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Liang Y, Lee DYW, Zhen S, Sun H, Zhu B, Liu J, Lei D, Lin CCJ, Zhang S, Jacques NA, Quinti L, Ran C, Wang C, Griciuc A, Choi SH, Dai RH, Efferth T, Tanzi RE, Zhang C. Natural medicine HLXL targets multiple pathways of amyloid-mediated neuroinflammation and immune response in treating alzheimer's disease. PHYTOMEDICINE : INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHYTOTHERAPY AND PHYTOPHARMACOLOGY 2022; 104:154158. [PMID: 35728383 DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2022.154158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2021] [Revised: 04/06/2022] [Accepted: 05/05/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Based on the complex pathology of AD, a single chemical approach may not be sufficient to deal simultaneously with multiple pathways of amyloid-tau neuroinflammation. A polydrug approach which contains multiple bioactive components targeting multiple pathways in AD would be more appropriate. Here we focused on a Chinese medicine (HLXL), which contains 56 bioactive natural products identified in 11 medicinal plants and displays potent anti-inflammatory and immuno-modulatory activity. HYPOTHESIS/PURPOSE We investigated the neuroimmune and neuroinflammation mechanisms by which HLXL may attenuate AD neuropathology. Specifically, we investigated the effects of HLXL on the neuropathology of AD using both transgenic mouse models as well as microglial cell-based models. STUDY DESIGN The 5XFAD transgenic animals and microglial cell models were respectively treated with HLXL and Aβ42, and/or lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and then analyzed focusing on microglia mediated Aβ uptake and clearance, as well as pathway changes. METHODS We showed that HLXL significantly reduced amyloid neuropathology by upregulation of microglia-mediated phagocytosis of Aβ both in vivo and in vitro. HLXL displayed multi-modal mechanisms regulating pathways of phagocytosis and energy metabolism. RESULTS Our results may not only open a new avenue to support pharmacologic modulation of neuroinflammation and the neuroimmune system for AD intervention, but also identify HLXL as a promising natural medicine for AD. CONCLUSION It is conceivable that the traditional wisdom of natural medicine in combination with modern science and technology would be the best strategy in developing effective therapeutics for AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingxia Liang
- Genetics and Aging Research Unit, McCance Center for Brain Health, Mass General Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA; Department of Anesthesiology, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, Shandong, China
| | - David Y W Lee
- Bio-Organic and Natural Products Research Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry, McLean Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Belmont, MA, USA.
| | - Sherri Zhen
- Genetics and Aging Research Unit, McCance Center for Brain Health, Mass General Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Haoqi Sun
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Biyue Zhu
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Jing Liu
- Bio-Organic and Natural Products Research Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry, McLean Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Belmont, MA, USA; Natural Pharmacia International Inc., Burlington, MA 01803, USA
| | - Dan Lei
- Genetics and Aging Research Unit, McCance Center for Brain Health, Mass General Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Chih-Chung Jerry Lin
- Genetics and Aging Research Unit, McCance Center for Brain Health, Mass General Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Siyi Zhang
- Genetics and Aging Research Unit, McCance Center for Brain Health, Mass General Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Nicholas A Jacques
- Genetics and Aging Research Unit, McCance Center for Brain Health, Mass General Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Luisa Quinti
- Genetics and Aging Research Unit, McCance Center for Brain Health, Mass General Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Chongzhao Ran
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Changning Wang
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Ana Griciuc
- Genetics and Aging Research Unit, McCance Center for Brain Health, Mass General Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Se Hoon Choi
- Genetics and Aging Research Unit, McCance Center for Brain Health, Mass General Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Rong Hua Dai
- Bio-Organic and Natural Products Research Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry, McLean Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Belmont, MA, USA; Natural Pharmacia International Inc., Burlington, MA 01803, USA
| | - Thomas Efferth
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biology, Institute of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz 55128, Germany
| | - Rudolph E Tanzi
- Genetics and Aging Research Unit, McCance Center for Brain Health, Mass General Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA.
| | - Can Zhang
- Genetics and Aging Research Unit, McCance Center for Brain Health, Mass General Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA.
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Zhang S, Bai P, Lei D, Liang Y, Zhen S, Bakiasi G, Pang H, Choi SH, Wang C, Tanzi RE, Zhang C. Degradation and Inhibition of Epigenetic Regulatory Protein BRD4 Exacerbate Alzheimer’s Disease-Related Neuropathology in Cell Models. J Biol Chem 2022; 298:101794. [PMID: 35248531 PMCID: PMC8958546 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2022.101794] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2021] [Revised: 02/22/2022] [Accepted: 02/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Epigenetic regulation plays substantial roles in human pathophysiology, which provides opportunities for intervention in human disorders through the targeting of epigenetic pathways. Recently, emerging evidence from preclinical studies suggested the potential in developing therapeutics of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) by targeting bromodomain containing protein 4 (BRD4), an epigenetic regulatory protein. However, further characterization of AD-related pathological events is urgently required. Here, we investigated the effects of pharmacological degradation or inhibition of BRD4 on AD cell models. Interestingly, we found that both degradation and inhibition of BRD4 by ARV-825 and JQ1, respectively, robustly increased the levels of amyloid-beta (Aβ), which has been associated with the neuropathology of AD. Subsequently, we characterized the mechanisms by which downregulation of BRD4 increases Aβ levels. We found that both degradation and inhibition of BRD4 increased the levels of BACE1, the enzyme responsible for cleavage of the amyloid-beta protein precursor (APP) to generate Aβ. Consistent with Aβ increase, we also found that downregulation of BRD4 increased AD-related phosphorylated Tau (pTau) protein in our 3D-AD human neural cell culture model. Therefore, our results suggest that downregulation of BRD4 would not be a viable strategy for AD intervention. Collectively, our study not only shows that BRD4 is a novel epigenetic component that regulates BACE1 and Aβ levels, but also provides novel and translational insights into the targeting of BRD4 for potential clinical applications.
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Shalev I, Somekh J, Eran A. Multimodal bioinformatic analyses of the neurodegenerative disease-associated TECPR2 gene reveal its diverse roles. J Med Genet 2021; 59:1002-1009. [PMID: 34933910 DOI: 10.1136/jmedgenet-2021-108193] [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: 09/07/2021] [Accepted: 12/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Loss of tectonin β-propeller repeat-containing 2 (TECPR2) function has been implicated in an array of neurodegenerative disorders, yet its physiological function remains largely unknown. Understanding TECPR2 function is essential for developing much needed precision therapeutics for TECPR2-related diseases. METHODS We leveraged considerable amounts of functional data to obtain a comprehensive perspective of the role of TECPR2 in health and disease. We integrated expression patterns, population variation, phylogenetic profiling, protein-protein interactions and regulatory network data for a minimally biased multimodal functional analysis. Genes and proteins linked to TECPR2 via multiple lines of evidence were subject to functional enrichment analyses to identify molecular mechanisms involving TECPR2. RESULTS TECPR2 was found to be part of a tight neurodevelopmental gene expression programme that includes KIF1A, ATXN1, TOM1L2 and FA2H, all implicated in neurological diseases. Functional enrichment analyses of TECPR2-related genes converged on a role in late autophagy and ribosomal processes. Large-scale population variation data demonstrated that this role is non-redundant. CONCLUSIONS TECPR2 might serve as an indicator for the energy balance between protein synthesis and autophagy, and a marker for diseases associated with their imbalance, such as Alzheimer's disease and Huntington's disease. Specifically, we speculate that TECPR2 plays an important role as a proteostasis regulator during synaptogenesis, highlighting its importance in developing neurons. By advancing our understanding of TECPR2 function, this work provides an essential stepping stone towards the development of precision diagnostics and targeted treatment options for TECPR2-related disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ido Shalev
- Department of Psychology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel.,Zlotowsky Center for Brain Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Judith Somekh
- Department of Information Systems, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Alal Eran
- Zlotowsky Center for Brain Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel .,Department of Life Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel.,Computational Health Informatics Program, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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4
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Mendes RF, Bellozi PMQ, Conegundes JLM, Fernandes MF, Pinto NCC, Silva JMDA, Costa JCDA, Chedier LM, Dias ACP, Scio E. In vivo anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive effects, and in vitro antioxidant, antiglycant and anti-neuroinflammatory actions of Syzygium malaccense. AN ACAD BRAS CIENC 2021; 93:e20210457. [PMID: 34852065 DOI: 10.1590/0001-3765202120210457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2021] [Accepted: 09/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Syzygium malaccense is popularly used to treat inflammation and pain-related ailments. The species was assessed regarding its antioxidant, antiglycant, anti-inflammatory, including anti-neuroinflammatory, and antinociceptive activities. Different models were employed to measure S. malaccense extract (ESM) antioxidant activity. The antiglycant activity was determined using the glucose-induced protein glycation model. LPS-induced neuroinflammation on murine BV-2 microglial cell line was used for anti-neuroinflammatory activity evaluation. The croton oil-induced ear edema test was accomplished to evaluate the in vivo anti-inflammatory activity. Acetic acid-induced writhing together with formalin-induced paw licking assays were performed to evaluate the antinociceptive potential. Finally, the chemical characterization was accomplished by a UHPLC-MS analysis. ESM presented relevant antioxidant and antiglycant activity. NO production by BV-2 cells was reduced, indicating the relevant neuroprotective activity. ESM significantly decreased the mice ear edema induced by croton oil and the nociceptive stimulus induced by acetic acid and formalin by central and peripheral mechanisms. The flavonoids myricitrin, myricetin and quercetin were identified and, as far as we know, the alkaloid reserpine was reported in the species for the first time. The antioxidant and antiglycant potential of ESM, may be related to the in vivo anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive effects, and to the in vitro neuroinflammation inhibition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renata F Mendes
- Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Laboratório de Produtos Naturais Bioativos (LPNB), Departamento de Bioquímica, Rua José Lourenço Kelmer, s/n, São Pedro, 36036-900 Juiz de Fora, MG, Brazil
| | - Paula M Q Bellozi
- Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Laboratório de Produtos Naturais Bioativos (LPNB), Departamento de Bioquímica, Rua José Lourenço Kelmer, s/n, São Pedro, 36036-900 Juiz de Fora, MG, Brazil
| | - Jéssica L Mota Conegundes
- Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Laboratório de Produtos Naturais Bioativos (LPNB), Departamento de Bioquímica, Rua José Lourenço Kelmer, s/n, São Pedro, 36036-900 Juiz de Fora, MG, Brazil
| | - Maria F Fernandes
- Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Laboratório de Produtos Naturais Bioativos (LPNB), Departamento de Bioquímica, Rua José Lourenço Kelmer, s/n, São Pedro, 36036-900 Juiz de Fora, MG, Brazil
| | - Nícolas C C Pinto
- Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Laboratório de Produtos Naturais Bioativos (LPNB), Departamento de Bioquímica, Rua José Lourenço Kelmer, s/n, São Pedro, 36036-900 Juiz de Fora, MG, Brazil
| | - Josiane M DA Silva
- Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Laboratório de Produtos Naturais Bioativos (LPNB), Departamento de Bioquímica, Rua José Lourenço Kelmer, s/n, São Pedro, 36036-900 Juiz de Fora, MG, Brazil
| | - Juliana C DA Costa
- Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Laboratório de Produtos Naturais Bioativos (LPNB), Departamento de Bioquímica, Rua José Lourenço Kelmer, s/n, São Pedro, 36036-900 Juiz de Fora, MG, Brazil
| | - Luciana M Chedier
- Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Departamento de Botânica, Rua José Lourenço Kelmer, s/n, São Pedro, 36036-900 Juiz de Fora, MG, Brazil
| | - Alberto C P Dias
- Universidade do Minho, Centro de Biologia Molecular e Ambiental (CBMA), Departamento de Biologia, Rua da Universidade, s/n, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal.,Universidade do Minho, Centro de Engenharia Biológica (CEB), Rua da Universidade, s/n, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| | - Elita Scio
- Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Laboratório de Produtos Naturais Bioativos (LPNB), Departamento de Bioquímica, Rua José Lourenço Kelmer, s/n, São Pedro, 36036-900 Juiz de Fora, MG, Brazil
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5
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Liang Y, Raven F, Ward JF, Zhen S, Zhang S, Sun H, Miller SJ, Choi SH, Tanzi RE, Zhang C. Upregulation of Alzheimer's Disease Amyloid-β Protein Precursor in Astrocytes Both in vitro and in vivo. J Alzheimers Dis 2021; 76:1071-1082. [PMID: 32597805 DOI: 10.3233/jad-200128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The amyloid cascade hypothesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) posits that amyloid-β (Aβ) protein accumulation underlies the pathogenesis of the disease by leading to the formation of amyloid plaques, a pathologic hallmark of AD. Aβ is a proteolytic product of amyloid-β protein precursor (AβPP; APP), which is expressed in both neurons and astrocytes. Although considerable evidence shows that astrocytes may play critical roles in the pathogenesis of AD, the longitudinal changes of amyloid plaques in relationship to AβPP expression in astrocytes and cellular consequences are largely unknown. OBJECTIVE Here, we aimed to investigate astrocyte-related pathological changes of Aβ and AβPP using immunohistochemistry and biochemical studies in both animal and cell models. METHODS/RESULTS We utilized 5XFAD transgenic mice and found age-dependent upregulation of AβPP in astrocytes demonstrated with astrocytic reactive properties, which followed appearance of amyloid plaques in the brain. We also observed that AβPP proteins presented well-defined punctate immuno reactivity in young animals, whereas AβPP staining showed disrupted structures surrounding amyloid plaques in older mice. Moreover, we utilized astrocyte cell models and showed that pretreatment of Aβ42 resulted in downstream astrocyte autonomous changes, including up regulation in AβPP and BACE1 levels, as well as prolonged amyloidogenesis that could be reduced by pharmacological inhibition of BACE1. CONCLUSION Collectively, our results show that age-dependent AβPP up regulation in astrocytes is a key feature in AD, which will not only provide novel insights for understanding AD progression, but also may offer new therapeutic strategies for treating AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingxia Liang
- Genetics and Aging Research Unit, McCance Center for Brain Health, MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases (MIND), Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA.,Department of Anesthesiology, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, Shandong, China
| | - Frank Raven
- Genetics and Aging Research Unit, McCance Center for Brain Health, MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases (MIND), Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Joseph F Ward
- Genetics and Aging Research Unit, McCance Center for Brain Health, MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases (MIND), Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Sherri Zhen
- Genetics and Aging Research Unit, McCance Center for Brain Health, MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases (MIND), Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Siyi Zhang
- Genetics and Aging Research Unit, McCance Center for Brain Health, MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases (MIND), Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Haoqi Sun
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Sean J Miller
- Genetics and Aging Research Unit, McCance Center for Brain Health, MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases (MIND), Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Se Hoon Choi
- Genetics and Aging Research Unit, McCance Center for Brain Health, MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases (MIND), Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Rudolph E Tanzi
- Genetics and Aging Research Unit, McCance Center for Brain Health, MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases (MIND), Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Can Zhang
- Genetics and Aging Research Unit, McCance Center for Brain Health, MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases (MIND), Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
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Interactome Mapping Provides a Network of Neurodegenerative Disease Proteins and Uncovers Widespread Protein Aggregation in Affected Brains. Cell Rep 2021; 32:108050. [PMID: 32814053 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2020.108050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2019] [Revised: 02/15/2020] [Accepted: 07/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Interactome maps are valuable resources to elucidate protein function and disease mechanisms. Here, we report on an interactome map that focuses on neurodegenerative disease (ND), connects ∼5,000 human proteins via ∼30,000 candidate interactions and is generated by systematic yeast two-hybrid interaction screening of ∼500 ND-related proteins and integration of literature interactions. This network reveals interconnectivity across diseases and links many known ND-causing proteins, such as α-synuclein, TDP-43, and ATXN1, to a host of proteins previously unrelated to NDs. It facilitates the identification of interacting proteins that significantly influence mutant TDP-43 and HTT toxicity in transgenic flies, as well as of ARF-GEP100 that controls misfolding and aggregation of multiple ND-causing proteins in experimental model systems. Furthermore, it enables the prediction of ND-specific subnetworks and the identification of proteins, such as ATXN1 and MKL1, that are abnormally aggregated in postmortem brains of Alzheimer's disease patients, suggesting widespread protein aggregation in NDs.
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7
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Mood alterations in mouse models of Spinocerebellar Ataxia type 1. Sci Rep 2021; 11:713. [PMID: 33436887 PMCID: PMC7803946 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-80664-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2020] [Accepted: 12/18/2020] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 (SCA1) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease caused by abnormal expansion of glutamine-encoding CAG repeats in the Ataxin-1 (ATXN1) gene. SCA1 is characterized by progressive motor deficits, cognitive decline, and mood changes including anxiety and depression, with longer number of repeats correlating with worse disease outcomes. While mouse models have been very useful in understanding etiology of ataxia and cognitive decline, our understanding of mood symptoms in SCA1 has lagged. It remains unclear whether anxiety or depression stem from an underlying brain pathology or as a consequence of living with an untreatable and lethal disease. To increase our understanding of the etiology of SCA1 mood alterations, we used the elevated-plus maze, sucrose preference and forced swim tests to assess mood in four different mouse lines. We found that SCA1 knock-in mice exhibit increased anxiety that correlated with the length of CAG repeats, supporting the idea that underlying brain pathology contributes to SCA1-like anxiety. Additionally, our results support the concept that increased anxiety is caused by non-cerebellar pathology, as Purkinje cell specific SCA1 transgenic mice exhibit decreased anxiety-like behavior. Regarding the molecular mechanism, partial loss of ATXN1 may play a role in anxiety, based on our results for Atxn1 haploinsufficient and null mice.
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Wan Y, Liang Y, Liang F, Shen N, Shinozuka K, Yu JT, Ran C, Quan Q, Tanzi RE, Zhang C. A Curcumin Analog Reduces Levels of the Alzheimer's Disease-Associated Amyloid-β Protein by Modulating AβPP Processing and Autophagy. J Alzheimers Dis 2020; 72:761-771. [PMID: 31640096 DOI: 10.3233/jad-190562] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a devastating neurodegenerative disease with no cure currently available. A pathological hallmark of AD is accumulation and deposition of amyloid-β protein (Aβ), a ∼4 kDa peptide generated through serial cleavage of the amyloid-β protein precursor (AβPP) by β- and γ-secretases. Curcumin is a natural compound primarily found in the widely used culinary spice, turmeric, which displays therapeutic potential for AD. Recently, we reported the development of curcumin analogs and identified a lead compound, curcumin-like compound-R17 (CLC-R17), that significantly attenuates Aβ deposition in an AD transgenic mouse model. Here, we elucidated the mechanisms of this analog on Aβ levels and AβPP processing using cell models of AD. Using biochemical methods and our recently developed nanoplasmonic fiber tip probe technology, we showed that the lead compound potently lowers Aβ levels in conditioned media and reduces oligomeric amyloid levels in the cells. Furthermore, like curcumin, the lead compound attenuates the maturation of AβPP in the secretory pathway. Interestingly, it upregulated α-secretase processing of AβPP and inhibited β-secretase processing of AβPP by decreasing BACE1 protein levels. Collectively, our data reveal mechanisms of a promising curcumin analog in reducing Aβ levels, which strongly support its development as a potential therapeutic for AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Wan
- Genetics and Aging Research Unit, McCance Center for Brain Health, MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA.,Department of Neurology, Qingdao Municipal Hospital, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Yingxia Liang
- Genetics and Aging Research Unit, McCance Center for Brain Health, MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA.,Department of Anesthesiology, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, China
| | - Feng Liang
- Department of Anesthesia, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA.,Rowland Institute at Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Nolan Shen
- Genetics and Aging Research Unit, McCance Center for Brain Health, MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Kenneth Shinozuka
- Genetics and Aging Research Unit, McCance Center for Brain Health, MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Jin-Tai Yu
- Department of Neurology and Institute of Neurology, Huashan Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Chongzhao Ran
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Qimin Quan
- Rowland Institute at Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Rudolph E Tanzi
- Genetics and Aging Research Unit, McCance Center for Brain Health, MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Can Zhang
- Genetics and Aging Research Unit, McCance Center for Brain Health, MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
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Tejwani L, Lim J. Pathogenic mechanisms underlying spinocerebellar ataxia type 1. Cell Mol Life Sci 2020; 77:4015-4029. [PMID: 32306062 PMCID: PMC7541529 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-020-03520-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2019] [Revised: 03/06/2020] [Accepted: 04/06/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The family of hereditary cerebellar ataxias is a large group of disorders with heterogenous clinical manifestations and genetic etiologies. Among these, over 30 autosomal dominantly inherited subtypes have been identified, collectively referred to as the spinocerebellar ataxias (SCAs). Generally, the SCAs are characterized by a progressive gait impairment with classical cerebellar features, and in a subset of SCAs, accompanied by extra-cerebellar features. Beyond the common gait impairment and cerebellar atrophy, the wide range of additional clinical features observed across the SCAs is likely explained by the diverse set of mutated genes that encode proteins with seemingly disparate functional roles in nervous system biology. By synthesizing knowledge obtained from studies of the various SCAs over the past several decades, convergence onto a few key cellular changes, namely ion channel dysfunction and transcriptional dysregulation, has become apparent and may represent central mechanisms of cerebellar disease pathogenesis. This review will detail our current understanding of the molecular pathogenesis of the SCAs, focusing primarily on the first described autosomal dominant spinocerebellar ataxia, SCA1, as well as the emerging common core mechanisms across the various SCAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leon Tejwani
- Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, Yale School of Medicine, 295 Congress Avenue, New Haven, CT, 06510, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, 06510, USA
| | - Janghoo Lim
- Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, Yale School of Medicine, 295 Congress Avenue, New Haven, CT, 06510, USA.
- Department of Neuroscience, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, 06510, USA.
- Department of Genetics, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, 06510, USA.
- Program in Cellular Neuroscience, Neurodegeneration and Repair, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, 06510, USA.
- Yale Stem Cell Center, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, 06510, USA.
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Asher M, Rosa JG, Rainwater O, Duvick L, Bennyworth M, Lai RY, Kuo SH, Cvetanovic M. Cerebellar contribution to the cognitive alterations in SCA1: evidence from mouse models. Hum Mol Genet 2020; 29:117-131. [PMID: 31696233 PMCID: PMC8216071 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddz265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2019] [Revised: 09/30/2019] [Accepted: 10/23/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 (SCA1) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease caused by abnormal expansion of glutamine (Q) encoding CAG repeats in the gene Ataxin-1 (ATXN1). Although motor and balance deficits are the core symptoms of SCA1, cognitive decline is also commonly observed in patients. While mutant ATXN1 is expressed throughout the brain, pathological findings reveal severe atrophy of cerebellar cortex in SCA1 patients. The cerebellum has recently been implicated in diverse cognitive functions, yet to what extent cerebellar neurodegeneration contributes to cognitive alterations in SCA1 remains poorly understood. Much of our understanding of the mechanisms underlying pathogenesis of motor symptoms in SCA1 comes from mouse models. Reasoning that mouse models could similarly offer important insights into the mechanisms of cognitive alterations in SCA1, we tested cognition in several mouse lines using Barnes maze and fear conditioning. We confirmed cognitive deficits in Atxn1154Q/2Q knock-in mice with brain-wide expression of mutant ATXN1 and in ATXN1 null mice. We found that shorter polyQ length and haploinsufficiency of ATXN1 do not cause significant cognitive deficits. Finally, ATXN1[82Q ] transgenic mice-with cerebellum limited expression of mutant ATXN1-demonstrated milder impairment in most aspects of cognition compared to Atxn1154Q/2Q mice, supporting the concept that cognitive deficits in SCA1 arise from a combination of cerebellar and extra-cerebellar dysfunctions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa Asher
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Juao-Guilherme Rosa
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Orion Rainwater
- Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Lisa Duvick
- Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Michael Bennyworth
- Mouse Behavior Core, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, 55455 NY 10032-3784, USA
| | - Ruo-Yah Lai
- Department of Neurology, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032-3784, USA
| | - CRC-SCA
- Clinical Research Consortium for Spinocerebellar Ataxia (CRC-SCA)#
| | - Sheng-Han Kuo
- Department of Neurology, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032-3784, USA
| | - Marija Cvetanovic
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
- Mouse Behavior Core, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, 55455 NY 10032-3784, USA
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11
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Buijsen RAM, Toonen LJA, Gardiner SL, van Roon-Mom WMC. Genetics, Mechanisms, and Therapeutic Progress in Polyglutamine Spinocerebellar Ataxias. Neurotherapeutics 2019; 16:263-286. [PMID: 30607747 PMCID: PMC6554265 DOI: 10.1007/s13311-018-00696-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Autosomal dominant cerebellar ataxias (ADCAs) are a group of neurodegenerative disorders characterized by degeneration of the cerebellum and its connections. All ADCAs have progressive ataxia as their main clinical feature, frequently accompanied by dysarthria and oculomotor deficits. The most common spinocerebellar ataxias (SCAs) are 6 polyglutamine (polyQ) SCAs. These diseases are all caused by a CAG repeat expansion in the coding region of a gene. Currently, no curative treatment is available for any of the polyQ SCAs, but increasing knowledge on the genetics and the pathological mechanisms of these polyQ SCAs has provided promising therapeutic targets to potentially slow disease progression. Potential treatments can be divided into pharmacological and gene therapies that target the toxic downstream effects, gene therapies that target the polyQ SCA genes, and stem cell replacement therapies. Here, we will provide a review on the genetics, mechanisms, and therapeutic progress in polyglutamine spinocerebellar ataxias.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ronald A M Buijsen
- Department of Human Genetics, LUMC, P.O. Box 9600, 2300 RC, Leiden, The Netherlands.
| | - Lodewijk J A Toonen
- Department of Human Genetics, LUMC, P.O. Box 9600, 2300 RC, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Sarah L Gardiner
- Department of Human Genetics, LUMC, P.O. Box 9600, 2300 RC, Leiden, The Netherlands
- Department of Neurology, LUMC, P.O. Box 9600, 2300 RC, Leiden, The Netherlands
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12
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Pang C, Yang H, Hu B, Wang S, Chen M, Cohen DS, Chen HS, Jarrell JT, Carpenter KA, Rosin ER, Huang X. Identification and Analysis of Alzheimer's Candidate Genes by an Amplitude Deviation Algorithm. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2019; 9. [PMID: 31080696 PMCID: PMC6505709 DOI: 10.4172/2161-0460.1000460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Background: Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common form of senile dementia. However, its pathological mechanisms are not fully understood. In order to comprehend AD pathological mechanisms, researchers employed AD-related DNA microarray data and diverse computational algorithms. More efficient computational algorithms are needed to process DNA microarray data for identifying AD-related candidate genes. Methods: In this paper, we propose a specific algorithm that is based on the following observation: When an acrobat walks along a steel-wire, his/her body must have some swing; if the swing can be controlled, then the acrobat can maintain the body balance. Otherwise, the acrobat will fall. Based on this simple idea, we have designed a simple, yet practical, algorithm termed as the Amplitude Deviation Algorithm (ADA). Deviation, overall deviation, deviation amplitude, and 3δ are introduced to characterize ADA. Results: 52 candidate genes for AD have been identified via ADA. The implications for some of the AD candidate genes in AD pathogenesis have been discussed. Conclusions: Through the analysis of these AD candidate genes, we believe that AD pathogenesis may be related to the abnormality of signal transduction (AGTR1 and PTAFR), the decrease in protein transport capacity (COL5A2 (221729_at), COL5A2 (221730_at), COL4A1), the impairment of axon repair (CNR1), and the intracellular calcium dyshomeostasis (CACNB2, CACNA1E). However, their potential implication for AD pathology should be further validated by wet lab experiments as they were only identified by computation using ADA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chaoyang Pang
- College of Computer Science, Sichuan Normal University, Chengdu, China
| | - Hualan Yang
- College of Mathematics and Software Science, Sichuan Normal University, Chengdu, China
| | - Benqiong Hu
- College of Management Science, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu, China
| | - Shipeng Wang
- College of Mathematics and Software Science, Sichuan Normal University, Chengdu, China
| | - Meixia Chen
- College of Mathematics and Software Science, Sichuan Normal University, Chengdu, China
| | - David S Cohen
- Neurochemistry Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Hannah S Chen
- Neurochemistry Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Juliet T Jarrell
- Neurochemistry Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Kristy A Carpenter
- Neurochemistry Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Eric R Rosin
- Neurochemistry Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Xudong Huang
- Neurochemistry Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
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13
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Repeat length variations in ATXN1 and AR modify disease expression in Alzheimer's disease. Neurobiol Aging 2019; 73:230.e9-230.e17. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2018.09.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2018] [Revised: 08/07/2018] [Accepted: 09/07/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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14
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Yamaguchi-Kabata Y, Morihara T, Ohara T, Ninomiya T, Takahashi A, Akatsu H, Hashizume Y, Hayashi N, Shigemizu D, Boroevich KA, Ikeda M, Kubo M, Takeda M, Tsunoda T. Integrated analysis of human genetic association study and mouse transcriptome suggests LBH and SHF genes as novel susceptible genes for amyloid-β accumulation in Alzheimer's disease. Hum Genet 2018; 137:521-533. [PMID: 30006735 PMCID: PMC6061045 DOI: 10.1007/s00439-018-1906-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2018] [Accepted: 07/06/2018] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a common neurological disease that causes dementia in humans. Although the reports of associated pathological genes have been increasing, the molecular mechanism leading to the accumulation of amyloid-β (Aβ) in human brain is still not well understood. To identify novel genes that cause accumulation of Aβ in AD patients, we conducted an integrative analysis by combining a human genetic association study and transcriptome analysis in mouse brain. First, we examined genome-wide gene expression levels in the hippocampus, comparing them to amyloid Aβ level in mice with mixed genetic backgrounds. Next, based on a GWAS statistics obtained by a previous study with human AD subjects, we obtained gene-based statistics from the SNP-based statistics. We combined p values from the two types of analysis across orthologous gene pairs in human and mouse into one p value for each gene to evaluate AD susceptibility. As a result, we found five genes with significant p values in this integrated analysis among the 373 genes analyzed. We also examined the gene expression level of these five genes in the hippocampus of independent human AD cases and control subjects. Two genes, LBH and SHF, showed lower expression levels in AD cases than control subjects. This is consistent with the gene expression levels of both the genes in mouse which were negatively correlated with Aβ accumulation. These results, obtained from the integrative approach, suggest that LBH and SHF are associated with the AD pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yumi Yamaguchi-Kabata
- Laboratory for Medical Science Mathematics, RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, 1-7-22 Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama, 230-0045, Japan
- Tohoku Medical Megabank Organization, Tohoku University, 2-1, Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, 980-8573, Japan
| | - Takashi Morihara
- Department of Psychiatry, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan
| | - Tomoyuki Ohara
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka, 812-8582, Japan
| | - Toshiharu Ninomiya
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka, 812-8582, Japan
| | - Atsushi Takahashi
- Laboratory for Statistical Analysis, RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, Yokohama, 230-0045, Japan
- Department of Genomic Medicine, Research Institute, National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center, Osaka, 565-8565, Japan
| | - Hiroyasu Akatsu
- Graduate School of Medical Sciences and Medical School, Nagoya City University, Nagoya, 467-8601, Japan
- Institute of Neuropathology, Fukushimura Hospital, Toyohashi-shi, Aichi, 441-8124, Japan
| | - Yoshio Hashizume
- Institute of Neuropathology, Fukushimura Hospital, Toyohashi-shi, Aichi, 441-8124, Japan
| | - Noriyuki Hayashi
- Department of Psychiatry, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan
| | - Daichi Shigemizu
- Laboratory for Medical Science Mathematics, RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, 1-7-22 Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama, 230-0045, Japan
- Department of Medical Science Mathematics, Medical Research Institute, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8510, Japan
- Division of Genomic Medicine, Medical Genome Center, National Center for Geriastrics and Gerontology, 7-430 Morioka-cho, Obu, Aichi, 474-8511, Japan
| | - Keith A Boroevich
- Laboratory for Medical Science Mathematics, RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, 1-7-22 Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama, 230-0045, Japan
| | - Manabu Ikeda
- Department of Psychiatry, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan
| | - Michiaki Kubo
- RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, 1-7-22 Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama, 230-0045, Japan
| | - Masatoshi Takeda
- Department of Psychiatry, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan
| | - Tatsuhiko Tsunoda
- Laboratory for Medical Science Mathematics, RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, 1-7-22 Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama, 230-0045, Japan.
- Department of Medical Science Mathematics, Medical Research Institute, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8510, Japan.
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15
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Lanke V, Moolamalla STR, Roy D, Vinod PK. Integrative Analysis of Hippocampus Gene Expression Profiles Identifies Network Alterations in Aging and Alzheimer's Disease. Front Aging Neurosci 2018; 10:153. [PMID: 29875655 PMCID: PMC5974201 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2018.00153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2018] [Accepted: 05/04/2018] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder contributing to rapid decline in cognitive function and ultimately dementia. Most cases of AD occur in elderly and later years. There is a growing need for understanding the relationship between aging and AD to identify shared and unique hallmarks associated with the disease in a region and cell-type specific manner. Although genomic studies on AD have been performed extensively, the molecular mechanism of disease progression is still not clear. The major objective of our study is to obtain a higher-order network-level understanding of aging and AD, and their relationship using the hippocampal gene expression profiles of young (20-50 years), aging (70-99 years), and AD (70-99 years). The hippocampus is vulnerable to damage at early stages of AD and altered neurogenesis in the hippocampus is linked to the onset of AD. We combined the weighted gene co-expression network and weighted protein-protein interaction network-level approaches to study the transition from young to aging to AD. The network analysis revealed the organization of co-expression network into functional modules that are cell-type specific in aging and AD. We found that modules associated with astrocytes, endothelial cells and microglial cells are upregulated and significantly correlate with both aging and AD. The modules associated with neurons, mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum are downregulated and significantly correlate with AD than aging. The oligodendrocytes module does not show significant correlation with neither aging nor disease. Further, we identified aging- and AD-specific interactions/subnetworks by integrating the gene expression with a human protein-protein interaction network. We found dysregulation of genes encoding protein kinases (FYN, SYK, SRC, PKC, MAPK1, ephrin receptors) and transcription factors (FOS, STAT3, CEBPB, MYC, NFKβ, and EGR1) in AD. Further, we found genes that encode proteins with neuroprotective function (14-3-3 proteins, PIN1, ATXN1, BDNF, VEGFA) to be part of the downregulated AD subnetwork. Our study highlights that simultaneously analyzing aging and AD will help to understand the pre-clinical and clinical phase of AD and aid in developing the treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vinay Lanke
- Center for Computational Natural Sciences and Bioinformatics, International Institute of Information Technology, Hyderabad, Hyderabad, India
| | - S T R Moolamalla
- Center for Computational Natural Sciences and Bioinformatics, International Institute of Information Technology, Hyderabad, Hyderabad, India
| | - Dipanjan Roy
- Cognitive Brain Dynamics Lab, National Brain Research Centre, Gurgaon, India
| | - P K Vinod
- Center for Computational Natural Sciences and Bioinformatics, International Institute of Information Technology, Hyderabad, Hyderabad, India
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16
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Zhang C, Griciuc A, Hudry E, Wan Y, Quinti L, Ward J, Forte AM, Shen X, Ran C, Elmaleh DR, Tanzi RE. Cromolyn Reduces Levels of the Alzheimer's Disease-Associated Amyloid β-Protein by Promoting Microglial Phagocytosis. Sci Rep 2018; 8:1144. [PMID: 29348604 PMCID: PMC5773545 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-19641-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2017] [Accepted: 01/05/2018] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyloid-beta protein (Aβ) deposition is a pathological hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Aβ deposition triggers both pro-neuroinflammatory microglial activation and neurofibrillary tangle formation. Cromolyn sodium is an asthma therapeutic agent previously shown to reduce Aβ levels in transgenic AD mouse brains after one-week of treatment. Here, we further explored these effects as well as the mechanism of action of cromolyn, alone, and in combination with ibuprofen in APPSwedish-expressing Tg2576 mice. Mice were treated for 3 months starting at 5 months of age, when the earliest stages of β-amyloid deposition begin. Cromolyn, alone, or in combination with ibuprofen, almost completely abolished longer insoluble Aβ species, i.e. Aβ40 and Aβ42, but increased insoluble Aβ38 levels. In addition to its anti-aggregation effects on Aβ, cromolyn, alone, or plus ibuprofen, but not ibuprofen alone, increased microglial recruitment to, and phagocytosis of β-amyloid deposits in AD mice. Cromolyn also promoted Aβ42 uptake in microglial cell-based assays. Collectively, our data reveal robust effects of cromolyn, alone, or in combination with ibuprofen, in reducing aggregation-prone Aβ levels and inducing a neuroprotective microglial activation state favoring Aβ phagocytosis versus a pro-neuroinflammatory state. These findings support the use of cromolyn, alone, or with ibuprofen, as a potential AD therapeutic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Can Zhang
- Genetics and Aging Research Unit, MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases (MIND), Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, 02129-2060, USA
| | - Ana Griciuc
- Genetics and Aging Research Unit, MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases (MIND), Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, 02129-2060, USA
| | - Eloise Hudry
- Alzheimer's Disease Research Unit, MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases (MIND), Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, 02129-2060, USA
| | - Yu Wan
- Genetics and Aging Research Unit, MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases (MIND), Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, 02129-2060, USA
| | - Luisa Quinti
- Genetics and Aging Research Unit, MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases (MIND), Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, 02129-2060, USA
| | - Joseph Ward
- Genetics and Aging Research Unit, MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases (MIND), Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, 02129-2060, USA
| | - Angela M Forte
- Genetics and Aging Research Unit, MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases (MIND), Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, 02129-2060, USA
| | | | - ChongZhao Ran
- Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, 02129-2060, USA
| | - David R Elmaleh
- Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, 02129-2060, USA
| | - Rudolph E Tanzi
- Genetics and Aging Research Unit, MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases (MIND), Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, 02129-2060, USA.
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17
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Singh M, Venugopal C, Tokar T, Brown KR, McFarlane N, Bakhshinyan D, Vijayakumar T, Manoranjan B, Mahendram S, Vora P, Qazi M, Dhillon M, Tong A, Durrer K, Murty N, Hallet R, Hassell JA, Kaplan DR, Cutz JC, Jurisica I, Moffat J, Singh SK. RNAi screen identifies essential regulators of human brain metastasis-initiating cells. Acta Neuropathol 2017; 134:923-940. [PMID: 28766011 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-017-1757-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2017] [Revised: 07/25/2017] [Accepted: 07/26/2017] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Brain metastases (BM) are the most common brain tumor in adults and are a leading cause of cancer mortality. Metastatic lesions contain subclones derived from their primary lesion, yet their functional characterization is limited by a paucity of preclinical models accurately recapitulating the metastatic cascade, emphasizing the need for a novel approach to BM and their treatment. We identified a unique subset of stem-like cells from primary human patient brain metastases, termed brain metastasis-initiating cells (BMICs). We now establish a BMIC patient-derived xenotransplantation (PDXT) model as an investigative tool to comprehensively interrogate human BM. Using both in vitro and in vivo RNA interference screens of these BMIC models, we identified SPOCK1 and TWIST2 as essential BMIC regulators. SPOCK1 in particular is a novel regulator of BMIC self-renewal, modulating tumor initiation and metastasis from the lung to the brain. A prospective cohort of primary lung cancer specimens showed that SPOCK1 was overexpressed only in patients who ultimately developed BM. Protein-protein interaction network mapping between SPOCK1 and TWIST2 identified novel pathway interactors with significant prognostic value in lung cancer patients. Of these genes, INHBA, a TGF-β ligand found mutated in lung adenocarcinoma, showed reduced expression in BMICs with knockdown of SPOCK1. In conclusion, we have developed a useful preclinical model of BM, which has served to identify novel putative BMIC regulators, presenting potential therapeutic targets that block the metastatic process, and transform a uniformly fatal systemic disease into a locally controlled and eminently more treatable one.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohini Singh
- MDCL 5027, Stem Cell and Cancer Research Institute, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4K1, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Chitra Venugopal
- MDCL 5027, Stem Cell and Cancer Research Institute, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4K1, Canada
- Department of Surgery, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Tomas Tokar
- Departments of Medical Biophysics and Computer Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Kevin R Brown
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Donnelly Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Nicole McFarlane
- MDCL 5027, Stem Cell and Cancer Research Institute, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4K1, Canada
- Department of Surgery, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - David Bakhshinyan
- MDCL 5027, Stem Cell and Cancer Research Institute, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4K1, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Thusyanth Vijayakumar
- MDCL 5027, Stem Cell and Cancer Research Institute, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4K1, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Branavan Manoranjan
- MDCL 5027, Stem Cell and Cancer Research Institute, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4K1, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Sujeivan Mahendram
- MDCL 5027, Stem Cell and Cancer Research Institute, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4K1, Canada
- Department of Surgery, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Parvez Vora
- MDCL 5027, Stem Cell and Cancer Research Institute, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4K1, Canada
- Department of Surgery, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Maleeha Qazi
- MDCL 5027, Stem Cell and Cancer Research Institute, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4K1, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Manvir Dhillon
- MDCL 5027, Stem Cell and Cancer Research Institute, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4K1, Canada
- Department of Surgery, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Amy Tong
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Donnelly Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Kathrin Durrer
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Donnelly Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Naresh Murty
- Department of Surgery, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Robin Hallet
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - John A Hassell
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - David R Kaplan
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Jean-Claude Cutz
- Anatomic Pathology, St. Joseph's Healthcare, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Igor Jurisica
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, IBM Life Sciences Discovery Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Departments of Medical Biophysics and Computer Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Jason Moffat
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Donnelly Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Sheila K Singh
- MDCL 5027, Stem Cell and Cancer Research Institute, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4K1, Canada.
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.
- Department of Surgery, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.
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18
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Raven F, Ward JF, Zoltowska KM, Wan Y, Bylykbashi E, Miller SJ, Shen X, Choi SH, Rynearson KD, Berezovska O, Wagner SL, Tanzi RE, Zhang C. Soluble Gamma-secretase Modulators Attenuate Alzheimer's β-amyloid Pathology and Induce Conformational Changes in Presenilin 1. EBioMedicine 2017; 24:93-101. [PMID: 28919280 PMCID: PMC5652037 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2017.08.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2017] [Revised: 08/18/2017] [Accepted: 08/31/2017] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
A central pathogenic event of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the accumulation of the Aβ42 peptide, which is generated from amyloid-β precursor protein (APP) via cleavages by β- and γ-secretase. We have developed a class of soluble 2-aminothiazole γ-secretase modulators (SGSMs) that preferentially decreases Aβ42 levels. However, the effects of SGSMs in AD animals and cells expressing familial AD mutations, as well as the mechanism of γ-secretase modulation remain largely unknown. Here, a representative of this SGSM scaffold, SGSM-36, was investigated using animals and cells expressing FAD mutations. SGSM-36 preferentially reduced Aβ42 levels without affecting either α- and β-secretase processing of APP nor Notch processing. Furthermore, an allosteric site was identified within the γ-secretase complex that allowed access of SGSM-36 using cell-based, fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy analysis. Collectively, these studies provide mechanistic insights regarding SGSMs of this class and reinforce their therapeutic potential in AD. A novel class soluble 2-aminothiazole γ-secretase modulators (SGSMs) are characterized as potential therapeutics for AD. A representative compound, SGSM-36, preferentially decreases Aβ42 levels using animal and cell models of AD. An allosteric site was identified within γ-secretase to be accessible by SGSM-36.
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a devastating neurodegenerative disorder and there is currently no treatment to slow or halt disease progression. Considerable evidence shows that the primary pathological event leading to AD is the production and accumulation of Aβ42 peptide. We have developed a class of soluble 2-aminothiazole γ-secretase modulators (SGSMs) that preferentially decreases Aβ42 levels. The presented studies have primarily elucidated the mechanisms by which our SGSMs decrease Aβ42 levels and attenuate β-amyloid pathology. The results of these experiments will be useful toward the ongoing efforts toward the development of an effective therapy for the treatment and prevention of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frank Raven
- Genetics and Aging Research Unit, MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases (MIND), Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129-2060, USA; Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen 9747 AG, The Netherlands
| | - Joseph F Ward
- Genetics and Aging Research Unit, MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases (MIND), Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129-2060, USA
| | - Katarzyna M Zoltowska
- Alzheimer Research Unit, MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases (MIND), Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129-2060, USA
| | - Yu Wan
- Genetics and Aging Research Unit, MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases (MIND), Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129-2060, USA; Department of Neurology, Qingdao Municipal Hospital, Qingdao University, PR China
| | - Enjana Bylykbashi
- Genetics and Aging Research Unit, MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases (MIND), Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129-2060, USA
| | - Sean J Miller
- Genetics and Aging Research Unit, MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases (MIND), Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129-2060, USA
| | - Xunuo Shen
- Genetics and Aging Research Unit, MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases (MIND), Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129-2060, USA
| | - Se Hoon Choi
- Genetics and Aging Research Unit, MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases (MIND), Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129-2060, USA
| | - Kevin D Rynearson
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California, La Jolla, San Diego, CA 92093-0624, USA
| | - Oksana Berezovska
- Alzheimer Research Unit, MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases (MIND), Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129-2060, USA
| | - Steven L Wagner
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California, La Jolla, San Diego, CA 92093-0624, USA; Research Biologist, VA San Diego Healthcare System, La Jolla, CA, 92161, United States.
| | - Rudolph E Tanzi
- Genetics and Aging Research Unit, MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases (MIND), Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129-2060, USA.
| | - Can Zhang
- Genetics and Aging Research Unit, MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases (MIND), Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129-2060, USA.
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Millan MJ. Linking deregulation of non-coding RNA to the core pathophysiology of Alzheimer's disease: An integrative review. Prog Neurobiol 2017; 156:1-68. [PMID: 28322921 DOI: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2017.03.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 96] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2016] [Revised: 03/09/2017] [Accepted: 03/09/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The human genome encodes a vast repertoire of protein non-coding RNAs (ncRNA), some specific to the brain. MicroRNAs, which interfere with the translation of target mRNAs, are of particular interest since their deregulation has been implicated in neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, it remains challenging to link the complex body of observations on miRNAs and AD into a coherent framework. Using extensive graphical support, this article discusses how a diverse panoply of miRNAs convergently and divergently impact (and are impacted by) core pathophysiological processes underlying AD: neuroinflammation and oxidative stress; aberrant generation of β-amyloid-42 (Aβ42); anomalies in the production, cleavage and post-translational marking of Tau; impaired clearance of Aβ42 and Tau; perturbation of axonal organisation; disruption of synaptic plasticity; endoplasmic reticulum stress and the unfolded protein response; mitochondrial dysfunction; aberrant induction of cell cycle re-entry; and apoptotic loss of neurons. Intriguingly, some classes of miRNA provoke these cellular anomalies, whereas others act in a counter-regulatory, protective mode. Moreover, changes in levels of certain species of miRNA are a consequence of the above-mentioned anomalies. In addition to miRNAs, circular RNAs, piRNAs, long non-coding RNAs and other types of ncRNA are being increasingly implicated in AD. Overall, a complex mesh of deregulated and multi-tasking ncRNAs reciprocally interacts with core pathophysiological mechanisms underlying AD. Alterations in ncRNAs can be detected in CSF and the circulation as well as the brain and are showing promise as biomarkers, with the ultimate goal clinical exploitation as targets for novel modes of symptomatic and course-altering therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark J Millan
- Centre for Therapeutic Innovation in Neuropsychiatry, institut de recherche Servier, 125 chemin de ronde, 78290 Croissy sur Seine, France.
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Ward J, Wang H, Saunders AJ, Tanzi RE, Zhang C. Mechanisms that synergistically regulate η-secretase processing of APP and Aη-α protein levels: relevance to pathogenesis and treatment of Alzheimer's disease. DISCOVERY MEDICINE 2017; 23:121-128. [PMID: 28371615 PMCID: PMC5524192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
The pathophysiology of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by the formation of cerebral β-amyloid plaque from a small peptide amyloid-β (Aβ). Aβ is generated from the canonical amyloid-β precursor protein (APP) proteolysis pathway through β- and γ-secretases. Decreasing Aβ levels through targeting APP processing is a very promising direction in clinical trials for AD. A novel APP processing pathway was recently identified, in which η-secretase processing of APP occurs and results in the generation of the carboxy-terminal fragment-η (CTF-η or η-CTF) (Wang et al., 2015) and Aη-α peptide (Willem et al., 2015). η-Secretase processing of APP may be up-regulated by at least two mechanisms: either through inhibition of lysosomal-cathepsin degradation pathway (Wang et al., 2015) or through inhibition of BACE1 that competes with η-secretase cleavage of APP (Willem et al., 2015). A thorough characterization of η-processing of APP is critical for a better understanding of AD pathogenesis and insights into results of clinical trials of AD. Here we further investigated η-secretase processing of APP using well-characterized cell models of AD. We found that these two mechanisms act synergistically toward increasing η-secretase processing of APP and Aη-α levels. Furthermore, we evaluated the effects of several other known secretase modulators on η-processing of APP. The results of our study should advance the understanding of pathophysiology of AD, as well as enhance the knowledge in developing effective AD treatments or interventions related to η-secretase processing of APP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph Ward
- Genetics and Aging Research Unit, MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease, Department of Neurology Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | - Haizhi Wang
- Department of Biology, College of Art and Sciences, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, College of Medicine, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Aleister J. Saunders
- Department of Biology, College of Art and Sciences, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, College of Medicine, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Rudolph E. Tanzi
- Genetics and Aging Research Unit, MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease, Department of Neurology Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | - Can Zhang
- Genetics and Aging Research Unit, MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease, Department of Neurology Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
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21
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Sánchez I, Balagué E, Matilla-Dueñas A. Ataxin-1 regulates the cerebellar bioenergetics proteome through the GSK3β-mTOR pathway which is altered in Spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 (SCA1). Hum Mol Genet 2016; 25:4021-4040. [PMID: 27466200 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddw242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2016] [Revised: 06/21/2016] [Accepted: 07/11/2016] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
A polyglutamine expansion within the ataxin-1 protein (ATXN1) underlies spinocerebellar ataxia type-1 (SCA1), a neurological disorder mainly characterized by ataxia and cerebellar deficits. In SCA1, both loss and gain of ATXN1 biological functions contribute to cerebellar pathogenesis. However, the critical ATXN1 functions and pathways involved remain unclear. To further investigate the early signalling pathways regulated by ATXN1, we performed an unbiased proteomic study of the Atxn1-KO 5-week-old mice cerebellum. Here, we show that lack of ATXN1 expression induces early alterations in proteins involved in glycolysis [pyruvate kinase, muscle, isoform 1 protein (PKM-i1), citrate synthase (CS), glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase 2 (GPD2), glucose-6-phosphate isomerase (GPI), alpha -: enolase (ENO1)], ATP synthesis [CS, Succinate dehydrogenase complex,subunit A (SDHA), ATP synthase subunit d, mitochondrial (ATP5H)] and oxidative stress [peroxiredoxin-6 (PRDX6), aldehyde dehydrogenase family 1, subfamily A1, 10-formyltetrahydrofolate dehydrogenase]. In the SCA1 mice, several of these proteins (PKM-i1, ATP5H, PRDX6, proteome subunit A6) were down-regulated and ATP levels decreased. The underlying mechanism does not involve modulation of mitochondrial biogenesis, but dysregulation of the activity of the metabolic regulators glycogen synthase kinase 3B (GSK3β), decreased in Atxn1-KO and increased in SCA1 mice, and mechanistic target of rapamycin (serine/threonine kinase) (mTOR), unchanged in the Atxn1-KO and decreased in SCA1 mice cerebellum before the onset of ataxic symptoms. Pharmacological inhibition of GSK3β and activation of mTOR in a SCA1 cell model ameliorated identified ATXN1-regulated metabolic proteome and ATP alterations. Taken together, these results point to an early role of ATXN1 in the regulation of bioenergetics homeostasis in the mouse cerebellum. Moreover, data suggest GSK3β and mTOR pathways modulate this ATXN1 function in SCA1 pathogenesis that could be targeted therapeutically prior to the onset of disease symptoms in SCA1 and other pathologies involving dysregulation of ATXN1 functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivelisse Sánchez
- Functional and Translational Neurogenetics Unit, Department of Neurosciences, Health Sciences Research Institute Germans Trias i Pujol (IGTP)-Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, Crta. de Can Ruti, camí de les escoles s/n, 08916 Badalona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Eudald Balagué
- Functional and Translational Neurogenetics Unit, Department of Neurosciences, Health Sciences Research Institute Germans Trias i Pujol (IGTP)-Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, Crta. de Can Ruti, camí de les escoles s/n, 08916 Badalona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Antoni Matilla-Dueñas
- Functional and Translational Neurogenetics Unit, Department of Neurosciences, Health Sciences Research Institute Germans Trias i Pujol (IGTP)-Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, Crta. de Can Ruti, camí de les escoles s/n, 08916 Badalona, Barcelona, Spain
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22
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Ataxin-1 regulates proliferation of hippocampal neural precursors. Neuroscience 2016; 322:54-65. [PMID: 26876606 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2016.02.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2015] [Revised: 01/11/2016] [Accepted: 02/03/2016] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Polyglutamine expansion in the protein ATAXIN-1 (ATXN1) causes spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 (SCA1), an inherited neurodegenerative disease characterized by motor deficits, cognitive impairment and depression. Although ubiquitously expressed, mutant ATXN1 causes neurodegeneration primarily in the cerebellum, which is responsible for the observed motor deficits. The role of ATXN1 outside of the cerebellum and the causes of cognitive deficits and depression in SCA1 are less understood. In this study, we demonstrate a novel role of ATXN1 in the hippocampus as a regulator of adult neurogenesis. Adult hippocampal neurogenesis is the process of generating new hippocampal neurons and is linked to cognition and mood. We found that loss of ATXN1 causes a decrease in hippocampal neurogenesis in ATXN1 null (Atxn1(-/-)) mice. This decrease was caused by reduced proliferation of neural precursors in the hippocampus of Atxn1(-/-) mice, and persisted even when Atxn1(-/-) hippocampal neural precursors were removed from their natural environment and grown in vitro, suggesting that ATXN1 affects proliferation in a cell-autonomous manner. Moreover, expression of ATXN1 with a pathological polyglutamine (polyQ) expansion in wild-type neural precursor cells inhibited their proliferation. Our data establish a novel role for ATXN1 in the hippocampus as an intrinsic regulator of precursor cell proliferation, and suggest a mechanism by which polyQ expansion and loss of ATXN1 affect hippocampal function, potentially contributing to cognitive deficits and depression. These results indicate that while depletion of ATXN1 is a promising therapeutic approach to treat the cerebellar aspects of SCA1, this approach should be employed with caution given the potential for side effects on hippocampal function with loss of wild-type ATXN1.
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Hyman BT, Growdon JH, Albers MW, Buckner RL, Chhatwal J, Gomez-Isla MT, Haass C, Hudry E, Jack CR, Johnson KA, Khachaturian ZS, Kim DY, Martin JB, Nitsch RM, Rosen BR, Selkoe DJ, Sperling RA, St George-Hyslop P, Tanzi RE, Yap L, Young AB, Phelps CH, McCaffrey PG. Massachusetts Alzheimer's Disease Research Center: progress and challenges. Alzheimers Dement 2015; 11:1241-5. [PMID: 26297855 DOI: 10.1016/j.jalz.2015.06.1887] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2015] [Accepted: 06/03/2015] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Bradley T Hyman
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - John H Growdon
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Mark W Albers
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Randy L Buckner
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jasmeer Chhatwal
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Maria Teresa Gomez-Isla
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Christian Haass
- Department of Biochemistry, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Bavaria, Germany
| | - Eloise Hudry
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Keith A Johnson
- Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Doo Yeon Kim
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Joseph B Martin
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Roger M Nitsch
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Bruce R Rosen
- Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Dennis J Selkoe
- Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Reisa A Sperling
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Peter St George-Hyslop
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK; Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Rudolph E Tanzi
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Liang Yap
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Anne B Young
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Creighton H Phelps
- National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
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24
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Millan MJ. The epigenetic dimension of Alzheimer's disease: causal, consequence, or curiosity? DIALOGUES IN CLINICAL NEUROSCIENCE 2015. [PMID: 25364287 PMCID: PMC4214179 DOI: 10.31887/dcns.2014.16.3/mmillan] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Early-onset, familial Alzheimer's disease (AD) is rare and may be attributed to disease-causinq mutations. By contrast, late onset, sporadic (non-Mendelian) AD is far more prevalent and reflects the interaction of multiple genetic and environmental risk factors, together with the disruption of epigenetic mechanisms controlling gene expression. Accordingly, abnormal patterns of histone acetylation and methylation, as well as anomalies in global and promoter-specific DNA methylation, have been documented in AD patients, together with a deregulation of noncoding RNA. In transgenic mouse models for AD, epigenetic dysfunction is likewise apparent in cerebral tissue, and it has been directly linked to cognitive and behavioral deficits in functional studies. Importantly, epigenetic deregulation interfaces with core pathophysiological processes underlying AD: excess production of Aβ42, aberrant post-translational modification of tau, deficient neurotoxic protein clearance, axonal-synaptic dysfunction, mitochondrial-dependent apoptosis, and cell cycle re-entry. Reciprocally, DNA methylation, histone marks and the levels of diverse species of microRNA are modulated by Aβ42, oxidative stress and neuroinflammation. In conclusion, epigenetic mechanisms are broadly deregulated in AD mainly upstream, but also downstream, of key pathophysiological processes. While some epigenetic shifts oppose the evolution of AD, most appear to drive its progression. Epigenetic changes are of irrefutable importance for AD, but they await further elucidation from the perspectives of pathogenesis, biomarkers and potential treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark J Millan
- Pole of Innovation in Neuropsychiatry, Institut de Recherche Servier, Croissy-sur-Seine, France
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25
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Wang H, Sang N, Zhang C, Raghupathi R, Tanzi RE, Saunders A. Cathepsin L Mediates the Degradation of Novel APP C-Terminal Fragments. Biochemistry 2015; 54:2806-16. [PMID: 25910068 PMCID: PMC4521409 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.5b00329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by the deposition of amyloid β (Aβ), a peptide generated from proteolytic processing of its precursor, amyloid precursor protein (APP). Canonical APP proteolysis occurs via α-, β-, and γ-secretases. APP is also actively degraded by protein degradation systems. By pharmacologically inhibiting protein degradation with ALLN, we observed an accumulation of several novel APP C-terminal fragments (CTFs). The two major novel CTFs migrated around 15 and 25 kDa and can be observed across multiple cell types. The process was independent of cytotoxicity or protein synthesis. We further determine that the accumulation of the novel CTFs is not mediated by proteasome or calpain inhibition, but by cathepsin L inhibition. Moreover, these novel CTFs are not generated by an increased amount of BACE. Here, we name the CTF of 25 kDa as η-CTF (eta-CTF). Our data suggest that under physiological conditions, a subset of APP undergoes alternative processing and the intermediate products, the 15 kDa CTFs, and the η-CTFs aret rapidly degraded and/or processed via the protein degradation machinery, specifically, cathepsin L.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haizhi Wang
- Department of Biology, College of Art and Sciences, Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, College of Medicine, Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| | - Nianli Sang
- Department of Biology, College of Art and Sciences, Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| | - Can Zhang
- Harvard University and Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02114, United States
| | - Ramesh Raghupathi
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, College of Medicine, Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| | - Rudolph E. Tanzi
- Harvard University and Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02114, United States
| | - Aleister Saunders
- Department of Biology, College of Art and Sciences, Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, College of Medicine, Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine, Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
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26
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Schwarz R, Reif A, Scholz CJ, Weissflog L, Schmidt B, Lesch KP, Jacob C, Reichert S, Heupel J, Volkert J, Kopf J, Hilscher M, Weber H, Kittel-Schneider S. A preliminary study on methylphenidate-regulated gene expression in lymphoblastoid cells of ADHD patients. World J Biol Psychiatry 2015; 16:180-9. [PMID: 25162476 DOI: 10.3109/15622975.2014.948064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Methylphenidate (MPH) is a commonly used stimulant medication for treating attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Besides inhibiting monoamine reuptake there is evidence that MPH also influences gene expression directly. METHODS We investigated the impact of MPH treatment on gene expression levels of lymphoblastoid cells derived from adult ADHD patients and healthy controls by hypothesis-free, genome-wide microarray analysis. Significant findings were subsequently confirmed by quantitative Real-Time PCR (qRT PCR) analysis. RESULTS The microarray analysis from pooled samples after correction for multiple testing revealed 138 genes to be marginally significantly regulated due to MPH treatment, and one gene due to diagnosis. By qRT PCR we could confirm that GUCY1B3 expression was differential due to diagnosis. We verified chronic MPH treatment effects on the expression of ATXN1, HEY1, MAP3K8 and GLUT3 in controls as well as acute treatment effects on the expression of NAV2 and ATXN1 specifically in ADHD patients. CONCLUSIONS Our preliminary results demonstrate MPH treatment differences in ADHD patients and healthy controls in a peripheral primary cell model. Our results need to be replicated in larger samples and also using patient-derived neuronal cell models to validate the contribution of those genes to the pathophysiology of ADHD and mode of action of MPH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ricarda Schwarz
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University Hospital of Würzburg , Würzburg , Germany
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27
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Kitagishi Y, Minami A, Nakanishi A, Ogura Y, Matsuda S. Neuron membrane trafficking and protein kinases involved in autism and ADHD. Int J Mol Sci 2015; 16:3095-115. [PMID: 25647412 PMCID: PMC4346882 DOI: 10.3390/ijms16023095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2014] [Accepted: 01/19/2015] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
A brain-enriched multi-domain scaffolding protein, neurobeachin has been identified as a candidate gene for autism patients. Mutations in the synaptic adhesion protein cell adhesion molecule 1 (CADM1) are also associated with autism spectrum disorder, a neurodevelopmental disorder of uncertain molecular origin. Potential roles of neurobeachin and CADM1 have been suggested to a function of vesicle transport in endosomal trafficking. It seems that protein kinase B (AKT) and cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)-dependent protein kinase A (PKA) have key roles in the neuron membrane trafficking involved in the pathogenesis of autism. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is documented to dopaminergic insufficiencies, which is attributed to synaptic dysfunction of dopamine transporter (DAT). AKT is also essential for the DAT cell-surface redistribution. In the present paper, we summarize and discuss the importance of several protein kinases that regulate the membrane trafficking involved in autism and ADHD, suggesting new targets for therapeutic intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasuko Kitagishi
- Department of Food Science and Nutrition, Nara Women's University, Kita-Uoya Nishimachi, Nara 630-8506, Japan.
| | - Akari Minami
- Department of Food Science and Nutrition, Nara Women's University, Kita-Uoya Nishimachi, Nara 630-8506, Japan.
| | - Atsuko Nakanishi
- Department of Food Science and Nutrition, Nara Women's University, Kita-Uoya Nishimachi, Nara 630-8506, Japan.
| | - Yasunori Ogura
- Department of Food Science and Nutrition, Nara Women's University, Kita-Uoya Nishimachi, Nara 630-8506, Japan.
| | - Satoru Matsuda
- Department of Food Science and Nutrition, Nara Women's University, Kita-Uoya Nishimachi, Nara 630-8506, Japan.
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28
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Bruhn S, Fang Y, Barrenäs F, Gustafsson M, Zhang H, Konstantinell A, Krönke A, Sönnichsen B, Bresnick A, Dulyaninova N, Wang H, Zhao Y, Klingelhöfer J, Ambartsumian N, Beck MK, Nestor C, Bona E, Xiang Z, Benson M. A generally applicable translational strategy identifies S100A4 as a candidate gene in allergy. Sci Transl Med 2014; 6:218ra4. [PMID: 24401939 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.3007410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The identification of diagnostic markers and therapeutic candidate genes in common diseases is complicated by the involvement of thousands of genes. We hypothesized that genes co-regulated with a key gene in allergy, IL13, would form a module that could help to identify candidate genes. We identified a T helper 2 (TH2) cell module by small interfering RNA-mediated knockdown of 25 putative IL13-regulating transcription factors followed by expression profiling. The module contained candidate genes whose diagnostic potential was supported by clinical studies. Functional studies of human TH2 cells as well as mouse models of allergy showed that deletion of one of the genes, S100A4, resulted in decreased signs of allergy including TH2 cell activation, humoral immunity, and infiltration of effector cells. Specifically, dendritic cells required S100A4 for activating T cells. Treatment with an anti-S100A4 antibody resulted in decreased signs of allergy in the mouse model as well as in allergen-challenged T cells from allergic patients. This strategy, which may be generally applicable to complex diseases, identified and validated an important diagnostic and therapeutic candidate gene in allergy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sören Bruhn
- The Center for Individualized Medication, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Linköping University, 581 85 Linköping, Sweden
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29
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Millan MJ. The epigenetic dimension of Alzheimer's disease: causal, consequence, or curiosity? DIALOGUES IN CLINICAL NEUROSCIENCE 2014; 16:373-93. [PMID: 25364287 PMCID: PMC4214179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/10/2024]
Abstract
Early-onset, familial Alzheimer's disease (AD) is rare and may be attributed to disease-causinq mutations. By contrast, late onset, sporadic (non-Mendelian) AD is far more prevalent and reflects the interaction of multiple genetic and environmental risk factors, together with the disruption of epigenetic mechanisms controlling gene expression. Accordingly, abnormal patterns of histone acetylation and methylation, as well as anomalies in global and promoter-specific DNA methylation, have been documented in AD patients, together with a deregulation of noncoding RNA. In transgenic mouse models for AD, epigenetic dysfunction is likewise apparent in cerebral tissue, and it has been directly linked to cognitive and behavioral deficits in functional studies. Importantly, epigenetic deregulation interfaces with core pathophysiological processes underlying AD: excess production of Aβ42, aberrant post-translational modification of tau, deficient neurotoxic protein clearance, axonal-synaptic dysfunction, mitochondrial-dependent apoptosis, and cell cycle re-entry. Reciprocally, DNA methylation, histone marks and the levels of diverse species of microRNA are modulated by Aβ42, oxidative stress and neuroinflammation. In conclusion, epigenetic mechanisms are broadly deregulated in AD mainly upstream, but also downstream, of key pathophysiological processes. While some epigenetic shifts oppose the evolution of AD, most appear to drive its progression. Epigenetic changes are of irrefutable importance for AD, but they await further elucidation from the perspectives of pathogenesis, biomarkers and potential treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark J. Millan
- Pole of Innovation in Neuropsychiatry, Institut de Recherche Servier, Croissy-sur-Seine, France
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Protein folding and misfolding in the neurodegenerative disorders: a review. Rev Neurol (Paris) 2014; 170:151-61. [PMID: 24613386 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurol.2013.11.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2013] [Revised: 11/24/2013] [Accepted: 11/26/2013] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Protein misfolding is an intrinsic aspect of normal folding within the complex cellular environment. Its effects are minimized in living system by the action of a range of protective mechanisms including molecular chaperones and quality control systems. According to the current growing research, protein misfolding is a recognized key feature of most neurodegenerative diseases. Extensive biochemical, neuropathological, and genetic evidence suggest that the cerebral accumulation of amyloid fibrils is the central event in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorders. In the first part of this review we have discussed the general course of action of folding and misfolding of the proteins. Later part of this review gives an outline regarding the role of protein misfolding in the molecular and cellular mechanisms in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's and Parkinson along with their treatment possibilities. Finally, we have mentioned about the recent findings in neurodegenerative diseases.
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Zhang X, Tian Y, Li Z, Tian X, Sun H, Liu H, Moore A, Ran C. Design and synthesis of curcumin analogues for in vivo fluorescence imaging and inhibiting copper-induced cross-linking of amyloid beta species in Alzheimer's disease. J Am Chem Soc 2013; 135:16397-409. [PMID: 24116384 DOI: 10.1021/ja405239v] [Citation(s) in RCA: 212] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
In this article, we first designed and synthesized curcumin-based near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence imaging probes for detecting both soluble and insoluble amyloid beta (Aβ) species and then an inhibitor that could attenuate cross-linking of Aβ induced by copper. According to our previous results and the possible structural stereohindrance compatibility of the Aβ peptide and the hydrophobic/hydrophilic property of the Aβ13-20 (HHQKLVFF) fragment, NIR imaging probe CRANAD-58 was designed and synthesized. As expected CRANAD-58 showed significant fluorescence property changes upon mixing with both soluble and insoluble Aβ species in vitro. In vivo NIR imaging revealed that CRANAD-58 was capable of differentiating transgenic and wild-type mice as young as 4 months old, the age that lacks apparently visible Aβ plaques and Aβ is likely in its soluble forms. According to our limited studies on the interaction mechanism between CRANAD-58 and Aβ, we also designed CRANAD-17 to attenuate the cross-linking of Aβ42 induced by copper. It is well-known that the coordination of copper with imidazoles on Histidine-13 and 14 (H13, H14) of Aβ peptides could initialize covalent cross-linking of Aβ. In CRANAD-17, a curcumin scaffold was used as an anchoring moiety to usher the designed compound to the vicinity of H13 and H14 of Aβ, and imidazole rings were incorporated to compete with H13/H14 for copper binding. The results of SDS-PAGE gel and Western blot indicated that CRANAD-17 was capable of inhibiting Aβ42 cross-linking induced by copper. This raises a potential for CRANAD-17 to be considered for AD therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xueli Zhang
- Molecular Imaging Laboratory, MGH/MIT/HMS Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School , Building 75, Charlestown, Massachusetts 02129, United States
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Bergeron D, Lapointe C, Bissonnette C, Tremblay G, Motard J, Roucou X. An out-of-frame overlapping reading frame in the ataxin-1 coding sequence encodes a novel ataxin-1 interacting protein. J Biol Chem 2013; 288:21824-35. [PMID: 23760502 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m113.472654] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 is an autosomal dominant cerebellar ataxia associated with the expansion of a polyglutamine tract within the ataxin-1 (ATXN1) protein. Recent studies suggest that understanding the normal function of ATXN1 in cellular processes is essential to decipher the pathogenesis mechanisms in spinocerebellar ataxia type 1. We found an alternative translation initiation ATG codon in the +3 reading frame of human ATXN1 starting 30 nucleotides downstream of the initiation codon for ATXN1 and ending at nucleotide 587. This novel overlapping open reading frame (ORF) encodes a 21-kDa polypeptide termed Alt-ATXN1 (Alternative ATXN1) with a completely different amino acid sequence from ATXN1. We introduced a hemagglutinin tag in-frame with Alt-ATXN1 in ATXN1 cDNA and showed in cell culture the co-expression of both ATXN1 and Alt-ATXN1. Remarkably, Alt-ATXN1 colocalized and interacted with ATXN1 in nuclear inclusions. In contrast, in the absence of ATXN1 expression, Alt-ATXN1 displays a homogenous nucleoplasmic distribution. Alt-ATXN1 interacts with poly(A)(+) RNA, and its nuclear localization is dependent on RNA transcription. Polyclonal antibodies raised against Alt-ATXN1 confirmed the expression of Alt-ATXN1 in human cerebellum expressing ATXN1. These results demonstrate that human ATXN1 gene is a dual coding sequence and that ATXN1 interacts with and controls the subcellular distribution of Alt-ATXN1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danny Bergeron
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculté de Médecine et des Sciences de la Santé, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Quebec J1E 4K8, Canada
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Sánchez I, Piñol P, Corral-Juan M, Pandolfo M, Matilla-Dueñas A. A novel function of Ataxin-1 in the modulation of PP2A activity is dysregulated in the spinocerebellar ataxia type 1. Hum Mol Genet 2013; 22:3425-37. [PMID: 23630944 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddt197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
An expansion of glutamines within the human ataxin-1 protein underlies spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 (SCA1), a dominantly inherited neurodegenerative disorder characterized by ataxia and loss of cerebellar Purkinje neurons. Although the mechanisms linking the mutation to the disease remain unclear, evidence indicates that it involves a combination of both gain and loss of functions of ataxin-1. We previously showed that the mutant ataxin-1 interacts with Anp32a, a potent and selective PP2A inhibitor, suggesting a role of PP2A in SCA1. Herein, we found a new function of ataxin-1: the modulation of Pp2a activity and the regulation of its holoenzyme composition, with the polyglutamine mutation within Atxn1 altering this function in the SCA1 mouse cerebellum before disease onset. We show that ataxin-1 enhances Pp2a-bβ expression and down-regulates Anp32a levels without affecting post-translational modifications of Pp2a catalytic subunit (Pp2a-c) known to regulate Pp2a activity. In contrast, mutant Atxn1 induces a decrease in Y307-phosphorylation in Pp2a-c, known to enhance its activity, while reducing Pp2a-b expression and inhibiting Anp32a levels. qRT-PCR and chromatin immunoprecipitation analyses show that ataxin-1-mediated regulations of the Pp2a-bβ subunit, specifically bβ2, and of Anp32a occur at the transcriptional level. The Pp2a pathway alterations were confirmed by identified phosphorylation changes of the known Pp2a-substrates, Erk2 and Gsk3β. Similarly, mutant ataxin-1-expressing SH-SY5Y cells exhibit abnormal neuritic morphology, decreased levels of both PP2A-Bβ and ANP32A, and PP2A pathway alterations, all of which are ameliorated by overexpressing ANP32A. Our results point to dysregulation of this newly assigned function of ataxin-1 in SCA1 uncovering new potential targets for therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivelisse Sánchez
- Basic, Translational and Molecular Neurogenetics Research Unit in Neurosciences, Health Sciences Research Institute Germans Trias y Pujol (IGTP), Badalona, Barcelona, Spain
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Affiliation(s)
- Dave C. Anderson
- Center for Advanced Drug Research; SRI International; 140 Research Drive; Harrisonburg; Virginia; 22802; USA
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Di Benedetto D, Di Vita G, Romano C, Giudice ML, Vitello GA, Zingale M, Grillo L, Castiglia L, Musumeci SA, Fichera M. 6p22.3 deletion: report of a patient with autism, severe intellectual disability and electroencephalographic anomalies. Mol Cytogenet 2013; 6:4. [PMID: 23324214 PMCID: PMC3564794 DOI: 10.1186/1755-8166-6-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2012] [Accepted: 12/06/2012] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The interstitial 6p deletions, involving the 6p22-p24 chromosomal region, are rare events characterized by variable phenotypes and no clear genotype-phenotype correlation has been established so far. Results High resolution array-CGH identified 1 Mb de novo interstitial deletion in 6p22.3 chromosomal region in a patient affected by severe Intellectual Disability (ID), Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs), and electroencephalographic anomalies. This deletion includes ATXN1, DTNBP1, JARID2 and MYLIP genes, known to play an important role in the brain, and the GMPR gene whose function in the nervous system is unknown. Conclusions We support the suggestion that ATXN1, DTNBP1, JARID2 and MYLIP are candidate genes for the pathophysiology of ASDs and ID, and we propose that deletion of DTNBP1 and/or JARID2 contributes to the hypotonia phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Di Benedetto
- Laboratory of Medical Genetics, I.R.C.C.S. Associazione Oasi Maria Santissima, Troina, Italy
| | - Giuseppa Di Vita
- Unit of Neurology, I.R.C.C.S. Associazione Oasi Maria Santissima, Troina, Italy
| | - Corrado Romano
- Unit of Pediatrics and Medical Genetics, I.R.C.C.S. Associazione Oasi Maria Santissima, Troina, Italy
| | - Mariangela Lo Giudice
- Unit of Neuromuscular Disease, I.R.C.C.S. Associazione Oasi Maria Santissima, Troina, Italy
| | | | - Marinella Zingale
- Unit of Psychology, I.R.C.C.S. Associazione Oasi Maria Santissima, Troina, Italy
| | - Lucia Grillo
- Laboratory of Medical Genetics, I.R.C.C.S. Associazione Oasi Maria Santissima, Troina, Italy
| | - Lucia Castiglia
- Laboratory of Medical Genetics, I.R.C.C.S. Associazione Oasi Maria Santissima, Troina, Italy
| | | | - Marco Fichera
- Laboratory of Medical Genetics, I.R.C.C.S. Associazione Oasi Maria Santissima, Troina, Italy.,Medical Genetics, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
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Guo S, Zhou Y, Xing C, Lok J, Som AT, Ning M, Ji X, Lo EH. The vasculome of the mouse brain. PLoS One 2012; 7:e52665. [PMID: 23285140 PMCID: PMC3527566 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0052665] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2012] [Accepted: 11/20/2012] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The blood vessel is no longer viewed as passive plumbing for the brain. Increasingly, experimental and clinical findings suggest that cerebral endothelium may possess endocrine and paracrine properties – actively releasing signals into and receiving signals from the neuronal parenchyma. Hence, metabolically perturbed microvessels may contribute to central nervous system (CNS) injury and disease. Furthermore, cerebral endothelium can serve as sensors and integrators of CNS dysfunction, releasing measurable biomarkers into the circulating bloodstream. Here, we define and analyze the concept of a brain vasculome, i.e. a database of gene expression patterns in cerebral endothelium that can be linked to other databases and systems of CNS mediators and markers. Endothelial cells were purified from mouse brain, heart and kidney glomeruli. Total RNA were extracted and profiled on Affymetrix mouse 430 2.0 micro-arrays. Gene expression analysis confirmed that these brain, heart and glomerular preparations were not contaminated by brain cells (astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, or neurons), cardiomyocytes or kidney tubular cells respectively. Comparison of the vasculome between brain, heart and kidney glomeruli showed that endothelial gene expression patterns were highly organ-dependent. Analysis of the brain vasculome demonstrated that many functionally active networks were present, including cell adhesion, transporter activity, plasma membrane, leukocyte transmigration, Wnt signaling pathways and angiogenesis. Analysis of representative genome-wide-association-studies showed that genes linked with Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and stroke were detected in the brain vasculome. Finally, comparison of our mouse brain vasculome with representative plasma protein databases demonstrated significant overlap, suggesting that the vasculome may be an important source of circulating signals in blood. Perturbations in cerebral endothelial function may profoundly affect CNS homeostasis. Mapping and dissecting the vasculome of the brain in health and disease may provide a novel database for investigating disease mechanisms, assessing therapeutic targets and exploring new biomarkers for the CNS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuzhen Guo
- Neuroprotection Research Laboratory, Departments of Radiology and Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- * E-mail: (SG); (EHL)
| | - Yiming Zhou
- Neuroprotection Research Laboratory, Departments of Radiology and Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Broad Institute, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Changhong Xing
- Neuroprotection Research Laboratory, Departments of Radiology and Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Josephine Lok
- Neuroprotection Research Laboratory, Departments of Radiology and Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Department of Pediatrics, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Angel T. Som
- Neuroprotection Research Laboratory, Departments of Radiology and Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - MingMing Ning
- Neuroprotection Research Laboratory, Departments of Radiology and Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Clinical Proteomics Research Center, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Xunming Ji
- Cerebrovascular Research Center, XuanWu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, Peoples Republic of China
| | - Eng H. Lo
- Neuroprotection Research Laboratory, Departments of Radiology and Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Clinical Proteomics Research Center, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- * E-mail: (SG); (EHL)
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Abstract
Family history is the second strongest risk factor for Alzheimer disease (AD) following advanced age. Twin and family studies indicate that genetic factors are estimated to play a role in at least 80% of AD cases. The inheritance of AD exhibits a dichotomous pattern. On one hand, rare mutations in APP, PSEN1, and PSEN2 virtually guarantee early-onset (<60 years) familial AD, which represents ∼5% of AD. On the other hand, common gene polymorphisms, such as the ε4 and ε2 variants of the APOE gene, can influence susceptibility for ∼50% of the common late-onset AD. These four genes account for 30%-50% of the inheritability of AD. Genome-wide association studies have recently led to the identification of 11 additional AD candidate genes. This paper reviews the past, present, and future attempts to elucidate the complex and heterogeneous genetic underpinnings of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rudolph E Tanzi
- Genetics and Aging Research Unit, Department of Neurology, MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02129, USA.
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Swaminathan S, Shen L, Kim S, Inlow M, West JD, Faber KM, Foroud T, Mayeux R, Saykin AJ. Analysis of copy number variation in Alzheimer's disease: the NIALOAD/ NCRAD Family Study. Curr Alzheimer Res 2012; 9:801-14. [PMID: 22486522 PMCID: PMC3500615 DOI: 10.2174/156720512802455331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2011] [Revised: 12/12/2011] [Accepted: 12/14/2011] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Copy number variants (CNVs) are DNA regions that have gains (duplications) or losses (deletions) of genetic material. CNVs may encompass a single gene or multiple genes and can affect their function. They are hypothesized to play an important role in certain diseases. We previously examined the role of CNVs in late-onset Alzheimer's disease (AD) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) using participants from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) study and identified gene regions overlapped by CNVs only in cases (AD and/or MCI) but not in controls. Using a similar approach as ADNI, we investigated the role of CNVs using 794 AD and 196 neurologically evaluated control non-Hispanic Caucasian NIA-LOAD/NCRAD Family Study participants with DNA derived from blood/brain tissue. The controls had no family history of AD and were unrelated to AD participants. CNV calls were generated and analyzed after detailed quality review. 711 AD cases and 171 controls who passed all quality thresholds were included in case/control association analyses, focusing on candidate gene and genome-wide approaches. We identified genes overlapped by CNV calls only in AD cases but not controls. A trend for lower CNV call rate was observed for deletions as well as duplications in cases compared to controls. Gene-based association analyses confirmed previous findings in the ADNI study (ATXN1, HLA-DPB1, RELN, DOPEY2, GSTT1, CHRFAM7A, ERBB4, NRXN1) and identified a new gene (IMMP2L) that may play a role in AD susceptibility. Replication in independent samples as well as further analyses of these gene regions is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shanker Swaminathan
- Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Center for Neuroimaging, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Li Shen
- Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Center for Neuroimaging, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
- Center for Computational Biology and Bioinformatics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Sungeun Kim
- Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Center for Neuroimaging, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
- Center for Computational Biology and Bioinformatics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Mark Inlow
- Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Center for Neuroimaging, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
- Department of Mathematics, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, Terre Haute, IN, USA
| | - John D. West
- Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Center for Neuroimaging, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Kelley M. Faber
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Tatiana Foroud
- Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Center for Neuroimaging, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
- Center for Computational Biology and Bioinformatics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Richard Mayeux
- The Gertrude H. Sergievsky Center, The Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer’s Disease and the Aging Brain, and the Department of Neurology, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, USA
| | - Andrew J. Saykin
- Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Center for Neuroimaging, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
- Center for Computational Biology and Bioinformatics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
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Bertram L, Tanzi RE. The genetics of Alzheimer's disease. PROGRESS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCE 2012; 107:79-100. [PMID: 22482448 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-385883-2.00008-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 128] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Genetic factors play a major role in determining a person's risk to develop Alzheimer's disease (AD). Rare mutations transmitted in a Mendelian fashion within affected families, for example, APP, PSEN1, and PSEN2, cause AD. In the absence of mutations in these genes, disease risk is largely determined by common polymorphisms that, in concert with each other and nongenetic risk factors, modestly impact risk for AD (e.g., the ε4-allele in APOE). Recent genome-wide screening approaches have revealed several additional AD susceptibility loci and more are likely to be discovered over the coming years. In this chapter, we review the current state of AD genetics research with a particular focus on loci that now can be considered established disease genes. In addition to reviewing the potential pathogenic relevance of these genes, we provide an outlook into the future of AD genetics research based on recent advances in high-throughput sequencing technologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lars Bertram
- Department of Vertebrate Genomics, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
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Liang D, Han G, Feng X, Sun J, Duan Y, Lei H. Concerted perturbation observed in a hub network in Alzheimer's disease. PLoS One 2012; 7:e40498. [PMID: 22815752 PMCID: PMC3398025 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0040498] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2011] [Accepted: 06/11/2012] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease involving the alteration of gene expression at the whole genome level. Genome-wide transcriptional profiling of AD has been conducted by many groups on several relevant brain regions. However, identifying the most critical dys-regulated genes has been challenging. In this work, we addressed this issue by deriving critical genes from perturbed subnetworks. Using a recent microarray dataset on six brain regions, we applied a heaviest induced subgraph algorithm with a modular scoring function to reveal the significantly perturbed subnetwork in each brain region. These perturbed subnetworks were found to be significantly overlapped with each other. Furthermore, the hub genes from these perturbed subnetworks formed a connected hub network consisting of 136 genes. Comparison between AD and several related diseases demonstrated that the hub network was robustly and specifically perturbed in AD. In addition, strong correlation between the expression level of these hub genes and indicators of AD severity suggested that this hub network can partially reflect AD progression. More importantly, this hub network reflected the adaptation of neurons to the AD-specific microenvironment through a variety of adjustments, including reduction of neuronal and synaptic activities and alteration of survival signaling. Therefore, it is potentially useful for the development of biomarkers and network medicine for AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dapeng Liang
- CAS key laboratory of genome sciences and information, Beijing Institute of Genomics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
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von Bernhardi R, Eugenín J. Alzheimer's disease: redox dysregulation as a common denominator for diverse pathogenic mechanisms. Antioxid Redox Signal 2012; 16:974-1031. [PMID: 22122400 DOI: 10.1089/ars.2011.4082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 140] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia and a progressive neurodegeneration that appears to result from multiple pathogenic mechanisms (including protein misfolding/aggregation, involved in both amyloid β-dependent senile plaques and tau-dependent neurofibrillary tangles), metabolic and mitochondrial dysfunction, excitoxicity, calcium handling impairment, glial cell dysfunction, neuroinflammation, and oxidative stress. Oxidative stress, which could be secondary to several of the other pathophysiological mechanisms, appears to be a major determinant of the pathogenesis and progression of AD. The identification of oxidized proteins common for mild cognitive impairment and AD suggests that key oxidation pathways are triggered early and are involved in the initial progression of the neurodegenerative process. Abundant data support that oxidative stress, also considered as a main factor for aging, the major risk factor for AD, can be a common key element capable of articulating the divergent nature of the proposed pathogenic factors. Pathogenic mechanisms influence each other at different levels. Evidence suggests that it will be difficult to define a single-target therapy resulting in the arrest of progression or the improvement of AD deterioration. Since oxidative stress is present from early stages of disease, it appears as one of the main targets to be included in a clinical trial. Exploring the articulation of AD pathogenic mechanisms by oxidative stress will provide clues for better understanding the pathogenesis and progression of this dementing disorder and for the development of effective therapies to treat this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rommy von Bernhardi
- Department of Neurology, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
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Lee JA, Uhlik MT, Moxham CM, Tomandl D, Sall DJ. Modern phenotypic drug discovery is a viable, neoclassic pharma strategy. J Med Chem 2012; 55:4527-38. [PMID: 22409666 DOI: 10.1021/jm201649s] [Citation(s) in RCA: 148] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan A Lee
- Department of Quantitative Biology, Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA.
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Ataxin-1 and Brother of ataxin-1 are components of the Notch signalling pathway. EMBO Rep 2011; 12:428-35. [PMID: 21475249 DOI: 10.1038/embor.2011.49] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2010] [Revised: 03/01/2011] [Accepted: 03/02/2011] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Ataxin-1 (ATXN1), a causative factor for spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 (SCA1), and the related Brother of ATXN1 (BOAT1) are human proteins involved in transcriptional repression. So far, little is known about which transcriptional pathways mediate the effects of ATXN1 and BOAT1. From our analyses of the properties of BOAT1 in Drosophila and of both proteins in mammalian cells, we report here that BOAT1 and ATXN1 are components of the Notch signalling pathway. In Drosophila, BOAT1 compromises the activities of Notch. In mammalian cells, both ATXN1 and BOAT1 bind to the promoter region of Hey1 and inhibit the transcriptional output of Notch through direct interactions with CBF1, a transcription factor that is crucial for the Notch pathway. Our results suggest that, in addition to their involvement in SCA1, ATXN1 and BOAT1 might participate in several Notch-controlled developmental and pathological processes.
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Zhang C, Browne A, Divito JR, Stevenson JA, Romano D, Dong Y, Xie Z, Tanzi RE. Amyloid-β production via cleavage of amyloid-β protein precursor is modulated by cell density. J Alzheimers Dis 2011; 22:683-984. [PMID: 20847415 DOI: 10.3233/jad-2010-100816] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Mounting evidence suggests that Alzheimer's disease (AD) is caused by the accumulation of the small peptide, amyloid-β (Aβ), a proteolytic cleavage product of amyloid-β protein precursor (AβPP). Aβ is generated through a serial cleavage of AβPP by β- and γ-secretase. Aβ40 and Aβ42 are the two main components of amyloid plaques in AD brains, with Aβ42 being more prone to aggregation. AβPP can also be processed by α-secretase, which cleaves AβPP within the Aβ sequence, thereby preventing the generation of Aβ. Little is currently known regarding the effects of cell density on AβPP processing and Aβ generation. Here we assessed the effects of cell density on AβPP processing in neuronal and non-neuronal cell lines, as well as mouse primary cortical neurons. We found that decreased cell density significantly increases levels of Aβ40, Aβ42, total Aβ, and the ratio of Aβ42: Aβ40. These results also indicate that cell density is a significant modulator of AβPP processing. Overall, these findings carry profound implications for both previous and forthcoming studies aiming to assess the effects of various conditions and genetic/chemical factors, e.g., novel drugs on AβPP processing and Aβ generation in cell-based systems. Moreover, it is interesting to speculate whether cell density changes in vivo may also affect AβPP processing and Aβ levels in the AD brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Can Zhang
- Genetics and Aging Research Unit, MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
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Bertram L, Lill CM, Tanzi RE. The genetics of Alzheimer disease: back to the future. Neuron 2010; 68:270-81. [PMID: 20955934 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2010.10.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 597] [Impact Index Per Article: 42.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/06/2010] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Three decades of genetic research in Alzheimer disease (AD) have substantially broadened our understanding of the pathogenetic mechanisms leading to neurodegeneration and dementia. Positional cloning led to the identification of rare, disease-causing mutations in APP, PSEN1, and PSEN2 causing early-onset familial AD, followed by the discovery of APOE as the single most important risk factor for late-onset AD. Recent genome-wide association approaches have delivered several additional AD susceptibility loci that are common in the general population, but exert only very small risk effects. As a result, a large proportion of the heritability of AD continues to remain unexplained by the currently known disease genes. It seems likely that much of this "missing heritability" may be accounted for by rare sequence variants, which, owing to recent advances in high-throughput sequencing technologies, can now be assessed in unprecedented detail.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lars Bertram
- Department of Vertebrate Genomics, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany.
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Zhang C, Browne A, Child D, Tanzi RE. Curcumin decreases amyloid-beta peptide levels by attenuating the maturation of amyloid-beta precursor protein. J Biol Chem 2010; 285:28472-80. [PMID: 20622013 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m110.133520] [Citation(s) in RCA: 128] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer disease (AD) is a devastating neurodegenerative disease with no cure. The pathogenesis of AD is believed to be driven primarily by amyloid-beta (Abeta), the principal component of senile plaques. Abeta is an approximately 4-kDa peptide generated via cleavage of the amyloid-beta precursor protein (APP). Curcumin is a compound in the widely used culinary spice, turmeric, which possesses potent and broad biological activities, including anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities, chemopreventative effects, and effects on protein trafficking. Recent in vivo studies indicate that curcumin is able to reduce Abeta-related pathology in transgenic AD mouse models via unknown molecular mechanisms. Here, we investigated the effects of curcumin on Abeta levels and APP processing in various cell lines and mouse primary cortical neurons. We show for the first time that curcumin potently lowers Abeta levels by attenuating the maturation of APP in the secretory pathway. These data provide a mechanism of action for the ability of curcumin to attenuate amyloid-beta pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Can Zhang
- Genetics and Aging Research Unit, MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, Massachusetts 02129-2060, USA
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