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Hernández-del Caño C, Varela-Andrés N, Cebrián-León A, Deogracias R. Neurotrophins and Their Receptors: BDNF's Role in GABAergic Neurodevelopment and Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:8312. [PMID: 39125882 PMCID: PMC11311851 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25158312] [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: 06/18/2024] [Revised: 07/21/2024] [Accepted: 07/25/2024] [Indexed: 08/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Neurotrophins and their receptors are distinctly expressed during brain development and play crucial roles in the formation, survival, and function of neurons in the nervous system. Among these molecules, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) has garnered significant attention due to its involvement in regulating GABAergic system development and function. In this review, we summarize and compare the expression patterns and roles of neurotrophins and their receptors in both the developing and adult brains of rodents, macaques, and humans. Then, we focus on the implications of BDNF in the development and function of GABAergic neurons from the cortex and the striatum, as both the presence of BDNF single nucleotide polymorphisms and disruptions in BDNF levels alter the excitatory/inhibitory balance in the brain. This imbalance has different implications in the pathogenesis of neurodevelopmental diseases like autism spectrum disorder (ASD), Rett syndrome (RTT), and schizophrenia (SCZ). Altogether, evidence shows that neurotrophins, especially BDNF, are essential for the development, maintenance, and function of the brain, and disruptions in their expression or signaling are common mechanisms in the pathophysiology of brain diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Hernández-del Caño
- Instituto de Neurociencias de Castilla y León (INCyL), 37007 Salamanca, Spain; (C.H.-d.C.); (N.V.-A.); (A.C.-L.)
- Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Salamanca (IBSAL), 37007 Salamanca, Spain
- Departamento de Biología Celular y Patología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain
| | - Natalia Varela-Andrés
- Instituto de Neurociencias de Castilla y León (INCyL), 37007 Salamanca, Spain; (C.H.-d.C.); (N.V.-A.); (A.C.-L.)
- Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Salamanca (IBSAL), 37007 Salamanca, Spain
- Departamento de Biología Celular y Patología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain
| | - Alejandro Cebrián-León
- Instituto de Neurociencias de Castilla y León (INCyL), 37007 Salamanca, Spain; (C.H.-d.C.); (N.V.-A.); (A.C.-L.)
- Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Salamanca (IBSAL), 37007 Salamanca, Spain
- Departamento de Biología Celular y Patología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain
| | - Rubén Deogracias
- Instituto de Neurociencias de Castilla y León (INCyL), 37007 Salamanca, Spain; (C.H.-d.C.); (N.V.-A.); (A.C.-L.)
- Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Salamanca (IBSAL), 37007 Salamanca, Spain
- Departamento de Biología Celular y Patología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain
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Wang M, Hua Y, Bai Y. A review of the application of exercise intervention on improving cognition in patients with Alzheimer's disease: mechanisms and clinical studies. Rev Neurosci 2024; 0:revneuro-2024-0046. [PMID: 39029521 DOI: 10.1515/revneuro-2024-0046] [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: 03/29/2024] [Accepted: 07/08/2024] [Indexed: 07/21/2024]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia, leading to sustained cognitive decline. An increasing number of studies suggest that exercise is an effective strategy to promote the improvement of cognition in AD. Mechanisms of the benefits of exercise intervention on cognitive function may include modulation of vascular factors by affecting cardiovascular risk factors, regulating cardiorespiratory health, and enhancing cerebral blood flow. Exercise also promotes neurogenesis by stimulating neurotrophic factors, affecting neuroplasticity in the brain. Additionally, regular exercise improves the neuropathological characteristics of AD by improving mitochondrial function, and the brain redox status. More and more attention has been paid to the effect of Aβ and tau pathology as well as sleep disorders on cognitive function in persons diagnosed with AD. Besides, there are various forms of exercise intervention in cognitive improvement in patients with AD, including aerobic exercise, resistance exercise, and multi-component exercise. Consequently, the purpose of this review is to summarize the findings of the mechanisms of exercise intervention on cognitive function in patients with AD, and also discuss the application of different exercise interventions in cognitive impairment in AD to provide a theoretical basis and reference for the selection of exercise intervention in cognitive rehabilitation in AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Man Wang
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, No. 12 Middle Wulumuqi Road, Jing'an District, Shanghai 200040, China
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200233, China
| | - Yan Hua
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, No. 12 Middle Wulumuqi Road, Jing'an District, Shanghai 200040, China
| | - Yulong Bai
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, No. 12 Middle Wulumuqi Road, Jing'an District, Shanghai 200040, China
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Gundogan AO, Oltulu R, Belviranli S, Tezcan A, Adam M, Mirza E, Altaş M, Okka M. Corneal innervation changes ın Alzheimer's: implications for sensory dysfunction. Int Ophthalmol 2024; 44:270. [PMID: 38914919 DOI: 10.1007/s10792-024-03162-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2023] [Accepted: 06/15/2024] [Indexed: 06/26/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE To compare, between Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients and healthy individuals, corneal subbasal nerve plexus (CSNP) parameters and corneal sensitivities. METHODS Twenty-two patients who were followed up with Alzheimer's disease (Alzheimer's group) and 18 age- and gender-matched healthy individuals (control group) were included in this cross-sectional study. CSNP parameters, including nerve fiber length (NFL), nerve fiber density (NFD), and nerve branch density (NBD), were evaluated using in vivo confocal microscopy. Corneal sensitivity was evaluated using a Cochet-Bonnet esthesiometer. The results were compared between the two groups. RESULTS In the Alzheimer's group, NFL was 12.2 (2.4) mm/mm2, NFD was 12.5 [3.1] fibers/mm2, and NBD was 29.7 [9.37] branches/mm2. In the control group, NFL was 16.5 (2.0) mm/mm2, NFD was 25.0 [3.13] fibers/mm2, and NBD was 37.5 [10.9] branches/mm2. All three parameters were significantly lower in the Alzheimer's group compared to the control group (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, and p = 0.001, respectively). Similarly, corneal sensitivity was significantly lower in the Alzheimer's group (55.0 [5.0] mm) compared to the control group (60.0 [5.0] mm) (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION We determined that, in AD, corneal sensitivity decreases significantly, in parallel with the decrease in corneal nerves. Changes in the corneal nerve plexus and a decrease in corneal sensitivity may be used in the early diagnosis and follow-up of AD. In addition, ocular surface problems secondary to these changes should also be kept in mind.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Refik Oltulu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Meram Faculty of Medicine, Necmettin Erbakan University, Konya, Turkey
| | - Selman Belviranli
- Department of Ophthalmology, Meram Faculty of Medicine, Necmettin Erbakan University, Konya, Turkey
| | - Ali Tezcan
- Department of Ophthalmology, Meram Faculty of Medicine, Necmettin Erbakan University, Konya, Turkey
| | - Mehmet Adam
- Department of Ophthalmology, Meram Faculty of Medicine, Necmettin Erbakan University, Konya, Turkey
| | - Enver Mirza
- Department of Ophthalmology, Meram Faculty of Medicine, Necmettin Erbakan University, Konya, Turkey
| | - Mustafa Altaş
- Department of Neurology, Meram Faculty of Medicine, Necmettin Erbakan University, Konya, Turkey
| | - Mehmet Okka
- Department of Ophthalmology, Meram Faculty of Medicine, Necmettin Erbakan University, Konya, Turkey
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Shanks HRC, Chen K, Reiman EM, Blennow K, Cummings JL, Massa SM, Longo FM, Börjesson-Hanson A, Windisch M, Schmitz TW. p75 neurotrophin receptor modulation in mild to moderate Alzheimer disease: a randomized, placebo-controlled phase 2a trial. Nat Med 2024; 30:1761-1770. [PMID: 38760589 PMCID: PMC11186782 DOI: 10.1038/s41591-024-02977-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 05/19/2024]
Abstract
p75 neurotrophin receptor (p75NTR) signaling pathways substantially overlap with degenerative networks active in Alzheimer disease (AD). Modulation of p75NTR with the first-in-class small molecule LM11A-31 mitigates amyloid-induced and pathological tau-induced synaptic loss in preclinical models. Here we conducted a 26-week randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blinded phase 2a safety and exploratory endpoint trial of LM11A-31 in 242 participants with mild to moderate AD with three arms: placebo, 200 mg LM11A-31 and 400 mg LM11A-31, administered twice daily by oral capsules. This trial met its primary endpoint of safety and tolerability. Within the prespecified secondary and exploratory outcome domains (structural magnetic resonance imaging, fluorodeoxyglucose positron-emission tomography and cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers), significant drug-placebo differences were found, consistent with the hypothesis that LM11A-31 slows progression of pathophysiological features of AD; no significant effect of active treatment was observed on cognitive tests. Together, these results suggest that targeting p75NTR with LM11A-31 warrants further investigation in larger-scale clinical trials of longer duration. EU Clinical Trials registration: 2015-005263-16 ; ClinicalTrials.gov registration: NCT03069014 .
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Grants
- R35 AG071476 NIA NIH HHS
- P30 AG072980 NIA NIH HHS
- SG-23-1038904 QC Alzheimer's Association
- 2022-00732 Vetenskapsrådet (Swedish Research Council)
- P20 GM109025 NIGMS NIH HHS
- R01 AG053798 NIA NIH HHS
- R35AG71476 U.S. Department of Health & Human Services | NIH | National Institute on Aging (U.S. National Institute on Aging)
- ZEN-21-848495 Alzheimer's Association
- R01 AG051596 NIA NIH HHS
- P20GM109025 U.S. Department of Health & Human Services | NIH | National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
- 453677 Gouvernement du Canada | Canadian Institutes of Health Research (Instituts de Recherche en Santé du Canada)
- P20 AG068053 NIA NIH HHS
- 2017-00915 Vetenskapsrådet (Swedish Research Council)
- U01 AG024904 NIA NIH HHS
- R01AG053798 U.S. Department of Health & Human Services | NIH | National Institute on Aging (U.S. National Institute on Aging)
- R25 AG083721-01 U.S. Department of Health & Human Services | NIH | National Institute on Aging (U.S. National Institute on Aging)
- R25 AG083721 NIA NIH HHS
- Jonathan and Joshua Memorial Foundation Government of Ontario
- U.S. Department of Health & Human Services | NIH | National Institute on Aging (U.S. National Institute on Aging)
- State of Arizona
- Alzheimer’s Association
- the Swedish state under the agreement between the Swedish government and the County Councils, the ALF-agreement (#ALFGBG-715986 and #ALFGBG-965240), the Swedish Alzheimer Foundation (#AF-930351, #AF-939721 and #AF-968270), Hjärnfonden, Sweden (#FO2017-0243 and #ALZ2022-0006), La Fondation Recherche Alzheimer (FRA), Paris, France, the Kirsten and Freddy Johansen Foundation, Copenhagen, Denmark, and Familjen Rönströms Stiftelse, Stockholm, Sweden.
- U.S. Department of Health & Human Services | NIH | National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
- Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation (ADDF)
- Ted and Maria Quirk Endowment; Joy Chambers-Grundy Endowment.
- San Francisco VA Health Care System
- National Institutes of Aging (NIA AD Pilot Trial 1R01AG051596) PharmatrophiX (Menlo Park, California)
- Alzheimer’s Society of Canada (176677)
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Affiliation(s)
- Hayley R C Shanks
- Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.
- Robarts Research Institute, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.
- Western Institute for Neuroscience, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.
| | - Kewei Chen
- Banner Alzheimer's Institute, Phoenix, AZ, USA
- College of Medicine-Phoenix, University of Arizona, Phoenix, AZ, USA
- College of Health Solutions, Arizona State University, Downtown, Phoenix, AZ, USA
| | - Eric M Reiman
- Banner Alzheimer's Institute, Phoenix, AZ, USA
- College of Medicine-Phoenix, University of Arizona, Phoenix, AZ, USA
- Translational Genomics Research Institute, Phoenix, AZ, USA
- Arizona Alzheimer's Consortium, Phoenix, AZ, USA
- ASU-Banner Neurodegenerative Disease Research Center, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
| | - Kaj Blennow
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Mölndal, Sweden
- Clinical Neurochemistry Laboratory, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Mölndal, Sweden
| | - Jeffrey L Cummings
- Chambers-Grundy Center for Transformative Neuroscience, Department of Brain Health, School of Integrated Health Sciences, University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV), Las Vegas, NV, USA
| | - Stephen M Massa
- San Francisco Veterans Affairs Health Care System, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | | | - Anne Börjesson-Hanson
- Clinical Trials, Department of Aging, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | - Taylor W Schmitz
- Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.
- Robarts Research Institute, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.
- Western Institute for Neuroscience, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.
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Singh R, Panghal A, Jadhav K, Thakur A, Verma RK, Singh C, Goyal M, Kumar J, Namdeo AG. Recent Advances in Targeting Transition Metals (Copper, Iron, and Zinc) in Alzheimer's Disease. Mol Neurobiol 2024:10.1007/s12035-024-04256-8. [PMID: 38809370 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-024-04256-8] [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: 01/05/2024] [Accepted: 05/21/2024] [Indexed: 05/30/2024]
Abstract
Changes in the transition metal homeostasis in the brain are closely linked with Alzheimer's disease (AD), including intraneuronal iron accumulation and extracellular copper and zinc pooling in the amyloid plague. The brain copper, zinc, and iron surplus are commonly acknowledged characteristics of AD, despite disagreements among some. This has led to the theory that oxidative stress resulting from abnormal homeostasis of these transition metals may be a causative explanation behind AD. In the nervous system, the interaction of metals with proteins appears to be an essential variable in the development or suppression of neurodegeneration. Chelation treatment may be an option for treating neurodegeneration induced by transition metal ion dyshomeostasis. Some clinicians even recommend using chelating agents as an adjunct therapy for AD. The current review also looks at the therapeutic strategies that have been attempted, primarily with metal-chelating drugs. Metal buildup in the nervous system, as reported in the AD, could be the result of compensatory mechanisms designed to improve metal availability for physiological functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raghuraj Singh
- Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology Lab, Institutes of Nano Science and Technology (INST), Sector 81. Mohali, Punjab, 140306, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, 201002, India
| | - Archna Panghal
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Facility for Risk Assessment and Intervention Studies, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, S.A.S Nagar, Punjab, India
| | - Krishna Jadhav
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, 201002, India
| | - Ashima Thakur
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, ICFAI University, Baddi, Distt. Solan, Himachal Pradesh, 174103, India
| | - Rahul Kumar Verma
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, 201002, India
| | - Charan Singh
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences Hemwati, Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University (A Central University), Srinagar, Dist. Garhwal (Uttarakhand), 246174, India
| | - Manoj Goyal
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences Hemwati, Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University (A Central University), Srinagar, Dist. Garhwal (Uttarakhand), 246174, India
| | - Jayant Kumar
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences Hemwati, Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University (A Central University), Srinagar, Dist. Garhwal (Uttarakhand), 246174, India.
| | - Ajay G Namdeo
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences Hemwati, Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University (A Central University), Srinagar, Dist. Garhwal (Uttarakhand), 246174, India
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Asadi MR, Gharesouran J, Sabaie H, Zaboli Mahdiabadi M, Mazhari SA, Sharifi-Bonab M, Shirvani-Farsani Z, Taheri M, Sayad A, Rezazadeh M. Neurotrophin growth factors and their receptors as promising blood biomarkers for Alzheimer's Disease: a gene expression analysis study. Mol Biol Rep 2024; 51:49. [PMID: 38165481 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-023-08959-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2023] [Accepted: 10/25/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a multifaceted neurological ailment affecting more than 50 million individuals globally, distinguished by a deterioration in memory and cognitive abilities. Investigating neurotrophin growth factors could offer significant contributions to understanding AD progression and prospective therapeutic interventions. METHODS AND RESULTS The present investigation collected blood samples from 50 patients diagnosed with AD and 50 healthy individuals serving as controls. The mRNA expression levels of neurotrophin growth factors and their receptors were measured using quantitative PCR. A Bayesian regression model was used in the research to assess the relationship between gene expression levels and demographic characteristics such as age and gender. The correlations between variables were analyzed using Spearman correlation coefficients, and the diagnostic potential was assessed using a Receiver Operating Characteristic curve. NTRK2, TrkA, TrkC, and BDNF expression levels were found to be considerably lower (p-value < 0.05) in the blood samples of AD patients compared to the control group. The expression of BDNF exhibited the most substantial decrease in comparison to other neurotrophin growth factors. Correlation analysis indicates a statistically significant positive association between the genes. The ROC analysis showed that BDNF exhibited the greatest Area Under the Curve (AUC) value of 0.76, accompanied by a sensitivity of 70% and specificity of 66%. TrkC, TrkA, and NTRK2 demonstrated considerable diagnostic potential in distinguishing between cases and controls. CONCLUSION The observed decrease in the expression levels of NTRK2, TrkA, TrkC, and BDNF in AD patients, along with the identified associations between specific genes and their diagnostic capacity, indicate that these expressions have the potential to function as biomarkers for the diagnosis and treatment of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Reza Asadi
- Clinical Research Development Unit of Tabriz Valiasr Hospital, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
- Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Jalal Gharesouran
- Clinical Research Development Unit of Tabriz Valiasr Hospital, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
- Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Hani Sabaie
- Clinical Research Development Unit of Tabriz Valiasr Hospital, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
- Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | | | | | - Mirmohsen Sharifi-Bonab
- Clinical Research Development Unit of Tabriz Valiasr Hospital, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Zeinab Shirvani-Farsani
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Life Sciences and Technology, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Taheri
- Institute of Human Genetics, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany.
- Urology and Nephrology Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Arezou Sayad
- Department of Medical Genetics, Loghman Hakim Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Maryam Rezazadeh
- Clinical Research Development Unit of Tabriz Valiasr Hospital, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
- Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
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Schindowski K. Differential Regulation of Neurotrophic Factors During Pathogenic Tau-Aggregation in a Tau Transgenic Mouse Model for Alzheimer's Disease: A Protocol for Double-Labeling mRNA by In Situ Hybridization and Protein Epitopes by Immunohistochemistry. Methods Mol Biol 2024; 2754:361-385. [PMID: 38512677 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3629-9_20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/23/2024]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD), most tauopathies, and other neurodegenerative diseases are highly associated to impaired neurotrophin regulation and imbalanced neurotrophin transport and distribution. Neurotrophins are crucial for the survival and maintenance of distinct neuronal population therefore their supply is essential for a healthy brain. Tau phosphorylation occurs at different sites of the tau protein and some phospho-epitopes are highly associated to AD (e.g., abnormally phosphorylated tau at Thr212/Ser214). Though the importance of neurotrophins is well known, their analysis in tissue is not trivial and needs careful consideration. Here a detailed protocol is presented, which combines in situ hybridization (ISH) with immunohistochemistry (IHC) to analyze neurotrophin mRNA expression during tau neuropathology and the results were confirmed by immunological methods.With this protocol, it was demonstrated that Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) and its receptor Tropomyosin receptor kinase B (TrkB) were significantly decreased in tau-transgenic mice compared to their age-matched littermates. Neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) and its receptor TrkC were not altered with statistical significance, but a tendency for decreased NT-3 and slightly increased TrkC expression was observed in tau transgenic mice. The loss of BDNF-ISH signal was predominantly observed in hippocampus (CA1 and CA3) and cortex (layer II-VI) and verified by BDNF-immunoreactivity. Decreased BDNF and TrkB mRNA was negatively correlated with abnormal tau phosphorylation at Thr212/Ser214 in cortical neurons in transgenic mice. Strikingly, no correlation was observed with age-related phospho-epitopes such as Ser202/Thr205. Interestingly, both, the mRNA and protein levels of Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) were significantly increased in hippocampal neurons in the tau models as demonstrated by ISH, immunofluorescence, and Western Blotting. Here, some co-localization of NGF mRNA and phospho-tau (Thr212/Ser214) was observed but was a rare event. Since there is growing evidence for the relevance of neurotrophic factor distribution in the pathogenesis of neurodegeneration, this technique is a useful tool to investigate the underlying mechanisms and potential therapeutic intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katharina Schindowski
- Institute of Applied Biotechnology, University of Applied Science Biberach, Biberach, Germany.
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Kropf E, Shekari A, Jaberi S, Puri A, Wu C, Fahnestock M. Age-induced nitrative stress decreases retrograde transport of proNGF via TrkA and increases proNGF retrograde transport and neurodegeneration via p75 NTR. Front Mol Neurosci 2023; 16:1241420. [PMID: 38025269 PMCID: PMC10679388 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2023.1241420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Axonal transport of pro nerve growth factor (proNGF) is impaired in aged basal forebrain cholinergic neurons (BFCNs), which is associated with their degeneration. ProNGF is neurotrophic in the presence of its receptor tropomyosin-related kinase A (TrkA) but induces apoptosis via the pan-neurotrophin receptor (p75NTR) when TrkA is absent. It is well established that TrkA is lost while p75NTR is maintained in aged BFCNs, but whether aging differentially affects transport of proNGF via each receptor is unknown. Nitrative stress increases during aging, but whether age-induced nitrative stress differentially affects proNGF transport via TrkA versus p75NTR has not yet been studied. Answering these questions is essential for developing an accurate understanding of the mechanisms contributing to age-induced loss of proNGF transport and BFCN degeneration. Methods In this study, fluorescence microscopy was used to analyze axonal transport of quantum dot labeled proNGF in rat BFCNs in vitro. Receptor specific effects were studied with proNGF mutants that selectively bind to either TrkA (proNGF-KKE) or p75NTR (proNGF-Δ9-13). Signaling factor activity was quantified via immunostaining. Results Young BFCNs transported proNGF-KKE but not proNGF-Δ9-13, and proNGF transport was not different in p75NTR knockout BFCNs compared to wildtype BFCNs. These results indicate that young BFCNs transport proNGF via TrkA. In vitro aging increased transport of proNGF-Δ9-13 but decreased transport of proNGF-KKE. Treatment with the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor L-NAME reduced retrograde transport of proNGF-Δ9-13 in aged BFCNs while increasing retrograde transport of proNGF-KKE but did not affect TrkA or p75NTR levels. ProNGF-Δ9-13 induced greater pro-apoptotic signaling and neurodegeneration and less pro-survival signaling relative to proNGF-KKE. Discussion Together, these results indicate that age-induced nitrative stress decreases proNGF transport via TrkA while increasing proNGF transport via p75NTR. These transport deficits are associated with decreased survival signaling, increased apoptotic signaling, and neurodegeneration. Our findings elucidate the receptor specificity of age-and nitrative stress-induced proNGF transport deficits. These results may help to rescue the neurotrophic signaling of proNGF in aging to reduce age-induced loss of BFCN function and cognitive decline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erika Kropf
- Neuroscience Program, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Arman Shekari
- Neuroscience Program, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Sama Jaberi
- Neuroscience Program, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Anish Puri
- Neuroscience Program, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Chengbiao Wu
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Margaret Fahnestock
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
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Nagahama T, Nakajima H, Wakuta M, Kasahara Y, Narita K, Nagahama S. Administration of amyloid-β oligomer to the buccal ganglia may reduce food intake and cholinergic synaptic responses within the feeding neural circuit in Aplysia kurodai. Neurosci Res 2023; 196:32-39. [PMID: 37328111 DOI: 10.1016/j.neures.2023.06.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2023] [Revised: 05/23/2023] [Accepted: 06/11/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Anorexia is a behavioral change caused by functional brain disorders in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). Amyloid-β (1-42) oligomers (o-Aβ) are possible causative agents of AD that impair signaling via synaptic dysfunction. In this study, we used Aplysia kurodai to study functional disorders of the brain through o-Aβ. Administration of o-Aβ to the buccal ganglia (feeding brain for oral movements) by surgical treatment significantly reduced food intake for at least five days. Furthermore, we explored the effects of o-Aβ on the synaptic function in the feeding neural circuit, focusing on a specific inhibitory synaptic response in jaw-closing motor neurons produced by cholinergic buccal multi-action neurons because we recently found that this cholinergic response decreases with aging, which is consistent with the cholinergic hypothesis for aging. Administration of o-Aβ to the buccal ganglia significantly reduced the synaptic response within minutes, whereas administration of amyloid-β (1-42) monomers did not. These results suggest that o-Aβ may impair the cholinergic synapses, even in Aplysia, which is consistent with the cholinergic hypothesis for AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatsumi Nagahama
- Department of Biophysics, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Science, Toho University, Funabashi 274-8510, Japan; Faculty of Health and Medical Science, Teikyo Heisei University, Tokyo 170-8445, Japan.
| | - Hiroshi Nakajima
- Department of Biophysics, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Science, Toho University, Funabashi 274-8510, Japan
| | - Mizuki Wakuta
- Department of Biophysics, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Science, Toho University, Funabashi 274-8510, Japan
| | - Yuse Kasahara
- Department of Biophysics, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Science, Toho University, Funabashi 274-8510, Japan
| | - Kouki Narita
- Department of Biophysics, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Science, Toho University, Funabashi 274-8510, Japan
| | - Setsuko Nagahama
- Faculty of Health and Medical Science, Teikyo Heisei University, Tokyo 170-8445, Japan
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10
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Allard S, Hussain Shuler MG. Cholinergic Reinforcement Signaling Is Impaired by Amyloidosis Prior to Its Synaptic Loss. J Neurosci 2023; 43:6988-7005. [PMID: 37648452 PMCID: PMC10586537 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0967-23.2023] [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: 05/19/2023] [Revised: 08/03/2023] [Accepted: 08/26/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is associated with amyloidosis and dysfunction of the cholinergic system, which is crucial for learning and memory. However, the nature of acetylcholine signaling within regions of cholinergic-dependent plasticity and how it changes with experience is poorly understood, much less the impact of amyloidosis on this signaling. Therefore, we optically measure the release profile of acetylcholine to unexpected, predicted, and predictive events in visual cortex (VC)-a site of known cholinergic-dependent plasticity-in a preclinical mouse model of AD that develops amyloidosis. We find that acetylcholine exhibits reinforcement signaling qualities, reporting behaviorally relevant outcomes and displaying release profiles to predictive and predicted events that change as a consequence of experience. We identify three stages of amyloidosis occurring before the degeneration of cholinergic synapses within VC and observe that cholinergic responses in amyloid-bearing mice become impaired over these stages, diverging progressively from age- and sex-matched littermate controls. In particular, amyloidosis degrades the signaling of unexpected rewards and punishments, and attenuates the experience-dependent (1) increase of cholinergic responses to outcome predictive visual cues, and (2) decrease of cholinergic responses to predicted outcomes. Hyperactive spontaneous acetylcholine release occurring transiently at the onset of impaired cholinergic signaling is also observed, further implicating disrupted cholinergic activity as an early functional biomarker in AD. Our findings suggest that acetylcholine acts as a reinforcement signal that is impaired by amyloidosis before pathologic degeneration of the cholinergic system, providing a deeper understanding of the effects of amyloidosis on acetylcholine signaling and informing future interventions for AD.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT The cholinergic system is especially vulnerable to the neurotoxic effects of amyloidosis, a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Though amyloid-induced cholinergic synaptic loss is thought in part to account for learning and memory impairments in AD, little is known regarding how amyloid impacts signaling of the cholinergic system before its anatomic degeneration. Optical measurement of acetylcholine (ACh) release in a mouse model of AD that develops amyloidosis reveals that ACh signals reinforcement and outcome prediction that is disrupted by amyloidosis before cholinergic degeneration. These observations have important scientific and clinical implications: they implicate ACh signaling as an early functional biomarker, provide a deeper understanding of the action of acetylcholine, and inform on when and how intervention may best ameliorate cognitive decline in AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon Allard
- Kavli Neuroscience Discovery Institute, Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21205
| | - Marshall G Hussain Shuler
- Kavli Neuroscience Discovery Institute, Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21205
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11
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Afsar A, Chacon Castro MDC, Soladogun AS, Zhang L. Recent Development in the Understanding of Molecular and Cellular Mechanisms Underlying the Etiopathogenesis of Alzheimer's Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24087258. [PMID: 37108421 PMCID: PMC10138573 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24087258] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2023] [Revised: 03/22/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that leads to dementia and patient death. AD is characterized by intracellular neurofibrillary tangles, extracellular amyloid beta (Aβ) plaque deposition, and neurodegeneration. Diverse alterations have been associated with AD progression, including genetic mutations, neuroinflammation, blood-brain barrier (BBB) impairment, mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, and metal ion imbalance.Additionally, recent studies have shown an association between altered heme metabolism and AD. Unfortunately, decades of research and drug development have not produced any effective treatments for AD. Therefore, understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying AD pathology and identifying potential therapeutic targets are crucial for AD drug development. This review discusses the most common alterations associated with AD and promising therapeutic targets for AD drug discovery. Furthermore, it highlights the role of heme in AD development and summarizes mathematical models of AD, including a stochastic mathematical model of AD and mathematical models of the effect of Aβ on AD. We also summarize the potential treatment strategies that these models can offer in clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Atefeh Afsar
- Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX 75080, USA
| | | | | | - Li Zhang
- Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX 75080, USA
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12
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Hammerschmidt TG, Encarnação M, Lamberty Faverzani J, de Fátima Lopes F, Poswar de Oliveira F, Fischinger Moura de Sousa C, Ribeiro I, Alves S, Giugliani R, Regla Vargas C. Molecular profile and peripheral markers of neurodegeneration in patients with Niemann-Pick type C: Decrease in Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor type 1 and Platelet-Derived Growth Factor type AA. Arch Biochem Biophys 2023; 735:109510. [PMID: 36608914 DOI: 10.1016/j.abb.2023.109510] [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: 10/20/2022] [Revised: 12/19/2022] [Accepted: 01/02/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Niemann-Pick type C1 (NPC1) is a fatal inherited disease, caused by pathogenic variants in NPC1 gene, which leads to intracellular accumulation of non-esterified cholesterol and glycosphingolipids. This accumulation leads to a wide range of clinical manifestations, including neurological and cognitive impairment as well as psychiatric disorders. The pathophysiology of cerebral damage involves loss of Purkinje cells, synaptic disturbance, and demyelination. Miglustat, a reversible inhibitor of glucosylceramide synthase, is an approved treatment for NPC1 and can slow neurological damage. The aim of this study was to assess the levels of peripheric neurodegeneration biomarkers of NPC1 patients, namely brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), platelet-derived growth factors (PDGF-AA and PDGF-AB/BB), neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM), PAI-1 Total and Cathepsin-D, as well as the levels of cholestane-3β,5α,6β-triol (3β,5α,6β-triol), a biomarker for NPC1. Molecular analysis of the NPC1 patients under study was performed by next generation sequencing (NGS) in cultured fibroblasts. We observed that NPC1 patients treated with miglustat have a significant decrease in PAI-1 total and PDGF-AA concentrations, and no alteration in BDNF, NCAM, PDGF-AB/BB and Cathepsin D. We also found that NPC1 patients treated with miglustat have normalized levels of 3β,5α,6β-triol. The molecular analysis showed four described mutations, and for two patients was not possible to identify the second mutated allele. Our results indicate that the decrease of PAI-1 and PDGF-AA in NPC1 patients could be involved in the pathophysiology of this disease. This is the first work to analyze those plasmatic markers of neurodegenerative processes in NPC1 patients.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Marisa Encarnação
- Research & Development Unit, Human Genetics Department, National Institute of Health Doutor Ricardo Jorge, Porto, Portugal
| | - Jéssica Lamberty Faverzani
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Franciele de Fátima Lopes
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil; Serviço de Genética Médica, HCPA, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | | | | | - Isaura Ribeiro
- Unidade de Bioquímica Genética, Centro de Genética Médica, Centro Hospitalar Universitário do Porto, Porto, Portugal; Unit for Multidisciplinary Research in Biomedicine, ICBAS-UP, Porto, Portugal; Espero Centro Referência Doenças Hereditárias do Metabolismo, Centro Hospitalar Universitário do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Sandra Alves
- Research & Development Unit, Human Genetics Department, National Institute of Health Doutor Ricardo Jorge, Porto, Portugal
| | | | - Carmen Regla Vargas
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil; Serviço de Genética Médica, HCPA, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
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13
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Arafah A, Khatoon S, Rasool I, Khan A, Rather MA, Abujabal KA, Faqih YAH, Rashid H, Rashid SM, Bilal Ahmad S, Alexiou A, Rehman MU. The Future of Precision Medicine in the Cure of Alzheimer's Disease. Biomedicines 2023; 11:biomedicines11020335. [PMID: 36830872 PMCID: PMC9953731 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11020335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/25/2022] [Revised: 01/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
This decade has seen the beginning of ground-breaking conceptual shifts in the research of Alzheimer's disease (AD), which acknowledges risk elements and the evolving wide spectrum of complicated underlying pathophysiology among the range of diverse neurodegenerative diseases. Significant improvements in diagnosis, treatments, and mitigation of AD are likely to result from the development and application of a comprehensive approach to precision medicine (PM), as is the case with several other diseases. This strategy will probably be based on the achievements made in more sophisticated research areas, including cancer. PM will require the direct integration of neurology, neuroscience, and psychiatry into a paradigm of the healthcare field that turns away from the isolated method. PM is biomarker-guided treatment at a systems level that incorporates findings of the thorough pathophysiology of neurodegenerative disorders as well as methodological developments. Comprehensive examination and categorization of interrelated and convergent disease processes, an explanation of the genomic and epigenetic drivers, a description of the spatial and temporal paths of natural history, biological markers, and risk markers, as well as aspects about the regulation, and the ethical, governmental, and sociocultural repercussions of findings at a subclinical level all require clarification and realistic execution. Advances toward a comprehensive systems-based approach to PM may finally usher in a new era of scientific and technical achievement that will help to end the complications of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Azher Arafah
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
- Correspondence: (A.A.); (A.K.); (M.U.R.)
| | - Saima Khatoon
- Department of Medical Elementology and Toxicology, School of Chemical and Life Sciences, Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi 110062, India
| | - Iyman Rasool
- Department of Pathology, Government Medical College (GMC-Srinagar), Karan Nagar, Srinagar 190010, India
| | - Andleeb Khan
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, Jazan University, Jazan 45142, Saudi Arabia
- Correspondence: (A.A.); (A.K.); (M.U.R.)
| | - Mashoque Ahmad Rather
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology & Physiology, Bryd Alzheimer’s Research Institute, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33620, USA
| | | | | | - Hina Rashid
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, Jazan University, Jazan 45142, Saudi Arabia
| | - Shahzada Mudasir Rashid
- Division of Veterinary Biochemistry, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST-K), Srinagar 190006, India
| | - Sheikh Bilal Ahmad
- Division of Veterinary Biochemistry, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST-K), Srinagar 190006, India
| | - Athanasios Alexiou
- Novel Global Community Educational Foundation, Hebersham, NSW 2770, Australia
- AFNP Med, Haidingergasse 29, 1030 Vienna, Austria
| | - Muneeb U. Rehman
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
- Correspondence: (A.A.); (A.K.); (M.U.R.)
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14
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Roy R, Khan J, Pradhan K, Nayak P, Sarkar A, Nandi S, Ghosh S, Ram H, Ghosh S. Short Peptoid Evolved from the Key Hydrophobic Stretch of Amyloid-β42 Peptide Serves as a Potent Therapeutic Lead of Alzheimer's Disease. ACS Chem Neurosci 2023; 14:246-260. [PMID: 36583718 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.2c00549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyloid-β 42(Aβ42), an enzymatically cleaved (1-42 amino acid long) toxic peptide remnant, has long been reported to play the key role in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Aβ42 also plays the key role in the onset of other AD-related factors including hyperphosphorylation of tau protein that forms intracellular neurofibrillary tangles, imbalances in the function of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, and even generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), disrupting the cytoskeleton and homeostasis of the cell. To address these issues, researchers have tried to construct several strategies to target multiple aspects of the disease but failed to produce any clinically successful therapeutic molecules. In this article, we report a new peptoid called RA-1 that was designed and constructed from the hydrophobic stretch of the Aβ42 peptide, 16KLVFFA21. This hydrophobic stretch is primarily responsible for the Aβ42 peptide aggregation. Experimental study showed that the RA-1 peptoid is stable under proteolytic conditions, can stabilize the microtubule, and can inhibit the formation of toxic Aβ42 aggregates by attenuating hydrophobic interactions between Aβ42 monomers. Furthermore, results from various intracellular assays showed that RA-1 inhibits Aβ42 fibril formation caused by the imbalance in AchE activity, reduces the production of cytotoxic reactive oxygen species (ROS), and promotes neurite outgrowth even in the toxic environment. Remarkably, we have also demonstrated that our peptoid has significant ability to improve the cognitive ability and memory impairment in in vivo rats exposed to AlCl3 and d-galactose (d-gal) dementia model. These findings are also validated with histological studies. Overall, our newly developed peptoid emerges as a multimodal potent therapeutic lead molecule against AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rajsekhar Roy
- Department of Bioscience & Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Jodhpur, NH 65, Surpura Bypass Road, Karwar, Jodhpur, Rajasthan 342037, India
| | - Juhee Khan
- Department of Bioscience & Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Jodhpur, NH 65, Surpura Bypass Road, Karwar, Jodhpur, Rajasthan 342037, India.,Organic and Medicinal Chemistry and Structural Biology and Bioinformatics Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, 4, Raja S. C. Mullick Road, Jadavpur, Kolkata 700032, West Bengal, India
| | - Krishnangsu Pradhan
- Organic and Medicinal Chemistry and Structural Biology and Bioinformatics Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, 4, Raja S. C. Mullick Road, Jadavpur, Kolkata 700032, West Bengal, India
| | - Prasunpriya Nayak
- Department of Physiology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Basni, Phase II, Jodhpur, Rajasthan 342005, India
| | - Ankan Sarkar
- Department of Bioscience & Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Jodhpur, NH 65, Surpura Bypass Road, Karwar, Jodhpur, Rajasthan 342037, India
| | - Subhadra Nandi
- Department of Bioscience & Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Jodhpur, NH 65, Surpura Bypass Road, Karwar, Jodhpur, Rajasthan 342037, India
| | - Surojit Ghosh
- Interdisciplinary Research Platform, Smart Health Care, Indian Institute of Technology Jodhpur, NH65, Nagaur Road, Karwar, Jodhpur 342037, India
| | - Heera Ram
- Department of Zoology, Jai Narain Vyas University, Jodhpur, Rajasthan 342001, India
| | - Surajit Ghosh
- Department of Bioscience & Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Jodhpur, NH 65, Surpura Bypass Road, Karwar, Jodhpur, Rajasthan 342037, India.,Organic and Medicinal Chemistry and Structural Biology and Bioinformatics Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, 4, Raja S. C. Mullick Road, Jadavpur, Kolkata 700032, West Bengal, India.,Interdisciplinary Research Platform, Smart Health Care, Indian Institute of Technology Jodhpur, NH65, Nagaur Road, Karwar, Jodhpur 342037, India
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15
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Azarafrouz F, Farhangian M, Chavoshinezhad S, Dargahi S, Nassiri-Asl M, Dargahi L. Interferon beta attenuates recognition memory impairment and improves brain glucose uptake in a rat model of Alzheimer's disease: Involvement of mitochondrial biogenesis and PI3K pathway. Neuropeptides 2022; 95:102262. [PMID: 35709657 DOI: 10.1016/j.npep.2022.102262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2022] [Revised: 05/10/2022] [Accepted: 05/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Interferon beta (IFNβ) is a cytokine with anti-apoptotic and anti-inflammatory properties, and its beneficial effects on Alzheimer's disease (AD) have been recently shown. The alterations in cerebral glucose uptake are closely linked to memory deficit and AD progression. The current study was designed to determine if IFNβ can improve recognition memory and brain glucose uptake in a rat model of AD. The lentiviruses expressing mutant human amyloid precursor protein were injected bilaterally to the rat hippocampus. From day 23 after virus injection, rats were intranasally treated with recombinant IFNβ protein (68,000 IU/rat) every other day until day 50. Recognition memory performance was evaluated by novel object recognition test on days 46-49. The 18F-2- fluoro-deoxy-d-glucose positron emission tomography (18F-FDG-PET) was used to determine changes in brain glucose metabolism on day 50. The expression of the PI3K/Akt pathway components, neurotrophins and mitochondrial biogenesis factors were also measured by qPCR in the hippocampus. Our results showed that IFNβ treatment improves recognition memory performance in parallel with increased glucose uptake and neuronal survival in the hippocampus of the AD rats. The neuroprotective effect of IFNβ could be attributed, at least partly, to activation of PI3K-Akt-mTOR signaling pathway, increased expression of NGF, and mitochondrial biogenesis. Taken together, our findings suggest the therapeutic potential of IFNβ for AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Forouzan Azarafrouz
- Neuroscience Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohsen Farhangian
- Neuroscience Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Sara Chavoshinezhad
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Research Institute for Health Development, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran.
| | - Saina Dargahi
- Student Research Committee, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Marjan Nassiri-Asl
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Neurobiology Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Leila Dargahi
- Neuroscience Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
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16
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Zhang Y, Gao X, Bai X, Yao S, Chang YZ, Gao G. The emerging role of furin in neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric diseases. Transl Neurodegener 2022; 11:39. [PMID: 35996194 PMCID: PMC9395820 DOI: 10.1186/s40035-022-00313-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2022] [Accepted: 08/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Furin is an important mammalian proprotein convertase that catalyzes the proteolytic maturation of a variety of prohormones and proproteins in the secretory pathway. In the brain, the substrates of furin include the proproteins of growth factors, receptors and enzymes. Emerging evidence, such as reduced FURIN mRNA expression in the brains of Alzheimer's disease patients or schizophrenia patients, has implicated a crucial role of furin in the pathophysiology of neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric diseases. Currently, compared to cancer and infectious diseases, the aberrant expression of furin and its pharmaceutical potentials in neurological diseases remain poorly understood. In this article, we provide an overview on the physiological roles of furin and its substrates in the brain, summarize the deregulation of furin expression and its effects in neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric disorders, and discuss the implications and current approaches that target furin for therapeutic interventions. This review may expedite future studies to clarify the molecular mechanisms of furin deregulation and involvement in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric diseases, and to develop new diagnosis and treatment strategies for these diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Zhang
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Laboratory of Molecular Iron Metabolism, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, 050024, China
| | - Xiaoqin Gao
- Shijiazhuang People's Hospital, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, 050027, China
| | - Xue Bai
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Laboratory of Molecular Iron Metabolism, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, 050024, China
| | - Shanshan Yao
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Laboratory of Molecular Iron Metabolism, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, 050024, China
| | - Yan-Zhong Chang
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Laboratory of Molecular Iron Metabolism, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, 050024, China.
| | - Guofen Gao
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Laboratory of Molecular Iron Metabolism, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, 050024, China.
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17
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Murray TE, Richards CM, Robert-Gostlin VN, Bernath AK, Lindhout IA, Klegeris A. Potential neurotoxic activity of diverse molecules released by astrocytes. Brain Res Bull 2022; 189:80-101. [PMID: 35988785 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2022.08.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2022] [Revised: 07/04/2022] [Accepted: 08/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
Astrocytes are the main support cells of the central nervous system. They also participate in neuroimmune reactions. In response to pathological and immune stimuli, astrocytes transform to reactive states characterized by increased release of inflammatory mediators. Some of these molecules are neuroprotective and inflammation resolving while others, including reactive oxygen species (ROS), nitric oxide (NO), matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)- 9, L-glutamate, and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF), are well-established toxins known to cause damage to surrounding cells and tissues. We hypothesized that similar to microglia, the brain immune cells, reactive astrocytes can release a broader set of diverse molecules that are potentially neurotoxic. A literature search was conducted to identify such molecules using the following two criteria: 1) evidence of their expression and secretion by astrocytes and 2) direct neurotoxic action. This review describes 14 structurally diverse molecules as less-established astrocyte neurotoxins, including C-X-C motif chemokine ligand (CXCL)10, CXCL12/CXCL12(5-67), FS-7-associated surface antigen ligand (FasL), macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)- 2α, TNF-related apoptosis inducing ligand (TRAIL), pro-nerve growth factor (proNGF), pro-brain-derived neurotrophic factor (proBDNF), chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans (CSPGs), cathepsin (Cat)B, group IIA secretory phospholipase A2 (sPLA2-IIA), amyloid beta peptides (Aβ), high mobility group box (HMGB)1, ceramides, and lipocalin (LCN)2. For some of these molecules, further studies are required to establish either their direct neurotoxic effects or the full spectrum of stimuli that induce their release by astrocytes. Only limited studies with human-derived astrocytes and neurons are available for most of these potential neurotoxins, which is a knowledge gap that should be addressed in the future. We also summarize available evidence of the role these molecules play in select neuropathologies where reactive astrocytes are a key feature. A comprehensive understanding of the full spectrum of neurotoxins released by reactive astrocytes is key to understanding neuroinflammatory diseases characterized by the adverse activation of these cells and may guide the development of novel treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taryn E Murray
- Department of Biology, University of British Columbia Okanagan Campus, Kelowna, British Columbia V1V 1V7, Canada
| | - Christy M Richards
- Department of Biology, University of British Columbia Okanagan Campus, Kelowna, British Columbia V1V 1V7, Canada
| | - Victoria N Robert-Gostlin
- Department of Biology, University of British Columbia Okanagan Campus, Kelowna, British Columbia V1V 1V7, Canada
| | - Anna K Bernath
- Department of Biology, University of British Columbia Okanagan Campus, Kelowna, British Columbia V1V 1V7, Canada
| | - Ivan A Lindhout
- Department of Biology, University of British Columbia Okanagan Campus, Kelowna, British Columbia V1V 1V7, Canada
| | - Andis Klegeris
- Department of Biology, University of British Columbia Okanagan Campus, Kelowna, British Columbia V1V 1V7, Canada.
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18
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Orciani C, Hall H, Pentz R, Foret MK, Do Carmo S, Cuello AC. Long-term nucleus basalis cholinergic depletion induces attentional deficits and impacts cortical neurons and BDNF levels without affecting the NGF synthesis. J Neurochem 2022; 163:149-167. [PMID: 35921478 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.15683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2022] [Revised: 07/26/2022] [Accepted: 07/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Basal forebrain cholinergic neurons (BFCNs) represent the main source of cholinergic innervation to the cortex and hippocampus and degenerate early in Alzheimer's disease (AD) progression. Phenotypic maintenance of BFCNs depends on levels of mature nerve growth factor (mNGF) and mature brain-derived neurotrophic factor (mBDNF), produced by target neurons and retrogradely transported to the cell body. Whether a reciprocal interaction where BFCN inputs impact neurotrophin availability and affect cortical neuronal markers is unknown. To address our hypothesis, we immunolesioned the nucleus basalis (nb), a basal forebrain cholinergic nuclei projecting mainly to the cortex, by bilateral stereotaxic injection of 192-IgG-Saporin (the cytotoxin Saporin binds p75ntr receptors expressed exclusively by BFCNs) in 2.5-month-old Wistar rats. At six months post-lesion, Saporin-injected rats (SAP) showed an impairment in a modified version of the 5-Choice Serial Reaction Time Task (5-choice task). Post-mortem analyses of the brain revealed a reduction of Choline Acetyltransferase-immunoreactive neurons compared to wild-type controls. A diminished number of cortical vesicular acetylcholine transporter-immunoreactive boutons was accompanied by a reduction in BDNF mRNA, mBDNF protein levels, markers of glutamatergic (vGluT1) and GABAergic (GAD65) neurons in the SAP-group compared to the controls. NGF mRNA, NGF precursor and mNGF protein levels were not affected. Additionally, cholinergic markers correlated with the attentional deficit and BDNF levels. Our findings demonstrate that while cholinergic nb loss impairs cognition and reduces cortical neuron markers, it produces differential effects on neurotrophin availability, affecting BDNF but not NGF levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Orciani
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Helene Hall
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Rowan Pentz
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Morgan K Foret
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Sonia Do Carmo
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - A Claudio Cuello
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.,Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.,Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.,Department of Pharmacology, Oxford University, US (Visiting Professor)
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19
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The synapse as a treatment avenue for Alzheimer's Disease. Mol Psychiatry 2022; 27:2940-2949. [PMID: 35444256 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-022-01565-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2021] [Revised: 04/01/2022] [Accepted: 04/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder with devastating symptoms, including memory impairments and cognitive deficits. Hallmarks of AD pathology are amyloid-beta (Aβ) deposition forming neuritic plaques and neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs). For many years, AD drug development has mainly focused on directly targeting the Aβ aggregation or the formation of tau tangles, but this disease has no cure so far. Other common characteristics of AD are synaptic abnormalities and dysfunctions such as synaptic damage, synaptic loss, and structural changes in the synapse. Those anomalies happen in the early stages of the disease before behavioural symptoms have occurred. Therefore, better understanding the mechanisms underlying the synaptic dysfunction found in AD and targeting the synapse, especially using early treatment windows, can lead to finding novel and more effective treatments that could improve the lives of AD patients. Researchers have recently started developing different disease-modifying treatments targeting the synapse to rescue and prevent synaptic dysfunction in AD. The main objectives of these new strategies are to halt synaptic loss, strengthen synaptic connections, and improve synaptic density, potentially leading to the rescue or prevention of cognitive impairments. This article aims to address the mechanisms of synaptic degeneration in AD and discuss current strategies that focus on the synapse for AD therapy. Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that significantly impairs memory and causes cognitive and behavioural deficits. Scientists worldwide have tried to find a treatment that can reverse or rescue AD symptoms, but there is no cure so far. One prominent characteristic of AD is the brain atrophy caused by significant synaptic loss and overall neuronal damage, which starts at the early stages of the disease before other AD hallmarks such as neuritic plaques and NFTs. The present review addresses the underlying mechanisms behind synaptic loss and dysfunction in AD and discusses potential strategies that target the synapse.
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20
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Behl T, Kaur I, Sehgal A, Singh S, Albarrati A, Albratty M, Najmi A, Meraya AM, Bungau S. The road to precision medicine: Eliminating the "One Size Fits All" approach in Alzheimer's disease. Biomed Pharmacother 2022; 153:113337. [PMID: 35780617 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2022.113337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2022] [Revised: 06/18/2022] [Accepted: 06/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The expeditious advancement of Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is a threat to the global healthcare system, that is further supplemented by therapeutic failure. The prevalence of this disorder has been expected to quadrupole by 2050, thereby exerting a tremendous economic pressure on medical sector, worldwide. Thus, there is a dire need of a change in conventional approaches and adopt a novel methodology of disease prevention, treatment and diagnosis. Precision medicine offers a personalized approach to disease management, It is dependent upon genetic, environmental and lifestyle factors associated with the individual, aiding to develop tailored therapeutics. Precision Medicine Initiatives are launched, worldwide, to facilitate the integration of personalized models and clinical medicine. The review aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the neuroinflammatory processes causing AD, giving a brief overview of the disease interventions. This is further followed by the role of precision medicine in AD, constituting the genetic perspectives, operation of personalized form of medicine and optimization of clinical trials with the 3 R's, showcasing an in-depth understanding of this novel approach in varying aspects of the healthcare industry, to provide an opportunity to the global AD researchers to elucidate suitable therapeutic regimens in clinically and pathologically complex diseases, like AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tapan Behl
- Chitkara College of Pharmacy, Chitkara University, Rajpura, Punjab, India.
| | - Ishnoor Kaur
- Chitkara College of Pharmacy, Chitkara University, Rajpura, Punjab, India
| | - Aayush Sehgal
- Chitkara College of Pharmacy, Chitkara University, Rajpura, Punjab, India
| | - Sukhbir Singh
- Chitkara College of Pharmacy, Chitkara University, Rajpura, Punjab, India
| | - Ali Albarrati
- Rehabilitation Health Sciences College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohammed Albratty
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia
| | - Asim Najmi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmacy, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdulkarim M Meraya
- Pharmacy Practice Research Unit, Department of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia
| | - Simona Bungau
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Oradea, Oradea, Romania; Doctoral School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Oradea, Oradea, Romania.
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21
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Suppression of HIV-associated Macrophage Activation by a p75 Neurotrophin Receptor Ligand. J Neuroimmune Pharmacol 2022; 17:242-260. [PMID: 34296391 PMCID: PMC9386897 DOI: 10.1007/s11481-021-10002-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2021] [Accepted: 06/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Previous studies indicated that nerve growth factor (NGF) and proNGF differentially regulate the phenotype of macrophages and microglia via actions at tropomyosin receptor kinase A (TrkA) and p75 neurotrophin receptors (p75NTR), respectively. The ability of HIV gp120 and virions to induce the secretion of factors toxic to neurons was suppressed by NGF and enhanced by proNGF, suggesting the potential for neurotrophin based "anti-inflammatory" interventions. To investigate the "anti-inflammatory" potential of the p75NTR ligand, LM11A-31, we treated cultured macrophages and microglia with HIV gp120 in the presence or absence of the ligand and evaluated the morphological phenotype, intrinsic calcium signaling, neurotoxic activity and proteins in the secretome. LM11A-31 at 10 nM was able to suppress the release of neurotoxic factors from both monocyte-derived macrophages (MDM) and microglia. The protective effects correlated with a shift in morphology and a unique secretory phenotype rich in growth factors that overrode the actions of HIV gp120. The protein pattern was generally consistent with anti-inflammatory, phagocytic and tissue remodeling functions. Although the toxic factor(s) and the source of the neuroprotection were not identified, the data indicated that an increased degradation of NGF induced by HIV gp120 was likely to contribute to neuronal vulnerability. Although substantial work is still needed to reveal the functions of many proteins in the mononuclear phagocyte secretome, such as growth and differentiation factors, the data clearly indicate that the ligand LM11A-31 has excellent therapeutic potential due to its ability to induce a more protective phenotype that restricts activation by HIV.
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22
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Capsoni S, Cattaneo A. Getting Into the Brain: The Intranasal Approach to Enhance the Delivery of Nerve Growth Factor and Its Painless Derivative in Alzheimer’s Disease and Down Syndrome. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:773347. [PMID: 35360160 PMCID: PMC8961408 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.773347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2021] [Accepted: 02/10/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The neurotrophin Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) holds a great potential as a therapeutic candidate for the treatment of neurological diseases. However, its safe and effective delivery to the brain is limited by the fact that NGF needs to be selectively targeted to the brain, to avoid severe side effects such as pain and to bypass the blood brain barrier. In this perspective, we will summarize the different approaches that have been used, or are currently applied, to deliver NGF to the brain, during preclinical and clinical trials to develop NGF as a therapeutic drug for Alzheimer’s disease. We will focus on the intranasal delivery of NGF, an approach that is used to deliver proteins to the brain in a non-invasive, safe, and effective manner minimizing systemic exposure. We will also describe the main experimental facts related to the effective intranasal delivery of a mutant form of NGF [painless NGF, human nerve growth factor painless (hNGFp)] in mouse models of Alzheimer’s disease and compare it to other ways to deliver NGF to the brain. We will also report new data on the application of intranasal delivery of hNGFp in Down Syndrome mouse model. These new data extend the therapeutic potential of hNGFp for the treatment of the dementia that is progressively associated to Down Syndrome. In conclusion, we will show how this approach can be a promising strategy and a potential solution for other unmet medical needs of safely and effectively delivering this neuroprotective neurotrophin to the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simona Capsoni
- Bio@SNS Laboratory of Biology, Scuola Normale Superiore, Pisa, Italy
- Section of Physiology, Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
- *Correspondence: Simona Capsoni,
| | - Antonino Cattaneo
- Bio@SNS Laboratory of Biology, Scuola Normale Superiore, Pisa, Italy
- European Brain Research Institute–Fondazione Rita Levi-Montalcini, Rome, Italy
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23
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OUP accepted manuscript. Brain 2022; 145:2250-2275. [DOI: 10.1093/brain/awac096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2021] [Revised: 01/21/2022] [Accepted: 01/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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24
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Do Carmo S, Kannel B, Cuello AC. The Nerve Growth Factor Metabolic Pathway Dysregulation as Cause of Alzheimer's Cholinergic Atrophy. Cells 2021; 11:16. [PMID: 35011577 PMCID: PMC8750266 DOI: 10.3390/cells11010016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2021] [Revised: 12/17/2021] [Accepted: 12/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The cause of the loss of basal forebrain cholinergic neurons (BFCNs) and their terminal synapses in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus in Alzheimer's disease (AD) has provoked a decades-long controversy. The cholinergic phenotype of this neuronal system, involved in numerous cognitive mechanisms, is tightly dependent on the target-derived nerve growth factor (NGF). Consequently, the loss of BFCNs cholinergic phenotype in AD was initially suspected to be due to an NGF trophic failure. However, in AD there is a normal NGF synthesis and abundance of the NGF precursor (proNGF), therefore the NGF trophic failure hypothesis for the atrophy of BCNs was abandoned. In this review, we discuss the history of NGF-dependency of BFCNs and the atrophy of these neurons in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Further to it, we propose that trophic factor failure explains the BFCNs atrophy in AD. We discuss evidence of the occurrence of a brain NGF metabolic pathway, the dysregulation of which, in AD explains the severe deficiency of NGF trophic support for the maintenance of BFCNs cholinergic phenotype. Finally, we revise recent evidence that the NGF metabolic dysregulation in AD pathology starts at preclinical stages. We also propose that the alteration of NGF metabolism-related markers in body fluids might assist in the AD preclinical diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonia Do Carmo
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3G 1Y6, Canada;
| | - Benjamin Kannel
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 2B4, Canada;
| | - A. Claudio Cuello
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3G 1Y6, Canada;
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 2B4, Canada;
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 0C7, Canada
- Department of Pharmacology, Oxford University, Oxford OX1 3QT, UK
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25
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Malerba F, Arisi I, Florio R, Zecca C, Dell'Abate MT, Bruni Ercole B, Camerini S, Casella M, Logroscino G, Cattaneo A. proNGF Measurement in Cerebrospinal Fluid Samples of a Large Cohort of Living Patients With Alzheimer's Disease by a New Automated Immunoassay. Front Aging Neurosci 2021; 13:741414. [PMID: 34776928 PMCID: PMC8579109 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2021.741414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2021] [Accepted: 09/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The discovery of new biomarkers for Alzheimer's disease (AD) is essential for an accurate diagnosis, to conceive new strategies of treatments, and for monitoring the efficacy of potential disease-modifying therapies in clinical trials. proNGF levels in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) represent a promising diagnostic biomarker for AD, but its validation was hampered by the absence of a reliable immunoassay. In the literature, proNGF is currently measured in postmortem brain tissue by semiquantitative immunoblot. Here we describe the development and validation of a new method to measure proNGF in the CSF of living patients. This method, based on molecular size separation by capillary electrophoresis, is automated and shows a 40-fold increase in sensitivity with respect to the proNGF immunoblot, largely used in literature, and is robust, specific, and scalable to high-throughput. We have measured proNGF in the cerebrospinal fluid of 84 living patients with AD, 13 controls, and 15 subjective memory complaints (SMC) subjects. By comparing the proNGF levels in the three groups, we found a very significant difference between proNGF levels in AD samples compared with both controls and SMC subjects, while no significant difference was found between SMC and controls. Because of the development of this new immunoassay, we are ready to explore the potentiality of proNGF as a new biomarker for AD or subgroups thereof, as well as for other neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Malerba
- Fondazione EBRI (European Brain Research Institute) Rita Levi-Montalcini, Rome, Italy
| | - Ivan Arisi
- Fondazione EBRI (European Brain Research Institute) Rita Levi-Montalcini, Rome, Italy.,Institute of Translational Pharmacology - National Research Council (IFT-CNR), Rome, Italy
| | - Rita Florio
- Fondazione EBRI (European Brain Research Institute) Rita Levi-Montalcini, Rome, Italy
| | - Chiara Zecca
- Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases and the Aging Brain, Department of Clinical Research in Neurology of the University of Bari "Aldo Moro" at "Pia Fondazione Card. G. Panico" Hospital Tricase, Lecce, Italy
| | - Maria Teresa Dell'Abate
- Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases and the Aging Brain, Department of Clinical Research in Neurology of the University of Bari "Aldo Moro" at "Pia Fondazione Card. G. Panico" Hospital Tricase, Lecce, Italy
| | - Bruno Bruni Ercole
- Fondazione EBRI (European Brain Research Institute) Rita Levi-Montalcini, Rome, Italy
| | | | | | - Giancarlo Logroscino
- Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases and the Aging Brain, Department of Clinical Research in Neurology of the University of Bari "Aldo Moro" at "Pia Fondazione Card. G. Panico" Hospital Tricase, Lecce, Italy.,Department of Basic Medicine Sciences, Neuroscience, and Sense Organs, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Bari, Italy
| | - Antonino Cattaneo
- Fondazione EBRI (European Brain Research Institute) Rita Levi-Montalcini, Rome, Italy.,BIO@SNS Laboratory, Scuola Normale Superiore, Pisa, Italy
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26
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D'Acunto E, Fra A, Visentin C, Manno M, Ricagno S, Galliciotti G, Miranda E. Neuroserpin: structure, function, physiology and pathology. Cell Mol Life Sci 2021; 78:6409-6430. [PMID: 34405255 PMCID: PMC8558161 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-021-03907-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2021] [Revised: 07/23/2021] [Accepted: 07/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Neuroserpin is a serine protease inhibitor identified in a search for proteins implicated in neuronal axon growth and synapse formation. Since its discovery over 30 years ago, it has been the focus of active research. Many efforts have concentrated in elucidating its neuroprotective role in brain ischemic lesions, the structural bases of neuroserpin conformational change and the effects of neuroserpin polymers that underlie the neurodegenerative disease FENIB (familial encephalopathy with neuroserpin inclusion bodies), but the investigation of the physiological roles of neuroserpin has increased over the last years. In this review, we present an updated and critical revision of the current literature dealing with neuroserpin, covering all aspects of research including the expression and physiological roles of neuroserpin, both inside and outside the nervous system; its inhibitory and non-inhibitory mechanisms of action; the molecular structure of the monomeric and polymeric conformations of neuroserpin, including a detailed description of the polymerisation mechanism; and the involvement of neuroserpin in human disease, with particular emphasis on FENIB. Finally, we briefly discuss the identification by genome-wide screening of novel neuroserpin variants and their possible pathogenicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emanuela D'Acunto
- Department of Biology and Biotechnologies 'Charles Darwin', Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Annamaria Fra
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Cristina Visentin
- Department of Biosciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
- Institute of Molecular and Translational Cardiology, I.R.C.C.S. Policlinico San Donato, Milan, Italy
| | - Mauro Manno
- Institute of Biophysics, National Research Council of Italy, Palermo, Italy
| | - Stefano Ricagno
- Department of Biosciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Giovanna Galliciotti
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Elena Miranda
- Department of Biology and Biotechnologies 'Charles Darwin', Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
- Pasteur Institute-Cenci Bolognetti Foundation, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
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27
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Pentz R, Iulita MF, Ducatenzeiler A, Bennett DA, Cuello AC. The human brain NGF metabolic pathway is impaired in the pre-clinical and clinical continuum of Alzheimers disease. Mol Psychiatry 2021; 26:6023-6037. [PMID: 32488129 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-020-0797-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2019] [Revised: 05/12/2020] [Accepted: 05/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The NGF metabolic pathway entails the proteins that mature pro-nerve growth factor (proNGF) to NGF and those that degrade NGF. Basal forebrain cholinergic neurons require NGF for maintenance of cholinergic phenotype, are critical for cognition, and degenerate early in Alzheimer's disease (AD). In AD, NGF metabolism is altered, but it is not known whether this is an early phenomenon, nor how it relates to AD pathology and symptomology. We acquired dorsolateral/medial prefrontal cortex samples from individuals with Alzheimer's dementia, Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI), or no cognitive impairment with high (HA-NCI) and low (LA-NCI) brain Aβ from the Religious Orders Study. Cortical proNGF protein, but not mRNA, was higher in AD, MCI, and HA-NCI, while mature NGF was lower. Plasminogen protein was higher in MCI and AD brain tissue, with plasminogen mRNA not likewise elevated, suggesting diminished activation of the proNGF convertase, plasmin. The plasminogen activator tPA was lower in HA-NCI while neuroserpin, the CNS tPA inhibitor, was higher in AD and MCI cortical samples. Matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9), which degrades NGF, was overactive in MCI and AD. Transcription of the MMP9 inhibitor TIMP1 was lower in HA-NCI. ProNGF levels correlated with plasminogen, neuroserpin, and VAChT while NGF correlated with MMP9 activity. In NCI, proNGF correlated with cerebral Aβ and tau deposition and to cognitive performance. In summary, proNGF maturation is impaired in preclinical and clinical AD while mature NGF degradation is enhanced. These differences correlate with cognition, pathology, and cholinergic tone, and may suggest novel biomarkers and therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rowan Pentz
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, Québec, Canada
| | - M Florencia Iulita
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montreal, Québec, Canada
| | - Adriana Ducatenzeiler
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montreal, Québec, Canada
| | - David A Bennett
- Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - A Claudio Cuello
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, Québec, Canada. .,Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montreal, Québec, Canada. .,Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, McGill University, Montreal, Québec, Canada. .,Department of Pharmacology, Oxford University, Oxford, United Kingdom.
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28
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Zhang L, Qian Y, Li J, Zhou X, Xu H, Yan J, Xiang J, Yuan X, Sun B, Sisodia SS, Jiang YH, Cao X, Jing N, Lin A. BAD-mediated neuronal apoptosis and neuroinflammation contribute to Alzheimer's disease pathology. iScience 2021; 24:102942. [PMID: 34430820 PMCID: PMC8369003 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2021.102942] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2021] [Revised: 07/07/2021] [Accepted: 07/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common progressive neurodegenerative disease. However, the underlying molecular mechanism is incompletely understood. Here we report that the pro-apoptotic protein BAD as a key regulator for neuronal apoptosis, neuroinflammation and Aβ clearance in AD. BAD pro-apoptotic activity is significantly increased in neurons of AD patients and 5XFAD mice. Conversely, genetic disruption of Bad alleles restores spatial learning and memory deficits in 5XFAD mice. Mechanistically, phosphorylation and inactivation of BAD by neurotropic factor-activated Akt is abrogated in neurons under AD condition. Through reactive oxygen species (ROS)-oxidized mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) axis, BAD also promotes microglial NLRP3 inflammasome activation, thereby skewing microglia toward neuroinflammatory microglia to inhibit microglial phagocytosis of Aβ in AD mice. Our results support a model in which BAD contributes to AD pathologies by driving neuronal apoptosis and neuroinflammation but suppressing microglial phagocytosis of Aβ, suggesting that BAD is a potential therapeutic target for AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liansheng Zhang
- The State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
- Institute of Modern Biology, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
- Ben May Department for Cancer Research, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Yun Qian
- The State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Jie Li
- The State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
- Ben May Department for Cancer Research, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Xuan Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Brain Functional Genomics, Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062, China
| | - He Xu
- The State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Jie Yan
- The Second Affiliated Hospital, The State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Allery & Clinical Immunology, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510260, China
| | - Jialing Xiang
- Department of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, IL 60616, USA
| | - Xiang Yuan
- The State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
- Institute of Modern Biology, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
- Ben May Department for Cancer Research, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Beicheng Sun
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing 210008, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Sangram S. Sisodia
- Department of Neurobiology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
- The Microbiome Center, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Yong-Hui Jiang
- Department of Pediatrics and Neurobiology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Xiaohua Cao
- Key Laboratory of Brain Functional Genomics, Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062, China
| | - Naihe Jing
- The State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
- CAS Key Laboratory of Regenerative Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510530, China
- Center of Cell Lineage and Atlas, Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health Guangdong Laboratory (GRMH-GDL), Guangzhou 510005, China
- Corresponding author
| | - Anning Lin
- Institute of Modern Biology, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
- Ben May Department for Cancer Research, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
- Department of Neurobiology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
- Grossman Institute for Neuroscience, Quantitative Biology, and Haman Behavior, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
- Corresponding author
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29
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Gupta GL, Samant NP. Current druggable targets for therapeutic control of Alzheimer's disease. Contemp Clin Trials 2021; 109:106549. [PMID: 34464763 DOI: 10.1016/j.cct.2021.106549] [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] [Received: 10/31/2020] [Revised: 08/25/2021] [Accepted: 08/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative brain disorder that has an increasingly large burden on health and social care systems. The pathophysiology involves the accumulation of extracellular amyloid-beta plaques (Aβ) and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles contributing to neuronal death and leading to cognition impairment. However, its cause remains poorly understood, and there is no cure for AD despite extensive research and billions of dollars spent over decades. Currently, there are only four US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved drugs and one combination therapy available in the market for the symptomatic relief of AD. Since 2003, no new drug has been approved by the FDA for the treatment of AD. Researchers continue to explore new treatments and therapeutic strategies to treat AD. The need for novel discoveries on therapeutic targets and the development of new therapeutic approaches is imminent when considering the current expectations regarding the increased number of AD cases each year and the huge financial cost amounted to healthcare. This review focused on the current status of drugs in the clinical pipeline targeting β-amyloid, tau phosphorylation, or neurotransmitter dysfunction for therapeutic control of Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Girdhari Lal Gupta
- School of Pharmacy & Technology Management, SVKM'S NMIMS, Shirpur Campus, Shirpur 425 405, Maharashtra, India; Shobhaben Pratapbhai Patel School of Pharmacy & Technology Management, SVKM'S NMIMS, V.L. Mehta Road, Vile Parle (W), Mumbai 400 056, Maharashtra, India.
| | - Nikita Patil Samant
- Shobhaben Pratapbhai Patel School of Pharmacy & Technology Management, SVKM'S NMIMS, V.L. Mehta Road, Vile Parle (W), Mumbai 400 056, Maharashtra, India
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30
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Cuello AC. Rita Levi-Montalcini, NGF Metabolism in Health and in the Alzheimer's Pathology. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2021; 1331:119-144. [PMID: 34453296 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-74046-7_9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
This chapter relates biographic personal and scientific interactions with Rita Levi-Montalcini. It highlights research from our laboratory inspired by Rita's fundamental discovery. This work from studies on potentially neuro-reparative gangliosides, their interactions with NGF, the role of exogenous NGF in the recovery of degenerating cholinergic neurons of the basal forebrain to the evidence that endogenous NGF maintains the "day-to-day" cortical synaptic phenotype and the discovery of a novel CNS "NGF metabolic pathway." This brain pathway's conceptual platform allowed the investigation of its status during the Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology. This revealed a major compromise of the conversion of the NGF precursor molecule (proNGF) into the most biologically active molecule, mature NGF (mNGF). Furthermore, in this pathology, we found enhanced protein levels and enzymatic activity of the proteases responsible for the proteolytic degradation of mNGF. A biochemical prospect explaining the tropic factor vulnerability of the NGF-dependent basal forebrain cholinergic neurons and of their synaptic terminals. The NGF deregulation of this metabolic pathway is evident at preclinical stages and reflected in body fluid particularly in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). The findings of a deregulation of the NGF metabolic pathway and its reflection in plasma and CSF are opening doors for the development of novel biomarkers for preclinical detection of AD pathology both in Alzheimer's and in Down syndrome (DS) with "silent" AD pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Claudio Cuello
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.
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Montoliu-Gaya L, Strydom A, Blennow K, Zetterberg H, Ashton NJ. Blood Biomarkers for Alzheimer's Disease in Down Syndrome. J Clin Med 2021; 10:3639. [PMID: 34441934 PMCID: PMC8397053 DOI: 10.3390/jcm10163639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2021] [Revised: 08/09/2021] [Accepted: 08/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Epidemiological evidence suggests that by the age of 40 years, all individuals with Down syndrome (DS) have Alzheimer's disease (AD) neuropathology. Clinical diagnosis of dementia by cognitive assessment is complex in these patients due to the pre-existing and varying intellectual disability, which may mask subtle declines in cognitive functioning. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and positron emission tomography (PET) biomarkers, although accurate, are expensive, invasive, and particularly challenging in such a vulnerable population. The advances in ultra-sensitive detection methods have highlighted blood biomarkers as a valuable and realistic tool for AD diagnosis. Studies with DS patients have proven the potential blood-based biomarkers for sporadic AD (amyloid-β, tau, phosphorylated tau, and neurofilament light chain) to be useful in this population. In addition, biomarkers related to other pathologies that could aggravate dementia progression-such as inflammatory dysregulation, energetic imbalance, or oxidative stress-have been explored. This review serves to provide a brief overview of the main findings from the limited neuroimaging and CSF studies, outline the current state of blood biomarkers to diagnose AD in patients with DS, discuss possible past limitations of the research, and suggest considerations for developing and validating blood-based biomarkers in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laia Montoliu-Gaya
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Institute of Neuroscience & Physiology, The Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, 431 41 Mölndal, Sweden; (K.B.); (H.Z.); (N.J.A.)
| | - Andre Strydom
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London WC2R 2LS, UK;
- South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London SE5 8AZ, UK
- London Down Syndrome Consortium (LonDowns), London, UK
| | - Kaj Blennow
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Institute of Neuroscience & Physiology, The Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, 431 41 Mölndal, Sweden; (K.B.); (H.Z.); (N.J.A.)
- Clinical Neurochemistry Laboratory, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, 413 45 Mölndal, Sweden
| | - Henrik Zetterberg
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Institute of Neuroscience & Physiology, The Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, 431 41 Mölndal, Sweden; (K.B.); (H.Z.); (N.J.A.)
- Clinical Neurochemistry Laboratory, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, 413 45 Mölndal, Sweden
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London WC1N 3BG, UK
- UK Dementia Research Institute, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK
- Hong Kong Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Hong Kong, China
| | - Nicholas James Ashton
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Institute of Neuroscience & Physiology, The Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, 431 41 Mölndal, Sweden; (K.B.); (H.Z.); (N.J.A.)
- Wallenberg Centre for Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Department of Old Age Psychiatry, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, King’s College London, London SE5 9RT, UK
- NIHR Biomedical Research Centre for Mental Health, Biomedical Research Unit for Dementia at South London, Maudsley NHS Foundation, London SE5 8AF, UK
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Do Carmo S, Kannel B, Cuello AC. Nerve Growth Factor Compromise in Down Syndrome. Front Aging Neurosci 2021; 13:719507. [PMID: 34434101 PMCID: PMC8381049 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2021.719507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2021] [Accepted: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The basal forebrain cholinergic system relies on trophic support by nerve growth factor (NGF) to maintain its phenotype and function. In Alzheimer's disease (AD), basal forebrain cholinergic neurons (BFCNs) undergo progressive atrophy, suggesting a deficit in NGF trophic support. Within the central nervous system, NGF maturation and degradation are tightly regulated by an activity-dependent metabolic cascade. Here, we present a brief overview of the characteristics of Alzheimer's pathology in Down syndrome (DS) with an emphasis on this NGF metabolic pathway's disruption during the evolving Alzheimer's pathology. Such NGF dysmetabolism is well-established in Alzheimer's brains with advanced pathology and has been observed in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and non-demented individuals with elevated brain amyloid levels. As individuals with DS inexorably develop AD, we then review findings that support the existence of a similar NGF dysmetabolism in DS coinciding with atrophy of the basal forebrain cholinergic system. Lastly, we discuss the potential of NGF-related biomarkers as indicators of an evolving Alzheimer's pathology in DS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonia Do Carmo
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Benjamin Kannel
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - A Claudio Cuello
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Department of Pharmacology, Oxford University, Oxford, United Kingdom
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Kropf E, Fahnestock M. Effects of Reactive Oxygen and Nitrogen Species on TrkA Expression and Signalling: Implications for proNGF in Aging and Alzheimer's Disease. Cells 2021; 10:cells10081983. [PMID: 34440751 PMCID: PMC8392605 DOI: 10.3390/cells10081983] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2021] [Revised: 07/30/2021] [Accepted: 08/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Nerve growth factor (NGF) and its precursor form, proNGF, are critical for neuronal survival and cognitive function. In the brain, proNGF is the only detectable form of NGF. Dysregulation of proNGF in the brain is implicated in age-related memory loss and Alzheimer’s disease (AD). AD is characterized by early and progressive degeneration of the basal forebrain, an area critical for learning, memory, and attention. Learning and memory deficits in AD are associated with loss of proNGF survival signalling and impaired retrograde transport of proNGF to the basal forebrain. ProNGF transport and signalling may be impaired by the increased reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (ROS/RNS) observed in the aged and AD brain. The current literature suggests that ROS/RNS nitrate proNGF and reduce the expression of the proNGF receptor tropomyosin-related kinase A (TrkA), disrupting its downstream survival signalling. ROS/RNS-induced reductions in TrkA expression reduce cell viability, as proNGF loses its neurotrophic function in the absence of TrkA and instead generates apoptotic signalling via the pan-neurotrophin receptor p75NTR. ROS/RNS also interfere with kinesin and dynein motor functions, causing transport deficits. ROS/RNS-induced deficits in microtubule motor function and TrkA expression and signalling may contribute to the vulnerability of the basal forebrain in AD. Antioxidant treatments may be beneficial in restoring proNGF signalling and axonal transport and reducing basal forebrain neurodegeneration and related deficits in cognitive function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erika Kropf
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8S 4K1, Canada;
| | - Margaret Fahnestock
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8S 4K1, Canada
- Correspondence:
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Ma WH, Chen AF, Xie XY, Huang YS. Sigma ligands as potent inhibitors of Aβ and AβOs in neurons and promising therapeutic agents of Alzheimer's disease. Neuropharmacology 2021; 190:108342. [PMID: 33045243 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2020.108342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2020] [Revised: 09/14/2020] [Accepted: 10/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is an age-related neurodegenerative disease and characterized by dementia, memory decline, loss of learning and cognitive disorder. The main pathological features of AD are the deposition of amyloid plaques and the formation of neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) in the brain. The current anti-AD drugs have shown unsatisfactory therapeutic results. Due to the complications and unclear pathogenesis, AD is still irreversible and incurable. Among several hypotheses proposed by the academic community, the amyloid cascade is widely recognized by scholars and supported by a large amount of evidences. However, controversy over pathogenic factors has also been ongoing. Increasing evidence has shown that amyloid-β (Aβ) and especially amyloid-β oligomers (AβOs) are highly neurotoxic and pathogenic agents that damage neurons, mediate various receptors in the downstream pathways, and ultimately lead to learning and cognitive dysfunction. However, efforts in developing inhibitors of Aβ or amyloid-β precursor protein (APP) have all failed to yield good clinical results. More recently, it has been demonstrated that sigma receptors, including sigma-1 and sigma-2 subtypes, may play critical roles in the regulation of binding and metabolism of AβOs in neuron cells and the pathophysiology of AD. Thus, sigma receptor ligands are being recognized as promising therapeutic agents for treating or ameliorating AD. This article will review the pathophysiology of AD and highlight the sigma ligands that display the capability of preventing or even reversing Aβ- and AβOs-induced neurotoxicity and blocking the signal transduction caused by AβOs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen-Hui Ma
- School of Pharmacy, Guangdong Medical University, 1 Xincheng Ave, Songshan Lake Technology Park, Dongguan, Guangdong 523808, China; Dongguan Key Laboratory for Drug Design & Formulation, 1 Xincheng Ave, Songshan Lake Technology Park, Dongguan, Guangdong 523808, China
| | - Ai-Fang Chen
- School of Pharmacy, Guangdong Medical University, 1 Xincheng Ave, Songshan Lake Technology Park, Dongguan, Guangdong 523808, China; Dongguan Key Laboratory for Drug Design & Formulation, 1 Xincheng Ave, Songshan Lake Technology Park, Dongguan, Guangdong 523808, China
| | - Xiao-Yang Xie
- School of Pharmacy, Guangdong Medical University, 1 Xincheng Ave, Songshan Lake Technology Park, Dongguan, Guangdong 523808, China; Dongguan Key Laboratory for Drug Design & Formulation, 1 Xincheng Ave, Songshan Lake Technology Park, Dongguan, Guangdong 523808, China
| | - Yun-Sheng Huang
- School of Pharmacy, Guangdong Medical University, 1 Xincheng Ave, Songshan Lake Technology Park, Dongguan, Guangdong 523808, China; Dongguan Key Laboratory for Drug Design & Formulation, 1 Xincheng Ave, Songshan Lake Technology Park, Dongguan, Guangdong 523808, China.
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Ringland C, Schweig JE, Eisenbaum M, Paris D, Ait-Ghezala G, Mullan M, Crawford F, Abdullah L, Bachmeier C. MMP9 modulation improves specific neurobehavioral deficits in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease. BMC Neurosci 2021; 22:39. [PMID: 34034683 PMCID: PMC8152085 DOI: 10.1186/s12868-021-00643-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2021] [Accepted: 05/10/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Matrix metallopeptidase 9 (MMP9) has been implicated in a variety of neurological disorders, including Alzheimer's disease (AD), where MMP9 levels are elevated in the brain and cerebrovasculature. Previously our group demonstrated apolipoprotein E4 (apoE4) was less efficient in regulating MMP9 activity in the brain than other apoE isoforms, and that MMP9 inhibition facilitated beta-amyloid (Aβ) elimination across the blood-brain barrier (BBB) METHODS: In the current studies, we evaluated the impact of MMP9 modulation on Aβ disposition and neurobehavior in AD using two approaches, (1) pharmacological inhibition of MMP9 with SB-3CT in apoE4 x AD (E4FAD) mice, and (2) gene deletion of MMP9 in AD mice (MMP9KO/5xFAD) RESULTS: Treatment with the MMP9 inhibitor SB-3CT in E4FAD mice led to reduced anxiety compared to placebo using the elevated plus maze. Deletion of the MMP9 gene in 5xFAD mice also reduced anxiety using the open field test, in addition to improving sociability and social recognition memory, particularly in male mice, as assessed through the three-chamber task, indicating certain behavioral alterations in AD may be mediated by MMP9. However, neither pharmacological inhibition of MMP9 or gene deletion of MMP9 affected spatial learning or memory in the AD animals, as determined through the radial arm water maze. Moreover, the effect of MMP9 modulation on AD neurobehavior was not due to changes in Aβ disposition, as both brain and plasma Aβ levels were unchanged in the SB-3CT-treated E4FAD animals and MMP9KO/AD mice compared to their respective controls. CONCLUSIONS In total, while MMP9 inhibition did improve specific neurobehavioral deficits associated with AD, such as anxiety and social recognition memory, modulation of MMP9 did not alter spatial learning and memory or Aβ tissue levels in AD animals. While targeting MMP9 may represent a therapeutic strategy to mitigate aspects of neurobehavioral decline in AD, further work is necessary to understand the nature of the relationship between MMP9 activity and neurological dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charis Ringland
- The Roskamp Institute, 2040 Whitfield Avenue, Sarasota, FL, 34243, USA
- The Open University, Milton Keynes, UK
| | | | - Maxwell Eisenbaum
- The Roskamp Institute, 2040 Whitfield Avenue, Sarasota, FL, 34243, USA
- The Open University, Milton Keynes, UK
| | - Daniel Paris
- The Roskamp Institute, 2040 Whitfield Avenue, Sarasota, FL, 34243, USA
| | - Ghania Ait-Ghezala
- The Roskamp Institute, 2040 Whitfield Avenue, Sarasota, FL, 34243, USA
- The Open University, Milton Keynes, UK
| | - Michael Mullan
- The Roskamp Institute, 2040 Whitfield Avenue, Sarasota, FL, 34243, USA
- The Open University, Milton Keynes, UK
| | - Fiona Crawford
- The Roskamp Institute, 2040 Whitfield Avenue, Sarasota, FL, 34243, USA
- The Open University, Milton Keynes, UK
- James A. Haley Veterans' Hospital, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Laila Abdullah
- The Roskamp Institute, 2040 Whitfield Avenue, Sarasota, FL, 34243, USA
- The Open University, Milton Keynes, UK
- James A. Haley Veterans' Hospital, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Corbin Bachmeier
- The Roskamp Institute, 2040 Whitfield Avenue, Sarasota, FL, 34243, USA.
- The Open University, Milton Keynes, UK.
- Bay Pines VA Healthcare System, Bay Pines, FL, USA.
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Luo M, Shi X, Guo Q, Li S, Zhang Q, Sun X, Piao F. 2,5-Hexanedione induced apoptosis in rat spinal cord neurons and VSC4.1 cells via the proNGF/p75NTR and JNK pathways. Biosci Rep 2021; 41:BSR20204264. [PMID: 33792642 PMCID: PMC8035625 DOI: 10.1042/bsr20204264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2020] [Revised: 02/04/2021] [Accepted: 03/31/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Increasing evidence suggests that n-hexane induces nerve injury via neuronal apoptosis induced by its active metabolite 2,5-hexanedione (HD). However, the underlying mechanism remains unknown. Studies have confirmed that pro-nerve growth factor (proNGF), a precursor of mature nerve growth factor (mNGF), might activate apoptotic signaling by binding to p75 neurotrophin receptor (p75NTR) in neurons. Therefore, we studied the mechanism of the proNGF/p75NTR pathway in HD-induced neuronal apoptosis. Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were injected with 400 mg/kg HD once a day for 5 weeks, and VSC4.1 cells were treated with 10, 20, and 40 mM HD in vitro. Results showed that HD effectively induced neuronal apoptosis. Moreover, it up-regulated proNGF and p75NTR levels, activated c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and c-Jun, and disrupted the balance between B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) and Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax). Our findings revealed that the proNGF/p75NTR signaling pathway was involved in HD-induced neuronal apoptosis; it can serve as a theoretical basis for further exploration of the neurotoxic mechanisms of HD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengxin Luo
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, school of public health, Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116044, China
| | - Xiaoxia Shi
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, school of public health, Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116044, China
| | - Qi Guo
- Department of Environment Hygiene Division, Dalian Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Dalian 116021, China
| | - Shuangyue Li
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, school of public health, Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116044, China
| | - Qing Zhang
- Department of Integrative Laboratory, Affiliated Zhongshan Hospital of Dalian University, Dalian 116001, China
| | - Xiuyan Sun
- Department of Integrative Laboratory, Affiliated Zhongshan Hospital of Dalian University, Dalian 116001, China
| | - Fengyuan Piao
- Department of Integrative Laboratory, Affiliated Zhongshan Hospital of Dalian University, Dalian 116001, China
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Zhou LT, Zhang J, Tan L, Huang HZ, Zhou Y, Liu ZQ, Lu Y, Zhu LQ, Yao C, Liu D. Elevated Levels of miR-144-3p Induce Cholinergic Degeneration by Impairing the Maturation of NGF in Alzheimer's Disease. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:667412. [PMID: 33898468 PMCID: PMC8063700 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.667412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2021] [Accepted: 03/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Cholinergic degeneration is one of the key pathological hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), a condition that is characterized by synaptic disorders and memory impairments. Nerve growth factor (NGF) is secreted in brain regions that receive projections from the basal forebrain cholinergic neurons. The trophic effects of NGF rely on the appropriate maturation of NGF from its precursor, proNGF. The ratio of proNGF/NGF is known to be increased in patients with AD; however, the mechanisms that underlie this observation have yet to be elucidated. Here, we demonstrated that levels of miR-144-3p are increased in the hippocampi and the medial prefrontal cortex of an APP/PS1 mouse model of AD. These mice also exhibited cholinergic degeneration (including the loss of cholinergic fibers, the repression of choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) activity, the reduction of cholinergic neurons, and an increased number of dystrophic neurites) and synaptic/memory deficits. The elevated expression of miR-144-3p specifically targets the mRNA of tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) and reduces the expression of tPA, thus resulting in the abnormal maturation of NGF. The administration of miR-144-3p fully replicated the cholinergic degeneration and synaptic/memory deficits observed in the APP/PS1 mice. The injection of an antagomir of miR-144-3p into the hippocampi partially rescued cholinergic degeneration and synaptic/memory impairments by restoring the levels of tPA protein and by correcting the ratio of proNGF/NGF. Collectively, our research revealed potential mechanisms for the disturbance of NGF maturation and cholinergic degeneration in AD and identified a potential therapeutic target for AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lan-Ting Zhou
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.,Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, The Institute of Brain Research, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Juan Zhang
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.,Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, The Institute of Brain Research, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Lu Tan
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.,Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, The Institute of Brain Research, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - He-Zhou Huang
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.,Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, The Institute of Brain Research, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Yang Zhou
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.,Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, The Institute of Brain Research, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Zhi-Qiang Liu
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.,Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, The Institute of Brain Research, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Youming Lu
- Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, The Institute of Brain Research, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Ling-Qiang Zhu
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.,Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, The Institute of Brain Research, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Chengye Yao
- Department of Neurology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Dan Liu
- Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, The Institute of Brain Research, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
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Pentz R, Iulita MF, Ducatenzeiler A, Videla L, Benejam B, Carmona‐Iragui M, Blesa R, Lleó A, Fortea J, Cuello AC. Nerve growth factor (NGF) pathway biomarkers in Down syndrome prior to and after the onset of clinical Alzheimer's disease: A paired CSF and plasma study. Alzheimers Dement 2021; 17:605-617. [PMID: 33226181 PMCID: PMC8043977 DOI: 10.1002/alz.12229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2020] [Revised: 07/28/2020] [Accepted: 10/05/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The discovery that nerve growth factor (NGF) metabolism is altered in Down syndrome (DS) and Alzheimer's disease (AD) brains offered a framework for the identification of novel biomarkers signalling NGF deregulation in AD pathology. METHODS We examined levels of NGF pathway proteins (proNGF, neuroserpin, tissue plasminogen activator [tPA], and metalloproteases [MMP]) in matched cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)/plasma samples from AD-symptomatic (DSAD) and AD-asymptomatic (aDS) individuals with DS, as well as controls (HC). RESULTS ProNGF and MMP-3 were elevated while tPA was decreased in plasma from individuals with DS. CSF from individuals with DS showed elevated proNGF, neuroserpin, MMP-3, and MMP-9. ProNGF and MMP-9 in CSF differentiated DSAD from aDS (area under the curve = 0.86, 0.87). NGF pathway markers associated with CSF amyloid beta and tau and differed by sex. DISCUSSION Brain NGF metabolism changes can be monitored in plasma and CSF, supporting relevance in AD pathology. These markers could assist staging, subtyping, or precision medicine for AD in DS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rowan Pentz
- Department of Neurology and NeurosurgeryMcGill UniversityMontrealCanada
| | - M. Florencia Iulita
- Department of Pharmacology and TherapeuticsMcGill UniversityMontrealCanada
- Sant Pau Memory UnitDepartment of NeurologyHospital de la Santa Creu i Sant PauBiomedical Research Institute Sant PauUniversitat Autònoma de BarcelonaBarcelonaSpain
- Center of Biomedical Investigation Network for Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIBERNED)MadridSpain
| | | | - Laura Videla
- Sant Pau Memory UnitDepartment of NeurologyHospital de la Santa Creu i Sant PauBiomedical Research Institute Sant PauUniversitat Autònoma de BarcelonaBarcelonaSpain
- Center of Biomedical Investigation Network for Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIBERNED)MadridSpain
- Barcelona Down Medical CenterFundación Catalana Síndrome de DownBarcelonaSpain
| | - Bessy Benejam
- Sant Pau Memory UnitDepartment of NeurologyHospital de la Santa Creu i Sant PauBiomedical Research Institute Sant PauUniversitat Autònoma de BarcelonaBarcelonaSpain
- Center of Biomedical Investigation Network for Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIBERNED)MadridSpain
- Barcelona Down Medical CenterFundación Catalana Síndrome de DownBarcelonaSpain
| | - María Carmona‐Iragui
- Sant Pau Memory UnitDepartment of NeurologyHospital de la Santa Creu i Sant PauBiomedical Research Institute Sant PauUniversitat Autònoma de BarcelonaBarcelonaSpain
- Center of Biomedical Investigation Network for Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIBERNED)MadridSpain
- Barcelona Down Medical CenterFundación Catalana Síndrome de DownBarcelonaSpain
| | - Rafael Blesa
- Sant Pau Memory UnitDepartment of NeurologyHospital de la Santa Creu i Sant PauBiomedical Research Institute Sant PauUniversitat Autònoma de BarcelonaBarcelonaSpain
- Center of Biomedical Investigation Network for Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIBERNED)MadridSpain
| | - Alberto Lleó
- Sant Pau Memory UnitDepartment of NeurologyHospital de la Santa Creu i Sant PauBiomedical Research Institute Sant PauUniversitat Autònoma de BarcelonaBarcelonaSpain
- Center of Biomedical Investigation Network for Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIBERNED)MadridSpain
| | - Juan Fortea
- Sant Pau Memory UnitDepartment of NeurologyHospital de la Santa Creu i Sant PauBiomedical Research Institute Sant PauUniversitat Autònoma de BarcelonaBarcelonaSpain
- Center of Biomedical Investigation Network for Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIBERNED)MadridSpain
- Barcelona Down Medical CenterFundación Catalana Síndrome de DownBarcelonaSpain
| | - A. Claudio Cuello
- Department of Neurology and NeurosurgeryMcGill UniversityMontrealCanada
- Department of Pharmacology and TherapeuticsMcGill UniversityMontrealCanada
- Department of Anatomy and Cell BiologyMcGill UniversityMontrealCanada
- Department of PharmacologyOxford UniversityOxfordUK
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Pentz R, Iulita MF, Mikutra-Cencora M, Ducatenzeiler A, Bennett DA, Cuello AC. A new role for matrix metalloproteinase-3 in the NGF metabolic pathway: Proteolysis of mature NGF and sex-specific differences in the continuum of Alzheimer's pathology. Neurobiol Dis 2021; 148:105150. [PMID: 33130223 PMCID: PMC7856186 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2020.105150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2020] [Revised: 10/20/2020] [Accepted: 10/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3) has been associated with risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD). In this study we introduce a novel role for MMP-3 in degrading nerve growth factor (NGF) in vivo and examine its mRNA and protein expression across the continuum of AD pathology. We provide evidence that MMP-3 participates in the degradation of mature NGF in vitro and in vivo and that it is secreted from the rat cerebral cortex in an activity-dependent manner. We show that cortical MMP-3 is upregulated in the McGill-R-Thy1-APP transgenic rat model of AD-like amyloidosis. A similar upregulation was found in AD and MCI brains as well as in cognitively normal individuals with elevated amyloid deposition. We also observed that frontal cortex MMP-3 protein levels are higher in males. MMP-3 protein correlated with more AD neuropathology, markers of NGF metabolism, and lower cognitive scores in males but not in females. These results suggest that MMP-3 upregulation in AD might contribute to NGF dysmetabolism, and therefore to cholinergic atrophy and cognitive deficits, in a sex-specific manner. MMP-3 should be further investigated as a biomarker candidate or as a therapeutic target in AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rowan Pentz
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, Canada.
| | - M Florencia Iulita
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montreal, Canada; Sant Pau Memory Unit, Department of Neurology, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Biomedical Research Institute Sant Pau, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Maya Mikutra-Cencora
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montreal, Canada.
| | | | - David A Bennett
- Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA.
| | - A Claudio Cuello
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, Canada; Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montreal, Canada; Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, McGill University, Montreal, Canada.
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Ding XW, Li R, Geetha T, Tao YX, Babu JR. Nerve growth factor in metabolic complications and Alzheimer's disease: Physiology and therapeutic potential. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2020; 1866:165858. [PMID: 32531260 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2020.165858] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2020] [Revised: 05/11/2020] [Accepted: 06/02/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
As the population ages, obesity and metabolic complications as well as neurological disorders are becoming more prevalent, with huge economic burdens on both societies and families. New therapeutics are urgently needed. Nerve growth factor (NGF), first discovered in 1950s, is a neurotrophic factor involved in regulating cell proliferation, growth, survival, and apoptosis in both central and peripheral nervous systems. NGF and its precursor, proNGF, bind to TrkA and p75 receptors and initiate protein phosphorylation cascades, resulting in changes of cellular functions, and are associated with obesity, diabetes and its complications, and Alzheimer's disease. In this article, we summarize changes in NGF levels in metabolic and neuronal disorders, the signal transduction initiated by NGF and proNGF, the physiological and pathophysiological relevance, and therapeutic potential in treating chronic metabolic diseases and cognitive decline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Wen Ding
- Department of Nutrition, Dietetics, and Hospitality Management, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA
| | - Rongzi Li
- Department of Nutrition, Dietetics, and Hospitality Management, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA
| | - Thangiah Geetha
- Department of Nutrition, Dietetics, and Hospitality Management, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA; Boshell Metabolic Diseases and Diabetes Program, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA
| | - Ya-Xiong Tao
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Pharmacology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA.
| | - Jeganathan Ramesh Babu
- Department of Nutrition, Dietetics, and Hospitality Management, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA; Boshell Metabolic Diseases and Diabetes Program, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA.
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Hampel H, Caraci F, Cuello AC, Caruso G, Nisticò R, Corbo M, Baldacci F, Toschi N, Garaci F, Chiesa PA, Verdooner SR, Akman-Anderson L, Hernández F, Ávila J, Emanuele E, Valenzuela PL, Lucía A, Watling M, Imbimbo BP, Vergallo A, Lista S. A Path Toward Precision Medicine for Neuroinflammatory Mechanisms in Alzheimer's Disease. Front Immunol 2020; 11:456. [PMID: 32296418 PMCID: PMC7137904 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.00456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 182] [Impact Index Per Article: 45.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2019] [Accepted: 02/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuroinflammation commences decades before Alzheimer's disease (AD) clinical onset and represents one of the earliest pathomechanistic alterations throughout the AD continuum. Large-scale genome-wide association studies point out several genetic variants—TREM2, CD33, PILRA, CR1, MS4A, CLU, ABCA7, EPHA1, and HLA-DRB5-HLA-DRB1—potentially linked to neuroinflammation. Most of these genes are involved in proinflammatory intracellular signaling, cytokines/interleukins/cell turnover, synaptic activity, lipid metabolism, and vesicle trafficking. Proteomic studies indicate that a plethora of interconnected aberrant molecular pathways, set off and perpetuated by TNF-α, TGF-β, IL-1β, and the receptor protein TREM2, are involved in neuroinflammation. Microglia and astrocytes are key cellular drivers and regulators of neuroinflammation. Under physiological conditions, they are important for neurotransmission and synaptic homeostasis. In AD, there is a turning point throughout its pathophysiological evolution where glial cells sustain an overexpressed inflammatory response that synergizes with amyloid-β and tau accumulation, and drives synaptotoxicity and neurodegeneration in a self-reinforcing manner. Despite a strong therapeutic rationale, previous clinical trials investigating compounds with anti-inflammatory properties, including non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), did not achieve primary efficacy endpoints. It is conceivable that study design issues, including the lack of diagnostic accuracy and biomarkers for target population identification and proof of mechanism, may partially explain the negative outcomes. However, a recent meta-analysis indicates a potential biological effect of NSAIDs. In this regard, candidate fluid biomarkers of neuroinflammation are under analytical/clinical validation, i.e., TREM2, IL-1β, MCP-1, IL-6, TNF-α receptor complexes, TGF-β, and YKL-40. PET radio-ligands are investigated to accomplish in vivo and longitudinal regional exploration of neuroinflammation. Biomarkers tracking different molecular pathways (body fluid matrixes) along with brain neuroinflammatory endophenotypes (neuroimaging markers), can untangle temporal–spatial dynamics between neuroinflammation and other AD pathophysiological mechanisms. Robust biomarker–drug codevelopment pipelines are expected to enrich large-scale clinical trials testing new-generation compounds active, directly or indirectly, on neuroinflammatory targets and displaying putative disease-modifying effects: novel NSAIDs, AL002 (anti-TREM2 antibody), anti-Aβ protofibrils (BAN2401), and AL003 (anti-CD33 antibody). As a next step, taking advantage of breakthrough and multimodal techniques coupled with a systems biology approach is the path to pursue for developing individualized therapeutic strategies targeting neuroinflammation under the framework of precision medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harald Hampel
- Sorbonne University, GRC no. 21, Alzheimer Precision Medicine (APM), AP-HP, Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, Boulevard de l'hôpital, Paris, France
| | - Filippo Caraci
- Department of Drug Sciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.,Oasi Research Institute-IRCCS, Troina, Italy
| | - A Claudio Cuello
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.,Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.,Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.,Department of Pharmacology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | | | - Robert Nisticò
- Laboratory of Neuropharmacology, EBRI Rita Levi-Montalcini Foundation, Rome, Italy.,School of Pharmacy, Department of Biology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Massimo Corbo
- Department of Neurorehabilitation Sciences, Casa Cura Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Filippo Baldacci
- Sorbonne University, GRC no. 21, Alzheimer Precision Medicine (APM), AP-HP, Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, Boulevard de l'hôpital, Paris, France.,Brain & Spine Institute (ICM), INSERM U 1127, CNRS UMR 7225, Boulevard de l'hôpital, Paris, France.,Institute of Memory and Alzheimer's Disease (IM2A), Department of Neurology, Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, AP-HP, Paris, France.,Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Nicola Toschi
- Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Rome, Italy.,Department of Radiology, "Athinoula A. Martinos" Center for Biomedical Imaging, Boston, MA, United States.,Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Francesco Garaci
- Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Rome, Italy.,Casa di Cura "San Raffaele Cassino", Cassino, Italy
| | - Patrizia A Chiesa
- Sorbonne University, GRC no. 21, Alzheimer Precision Medicine (APM), AP-HP, Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, Boulevard de l'hôpital, Paris, France.,Brain & Spine Institute (ICM), INSERM U 1127, CNRS UMR 7225, Boulevard de l'hôpital, Paris, France.,Institute of Memory and Alzheimer's Disease (IM2A), Department of Neurology, Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, AP-HP, Paris, France
| | | | | | - Félix Hernández
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa (CSIC-UAM), Madrid, Spain.,Network Center for Biomedical Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIBERNED), Madrid, Spain
| | - Jesús Ávila
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa (CSIC-UAM), Madrid, Spain.,Network Center for Biomedical Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIBERNED), Madrid, Spain
| | | | | | - Alejandro Lucía
- Faculty of Sport Sciences, Universidad Europea de Madrid, Madrid, Spain.,Research Institute of the Hospital 12 de Octubre ("imas"), Madrid, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red Fragilidad y Envejecimiento Saludable (CIBERFES), Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Bruno P Imbimbo
- Research & Development Department, Chiesi Farmaceutici, Parma, Italy
| | - Andrea Vergallo
- Sorbonne University, GRC no. 21, Alzheimer Precision Medicine (APM), AP-HP, Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, Boulevard de l'hôpital, Paris, France
| | - Simone Lista
- Sorbonne University, GRC no. 21, Alzheimer Precision Medicine (APM), AP-HP, Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, Boulevard de l'hôpital, Paris, France.,Brain & Spine Institute (ICM), INSERM U 1127, CNRS UMR 7225, Boulevard de l'hôpital, Paris, France.,Institute of Memory and Alzheimer's Disease (IM2A), Department of Neurology, Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, AP-HP, Paris, France
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Mufson EJ, Counts SE, Ginsberg SD, Mahady L, Perez SE, Massa SM, Longo FM, Ikonomovic MD. Nerve Growth Factor Pathobiology During the Progression of Alzheimer's Disease. Front Neurosci 2019; 13:533. [PMID: 31312116 PMCID: PMC6613497 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2019.00533] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2018] [Accepted: 05/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The current review summarizes the pathobiology of nerve growth factor (NGF) and its cognate receptors during the progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Both transcript and protein data indicate that cholinotrophic neuronal dysfunction is related to an imbalance between TrkA-mediated survival signaling and the NGF precursor (proNGF)/p75NTR-mediated pro-apoptotic signaling, which may be related to alteration in the metabolism of NGF. Data indicate a spatiotemporal pattern of degeneration related to the evolution of tau pathology within cholinotrophic neuronal subgroups located within the nucleus basalis of Meynert (nbM). Despite these degenerative events the cholinotrophic system is capable of cellular resilience and/or plasticity during the prodromal and later stages of the disease. In addition to neurotrophin dysfunction, studies indicate alterations in epigenetically regulated proteins occur within cholinotrophic nbM neurons during the progression of AD, suggesting a mechanism that may underlie changes in transcript expression. Findings that increased cerebrospinal fluid levels of proNGF mark the onset of MCI and the transition to AD suggests that this proneurotrophin is a potential disease biomarker. Novel therapeutics to treat NGF dysfunction include NGF gene therapy and the development of small molecule agonists for the cognate prosurvival NGF receptor TrkA and antagonists against the pan-neurotrophin p75NTR death receptor for the treatment of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elliott J. Mufson
- Department of Neurobiology and Neurology, Department of Neurobiology, and Department of Neurological Sciences, Alzheimer’s Disease Laboratory, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph’s Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ, United States
| | - Scott E. Counts
- Translational Science and Molecular Medicine Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, Grand Rapids, MI, United States
| | - Stephen D. Ginsberg
- Center for Dementia Research, Nathan Kline Institute, Orangeburg, NY, United States
- Department of Psychiatry, Department of Neuroscience, and Physiology and NYU Neuroscience Institute, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, NY, United States
| | - Laura Mahady
- Department of Neurobiology and Neurology, Department of Neurobiology, and Department of Neurological Sciences, Alzheimer’s Disease Laboratory, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph’s Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ, United States
| | - Sylvia E. Perez
- Department of Neurobiology and Neurology, Department of Neurobiology, and Department of Neurological Sciences, Alzheimer’s Disease Laboratory, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph’s Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ, United States
| | - Stephen M. Massa
- Department of Neurology, San Francisco VA Health Care System, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Frank M. Longo
- Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - Milos D. Ikonomovic
- Department of Neurology and Department of Psychiatry, Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center, VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
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Kaminari A, Tsilibary EC, Tzinia A. A New Perspective in Utilizing MMP-9 as a Therapeutic Target for Alzheimer's Disease and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. J Alzheimers Dis 2019; 64:1-16. [PMID: 29865065 DOI: 10.3233/jad-180035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Matrix metalloprotease 9 (MMP-9) is a 92 kDa type IV collagenase and a member of the family of endopeptidases. MMP-9 is involved in the degradation of extracellular matrix components, tissue remodeling, cellular receptor stripping, and processing of various signaling molecules. In the CNS, the effects of MMP-9 are quite complex, since it exerts beneficial effects including neurogenesis, angiogenesis, myelogenesis, axonal growth, and inhibition of apoptosis, or destructive effects including apoptosis, blood-brain barrier disorder, and demyelination. Likewise, in the periphery, physiological events, as the involvement of MMP-9 in angiogenesis, for instance in wound healing, can be turned into pathological, such as in tumor metastasis, depending on the state of the organism. Alzheimer's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder, characterized by amyloid accumulation and deposition in the brain. Amyloidogenesis, however, also occurs in diseases of the periphery, such as type II diabetes mellitus, where an analogous type of amyloid, is deposited in the pancreas. Interestingly, both diseases exhibit similar pathology and disease progression, with insulin resistance being a major common denominator. Hence, combinatorial strategies searching new or existing molecules to apply for therapeutic use for both diseases are gaining momentum. MMP-9 is extensively studied due to its association with a variety of physiological and pathological processes. Consequently, meticulous design could render MMP-9 into a potential therapeutic target for Alzheimer's disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus; two seemingly unrelated diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Archontia Kaminari
- Institute of Biosciences and Applications, National Center for Scientific Research "Demokritos", Agia Paraskevi, Athens, Greece
| | - Effie C Tsilibary
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Athina Tzinia
- Institute of Biosciences and Applications, National Center for Scientific Research "Demokritos", Agia Paraskevi, Athens, Greece
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Chen XQ, Mobley WC. Exploring the Pathogenesis of Alzheimer Disease in Basal Forebrain Cholinergic Neurons: Converging Insights From Alternative Hypotheses. Front Neurosci 2019; 13:446. [PMID: 31133787 PMCID: PMC6514132 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2019.00446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 103] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2019] [Accepted: 04/18/2019] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer disease (AD) represents an oncoming epidemic that without an effective treatment promises to exact extraordinary financial and emotional burdens (Apostolova, 2016). Studies of pathogenesis are essential for defining critical molecular and cellular events and for discovering therapies to prevent or mitigate their effects. Through studies of neuropathology, genetic and cellular, and molecular biology recent decades have provided many important insights. Several hypotheses have been suggested. Documentation in the 1980s of selective loss of cholinergic neurons of the basal forebrain, followed by clinical improvement in those treated with inhibitors of acetylycholinesterase, supported the "cholinergic hypothesis of age-related cognitive dysfunction" (Bartus et al., 1982). A second hypothesis, prompted by the selective loss of cholinergic neurons and the discovery of central nervous system (CNS) neurotrophic factors, including nerve growth factor (NGF), prompted the "deficient neurotrophic hypothesis" (Chen et al., 2018). The most persuasive hypothesis, the amyloid cascade hypothesis first proposed more than 25 years ago (Selkoe and Hardy, 2016), is supported by a wealth of observations. Genetic studies were exceptionally important, pointing to increased dose of the gene for the amyloid precursor protein (APP) in Down syndrome (DS) and a familial AD (FAD) due to duplication of APP and to mutations in APP and in the genes for Presenilin 1 and 2 (PSEN1, 2), which encode the γ-secretase enzyme that processes APP (Dorszewska et al., 2016). The "tau hypothesis" noted the prominence of tau-related pathology and its correlation with dementia (Kametani and Hasegawa, 2018). Recent interest in induction of microglial activation in the AD brain, as well as other manifestations of inflammation, supports the "inflammatory hypothesis" (Mcgeer et al., 2016). We place these findings in the context of the selective, but by no means unique, involvement of BFCNs and their trophic dependence on NGF signaling and speculate as to how pathogenesis in these neurons is initiated, amplified and ultimately results in their dysfunction and death. In so doing we attempt to show how the different hypotheses for AD may interact and reinforce one another. Finally, we address current attempts to prevent and/or treat AD in light of advances in understanding pathogenetic mechanisms and suggest that studies in the DS population may provide unique insights into AD pathogenesis and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xu-Qiao Chen
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - William C. Mobley
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
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Dehghani C, Frost S, Jayasena R, Masters CL, Kanagasingam Y. Ocular Biomarkers of Alzheimer's Disease: The Role of Anterior Eye and Potential Future Directions. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2019; 59:3554-3563. [PMID: 30025102 DOI: 10.1167/iovs.18-24694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Globally, Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a growing health and economic challenge that has no effective cure. Recent clinical trials indicate that preclinical treatment may be required but a routine screening tool for AD has been elusive. Hence, a simple, yet sensitive biomarker for preclinical AD, when the disease is most likely to be amenable to treatment, is lacking. Due to several features, the eye has been explored for this purpose and, among the ocular tissues, the retina has received the most attention. Currently, major works investigating the potential AD diagnosis by detecting amyloid-β (Aβ) signatures in the retinal tissue are underway, while the anterior eye is more accessible for in vivo imaging and examination. This report provides a concise review of current literature on the anterior eye components, including the crystalline lens, cornea, and aqueous humor, in AD. We also discuss the potential for assessment of the corneal nerve structure and regeneration as well as conjunctival tissue for AD-related alterations. The crystalline lens has received considerable attention, but further research is required to confirm whether Aβ accumulates in the lens and whether it mirrors brain neuropathologic changes, particularly in preclinical AD. The rich corneal neural network and conjunctival vasculature also merit exploration in future studies to shed light on their potential association with AD pathologic changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cirous Dehghani
- Australian e-Health Research Center, CSIRO, Parkville, Australia
| | - Shaun Frost
- Australian e-Health Research Center, CSIRO, Perth, Australia
| | - Rajiv Jayasena
- Australian e-Health Research Center, CSIRO, Parkville, Australia
| | - Colin L Masters
- The Florey Institute, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
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Fahnestock M, Shekari A. ProNGF and Neurodegeneration in Alzheimer's Disease. Front Neurosci 2019; 13:129. [PMID: 30853882 PMCID: PMC6395390 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2019.00129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2018] [Accepted: 02/05/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Profound and early basal forebrain cholinergic neuron (BFCN) degeneration is a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Loss of synapses between basal forebrain and hippocampal and cortical target tissue correlates highly with the degree of dementia and is thought to be a major contributor to memory loss. BFCNs depend for their survival, connectivity and function on the neurotrophin nerve growth factor (NGF) which is retrogradely transported from its sites of synthesis in the cortex and hippocampus. The form of NGF found in human brain is proNGF. ProNGF binds to the NGF receptors TrkA and p75NTR, but it binds more strongly to p75NTR and more weakly to TrkA than does mature NGF. This renders proNGF more sensitive to receptor balance than mature NGF. In the healthy brain, where BFCNs express both TrkA and p75NTR, proNGF is neurotrophic, activating TrkA-dependent signaling pathways such as MAPK and Akt-mTOR and eliciting cell survival and neurite outgrowth. However, if TrkA is lost or if p75NTR is increased, proNGF activates p75NTR-dependent apoptotic pathways such as JNK. This receptor sensitivity serves as a neurotrophic/apoptotic switch that eliminates BFCNs that cannot maintain TrkA/p75NTR balance and therefore synaptic connections with their targets. TrkA is increasingly lost in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and AD. In addition, proNGF accumulates at BFCN terminals in cortex and hippocampus, reducing the amount of trophic factor that reaches BFCN cell bodies. The loss of TrkA and accumulation of proNGF occur early in MCI and correlate with cognitive impairment. Increased levels of proNGF and reduced levels of TrkA lead to BFCN neurodegeneration and eventual p75NTR-dependent apoptosis. In addition, in AD BFCNs suffer from reduced TrkA-dependent retrograde transport which reduces neurotrophic support. Thus, BFCNs are particularly vulnerable to AD due to their dependence upon retrograde trophic support from proNGF signaling and transport.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margaret Fahnestock
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Arman Shekari
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
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Cuello AC, Pentz R, Hall H. The Brain NGF Metabolic Pathway in Health and in Alzheimer's Pathology. Front Neurosci 2019; 13:62. [PMID: 30809111 PMCID: PMC6379336 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2019.00062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2018] [Accepted: 01/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Emerging research has re-emphasized the role of the cortical cholinergic system in the symptomology and progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Basal forebrain (BF) cholinergic nuclei depend on target-derived NGF for survival during development and for the maintenance of a classical cholinergic phenotype during adulthood. In AD, BF cholinergic neurons lose their cholinergic phenotype and function, suggesting an impairment in NGF-mediated trophic support. We propose that alterations to the enzymatic pathway that controls the maturation of proNGF to mature NGF and the latter's ulterior degradation underlie this pathological process. Indeed, the NGF metabolic pathway has been demonstrated to be impaired in AD and other amyloid pathologies, and pharmacological manipulation of NGF metabolism has consequences in vivo for both levels of proNGF/NGF and the phenotype of BF cholinergic neurons. The NGF pathway may also have potential as a biomarker of cognitive decline in AD, as its changes can predict future cognitive decline in patients with Down syndrome as they develop preclinical Alzheimer's pathology. New evidence suggests that the cholinergic system, and by extension NGF, may have a greater role in the progression of AD than previously realized, as changes to the BF precede and predict changes to the entorhinal cortex, as anticholinergic drugs increase odds of developing AD, and as the use of donepezil can reduce rates of hippocampal and cortical thinning. These findings suggest that new, more sophisticated cholinergic therapies should be capable of preserving the basal forebrain thus having profound positive effects as treatments for AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- A. Claudio Cuello
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Rowan Pentz
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Hélène Hall
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
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48
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Mitra S, Behbahani H, Eriksdotter M. Innovative Therapy for Alzheimer's Disease-With Focus on Biodelivery of NGF. Front Neurosci 2019; 13:38. [PMID: 30804738 PMCID: PMC6370742 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2019.00038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 100] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2018] [Accepted: 01/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder associated with abnormal protein modification, inflammation and memory impairment. Aggregated amyloid beta (Aβ) and phosphorylated tau proteins are medical diagnostic features. Loss of memory in AD has been associated with central cholinergic dysfunction in basal forebrain, from where the cholinergic circuitry projects to cerebral cortex and hippocampus. Various reports link AD progression with declining activity of cholinergic neurons in basal forebrain. The neurotrophic molecule, nerve growth factor (NGF), plays a major role in the maintenance of cholinergic neurons integrity and function, both during development and adulthood. Numerous studies have also shown that NGF contributes to the survival and regeneration of neurons during aging and in age-related diseases such as AD. Changes in neurotrophic signaling pathways are involved in the aging process and contribute to cholinergic and cognitive decline as observed in AD. Further, gradual dysregulation of neurotrophic factors like NGF and brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) have been reported during AD development thus intensifying further research in targeting these factors as disease modifying therapies against AD. Today, there is no cure available for AD and the effects of the symptomatic treatment like cholinesterase inhibitors (ChEIs) and memantine are transient and moderate. Although many AD treatment studies are being carried out, there has not been any breakthrough and new therapies are thus highly needed. Long-term effective therapy for alleviating cognitive impairment is a major unmet need. Discussion and summarizing the new advancements of using NGF as a potential therapeutic implication in AD are important. In summary, the intent of this review is describing available experimental and clinical data related to AD therapy, priming to gain additional facts associated with the importance of NGF for AD treatment, and encapsulated cell biodelivery (ECB) as an efficient tool for NGF delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sumonto Mitra
- Division of Clinical Geriatrics, Center for Alzheimer Research, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Homira Behbahani
- Division of Neurogeriatrics, Center for Alzheimer Research, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Solna, Sweden
| | - Maria Eriksdotter
- Division of Clinical Geriatrics, Center for Alzheimer Research, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden.,Aging Theme, Karolinska University Hospital, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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Lin TW, Tsai SF, Kuo YM. Physical Exercise Enhances Neuroplasticity and Delays Alzheimer's Disease. Brain Plast 2018; 4:95-110. [PMID: 30564549 PMCID: PMC6296269 DOI: 10.3233/bpl-180073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Accumulating evidence indicates that exercise can improve learning and memory as well as attenuate neurodegeneration, including Alzheimer's disease (AD). In addition to improving neuroplasticity by altering the synaptic structure and function in various brain regions, exercise also modulates systems like angiogenesis and glial activation that are known to support neuroplasticity. Moreover, exercise helps to maintain a cerebral microenvironment that facilitates synaptic plasticity by enhancing the clearance of Aβ, one of the main culprits of AD pathogenesis. The purpose of this review is to highlight the positive impacts of exercise on promoting neuroplasticity. Possible mechanisms involved in exercise-modulated neuroplasticity are also discussed. Undoubtedly, more studies are needed to design an optimal personalized exercise protocol for enhancing brain function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tzu-Wei Lin
- Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.,Department of Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, Georgia, USA
| | - Sheng-Feng Tsai
- Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Min Kuo
- Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.,Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
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Jin Y, Sumsuzzman DM, Choi J, Kang H, Lee SR, Hong Y. Molecular and Functional Interaction of the Myokine Irisin with Physical Exercise and Alzheimer's Disease. Molecules 2018; 23:molecules23123229. [PMID: 30544500 PMCID: PMC6321132 DOI: 10.3390/molecules23123229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2018] [Revised: 12/03/2018] [Accepted: 12/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Irisin, a skeletal muscle-secreted myokine, produced in response to physical exercise, has protective functions in both the central and the peripheral nervous systems, including the regulation of brain-derived neurotrophic factors. In particular, irisin is capable of protecting hippocampus. Since this area is the region of the brain that is most susceptible to Alzheimer's disease (AD), such beneficial effect may inhibit or delay the emergence of neurodegenerative diseases, including AD. Also, the factors engaged in irisin formation appear to suppress Aβ aggregation, which is the pathological hallmark of AD. This review is based on the hypothesis that irisin produced by physical exercise helps to control AD progression. Herein, we describe the physiology of irisin and its potential role in delaying or preventing AD progression in human.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunho Jin
- Department of Rehabilitation Science, Graduate School of Inje University, Gimhae 50834, Korea.
- Biohealth Products Research Center (BPRC), Inje University, Gimhae 50834, Korea.
- Ubiquitous Healthcare & Anti-Aging Research Center (u-HARC), Inje University, Gimhae 50834, Korea.
| | - Dewan Md Sumsuzzman
- Department of Rehabilitation Science, Graduate School of Inje University, Gimhae 50834, Korea.
- Biohealth Products Research Center (BPRC), Inje University, Gimhae 50834, Korea.
- Ubiquitous Healthcare & Anti-Aging Research Center (u-HARC), Inje University, Gimhae 50834, Korea.
| | - Jeonghyun Choi
- Department of Rehabilitation Science, Graduate School of Inje University, Gimhae 50834, Korea.
- Biohealth Products Research Center (BPRC), Inje University, Gimhae 50834, Korea.
- Ubiquitous Healthcare & Anti-Aging Research Center (u-HARC), Inje University, Gimhae 50834, Korea.
| | - Hyunbon Kang
- Biohealth Products Research Center (BPRC), Inje University, Gimhae 50834, Korea.
- Ubiquitous Healthcare & Anti-Aging Research Center (u-HARC), Inje University, Gimhae 50834, Korea.
- Department of Physical Therapy, Graduate School of Inje University, Gimhae 50834, Korea.
| | - Sang-Rae Lee
- National Primate Research Center (NPRC), Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB), Ochang 50834, Korea.
| | - Yonggeun Hong
- Department of Rehabilitation Science, Graduate School of Inje University, Gimhae 50834, Korea.
- Biohealth Products Research Center (BPRC), Inje University, Gimhae 50834, Korea.
- Ubiquitous Healthcare & Anti-Aging Research Center (u-HARC), Inje University, Gimhae 50834, Korea.
- Department of Physical Therapy, Graduate School of Inje University, Gimhae 50834, Korea.
- Department of Physical Therapy, College of Healthcare Medical Science & Engineering, Gimhae 50834, Korea.
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