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Espargaró A, Álvarez-Berbel I, Busquets MA, Sabate R. In Vivo Assays for Amyloid-Related Diseases. ANNUAL REVIEW OF ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY (PALO ALTO, CALIF.) 2024; 17:433-458. [PMID: 38598824 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-anchem-061622-023326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/12/2024]
Abstract
Amyloid-related diseases, such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease, are devastating conditions caused by the accumulation of abnormal protein aggregates known as amyloid fibrils. While assays involving animal models are essential for understanding the pathogenesis and developing therapies, a wide array of standard analytical techniques exists to enhance our understanding of these disorders. These techniques provide valuable information on the formation and propagation of amyloid fibrils, as well as the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of candidate drugs. Despite ethical concerns surrounding animal use, animal models remain vital tools in the search for treatments. Regardless of the specific animal model chosen, the analytical methods used are usually standardized. Therefore, the main objective of this review is to categorize and outline the primary analytical methods used in in vivo assays for amyloid-related diseases, highlighting their critical role in furthering our understanding of these disorders and developing effective therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alba Espargaró
- 1Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology and Department of Physical Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain;
- 2Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (IN2UB), University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Irene Álvarez-Berbel
- 1Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology and Department of Physical Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain;
| | - Maria Antònia Busquets
- 1Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology and Department of Physical Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain;
- 2Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (IN2UB), University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Raimon Sabate
- 1Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology and Department of Physical Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain;
- 2Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (IN2UB), University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
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2
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Alava B, Hery G, Sidhom S, Gutierrez-Monreal M, Prokop S, Esser KA, Abisambra J. Targeted brain-specific tauopathy compromises peripheral skeletal muscle integrity and function. AGING BRAIN 2024; 5:100110. [PMID: 38419621 PMCID: PMC10900120 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbas.2024.100110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2024] [Revised: 02/16/2024] [Accepted: 02/21/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Tauopathies are neurodegenerative disorders in which the pathological intracellular aggregation of the protein tau causes cognitive deficits. Additionally, clinical studies report muscle weakness in populations with tauopathy. However, whether neuronal pathological tau species confer muscle weakness, and whether skeletal muscle maintains contractile capacity in primary tauopathy remains unknown. Here, we identified skeletal muscle abnormalities in a mouse model of primary tauopathy, expressing human mutant P301L-tau using adeno-associated virus serotype 8 (AAV8). AAV8-P301L mice showed grip strength deficits, hyperactivity, and abnormal histological features of skeletal muscle. Additionally, spatially resolved gene expression of muscle cross sections were altered in AAV8-P301L myofibers. Transcriptional changes showed alterations of genes encoding sarcomeric proteins, proposing a weakness phenotype. Strikingly, specific force of the soleus muscle was blunted in AAV8-P301L tau male mice. Our findings suggest tauopathy has peripheral consequences in skeletal muscle that contribute to weakness in tauopathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bryan Alava
- Department of Physiology and Aging, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
- Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease (CTRND), University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Gabriela Hery
- Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease (CTRND), University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Silvana Sidhom
- Department of Physiology and Aging, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | | | - Stefan Prokop
- Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease (CTRND), University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
- Department of Pathology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Karyn A. Esser
- Department of Physiology and Aging, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Jose Abisambra
- Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease (CTRND), University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
- Brain Injury Rehabilitation and Neuroresilience (BRAIN) Center, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32601, USA
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3
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Canet G, Rocaboy E, Diego-Diàz S, Whittington RA, Julien C, Planel E. Methods for Biochemical Isolation of Insoluble Tau in Rodent Models of Tauopathies. Methods Mol Biol 2024; 2754:323-341. [PMID: 38512674 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3629-9_17] [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] [Indexed: 03/23/2024]
Abstract
The intracellular accumulation of microtubule-associated protein tau is a characteristic feature of tauopathies, a group of neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer's disease. Formation of insoluble tau aggregates is initiated by the abnormal hyperphosphorylation and oligomerization of tau. Over the past decades, multiple transgenic rodent models mimicking tauopathies have been develop, showcasing this neuropathological hallmark. The biochemical analysis of insoluble tau in these models has served as a valuable tool to understand the progression of tau-related pathology. In this chapter, we provide a comprehensive review of the two primary methods for isolating insoluble tau, namely, sarkosyl and formic acid extraction (and their variants), which are employed for biochemical analysis in transgenic mouse models of tauopathy. We also analyze the strengths and limitations of these methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geoffrey Canet
- Faculté de Médecine, Département de Psychiatrie et Neurosciences, Université Laval, Quebec, QC, Canada
- Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec - Université Laval, Axe Neurosciences, Quebec, QC, Canada
| | - Emma Rocaboy
- Faculté de Médecine, Département de Psychiatrie et Neurosciences, Université Laval, Quebec, QC, Canada
- Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec - Université Laval, Axe Neurosciences, Quebec, QC, Canada
| | - Sofia Diego-Diàz
- Faculté de Médecine, Département de Psychiatrie et Neurosciences, Université Laval, Quebec, QC, Canada
- Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec - Université Laval, Axe Neurosciences, Quebec, QC, Canada
| | - Robert A Whittington
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Carl Julien
- Centre de Recherche en Sciences Animales de Deschambault, Deschambault, QC, Canada
- Faculté des sciences de l'agriculture et de l'alimentation, Université Laval, Quebec, QC, Canada
| | - Emmanuel Planel
- Faculté de Médecine, Département de Psychiatrie et Neurosciences, Université Laval, Quebec, QC, Canada.
- Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec - Université Laval, Axe Neurosciences, Quebec, QC, Canada.
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4
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Alava B, Hery G, Sidhom S, Prokop S, Esser K, Abisambra J. Targeted brain-specific tauopathy compromises peripheral skeletal muscle integrity and function. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.11.17.567586. [PMID: 38014109 PMCID: PMC10680826 DOI: 10.1101/2023.11.17.567586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
Tauopathies are neurodegenerative disorders in which the pathological intracellular aggregation of the protein tau causes cognitive deficits. Additionally, clinical studies report muscle weakness in populations with tauopathy. However, whether neuronal pathological tau species confer muscle weakness, and whether skeletal muscle maintains contractile capacity in primary tauopathy remains unknown. Here, we identified skeletal muscle abnormalities in a mouse model of primary tauopathy, expressing human mutant P301L-tau using adeno-associated virus serotype 8 (AAV8). AAV8-P301L mice showed grip strength deficits, hyperactivity, and abnormal histological features of skeletal muscle. Additionally, spatially resolved gene expression of muscle cross sections were altered in AAV8-P301L myofibers. Transcriptional changes showed alterations of genes encoding sarcomeric proteins, proposing a weakness phenotype. Strikingly, specific force of the soleus muscle was blunted in AAV8-P301L tau male mice. Our findings suggest tauopathy has peripheral consequences in skeletal muscle that contribute to weakness in tauopathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bryan Alava
- Department of Physiology and Aging, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, 32610, USA
- Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease (CTRND), University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, 32610, USA
| | - Gabriela Hery
- Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease (CTRND), University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, 32610, USA
| | - Silvana Sidhom
- Department of Physiology and Aging, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, 32610, USA
| | - Stefan Prokop
- Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease (CTRND), University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, 32610, USA
- Department of Pathology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, 32610, USA
| | - Karyn Esser
- Department of Physiology and Aging, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, 32610, USA
| | - Jose Abisambra
- Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease (CTRND), University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, 32610, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, 32610, USA
- Brain Injury Rehabilitation and Neuroresilience (BRAIN) Center, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, 32601, USA
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Yukawa K, Yamamoto-Mcguire S, Cafaro L, Hong C, Kamme F, Ikezu T, Ikezu S. Antisense oligonucleotide-based targeting of Tau-tubulin kinase 1 prevents hippocampal accumulation of phosphorylated tau in PS19 tauopathy mice. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2023; 11:166. [PMID: 37853497 PMCID: PMC10585748 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-023-01661-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2023] [Accepted: 09/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Tau tubulin kinase-1 (TTBK1), a neuron-specific tau kinase, is highly expressed in the entorhinal cortex and hippocampal regions, where early tau pathology evolves in Alzheimer's disease (AD). The protein expression level of TTBK1 is elevated in the cortex brain tissues with AD patients compared to the control subjects. We therefore hypothesized that antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) based targeting Ttbk1 could prevent the accumulation of phosphorylated tau, thereby delaying the development of tau pathology in AD. Here we show that in vivo administration of ASO targeting mouse Ttbk1 (ASO-Ttbk1) specifically suppressed the expression of Ttbk1 without affecting Ttbk2 expression in the temporal cortex of PS19 tau transgenic mice. Central administration of ASO-Ttbk1 in PS19 mice significantly reduced the expression level of representative phosphor-tau epitopes relevant to AD at 8 weeks post-dose, including pT231, pT181, and pS396 in the sarkosyl soluble and insoluble fractions isolated from hippocampal tissues as determined by ELISA and pS422 in soluble fractions as determined by western blotting. Immunofluorescence demonstrated that ASO-Ttbk1 significantly reduced pS422 phosphorylated tau intensity in mossy fibers region of the dentate gyrus in PS19 mice. RNA-sequence analysis of the temporal cortex tissue revealed significant enrichment of interferon-gamma and complement pathways and increased expression of antigen presenting molecules (Cd86, Cd74, and H2-Aa) in PS19 mice treated with ASO-Ttbk1, suggesting its potential effect on microglial phenotype although neurotoxic effect was absent. These data suggest that TTBK1 is an attractive therapeutic target to suppress TTBK1 without compromising TTBK2 expression and pathological tau phosphorylation in the early stages of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kayo Yukawa
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, 02118, USA
| | - Satomi Yamamoto-Mcguire
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, 02118, USA
| | - Louis Cafaro
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, 02118, USA
| | | | | | - Tsuneya Ikezu
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, 02118, USA.
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic Florida, Jacksonville, FL, 32224, USA.
- Regenerative Science Graduate Program, Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA.
- Mayo Clinic Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA.
- Robert and Arlene Kogod Center on Aging, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA.
| | - Seiko Ikezu
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, 02118, USA.
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic Florida, Jacksonville, FL, 32224, USA.
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Sahara N, Yanai R. Limitations of human tau-expressing mouse models and novel approaches of mouse modeling for tauopathy. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1149761. [PMID: 37152607 PMCID: PMC10157230 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1149761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2023] [Accepted: 03/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) composed of hyperphosphorylated tau protein are primarily neuropathological features of a number of neurodegenerative diseases, collectively termed tauopathy. There is no disease-modifying drug available for tauopathy except anti-amyloid antibody therapies for Alzheimer's disease. For tau-targeting therapy, experimental models recapitulating human tau pathologies are indispensable. However, there are limited numbers of animal models that display intracellular filamentous tau aggregations. At present, several lines of P301L/S mutant tau-expressing transgenic mice successfully developed neurofibrillary pathology in the central nervous system, while most non-mutant tau-expressing transgenic mice rarely developed tau pathology. Importantly, recent studies have revealed that transgenes disrupt the coding sequence of endogenous genes, resulting in deletions and/or structural variations at the insertion site. Although any impact on the pathogenesis of tauopathy is unknown, gene disruptions may affect age-related neurodegeneration including tangle formation and brain atrophy. Moreover, some mouse lines show strain-dependent pathological features. These limitations (FTDP-17 mutations, insertion/deletion mutations, and genetic background) are a major hindrance to the establishment of a precise disease model of tauopathy. In this review, we noticed both the utility and the pitfalls of current P301L/S mutant tau-expressing transgenic mice, and we propose future strategies of mouse modeling to replicate human tauopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naruhiko Sahara
- Department of Functional Brain Imaging, Institute for Quantum Medical Sciences, National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology, Chiba, Japan
| | - Rin Yanai
- Department of Functional Brain Imaging, Institute for Quantum Medical Sciences, National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology, Chiba, Japan
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Increase in Tau Pathology in P290S Mapt Knock-In Mice Crossed with App NL-G-F Mice. eNeuro 2022; 9:ENEURO.0247-22.2022. [PMID: 36635241 PMCID: PMC9770019 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0247-22.2022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2022] [Revised: 10/27/2022] [Accepted: 11/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is characterized by the pathologic assembly of amyloid β (Aβ) peptide, which deposits into extracellular plaques, and tau, which accumulates in intraneuronal inclusions. To investigate the link between Aβ and tau pathologies, experimental models featuring both pathologies are needed. We developed a mouse model featuring both tau and Aβ pathologies by knocking the P290S mutation into murine Mapt and crossing these Mapt P290S knock-in (KI) mice with the App NL-G-F KI line. Mapt P290S KI mice developed a small number of tau inclusions, which increased with age. The amount of tau pathology was significantly larger in App NL-G-F xMapt P290S KI mice from 18 months of age onward. Tau pathology was higher in limbic areas, including hippocampus, amygdala, and piriform/entorhinal cortex. We also observed AT100-positive and Gallyas-Braak-silver-positive dystrophic neurites containing assembled filamentous tau, as visualized by in situ electron microscopy. Using a cell-based tau seeding assay, we showed that Sarkosyl-insoluble brain extracts from both 18-month-old Mapt P290S KI and App NL-G-F xMapt P290S KI mice were seed competent, with brain extracts from double-KI mice seeding significantly more than those from the Mapt P290S KI mice. Finally, we showed that App NL-G-F xMapt P290S KI mice had neurodegeneration in the piriform cortex from 18 months of age. We suggest that App NL-G-F xMapt P290S KI mice provide a good model for studying the interactions of aggregation-prone tau, Aβ, neuritic plaques, neurodegeneration, and aging.
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Tsolaki E, Csincsik L, Xue J, Lengyel I, Bertazzo S. Nuclear and cellular, micro and nano calcification in Alzheimer's disease patients and correlation to phosphorylated Tau. Acta Biomater 2022; 143:138-144. [PMID: 35259518 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2022.03.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2021] [Revised: 02/25/2022] [Accepted: 03/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Brain calcification (calcium phosphate mineral formation) has been reported in the past 100 years in the brains of Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients. However, the association between calcification and AD, the triggers for calcification, and its role within the disease are not clear. On the other hand, hyperphosphorylated Tau protein (pTau) tangles have been widely studied and recognized as an essential factor in developing AD. In this work, calcification in the brains of AD patients is characterized by advanced electron microscopy and fluorescence microscopy. Results are then compared to samples from cognitively healthy, age-matched donors, and the colocalization of calcification and pTau is investigated. Here, we show that AD patients' brains present microcalcification associated with the neural cell nuclei and cell projections, and that these are strongly related to the presence of pTau. The link between microcalcification and pTau suggests a potential mechanism of brain cell damage. Together with the formation of amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles, microcalcification in neuronal cells adds to a better understanding of the pathology of AD. Finally, the presence of microcalcification in the neuronal cells of AD patients may assist in AD diagnosis, and may open avenues for developing intervention strategies based on inhibition of calcification. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Brain calcification has been reported in the past 100 years in the brains of Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients. However, the association between calcification and AD is not clear. Hyperphosphorylated Tau protein (pTau) has been studied and recognized as a key factor in developing AD. We show here that AD patients' brains present microcalcification associated with the neuronal cell nuclei and cell projections, and that these are related to the presence of pTau. The study of calcification in brain cells can contribute to a better understanding of the biochemical mechanisms associated with AD and might also reveal that calcification is part of the full disease mechanism. Moreover, this work opens the possibility for using calcification as a biomarker to identify AD.
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Clioquinol Decreases Levels of Phosphorylated, Truncated, and Oligomerized Tau Protein. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms222112063. [PMID: 34769495 PMCID: PMC8584684 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222112063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2021] [Revised: 10/24/2021] [Accepted: 10/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The neuropathological hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease (AD) are senile plaques (SPs), which are composed of amyloid β protein (Aβ), and neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs), which consist of highly phosphorylated tau protein. As bio-metal imbalance may be involved in the formation of NFT and SPs, metal regulation may be a direction for AD treatment. Clioquinol (CQ) is a metal-protein attenuating compound with mild chelating effects for Zn2+ and Cu2+, and CQ can not only detach metals from SPs, but also decrease amyloid aggregation in the brain. Previous studies suggested that Cu2+ induces the hyperphosphorylation of tau. However, the effects of CQ on tau were not fully explored. To examine the effects of CQ on tau metabolism, we used a human neuroblastoma cell line, M1C cells, which express wild-type tau protein (4R0N) via tetracycline-off (TetOff) induction. In a morphological study and ATP assay, up to 10 μM CQ had no effect on cell viability; however, 100 μM CQ had cytotoxic effects. CQ decreased accumulation of Cu+ in the M1C cells (39.4% of the control), and both total and phosphorylated tau protein. It also decreased the activity of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK) (37.3% and 60.7% levels of the control, respectively), which are tau kinases. Of note, activation of protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A), which is a tau phosphatase, was also observed after CQ treatment. Fractionation experiments demonstrated a reduction of oligomeric tau in the tris insoluble, sarkosyl soluble fraction by CQ treatment. CQ also decreased caspase-cleaved tau, which accelerated the aggregation of tau protein. CQ activated autophagy and proteasome pathways, which are considered important for the degradation of tau protein. Although further studies are needed to elucidate the mechanisms responsible for the effects of CQ on tau, CQ may shed light on possible AD therapeutics.
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Guo L, Ravindran N, Shamsher E, Hill D, Cordeiro MF. Retinal Changes in Transgenic Mouse Models of Alzheimer's Disease. Curr Alzheimer Res 2021; 18:89-102. [PMID: 33855942 DOI: 10.2174/1567205018666210414113634] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2020] [Revised: 02/09/2021] [Accepted: 04/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder, the most common form of dementia. AD is characterised by amyloid-β (Aβ) plaques and neurofibrillary tangles (NFT) in the brain, in association with neuronal loss and synaptic failure, causing cognitive deficits. Accurate and early diagnosis is currently unavailable in lifespan, hampering early intervention of potential new treatments. Visual deficits have been well documented in AD patients, and the pathological changes identified in the brain are also believed to be found in the retina, an integral part of the central nervous system. Retinal changes can be detected by real-time non-invasive imaging, due to the transparent nature of the ocular media, potentially allowing an earlier diagnosis as well as monitoring disease progression and treatment outcome. Animal models are essential for AD research, and this review has a focus on retinal changes in various transgenic AD mouse models with retinal imaging and immunohistochemical analysis as well as therapeutic effects in those models. We also discuss the limitations of transgenic AD models in clinical translations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Guo
- Glaucoma & Retinal Neurodegeneration Research Group, Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Nivedita Ravindran
- Glaucoma & Retinal Neurodegeneration Research Group, Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Ehtesham Shamsher
- Glaucoma & Retinal Neurodegeneration Research Group, Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Daniel Hill
- Glaucoma & Retinal Neurodegeneration Research Group, Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - M Francesca Cordeiro
- Glaucoma & Retinal Neurodegeneration Research Group, Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
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11
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Differential accumulation of tau pathology between reciprocal F1 hybrids of rTg4510 mice. Sci Rep 2021; 11:9623. [PMID: 33953293 PMCID: PMC8100160 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-89142-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2021] [Accepted: 04/22/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Tau, a family of microtubule-associated proteins, forms abnormal intracellular inclusions, so-called tau pathology, in a range of neurodegenerative diseases collectively known as tauopathies. The rTg4510 mouse model is a well-characterized bitransgenic F1 hybrid mouse model of tauopathy, which was obtained by crossing a Camk2α-tTA mouse line (on a C57BL/6 J background) with a tetO-MAPT*P301L mouse line (on a FVB/NJ background). The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of the genetic background and sex on the accumulation of tau pathology in reciprocal F1 hybrids of rTg4510 mice, i.e., rTg4510 on the (C57BL/6 J × FVB/NJ)F1 background (rTg4510_CxF) and on the (FVB/NJ × C57BL/6 J)F1 background (rTg4510_FxC). As compared with rTg4510_CxF mice, the rTg4510_FxC mice showed marked levels of tau pathology in the forebrain. Biochemical analyses indicated that the accumulation of abnormal tau species was accelerated in rTg4510_FxC mice. There were strong effects of the genetic background on the differential accumulation of tau pathology in rTg4510 mice, while sex had no apparent effect. Interestingly, midline-1 (Mid1) was identified as a candidate gene associated with this difference and exhibited significant up/downregulation according to the genetic background. Mid1 silencing with siRNA induced pathological phosphorylation of tau in HEK293T cells that stably expressed human tau with the P301L mutation, suggesting the role of Mid1 in pathological alterations of tau. Elucidation of the underlying mechanisms will provide novel insights into the accumulation of tau pathology and is expected to be especially informative to researchers for the continued development of therapeutic interventions for tauopathies.
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12
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Gabr MT, Barbault F. First dual binder of microRNA-146a and monomeric tau: a novel approach for multitargeted therapeutics for neurodegenerative diseases. Chem Commun (Camb) 2021; 56:9695-9698. [PMID: 32699863 DOI: 10.1039/d0cc04249h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
We report a new approach for the development of multitargeted therapeutics for Alzheimer's disease (AD) based on dual targeting of monomeric tau and biogenesis of microRNA-146a. Compound MG-1102 displayed a superior neuroprotective activity, in comparison to mono-targeted therapeutics, which validates the likelihood of the success of this approach in AD drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moustafa T Gabr
- Department of Radiology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
| | - Florent Barbault
- Universite de Paris, ITODYS, CNRS, UMR 7086, 15 Rue J-A de Baïf, F-75013, Paris, France
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13
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Lemke N, Melis V, Lauer D, Magbagbeolu M, Neumann B, Harrington CR, Riedel G, Wischik CM, Theuring F, Schwab K. Differential compartmental processing and phosphorylation of pathogenic human tau and native mouse tau in the line 66 model of frontotemporal dementia. J Biol Chem 2020; 295:18508-18523. [PMID: 33127647 PMCID: PMC7939472 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra120.014890] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2020] [Revised: 10/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Synapse loss is associated with motor and cognitive decline in multiple neurodegenerative disorders, and the cellular redistribution of tau is related to synaptic impairment in tauopathies, such as Alzheimer's disease and frontotemporal dementia. Here, we examined the cellular distribution of tau protein species in human tau overexpressing line 66 mice, a transgenic mouse model akin to genetic variants of frontotemporal dementia. Line 66 mice express intracellular tau aggregates in multiple brain regions and exhibit sensorimotor and motor learning deficiencies. Using a series of anti-tau antibodies, we observed, histologically, that nonphosphorylated transgenic human tau is enriched in synapses, whereas phosphorylated tau accumulates predominantly in cell bodies and axons. Subcellular fractionation confirmed that human tau is highly enriched in insoluble cytosolic and synaptosomal fractions, whereas endogenous mouse tau is virtually absent from synapses. Cytosolic tau was resistant to solubilization with urea and Triton X-100, indicating the formation of larger tau aggregates. By contrast, synaptic tau was partially soluble after Triton X-100 treatment and most likely represents aggregates of smaller size. MS corroborated that synaptosomal tau is nonphosphorylated. Tau enriched in the synapse of line 66 mice, therefore, appears to be in an oligomeric and nonphosphorylated state, and one that could have a direct impact on cognitive function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nora Lemke
- Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany; Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und-prüfung, Berlin, Germany
| | - Valeria Melis
- School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, University of Aberdeen, Foresterhill, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
| | | | | | - Boris Neumann
- Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany; Proteome Factory AG, Berlin, Germany
| | - Charles R Harrington
- School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, University of Aberdeen, Foresterhill, Aberdeen, United Kingdom; TauRx Therapeutics Ltd., Aberdeen, United Kingdom
| | - Gernot Riedel
- School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, University of Aberdeen, Foresterhill, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
| | - Claude M Wischik
- School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, University of Aberdeen, Foresterhill, Aberdeen, United Kingdom; TauRx Therapeutics Ltd., Aberdeen, United Kingdom
| | | | - Karima Schwab
- Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
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14
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Natunen T, Martiskainen H, Marttinen M, Gabbouj S, Koivisto H, Kemppainen S, Kaipainen S, Takalo M, Svobodová H, Leppänen L, Kemiläinen B, Ryhänen S, Kuulasmaa T, Rahunen E, Juutinen S, Mäkinen P, Miettinen P, Rauramaa T, Pihlajamäki J, Haapasalo A, Leinonen V, Tanila H, Hiltunen M. Diabetic phenotype in mouse and humans reduces the number of microglia around β-amyloid plaques. Mol Neurodegener 2020; 15:66. [PMID: 33168021 PMCID: PMC7653710 DOI: 10.1186/s13024-020-00415-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2020] [Accepted: 10/26/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disease and type 2 diabetes (T2D) plays an important role in conferring the risk for AD. Although AD and T2D share common features, the common molecular mechanisms underlying these two diseases remain elusive. Methods Mice with different AD- and/or tauopathy-linked genetic backgrounds (APPswe/PS1dE9, Tau P301L and APPswe/PS1dE9/Tau P301L) were fed for 6 months with standard diet or typical Western diet (TWD). After behavioral and metabolic assessments of the mice, the effects of TWD on global gene expression as well as dystrophic neurite and microglia pathology were elucidated. Consequently, mechanistic aspects related to autophagy, cell survival, phagocytic uptake as well as Trem2/Dap12 signaling pathway, were assessed in microglia upon modulation of PI3K-Akt signaling. To evaluate whether the mouse model-derived results translate to human patients, the effects of diabetic phenotype on microglial pathology were assessed in cortical biopsies of idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH) patients encompassing β-amyloid pathology. Results TWD led to obesity and diabetic phenotype in all mice regardless of the genetic background. TWD also exacerbated memory and learning impairment in APPswe/PS1dE9 and Tau P301L mice. Gene co-expression network analysis revealed impaired microglial responses to AD-related pathologies in APPswe/PS1dE9 and APPswe/PS1dE9/Tau P301L mice upon TWD, pointing specifically towards aberrant microglial functionality due to altered downstream signaling of Trem2 and PI3K-Akt. Accordingly, fewer microglia, which did not show morphological changes, and increased number of dystrophic neurites around β-amyloid plaques were discovered in the hippocampus of TWD mice. Mechanistic studies in mouse microglia revealed that interference of PI3K-Akt signaling significantly decreased phagocytic uptake and proinflammatory response. Moreover, increased activity of Syk-kinase upon ligand-induced activation of Trem2/Dap12 signaling was detected. Finally, characterization of microglial pathology in cortical biopsies of iNPH patients revealed a significant decrease in the number of microglia per β-amyloid plaque in obese individuals with concomitant T2D as compared to both normal weight and obese individuals without T2D. Conclusions Collectively, these results suggest that diabetic phenotype in mice and humans mechanistically associates with abnormally reduced microglial responses to β-amyloid pathology and further suggest that AD and T2D share overlapping pathomechanisms, likely involving altered immune function in the brain. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13024-020-00415-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teemu Natunen
- Institute of Biomedicine, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 1627, FI-70211, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Henna Martiskainen
- Institute of Biomedicine, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 1627, FI-70211, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Mikael Marttinen
- Institute of Biomedicine, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 1627, FI-70211, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Sami Gabbouj
- Institute of Biomedicine, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 1627, FI-70211, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Hennariikka Koivisto
- A. I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Susanna Kemppainen
- Institute of Biomedicine, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 1627, FI-70211, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Satu Kaipainen
- A. I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Mari Takalo
- Institute of Biomedicine, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 1627, FI-70211, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Helena Svobodová
- Department of Simulation and Virtual Medical Education, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University, Bratislava, Slovak Republic
| | - Luukas Leppänen
- Institute of Biomedicine, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 1627, FI-70211, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Benjam Kemiläinen
- Department of Neurosurgery, Kuopio University Hospital, and Institute of Clinical Medicine, Unit of Neurosurgery, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Simo Ryhänen
- Institute of Biomedicine, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 1627, FI-70211, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Teemu Kuulasmaa
- Institute of Biomedicine, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 1627, FI-70211, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Eija Rahunen
- Institute of Biomedicine, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 1627, FI-70211, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Sisko Juutinen
- Institute of Biomedicine, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 1627, FI-70211, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Petra Mäkinen
- Institute of Biomedicine, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 1627, FI-70211, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Pasi Miettinen
- A. I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Tuomas Rauramaa
- Department of Pathology, Kuopio University Hospital, and Institute of Clinical Medicine, Unit of Pathology, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Jussi Pihlajamäki
- Department of Clinical Nutrition, Institute of Public Health and Clinical Nutrition, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Annakaisa Haapasalo
- A. I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Ville Leinonen
- Department of Neurosurgery, Kuopio University Hospital, and Institute of Clinical Medicine, Unit of Neurosurgery, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Heikki Tanila
- A. I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Mikko Hiltunen
- Institute of Biomedicine, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 1627, FI-70211, Kuopio, Finland.
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15
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Gabr MT, Peccati F. Dual Targeting of Monomeric Tau and α-Synuclein Aggregation: A New Multitarget Therapeutic Strategy for Neurodegeneration. ACS Chem Neurosci 2020; 11:2051-2057. [PMID: 32579329 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.0c00281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Development of efficient multitargeted therapeutic strategies is crucial in facing the multifaceted nature of neurodegenerative diseases. Parkinson's disease (PD) and Alzheimer's disease (AD), the two most common neurodegenerative disorders, share a common hallmark of accumulation of misfolded protein aggregates which are Lewy bodies (LBs) and neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs), respectively. Tau protein and α-synuclein (α-syn), the precursors of LBs and NFTs, have demonstrated synergistic aggregation and neurotoxicity in both in vitro and in vivo models. Herein, we validate for the first time dual targeting of monomeric tau and α-syn aggregation as an efficient platform for development of multitarget therapeutics for neurological disorders. Cellular fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET)-based high-throughput screening for tau-binding compounds, followed by additional screening of the hits for their ability to impede α-syn aggregation identified MG-2119 as a potential lead. The high binding affinity of MG-2119 to monomeric tau was verified using cellular FRET assay, isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC), surface plasmon resonance (SPR), and microscale thermophoresis (MSH). Moreover, MG-2119 inhibited α-syn aggregation as revealed by thioflavin T (ThT) assay and dynamic light scattering (DLS) measurements. Interestingly, MG-2119 was capable of rescuing combined tau and α-syn-induced cytotoxicity in SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells in a dose-dependent manner. Less pronounced cell-rescuing effects were observed for single-targeted tau and α-syn aggregation inhibitors showcasing the superiority of the multitargeted approach described in this study. The satisfactory pharmacokinetic profile and low toxicity of MG-2119 hold promise for future optimization to develop potential therapeutics for neurological disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moustafa T. Gabr
- Department of Radiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305, United States
| | - Francesca Peccati
- Center for Cooperative Research in Biosciences (CIC bioGUNE), Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Bizkaia Technology Park, Building 801A, 48160 Derio, Spain
- Departament de Química, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Spain
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16
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Metaxas A, Thygesen C, Kempf SJ, Anzalone M, Vaitheeswaran R, Petersen S, Landau AM, Audrain H, Teeling JL, Darvesh S, Brooks DJ, Larsen MR, Finsen B. Ageing and amyloidosis underlie the molecular and pathological alterations of tau in a mouse model of familial Alzheimer's disease. Sci Rep 2019; 9:15758. [PMID: 31673052 PMCID: PMC6823454 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-52357-5] [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: 03/21/2019] [Accepted: 10/13/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite compelling evidence that the accumulation of amyloid-beta (Aβ) promotes neocortical MAPT (tau) aggregation in familial and idiopathic Alzheimer's disease (AD), murine models of cerebral amyloidosis are not considered to develop tau-associated pathology. In the present study, we show that tau can accumulate spontaneously in aged transgenic APPswe/PS1ΔE9 mice. Tau pathology is abundant around Aβ deposits, and further characterized by accumulation of Gallyas and thioflavin-S-positive inclusions, which were detected in the APPswe/PS1ΔE9 brain at 18 months of age. Age-dependent increases in argyrophilia correlated positively with binding levels of the paired helical filament (PHF) tracer [18F]Flortaucipir, in all brain areas examined. Sarkosyl-insoluble PHFs were visualized by electron microscopy. Quantitative proteomics identified sequences of hyperphosphorylated and three-repeat tau in transgenic mice, along with signs of RNA missplicing, ribosomal dysregulation and disturbed energy metabolism. Tissue from the frontal gyrus of human subjects was used to validate these findings, revealing primarily quantitative differences between the tau pathology observed in AD patient vs. transgenic mouse tissue. As physiological levels of endogenous, 'wild-type' tau aggregate secondarily to Aβ in APPswe/PS1ΔE9 mice, this study suggests that amyloidosis is both necessary and sufficient to drive tauopathy in experimental models of familial AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Athanasios Metaxas
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Southern Denmark, Odense C, Denmark.
| | - Camilla Thygesen
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Southern Denmark, Odense C, Denmark.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Southern Denmark, Odense M, Denmark
| | - Stefan J Kempf
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Southern Denmark, Odense M, Denmark
| | - Marco Anzalone
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Southern Denmark, Odense C, Denmark
| | | | - Sussanne Petersen
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Southern Denmark, Odense C, Denmark
| | - Anne M Landau
- Department of Nuclear Medicine and PET-Centre, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.,Translational Neuropsychiatry Unit, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Hélène Audrain
- Department of Nuclear Medicine and PET-Centre, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Jessica L Teeling
- Biological Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Sultan Darvesh
- Department of Medical Neuroscience, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada.,Department of Medicine (Neurology and Geriatric Medicine), Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - David J Brooks
- Department of Nuclear Medicine and PET-Centre, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.,Division of Neuroscience, Faculty of Medical Science, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Martin R Larsen
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Southern Denmark, Odense M, Denmark
| | - Bente Finsen
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Southern Denmark, Odense C, Denmark
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17
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Lo CH, Lim CKW, Ding Z, Wickramasinghe SP, Braun AR, Ashe KH, Rhoades E, Thomas DD, Sachs JN. Targeting the ensemble of heterogeneous tau oligomers in cells: A novel small molecule screening platform for tauopathies. Alzheimers Dement 2019; 15:1489-1502. [PMID: 31653529 DOI: 10.1016/j.jalz.2019.06.4954] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2019] [Revised: 05/30/2019] [Accepted: 06/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Understanding the heterogeneous pathology in Alzheimer's disease and related tauopathies is one of the most urgent and fundamental challenges facing the discovery of novel disease-modifying therapies. Through monitoring ensembles of toxic and nontoxic tau oligomers spontaneously formed in cells, our biosensor technology can identify tool compounds that modulate tau oligomer structure and toxicity, providing much needed insight into the nature and properties of toxic tau oligomers. BACKGROUND Tauopathies are a group of neurodegenerative disorders characterized by pathologic aggregation of the microtubule binding protein tau. Recent studies suggest that tau oligomers are the primary toxic species in tauopathies. NEW/UPDATED HYPOTHESIS We hypothesize that tau biosensors capable of monitoring tau oligomer conformation are able to identify tool compounds that modulate the structure and conformation of these tau assemblies, providing key insight into the unique structural fingerprints of toxic tau oligomers. These fingerprints will provide gravely needed biomarker profiles to improve staging of early tauopathy pathology and generate lead compounds for potential new therapeutics. Our time-resolved fluorescence resonance energy transfer biosensors provide us an exquisitely sensitive technique to monitor minute structural changes in monomer and oligomer conformation. In this proof-of-concept study, we identified a novel tool compound, MK-886, which directly binds tau, perturbs the conformation of toxic tau oligomers, and rescues tau-induced cytotoxicity. Furthermore, we show that MK-886 alters the conformation of tau monomer at the proline-rich and microtubule binding regions, stabilizing an on-pathway oligomer. MAJOR CHALLENGES FOR THE HYPOTHESIS Our approach monitors changes in the ensemble of assemblies that are spontaneously formed in cells but does not specifically isolate or enrich unique toxic tau species. However, time-resolved fluorescence resonance energy transfer does not provide high-resolution, atomic scale information, requiring additional experimental techniques to resolve the structural features stabilized by different tool compounds. LINKAGE TO OTHER MAJOR THEORIES Our biosensor technology is broadly applicable to other areas of tauopathy therapeutic development. These biosensors can be readily modified for different isoforms of tau, specific post-translational modifications, and familial Alzheimer's disease-associated mutations. We are eager to explore tau interactions with chaperone proteins, monitor cross-reactivity with other intrinsically disordered proteins, and target seeded oligomer pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chih Hung Lo
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Colin Kin-Wye Lim
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Zhipeng Ding
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Sanjula P Wickramasinghe
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics Graduate Group, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Anthony R Braun
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Karen H Ashe
- Department of Neurology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA; Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA; N. Bud Grossman Center for Memory Research and Care, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA; Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Centers, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Elizabeth Rhoades
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics Graduate Group, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - David D Thomas
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biophysics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA; Photonic Pharma LLC, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Jonathan N Sachs
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
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18
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Silva JM, Rodrigues S, Sampaio-Marques B, Gomes P, Neves-Carvalho A, Dioli C, Soares-Cunha C, Mazuik BF, Takashima A, Ludovico P, Wolozin B, Sousa N, Sotiropoulos I. Dysregulation of autophagy and stress granule-related proteins in stress-driven Tau pathology. Cell Death Differ 2019; 26:1411-1427. [PMID: 30442948 PMCID: PMC6748085 DOI: 10.1038/s41418-018-0217-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2017] [Revised: 06/01/2018] [Accepted: 06/04/2018] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Imbalance of neuronal proteostasis associated with misfolding and aggregation of Tau protein is a common neurodegenerative feature in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other Tauopathies. Consistent with suggestions that lifetime stress may be an important AD precipitating factor, we previously reported that environmental stress and high glucocorticoid (GC) levels induce accumulation of aggregated Tau; however, the molecular mechanisms for such process remain unclear. Herein, we monitor a novel interplay between RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) and autophagic machinery in the underlying mechanisms through which chronic stress and high GC levels impact on Tau proteostasis precipitating Tau aggregation. Using molecular, pharmacological and behavioral analysis, we demonstrate that chronic stress and high GC trigger mTOR-dependent inhibition of autophagy, leading to accumulation of Tau aggregates and cell death in P301L-Tau expressing mice and cells. In parallel, we found that environmental stress and GC disturb cellular homeostasis and trigger the insoluble accumulation of different RBPs, such as PABP, G3BP1, TIA-1, and FUS, shown to form stress granules (SGs) and Tau aggregation. Interestingly, an mTOR-driven pharmacological stimulation of autophagy attenuates the GC-driven accumulation of Tau and SG-related proteins as well as the related cell death, suggesting a critical interface between autophagy and the response of the SG-related protein in the neurodegenerative potential of chronic stress and GC. These studies provide novel insights into the RNA-protein intracellular signaling regulating the precipitating role of environmental stress and GC on Tau-driven brain pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joana Margarida Silva
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), Medical School, University of Minho, Campus Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Sara Rodrigues
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), Medical School, University of Minho, Campus Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Belém Sampaio-Marques
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), Medical School, University of Minho, Campus Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Patrícia Gomes
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), Medical School, University of Minho, Campus Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Andreia Neves-Carvalho
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), Medical School, University of Minho, Campus Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Chrysoula Dioli
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), Medical School, University of Minho, Campus Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Carina Soares-Cunha
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), Medical School, University of Minho, Campus Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Brandon F Mazuik
- Department of Pharmacology & Experimental Therapeutics, School of Medicine, Boston University, MA, 02118, Boston, USA
| | - Akihiko Takashima
- Department of Life Science, Faculty of Science, Gakushuin University, 171-8588, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Paula Ludovico
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), Medical School, University of Minho, Campus Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Benjamin Wolozin
- Department of Pharmacology & Experimental Therapeutics, School of Medicine, Boston University, MA, 02118, Boston, USA
| | - Nuno Sousa
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), Medical School, University of Minho, Campus Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Ioannis Sotiropoulos
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), Medical School, University of Minho, Campus Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal.
- ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal.
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19
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Umstead A, Vega IE. Tau13 Antibody Preferentially Immunoprecipitates High Molecular Weight Tau Proteins. J Alzheimers Dis 2019; 68:511-516. [PMID: 30814358 DOI: 10.3233/jad-181187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
The accumulation of tau protein aggregates is a pathological hallmark in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other neurodegenerative diseases. However, the identity of the toxic tau conformation that propagates and induces neurodegeneration is still unknown. Anti-tau antibodies are a common tool used to differentiate between normal and pathological-associated tau forms or as passive immunotherapy in the quest to interfere with tau-mediated neurodegeneration. Here, we show that Tau13, a tau N-terminal antibody, preferentially enriches high molecular weight tau species produced in a tauopathy mouse model and AD. The data suggest that Tau13 has higher affinity to specific tau conformation presence in higher molecular weight tau species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Umstead
- Department of Translational Science and Molecular Medicine, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, MI, USA
| | - Irving E Vega
- Department of Translational Science and Molecular Medicine, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, MI, USA.,Michigan Alzheimer's Disease Center Core, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.,Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
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20
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Chronic Sleep Disruption Advances the Temporal Progression of Tauopathy in P301S Mutant Mice. J Neurosci 2018; 38:10255-10270. [PMID: 30322903 PMCID: PMC6262148 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0275-18.2018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2018] [Revised: 08/09/2018] [Accepted: 09/15/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Brainstem locus ceruleus neurons (LCn) are among the first neurons across the lifespan to evidence tau pathology, and LCn are implicated in tau propagation throughout the cortices. Yet, events influencing LCn tau are poorly understood. Activated persistently across wakefulness, LCn experience significant metabolic stress in response to chronic short sleep (CSS). Here we explored whether CSS influences LCn tau and the biochemical, neuroanatomical, and/or behavioral progression of tauopathy in male and female P301S mice. CSS in early adult life advanced the temporal progression of neurobehavioral impairments and resulted in a lasting increase in soluble tau oligomers. Intriguingly, CSS resulted in an early increase in AT8 and MC1 tau pathology in the LC. Over time tau pathology, including tangles, was evident in forebrain tau-vulnerable regions. Sustained microglial and astrocytic activation was observed as well. Remarkably, CSS resulted in significant loss of neurons in the two regions examined: the basolateral amygdala and LC. A second, distinct form of chronic sleep disruption, fragmentation of sleep, during early adult life also increased tau deposition and imparted early neurobehavioral impairment. Collectively, the findings demonstrate that early life sleep disruption has important lasting effects on the temporal progression in P301S mice, influencing tau pathology and hastening neurodegeneration, neuroinflammation, and neurobehavioral impairments. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Chronic short sleep (CSS) is pervasive in modern society. Here, we found that early life CSS influences behavioral, biochemical, and neuroanatomic aspects of the temporal progression of tauopathy in a mouse model of the P301S tau mutation. Specifically, CSS hastened the onset of motor impairment and resulted in a greater loss of neurons in both the locus ceruleus and basolateral/lateral amygdala. Importantly, despite a protracted recovery opportunity after CSS, mice evidenced a sustained increase in pathogenic tau oligomers, and increased pathogenic tau in the locus ceruleus and limbic system nuclei. These findings unveil early life sleep habits as an important determinant in the progression of tauopathy.
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21
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Frontotemporal dementia with Parkinsonism linked to chromosome-17 mutations enhance tau oligomer formation. Neurobiol Aging 2018; 69:26-32. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2018.04.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2017] [Revised: 03/17/2018] [Accepted: 04/27/2018] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
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22
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Liu D, Lu H, Stein E, Zhou Z, Yang Y, Mattson MP. Brain regional synchronous activity predicts tauopathy in 3×TgAD mice. Neurobiol Aging 2018; 70:160-169. [PMID: 30015035 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2018.06.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2018] [Revised: 05/20/2018] [Accepted: 06/10/2018] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by progressive cognitive impairment and by extensive neuronal loss associated with extracellular amyloid β-peptide (Aβ) plaques and intraneuronal tau pathology in temporal and parietal lobes. AD patients are at increased risk for epileptic seizures, and data from experimental models of AD suggest that aberrant neuronal network activity occurs early in the disease process before cognitive deficits and neuronal degeneration. The contributions of Aβ and/or tau pathologies to dysregulation of neuronal network activity are unclear. Using a transgenic mouse model of AD (3×TgAD mice) in which there occurs differential age-dependent development of tau and Aβ plaque pathologies, we applied analysis of resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging regional homogeneity, a measure of local synchronous activity, to discriminate the effects of Aβ and tau on neuronal network activity throughout the brain. Compared to age-matched wild-type mice, 6- to 8-month-old 3×TgAD mice exhibited increased regional homogeneity in the hippocampus and parietal and temporal cortices, regions with tau pathology but not Aβ pathology at this age. By 18-24 months of age, 3×TgAD mice exhibited extensive tau and Aβ pathologies involving the hippocampus and multiple functionally related brain regions, with a spatial expansion of increased local synchronous activity to include those regions. Our findings demonstrate that age-related brain regional hypersynchronous activity is associated with early tau pathology in a mouse model, consistent with a role for early tau pathology in the neuronal circuit hyperexcitability that is believed to precede and contribute to neuronal degeneration in AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dong Liu
- Laboratory of Neurosciences, National Institute on Aging Intramural Research Program, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Hanbing Lu
- Neuroimaging Research Branch, National Institute on Drug Abuse Intramural Research Program, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Elliot Stein
- Neuroimaging Research Branch, National Institute on Drug Abuse Intramural Research Program, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Zhujuan Zhou
- Department of Neurology, Xinqiao Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Yihong Yang
- Neuroimaging Research Branch, National Institute on Drug Abuse Intramural Research Program, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Mark P Mattson
- Laboratory of Neurosciences, National Institute on Aging Intramural Research Program, Baltimore, MD, USA; Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore MD, USA.
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23
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Biochemical Properties of Pathology-Related Tau Species in Tauopathy Brains: An Extraction Protocol for Tau Oligomers and Aggregates. Methods Mol Biol 2018. [PMID: 29886548 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-7816-8_26] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
Intracellular deposition of microtubule-associated protein tau in the form of filamentous aggregates is a prominent neuropathological feature of neurodegenerative disorders termed tauopathy. Formation of filamentous tau aggregates is presumably initiated by phosphorylation and/or conformational change of protein structure followed by oligomerization and fibril extension. These processes via intermediate oligomers have not yet been entirely resolved. To examine the biochemical properties of tau protein including oligomers, standardized isolation methods will invariably provide molecular mechanisms of tauopathy. In this chapter, we describe the procedures for isolating tau oligomers based on biochemical properties.
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24
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Adalbert R, Milde S, Durrant C, Ando K, Stygelbout V, Yilmaz Z, Gould S, Brion JP, Coleman MP. Interaction between a MAPT variant causing frontotemporal dementia and mutant APP affects axonal transport. Neurobiol Aging 2018; 68:68-75. [PMID: 29729423 PMCID: PMC5998378 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2018.03.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2017] [Revised: 02/27/2018] [Accepted: 03/29/2018] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
In Alzheimer's disease, many indicators point to a central role for poor axonal transport, but the potential for stimulating axonal transport to alleviate the disease remains largely untested. Previously, we reported enhanced anterograde axonal transport of mitochondria in 8- to 11-month-old MAPTP301L knockin mice, a genetic model of frontotemporal dementia with parkinsonism-17T. In this study, we further characterized the axonal transport of mitochondria in younger MAPTP301L mice crossed with the familial Alzheimer's disease model, TgCRND8, aiming to test whether boosting axonal transport in young TgCRND8 mice can alleviate axonal swelling. We successfully replicated the enhancement of anterograde axonal transport in young MAPTP301L/P301L knockin animals. Surprisingly, we found that in the presence of the amyloid precursor protein mutations, MAPTP301L/P3101L impaired anterograde axonal transport. The numbers of plaque-associated axonal swellings or amyloid plaques in TgCRND8 brains were unaltered. These findings suggest that amyloid-β promotes an action of mutant tau that impairs axonal transport. As amyloid-β levels increase with age even without amyloid precursor protein mutation, we suggest that this rise could contribute to age-related decline in frontotemporal dementia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert Adalbert
- Signalling Programme, The Babraham Institute, Babraham Research Campus, Cambridge, UK; John van Geest Centre for Brain Repair, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
| | - Stefan Milde
- Signalling Programme, The Babraham Institute, Babraham Research Campus, Cambridge, UK
| | - Claire Durrant
- Signalling Programme, The Babraham Institute, Babraham Research Campus, Cambridge, UK; John van Geest Centre for Brain Repair, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Kunie Ando
- Laboratory of Histology, Neuroanatomy and Neuropathology, Faculty of Medicine, ULB Neuroscience Institute, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussells, Belgium
| | - Virginie Stygelbout
- Laboratory of Histology, Neuroanatomy and Neuropathology, Faculty of Medicine, ULB Neuroscience Institute, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussells, Belgium
| | - Zehra Yilmaz
- Laboratory of Histology, Neuroanatomy and Neuropathology, Faculty of Medicine, ULB Neuroscience Institute, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussells, Belgium
| | - Stacey Gould
- Signalling Programme, The Babraham Institute, Babraham Research Campus, Cambridge, UK; John van Geest Centre for Brain Repair, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Jean-Pierre Brion
- Laboratory of Histology, Neuroanatomy and Neuropathology, Faculty of Medicine, ULB Neuroscience Institute, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussells, Belgium
| | - Michael P Coleman
- Signalling Programme, The Babraham Institute, Babraham Research Campus, Cambridge, UK; John van Geest Centre for Brain Repair, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
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25
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Zimova I, Brezovakova V, Hromadka T, Weisova P, Cubinkova V, Valachova B, Filipcik P, Jadhav S, Smolek T, Novak M, Zilka N. Human Truncated Tau Induces Mature Neurofibrillary Pathology in a Mouse Model of Human Tauopathy. J Alzheimers Dis 2018; 54:831-43. [PMID: 27567836 DOI: 10.3233/jad-160347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) represents the most common neurodegenerative disorder. Several animal models have been developed in order to test pathophysiological mechanisms of the disease and to predict effects of pharmacological interventions. Here we examine the molecular and behavioral features of R3m/4 transgenic mice expressing human non-mutated truncated tau protein (3R tau, aa151-391) that were previously used for efficacy testing of passive tau vaccine. The mouse model reliably recapitulated crucial histopathological features of human AD, such as pre-tangles, neurofibrillary tangles, and neuropil threads. The pathology was predominantly located in the brain stem. Transgenic mice developed mature sarkosyl insoluble tau complexes consisting of mouse endogenous and human truncated and hyperphosphorylated forms of tau protein. The histopathological and biochemical features were accompanied by significant sensorimotor impairment and reduced lifespan. The sensorimotor impairment was monitored by a highly sensitive, fully-automated tool that allowed us to assess early deficit in gait and locomotion. We suggest that the novel transgenic mouse model can serve as a valuable tool for analysis of the therapeutic efficacy of tau vaccines for AD therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivana Zimova
- Institute of Neuroimmunology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, AD Centre, Bratislava, Slovak Republic.,Axon Neuroscience R&D Services SE, Bratislava, Slovak Republic
| | - Veronika Brezovakova
- Institute of Neuroimmunology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, AD Centre, Bratislava, Slovak Republic
| | - Tomas Hromadka
- Institute of Neuroimmunology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, AD Centre, Bratislava, Slovak Republic.,Axon Neuroscience R&D Services SE, Bratislava, Slovak Republic
| | | | - Veronika Cubinkova
- Institute of Neuroimmunology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, AD Centre, Bratislava, Slovak Republic.,Axon Neuroscience R&D Services SE, Bratislava, Slovak Republic
| | - Bernadeta Valachova
- Institute of Neuroimmunology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, AD Centre, Bratislava, Slovak Republic.,Axon Neuroscience R&D Services SE, Bratislava, Slovak Republic
| | - Peter Filipcik
- Institute of Neuroimmunology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, AD Centre, Bratislava, Slovak Republic.,Axon Neuroscience R&D Services SE, Bratislava, Slovak Republic
| | - Santosh Jadhav
- Institute of Neuroimmunology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, AD Centre, Bratislava, Slovak Republic
| | - Tomas Smolek
- Institute of Neuroimmunology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, AD Centre, Bratislava, Slovak Republic.,Axon Neuroscience R&D Services SE, Bratislava, Slovak Republic
| | - Michal Novak
- Institute of Neuroimmunology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, AD Centre, Bratislava, Slovak Republic.,Axon Neuroscience SE, Bratislava, Slovak Republic
| | - Norbert Zilka
- Institute of Neuroimmunology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, AD Centre, Bratislava, Slovak Republic.,Axon Neuroscience R&D Services SE, Bratislava, Slovak Republic
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26
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Okuda M, Fujita Y, Hijikuro I, Wada M, Uemura T, Kobayashi Y, Waku T, Tanaka N, Nishimoto T, Izumi Y, Kume T, Akaike A, Takahashi T, Sugimoto H. PE859, A Novel Curcumin Derivative, Inhibits Amyloid-β and Tau Aggregation, and Ameliorates Cognitive Dysfunction in Senescence-Accelerated Mouse Prone 8. J Alzheimers Dis 2017; 59:313-328. [DOI: 10.3233/jad-161017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Michiaki Okuda
- Graduate School of Brain Science, Doshisha University, Kizugawa, Kyoto, Japan
- Department of Pharmacology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
- Pharma Eight Co., Ltd., Kyoto, Japan
| | - Yuki Fujita
- Graduate School of Brain Science, Doshisha University, Kizugawa, Kyoto, Japan
- Pharma Eight Co., Ltd., Kyoto, Japan
| | | | - Mei Wada
- Faculty of Molecular Chemistry and Engineering, Kyoto Institute of Technology, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Takuya Uemura
- Faculty of Molecular Chemistry and Engineering, Kyoto Institute of Technology, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Yukako Kobayashi
- Faculty of Molecular Chemistry and Engineering, Kyoto Institute of Technology, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Tomonori Waku
- Faculty of Molecular Chemistry and Engineering, Kyoto Institute of Technology, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Naoki Tanaka
- Faculty of Molecular Chemistry and Engineering, Kyoto Institute of Technology, Kyoto, Japan
| | | | - Yasuhiko Izumi
- Department of Pharmacology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Toshiaki Kume
- Department of Pharmacology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Akinori Akaike
- Department of Pharmacology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
- Laboratory of Cellular Pharmacology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Takashi Takahashi
- Natural Product Chemistry & Pharmaceutical Research Center, Yokohama College of Pharmacy, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Hachiro Sugimoto
- Graduate School of Brain Science, Doshisha University, Kizugawa, Kyoto, Japan
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27
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Abstract
Intracellular accumulation of abnormally phosphorylated tau in different types of neurons is a pathological characteristic of Alzheimer's disease (AD). While tau modification and associated neuronal loss and hypometabolism start in the entorhinal cortex (EC) in early AD patients, the mechanism by which mutant P301L hTau leads to dementia is not fully elucidated. Here, we studied the effects of P301L hTau transduction in the medial EC (MEC) of mice on tau phosphorylation and accumulation, and cognitive deficit. We found that the exogenous mutant tau protein was restricted in MEC without spreading to other brain regions at one month after transduction. Interestingly, expression of the mutant tau in MEC induces endogenous tau hyperphosphorylation and accumulation in hippocampus and cortex, and inhibits neuronal activity with attenuated PP-DG synapse plasticity, leading to hippocampus-dependent memory deficit with intact olfactory function. These findings suggest a novel neuropathological mechanism of early AD, which is initiated by tau accumulation in MEC, and demonstrate a tau pathological model of early stage AD.
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28
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Membrane association and release of wild-type and pathological tau from organotypic brain slice cultures. Cell Death Dis 2017; 8:e2671. [PMID: 28300838 PMCID: PMC5386587 DOI: 10.1038/cddis.2017.97] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2016] [Revised: 01/05/2017] [Accepted: 02/13/2017] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The spatiotemporal transmission of pathological tau in the brain is characteristic of Alzheimer's disease. Release of both soluble and abnormal tau species from healthy neurons is increased upon stimulation of neuronal activity. It is not yet understood whether the mechanisms controlling soluble tau release from healthy neurons is the same as those involved in the spread of pathological tau species. To begin to understand these events, we have studied tau distribution and release using organotypic brain slice cultures. The slices were cultured from postnatal wild-type and 3xTg-AD mice for up to 1 month. Tau distribution in subcellular compartments was examined by western blotting, and tau release into culture medium was determined using a sensitive sandwich ELISA. We show here that 3xTg-AD cultures have an accelerated development of pathological tau abnormalities including the redistribution of tau to synaptic and membrane compartments. The 3xTg-AD slice cultures show elevated basal tau release relative to total tau when compared with wild-type cultures. However, tau release from 3xTg-AD slices cannot be further stimulated when neuronal activity is increased with potassium chloride. Moreover, we report that there is an increased pool of dephosphorylated membrane-associated tau in conditions where tau release is increased. These data suggest that there may be differential patterns of tau release when using integrated slice culture models of wild-type and transgenic mouse brain, although it will be important to determine the effect of tau overexpression for these findings. These results further increase our knowledge of the molecular mechanisms underlying tau release and propagation in neurodegenerative tauopathies.
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29
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Kimura T, Hatsuta H, Masuda-Suzukake M, Hosokawa M, Ishiguro K, Akiyama H, Murayama S, Hasegawa M, Hisanaga SI. The Abundance of Nonphosphorylated Tau in Mouse and Human Tauopathy Brains Revealed by the Use of Phos-Tag Method. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PATHOLOGY 2015; 186:398-409. [PMID: 26687814 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajpath.2015.10.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2015] [Revised: 10/07/2015] [Accepted: 10/21/2015] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Tauopathies are neurodegenerative diseases characterized by aggregates of hyperphosphorylated tau. Previous studies have identified many disease-related phosphorylation sites on tau. However, it is not understood how tau is hyperphosphorylated and what extent these sites are phosphorylated in both diseased and normal brains. Most previous studies have used phospho-specific antibodies to analyze tau phosphorylation. These results are useful but do not provide information about nonphosphorylated tau. Here, we applied the method of Phos-tag SDS-PAGE, in which phosphorylated tau was separated from nonphosphorylated tau in vivo. Among heterogeneously phosphorylated tau species in adult mouse brains, the nonphosphorylated 0N4R isoform was detected most abundantly. In contrast, perinatal tau and tau in cold water-stressed mice were all phosphorylated with a similar extent of phosphorylation. In normal elderly human brains, nonphosphorylated 0N3R and 0N4R tau were most abundant. A slightly higher phosphorylation of tau, which may represent the early step of hyperphosphorylation, was increased in Alzheimer disease patients at Braak stage V. Tau with this phosphorylation state was pelleted by centrifugation, and sarkosyl-soluble tau in either Alzheimer disease or corticobasal degeneration brains showed phosphorylation profiles similar to tau in normal human brain, suggesting that hyperphosphorylation occurs in aggregated tau. These results indicate that tau molecules are present in multiple phosphorylation states in vivo, and nonphosphorylated forms are highly expressed among them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taeko Kimura
- Department of Biological Sciences, Laboratory of Molecular Neuroscience, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Hachioji, Tokyo, Japan.
| | - Hiroyuki Hatsuta
- Department of Neuropathology, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology, Itabashi, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Masami Masuda-Suzukake
- Department of Dementia and Higher Brain Function, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Setagaya, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Masato Hosokawa
- Department of Dementia and Higher Brain Function, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Setagaya, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Koichi Ishiguro
- Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medicine, Juntendo University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Haruhiko Akiyama
- Department of Dementia and Higher Brain Function, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Setagaya, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shigeo Murayama
- Department of Neuropathology, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology, Itabashi, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Masato Hasegawa
- Department of Dementia and Higher Brain Function, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Setagaya, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shin-ichi Hisanaga
- Department of Biological Sciences, Laboratory of Molecular Neuroscience, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Hachioji, Tokyo, Japan.
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30
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Tacik P, DeTure M, Lin WL, Sanchez Contreras M, Wojtas A, Hinkle KM, Fujioka S, Baker MC, Walton RL, Carlomagno Y, Brown PH, Strongosky AJ, Kouri N, Murray ME, Petrucelli L, Josephs KA, Rademakers R, Ross OA, Wszolek ZK, Dickson DW. A novel tau mutation, p.K317N, causes globular glial tauopathy. Acta Neuropathol 2015; 130:199-214. [PMID: 25900293 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-015-1425-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2014] [Revised: 04/11/2015] [Accepted: 04/11/2015] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Globular glial tauopathies (GGTs) are 4-repeat tauopathies neuropathologically characterized by tau-positive, globular glial inclusions, including both globular oligodendroglial inclusions and globular astrocytic inclusions. No mutations have been found in 25 of the 30 GGT cases reported in the literature who have been screened for mutations in microtubule associated protein tau (MAPT). In this report, six patients with GGT (four with subtype III and two with subtype I) were screened for MAPT mutations. They included 4 men and 2 women with a mean age at death of 73 years (55-83 years) and mean age at symptomatic onset of 66 years (50-77 years). Disease duration ranged from 5 to 14 years. All were homozygous for the MAPT H1 haplotype. Three patients had a positive family history of dementia, and a novel MAPT mutation (c.951G>C, p.K317N) was identified in one of them, a patient with subtype III. Recombinant tau protein bearing the lysine-to-asparagine substitution at amino acid residue 317 was used to assess functional significance of the variant on microtubule assembly and tau filament formation. Recombinant p.K317N tau had reduced ability to promote tubulin polymerization. Recombinant 3R and 4R tau bearing the p.K317N mutation showed decreased 3R tau and increased 4R tau filament assembly. These results strongly suggest that the p.K317N variant is pathogenic. Sequencing of MAPT should be considered in patients with GGT and a family history of dementia or movement disorder. Since several individuals in our series had a positive family history but no MAPT mutation, genetic factors other than MAPT may play a role in disease pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pawel Tacik
- Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, USA
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31
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Okuda M, Hijikuro I, Fujita Y, Wu X, Nakayama S, Sakata Y, Noguchi Y, Ogo M, Akasofu S, Ito Y, Soeda Y, Tsuchiya N, Tanaka N, Takahashi T, Sugimoto H. PE859, a novel tau aggregation inhibitor, reduces aggregated tau and prevents onset and progression of neural dysfunction in vivo. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0117511. [PMID: 25659102 PMCID: PMC4319983 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0117511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2014] [Accepted: 12/29/2014] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
In tauopathies, a neural microtubule-associated protein tau (MAPT) is abnormally aggregated and forms neurofibrillary tangle. Therefore, inhibition of the tau aggregation is one of the key approaches for the treatment of these diseases. Here, we have identified a novel tau aggregation inhibitor, PE859. An oral administration of PE859 resulted in the significant reduction of sarkosyl-insoluble aggregated tau along with the prevention of onset and progression of the motor dysfunction in JNPL3 P301L-mutated human tau transgenic mice. These results suggest that PE859 is useful for the treatment of tauopathies.
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MESH Headings
- Amino Acid Substitution
- Animals
- Heterocyclic Compounds, 4 or More Rings/chemical synthesis
- Heterocyclic Compounds, 4 or More Rings/chemistry
- Heterocyclic Compounds, 4 or More Rings/pharmacology
- Humans
- Indoles/chemical synthesis
- Indoles/chemistry
- Indoles/pharmacology
- Male
- Mice
- Mice, Inbred ICR
- Mice, Transgenic
- Mutation, Missense
- Protein Aggregation, Pathological/drug therapy
- Protein Aggregation, Pathological/genetics
- Protein Aggregation, Pathological/metabolism
- Protein Aggregation, Pathological/pathology
- Pyrazoles/chemical synthesis
- Pyrazoles/chemistry
- Pyrazoles/pharmacology
- Tauopathies/drug therapy
- Tauopathies/genetics
- Tauopathies/metabolism
- Tauopathies/pathology
- tau Proteins/antagonists & inhibitors
- tau Proteins/genetics
- tau Proteins/metabolism
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Affiliation(s)
- Michiaki Okuda
- Pharma Eight Co., Ltd., Kyoto, Japan
- Graduate School of Brain Science, Doshisha University, Kyoto, Japan
- * E-mail:
| | | | - Yuki Fujita
- Pharma Eight Co., Ltd., Kyoto, Japan
- Graduate School of Brain Science, Doshisha University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Xiaofeng Wu
- Key Lab of Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | | | | | | | - Makoto Ogo
- Tsukuba Research Laboratories, Eisai Co., Ltd., Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Shigeru Akasofu
- Tsukuba Research Laboratories, Eisai Co., Ltd., Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Yoshimasa Ito
- Tsukuba Research Laboratories, Eisai Co., Ltd., Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Yoshiyuki Soeda
- Department of Aging Neurobiology, Center for Development of Advanced Medicine for Dementia, National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology, Obu, Japan
| | - Nobuhiko Tsuchiya
- Department of Biomolecular Engineering, Kyoto Institute of Technology, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Naoki Tanaka
- Department of Biomolecular Engineering, Kyoto Institute of Technology, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Takashi Takahashi
- Natural Product Chemistry & Pharmaceutical Research Center, Yokohama College of Pharmacy, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Hachiro Sugimoto
- Pharma Eight Co., Ltd., Kyoto, Japan
- Graduate School of Brain Science, Doshisha University, Kyoto, Japan
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32
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Rosseels J, Van den Brande J, Violet M, Jacobs D, Grognet P, Lopez J, Huvent I, Caldara M, Swinnen E, Papegaey A, Caillierez R, Buée-Scherrer V, Engelborghs S, Lippens G, Colin M, Buée L, Galas MC, Vanmechelen E, Winderickx J. Tau monoclonal antibody generation based on humanized yeast models: impact on Tau oligomerization and diagnostics. J Biol Chem 2014; 290:4059-74. [PMID: 25540200 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m114.627919] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
A link between Tau phosphorylation and aggregation has been shown in different models for Alzheimer disease, including yeast. We used human Tau purified from yeast models to generate new monoclonal antibodies, of which three were further characterized. The first antibody, ADx201, binds the Tau proline-rich region independently of the phosphorylation status, whereas the second, ADx215, detects an epitope formed by the Tau N terminus when Tau is not phosphorylated at Tyr(18). For the third antibody, ADx210, the binding site could not be determined because its epitope is probably conformational. All three antibodies stained tangle-like structures in different brain sections of THY-Tau22 transgenic mice and Alzheimer patients, and ADx201 and ADx210 also detected neuritic plaques in the cortex of the patient brains. In hippocampal homogenates from THY-Tau22 mice and cortex homogenates obtained from Alzheimer patients, ADx215 consistently stained specific low order Tau oligomers in diseased brain, which in size correspond to Tau dimers. ADx201 and ADx210 additionally reacted to higher order Tau oligomers and presumed prefibrillar structures in the patient samples. Our data further suggest that formation of the low order Tau oligomers marks an early disease stage that is initiated by Tau phosphorylation at N-terminal sites. Formation of higher order oligomers appears to require additional phosphorylation in the C terminus of Tau. When used to assess Tau levels in human cerebrospinal fluid, the antibodies permitted us to discriminate patients with Alzheimer disease or other dementia like vascular dementia, indicative that these antibodies hold promising diagnostic potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joëlle Rosseels
- From Functional Biology, KU Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 31 Box 2433, 3001 Heverlee, Belgium
| | - Jeff Van den Brande
- From Functional Biology, KU Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 31 Box 2433, 3001 Heverlee, Belgium, ADx NeuroSciences NV, Technologiepark Zwijnaarde 4, 9052 Ghent, Belgium, Fujirebio Europe, Technologiepark Zwijnaarde 6, 9052 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Marie Violet
- INSERM, UMR1172, JPArc, Alzheimer & Tauopathies, Rue Polonovski, 59045 Lille, France, the Faculté de Médecine, Université de Lille, Place de Verdun, 59045 Lille, France, the Memory Clinic, Centre Hospitalier Régional Universitaire de Lille, 59037 Lille, France
| | - Dirk Jacobs
- ADx NeuroSciences NV, Technologiepark Zwijnaarde 4, 9052 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Pierre Grognet
- Fujirebio Europe, Technologiepark Zwijnaarde 6, 9052 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Juan Lopez
- Université Lille Nord de France, 59000 Lille, France, CNRS, UMR8576 Structural and Functional Glycobiology, 59650 Villeneuve d'Ascq, France
| | - Isabelle Huvent
- Université Lille Nord de France, 59000 Lille, France, CNRS, UMR8576 Structural and Functional Glycobiology, 59650 Villeneuve d'Ascq, France
| | - Marina Caldara
- From Functional Biology, KU Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 31 Box 2433, 3001 Heverlee, Belgium
| | - Erwin Swinnen
- From Functional Biology, KU Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 31 Box 2433, 3001 Heverlee, Belgium
| | - Anthony Papegaey
- INSERM, UMR1172, JPArc, Alzheimer & Tauopathies, Rue Polonovski, 59045 Lille, France, the Faculté de Médecine, Université de Lille, Place de Verdun, 59045 Lille, France, the Memory Clinic, Centre Hospitalier Régional Universitaire de Lille, 59037 Lille, France
| | - Raphaëlle Caillierez
- INSERM, UMR1172, JPArc, Alzheimer & Tauopathies, Rue Polonovski, 59045 Lille, France, the Faculté de Médecine, Université de Lille, Place de Verdun, 59045 Lille, France, the Memory Clinic, Centre Hospitalier Régional Universitaire de Lille, 59037 Lille, France
| | - Valerie Buée-Scherrer
- INSERM, UMR1172, JPArc, Alzheimer & Tauopathies, Rue Polonovski, 59045 Lille, France, the Faculté de Médecine, Université de Lille, Place de Verdun, 59045 Lille, France, the Memory Clinic, Centre Hospitalier Régional Universitaire de Lille, 59037 Lille, France
| | - Sebastiaan Engelborghs
- the Reference Center for Biological Markers of Dementia (BIODEM), Institute Born-Bunge, University of Antwerp, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium, and the Department of Neurology and Memory Clinic, Hospital Network Antwerp (ZNA) Middelheim and Hoge Beuken, 2660 Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Guy Lippens
- Université Lille Nord de France, 59000 Lille, France, CNRS, UMR8576 Structural and Functional Glycobiology, 59650 Villeneuve d'Ascq, France
| | - Morvane Colin
- INSERM, UMR1172, JPArc, Alzheimer & Tauopathies, Rue Polonovski, 59045 Lille, France, the Faculté de Médecine, Université de Lille, Place de Verdun, 59045 Lille, France, the Memory Clinic, Centre Hospitalier Régional Universitaire de Lille, 59037 Lille, France
| | - Luc Buée
- INSERM, UMR1172, JPArc, Alzheimer & Tauopathies, Rue Polonovski, 59045 Lille, France, the Faculté de Médecine, Université de Lille, Place de Verdun, 59045 Lille, France, the Memory Clinic, Centre Hospitalier Régional Universitaire de Lille, 59037 Lille, France
| | - Marie-Christine Galas
- INSERM, UMR1172, JPArc, Alzheimer & Tauopathies, Rue Polonovski, 59045 Lille, France, the Faculté de Médecine, Université de Lille, Place de Verdun, 59045 Lille, France, the Memory Clinic, Centre Hospitalier Régional Universitaire de Lille, 59037 Lille, France
| | - Eugeen Vanmechelen
- ADx NeuroSciences NV, Technologiepark Zwijnaarde 4, 9052 Ghent, Belgium,
| | - Joris Winderickx
- From Functional Biology, KU Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 31 Box 2433, 3001 Heverlee, Belgium,
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Yuzwa SA, Shan X, Jones BA, Zhao G, Woodward ML, Li X, Zhu Y, McEachern EJ, Silverman MA, Watson NV, Gong CX, Vocadlo DJ. Pharmacological inhibition of O-GlcNAcase (OGA) prevents cognitive decline and amyloid plaque formation in bigenic tau/APP mutant mice. Mol Neurodegener 2014; 9:42. [PMID: 25344697 PMCID: PMC4232697 DOI: 10.1186/1750-1326-9-42] [Citation(s) in RCA: 105] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2014] [Accepted: 10/20/2014] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) are the defining pathological hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Increasing the quantity of the O-linked N-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc) post-translational modification of nuclear and cytoplasmic proteins slows neurodegeneration and blocks the formation of NFTs in a tauopathy mouse model. It remains unknown, however, if O-GlcNAc can influence the formation of amyloid plaques in the presence of tau pathology. RESULTS We treated double transgenic TAPP mice, which express both mutant human tau and amyloid precursor protein (APP), with a highly selective orally bioavailable inhibitor of the enzyme responsible for removing O-GlcNAc (OGA) to increase O-GlcNAc in the brain. We find that increased O-GlcNAc levels block cognitive decline in the TAPP mice and this effect parallels decreased β-amyloid peptide levels and decreased levels of amyloid plaques. CONCLUSIONS This study indicates that increased O-GlcNAc can influence β-amyloid pathology in the presence of tau pathology. The findings provide good support for OGA as a promising therapeutic target to alter disease progression in Alzheimer disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott A Yuzwa
- />Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Dr, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6 Canada
- />Department of Neurosciences and Mental Health, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON M5G 0A4 Canada
| | - Xiaoyang Shan
- />Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Dr, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6 Canada
| | - Bryan A Jones
- />Department of Psychology, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Dr, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6 Canada
| | - Gang Zhao
- />Department of Neurochemistry, New York State Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities, 1050 Forest Hill Road, Staten Island, NY 10314 USA
| | - Melissa L Woodward
- />Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, British Columbia, V5A 1S6 Canada
| | - Xiaojing Li
- />Department of Neurochemistry, New York State Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities, 1050 Forest Hill Road, Staten Island, NY 10314 USA
| | - Yanping Zhu
- />Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Dr, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6 Canada
- />Department of Chemistry, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Dr, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6 Canada
| | - Ernest J McEachern
- />Department of Chemistry, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Dr, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6 Canada
- />Alectos Therapeutics Inc, 8999 Nelson Way, Burnaby, BC V5A 4B5 Canada
| | - Michael A Silverman
- />Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Dr, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6 Canada
- />Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, British Columbia, V5A 1S6 Canada
| | - Neil V Watson
- />Department of Psychology, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Dr, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6 Canada
| | - Cheng-Xin Gong
- />Department of Neurochemistry, New York State Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities, 1050 Forest Hill Road, Staten Island, NY 10314 USA
| | - David J Vocadlo
- />Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Dr, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6 Canada
- />Department of Chemistry, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Dr, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6 Canada
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Specific calpain inhibition by calpastatin prevents tauopathy and neurodegeneration and restores normal lifespan in tau P301L mice. J Neurosci 2014; 34:9222-34. [PMID: 25009256 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1132-14.2014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Tau pathogenicity in Alzheimer's disease and other tauopathies is thought to involve the generation of hyperphosphorylated, truncated, and oligomeric tau species with enhanced neurotoxicity, although the generative mechanisms and the implications for disease therapy are not well understood. Here, we report a striking rescue from mutant tau toxicity in the JNPL3 mouse model of tauopathy. We show that pathological activation of calpains gives rise to a range of potentially toxic forms of tau, directly, and by activating cdk5. Calpain overactivation in brains of these mice is accelerated as a result of the marked depletion of the endogenous calpain inhibitor, calpastatin. When levels of this inhibitor are restored in neurons of JNPL3 mice by overexpressing calpastatin, tauopathy is prevented, including calpain-mediated breakdown of cytoskeletal proteins, cdk5 activation, tau hyperphosphorylation, formation of potentially neurotoxic tau fragments by either calpain or caspase-3, and tau oligomerization. Calpastatin overexpression also prevents loss of motor axons, delays disease onset, and extends survival of JNPL3 mice by 3 months to within the range of normal lifespan. Our findings support the therapeutic promise of highly specific calpain inhibition in the treatment of tauopathies and other neurodegenerative states.
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Ward SM, Himmelstein DS, Ren Y, Fu Y, Yu XW, Roberts K, Binder LI, Sahara N. TOC1: a valuable tool in assessing disease progression in the rTg4510 mouse model of tauopathy. Neurobiol Dis 2014; 67:37-48. [PMID: 24631720 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2014.03.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2013] [Revised: 02/05/2014] [Accepted: 03/02/2014] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
All tauopathies result in various forms of cognitive decline and neuronal loss. Although in some diseases, tau mutations appear to cause neurodegeneration, the toxic "form" of tau remains elusive. Tau is the major protein found within neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) and therefore it seemed rational to assume that aggregation of tau monomers into NFTs was causal to the disease process. However, the appearance of oligomers rather than NFTs coincides much better with the voluminous neuronal loss in many of these diseases. In this study, we utilized the bigenic mouse line (rTg4510) which conditionally expresses P301L human tau. A novel tau antibody, termed Tau Oligomer Complex 1 (TOC1) was employed to probe mouse brains and assess disease progression. TOC1 selectively recognizes dimers/oligomers and appears to constitute an early stage marker of tau pathology. Its peak reactivity is coincident with other well-known early stage pathological markers such as MC1 and the early-stage phospho-marker CP13. TOC1's reactivity depends on the conformation of the tau species since it does not react with monomer under native conditions, although it does react with monomers under SDS-denaturation. This indicates a conformational change must occur within the tau aggregate to expose its epitope. Tau oligomers preferentially form under oxidizing conditions and within this mouse model, we observe tau oligomers forming at an increased rate and persisting much longer, most likely due to the aggressive P301L mutation. With the help of other novel antibodies, the use of this antibody will aid in providing a better understanding of tau toxicity within Alzheimer's disease and other tauopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah M Ward
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA.
| | - Diana S Himmelstein
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Yan Ren
- Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease and Department of Neuroscience, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Yifan Fu
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Xiao-Wen Yu
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Kaleigh Roberts
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Lester I Binder
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Naruhiko Sahara
- Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease and Department of Neuroscience, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA; Molecular Imaging Center, National Institute of Radiological Science, Chiba, Japan
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Sahara N, Murayama M, Higuchi M, Suhara T, Takashima A. Biochemical Distribution of Tau Protein in Synaptosomal Fraction of Transgenic Mice Expressing Human P301L Tau. Front Neurol 2014; 5:26. [PMID: 24653715 PMCID: PMC3949102 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2014.00026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2013] [Accepted: 02/24/2014] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive dementia that is characterized by a loss of recent memory. Evidence has accumulated to support the hypothesis that synapses are critical storage sites for memory. However, it is still uncertain whether tau protein is involved in associative memory storage and whether tau is distributed in mature brain synapses. To address this question, we examined the synaptosomal distribution of tau protein in both JNPL3 transgenic mice expressing human P301L tau and non-transgenic littermates. The JNPL3 mouse line is known as one of the mouse models of human tauopathy that develop motor and behavioral deficits with intracellular tau aggregates in the spinal cord and brainstem. The phenotype of disease progression is highly dependent on strain background. In this study, we confirmed that male JNPL3 transgenic mice with C57BL/6J strain background showed neither any sign of motor deficits nor accumulation of hyperphosphorylated tau in the sarkosyl-insoluble fraction until 18 months of age. Subcellular fractionation analysis showed that both mouse tau and human P301L tau were present in the synaptosomal fraction. Those tau proteins were less-phosphorylated than tau in the cytosolic fraction. Human P301L tau was preferentially distributed in the synaptosomal fraction while mouse endogenous tau was more distributed in the cytosolic fraction. Interestingly, a human-specific tau band with phosphorylation at Ser199 and Ser396 was observed in the synaptosomal fraction of JNPL3 mice. This tau was not identical to either tau species in cytosolic fraction or a prominent hyperphosphorylated 64 kDa tau species that was altered to tau pathology. These results suggest that exogenous human P301L tau induces synaptosomal distribution of tau protein with a certain phosphorylation. Regulating the synaptosomal tau level might be a potential target for a therapeutic intervention directed at preventing neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naruhiko Sahara
- Molecular Imaging Center, National Institute of Radiological Sciences , Chiba , Japan ; Laboratory for Alzheimer's Disease, RIKEN Brain Science Institute , Wako , Japan
| | - Miyuki Murayama
- Laboratory for Alzheimer's Disease, RIKEN Brain Science Institute , Wako , Japan
| | - Makoto Higuchi
- Molecular Imaging Center, National Institute of Radiological Sciences , Chiba , Japan
| | - Tetsuya Suhara
- Molecular Imaging Center, National Institute of Radiological Sciences , Chiba , Japan
| | - Akihiko Takashima
- Laboratory for Alzheimer's Disease, RIKEN Brain Science Institute , Wako , Japan ; Department of Aging Neurobiology, National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology , Obu , Japan
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Nogueras-Ortiz CJ, De Jesús-Cortes HJ, Vaquer-Alicea J, Vega IE. Novel autoimmune response in a tauopathy mouse model. Front Neurosci 2014; 7:277. [PMID: 24454278 PMCID: PMC3887318 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2013.00277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2013] [Accepted: 12/26/2013] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Molecular diagnostic tools with non-invasive properties that allow detection of pathological events in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other neurodegenerative tauopathies are essential for the development of therapeutics. Several diagnostic strategies based on the identification of biomarkers have been proposed. However, its specificity among neurodegenerative disorders is disputable as the association with pathological events remains elusive. Recently, we showed that Amphiphysin-1 (AMPH1) protein's abundance is reduced in the central nervous system (CNS) of the tauopathy mouse model JNPL3 and AD brains. AMPH1 is a synaptic protein that plays an important role in clathrin-mediated endocytosis and associates with BIN1, one of the most important risk loci for AD. Also, it has been associated with a rare neurological disease known as Stiff-Person Syndrome (SPS). Auto-antibodies against AMPH1 are used as diagnostic biomarkers for a paraneoplastic variant of SPS. Therefore, we set up to evaluate the presence and abundance of auto-AMPH1 antibodies in tau-mediated neurodegeneration. Immunoblots and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) were conducted to detect the presence of auto-AMPH1 antibodies in sera from euthanized mice that developed neurodegeneration (JNPL3) and healthy control mice (NTg). Results showed increased levels of auto-AMPH1 antibodies in JNPL3 sera compared to NTg controls. The abundance of auto-AMPH1 antibodies correlated with motor impairment and AMPH1 protein level decrease in the CNS. The results suggest that auto-AMPH1 antibodies could serve as a biomarker for the progression of tau-mediated neurodegeneration in JNPL3 mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos J Nogueras-Ortiz
- Department of Biology, University of Puerto Rico - Río Piedras Campus San Juan, PR, USA ; Department of Chemistry, University of Puerto Rico - Río Piedras Campus San Juan, PR, USA
| | | | - Jaime Vaquer-Alicea
- Department of Biology, University of Puerto Rico - Río Piedras Campus San Juan, PR, USA
| | - Irving E Vega
- Department of Biology, University of Puerto Rico - Río Piedras Campus San Juan, PR, USA
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LRRK2 phosphorylates novel tau epitopes and promotes tauopathy. Acta Neuropathol 2013; 126:809-27. [PMID: 24113872 PMCID: PMC3830748 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-013-1188-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2013] [Accepted: 09/27/2013] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Mutations in the gene encoding leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) are the most frequent cause of familial Parkinson's disease (PD). The neuropathology of LRRK2-related PD is heterogeneous and can include aberrant tau phosphorylation or neurofibrillary tau pathology. Recently, LRRK2 has been shown to phosphorylate tau in vitro; however, the major epitopes phosphorylated by LRRK2 and the physiological or pathogenic consequences of these modifications in vivo are unknown. Using mass spectrometry, we identified multiple sites on recombinant tau that are phosphorylated by LRRK2 in vitro, including pT149 and pT153, which are phospho-epitopes that to date have been largely unexplored. Importantly, we demonstrate that expression of transgenic LRRK2 in a mouse model of tauopathy increased the aggregation of insoluble tau and its phosphorylation at T149, T153, T205, and S199/S202/T205 epitopes. These findings indicate that tau can be a LRRK2 substrate and that this interaction can enhance salient features of human disease.
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39
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Sahara N, DeTure M, Ren Y, Ebrahim AS, Kang D, Knight J, Volbracht C, Pedersen JT, Dickson DW, Yen SH, Lewis J. Characteristics of TBS-extractable hyperphosphorylated tau species: aggregation intermediates in rTg4510 mouse brain. J Alzheimers Dis 2013; 33:249-63. [PMID: 22941973 DOI: 10.3233/jad-2012-121093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Conditional overexpression of four-repeat human tau containing the P301L missense mutation in the rTg4510 mouse model of tauopathy leads to progressive accumulation of neurofibrillary tangles and hyperphosphorylated, sarkosyl-insoluble tau species, which are biochemically comparable to abnormal tau characteristic of hereditary tauopathies termed FTDP-17. To fully understand the impact of tau species at different stages of self-assembly on neurodegeneration, we fractionated rTg4510 brain representing several stages of tauopathy to obtain TBS-extractable (S1), high salt/sarkosyl-extractable (S3), and sarkosyl-insoluble (P3) fractions. Under reducing condition, the S1 fraction was demonstrated by western blotting to contain both 50-60 kDa normally-sized and 64 kDa tau. Both are thermo-stable, but the 64 kDa tau showed a higher degree of phosphorylation. Under non-reducing condition, nearly all TBS-extractable 64 kDa tau were detected as ∼130 kDa species consistent with the size of dimer. Quantitative analysis showed ∼80 times more 64 kDa tau in S1 than P3 fraction. Immunoelectron microscopy revealed tau-positive granules/short filaments in S1 fraction. These structures displayed MC1 immunoreactivities indicative of conformational/pathological change of tau. MC1 immunoreactivity was detected by dot blotting in samples from 2.5 month-old mice, whereas Ab39 immunoreactivity indicative of late stages of tau assembly was detected only in P3 fraction. Quantitative analysis also demonstrated a significant inverse correlation between brain weight and 64 kDa tau, but the level of TBS-extractable 64 kDa tau reflects neurodegeneration better than that of sarkosyl-insoluble 64 kDa tau. Together, the findings suggest that TBS-extractable 64 kDa tau production is a potential target for therapeutic intervention of tauopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naruhiko Sahara
- Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease and Department of Neuroscience, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA.
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40
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Abstract
In Alzheimer disease (AD) and other tauopathies, microtubule-associated protein tau becomes hyperphosphorylated, undergoes conformational changes, aggregates, eventually becoming neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs). As accumulating evidence suggests that NFTs themselves may not be toxic, attention is now turning toward the role of intermediate tau oligomers in AD pathophysiology. Sarkosyl extraction is a standard protocol for investigating insoluble tau aggregates in brains. There is a growing consensus that sarkosyl-insoluble tau correlates with the pathological features of tauopathy. While sarkosyl-insoluble tau from tauopathy brains has been well characterized as a pool of filamentous tau, other dimers, multimers, and granules of tau are much less well understood. There are protocols for identifying these tau oligomers. In this mini review, we discuss the characteristics of tau oligomers isolated via different methods and materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Ren
- Department of Neuroscience, Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, College of Medicine, University of Florida , Gainesville, FL , USA
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41
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Ferrer-Acosta Y, Rodríguez-Cruz EN, Orange F, De Jesús-Cortés H, Madera B, Vaquer-Alicea J, Ballester J, Guinel MJF, Bloom GS, Vega IE. EFhd2 is a novel amyloid protein associated with pathological tau in Alzheimer's disease. J Neurochem 2013; 125:921-31. [PMID: 23331044 PMCID: PMC3676478 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.12155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2013] [Revised: 01/08/2013] [Accepted: 01/14/2013] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
EFhd2 is a conserved calcium-binding protein, abundant within the central nervous system. Previous studies identified EFhd2 associated with pathological forms of tau proteins in the tauopathy mouse model JNPL3, which expresses the human tau(P301L) mutant. This association was validated in human tauopathies, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, the role that EFhd2 may play in tauopathies is still unknown. Here, we show that EFhd2 formed amyloid structures in vitro, a capability that is reduced by calcium ions. Electron microscopy (EM) analyses demonstrated that recombinant EFhd2 formed filamentous structures. EM analyses of sarkosyl-insoluble fractions derived from human AD brains also indicated that EFhd2 co-localizes with aggregated tau proteins and formed granular structures. Immunohistological analyses of brain slices demonstrated that EFhd2 co-localizes with pathological tau proteins in AD brains, confirming the co-aggregation of EFhd2 and pathological tau. Furthermore, EFhd2's coiled-coil domain mediated its self-oligomerization in vitro and its association with tau proteins in JNPL3 mouse brain extracts. The results demonstrate that EFhd2 is a novel amyloid protein associated with pathological tau proteins in AD brain and that calcium binding may regulate the formation of EFhd2's amyloid structures. Hence, EFhd2 may play an important role in the pathobiology of tau-mediated neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yancy Ferrer-Acosta
- Department of Biology, College of Natural Sciences, University of Puerto Rico, PO Box 23360, San Juan, Puerto Rico 00931-3360, USA
| | - Eva N. Rodríguez-Cruz
- Department of Biology, College of Natural Sciences, University of Puerto Rico, PO Box 23360, San Juan, Puerto Rico 00931-3360, USA
| | - François Orange
- Nanoscopy Facility, College of Natural Sciences, University of Puerto Rico, PO Box 70377, San Juan, Puerto Rico 00936-8377, USA
- Department of Physics, College of Natural Sciences, University of Puerto Rico, PO Box 70377, San Juan, Puerto Rico 00936-8377, USA
| | - Hector De Jesús-Cortés
- Department of Biology, College of Natural Sciences, University of Puerto Rico, PO Box 23360, San Juan, Puerto Rico 00931-3360, USA
| | - Bismark Madera
- Department of Biology, College of Natural Sciences, University of Puerto Rico, PO Box 23360, San Juan, Puerto Rico 00931-3360, USA
- Confocal Microscopy Facility, College of Natural Sciences, University of Puerto Rico – Río Piedras Campus, San Juan, PR 00931
| | - Jaime Vaquer-Alicea
- Department of Biology, College of Natural Sciences, University of Puerto Rico, PO Box 23360, San Juan, Puerto Rico 00931-3360, USA
| | - Juan Ballester
- Department of Biology, College of Natural Sciences, University of Puerto Rico, PO Box 23360, San Juan, Puerto Rico 00931-3360, USA
| | - Maxime J-F. Guinel
- Nanoscopy Facility, College of Natural Sciences, University of Puerto Rico, PO Box 70377, San Juan, Puerto Rico 00936-8377, USA
- Department of Physics, College of Natural Sciences, University of Puerto Rico, PO Box 70377, San Juan, Puerto Rico 00936-8377, USA
- Department of Chemistry, College of Natural Sciences, University of Puerto Rico, PO Box 70377, San Juan, Puerto Rico 00936-8377, USA
| | - George S. Bloom
- Department of Biology, University of Virgina, Charlottesville, VA 22904, USA
| | - Irving E. Vega
- Department of Biology, College of Natural Sciences, University of Puerto Rico, PO Box 23360, San Juan, Puerto Rico 00931-3360, USA
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Garringer HJ, Murrell J, Sammeta N, Gnezda A, Ghetti B, Vidal R. Increased tau phosphorylation and tau truncation, and decreased synaptophysin levels in mutant BRI2/tau transgenic mice. PLoS One 2013; 8:e56426. [PMID: 23418567 PMCID: PMC3572042 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0056426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2012] [Accepted: 01/10/2013] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Familial Danish dementia (FDD) is an autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disease caused by a 10-nucleotide duplication-insertion in the BRI2 gene. FDD is clinically characterized by loss of vision, hearing impairment, cerebellar ataxia and dementia. The main neuropathologic findings in FDD are the deposition of Danish amyloid (ADan) and the presence of neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs). Here we investigated tau accumulation and truncation in double transgenic (Tg-FDD-Tau) mice generated by crossing transgenic mice expressing human Danish mutant BRI2 (Tg-FDD) with mice expressing human 4-repeat mutant Tau-P301S (Tg-Tau). Compared to Tg-Tau mice, we observed a significant enhancement of tau deposition in Tg-FDD-Tau mice. In addition, a significant increase in tau cleaved at aspartic acid (Asp) 421 was observed in Tg-FDD-Tau mice. Tg-FDD-Tau mice also showed a significant decrease in synaptophysin levels, occurring before widespread deposition of fibrillar ADan and tau can be observed. Thus, the presence of soluble ADan/mutant BRI2 can lead to significant changes in tau metabolism and synaptic dysfunction. Our data provide new in vivo insights into the pathogenesis of FDD and the pathogenic pathway(s) by which amyloidogenic peptides, regardless of their primary amino acid sequence, can cause neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Holly J. Garringer
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and Indiana Alzheimer Disease Center, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, United States of America
- * E-mail: (RV); (HJG)
| | - Jill Murrell
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and Indiana Alzheimer Disease Center, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, United States of America
| | - Neeraja Sammeta
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and Indiana Alzheimer Disease Center, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, United States of America
| | - Anita Gnezda
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and Indiana Alzheimer Disease Center, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, United States of America
| | - Bernardino Ghetti
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and Indiana Alzheimer Disease Center, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, United States of America
| | - Ruben Vidal
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and Indiana Alzheimer Disease Center, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, United States of America
- * E-mail: (RV); (HJG)
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Carman A, Kishinevsky S, Koren J, Lou W, Chiosis G. Chaperone-dependent Neurodegeneration: A Molecular Perspective on Therapeutic Intervention. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2013; 2013. [PMID: 25258700 PMCID: PMC4172285 DOI: 10.4172/2161-0460.s10-007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Maintenance of cellular homeostasis is regulated by the molecular chaperones. Under pathogenic conditions, aberrant proteins are triaged by the chaperone network. These aberrant proteins, known as "clients," have major roles in the pathogenesis of numerous neurological disorders, including tau in Alzheimer's disease, α-synuclein and LRRK2 in Parkinson's disease, SOD-1, TDP-43 and FUS in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and polyQ-expanded proteins such as huntingtin in Huntington's disease. Recent work has demonstrated that the use of chemical compounds which inhibit the activity of molecular chaperones subsequently alter the fate of aberrant clients. Inhibition of Hsp90 and Hsc70, two major molecular chaperones, has led to a greater understanding of how chaperone triage decisions are made and how perturbing the chaperone system can promote clearance of these pathogenic clients. Described here are major pathways and components of several prominent neurological disorders. Also discussed is how treatment with chaperone inhibitors, predominately Hsp90 inhibitors which are selective for a diseased state, can relieve the burden of aberrant client signaling in these neurological disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaron Carman
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Chemistry, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Centre, New York, NY, USA
| | - Sarah Kishinevsky
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Chemistry, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Centre, New York, NY, USA
| | - John Koren
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Chemistry, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Centre, New York, NY, USA
| | - Wenjie Lou
- Department of Neurology and Neuroscience, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA
| | - Gabriela Chiosis
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Chemistry, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Centre, New York, NY, USA
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Lee S, Shea TB. Regulation of tau proteolysis by phosphatases. Brain Res 2012; 1495:30-6. [PMID: 23159717 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2012.10.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2012] [Revised: 10/09/2012] [Accepted: 10/11/2012] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
One pathological hallmark of Alzheimer's disease is the accumulation of highly phosphorylated tau. Since tau phosphorylation inhibits its proteolysis, we examined the impact of endogenous phosphatase activities on tau proteolysis by homogenization of cultured cells and 3xTg-AD mouse brain followed by incubation with or without phosphatase inhibitors. Incubation without phosphatase inhibitors significantly increased tau immunoreactivity against antibody C3 (which reacts with tau truncated at D421), and increased the generation of tau breakdown products. These changes were augmented by lithium treatment and inhibited by constitutively active GSK3β. These findings underscore that tau proteolysis is regulated by a balance of kinase and phosphatase activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sangmook Lee
- University of Massachusetts Lowell, Department of Biological Sciences, Center for Cellular Neurobiology and Neurodegeneration Research, One University Avenue, Lowell, MA 01854, USA
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Troquier L, Caillierez R, Burnouf S, Fernandez-Gomez FJ, Grosjean ME, Zommer N, Sergeant N, Schraen-Maschke S, Blum D, Buee L. Targeting phospho-Ser422 by active Tau Immunotherapy in the THYTau22 mouse model: a suitable therapeutic approach. Curr Alzheimer Res 2012; 9:397-405. [PMID: 22272619 DOI: 10.2174/156720512800492503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 149] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2011] [Revised: 10/10/2011] [Accepted: 10/18/2011] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Recent data indicate that Tau immunotherapy may be relevant for interfering with neurofibrillary degeneration in Alzheimer disease and related disorders referred to as Tauopathies. The key question for immunotherapy is the choice of the epitope to target. Abnormal phosphorylation is a well-described post-translational modification of Tau proteins and may be a good target. In the present study, we investigated the effects of active immunization against the pathological epitope phospho-Ser422 in the THY-Tau22 transgenic mouse model. Starting from 3-6 months of age, THY-Tau22 mice develop hippocampal neurofibrillary tangle-like inclusions and exhibit phosphorylation of Tau on several AD-relevant Tau epitopes. Three month-old THY-Tau22 mice were immunized with a peptide including the phosphoserine 422 residue while control mice received the adjuvant alone. A specific antibody response against the phospho-Ser422 epitope was observed. We noticed a decrease in insoluble Tau species (AT100- and pS422 immunoreactive) by both biochemical and immunohistochemical means correlated with a significant cognitive improvement using the Y-maze. This Tau immunotherapy may facilitate Tau clearance from the brain toward the periphery since, following immunization, an increase in Tau concentrations was observed in blood. Overall, the present work is, to our knowledge, the first one to demonstrate that active immunotherapy targeting a real pathological epitope such as phospho-Ser422 epitope is efficient. This immunotherapy allows for Tau clearance and improves cognitive deficits promoted by Tau pathology in a well-defined Tau transgenic model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laetitia Troquier
- Alzheimer&Tauopathies, Centre de Recherches Jean-Pierre Aubert, Lille, France
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Flunkert S, Hierzer M, Löffler T, Rabl R, Neddens J, Duller S, Schofield E, Ward M, Posch M, Jungwirth H, Windisch M, Hutter-Paier B. Elevated Levels of Soluble Total and Hyperphosphorylated Tau Result in Early Behavioral Deficits and Distinct Changes in Brain Pathology in a New Tau Transgenic Mouse Model. NEURODEGENER DIS 2012; 11:194-205. [DOI: 10.1159/000338152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2011] [Accepted: 03/16/2012] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
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Kitazawa M, Medeiros R, Laferla FM. Transgenic mouse models of Alzheimer disease: developing a better model as a tool for therapeutic interventions. Curr Pharm Des 2012; 18:1131-47. [PMID: 22288400 DOI: 10.2174/138161212799315786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 114] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2011] [Accepted: 12/19/2011] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Alzheimer disease (AD) is the leading cause of dementia among elderly. Currently, no effective treatment is available for AD. Analysis of transgenic mouse models of AD has facilitated our understanding of disease mechanisms and provided valuable tools for evaluating potential therapeutic strategies. In this review, we will discuss the strengths and weaknesses of current mouse models of AD and the contribution towards understanding the pathological mechanisms and developing effective therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masashi Kitazawa
- School of Natural Sciences, University of California, Merced, CA 95343, USA.
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48
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Increasing O-GlcNAc slows neurodegeneration and stabilizes tau against aggregation. Nat Chem Biol 2012; 8:393-9. [PMID: 22366723 DOI: 10.1038/nchembio.797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 438] [Impact Index Per Article: 36.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2011] [Accepted: 12/22/2011] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Oligomerization of tau is a key process contributing to the progressive death of neurons in Alzheimer's disease. Tau is modified by O-linked N-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc), and O-GlcNAc can influence tau phosphorylation in certain cases. We therefore speculated that increasing tau O-GlcNAc could be a strategy to hinder pathological tau-induced neurodegeneration. Here we found that treatment of hemizygous JNPL3 tau transgenic mice with an O-GlcNAcase inhibitor increased tau O-GlcNAc, hindered formation of tau aggregates and decreased neuronal cell loss. Notably, increases in tau O-GlcNAc did not alter tau phosphorylation in vivo. Using in vitro biochemical aggregation studies, we found that O-GlcNAc modification, on its own, hinders tau oligomerization. O-GlcNAc also inhibits thermally induced aggregation of an unrelated protein, TAK-1 binding protein, suggesting that a basic biochemical function of O-GlcNAc may be to prevent protein aggregation. These results also suggest O-GlcNAcase as a potential therapeutic target that could hinder progression of Alzheimer's disease.
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Shimada K, Motoi Y, Ishiguro K, Kambe T, Matsumoto SE, Itaya M, Kunichika M, Mori H, Shinohara A, Chiba M, Mizuno Y, Ueno T, Hattori N. Long-term oral lithium treatment attenuates motor disturbance in tauopathy model mice: implications of autophagy promotion. Neurobiol Dis 2012; 46:101-8. [PMID: 22249108 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2011.12.050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2011] [Revised: 11/27/2011] [Accepted: 12/31/2011] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Lithium, a drug used to treat bipolar disorders, has a variety of neuroprotective mechanisms including inhibition of glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3), a major tau kinase. Recently, it has been shown that, in various neurodegenerative proteinopathies, lithium could induce autophagy. To analyze how lithium is therapeutically beneficial in tauopathies, transgenic mice overexpressing human mutant tau (P301L) were treated with oral lithium chloride (LiCl) for 4 months starting at the age of 5 months. At first, we examined the effects of treatment on behavior (using a battery of behavioral tests), tau phosphorylation (by biochemical assays), and number of neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) (by immunohistopathology). In comparison with control mice, LiCl-treated mice showed a significantly better score in the sensory motor tasks, as well as decreases in tau phosphorylation, soluble tau level, and number of NFTs. Next, we examined lithium effects on autophagy using an antibody against microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3) as an autophagosome marker. The number of LC3-positive autophagosome-like puncta was increased in neurons of LiCl-treated mice. Neurons containing NFTs were completely LC3-negative, whereas LC3-positive autophagosome-like puncta contained phosphorylated-tau (p-tau). The protein level of p62 was decreased in LiCl-treated mice. These data suggested that oral long-term lithium treatment could attenuate p-tau-induced motor disturbance not only by inhibiting GSK-3 but also by enhancing autophagy in tauopathy model mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kohei Shimada
- Department of Neurology, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
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Julien C, Bretteville A, Planel E. Biochemical isolation of insoluble tau in transgenic mouse models of tauopathies. Methods Mol Biol 2012; 849:473-91. [PMID: 22528110 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-61779-551-0_32] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Tau is a highly soluble microtubule-associated protein (MAP) that is abundant in the central nervous system and expressed mainly in neuronal axons. Intracellular aggregates of insoluble tau protein are present in a group of neurodegenerative diseases called tauopathies, which include Alzheimer's disease. Numerous transgenic mouse models of tauopathies have been produced in the last decade, and analysis of insoluble tau in these animals has provided a powerful tool to understand the development of tau pathology. In this short chapter, we aim at reviewing the two main isolation methods, sarkosyl and formic acid extraction (and their variations), used for the biochemical isolation of insoluble tau in transgenic mouse models of tauopathy, and discuss their advantages and drawbacks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carl Julien
- Axe Neurosciences, Centre Hospitalier de l'Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
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