutic options. Despite many failures in developing AD treatment during the past 20 years, significant advances have been achieved in passive immunotherapy of AD very recently. Here, we review characteristics, clinical trial data, and mechanisms of action for monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) targeting key players in AD pathogenesis, including amyloid-β (Aβ), tau and neuroinflammation modulators. We emphasized the efficacy of lecanemab and donanemab on cognition and amyloid clearance in AD patients in phase III clinical trials and discussed factors that may contribute to the efficacy and side effects of anti-Aβ mAbs. In addition, we provided important information on mAbs targeting tau or inflammatory regulators in clinical trials, and indicated that mAbs against the mid-region of tau or pathogenic tau have therapeutic potential for AD. In conclusion, passive immunotherapy targeting key players in AD pathogenesis offers a promising strategy for effective AD treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyi Guo
- Center for Brain Sciences, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, Institute of Neuroscience, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Disease and Aging Research, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361005, China
| | - Li Yan
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan University, 601 Huangpu Avenue West, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510632, China
| | - Denghong Zhang
- Center for Brain Sciences, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, Institute of Neuroscience, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Disease and Aging Research, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361005, China
| | - Yingjun Zhao
- Center for Brain Sciences, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, Institute of Neuroscience, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Disease and Aging Research, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361005, China.
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