1
|
Yang HS, Yau WYW, Carlyle BC, Trombetta BA, Zhang C, Shirzadi Z, Schultz AP, Pruzin JJ, Fitzpatrick CD, Kirn DR, Rabin JS, Buckley RF, Hohman TJ, Rentz DM, Tanzi RE, Johnson KA, Sperling RA, Arnold SE, Chhatwal JP. Plasma VEGFA and PGF impact longitudinal tau and cognition in preclinical Alzheimer's disease. Brain 2024; 147:2158-2168. [PMID: 38315899 PMCID: PMC11146430 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awae034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2023] [Revised: 11/08/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 02/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Vascular dysfunction is increasingly recognized as an important contributor to the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease. Alterations in vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) pathways have been implicated as potential mechanisms. However, the specific impact of VEGF proteins in preclinical Alzheimer's disease and their relationships with other Alzheimer's disease and vascular pathologies during this critical early period remain to be elucidated. We included 317 older adults from the Harvard Aging Brain Study, a cohort of individuals who were cognitively unimpaired at baseline and followed longitudinally for up to 12 years. Baseline VEGF family protein levels (VEGFA, VEGFC, VEGFD, PGF and FLT1) were measured in fasting plasma using high-sensitivity immunoassays. Using linear mixed effects models, we examined the interactive effects of baseline plasma VEGF proteins and amyloid PET burden (Pittsburgh Compound-B) on longitudinal cognition (Preclinical Alzheimer Cognitive Composite-5). We further investigated if effects on cognition were mediated by early neocortical tau accumulation (flortaucipir PET burden in the inferior temporal cortex) or hippocampal atrophy. Lastly, we examined the impact of adjusting for baseline cardiovascular risk score or white matter hyperintensity volume. Baseline plasma VEGFA and PGF each showed a significant interaction with amyloid burden on prospective cognitive decline. Specifically, low VEGFA and high PGF were associated with greater cognitive decline in individuals with elevated amyloid, i.e. those on the Alzheimer's disease continuum. Concordantly, low VEGFA and high PGF were associated with accelerated longitudinal tau accumulation in those with elevated amyloid. Moderated mediation analyses confirmed that accelerated tau accumulation fully mediated the effects of low VEGFA and partially mediated (31%) the effects of high PGF on faster amyloid-related cognitive decline. The effects of VEGFA and PGF on tau and cognition remained significant after adjusting for cardiovascular risk score or white matter hyperintensity volume. There were concordant but non-significant associations with longitudinal hippocampal atrophy. Together, our findings implicate low VEGFA and high PGF in accelerating early neocortical tau pathology and cognitive decline in preclinical Alzheimer's disease. Additionally, our results underscore the potential of these minimally-invasive plasma biomarkers to inform the risk of Alzheimer's disease progression in the preclinical population. Importantly, VEGFA and PGF appear to capture distinct effects from vascular risks and cerebrovascular injury. This highlights their potential as new therapeutic targets, in combination with anti-amyloid and traditional vascular risk reduction therapies, to slow the trajectory of preclinical Alzheimer's disease and delay or prevent the onset of cognitive decline.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hyun-Sik Yang
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
- Center for Alzheimer Research and Treatment, Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Wai-Ying Wendy Yau
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
- Center for Alzheimer Research and Treatment, Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Becky C Carlyle
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Alzheimer’s Clinical and Translational Research Unit, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3PT, UK
| | - Bianca A Trombetta
- Alzheimer’s Clinical and Translational Research Unit, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | - Can Zhang
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Alzheimer’s Clinical and Translational Research Unit, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
- Genetics and Aging Research Unit, McCance Center for Brain Health, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | - Zahra Shirzadi
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Aaron P Schultz
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | - Jeremy J Pruzin
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
- Center for Alzheimer Research and Treatment, Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Department of Neurology, Banner Alzheimer’s Institute, Phoenix, AZ 85006, USA
| | | | - Dylan R Kirn
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
- Center for Alzheimer Research and Treatment, Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Jennifer S Rabin
- Harquail Centre for Neuromodulation and Hurvitz Brain Sciences Program, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, ON M4N 3M5, Canada
- Department of Medicine, Rehabilitation Sciences Institute, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5G 1V7, Canada
| | - Rachel F Buckley
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
- Center for Alzheimer Research and Treatment, Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Timothy J Hohman
- Vanderbilt Memory and Alzheimer’s Center, Department of Neurology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37212, USA
- Vanderbilt Genetics Institute, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37212, USA
| | - Dorene M Rentz
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
- Center for Alzheimer Research and Treatment, Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Rudolph E Tanzi
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Genetics and Aging Research Unit, McCance Center for Brain Health, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | - Keith A Johnson
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
- Center for Alzheimer Research and Treatment, Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | - Reisa A Sperling
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
- Center for Alzheimer Research and Treatment, Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | - Steven E Arnold
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Alzheimer’s Clinical and Translational Research Unit, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | - Jasmeer P Chhatwal
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
- Center for Alzheimer Research and Treatment, Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Garbarino VR, Palavicini JP, Melendez J, Barthelemy N, He Y, Kautz TF, Lopez-Cruzan M, Mathews JJ, Xu P, Zhan B, Saliba A, Ragi N, Sharma K, Craft S, Petersen RC, Espindola-Netto JM, Xue A, Tchkonia T, Kirkland JL, Seshadri S, Salardini A, Musi N, Bateman RJ, Gonzales MM, Orr ME. Evaluation of Exploratory Fluid Biomarker Results from a Phase 1 Senolytic Trial in Mild Alzheimer's Disease. RESEARCH SQUARE 2024:rs.3.rs-3994894. [PMID: 38496619 PMCID: PMC10942554 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-3994894/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/19/2024]
Abstract
Senescent cell accumulation contributes to the progression of age-related disorders including Alzheimer's disease (AD). Clinical trials evaluating senolytics, drugs that clear senescent cells, are underway, but lack standardized outcome measures. Our team recently published data from the first open-label trial to evaluate senolytics (dasatinib plus quercetin) in AD. After 12-weeks of intermittent treatment, we reported brain exposure to dasatinib, favorable safety and tolerability, and modest post-treatment changes in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) inflammatory and AD biomarkers using commercially available assays. Herein, we present more comprehensive exploratory analyses of senolytic associated changes in AD relevant proteins, metabolites, lipids, and transcripts measured across blood, CSF, and urine. These analyses included mass spectrometry for precise quantification of amyloid beta (Aß) and tau in CSF; immunoassays to assess senescence associated secretory factors in plasma, CSF, and urine; mass spectrometry analysis of urinary metabolites and lipids in blood and CSF; and transcriptomic analyses relevant to chronic stress measured in peripheral blood cells. Levels of Aß and tau species remained stable. Targeted cytokine and chemokine analyses revealed treatment-associated increases in inflammatory plasma fractalkine and MMP-7 and CSF IL-6. Urinary metabolites remained unchanged. Modest treatment-associated lipid profile changes suggestive of decreased inflammation were observed both peripherally and centrally. Blood transcriptomic analysis indicated downregulation of inflammatory genes including FOS, FOSB, IL1β, IL8, JUN, JUNB, PTGS2. These data provide a foundation for developing standardized outcome measures across senolytic studies and indicate distinct biofluid-specific signatures that will require validation in future studies. ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04063124.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Valentina R. Garbarino
- Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer’s & Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
- Department of Cell Systems and Anatomy, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Juan Pablo Palavicini
- Department of Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
- Barshop Institute for Longevity and Aging Studies, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Justin Melendez
- Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Tracy Family SILQ Center for Neurodegenerative Biology, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Nicolas Barthelemy
- Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Tracy Family SILQ Center for Neurodegenerative Biology, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Yingxin He
- Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Tracy Family SILQ Center for Neurodegenerative Biology, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Tiffany F. Kautz
- Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer’s & Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Marisa Lopez-Cruzan
- Barshop Institute for Longevity and Aging Studies, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Julia J. Mathews
- Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer’s & Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Peng Xu
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Mount Sinai Center for Transformative Disease Modeling, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Bin Zhan
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Mount Sinai Center for Transformative Disease Modeling, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Afaf Saliba
- Center for Precision Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Nagarjunachary Ragi
- Center for Precision Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Kumar Sharma
- Center for Precision Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Suzanne Craft
- Department of Internal Medicine Section on Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
| | | | | | - Ailing Xue
- Department of Physiology and Biomedical Engineering, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Tamara Tchkonia
- Department of Physiology and Biomedical Engineering, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | | | - Sudha Seshadri
- Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer’s & Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
- Department of Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Arash Salardini
- Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer’s & Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Nicolas Musi
- Department of Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Randall J. Bateman
- Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Tracy Family SILQ Center for Neurodegenerative Biology, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Mitzi M. Gonzales
- Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer’s & Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
- Department of Neurology, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Miranda E. Orr
- Department of Internal Medicine Section on Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
- Salisbury VA Medical Center, Salisbury, NC, 28144, USA
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Ceci C, Lacal PM, Barbaccia ML, Mercuri NB, Graziani G, Ledonne A. The VEGFs/VEGFRs system in Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases: Pathophysiological roles and therapeutic implications. Pharmacol Res 2024; 201:107101. [PMID: 38336311 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2024.107101] [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: 12/06/2023] [Revised: 01/25/2024] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024]
Abstract
The vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGFs) and their cognate receptors (VEGFRs), besides their well-known involvement in physiological angiogenesis/lymphangiogenesis and in diseases associated to pathological vessel formation, play multifaceted functions in the central nervous system (CNS). In addition to shaping brain development, by controlling cerebral vasculogenesis and regulating neurogenesis as well as astrocyte differentiation, the VEGFs/VEGFRs axis exerts essential functions in the adult brain both in physiological and pathological contexts. In this article, after describing the physiological VEGFs/VEGFRs functions in the CNS, we focus on the VEGFs/VEGFRs involvement in neurodegenerative diseases by reviewing the current literature on the rather complex VEGFs/VEGFRs contribution to the pathogenic mechanisms of Alzheimer's (AD) and Parkinson's (PD) diseases. Thereafter, based on the outcome of VEGFs/VEGFRs targeting in animal models of AD and PD, we discuss the factual relevance of pharmacological VEGFs/VEGFRs modulation as a novel and potential disease-modifying approach for these neurodegenerative pathologies. Specific VEGFRs targeting, aimed at selective VEGFR-1 inhibition, while preserving VEGFR-2 signal transduction, appears as a promising strategy to hit the molecular mechanisms underlying AD pathology. Moreover, therapeutic VEGFs-based approaches can be proposed for PD treatment, with the aim of fine-tuning their brain levels to amplify neurotrophic/neuroprotective effects while limiting an excessive impact on vascular permeability.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Ceci
- Pharmacology Section, Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Maria Luisa Barbaccia
- Pharmacology Section, Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Nicola Biagio Mercuri
- Neurology Section, Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy; IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Department of Experimental Neuroscience, Rome, Italy; Aligning Science Across Parkinson's (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, MD, USA
| | - Grazia Graziani
- Pharmacology Section, Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy.
| | - Ada Ledonne
- Pharmacology Section, Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy; IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Department of Experimental Neuroscience, Rome, Italy; Aligning Science Across Parkinson's (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, MD, USA
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Soares Martins T, Pelech S, Ferreira M, Pinho B, Leandro K, de Almeida LP, Breitling B, Hansen N, Esselmann H, Wiltfang J, da Cruz e Silva OAB, Henriques AG. Phosphoproteome Microarray Analysis of Extracellular Particles as a Tool to Explore Novel Biomarker Candidates for Alzheimer's Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:1584. [PMID: 38338863 PMCID: PMC10855802 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25031584] [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: 11/30/2023] [Revised: 01/18/2024] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Phosphorylation plays a key role in Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathogenesis, impacting distinct processes such as amyloid-beta (Aβ) peptide production and tau phosphorylation. Impaired phosphorylation events contribute to senile plaques and neurofibrillary tangles' formation, two major histopathological hallmarks of AD. Blood-derived extracellular particles (bdEP) can represent a disease-related source of phosphobiomarker candidates, and hence, in this pilot study, bdEP of Control and AD cases were analyzed by a targeted phosphoproteomics approach using a high-density microarray that featured at least 1145 pan-specific and 913 phosphosite-specific antibodies. This approach, innovatively applied to bdEP, allowed the identification of 150 proteins whose expression levels and/or phosphorylation patterns were significantly altered across AD cases. Gene Ontology enrichment and Reactome pathway analysis unraveled potentially relevant molecular targets and disease-associated pathways, and protein-protein interaction networks were constructed to highlight key targets. The discriminatory value of both the total proteome and the phosphoproteome was evaluated by univariate and multivariate approaches. This pilot experiment supports that bdEP are enriched in phosphotargets relevant in an AD context, holding value as peripheral biomarker candidates for disease diagnosis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tânia Soares Martins
- Neurosciences and Signaling Group, Institute of Biomedicine (iBiMED), Department of Medical Sciences, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal; (T.S.M.)
| | - Steven Pelech
- Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1M9, Canada
- Kinexus Bioinformatics Corporation, Vancouver, BC V6P 6T3, Canada
| | - Maria Ferreira
- Neurosciences and Signaling Group, Institute of Biomedicine (iBiMED), Department of Medical Sciences, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal; (T.S.M.)
| | - Beatriz Pinho
- Neurosciences and Signaling Group, Institute of Biomedicine (iBiMED), Department of Medical Sciences, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal; (T.S.M.)
| | - Kevin Leandro
- Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal
- ViraVector–Viral Vector for Gene Transfer Core Facility, University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Luís Pereira de Almeida
- Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal
- ViraVector–Viral Vector for Gene Transfer Core Facility, University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Benedict Breitling
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Goettingen (UMG), Georg-August University, 37075 Goettingen, Germany
| | - Niels Hansen
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Goettingen (UMG), Georg-August University, 37075 Goettingen, Germany
| | - Hermann Esselmann
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Goettingen (UMG), Georg-August University, 37075 Goettingen, Germany
| | - Jens Wiltfang
- Neurosciences and Signaling Group, Institute of Biomedicine (iBiMED), Department of Medical Sciences, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal; (T.S.M.)
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Goettingen (UMG), Georg-August University, 37075 Goettingen, Germany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 37075 Goettingen, Germany
| | - Odete A. B. da Cruz e Silva
- Neurosciences and Signaling Group, Institute of Biomedicine (iBiMED), Department of Medical Sciences, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal; (T.S.M.)
| | - Ana Gabriela Henriques
- Neurosciences and Signaling Group, Institute of Biomedicine (iBiMED), Department of Medical Sciences, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal; (T.S.M.)
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Zhang M, Zhang Z, Li H, Xia Y, Xing M, Xiao C, Cai W, Bu L, Li Y, Park TE, Tang Y, Ye X, Lin WJ. Blockage of VEGF function by bevacizumab alleviates early-stage cerebrovascular dysfunction and improves cognitive function in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease. Transl Neurodegener 2024; 13:1. [PMID: 38173017 PMCID: PMC10763201 DOI: 10.1186/s40035-023-00388-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder and the predominant type of dementia worldwide. It is characterized by the progressive and irreversible decline of cognitive functions. In addition to the pathological beta-amyloid (Aβ) deposition, glial activation, and neuronal injury in the postmortem brains of AD patients, increasing evidence suggests that the often overlooked vascular dysfunction is an important early event in AD pathophysiology. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) plays a critical role in regulating physiological functions and pathological changes in blood vessels, but whether VEGF is involved in the early stage of vascular pathology in AD remains unclear. METHODS We used an antiangiogenic agent for clinical cancer treatment, the humanized monoclonal anti-VEGF antibody bevacizumab, to block VEGF binding to its receptors in the 5×FAD mouse model at an early age. After treatment, memory performance was evaluated by a novel object recognition test, and cerebral vascular permeability and perfusion were examined by an Evans blue assay and blood flow scanning imaging analysis. Immunofluorescence staining was used to measure glial activation and Aβ deposits. VEGF and its receptors were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and immunoblotting. RNA sequencing was performed to elucidate bevacizumab-associated transcriptional signatures in the hippocampus of 5×FAD mice. RESULTS Bevacizumab treatment administered from 4 months of age dramatically improved cerebrovascular functions, reduced glial activation, and restored long-term memory in both sexes of 5×FAD mice. Notably, a sex-specific change in different VEGF receptors was identified in the cortex and hippocampus of 5×FAD mice. Soluble VEGFR1 was decreased in female mice, while full-length VEGFR2 was increased in male mice. Bevacizumab treatment reversed the altered expression of receptors to be comparable to the level in the wild-type mice. Gene Set Enrichment Analysis of transcriptomic changes revealed that bevacizumab effectively reversed the changes in the gene sets associated with blood-brain barrier integrity and vascular smooth muscle contraction in 5×FAD mice. CONCLUSIONS Our study demonstrated the mechanistic roles of VEGF at the early stage of amyloidopathy and the protective effects of bevacizumab on cerebrovascular function and memory performance in 5×FAD mice. These findings also suggest the therapeutic potential of bevacizumab for the early intervention of AD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Min Zhang
- Brain Research Center, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
- Faculty of Forensic Medicine, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
- Guangdong Province Translational Forensic Medicine Engineering Technology Research Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
| | - Zhan Zhang
- Brain Research Center, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
- Department of Neurology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for RNA Medicine, Medical Research Center, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
- Nanhai Translational Innovation Center of Precision Immunology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Foshan, 528200, China
| | - Honghong Li
- Brain Research Center, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
- Department of Neurology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
| | - Yuting Xia
- Brain Research Center, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for RNA Medicine, Medical Research Center, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
- Nanhai Translational Innovation Center of Precision Immunology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Foshan, 528200, China
| | - Mengdan Xing
- Brain Research Center, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for RNA Medicine, Medical Research Center, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
- Nanhai Translational Innovation Center of Precision Immunology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Foshan, 528200, China
| | - Chuan Xiao
- Brain Research Center, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for RNA Medicine, Medical Research Center, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
- Nanhai Translational Innovation Center of Precision Immunology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Foshan, 528200, China
| | - Wenbao Cai
- Faculty of Forensic Medicine, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
- Guangdong Province Translational Forensic Medicine Engineering Technology Research Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
| | - Lulu Bu
- Brain Research Center, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
- Department of Neurology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
| | - Yi Li
- Brain Research Center, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
- Department of Neurology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
| | - Tae-Eun Park
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Information and Biotechnology, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), Ulsan, 44919, Republic of Korea
| | - Yamei Tang
- Brain Research Center, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China.
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China.
- Department of Neurology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China.
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for RNA Medicine, Medical Research Center, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China.
- Nanhai Translational Innovation Center of Precision Immunology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Foshan, 528200, China.
| | - Xiaojing Ye
- Faculty of Forensic Medicine, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China.
- Guangdong Province Translational Forensic Medicine Engineering Technology Research Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China.
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China.
| | - Wei-Jye Lin
- Brain Research Center, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China.
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China.
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for RNA Medicine, Medical Research Center, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China.
- Nanhai Translational Innovation Center of Precision Immunology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Foshan, 528200, China.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
de Gea P, Benkeder S, Bouvet P, Aimard M, Chounlamountri N, Honnorat J, Do LD, Meissirel C. VEGF controls microglial phagocytic response to amyloid-β. Front Cell Neurosci 2023; 17:1264402. [PMID: 38162003 PMCID: PMC10757340 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2023.1264402] [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: 07/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/23/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Microglial cells are well known to be implicated in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD), due to the impaired clearance of amyloid-β (Aβ) protein. In AD, Aβ accumulates in the brain parenchyma as soluble oligomers and protofibrils, and its aggregation process further give rise to amyloid plaques. Compelling evidence now indicate that Aβ oligomers (Aβo) are the most toxic forms responsible for neuronal and synaptic alterations. Recently, we showed that the Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) counteracts Aβo-induced synaptic alterations and that a peptide derived from VEGF is able to inhibit Aβ aggregation process. Moreover, VEGF has been reported to promote microglial chemotaxis to Aβ brain deposits. We therefore investigated whether VEGF could influence microglial phagocytic response to Aβ, using in vitro and ex vivo models of amyloid accumulation. We report here that VEGF increases Aβo phagocytosis by microglial cells and further characterized the molecular basis of the VEGF effect. VEGF is able to control α-secretase activity in microglial cells, resulting in the increased cleavage of the Triggering Receptor Expressed on Myeloid cells 2 (TREM2), a major microglial Aβ receptor. Consistently, the soluble form sTREM2 also increases Aβo phagocytosis by microglial cells. Taken together, these findings propose VEGF as a new regulator of Aβ clearance and suggest its potential role in rescuing compromised microglial function in AD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Priscille de Gea
- Laboratory MeLIS, Institut Neuromyogène, Synaptopathies and Autoantibodies, INSERM U1314, CNRS UMR 5284, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Lyon, France
| | - Sarah Benkeder
- Laboratory MeLIS, Institut Neuromyogène, Synaptopathies and Autoantibodies, INSERM U1314, CNRS UMR 5284, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Lyon, France
| | - Pauline Bouvet
- Laboratory MeLIS, Institut Neuromyogène, Synaptopathies and Autoantibodies, INSERM U1314, CNRS UMR 5284, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Lyon, France
| | - Mélanie Aimard
- Laboratory MeLIS, Institut Neuromyogène, Synaptopathies and Autoantibodies, INSERM U1314, CNRS UMR 5284, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Lyon, France
| | - Naura Chounlamountri
- Laboratory MeLIS, Institut Neuromyogène, Synaptopathies and Autoantibodies, INSERM U1314, CNRS UMR 5284, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Lyon, France
| | - Jérôme Honnorat
- Laboratory MeLIS, Institut Neuromyogène, Synaptopathies and Autoantibodies, INSERM U1314, CNRS UMR 5284, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Lyon, France
- French Reference Center for Paraneoplastic Neurological Syndromes and Autoimmune Encephalitis, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Hôpital Neurologique Pierre Wertheimer, Bron, France
| | - Le Duy Do
- Laboratory MeLIS, Institut Neuromyogène, Synaptopathies and Autoantibodies, INSERM U1314, CNRS UMR 5284, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Lyon, France
- French Reference Center for Paraneoplastic Neurological Syndromes and Autoimmune Encephalitis, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Hôpital Neurologique Pierre Wertheimer, Bron, France
| | - Claire Meissirel
- Laboratory MeLIS, Institut Neuromyogène, Synaptopathies and Autoantibodies, INSERM U1314, CNRS UMR 5284, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Lyon, France
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Poorgholam P, Yaghmaei P, Noureddini M, Hajebrahimi Z. Artemisin and human endometrial-derived stem cells improve cognitive function and synaptic plasticity in a rat model of Alzheimer disease and diabetes. Metab Brain Dis 2023; 38:1925-1936. [PMID: 37043150 DOI: 10.1007/s11011-023-01200-y] [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: 07/12/2022] [Accepted: 03/10/2023] [Indexed: 04/13/2023]
Abstract
Alzheimer disease (AD) is a common form of dementia associated with loss of memory and disruption of synaptic plasticity. There is a strong correlation between the pathophysiological features of AD and diabetes, including induction of oxidative stress, inflammation, and abnormality in blood vessels. Considering the brain's limited capacity to repair damage and the potential of stem cell-derived neural cells in the repair of neurodegenerative disease, we investigated the effects of artemisinin and TSP‑1‑human endometrial-derived-derived stem cells (TSP‑1‑hEDSCs) on the cognitive function and synaptic plasticity in AD-diabetes rats. The authors previously showed that artemisinin and TSP‑1‑hEDSCs suppressed oxidative stress and inflammation in AD-diabetes rats. Thrombospondins-1 (TSPs-1) is a glycoprotein that inhibits angiogenesis. AD and diabetes were induced using streptozotocin. Synaptic plasticity and learning and memory function were studied using the Morris water maze and electrophysiological test, respectively. Streptozotocin increased traveled swimming distance and escape latency in the morris water maze test, decreased the percent time spent in the target quadrant, inhibited the long-term potentiation (LTP), and increased the blood glucose levels. Simultaneous or separate administration of artemisinin and TSP‑1‑hEDSCs decreased the blood levels of glucose and improved cognitive tasks and synaptic plasticity by considerably reducing traveled swimming distance and escape latency, increasing the percent time spent in the target quadrant, and retrieval of the LTP; therefore, they could be utilized as an adjunct treatment for AD treatment. These results may be due to a decrease in oxidative stress and inflammation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Parvin Poorgholam
- Department of Biology, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Parichehreh Yaghmaei
- Department of Biology, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Mehdi Noureddini
- Physiology Research Center, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran
| | - Zahra Hajebrahimi
- A&S Research Institute, Ministry of Science Research and Technology, Tehran, Iran
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Wong-Guerra M, Calfio C, Maccioni RB, Rojo LE. Revisiting the neuroinflammation hypothesis in Alzheimer's disease: a focus on the druggability of current targets. Front Pharmacol 2023; 14:1161850. [PMID: 37361208 PMCID: PMC10288808 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1161850] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2023] [Accepted: 05/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of neurodegenerative disease and disability in the elderly; it is estimated to account for 60%-70% of all cases of dementia worldwide. The most relevant mechanistic hypothesis to explain AD symptoms is neurotoxicity induced by aggregated amyloid-β peptide (Aβ) and misfolded tau protein. These molecular entities are seemingly insufficient to explain AD as a multifactorial disease characterized by synaptic dysfunction, cognitive decline, psychotic symptoms, chronic inflammatory environment within the central nervous system (CNS), activated microglial cells, and dysfunctional gut microbiota. The discovery that AD is a neuroinflammatory disease linked to innate immunity phenomena started in the early nineties by several authors, including the ICC´s group that described, in 2004, the role IL-6 in AD-type phosphorylation of tau protein in deregulating the cdk5/p35 pathway. The "Theory of Neuroimmunomodulation", published in 2008, proposed the onset and progression of degenerative diseases as a multi-component "damage signals" phenomena, suggesting the feasibility of "multitarget" therapies in AD. This theory explains in detail the cascade of molecular events stemming from microglial disorder through the overactivation of the Cdk5/p35 pathway. All these knowledge have led to the rational search for inflammatory druggable targets against AD. The accumulated evidence on increased levels of inflammatory markers in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of AD patients, along with reports describing CNS alterations caused by senescent immune cells in neuro-degenerative diseases, set out a conceptual framework in which the neuroinflammation hypothesis is being challenged from different angles towards developing new therapies against AD. The current evidence points to controversial findings in the search for therapeutic candidates to treat neuroinflammation in AD. In this article, we discuss a neuroimmune-modulatory perspective for pharmacological exploration of molecular targets against AD, as well as potential deleterious effects of modifying neuroinflammation in the brain parenchyma. We specifically focus on the role of B and T cells, immuno-senescence, the brain lymphatic system (BLS), gut-brain axis alterations, and dysfunctional interactions between neurons, microglia and astrocytes. We also outline a rational framework for identifying "druggable" targets for multi-mechanistic small molecules with therapeutic potential against AD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maylin Wong-Guerra
- Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Química y Biología, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Centro de Biotecnología Acuícola, Facultad de Química y Biología, Universidad de Santiago de Chile (CBA-USACH), Santiago, Chile
- International Center for Biomedicine (ICC), Santiago, Chile
| | - Camila Calfio
- International Center for Biomedicine (ICC), Santiago, Chile
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Neurosciences, Faculty of Sciences, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Ricardo B. Maccioni
- International Center for Biomedicine (ICC), Santiago, Chile
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Neurosciences, Faculty of Sciences, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Leonel E. Rojo
- Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Química y Biología, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Centro de Biotecnología Acuícola, Facultad de Química y Biología, Universidad de Santiago de Chile (CBA-USACH), Santiago, Chile
- International Center for Biomedicine (ICC), Santiago, Chile
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Zhang X, Zhang Y, Zhang L, Qin C. Overexpression of ACE2 ameliorates Aβ-induced blood-brain barrier damage and angiogenesis by inhibiting NF-κB/VEGF/VEGFR2 pathway. Animal Model Exp Med 2023; 6:237-244. [PMID: 37183346 PMCID: PMC10272905 DOI: 10.1002/ame2.12324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2023] [Accepted: 04/14/2023] [Indexed: 05/16/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pathological angiogenesis and blood-brain barrier damage may play an important role in Alzheimer's disease (AD). ACE2 is mainly expressed on the surface of endothelial cells in brain. Recent studies have shown that the expression of ACE2 in AD is reduced, but its role in AD is still unclear. METHOD We induced AD damage in endothelial cells using Aβ25-35 and overexpressed ACE2 in bEend.3 cells through lentiviral transfection. We detected the effect of Aβ25-35 on cell viability using the CCK-8 assay and examined the effect of overexpressing ACE2 on angiogenesis using an angiogenesis assay. We used western blot and cell immunofluorescence to detect changes in the expression of the VEGF/VEGFR2 pathway, tight junction protein, and NF-κB pathway. RESULTS Aβ25-35 treatment significantly decreased the expression of ACE2 and reduced cell viability. ACE2 overexpression (1) reduced the number of branches and junctions in tube formation, (2) inhibited the activation of the VEGF/VEGFR2 pathway induced by Aβ25-35 , (3) increased the expression of TJPs, including ZO-1 and claudin-5, and (4) restored Aβ25-35 -induced activation of the NF-κB pathway. CONCLUSION Overexpression of ACE2 can improve pathological angiogenesis and blood-brain barrier damage in AD models in vitro by inhibiting NF-κB/VEGF/VEGFR2 pathway activity. ACE2 may therefore represent a therapeutic target for endothelial cell dysfunction in AD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xueling Zhang
- Institute of Laboratory Animal Sciences, CAMS & PUMCBeijingChina
| | - Yu Zhang
- Institute of Laboratory Animal Sciences, CAMS & PUMCBeijingChina
- National Human Diseases Animal Model Resource CenterBeijingChina
- NHC Key Laboratory of Human Disease Comparative MedicineBeijingChina
- Changping National Laboratory (CPNL)BeijingChina
| | - Ling Zhang
- Institute of Laboratory Animal Sciences, CAMS & PUMCBeijingChina
- National Human Diseases Animal Model Resource CenterBeijingChina
- NHC Key Laboratory of Human Disease Comparative MedicineBeijingChina
- Changping National Laboratory (CPNL)BeijingChina
| | - Chuan Qin
- Institute of Laboratory Animal Sciences, CAMS & PUMCBeijingChina
- National Human Diseases Animal Model Resource CenterBeijingChina
- NHC Key Laboratory of Human Disease Comparative MedicineBeijingChina
- Changping National Laboratory (CPNL)BeijingChina
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Brogowska KK, Zajkowska M, Mroczko B. Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Ligands and Receptors in Breast Cancer. J Clin Med 2023; 12:jcm12062412. [PMID: 36983412 PMCID: PMC10056253 DOI: 10.3390/jcm12062412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2023] [Revised: 03/14/2023] [Accepted: 03/20/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer (BC) is the most common malignancy responsible for the largest number of deaths in women worldwide. The risk of developing BC is predisposed by many factors such as age, presence of genetic mutations or body weight. The diagnosis is mostly made relatively late, which is why patients are exposed to radical surgical treatments, long-term chemotherapy and lower survival rates. There are no sufficiently sensitive and specific screening tests; therefore, researchers are still looking for new diagnostic biomarkers that would indicate the appearance of neoplastic changes in the initial stage of neoplasm. The VEGF family of proteins (VEGF-A, VEGF-B, VEGF-C, VEGF-D, EG-VEGF, PlGF) and their receptors are significant factors in the pathogenesis of BC. They play a significant role in the process of angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis in both physiological and pathological conditions. The usefulness of these proteins as potential diagnostic biomarkers has been initially proven. Moreover, the blockage of VEGF-related pathways seems to be a valid therapeutic target. Recent studies have tried to describe novel strategies, including targeting pericytes, use of miRNAs and extracellular tumor-associated vesicles, immunotherapeutic drugs and nanotechnology. This indicates their possible contribution to the formation of breast cancer and their usefulness as potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Monika Zajkowska
- Department of Neurodegeneration Diagnostics, Medical University of Bialystok, 15-269 Bialystok, Poland
| | - Barbara Mroczko
- Department of Neurodegeneration Diagnostics, Medical University of Bialystok, 15-269 Bialystok, Poland
- Department of Biochemical Diagnostics, Medical University of Bialystok, 15-269 Bialystok, Poland
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Choi YK. An Altered Neurovascular System in Aging-Related Eye Diseases. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232214104. [PMID: 36430581 PMCID: PMC9694120 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232214104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2022] [Revised: 11/13/2022] [Accepted: 11/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The eye has a complex and metabolically active neurovascular system. Repeated light injuries induce aging and trigger age-dependent eye diseases. Damage to blood vessels is related to the disruption of the blood-retinal barrier (BRB), altered cellular communication, disrupted mitochondrial functions, and exacerbated aggregated protein accumulation. Vascular complications, such as insufficient blood supply and BRB disruption, have been suggested to play a role in glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration (AMD), and Alzheimer's disease (AD), resulting in neuronal cell death. Neuronal loss can induce vision loss. In this review, we discuss the importance of the neurovascular system in the eye, especially in aging-related diseases such as glaucoma, AMD, and AD. Beneficial molecular pathways to prevent or slow down retinal pathologic processes will also be discussed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yoon Kyung Choi
- Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Matei N, Leahy S, Blair NP, Burford J, Rahimi M, Shahidi M. Retinal Vascular Physiology Biomarkers in a 5XFAD Mouse Model of Alzheimer's Disease. Cells 2022; 11:2413. [PMID: 35954257 PMCID: PMC9368483 DOI: 10.3390/cells11152413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2022] [Revised: 07/30/2022] [Accepted: 07/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that affects the brain and retina and lacks reliable biomarkers for early diagnosis. As amyloid beta (Aβ) manifestations emerge prior to clinical symptoms and plaques of amyloid may cause vascular damage, identification of retinal vascular biomarkers may improve knowledge of AD pathophysiology and potentially serve as therapeutic targets. The purpose of the current study was to test the hypothesis that retinal hemodynamic and oxygen metrics are altered in 5XFAD mice. METHODS Thirty-two male mice were evaluated at 3 months of age: sixteen 5XFAD transgenic and sixteen wild-type mice. Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography, vascular oxygen tension, and blood flow imaging were performed in one eye of each mouse. After imaging, the imaged and fellow retinal tissues were submitted for histological sectioning and amyloid protein analysis, respectively. Protein analysis was also performed on the brain tissues. RESULTS Retinal physiological changes in venous diameter and blood velocity, arterial and venous oxygen contents, coupled with anatomical alterations in the thickness of retinal cell layers were detected in 5XFAD mice. Moreover, an increase in Aβ42 levels in both the retina and brain tissues was observed in 5XFAD mice. Significant changes in retinal oxygen delivery, metabolism, or extraction fraction were not detected. Based on compiled data from both groups, arterial oxygen content was inversely related to venous blood velocity and nerve fiber/ganglion cell layer thickness. CONCLUSIONS Concurrent alterations in retinal hemodynamic and oxygen metrics, thickness, and tissue Aβ42 protein levels in 5XFAD mice at 3 months of age corresponded to previously reported findings in human AD. Overall, these results suggest that this mouse model can be utilized for studying pathophysiology of AD and evaluating potential therapies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nathanael Matei
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
| | - Sophie Leahy
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
| | - Norman P. Blair
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
| | - James Burford
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
| | - Mansour Rahimi
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
| | - Mahnaz Shahidi
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Koca S, Kiris I, Sahin S, Cinar N, Karsidag S, Hanagasi HA, Yildiz GB, Tarik Baykal A. Decreased levels of cytokines implicate altered immune response in plasma of moderate-stage Alzheimer's disease patients. Neurosci Lett 2022; 786:136799. [PMID: 35842208 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2022.136799] [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: 03/14/2022] [Revised: 07/06/2022] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by the accumulation of amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles in the brain. However, increasing evidence suggests that the pathogenesis of the disease is associated with peripheral inflammation. Here, we aimed to determine plasma concentrations of multiple cytokines and chemokines from moderate-stage AD and age-matched controls. Changes in a total of 20 cytokines and chemokines in plasma of moderate-stage AD were evaluated by using quantitative microarray. Six of them, namely MCP-1, MIP-1a, MIP-1b, MMP-9, RANTES, and VEGF, were found to be significantly reduced in moderate-stage AD patients (n = 25) in comparison to age-matched and non-demented controls (n = 25). However, GM-CSF, GRO-α/β/γ, IFN- γ, IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-10, IL-12 p70, IL-13, IL-2, IL- 4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α showed no significant differences between the patient and control groups. On the contrary to previous early-stage AD studies that show increased plasma cytokine/chemokine levels, our results indicate that inflammatory plasma molecules are reduced in moderate-stage AD. This finding points out the reduced immune responsiveness, which is known to be directly correlated to the degree of AD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sebile Koca
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Institute of Health Sciences, Acibadem Mehmet Ali Aydinlar University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Irem Kiris
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Institute of Health Sciences, Acibadem Mehmet Ali Aydinlar University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Sevki Sahin
- Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Maltepe University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Nilgun Cinar
- Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Maltepe University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Sibel Karsidag
- Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Maltepe University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Hasmet A Hanagasi
- Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Gulsen B Yildiz
- Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Bezmialem Vakif University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Ahmet Tarik Baykal
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Acibadem Mehmet Ali Aydinlar University, Istanbul, Turkey.
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Park JH, Cho SJ, Jo C, Park MH, Han C, Kim EJ, Huh GY, Koh YH. Altered TIMP-3 Levels in the Cerebrospinal Fluid and Plasma of Patients with Alzheimer’s Disease. J Pers Med 2022; 12:jpm12050827. [PMID: 35629249 PMCID: PMC9144624 DOI: 10.3390/jpm12050827] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2022] [Revised: 05/07/2022] [Accepted: 05/14/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-3 (TIMP-3) is a component of the extracellular environment and is suggested to play an indirect role in regulating Aβ production and the pathophysiology of Aβ deposition in brains. However, studies on the amount of TIMP-3 in bodily fluids of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) patients have not been conducted. Here, we investigated the relationship between fluid TIMP-3 levels and AD pathology. We first showed that the fluid levels of TIMP-3 were lower in AD dementia patients compared with in non-AD patients. ELISA results revealed that plasma levels of TIMP-3 in 65 patients with AD were significantly lower than those in 115 healthy control subjects and 71 mild cognitive impairment (MCI) subjects. Furthermore, we found that cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) level of TIMP-3 was decreased in AD compared with that in healthy control. These data suggest that fluid TIMP-3 levels negatively correlated with progress of cognitive decline. Collectively, our study suggests that alterations of fluid TIMP-3 levels might be associated with AD pathology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jung Hyun Park
- Department of Chronic Disease Convergence Research, Division of Brain Disease Research, Korea National Institute of Health, 187 Osongsaengmyeong2-ro, Osong-eup, Heungdeok-gu, Cheongju-si 28159, Korea; (J.H.P.); (S.-J.C.); (C.J.)
| | - Sun-Jung Cho
- Department of Chronic Disease Convergence Research, Division of Brain Disease Research, Korea National Institute of Health, 187 Osongsaengmyeong2-ro, Osong-eup, Heungdeok-gu, Cheongju-si 28159, Korea; (J.H.P.); (S.-J.C.); (C.J.)
| | - Chulman Jo
- Department of Chronic Disease Convergence Research, Division of Brain Disease Research, Korea National Institute of Health, 187 Osongsaengmyeong2-ro, Osong-eup, Heungdeok-gu, Cheongju-si 28159, Korea; (J.H.P.); (S.-J.C.); (C.J.)
| | - Moon Ho Park
- Departments of Neurology, Korea University Medical College, Ansan Hospital, 123 Jeokgeum-ro, Danwon-gu, Ansan-si 15355, Korea;
| | - Changsu Han
- Departments of Psychiatry, Korea University Medical College, Ansan Hospital, 123 Jeokgeum-ro, Danwon-gu, Ansan-si 15355, Korea;
| | - Eun-Joo Kim
- Department of Neurology, Pusan National University Hospital, 179 Gudeok-ro, Seo-gu, Busan 49241, Korea;
| | - Gi Yeong Huh
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Pusan National University School of Medicine, 49 Busandaehak-ro, Mulgeum-eup, Yangsan-si 50612, Korea;
| | - Young Ho Koh
- Department of Chronic Disease Convergence Research, Division of Brain Disease Research, Korea National Institute of Health, 187 Osongsaengmyeong2-ro, Osong-eup, Heungdeok-gu, Cheongju-si 28159, Korea; (J.H.P.); (S.-J.C.); (C.J.)
- Correspondence:
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Miller B, Sewell-Loftin MK. Mechanoregulation of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor 2 in Angiogenesis. Front Cardiovasc Med 2022; 8:804934. [PMID: 35087885 PMCID: PMC8787114 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2021.804934] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2021] [Accepted: 12/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The endothelial cells that compose the vascular system in the body display a wide range of mechanotransductive behaviors and responses to biomechanical stimuli, which act in concert to control overall blood vessel structure and function. Such mechanosensitive activities allow blood vessels to constrict, dilate, grow, or remodel as needed during development as well as normal physiological functions, and the same processes can be dysregulated in various disease states. Mechanotransduction represents cellular responses to mechanical forces, translating such factors into chemical or electrical signals which alter the activation of various cell signaling pathways. Understanding how biomechanical forces drive vascular growth in healthy and diseased tissues could create new therapeutic strategies that would either enhance or halt these processes to assist with treatments of different diseases. In the cardiovascular system, new blood vessel formation from preexisting vasculature, in a process known as angiogenesis, is driven by vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) binding to VEGF receptor 2 (VEGFR-2) which promotes blood vessel development. However, physical forces such as shear stress, matrix stiffness, and interstitial flow are also major drivers and effectors of angiogenesis, and new research suggests that mechanical forces may regulate VEGFR-2 phosphorylation. In fact, VEGFR-2 activation has been linked to known mechanobiological agents including ERK/MAPK, c-Src, Rho/ROCK, and YAP/TAZ. In vascular disease states, endothelial cells can be subjected to altered mechanical stimuli which affect the pathways that control angiogenesis. Both normalizing and arresting angiogenesis associated with tumor growth have been strategies for anti-cancer treatments. In the field of regenerative medicine, harnessing biomechanical regulation of angiogenesis could enhance vascularization strategies for treating a variety of cardiovascular diseases, including ischemia or permit development of novel tissue engineering scaffolds. This review will focus on the impact of VEGFR-2 mechanosignaling in endothelial cells (ECs) and its interaction with other mechanotransductive pathways, as well as presenting a discussion on the relationship between VEGFR-2 activation and biomechanical forces in the extracellular matrix (ECM) that can help treat diseases with dysfunctional vascular growth.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bronte Miller
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
| | - Mary Kathryn Sewell-Loftin
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States.,O'Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Ali M, Falkenhain K, Njiru BN, Murtaza-Ali M, Ruiz-Uribe NE, Haft-Javaherian M, Catchers S, Nishimura N, Schaffer CB, Bracko O. VEGF signalling causes stalls in brain capillaries and reduces cerebral blood flow in Alzheimer's mice. Brain 2022; 145:1449-1463. [PMID: 35048960 PMCID: PMC9150081 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awab387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2021] [Revised: 07/09/2021] [Accepted: 09/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Increased incidence of stalled capillary blood flow caused by adhesion of
leucocytes to the brain microvascular endothelium leads to a 17%
reduction of cerebral blood flow and exacerbates short-term memory loss in
multiple mouse models of Alzheimer’s disease. Here, we report that vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) signalling at the
luminal side of the brain microvasculature plays an integral role in the
capillary stalling phenomenon of the APP/PS1 mouse model. Administration of the anti-mouse VEGF-A164 antibody, an isoform that inhibits
blood–brain barrier hyperpermeability, reduced the number of stalled
capillaries within an hour of injection, leading to an immediate increase in
average capillary blood flow but not capillary diameter. VEGF-A inhibition also
reduced the overall endothelial nitric oxide synthase protein concentrations,
increased occludin levels and decreased the penetration of circulating Evans
Blue dye across the blood–brain barrier into the brain parenchyma,
suggesting increased blood–brain barrier integrity. Capillaries prone to
neutrophil adhesion after anti-VEGF-A treatment also had lower occludin
concentrations than flowing capillaries. Taken together, our findings demonstrate that VEGF-A signalling in APP/PS1 mice
contributes to aberrant endothelial nitric oxide synthase /occludin-associated
blood–brain barrier permeability, increases the incidence of capillary
stalls, and leads to reductions in cerebral blood flow. Reducing leucocyte
adhesion by inhibiting luminal VEGF signalling may provide a novel and
well-tolerated strategy for improving brain microvascular blood flow in
Alzheimer’s disease patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Ali
- Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA, 148532
| | - Kaja Falkenhain
- Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA, 148532
| | - Brendah N Njiru
- Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA, 148532
| | - Muhammad Murtaza-Ali
- Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA, 148532
| | - Nancy E Ruiz-Uribe
- Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA, 148532
| | | | | | - Nozomi Nishimura
- Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA, 148532
| | - Chris B Schaffer
- Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA, 148532
| | - Oliver Bracko
- Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA, 148532
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Schirò G, Balistreri CR. The close link between brain vascular pathological conditions and neurodegenerative diseases: Focus on some examples and potential treatments. Vascul Pharmacol 2021; 142:106951. [PMID: 34942382 DOI: 10.1016/j.vph.2021.106951] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2021] [Accepted: 12/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
A close relationship is emerging among the age-related neurodegenerative decline, and the age-related typical alterations, dysfunctions, and related diseases of the cerobro-and/or cardiovascular system, which contributes in a significative manner to the triggering and progressing of neurodegenerative diseases (NeuroDegD). Specifically, macroinfarcts, microinfarcts, micro-hemorrhages (and particularly their number), atherosclerosis, arteriolosclerosis and cerebral amyloid angiopathy have been documented to be significantly associated with the onset of the cognitive impairment. In addition, vascular alterations and dysfunctions resulting in a reduced cerebral blood flow, and anomalies in the brain blood barrier (BBB), have been also demonstrated to contribute to NeuroDegD pathophysiologic processes. At the same time, such vascular alterations are also observed in cognitively unimpaired subjects. Here, some of these aspects are described with a particular focus on some NeuroDegD, as well as potential strategies for delaying or stopping their onset and progression.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppe Schirò
- Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostics (BiND), University of Palermo, 90134 Palermo, Italy
| | - Carmela Rita Balistreri
- Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostics (BiND), University of Palermo, 90134 Palermo, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Hypoglycemia, Vascular Disease and Cognitive Dysfunction in Diabetes: Insights from Text Mining-Based Reconstruction and Bioinformatics Analysis of the Gene Networks. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms222212419. [PMID: 34830301 PMCID: PMC8620086 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222212419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2021] [Revised: 11/14/2021] [Accepted: 11/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Hypoglycemia has been recognized as a risk factor for diabetic vascular complications and cognitive decline, but the molecular mechanisms of the effect of hypoglycemia on target organs are not fully understood. In this work, gene networks of hypoglycemia and cardiovascular disease, diabetic retinopathy, diabetic nephropathy, diabetic neuropathy, cognitive decline, and Alzheimer's disease were reconstructed using ANDSystem, a text-mining-based tool. The gene network of hypoglycemia included 141 genes and 2467 interactions. Enrichment analysis of Gene Ontology (GO) biological processes showed that the regulation of insulin secretion, glucose homeostasis, apoptosis, nitric oxide biosynthesis, and cell signaling are significantly enriched for hypoglycemia. Among the network hubs, INS, IL6, LEP, TNF, IL1B, EGFR, and FOS had the highest betweenness centrality, while GPR142, MBOAT4, SLC5A4, IGFBP6, PPY, G6PC1, SLC2A2, GYS2, GCGR, and AQP7 demonstrated the highest cross-talk specificity. Hypoglycemia-related genes were overrepresented in the gene networks of diabetic complications and comorbidity; moreover, 14 genes were mutual for all studied disorders. Eleven GO biological processes (glucose homeostasis, nitric oxide biosynthesis, smooth muscle cell proliferation, ERK1 and ERK2 cascade, etc.) were overrepresented in all reconstructed networks. The obtained results expand our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the deteriorating effects of hypoglycemia in diabetes-associated vascular disease and cognitive dysfunction.
Collapse
|
19
|
Khullar S, Wang D. Predicting gene regulatory networks from multi-omics to link genetic risk variants and neuroimmunology to Alzheimer's disease phenotypes. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2021. [PMID: 34189529 DOI: 10.1101/2021.06.21.449165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Genome-wide association studies have found many genetic risk variants associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, how these risk variants affect deeper phenotypes such as disease progression and immune response remains elusive. Also, our understanding of cellular and molecular mechanisms from disease risk variants to various phenotypes is still limited. To address these problems, we performed an integrative multi-omics analysis of genotype, transcriptomics, and epigenomics for revealing gene regulatory mechanisms from disease variants to AD phenotypes. METHOD First, given the population gene expression data of a cohort, we construct and cluster its gene co-expression network to identify gene co-expression modules for various AD phenotypes. Next, we predict transcription factors (TFs) regulating co-expressed genes and AD risk SNPs that interrupt TF binding sites on regulatory elements. Finally, we construct a gene regulatory network (GRN) linking SNPs, interrupted TFs, and regulatory elements to target genes and gene modules for each phenotype in the cohort. This network thus provides systematic insights into gene regulatory mechanisms from risk variants to AD phenotypes. RESULTS Our analysis predicted GRNs in three major AD-relevant regions: Hippocampus, Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex (DLPFC), Lateral Temporal Lobe (LTL). Comparative analyses revealed cross-region-conserved and region-specific GRNs, in which many immunological genes are present. For instance, SNPs rs13404184 and rs61068452 disrupt SPI1 binding and regulation of AD gene INPP5D in the Hippocampus and LTL. However, SNP rs117863556 interrupts bindings of REST to regulate GAB2 in DLPFC only. Driven by emerging neuroinflammation in AD, we used Covid-19 as a proxy to identify possible regulatory mechanisms for neuroimmunology in AD. To this end, we looked at the GRN subnetworks relating to genes from shared AD-Covid pathways. From those subnetworks, our machine learning analysis prioritized the AD-Covid genes for predicting Covid-19 severity. Decision Curve Analysis also validated our AD-Covid genes outperform known Covid-19 genes for classifying severe Covid-19 patients. This suggests AD-Covid genes along with linked SNPs can be potential novel biomarkers for neuroimmunology in AD. Finally, our results are open-source available as a comprehensive functional genomic map for AD, providing a deeper mechanistic understanding of the interplay among multi-omics, brain regions, gene functions like neuroimmunology, and phenotypes.
Collapse
|
20
|
Ray SK, Manz SN. BRAIN HEALTH ASSESSMENT IN MACULAR DEGENERATION PATIENTS UNDERGOING INTRAVITREAL ANTI-VASCULAR ENDOTHELIAL GROWTH FACTOR INJECTIONS (THE BHAM STUDY): An Interim Analysis. Retina 2021; 41:1748-1753. [PMID: 33346625 DOI: 10.1097/iae.0000000000003066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE After intravitreal injection, anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) agents are found in the systemic circulation and can suppress systemic VEGF levels. Neuronal health and cognitive function in the central nervous system have been associated with normal physiological levels of VEGF expression. We wished to determine whether there was an association between cumulative anti-VEGF exposure and cognitive function. METHODS One hundred and seventy-five patients aged 65 to 85 with vision of at least 20/50 or better in one eye and a diagnosis of age-related macular degeneration took an iPad-based brain health assessment to determine their risk of mild cognitive impairment. The result for each patient was compared with the total number of anti-VEGF injections per individual patient. Patients were then stratified into groups with 0 injections (control), 1 to 9 injections, 10 to 20 injections, or greater than 20 injections. RESULTS The group of patients with more than 20 injections had a higher likelihood of mild cognitive impairment compared with the control group, with statistically significant worse mean Z-scores (P = 0.04). CONCLUSION Our study is the first to associate worsening cognitive health with higher cumulative anti-VEGF injections. This study was not designed to show a causal link, but does suggest that additional investigation is warranted.
Collapse
|
21
|
Tubi MA, Kothapalli D, Hapenney M, Feingold FW, Mack WJ, King KS, Thompson PM, Braskie MN. Regional relationships between CSF VEGF levels and Alzheimer's disease brain biomarkers and cognition. Neurobiol Aging 2021; 105:241-251. [PMID: 34126466 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2021.04.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2021] [Revised: 04/22/2021] [Accepted: 04/24/2021] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a complex signaling protein that supports vascular and neuronal function. Alzheimer's disease (AD) -neuropathological hallmarks interfere with VEGF signaling and modify previously detected positive associations between cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) VEGF and cognition and hippocampal volume. However, it remains unknown 1) whether regional relationships between VEGF and glucose metabolism and cortical thinning exist, and 2) whether AD-neuropathological hallmarks (CSF Aβ, t-tau, p-tau) also modify these relationships. We addressed this in 310 Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) participants (92 cognitively normal, 149 mild cognitive impairment, 69 AD; 215 CSF Aβ+, 95 CSF Aβ-) with regional cortical thickness and cognition measurements and 158 participants with FDG-PET. In Aβ + participants (CSF Aβ42 ≤ 192 pg/mL), higher CSF VEGF levels were associated with greater FDG-PET signal in the inferior parietal, and middle and inferior temporal cortices. Abnormal CSF amyloid and tau levels strengthened the positive association between VEGF and regional FDG-PET indices. VEGF also had both direct associations with semantic memory, as well as indirect associations mediated by regional FDG-PET signal to cognition.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Meral A Tubi
- Imaging Genetics Center, Mark and Mary Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Marina del Rey, CA, USA
| | - Deydeep Kothapalli
- Imaging Genetics Center, Mark and Mary Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Marina del Rey, CA, USA
| | - Matthew Hapenney
- Imaging Genetics Center, Mark and Mary Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Marina del Rey, CA, USA
| | - Franklin W Feingold
- Imaging Genetics Center, Mark and Mary Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Marina del Rey, CA, USA; Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305
| | - Wendy J Mack
- Division of Biostatistics, Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Kevin S King
- Huntington Medical Research Institutes, Imaging Division, Pasadena, CA, 91105 USA
| | - Paul M Thompson
- Imaging Genetics Center, Mark and Mary Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Marina del Rey, CA, USA
| | - Meredith N Braskie
- Imaging Genetics Center, Mark and Mary Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Marina del Rey, CA, USA.
| | | |
Collapse
|
22
|
Dharshini SAP, Jemimah S, Taguchi YH, Gromiha MM. Exploring Common Therapeutic Targets for Neurodegenerative Disorders Using Transcriptome Study. Front Genet 2021; 12:639160. [PMID: 33815473 PMCID: PMC8017312 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2021.639160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2020] [Accepted: 02/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD) are well-known neuronal degenerative disorders that share common pathological events. Approved medications alleviate symptoms but do not address the root cause of the disease. Energy dysfunction in the neuronal population leads to various pathological events and ultimately results in neuronal death. Identifying common therapeutic targets for these disorders may help in the drug discovery process. The Brodmann area 9 (BA9) region is affected in both the disease conditions and plays an essential role in cognitive, motor, and memory-related functions. Analyzing transcriptome data of BA9 provides deep insights related to common pathological pathways involved in AD and PD. In this work, we map the preprocessed BA9 fastq files generated by RNA-seq for disease and control samples with reference hg38 genomic assembly and identify common variants and differentially expressed genes (DEG). These variants are predominantly located in the 3' UTR (non-promoter) region, affecting the conserved transcription factor (TF) binding motifs involved in the methylation and acetylation process. We have constructed BA9-specific functional interaction networks, which show the relationship between TFs and DEGs. Based on expression signature analysis, we propose that MAPK1, VEGFR1/FLT1, and FGFR1 are promising drug targets to restore blood-brain barrier functionality by reducing neuroinflammation and may save neurons.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- S Akila Parvathy Dharshini
- Protein Bioinformatics Lab, Department of Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai, India
| | - Sherlyn Jemimah
- Protein Bioinformatics Lab, Department of Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai, India
| | - Y H Taguchi
- Department of Physics, Chuo University, Hachioji, Japan
| | - M Michael Gromiha
- Protein Bioinformatics Lab, Department of Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai, India
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Wang P, Sui HJ, Li XJ, Bai LN, Bi J, Lai H. Melatonin ameliorates microvessel abnormalities in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus in a rat model of Alzheimer's disease. Neural Regen Res 2021; 16:757-764. [PMID: 33063739 PMCID: PMC8067916 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.295349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Melatonin can attenuate cardiac microvascular ischemia/reperfusion injury, but it remains unclear whether melatonin can also ameliorate cerebral microvascular abnormalities. Rat models of Alzheimer’s disease were established by six intracerebroventricular injections of amyloid-beta 1–42, administered once every other day. Melatonin (30 mg/kg) was intraperitoneally administered for 13 successive days, with the first dose given 24 hours prior to the first administration of amyloid-beta 1–42. Melatonin ameliorated learning and memory impairments in the Morris water maze test, improved the morphology of microvessels in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus, increased microvessel density, alleviated pathological injuries of cerebral neurons, and decreased the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor and vascular endothelial growth factor receptors 1 and 2. These findings suggest that melatonin can improve microvessel abnormalities in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus by lowering the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor and its receptors, thereby improving the cognitive function of patients with Alzheimer’s disease. This study was approved by the Animal Care and Use Committee of Jinzhou Medical University, China (approval No. 2019015) on December 6, 2018.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pan Wang
- Department of Anatomy, China Medical University, Shenyang; Department of Neurobiology and Key Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Diseases of Liaoning Province, Jinzhou Medical University; Department of Neurobiology, Jinzhou Medical University, Jinzhou, Liaoning Province, China
| | - Hai-Juan Sui
- Department of Neurobiology and Key Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Diseases of Liaoning Province; Department of Pharmacology, Jinzhou Medical University, Jinzhou, Liaoning Province, China
| | - Xiao-Jia Li
- Department of Neurobiology and Key Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Diseases of Liaoning Province; Department of Neurobiology, Jinzhou Medical University, Jinzhou, Liaoning Province, China
| | - Li-Na Bai
- Department of Neurobiology and Key Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Diseases of Liaoning Province; Department of Neurobiology, Jinzhou Medical University, Jinzhou, Liaoning Province, China
| | - Jing Bi
- Department of Neurobiology and Key Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Diseases of Liaoning Province; Department of Neurobiology, Jinzhou Medical University, Jinzhou, Liaoning Province, China
| | - Hong Lai
- Department of Anatomy, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Sharma K, Pannu V, Sayal N, Bhalla A, Anand A. Effects of one month of Common Yoga Protocol practice appear to be mediated by the angiogenic and neurogenic pathway: A pilot study. Explore (NY) 2020; 17:451-457. [PMID: 33059980 DOI: 10.1016/j.explore.2020.09.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2019] [Revised: 09/03/2020] [Accepted: 09/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To examine the molecular effects of mindful activities such as yoga and meditation DESIGN: This was an open label single arm exploratory yoga intervention study. STUDY PARTICIPANTS 64 healthy individuals within the age of 18-60 years were recruited for this one month yoga intervention study. INTERVENTION Common Yoga Protocol (CYP) is a standardized yoga protocol released by Ministry of AYUSH, India for International Yoga Day. It includes all aspects of yoga i.e. asanas, pranayama and meditation. It is designed for adoption by all age groups for the health of community. OUTCOME MEASURES The participants were assessed for biochemical parameters including Fasting Sugar and Lipid profile. The molecular markers of neurogenesis (i.e. Brain derived Neurotropic Factor, BDNF) and Angiogenesis (i.e. Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor, VEGF and Angiogenin) along with Amyloid β (marker related to neuro-degenerative diseases) were assessed. All the assessments were made at baseline and after one month of the intervention. RESULTS After one month of CYP practice High Density Lipoprotein (HDL) levels increased significantly (p<0.001), although other biochemical parameters i.e. fasting sugar and other lipid assessments were found to be unaltered. Angiogenesis marker, angiogenin was increased significantly (p<0.002), other angiogenesis marker VEGF did not show any change along with BDNF, marker of neurogenesis. Amyloid β levels were also unaltered. Even though individual levels of VEGF and Amyloid β did not show any change, proportion of VEGF to Amyloid β showed a significant increase (p<0.001) after one month of CYP intervention indicating that the change in VEGF levels was significantly higher than the change in Amyloid β levels. CONCLUSION CYP practice may influence cell survival pathways mediated by angiogenic and neurogenic cross talk. Hence, CYP can be considered as a preventive measure for diseases associated with impaired angiogenic and neurogenic mechanism. This is the first study to examine the effects of CYP at the molecular level.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kanupriya Sharma
- Neuroscience Research Lab, Department of Neurology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India
| | - Viraaj Pannu
- Government Medical College and Hospital, Sector-32, Chandigarh, India
| | - Natasha Sayal
- Neuroscience Research Lab, Department of Neurology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India
| | - Ashish Bhalla
- Department of Internal Medicine,, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India
| | - Akshay Anand
- Neuroscience Research Lab, Department of Neurology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India.
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Jeon SG, Lee HJ, Park H, Han KM, Hoe HS. The VEGF inhibitor vatalanib regulates AD pathology in 5xFAD mice. Mol Brain 2020; 13:131. [PMID: 32977842 PMCID: PMC7519542 DOI: 10.1186/s13041-020-00673-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2020] [Accepted: 09/18/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a highly prevalent neurodegenerative disease characterized by Aβ accumulation and tau hyperphosphorylation. Epidemiological evidence for a negative correlation between cancer and AD has led to the proposed use of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) such as dasatinib and masitinib for AD, with reported beneficial effects in the AD brain. The TKI vatalanib inhibits angiogenesis by inhibiting vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR). Although changes in VEGF and VEGFR have been documented in AD, the effect of vatalanib on AD pathology has not been investigated. In this study, the effects of vatalanib on tau phosphorylation and Aβ accumulation in 5xFAD mice, a model of AD, were evaluated by immunohistochemistry. Vatalanib administration significantly reduced tau phosphorylation at AT8 and AT100 by increasing p-GSK-3β (Ser9) in 5xFAD mice. In addition, vatalanib reduced the number and area of Aβ plaques in the cortex in 5xFAD mice. Our results suggest that vatalanib has potential as a regulator of AD pathology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Seong Gak Jeon
- Department of Neural Development and Disease, Korea Brain Research Institute (KBRI), 61, Cheomdan-ro, Dong-gu, Daegu, 41062, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyun-Ju Lee
- Department of Neural Development and Disease, Korea Brain Research Institute (KBRI), 61, Cheomdan-ro, Dong-gu, Daegu, 41062, Republic of Korea
| | - HyunHee Park
- Department of Neural Development and Disease, Korea Brain Research Institute (KBRI), 61, Cheomdan-ro, Dong-gu, Daegu, 41062, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyung-Min Han
- Department of Neural Development and Disease, Korea Brain Research Institute (KBRI), 61, Cheomdan-ro, Dong-gu, Daegu, 41062, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyang-Sook Hoe
- Department of Neural Development and Disease, Korea Brain Research Institute (KBRI), 61, Cheomdan-ro, Dong-gu, Daegu, 41062, Republic of Korea.
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Bryant AG, Hu M, Carlyle BC, Arnold SE, Frosch MP, Das S, Hyman BT, Bennett RE. Cerebrovascular Senescence Is Associated With Tau Pathology in Alzheimer's Disease. Front Neurol 2020; 11:575953. [PMID: 33041998 PMCID: PMC7525127 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2020.575953] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2020] [Accepted: 08/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is associated with neuropathological changes, including aggregation of tau neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) and amyloid-beta plaques. Mounting evidence indicates that vascular dysfunction also plays a key role in the pathogenesis and progression of AD, in part through endothelial dysfunction. Based on findings in animal models that tau pathology induces vascular abnormalities and cellular senescence, we hypothesized that tau pathology in the human AD brain leads to vascular senescence. To explore this hypothesis, we isolated intact microvessels from the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (PFC, BA9) from 16 subjects with advanced Braak stages (Braak V/VI, B3) and 12 control subjects (Braak 0/I/II, B1), and quantified expression of 42 genes associated with senescence, cell adhesion, and various endothelial cell functions. Genes associated with endothelial senescence and leukocyte adhesion, including SERPINE1 (PAI-1), CXCL8 (IL8), CXCL1, CXCL2, ICAM-2, and TIE1, were significantly upregulated in B3 microvessels after adjusting for sex and cerebrovascular pathology. In particular, the senescence-associated secretory phenotype genes SERPINE1 and CXCL8 were upregulated by more than 2-fold in B3 microvessels after adjusting for sex, cerebrovascular pathology, and age at death. Protein quantification data from longitudinal plasma samples for a subset of 13 (n = 9 B3, n = 4 B1) subjects showed no significant differences in plasma senescence or adhesion-associated protein levels, suggesting that these changes were not associated with systemic vascular alterations. Future investigations of senescence biomarkers in both the peripheral and cortical vasculature could further elucidate links between tau pathology and vascular changes in human AD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Annie G Bryant
- Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA, United States
| | - Miwei Hu
- Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA, United States
| | - Becky C Carlyle
- Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA, United States
| | - Steven E Arnold
- Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA, United States
| | - Matthew P Frosch
- Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA, United States.,Department of Pathology, Harvard Medical School, MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA, United States
| | - Sudeshna Das
- Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA, United States
| | - Bradley T Hyman
- Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA, United States
| | - Rachel E Bennett
- Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA, United States
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Ristori E, Donnini S, Ziche M. New Insights Into Blood-Brain Barrier Maintenance: The Homeostatic Role of β-Amyloid Precursor Protein in Cerebral Vasculature. Front Physiol 2020; 11:1056. [PMID: 32973564 PMCID: PMC7481479 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2020.01056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2020] [Accepted: 07/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Cerebrovascular homeostasis is maintained by the blood-brain barrier (BBB), a highly selective structure that separates the peripheral blood circulation from the brain and protects the central nervous system (CNS). Dysregulation of BBB function is the precursor of several neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA), both related to β-amyloid (Aβ) accumulation and deposition. The origin of BBB dysfunction before and/or during CAA and AD onset is not known. Several studies raise the possibility that vascular dysfunction could be an early step in these diseases and could even precede significant Aβ deposition. Though accumulation of neuron-derived Aβ peptides is considered the primary influence driving AD and CAA pathogenesis, recent studies highlighted the importance of the physiological role of the β-amyloid precursor protein (APP) in endothelial cell homeostasis, suggesting a potential role of this protein in maintaining vascular stability. In this review, we will discuss the physiological function of APP and its cleavage products in the vascular endothelium. We further suggest how loss of APP homeostatic regulation in the brain vasculature could lead toward pathological outcomes in neurodegenerative disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Emma Ristori
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Sandra Donnini
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Marina Ziche
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neuroscience, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Common Protective Strategies in Neurodegenerative Disease: Focusing on Risk Factors to Target the Cellular Redox System. OXIDATIVE MEDICINE AND CELLULAR LONGEVITY 2020; 2020:8363245. [PMID: 32832006 PMCID: PMC7422410 DOI: 10.1155/2020/8363245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2020] [Accepted: 07/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Neurodegenerative disease is an umbrella term for different conditions which primarily affect the neurons in the human brain. In the last century, significant research has been focused on mechanisms and risk factors relevant to the multifaceted etiopathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases. Currently, neurodegenerative diseases are incurable, and the treatments available only control the symptoms or delay the progression of the disease. This review is aimed at characterizing the complex network of molecular mechanisms underpinning acute and chronic neurodegeneration, focusing on the disturbance in redox homeostasis, as a common mechanism behind five pivotal risk factors: aging, oxidative stress, inflammation, glycation, and vascular injury. Considering the complex multifactorial nature of neurodegenerative diseases, a preventive strategy able to simultaneously target multiple risk factors and disease mechanisms at an early stage is most likely to be effective to slow/halt the progression of neurodegenerative diseases.
Collapse
|
29
|
Alvarez XA, Alvarez I, Martinez A, Romero I, Benito C, Suarez I, Mourente S, Fantini M, Figueroa J, Aleixandre M, Linares C, Muresanu D, Winter S, Moessler H. Serum VEGF Predicts Clinical Improvement Induced by Cerebrolysin Plus Donepezil in Patients With Advanced Alzheimer's Disease. Int J Neuropsychopharmacol 2020; 23:581-586. [PMID: 32640027 PMCID: PMC7710915 DOI: 10.1093/ijnp/pyaa046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2020] [Revised: 06/15/2020] [Accepted: 06/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Serum vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) increases with Alzheimer's disease (AD) severity and may prevent cognitive decline. However, information on the influence of AD drug therapy on circulating VEGF is limited. This study assessed changes in serum VEGF levels and its association with clinical and functional responses in mild to moderate AD patients who were treated with Cerebrolysin, donepezil, or the combined therapy in a randomized, controlled trial. Treatment with Cerebrolysin plus donepezil reduced elevated serum VEGF levels and improved functioning and cognition significantly compared with donepezil alone in patients with advanced AD, and treatment differences were more pronounced in patients with higher VEGF levels. Our results indicate that the combined therapy reversed the increase of serum VEGF in advanced AD, which was associated with cognitive and functional responses, particularly in patients with high baseline VEGF.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- X Anton Alvarez
- Medinova Institute of Neurosciences, Clinica RehaSalud, A Coruña, Spain ,Clinical Research Department, QPS Holdings, A Coruña, Spain,Correspondence: Dr X. Antón Alvarez, MD, PhD, Medinova Institute of Neurosciences, Clinica RehaSalud, 15006-A Coruña, Spain ()
| | - Irene Alvarez
- Medinova Institute of Neurosciences, Clinica RehaSalud, A Coruña, Spain
| | - Antia Martinez
- Complexo Hospitalario Universitario de Ourense, Ourense, Spain
| | - Iria Romero
- Medinova Institute of Neurosciences, Clinica RehaSalud, A Coruña, Spain ,Clinical Research Department, QPS Holdings, A Coruña, Spain
| | - Concha Benito
- Medinova Institute of Neurosciences, Clinica RehaSalud, A Coruña, Spain
| | - Irene Suarez
- Medinova Institute of Neurosciences, Clinica RehaSalud, A Coruña, Spain
| | | | | | - Jesús Figueroa
- Medinova Institute of Neurosciences, Clinica RehaSalud, A Coruña, Spain ,Complexo Hospitalario Universitario de Santiago, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | | | | | - Dafin Muresanu
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Iuliu Hațieganu,” Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
30
|
Hadipour M, Meftahi GH, Afarinesh MR, Jahromi GP, Hatef B. Crocin attenuates the granular cells damages on the dentate gyrus and pyramidal neurons in the CA3 regions of the hippocampus and frontal cortex in the rat model of Alzheimer's disease. J Chem Neuroanat 2020; 113:101837. [PMID: 32534024 DOI: 10.1016/j.jchemneu.2020.101837] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2020] [Revised: 05/30/2020] [Accepted: 06/08/2020] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Amyloid β-peptides (Aβ) are considered as a major hallmark of Alzheimer's disease (AD) that can induce synaptic loss and apoptosis in brain regions, particularly in the cortex and the hippocampus. Evidence suggests that crocin, as the major component of saffron, can exhibit neuromodulatory effects in AD. However, specific data related to their efficacy to attenuate the synaptic loss and neuronal death in animal models of AD are limited. Hence, we investigated the efficacy of crocin in the CA3 and dentate gyrus (DG) regions of the hippocampus and also in frontal cortex neurons employing a rat model of AD. Male Wistar rats were randomly divided into control, sham, AD model, crocin, and AD model + crocin groups, with 8 rats per group. AD model was established by injecting Aβ1-42 into the frontal cortex rats, and thereafter the rats were administrated by crocin (30 mg/kg) for a duration of 12-day. The number of live cells, neuronal arborization and apoptosis were measured using a Cresyl violet, Golgi-Cox and TUNEL staining, respectively. Results showed that, the number of live cells in the hippocampus pyramidal neurons in the CA3 and granular cells in the DG regions of the AD rats significantly decreased, which was significantly rescued by crocin. Compared with the control group, the axonal, spine and dendrites arborization in the frontal cortex and CA3 region of the AD model group significantly decreased. The crocin could significantly reverse this arborization loss in the AD rats (P < 0.05). The apoptotic cell number in the CA3 and DG regions in the AD model group was significantly higher than that of the control group (P < 0.05), while crocin significantly decreased the apoptotic cell number in the AD group (P < 0.05). Conclusion. Crocin can improve the synaptic loss and neuronal death of the AD rats possibly by reducing the neuronal apoptosis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Gholam Hossein Meftahi
- Neuroscience Research Center, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Mohammad Reza Afarinesh
- Kerman Cognitive Research Center and Neuroscience Research Center, Institute of Neuropharmachology, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Gila Pirzad Jahromi
- Neuroscience Research Center, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Boshra Hatef
- Neuroscience Research Center, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Shen XN, Lu Y, Tan CTY, Liu LY, Yu JT, Feng L, Larbi A. Identification of inflammatory and vascular markers associated with mild cognitive impairment. Aging (Albany NY) 2020; 11:2403-2419. [PMID: 31039131 PMCID: PMC6520012 DOI: 10.18632/aging.101924] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2019] [Accepted: 04/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Biochemical processes have been associated with the pathogenesis of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia, including chronic inflammation, dysregulation of membrane lipids and disruption of neurotransmitter pathways. However, research investigating biomarkers of these processes in MCI remained sparse and inconsistent. To collect fresh evidence, we evaluated the performance of several potential markers in a cohort of 57 MCI patients and 57 cognitively healthy controls. MCI patients showed obviously increased levels of plasma TNF-α (p = 0.045) and C-peptide (p = 0.004) as well as decreased levels of VEGF-A (p = 0.042) and PAI-1 (p = 0.019), compared with controls. In addition, our study detected significant correlations of plasma sTNFR-1 (MCI + Control: B = -6.529, p = 0.020; MCI: B = -9.865, p = 0.011) and sIL-2Rα (MCI + Control: B = -7.010, p = 0.007; MCI: B = -11.834, p = 0.003) levels with MoCA scores in the whole cohort and the MCI group. These findings corroborate the inflammatory and vascular hypothesis for dementia. Future studies are warranted to determine their potential as early biomarkers for cognitive deficits and explore the related mechanisms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xue-Ning Shen
- Department of Neurology, Institute of Neurology, Huashan Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yanxia Lu
- Singapore Immunology Network (SIgN), Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Crystal Tze Ying Tan
- Singapore Immunology Network (SIgN), Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Ling-Yun Liu
- Department of Psychological Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.,Department of Neurology, Yangpu Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Jin-Tai Yu
- Department of Neurology, Institute of Neurology, Huashan Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Lei Feng
- Department of Psychological Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Anis Larbi
- Singapore Immunology Network (SIgN), Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore, Singapore.,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.,Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Cho SJ, Yun SM, Jo C, Jeong J, Park MH, Han C, Koh YH. Altered expression of Notch1 in Alzheimer's disease. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0224941. [PMID: 31770379 PMCID: PMC6879159 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0224941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2019] [Accepted: 10/19/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Notch signaling is an evolutionarily conserved pathway that regulates cell-cell interactions through binding of Notch family receptors to their cognate ligands. Notch signaling has an essential role in vascular development and angiogenesis. Recent studies have reported that Notch may be implicated in Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathophysiology. We measured the levels of soluble Notch1 (sNotch1) in the plasma samples from 72 dementia patients (average age 75.1 y), 89 subjects with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (MCI) (average age 73.72 y), and 150 cognitively normal controls (average age 72.34 y). Plasma levels of sNotch1 were 25.27% lower in dementia patients as compared to healthy control subjects. However, the level of Notch1 protein was significantly increased in human brain microvascular endothelial cells (HBMECs) after amyloid-beta treatment. Also, Notch1 mRNA level was significantly increased in HBMECs and iPSC-derived neuronal cells from AD patient compared to normal control. These results indicate that altered expression of Notch1 might be associated with the risk of Alzheimer's disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sun-Jung Cho
- Division of Brain Diseases, Center for Biomedical Sciences, Korea National Institute of Health, 187 Osongsaengmyeong2-ro, Osong-eup, Heungdeok-gu, Cheongju-si, Chungcheongbuk-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Sang-Moon Yun
- Division of Brain Diseases, Center for Biomedical Sciences, Korea National Institute of Health, 187 Osongsaengmyeong2-ro, Osong-eup, Heungdeok-gu, Cheongju-si, Chungcheongbuk-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Chulman Jo
- Division of Brain Diseases, Center for Biomedical Sciences, Korea National Institute of Health, 187 Osongsaengmyeong2-ro, Osong-eup, Heungdeok-gu, Cheongju-si, Chungcheongbuk-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Jihyun Jeong
- Division of Brain Diseases, Center for Biomedical Sciences, Korea National Institute of Health, 187 Osongsaengmyeong2-ro, Osong-eup, Heungdeok-gu, Cheongju-si, Chungcheongbuk-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Moon Ho Park
- Departments of Neurology, Korea University Medical College, Ansan Hospital, 123 Jeokgeum-ro, Danwon-gu, Ansan-si, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Changsu Han
- Departments of Psychiatry, Korea University Medical College, Ansan Hospital, 123 Jeokgeum-ro, Danwon-gu, Ansan-si, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Young Ho Koh
- Division of Brain Diseases, Center for Biomedical Sciences, Korea National Institute of Health, 187 Osongsaengmyeong2-ro, Osong-eup, Heungdeok-gu, Cheongju-si, Chungcheongbuk-do, Republic of Korea
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Wang Y, Hoeppner LH, Angom RS, Wang E, Dutta S, Doeppler HR, Wang F, Shen T, Scarisbrick IA, Guha S, Storz P, Bhattacharya R, Mukhopadhyay D. Protein kinase D up-regulates transcription of VEGF receptor-2 in endothelial cells by suppressing nuclear localization of the transcription factor AP2β. J Biol Chem 2019; 294:15759-15767. [PMID: 31492751 PMCID: PMC6816101 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra119.010152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2019] [Revised: 08/19/2019] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF) signals primarily through its cognate receptor VEGF receptor-2 (VEGFR-2) to control vasculogenesis and angiogenesis, key physiological processes in cardiovascular disease and cancer. In human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), knockdown of protein kinase D-1 (PKD1) or PKD2 down-regulates VEGFR-2 expression and inhibits VEGF-induced cell proliferation and migration. However, how PKD regulates VEGF signaling is unclear. Previous bioinformatics analyses have identified binding sites for the transcription factor activating enhancer-binding protein 2 (AP2) in the VEGFR-2 promoter. Using ChIP analyses, here we found that PKD knockdown in HUVECs increases binding of AP2β to the VEGFR-2 promoter. Luciferase reporter assays with serial deletions of AP2-binding sites within the VEGFR-2 promoter revealed that its transcriptional activity negatively correlates with the number of these sites. Next we demonstrated that AP2β up-regulation decreases VEGFR-2 expression and that loss of AP2β enhances VEGFR-2 expression in HUVECs. In vivo experiments confirmed increased VEGFR-2 immunostaining in the spinal cord of AP2β knockout mouse embryos. Mechanistically, we observed that PKD phosphorylates AP2β at Ser258 and Ser277 and suppresses its nuclear accumulation. Inhibition of PKD activity with a pan-PKD inhibitor increased AP2β nuclear localization, and overexpression of both WT and constitutively active PKD1 or PKD2 reduced AP2β nuclear localization through a Ser258- and Ser277-dependent mechanism. Furthermore, substitution of Ser277 in AP2β increased its binding to the VEGFR-2 promoter. Our findings uncover evidence of a molecular pathway that regulates VEGFR-2 expression, insights that may shed light on the etiology of diseases associated with aberrant VEGF/VEGFR signaling.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ying Wang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine and Science, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, Florida 32224
| | - Luke H Hoeppner
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine and Science, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota 55905
| | - Ramcharan Singh Angom
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine and Science, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, Florida 32224
| | - Enfeng Wang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine and Science, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, Florida 32224
| | - Shamit Dutta
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine and Science, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, Florida 32224
| | - Heike R Doeppler
- Department of Cancer Biology, College of Medicine and Science, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, Florida 32224
| | - Fei Wang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine and Science, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, Florida 32224
- Department of Neurosurgery, Affiliated Hospital of Inner Mongolia Medical University, Hohhot 010050, China
| | - Tao Shen
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine and Science, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, Florida 32224
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Third Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming 650221, China
| | - Isobel A Scarisbrick
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, College of Medicine and Science, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota 55905
| | - Sushovan Guha
- University of Arizona College of Medicine, Phoenix, Arizona 85004
| | - Peter Storz
- Department of Cancer Biology, College of Medicine and Science, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, Florida 32224
| | - Resham Bhattacharya
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine and Science, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota 55905
| | - Debabrata Mukhopadhyay
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine and Science, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, Florida 32224
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Solé M, Esteban-Lopez M, Taltavull B, Fábregas C, Fadó R, Casals N, Rodríguez-Álvarez J, Miñano-Molina AJ, Unzeta M. Blood-brain barrier dysfunction underlying Alzheimer's disease is induced by an SSAO/VAP-1-dependent cerebrovascular activation with enhanced Aβ deposition. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2019; 1865:2189-2202. [PMID: 31047972 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2019.04.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2018] [Revised: 03/03/2019] [Accepted: 04/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Dysfunctions of the vascular system directly contribute to the onset and progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD). The blood-brain barrier (BBB) shows signs of malfunction at early stages of the disease. When Abeta peptide (Aβ) is deposited on brain vessels, it induces vascular degeneration by producing reactive oxygen species and promoting inflammation. These molecular processes are also related to an excessive SSAO/VAP-1 (semicarbazide-sensitive amine oxidase) enzymatic activity, observed in plasma and in cerebrovascular tissue of AD patients. We studied the contribution of vascular SSAO/VAP-1 to the BBB dysfunction in AD using in vitro BBB models. Our results show that SSAO/VAP-1 expression is associated to endothelial activation by altering the release of pro-inflammatory and pro-angiogenic angioneurins, most highly IL-6, IL-8 and VEGF. It is also related to a BBB structure alteration, with a decrease in tight-junction proteins such as zona occludens or claudin-5. Moreover, the BBB function reveals increased permeability and leukocyte adhesion in cells expressing SSAO/VAP-1, as well as an enhancement of the vascular Aβ deposition induced by mechanisms both dependent and independent of the enzymatic activity of SSAO/VAP-1. These results reveal an interesting role of vascular SSAO/VAP-1 in BBB dysfunction related to AD progression, opening a new window in the search of alternative therapeutic targets for fighting AD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Montse Solé
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Department, Institute of Neurosciences (INc), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - María Esteban-Lopez
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Department, Institute of Neurosciences (INc), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Biel Taltavull
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Department, Institute of Neurosciences (INc), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Cristina Fábregas
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Department, Institute of Neurosciences (INc), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Rut Fadó
- Basic Sciences Department, Facultat de Medicina i Ciències de la Salut, Universitat Internacional de Catalunya (UIC), Sant Cugat del Vallès, Spain
| | - Núria Casals
- Basic Sciences Department, Facultat de Medicina i Ciències de la Salut, Universitat Internacional de Catalunya (UIC), Sant Cugat del Vallès, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y la Nutrición (CIBEROBN), Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Jose Rodríguez-Álvarez
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Department, Institute of Neurosciences (INc), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Madrid, Spain; Dominick P. Purpura Department of Neuroscience, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, NY 10461, USA
| | - Alfredo J Miñano-Molina
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Department, Institute of Neurosciences (INc), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Madrid, Spain
| | - Mercedes Unzeta
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Department, Institute of Neurosciences (INc), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain.
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Cho SJ, Lim HJ, Jo C, Park MH, Han C, Koh YH. Plasma ATG5 is increased in Alzheimer's disease. Sci Rep 2019; 9:4741. [PMID: 30894637 PMCID: PMC6427023 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-41347-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2018] [Accepted: 03/07/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a major cause of dementia. Growing evidence suggests that dysregulation of autophagy, a cellular mechanism essential for self-digestion of damaged proteins and organelles, is involved in neurological degenerative diseases including AD. Previously, we reported that autophagosomes are increased in the brains of AD mouse model. However, the plasma levels of autophagic markers have not yet been investigated in patients with AD. In this study, we investigated the expression of autophagy-related genes 5 and 12 (ATG5 and ATG12, respectively) in cells in vitro upon amyloid-beta (Aβ) treatment and in the plasma of AD patients. ATG5-ATG12 complex levels were increased in primary rat cortical neurons and human umbilical vein endothelial cells after Aβ treatment. Furthermore, we compared plasma from 69 patients with dementia, 82 patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and 127 cognitively normal control participants. Plasma levels of ATG5 were significantly elevated in patients with dementia (149.3 ± 7.5 ng/mL) or MCI (152.9 ± 6.9 ng/mL) compared with the control subjects (129.0 ± 4.1 ng/mL) (p = 0.034, p = 0.016, respectively). Our results indicate that alterations in the plasma ATG5 levels might be a potential biomarker in patients at risk for AD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sun-Jung Cho
- Division of Brain Diseases, Center for Biomedical Sciences, Korea National Institute of Health, 187 Osongsaengmyeong2-ro, Osong-eup, Heungdeok-gu, Cheongju-si, Chungcheongbuk-do, 28159, Korea
| | - Hyun Joung Lim
- Division of Brain Diseases, Center for Biomedical Sciences, Korea National Institute of Health, 187 Osongsaengmyeong2-ro, Osong-eup, Heungdeok-gu, Cheongju-si, Chungcheongbuk-do, 28159, Korea
| | - Chulman Jo
- Division of Brain Diseases, Center for Biomedical Sciences, Korea National Institute of Health, 187 Osongsaengmyeong2-ro, Osong-eup, Heungdeok-gu, Cheongju-si, Chungcheongbuk-do, 28159, Korea
| | - Moon Ho Park
- Departments of Neurology, Korea University, Ansan Hospital, 123 Jeokgeum-ro, Danwon-gu, Ansan-si, Gyeonggi-do, 15355, Korea
| | - Changsu Han
- Psychiatry, College of Medicine, Korea University, Ansan Hospital, 123 Jeokgeum-ro, Danwon-gu, Ansan-si, Gyeonggi-do, 15355, Korea
| | - Young Ho Koh
- Division of Brain Diseases, Center for Biomedical Sciences, Korea National Institute of Health, 187 Osongsaengmyeong2-ro, Osong-eup, Heungdeok-gu, Cheongju-si, Chungcheongbuk-do, 28159, Korea.
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
Singh Angom R, Wang Y, Wang E, Pal K, Bhattacharya S, Watzlawik JO, Rosenberry TL, Das P, Mukhopadhyay D. VEGF receptor-1 modulates amyloid β 1-42 oligomer-induced senescence in brain endothelial cells. FASEB J 2019; 33:4626-4637. [PMID: 30576228 PMCID: PMC6404587 DOI: 10.1096/fj.201802003r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2018] [Accepted: 11/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Aggregated amyloid β (Aβ) peptides in the Alzheimer's disease (AD) brain are hypothesized to trigger several downstream pathologies, including cerebrovascular dysfunction. Previous studies have shown that Aβ peptides can have antiangiogenic properties, which may contribute to vascular dysfunction in the early stages of the disease process. We have generated data showing that brain endothelial cells (ECs) exposed to toxic Aβ1-42 oligomers can readily enter a senescence phenotype. To determine the effect of Aβ oligomers on brain ECs, we treated early passaged human brain microvascular ECs and HUVECs with high MW Aβ1-42 oligomers (5 µM, for 72 h). For controls, we used no peptide treatment, 5 µM Aβ1-42 monomers, and 5 µM Aβ1-42 fibrils, respectively. Brain ECs treated with Aβ1-42 oligomers showed increased senescence-associated β-galactosidase staining and increased senescence-associated p21/p53 expression. Treatment with either Aβ1-42 monomer or Aβ1-42 fibrils did not induce senescence in this assay. We then measured vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR) expression in the Aβ1-42 oligomer-treated ECs, and these cells showed significantly increased VEGFR-1 expression and decreased VEGFR-2 levels. Overexpression of VEGFR-1 in brain ECs readily induced senescence, suggesting a direct role of VEGFR-1 signaling events in this paradigm. More importantly, small interfering RNA-mediated knockdown of VEGFR-1 expression in brain ECs was able to prevent up-regulation of p21 protein expression and significantly reduced induction of senescence following Aβ1-42 oligomer treatment. Our studies show that exposure to Aβ1-42 oligomers may impair vascular functions by altering VEGFR-1 expression and causing ECs to enter a senescent phenotype. Altered VEGFR expression has been documented in brains of AD patients and suggests that this pathway may play a role in AD disease pathogenesis. These studies suggest that modulating VEGFR-1 expression and signaling events could potentially prevent senescence and rejuvenate EC functions, and provides us with a novel target to pursue for prevention and treatment of cerebrovascular dysfunction in AD.-Angom, R. S., Wang, Y., Wang, E., Pal, K., Bhattacharya, S., Watzlawik, J. O., Rosenberry, T. L., Das, P., Mukhopadhyay, D. VEGF receptor-1 modulates amyloid β 1-42 oligomer-induced senescence in brain endothelial cells.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Ying Wang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and
| | - Enfeng Wang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and
| | | | | | - Jens O. Watzlawik
- Department of Neuroscience, College of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, Florida, USA
| | - Terrone L. Rosenberry
- Department of Neuroscience, College of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, Florida, USA
| | - Pritam Das
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and
| | | |
Collapse
|
37
|
Lim HJ, Park JH, Jo C, Yoon K, Koh YH. Cigarette smoke extracts and cadmium induce COX-2 expression through γ-secretase-mediated p38 MAPK activation in C6 astroglia cells. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0212749. [PMID: 30794693 PMCID: PMC6386363 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0212749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2018] [Accepted: 02/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Exposure to cigarette smoke has been implicated in the progression of cerebrovascular and neurological disorders like stroke through inflammation and blood-brain barrier disruption. In this study, we investigated the signaling cascade activated by cigarette smoke extracts (CSE) and cadmium (Cd) resulting in the COX-2 induction in C6 rat astroglia cells. CSE or Cd induced Notch1 cleavage and activated p38 MAPK and CREB signaling pathways in C6 astroglia cells. Knockdown of nicastrin using siRNA or γ-secretase inhibitors, DAPT and L-685,486, reduced Notch1 cleavage and phosphorylation of p38 MAPK and CREB, while phosphorylation of ERK and JNK remained unaffected. Additionally, the blockage of γ-secretase activity did not show any effect on the phosphorylation of AKT, another upstream activator of CREB, indicating that γ-secretase-mediated CREB activation occurs via p38 MAPK. γ-secretase inhibitor also inhibited the CSE and Cd-mediated increase in the expression of COX-2. Furthermore, recombinant overexpression of Notch1 intracellular domain resulted in an increase in the expression of COX-2. Notch signaling induced by CSE and Cd induced apoptosis in C6 cells. Our results demonstrate that CSE exposure activated the p38 MAPK and CREB-mediated induction in COX-2 expression in astrocytes via γ-secretase-mediated Notch1 signaling. Our data provides novel insights into the potential mechanism of pro-inflammatory response activated by exposure to cigarette smoke.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hyun Joung Lim
- Division of Brain Diseases, Center for Biomedical Sciences, Korea National Institute of Health, Osong-eup, Heungdeok-gu, Cheongju-si, Chungcheongbuk-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Jung Hyun Park
- Division of Brain Diseases, Center for Biomedical Sciences, Korea National Institute of Health, Osong-eup, Heungdeok-gu, Cheongju-si, Chungcheongbuk-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Chulman Jo
- Division of Brain Diseases, Center for Biomedical Sciences, Korea National Institute of Health, Osong-eup, Heungdeok-gu, Cheongju-si, Chungcheongbuk-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Keejung Yoon
- College of Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Sungkyunkwan University, Jangan-gu, Suwon-si, Gyeonggi-do, Korea
| | - Young Ho Koh
- Division of Brain Diseases, Center for Biomedical Sciences, Korea National Institute of Health, Osong-eup, Heungdeok-gu, Cheongju-si, Chungcheongbuk-do, Republic of Korea
| |
Collapse
|