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Pocock J, Vasilopoulou F, Svensson E, Cosker K. Microglia and TREM2. Neuropharmacology 2024:110020. [PMID: 38821351 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2024.110020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2024] [Revised: 05/20/2024] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/02/2024]
Abstract
TREM2 is a membrane receptor solely expressed on microglia in normal brain. In this review we outline recent advances in TREM2 biology and its implications for microglial function, with particular emphasis on findings from iPSC-derived microglia (iMG) expressing TREM2 loss-of-function mutations. Alterations in receptor proximal and distal signalling underlie TREM2 risk variants linked to neurodegenerative disease, principally NH-linked FTD, and late-onset AD, but emerging data suggest roles for TREM2 in PD, MS and ALS. TREM2 downstream functions include phagocytosis of myelin debris, amyloid beta peptides, and phosphatidylserine-expressing cells (resulting from damage or stress). Microglial survival, migration, DAMP signalling, inflammasome activation, and intercellular signalling including tau spreading via exosomes, as well as roles for sTREM2 ain protection and as a biomarker are discussed. The role of TREM2 in metabolic homeostasis, and immunometabolic switching are discussed regarding microglial responses to damage and protection. The use of iPSC models to investigate the role of TREM2 in AD, PD, MS, ALS, and other neurodegenerative diseases could prove invaluable due to their ability to recapitulate human pathology, allowing a full understanding of TREM2 and microglial involvement in the underlying disease mechanisms and progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Pocock
- Department of Neuroinflammation, and Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, 1 Wakefield Street, London WC1N 1PJ, UK.
| | - Foteini Vasilopoulou
- Department of Neuroinflammation, and Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, 1 Wakefield Street, London WC1N 1PJ, UK
| | - Elina Svensson
- Department of Neuroinflammation, and Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, 1 Wakefield Street, London WC1N 1PJ, UK
| | - Katharina Cosker
- Department of Neuroinflammation, and Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, 1 Wakefield Street, London WC1N 1PJ, UK
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Shi Q, Gutierrez RA, Bhat MA. Microglia, Trem2, and Neurodegeneration. Neuroscientist 2024:10738584241254118. [PMID: 38769824 DOI: 10.1177/10738584241254118] [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: 05/22/2024]
Abstract
Microglia are a specialized type of neuroimmune cells that undergo morphological and molecular changes through multiple signaling pathways in response to pathological protein aggregates, neuronal death, tissue injury, or infections. Microglia express Trem2, which serves as a receptor for a multitude of ligands enhancing their phagocytic activity. Trem2 has emerged as a critical modulator of microglial activity, especially in many neurodegenerative disorders. Human TREM2 mutations are associated with an increased risk of developing Alzheimer disease (AD) and other neurodegenerative diseases. Trem2 plays dual roles in neuroinflammation and more specifically in disease-associated microglia. Most recent developments on the molecular mechanisms of Trem2, emphasizing its role in uptake and clearance of amyloid β (Aβ) aggregates and other tissue debris to help protect and preserve the brain, are encouraging. Although Trem2 normally stimulates defense mechanisms, its dysregulation can intensify inflammation, which poses major therapeutic challenges. Recent therapeutic approaches targeting Trem2 via agonistic antibodies and gene therapy methodologies present possible avenues for reducing the burden of neurodegenerative diseases. This review highlights the promise of Trem2 as a therapeutic target, especially for Aβ-associated AD, and calls for more mechanistic investigations to understand the context-specific role of microglial Trem2 in developing effective therapies against neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qian Shi
- Department of Cellular and Integrative Physiology, Center for Biomedical Neuroscience, Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long School of Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Raul A Gutierrez
- Department of Cellular and Integrative Physiology, Center for Biomedical Neuroscience, Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long School of Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Manzoor A Bhat
- Department of Cellular and Integrative Physiology, Center for Biomedical Neuroscience, Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long School of Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
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3
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Qin C, Chen M, Dong MH, Yang S, Zhang H, You YF, Zhou LQ, Chu YH, Tang Y, Pang XW, Wu LJ, Tian DS, Wang W. Soluble TREM2 triggers microglial dysfunction in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders. Brain 2024; 147:163-176. [PMID: 37740498 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awad321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2022] [Revised: 06/21/2023] [Accepted: 09/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Microglia-mediated neuroinflammation contributes to acute demyelination in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD). Soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2 (sTREM2) in the CSF has been associated with microglial activation in several neurodegenerative diseases. However, the basis for this immune-mediated attack and the pathophysiological role of sTREM2 in NMOSD remain to be elucidated. Here, we performed Mendelian randomization analysis and identified a genetic association between increased CSF sTREM2 and NMOSD risk. CSF sTREM2 was elevated in patients with NMOSD and was positively correlated with neural injury and other neuroinflammation markers. Single-cell RNA sequencing of human macrophage/microglia-like cells in CSF, a proxy for microglia, showed that increased CSF sTREM2 was positively associated with microglial dysfunction in patients with NMOSD. Furthermore, we demonstrated that sTREM2 is a reliable biomarker of microglial activation in a mouse model of NMOSD. Using unbiased transcriptomic and lipidomic screens, we identified that excessive activation, overwhelmed phagocytosis of myelin debris, suppressed lipid metabolism and enhanced glycolysis underlie sTREM2-mediated microglial dysfunction, possibly through the nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) signalling pathway. These molecular and cellular findings provide a mechanistic explanation for the genetic association between CSF sTREM2 and NMOSD risk and indicate that sTREM2 could be a potential biomarker of NMOSD progression and a therapeutic target for microglia-mediated neuroinflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chuan Qin
- Department of Neurology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Neural Injury and Functional Reconstruction, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Man Chen
- Department of Neurology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Neural Injury and Functional Reconstruction, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Ming-Hao Dong
- Department of Neurology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Neural Injury and Functional Reconstruction, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Sheng Yang
- Department of Neurology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Neural Injury and Functional Reconstruction, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Hang Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Neural Injury and Functional Reconstruction, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Yun-Fan You
- Department of Neurology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Neural Injury and Functional Reconstruction, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Luo-Qi Zhou
- Department of Neurology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Neural Injury and Functional Reconstruction, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Yun-Hui Chu
- Department of Neurology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Neural Injury and Functional Reconstruction, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Yue Tang
- Department of Neurology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Neural Injury and Functional Reconstruction, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Xiao-Wei Pang
- Department of Neurology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Neural Injury and Functional Reconstruction, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Long-Jun Wu
- Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, NY 14600, USA
| | - Dai-Shi Tian
- Department of Neurology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Neural Injury and Functional Reconstruction, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Wei Wang
- Department of Neurology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Neural Injury and Functional Reconstruction, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
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4
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Wang L, Nykänen NP, Western D, Gorijala P, Timsina J, Li F, Wang Z, Ali M, Yang C, Liu M, Brock W, Marquié M, Boada M, Alvarez I, Aguilar M, Pastor P, Ruiz A, Puerta R, Orellana A, Rutledge J, Oh H, Greicius MD, Le Guen Y, Perrin RJ, Wyss-Coray T, Jefferson A, Hohman TJ, Graff-Radford N, Mori H, Goate A, Levin J, Sung YJ, Cruchaga C. Proteo-genomics of soluble TREM2 in cerebrospinal fluid provides novel insights and identifies novel modulators for Alzheimer's disease. Mol Neurodegener 2024; 19:1. [PMID: 38172904 PMCID: PMC10763080 DOI: 10.1186/s13024-023-00687-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2 (TREM2) plays a critical role in microglial activation, survival, and apoptosis, as well as in Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathogenesis. We previously reported the MS4A locus as a key modulator for soluble TREM2 (sTREM2) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). To identify additional novel genetic modifiers of sTREM2, we performed the largest genome-wide association study (GWAS) and identified four loci for CSF sTREM2 in 3,350 individuals of European ancestry. Through multi-ethnic fine mapping, we identified two independent missense variants (p.M178V in MS4A4A and p.A112T in MS4A6A) that drive the association in MS4A locus and showed an epistatic effect for sTREM2 levels and AD risk. The novel TREM2 locus on chr 6 contains two rare missense variants (rs75932628 p.R47H, P=7.16×10-19; rs142232675 p.D87N, P=2.71×10-10) associated with sTREM2 and AD risk. The third novel locus in the TGFBR2 and RBMS3 gene region (rs73823326, P=3.86×10-9) included a regulatory variant with a microglia-specific chromatin loop for the promoter of TGFBR2. Using cell-based assays we demonstrate that overexpression and knock-down of TGFBR2, but not RBMS3, leads to significant changes of sTREM2. The last novel locus is located on the APOE region (rs11666329, P=2.52×10-8), but we demonstrated that this signal was independent of APOE genotype. This signal colocalized with cis-eQTL of NECTIN2 in the brain cortex and cis-pQTL of NECTIN2 in CSF. Overexpression of NECTIN2 led to an increase of sTREM2 supporting the genetic findings. To our knowledge, this is the largest study to date aimed at identifying genetic modifiers of CSF sTREM2. This study provided novel insights into the MS4A and TREM2 loci, two well-known AD risk genes, and identified TGFBR2 and NECTIN2 as additional modulators involved in TREM2 biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lihua Wang
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
- NeuroGenomics and Informatics Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Niko-Petteri Nykänen
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
- NeuroGenomics and Informatics Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Daniel Western
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
- NeuroGenomics and Informatics Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Priyanka Gorijala
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
- NeuroGenomics and Informatics Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Jigyasha Timsina
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
- NeuroGenomics and Informatics Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Fuhai Li
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Zhaohua Wang
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
- NeuroGenomics and Informatics Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Muhammad Ali
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
- NeuroGenomics and Informatics Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Chengran Yang
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
- NeuroGenomics and Informatics Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Menghan Liu
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
- NeuroGenomics and Informatics Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - William Brock
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
- NeuroGenomics and Informatics Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Marta Marquié
- Networking Research Center on Neurodegenerative Disease (CIBERNED), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- Research Center and Memory Clinic, ACE Alzheimer Center Barcelona, Universitat Internacional de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Mercè Boada
- Networking Research Center on Neurodegenerative Disease (CIBERNED), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- Research Center and Memory Clinic, ACE Alzheimer Center Barcelona, Universitat Internacional de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ignacio Alvarez
- Memory Disorders Unit, Department of Neurology, University Hospital Mutua Terrassa, Terrassa, Spain
| | - Miquel Aguilar
- Memory Disorders Unit, Department of Neurology, University Hospital Mutua Terrassa, Terrassa, Spain
| | - Pau Pastor
- Unit of Neurodegenerative diseases, Department of Neurology, University Hospital Germans Trias i Pujol and The Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute (IGTP) Badalona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Agustín Ruiz
- Networking Research Center on Neurodegenerative Disease (CIBERNED), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- Research Center and Memory Clinic, ACE Alzheimer Center Barcelona, Universitat Internacional de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Raquel Puerta
- Networking Research Center on Neurodegenerative Disease (CIBERNED), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- Research Center and Memory Clinic, ACE Alzheimer Center Barcelona, Universitat Internacional de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Adelina Orellana
- Networking Research Center on Neurodegenerative Disease (CIBERNED), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- Research Center and Memory Clinic, ACE Alzheimer Center Barcelona, Universitat Internacional de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jarod Rutledge
- Wu-Tsai Neurosciences Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Hamilton Oh
- Wu-Tsai Neurosciences Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | | | - Yann Le Guen
- Wu-Tsai Neurosciences Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Richard J Perrin
- Department of Pathology & Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Tony Wyss-Coray
- Wu-Tsai Neurosciences Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Angela Jefferson
- Vanderbilt Memory & Alzheimer's Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Timothy J Hohman
- Vanderbilt Memory & Alzheimer's Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | | | | | - Alison Goate
- Department of Genetics & Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Johannes Levin
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital of Munich, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität (LMU) Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Yun Ju Sung
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
- NeuroGenomics and Informatics Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Division of Biostatistics, Washington University School of Medicine, BJC Institute of Health, 425 S. Euclid Ave, Box 8134, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Carlos Cruchaga
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA.
- NeuroGenomics and Informatics Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA.
- Hope Center for Neurologic Diseases, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, USA.
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5
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Nordengen K, Kirsebom BE, Richter G, Pålhaugen L, Gísladóttir B, Siafarikas N, Nakling A, Rongve A, Bråthen G, Grøntvedt GR, Gonzalez F, Waterloo K, Sharma K, Karikari T, Vromen EM, Tijms BM, Visser PJ, Selnes P, Kramberger MG, Winblad B, Blennow K, Fladby T. Longitudinal cerebrospinal fluid measurements show glial hypo- and hyperactivation in predementia Alzheimer's disease. J Neuroinflammation 2023; 20:298. [PMID: 38093257 PMCID: PMC10720118 DOI: 10.1186/s12974-023-02973-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Brain innate immune activation is associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD), but degrees of activation may vary between disease stages. Thus, brain innate immune activation must be assessed in longitudinal clinical studies that include biomarker negative healthy controls and cases with established AD pathology. Here, we employ longitudinally sampled cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) core AD, immune activation and glial biomarkers to investigate early (predementia stage) innate immune activation levels and biomarker profiles. METHODS We included non-demented cases from a longitudinal observational cohort study, with CSF samples available at baseline (n = 535) and follow-up (n = 213), between 1 and 6 years from baseline (mean 2.8 years). We measured Aβ42/40 ratio, p-tau181, and total-tau to determine Ab (A+), tau-tangle pathology (T+), and neurodegeneration (N+), respectively. We classified individuals into these groups: A-/T-/N-, A+/T-/N-, A+/T+ or N+, or A-/T+ or N+. Using linear and mixed linear regression, we compared levels of CSF sTREM2, YKL-40, clusterin, fractalkine, MCP-1, IL-6, IL-1, IL-18, and IFN-γ both cross-sectionally and longitudinally between groups. A post hoc analysis was also performed to assess biomarker differences between cognitively healthy and impaired individuals in the A+/T+ or N+ group. RESULTS Cross-sectionally, CSF sTREM2, YKL-40, clusterin and fractalkine were higher only in groups with tau pathology, independent of amyloidosis (p < 0.001, A+/T+ or N+ and A-/T+ or N+, compared to A-/T-/N-). No significant group differences were observed for the cytokines CSF MCP-1, IL-6, IL-10, IL18 or IFN-γ. Longitudinally, CSF YKL-40, fractalkine and IFN-γ were all significantly lower in stable A+/T-/N- cases (all p < 0.05). CSF sTREM2, YKL-40, clusterin, fractalkine (p < 0.001) and MCP-1 (p < 0.05) were all higher in T or N+, with or without amyloidosis at baseline, but remained stable over time. High CSF sTREM2 was associated with preserved cognitive function within the A+/T+ or N+ group, relative to the cognitively impaired with the same A/T/N biomarker profile (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS Immune hypoactivation and reduced neuron-microglia communication are observed in isolated amyloidosis while activation and increased fractalkine accompanies tau pathology in predementia AD. Glial hypo- and hyperactivation through the predementia AD continuum suggests altered glial interaction with Ab and tau pathology, and may necessitate differential treatments, depending on the stage and patient-specific activation patterns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaja Nordengen
- Department of Neurology, Akershus University Hospital, P.B. 1000, 1478, Lørenskog, Norway.
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
| | - Bjørn-Eivind Kirsebom
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital of North Norway, Tromsø, Norway
- Department of Psychology, Faculty Health Sciences, UiT, The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Grit Richter
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital of North Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Lene Pålhaugen
- Department of Neurology, Akershus University Hospital, P.B. 1000, 1478, Lørenskog, Norway
| | - Berglind Gísladóttir
- Department of Neurology, Akershus University Hospital, P.B. 1000, 1478, Lørenskog, Norway
- Clinical Molecular Biology (EpiGen), Medical Division, Akershus University Hospital and University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Nikias Siafarikas
- Department of Old Age Psychiatry, Akershus University Hospital, Lørenskog, Norway
| | - Arne Nakling
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Arvid Rongve
- Department of Research and Innovation, Haugesund Hospital, Helse Fonna, Haugesund, Norway
- Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Geir Bråthen
- Department of Neuromedicine and Movement Science, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
- Department of Neurology and Clinical Neurophysiology, University Hospital of Trondheim, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Gøril Rolfseng Grøntvedt
- Department of Neuromedicine and Movement Science, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
- Department of Neurology and Clinical Neurophysiology, University Hospital of Trondheim, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Fernando Gonzalez
- Clinical Neurochemistry Laboratory, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Mölndal, Sweden
| | - Knut Waterloo
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital of North Norway, Tromsø, Norway
- Department of Psychology, Faculty Health Sciences, UiT, The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Kulbhushan Sharma
- Department of Neurology, Akershus University Hospital, P.B. 1000, 1478, Lørenskog, Norway
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Thomas Karikari
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, The Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Mölndal, Sweden
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburg, PA, USA
| | - Eleonora M Vromen
- Alzheimer Center Amsterdam, Neurology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC Location Vumc, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Amsterdam Neuroscience, Neurodegeneration, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Betty M Tijms
- Alzheimer Center Amsterdam, Neurology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC Location Vumc, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Amsterdam Neuroscience, Neurodegeneration, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Pieter J Visser
- Alzheimer Center Amsterdam, Neurology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC Location Vumc, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Amsterdam Neuroscience, Neurodegeneration, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Psychiatry, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Per Selnes
- Department of Neurology, Akershus University Hospital, P.B. 1000, 1478, Lørenskog, Norway
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Milicia G Kramberger
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Division of Clinical Geriatrics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Medical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Bengt Winblad
- Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Division of Neurogeriatrics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Kaj Blennow
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, The Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Mölndal, Sweden
| | - Tormod Fladby
- Department of Neurology, Akershus University Hospital, P.B. 1000, 1478, Lørenskog, Norway.
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
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6
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Schlepckow K, Morenas-Rodríguez E, Hong S, Haass C. Stimulation of TREM2 with agonistic antibodies-an emerging therapeutic option for Alzheimer's disease. Lancet Neurol 2023; 22:1048-1060. [PMID: 37863592 DOI: 10.1016/s1474-4422(23)00247-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2023] [Revised: 06/29/2023] [Accepted: 06/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/22/2023]
Abstract
Neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer's disease, are associated with microgliosis. Microglia have long been considered to have detrimental roles in Alzheimer's disease. However, functional analyses of genes encoding risk factors that are linked to late-onset Alzheimer's disease, and that are enriched or exclusively expressed in microglia, have revealed unexpected protective functions. One of the major risk genes for Alzheimer's disease is TREM2. Risk variants of TREM2 are loss-of-function mutations affecting chemotaxis, phagocytosis, lipid and energy metabolism, and survival and proliferation. Agonistic anti-TREM2 antibodies have been developed to boost these protective functions in patients with intact TREM2 alleles. Several anti-TREM2 antibodies are in early clinical trials, and current efforts aim to achieve more efficient transport of these antibodies across the blood-brain barrier. PET imaging could be used to monitor target engagement. Data from animal models, and biomarker studies in patients, further support a rationale for boosting TREM2 functions during the preclinical stage of Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai Schlepckow
- German Centre for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Munich, Germany
| | - Estrella Morenas-Rodríguez
- Memory Unit, Department of Neurology, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre, Madrid, Spain; Group of Neurogenerative Diseases, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre Research Institute (imas12), Madrid, Spain
| | - Soyon Hong
- UK Dementia Research Institute, Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Christian Haass
- German Centre for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Munich, Germany; Metabolic Biochemistry, Biomedical Centre, Faculty of Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians University, Munich, Germany; Munich Cluster for Systems Neurology (SyNergy), Munich, Germany.
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7
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Peng B, Xu S, Liang Y, Dong X, Sun Y. Effect of Bacterial Amyloid Protein Phenol-Soluble Modulin Alpha 3 on the Aggregation of Amyloid Beta Protein Associated with Alzheimer's Disease. Biomimetics (Basel) 2023; 8:459. [PMID: 37887589 PMCID: PMC10604207 DOI: 10.3390/biomimetics8060459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2023] [Revised: 09/24/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Since the proposal of the brainstem axis theory, increasing research attention has been paid to the interactions between bacterial amyloids produced by intestinal flora and the amyloid β-protein (Aβ) related to Alzheimer's disease (AD), and it has been considered as the possible cause of AD. Therefore, phenol-soluble modulin (PSM) α3, the most virulent protein secreted by Staphylococcus aureus, has attracted much attention. In this work, the effect of PSMα3 with a unique cross-α fibril architecture on the aggregation of pathogenic Aβ40 of AD was studied by extensive biophysical characterizations. The results proposed that the PSMα3 monomer inhibited the aggregation of Aβ40 in a concentration-dependent manner and changed the aggregation pathway to form granular aggregates. However, PSMα3 oligomers promoted the generation of the β-sheet structure, thus shortening the lag phase of Aβ40 aggregation. Moreover, the higher the cross-α content of PSMα3, the stronger the effect of the promotion, indicating that the cross-α structure of PSMα3 plays a crucial role in the aggregation of Aβ40. Further molecular dynamics (MD) simulations have shown that the Met1-Gly20 region in the PSMα3 monomer can be combined with the Asp1-Ala2 and His13-Val36 regions in the Aβ40 monomer by hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions, which prevents the conformational conversion of Aβ40 from the α-helix to β-sheet structure. By contrast, PSMα3 oligomers mainly combined with the central hydrophobic core (CHC) and the C-terminal region of the Aβ40 monomer by weak H-bonding and hydrophobic interactions, which could not inhibit the transition to the β-sheet structure in the aggregation pathway. Thus, the research has unraveled molecular interactions between Aβ40 and PSMα3 of different structures and provided a deeper understanding of the complex interactions between bacterial amyloids and AD-related pathogenic Aβ.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Xiaoyan Dong
- Department of Biochemical Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering and Frontiers Science Center for Synthetic Biology (Ministry of Education), Tianjin University, Tianjin 300350, China; (B.P.); (S.X.); (Y.L.)
| | - Yan Sun
- Department of Biochemical Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering and Frontiers Science Center for Synthetic Biology (Ministry of Education), Tianjin University, Tianjin 300350, China; (B.P.); (S.X.); (Y.L.)
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8
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Zhang W, Xiao D, Mao Q, Xia H. Role of neuroinflammation in neurodegeneration development. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2023; 8:267. [PMID: 37433768 PMCID: PMC10336149 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-023-01486-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 68.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2022] [Revised: 03/22/2023] [Accepted: 05/07/2023] [Indexed: 07/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Studies in neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Huntington's disease, and so on, have suggested that inflammation is not only a result of neurodegeneration but also a crucial player in this process. Protein aggregates which are very common pathological phenomenon in neurodegeneration can induce neuroinflammation which further aggravates protein aggregation and neurodegeneration. Actually, inflammation even happens earlier than protein aggregation. Neuroinflammation induced by genetic variations in CNS cells or by peripheral immune cells may induce protein deposition in some susceptible population. Numerous signaling pathways and a range of CNS cells have been suggested to be involved in the pathogenesis of neurodegeneration, although they are still far from being completely understood. Due to the limited success of traditional treatment methods, blocking or enhancing inflammatory signaling pathways involved in neurodegeneration are considered to be promising strategies for the therapy of neurodegenerative diseases, and many of them have got exciting results in animal models or clinical trials. Some of them, although very few, have been approved by FDA for clinical usage. Here we comprehensively review the factors affecting neuroinflammation and the major inflammatory signaling pathways involved in the pathogenicity of neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. We also summarize the current strategies, both in animal models and in the clinic, for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weifeng Zhang
- Laboratory of Gene Therapy, Department of Biochemistry, College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, 199 South Chang'an Road, Xi'an, 710062, P.R. China
| | - Dan Xiao
- The State Laboratory of Cancer Biology, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Air Force Medical University, No. 169 Changle West Road, Xi'an, 710032, P.R. China
- Department of Burns and Cutaneous Surgery, Xijing Hospital, Air Force Medical University, No. 169 Changle West Road, Xi'an, 710032, China
| | - Qinwen Mao
- Department of Pathology, University of Utah, Huntsman Cancer Institute, 2000 Circle of Hope Drive, Salt Lake City, UT, 84112, USA
| | - Haibin Xia
- Laboratory of Gene Therapy, Department of Biochemistry, College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, 199 South Chang'an Road, Xi'an, 710062, P.R. China.
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9
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Wijegunawardena G, Castillo E, Henrickson B, Davis R, Condello C, Wu H. Total Chemical Synthesis of Glycosylated TREM2 Ectodomain. ACS Chem Neurosci 2023; 14:2243-2251. [PMID: 37235776 PMCID: PMC10786670 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.3c00257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Mutations in a microglia-associated gene TREM2 increase the risk of Alzheimer's disease. Currently, structural and functional studies of TREM2 mainly rely on recombinant TREM2 proteins expressed from mammalian cells. However, using this method, it is difficult to achieve site-specific labeling. Here, we present the total chemical synthesis of the 116 amino acid TREM2 ectodomain. Rigorous structural analysis ensured correct structural fold after refolding. Treating microglial cells with refolded synthetic TREM2 enhanced microglial phagocytosis, proliferation, and survival. We also prepared TREM2 constructs with defined glycosylation patterns and found that glycosylation at N79 is critical to the thermal stability of TREM2. This method will provide access to TREM2 constructs with site-specific labeling, such as fluorescent labeling, reactive chemical handles, and enrichment handles, to further advance our understanding of TREM2 in Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gayani Wijegunawardena
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Wichita State University, Wichita, Kansas 67260, United States
| | - Erika Castillo
- Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158, United States
| | - Brandy Henrickson
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Wichita State University, Wichita, Kansas 67260, United States
| | - Regan Davis
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Wichita State University, Wichita, Kansas 67260, United States
| | - Carlo Condello
- Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158, United States
- Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158, United States
| | - Haifan Wu
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Wichita State University, Wichita, Kansas 67260, United States
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10
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Haver HN, Wedemeyer M, Butcher E, Peterson FC, Volkman BF, Scaglione KM. Mechanistic Insight into the Suppression of Polyglutamine Aggregation by SRCP1. ACS Chem Biol 2023; 18:549-560. [PMID: 36791332 PMCID: PMC10023506 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.2c00893] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/17/2023]
Abstract
Protein aggregation is a hallmark of the polyglutamine diseases. One potential treatment for these diseases is suppression of polyglutamine aggregation. Previous work identified the cellular slime mold Dictyostelium discoideum as being naturally resistant to polyglutamine aggregation. Further work identified serine-rich chaperone protein 1 (SRCP1) as a protein that is both necessary in Dictyostelium and sufficient in human cells to suppress polyglutamine aggregation. Therefore, understanding how SRCP1 suppresses aggregation may be useful for developing therapeutics for the polyglutamine diseases. Here we utilized a de novo protein modeling approach to generate predictions of SRCP1's structure. Using our best-fit model, we generated mutants that were predicted to alter the stability of SRCP1 and tested these mutants' stability in cells. Using these data, we identified top models of SRCP1's structure that are consistent with the C-terminal region of SRCP1 forming a β-hairpin with a highly dynamic N-terminal region. We next generated a series of peptides that mimic the predicted β-hairpin and validated that they inhibit aggregation of a polyglutamine-expanded mutant huntingtin exon 1 fragment in vitro. To further assess mechanistic details of how SRCP1 inhibits polyglutamine aggregation, we utilized biochemical assays to determine that SRCP1 inhibits secondary nucleation in a manner dependent upon the regions flanking the polyglutamine tract. Finally, to determine if SRCP1 more could generally suppress protein aggregation, we confirmed that it was sufficient to inhibit aggregation of polyglutamine-expanded ataxin-3. Together these studies provide details into the structural and mechanistic basis of the inhibition of protein aggregation by SRCP1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Holly N. Haver
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University, Durham, NC, 27710 USA
| | - Michael Wedemeyer
- Department of Biochemistry, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, 53226 USA
| | - Erin Butcher
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University, Durham, NC, 27710 USA
| | - Francis C. Peterson
- Department of Biochemistry, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, 53226 USA
| | - Brian F. Volkman
- Department of Biochemistry, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, 53226 USA
| | - K. Matthew Scaglione
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University, Durham, NC, 27710 USA
- Department of Neurology, Duke University, Durham, NC, 27710 USA
- Duke Center for Neurodegeneration and Neurotherapeutics, Durham, NC, 27710 USA
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11
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Moutinho M, Coronel I, Tsai AP, Di Prisco GV, Pennington T, Atwood BK, Puntambekar SS, Smith DC, Martinez P, Han S, Lee Y, Lasagna-Reeves CA, Lamb BT, Bissel SJ, Nho K, Landreth GE. TREM2 splice isoforms generate soluble TREM2 species that disrupt long-term potentiation. Genome Med 2023; 15:11. [PMID: 36805764 PMCID: PMC9940368 DOI: 10.1186/s13073-023-01160-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2022] [Accepted: 02/03/2023] [Indexed: 02/22/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND TREM2 is a transmembrane receptor expressed by myeloid cells and acts to regulate their immune response. TREM2 governs the response of microglia to amyloid and tau pathologies in the Alzheimer's disease (AD) brain. TREM2 is also present in a soluble form (sTREM2), and its CSF levels fluctuate as a function of AD progression. Analysis of stroke and AD mouse models revealed that sTREM2 proteins bind to neurons, which suggests sTREM2 may act in a non-cell autonomous manner to influence neuronal function. sTREM2 arises from the proteolytic cleavage of the membrane-associated receptor. However, alternatively spliced TREM2 species lacking a transmembrane domain have been postulated to contribute to the pool of sTREM2. Thus, both the source of sTREM2 species and its actions in the brain remain unclear. METHODS The expression of TREM2 isoforms in the AD brain was assessed through the analysis of the Accelerating Medicines Partnership for Alzheimer's Disease Consortium transcriptomics data, as well as qPCR analysis using post-mortem samples of AD patients and of the AD mouse model 5xFAD. TREM2 cleavage and secretion were studied in vitro using HEK-293T and HMC3 cell lines. Synaptic plasticity, as evaluated by induction of LTP in hippocampal brain slices, was employed as a measure of sTREM2 actions. RESULTS Three distinct TREM2 transcripts, namely ENST00000373113 (TREM2230), which encodes the full-length transmembrane receptor, and the alternatively spliced isoforms ENST00000373122 (TREM2222) and ENST00000338469 (TREM2219), are moderately increased in specific brain regions of patients with AD. We provide experimental evidence that TREM2 alternatively spliced isoforms are translated and secreted as sTREM2. Furthermore, our functional analysis reveals that all sTREM2 species inhibit LTP induction, and this effect is abolished by the GABAA receptor antagonist picrotoxin. CONCLUSIONS TREM2 transcripts can give rise to a heterogeneous pool of sTREM2 which acts to inhibit LTP. These results provide novel insight into the generation, regulation, and function of sTREM2 which fits into the complex biology of TREM2 and its role in human health and disease. Given that sTREM2 levels are linked to AD pathogenesis and progression, our finding that sTREM2 species interfere with LTP furthers our understanding about the role of TREM2 in AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel Moutinho
- Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
- Department of Anatomy, Cell Biology and Physiology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA
| | - Israel Coronel
- Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
- Department of Anatomy, Cell Biology and Physiology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA
| | - Andy P Tsai
- Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Gonzalo Viana Di Prisco
- Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Indiana University, School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA
| | - Taylor Pennington
- Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Indiana University, School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA
| | - Brady K Atwood
- Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Indiana University, School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA
| | - Shweta S Puntambekar
- Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Daniel C Smith
- Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Pablo Martinez
- Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
- Department of Anatomy, Cell Biology and Physiology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA
| | - Seonggyun Han
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Younghee Lee
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Cristian A Lasagna-Reeves
- Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
- Department of Anatomy, Cell Biology and Physiology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA
| | - Bruce T Lamb
- Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Stephanie J Bissel
- Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Kwangsik Nho
- Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
- Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Indiana Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Gary E Landreth
- Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA.
- Department of Anatomy, Cell Biology and Physiology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA.
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12
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Qiao W, Chen Y, Zhong J, Madden BJ, Charlesworth CM, Martens YA, Liu CC, Knight J, Ikezu TC, Kurti A, Zhu Y, Meneses A, Rosenberg CL, Kuchenbecker LA, Vanmaele LK, Li F, Chen K, Shue F, Dacquel MV, Fryer J, Pandey A, Zhao N, Bu G. Trem2 H157Y increases soluble TREM2 production and reduces amyloid pathology. Mol Neurodegener 2023; 18:8. [PMID: 36721205 PMCID: PMC9890893 DOI: 10.1186/s13024-023-00599-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2022] [Accepted: 01/19/2023] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The rare p.H157Y variant of TREM2 (Triggering Receptor Expressed on Myeloid Cells 2) was found to increase Alzheimer's disease (AD) risk. This mutation is located at the cleavage site of TREM2 extracellular domain. Ectopic expression of TREM2-H157Y in HEK293 cells resulted in increased TREM2 shedding. However, the physiological outcomes of the TREM2 H157Y mutation remain unknown in the absence and presence of AD related pathologies. METHODS We generated a novel Trem2 H157Y knock-in mouse model through CRISPR/Cas9 technology and investigated the effects of Trem2 H157Y on TREM2 proteolytic processing, synaptic function, and AD-related amyloid pathologies by conducting biochemical assays, targeted mass spectrometry analysis of TREM2, hippocampal electrophysiology, immunofluorescent staining, in vivo micro-dialysis, and cortical bulk RNA sequencing. RESULTS Consistent with previous in vitro findings, Trem2 H157Y increases TREM2 shedding with elevated soluble TREM2 levels in the brain and serum. Moreover, Trem2 H157Y enhances synaptic plasticity without affecting microglial density and morphology, or TREM2 signaling. In the presence of amyloid pathology, Trem2 H157Y accelerates amyloid-β (Aβ) clearance and reduces amyloid burden, dystrophic neurites, and gliosis in two independent founder lines. Targeted mass spectrometry analysis of TREM2 revealed higher ratios of soluble to full-length TREM2-H157Y compared to wild-type TREM2, indicating that the H157Y mutation promotes TREM2 shedding in the presence of Aβ. TREM2 signaling was further found reduced in Trem2 H157Y homozygous mice. Transcriptomic profiling revealed that Trem2 H157Y downregulates neuroinflammation-related genes and an immune module correlated with the amyloid pathology. CONCLUSION Taken together, our findings suggest beneficial effects of the Trem2 H157Y mutation in synaptic function and in mitigating amyloid pathology. Considering the genetic association of TREM2 p.H157Y with AD risk, we speculate TREM2 H157Y in humans might increase AD risk through an amyloid-independent pathway, such as its effects on tauopathy and neurodegeneration which merit further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenhui Qiao
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL 32224 USA
| | - Yixing Chen
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL 32224 USA
| | - Jun Zhong
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905 USA
| | - Benjamin J. Madden
- Medical Genome Facility, Proteomics Core, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN USA
| | | | - Yuka A. Martens
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL 32224 USA
| | - Chia-Chen Liu
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL 32224 USA
| | - Joshua Knight
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL 32224 USA
| | | | - Aishe Kurti
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL 32224 USA
| | - Yiyang Zhu
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL 32224 USA
| | - Axel Meneses
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL 32224 USA
| | | | | | - Lucy K. Vanmaele
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL 32224 USA
| | - Fuyao Li
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL 32224 USA
| | - Kai Chen
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL 32224 USA
| | - Francis Shue
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL 32224 USA
| | | | - John Fryer
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, AZ 85259 USA
| | - Akhilesh Pandey
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905 USA
- Center for Individualized Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN USA
- Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Manipal, Karnataka 576104 India
| | - Na Zhao
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL 32224 USA
| | - Guojun Bu
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL 32224 USA
- SciNeuro Pharmaceuticals, Rockville, MD 20805 USA
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13
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Controlling amyloid formation of intrinsically disordered proteins and peptides: slowing down or speeding up? Essays Biochem 2022; 66:959-975. [PMID: 35975807 DOI: 10.1042/ebc20220046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2022] [Revised: 08/04/2022] [Accepted: 08/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
The pathological assembly of intrinsically disordered proteins/peptides (IDPs) into amyloid fibrils is associated with a range of human pathologies, including neurodegeneration, metabolic diseases and systemic amyloidosis. These debilitating disorders affect hundreds of millions of people worldwide, and the number of people affected is increasing sharply. However, the discovery of therapeutic agents has been immensely challenging largely because of (i) the diverse number of aggregation pathways and the multi-conformational and transient nature of the related proteins or peptides and (ii) the under-development of experimental pipelines for the identification of disease-modifying molecules and their mode-of-action. Here, we describe current approaches used in the search for small-molecule modulators able to control or arrest amyloid formation commencing from IDPs and review recently reported accelerators and inhibitors of amyloid formation for this class of proteins. We compare their targets, mode-of-action and effects on amyloid-associated cytotoxicity. Recent successes in the control of IDP-associated amyloid formation using small molecules highlight exciting possibilities for future intervention in protein-misfolding diseases, despite the challenges of targeting these highly dynamic precursors of amyloid assembly.
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14
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Sedov I, Khaibrakhmanova D. Molecular Mechanisms of Inhibition of Protein Amyloid Fibril Formation: Evidence and Perspectives Based on Kinetic Models. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232113428. [PMID: 36362217 PMCID: PMC9657184 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232113428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2022] [Revised: 10/29/2022] [Accepted: 10/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Inhibition of fibril formation is considered a possible treatment strategy for amyloid-related diseases. Understanding the molecular nature of inhibitor action is crucial for the design of drug candidates. In the present review, we describe the common kinetic models of fibril formation and classify known inhibitors by the mechanism of their interactions with the aggregating protein and its oligomers. This mechanism determines the step or steps of the aggregation process that become inhibited and the observed changes in kinetics and equilibrium of fibril formation. The results of numerous studies indicate that possible approaches to antiamyloid inhibitor discovery include the search for the strong binders of protein monomers, cappers blocking the ends of the growing fibril, or the species absorbing on the surface of oligomers preventing nucleation. Strongly binding inhibitors stabilizing the native state can be promising for the structured proteins while designing the drug candidates targeting disordered proteins is challenging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Igor Sedov
- Chemical Institute, Kazan Federal University, Kremlevskaya 18, 420008 Kazan, Russia
- Kazan Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, FRC Kazan Scientific Center of RAS, 420111 Kazan, Russia
- Sirius University of Science and Technology, 1 Olympic Ave, 354340 Sochi, Russia
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +7-9600503916
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15
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Ma WY, Wang SS, Wu QL, Zhou X, Chu SF, Chen NH. The versatile role of TREM2 in regulating of microglia fate in the ischemic stroke. Int Immunopharmacol 2022; 109:108733. [PMID: 35525233 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2022.108733] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2022] [Revised: 03/07/2022] [Accepted: 03/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Microglia are the earliest activated and the longest lasting immune cells after stroke, and they participate in almost all the pathological reactions after stroke. However, their regulatory mechanism has not been fully elucidated. Triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-2 (TREM2) is a cell surface receptor that is mainly expressed in microglia of the central nervous system. The receptor plays an important role in regulating microglia energy metabolism and phenotypic transformation. At present, TREM2 has been developed as a potential target for AD, coronary atherosclerosis and other diseases. However, TREM2 does not provide a systematic summary of the functional transformation and intrinsic molecular mechanisms of microglia after stroke. In this paper, we have summarized the functional changes of TREM2 in microglia after stroke in recent years, and found that TREM2 has important effects on energy metabolism, phagocytosis and anti-inflammatory function of microglia after stroke, suggesting that TREM2 is a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of stroke.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen-Yu Ma
- Science and Technology Innovation Center, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou 510405, China
| | - Sha-Sha Wang
- Science and Technology Innovation Center, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou 510405, China
| | - Qing-Lin Wu
- Science and Technology Innovation Center, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou 510405, China
| | - Xin Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substances and Functions of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medical & Neuroscience Center, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, China
| | - Shi-Feng Chu
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substances and Functions of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medical & Neuroscience Center, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, China.
| | - Nai-Hong Chen
- Science and Technology Innovation Center, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou 510405, China; State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substances and Functions of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medical & Neuroscience Center, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, China.
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