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Chan DC, Kim C, Kang RY, Kuhn MK, Beidler LM, Zhang N, Proctor EA. Cytokine expression patterns predict suppression of vulnerable neural circuits in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.03.17.585383. [PMID: 38559177 PMCID: PMC10979954 DOI: 10.1101/2024.03.17.585383] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by progressive amyloid plaque accumulation, tau tangle formation, neuroimmune dysregulation, synapse an neuron loss, and changes in neural circuit activation that lead to cognitive decline and dementia. Early molecular and cellular disease-instigating events occur 20 or more years prior to presentation of symptoms, making them difficult to study, and for many years amyloid-β, the aggregating peptide seeding amyloid plaques, was thought to be the toxic factor responsible for cognitive deficit. However, strategies targeting amyloid-β aggregation and deposition have largely failed to produce safe and effective therapies, and amyloid plaque levels poorly correlate with cognitive outcomes. However, a role still exists for amyloid-β in the variation in an individual's immune response to early, soluble forms of aggregates, and the downstream consequences of this immune response for aberrant cellular behaviors and creation of a detrimental tissue environment that harms neuron health and causes changes in neural circuit activation. Here, we perform functional magnetic resonance imaging of awake, unanesthetized Alzheimer's disease mice to map changes in functional connectivity over the course of disease progression, in comparison to wild-type littermates. In these same individual animals, we spatiotemporally profile the immune milieu by measuring cytokines, chemokines, and growth factors across various brain regions and over the course of disease progression from pre-pathology through established cognitive deficit. We identify specific signatures of immune activation predicting hyperactivity followed by suppression of intra- and then inter-regional functional connectivity in multiple disease-relevant brain regions, following the pattern of spread of amyloid pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dennis C Chan
- Department of Neurosurgery, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
- Center for Neural Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
- Center for Neurotechnology in Mental Health Research, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | - ChaeMin Kim
- Department of Neurosurgery, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA
| | - Rachel Y Kang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA
| | - Madison K Kuhn
- Department of Neurosurgery, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
- Center for Neural Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | - Lynne M Beidler
- Department of Neurosurgery, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA
| | - Nanyin Zhang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
- Center for Neural Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
- Center for Neurotechnology in Mental Health Research, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | - Elizabeth A Proctor
- Department of Neurosurgery, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
- Center for Neural Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
- Department of Engineering Science & Mechanics, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
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Walkiewicz G, Ronisz A, Van Ginderdeuren R, Lemmens S, Bouwman FH, Hoozemans JJM, Morrema THJ, Rozemuller AJ, Hart de Ruyter FJ, De Groef L, Stalmans I, Thal DR. Primary retinal tauopathy: A tauopathy with a distinct molecular pattern. Alzheimers Dement 2024; 20:330-340. [PMID: 37615275 PMCID: PMC10916964 DOI: 10.1002/alz.13424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2023] [Revised: 06/20/2023] [Accepted: 07/13/2023] [Indexed: 08/25/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Phosphorylated tau (p-tau) accumulation, a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease (AD), can also be found in the retina. However, it is uncertain whether it is linked to AD or another tauopathy. METHODS Retinas from 164 individuals, with and without AD, were analyzed for p-tau accumulation and its relationship with age, dementia, and vision impairment. RESULTS Retinal p-tau pathology showed a consistent pattern with four stages and a molecular composition distinct from that of cerebral tauopathies. The stage of retinal p-tau pathology correlated with age (r = 0.176, P = 0.024) and was associated with AD (odds ratio [OR] 3.193; P = 0.001), and inflammation (OR = 2.605; P = 0.001). Vision impairment was associated with underlying eye diseases (β = 0.292; P = 0.001) and the stage of retinal p-tau pathology (β = 0.192; P = 0.030) in a linear regression model. CONCLUSIONS The results show the presence of a primary retinal tauopathy that is distinct from cerebral tauopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grzegorz Walkiewicz
- Laboratory of NeuropathologyDepartment of Imaging and PathologyLeuven Brain InstituteKU LeuvenLeuvenBelgium
| | - Alicja Ronisz
- Laboratory of NeuropathologyDepartment of Imaging and PathologyLeuven Brain InstituteKU LeuvenLeuvenBelgium
| | - Rita Van Ginderdeuren
- Department of PathologyUZ LeuvenLeuvenBelgium
- Department of OphthalmologyUZ LeuvenLeuvenBelgium
| | | | | | | | - Tjado H. J. Morrema
- Amsterdam UMCDepartment of PathologyAmsterdam NeuroscienceAmsterdamthe Netherlands
| | | | - Frederique J. Hart de Ruyter
- Amsterdam UMCAlzheimer CenterNeurologyAmsterdamthe Netherlands
- Amsterdam UMCDepartment of PathologyAmsterdam NeuroscienceAmsterdamthe Netherlands
| | - Lies De Groef
- Cellular Communication and Neurodegeneration Research GroupDepartment of BiologyLeuven Brain InstituteKU LeuvenLeuvenBelgium
| | - Ingeborg Stalmans
- Department of OphthalmologyUZ LeuvenLeuvenBelgium
- Research Group OphthalmologyDepartment of NeuroscienceLeuven Brain InstituteKU LeuvenLeuvenBelgium
| | - Dietmar Rudolf Thal
- Laboratory of NeuropathologyDepartment of Imaging and PathologyLeuven Brain InstituteKU LeuvenLeuvenBelgium
- Department of PathologyUZ LeuvenLeuvenBelgium
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Jucker M, Walker LC. Alzheimer's disease: From immunotherapy to immunoprevention. Cell 2023; 186:4260-4270. [PMID: 37729908 PMCID: PMC10578497 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2023.08.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2023] [Revised: 08/14/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/22/2023]
Abstract
Recent Aβ-immunotherapy trials have yielded the first clear evidence that removing aggregated Aβ from the brains of symptomatic patients can slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease. The clinical benefit achieved in these trials has been modest, however, highlighting the need for both a deeper understanding of disease mechanisms and the importance of intervening early in the pathogenic cascade. An immunoprevention strategy for Alzheimer's disease is required that will integrate the findings from clinical trials with mechanistic insights from preclinical disease models to select promising antibodies, optimize the timing of intervention, identify early biomarkers, and mitigate potential side effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mathias Jucker
- Department of Cellular Neurology, Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany; German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 72076 Tübingen, Germany.
| | - Lary C Walker
- Department of Neurology and Emory National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.
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Upadhyay A, Chhangani D, Rao NR, Kofler J, Vassar R, Rincon-Limas DE, Savas JN. Amyloid fibril proteomics of AD brains reveals modifiers of aggregation and toxicity. Mol Neurodegener 2023; 18:61. [PMID: 37710351 PMCID: PMC10503190 DOI: 10.1186/s13024-023-00654-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2023] [Accepted: 09/07/2023] [Indexed: 09/16/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The accumulation of amyloid beta (Aβ) peptides in fibrils is prerequisite for Alzheimer's disease (AD). Our understanding of the proteins that promote Aβ fibril formation and mediate neurotoxicity has been limited due to technical challenges in isolating pure amyloid fibrils from brain extracts. METHODS To investigate how amyloid fibrils form and cause neurotoxicity in AD brain, we developed a robust biochemical strategy. We benchmarked the success of our purifications using electron microscopy, amyloid dyes, and a large panel of Aβ immunoassays. Tandem mass-spectrometry based proteomic analysis workflows provided quantitative measures of the amyloid fibril proteome. These methods allowed us to compare amyloid fibril composition from human AD brains, three amyloid mouse models, transgenic Aβ42 flies, and Aβ42 seeded cultured neurons. RESULTS Amyloid fibrils are primarily composed by Aβ42 and unexpectedly harbor Aβ38 but generally lack Aβ40 peptides. Multidimensional quantitative proteomics allowed us to redefine the fibril proteome by identifying 20 new amyloid-associated proteins. Notably, we confirmed 57 previously reported plaque-associated proteins. We validated a panel of these proteins as bona fide amyloid-interacting proteins using antibodies and orthogonal proteomic analysis. One metal-binding chaperone metallothionein-3 is tightly associated with amyloid fibrils and modulates fibril formation in vitro. Lastly, we used a transgenic Aβ42 fly model to test if knock down or over-expression of fibril-interacting gene homologues modifies neurotoxicity. Here, we could functionally validate 20 genes as modifiers of Aβ42 toxicity in vivo. CONCLUSIONS These discoveries and subsequent confirmation indicate that fibril-associated proteins play a key role in amyloid formation and AD pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arun Upadhyay
- Ken and Ruth Davee Department of Neurology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
| | - Deepak Chhangani
- Department of Neurology, McKnight Brain Institute, and Norman Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA
| | - Nalini R Rao
- Ken and Ruth Davee Department of Neurology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
| | - Julia Kofler
- Department of Pathology, Division of Neuropathology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA
| | - Robert Vassar
- Ken and Ruth Davee Department of Neurology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
- Mesulam Center for Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer's Disease, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
| | - Diego E Rincon-Limas
- Department of Neurology, McKnight Brain Institute, and Norman Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA
- Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA
| | - Jeffrey N Savas
- Ken and Ruth Davee Department of Neurology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA.
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Huang Z, Merrihew GE, Larson EB, Park J, Plubell D, Fox EJ, Montine KS, Latimer CS, Dirk Keene C, Zou JY, MacCoss MJ, Montine TJ. Brain proteomic analysis implicates actin filament processes and injury response in resilience to Alzheimer's disease. Nat Commun 2023; 14:2747. [PMID: 37173305 PMCID: PMC10182086 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-38376-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2022] [Accepted: 04/27/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Resilience to Alzheimer's disease is an uncommon combination of high disease burden without dementia that offers valuable insights into limiting clinical impact. Here we assessed 43 research participants meeting stringent criteria, 11 healthy controls, 12 resilience to Alzheimer's disease and 20 Alzheimer's disease with dementia and analyzed matched isocortical regions, hippocampus, and caudate nucleus by mass spectrometry-based proteomics. Of 7115 differentially expressed soluble proteins, lower isocortical and hippocampal soluble Aβ levels is a significant feature of resilience when compared to healthy control and Alzheimer's disease dementia groups. Protein co-expression analysis reveals 181 densely-interacting proteins significantly associated with resilience that were enriched for actin filament-based processes, cellular detoxification, and wound healing in isocortex and hippocampus, further supported by four validation cohorts. Our results suggest that lowering soluble Aβ concentration may suppress severe cognitive impairment along the Alzheimer's disease continuum. The molecular basis of resilience likely holds important therapeutic insights.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhi Huang
- Department of Biomedical Data Science, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Gennifer E Merrihew
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA
| | - Eric B Larson
- Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA
| | - Jea Park
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA
| | - Deanna Plubell
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA
| | - Edward J Fox
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Kathleen S Montine
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Caitlin S Latimer
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA
| | - C Dirk Keene
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA
| | - James Y Zou
- Department of Biomedical Data Science, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA.
| | - Michael J MacCoss
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA.
| | - Thomas J Montine
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA.
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