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Hill E, Moffat KG, Wall MJ, Zetterberg H, Blennow K, Karikari TK. A Validated Method to Prepare Stable Tau Oligomers. Methods Mol Biol 2023; 2551:203-224. [PMID: 36310205 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2597-2_14] [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: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
There is growing evidence that tau oligomers are a major pathological species in a number of tauopathies including Alzheimer's disease. However, it is still unclear what exact mechanisms underlie tau oligomer-mediated dysfunction. Studies of tau oligomers in vitro are limited by the high propensity for aggregation and consequent changes in the aggregation state of the produced tau samples over time. In this protocol, we provide a step-by-step description of a validated method for producing stable and structurally characterized oligomers of tau that can be used in biochemical, cellular, and animal model studies to evaluate mechanisms of action of tau in tauopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily Hill
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
- Midlands Integrative Biosciences Training Partnership, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
| | - Kevin G Moffat
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
| | - Mark J Wall
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
| | - Henrik Zetterberg
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, The Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Clinical Neurochemistry Laboratory, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Mölndal, Sweden
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Institute of Neurology, London, UK
- UK Dementia Research Institute at UCL, London, UK
| | - Kaj Blennow
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, The Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Clinical Neurochemistry Laboratory, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Mölndal, Sweden
| | - Thomas K Karikari
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, The Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
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2
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Liu L, Kwak H, Lawton TL, Jin SX, Meunier AL, Dang Y, Ostaszewski B, Pietras AC, Stern AM, Selkoe DJ. An ultra-sensitive immunoassay detects and quantifies soluble Aβ oligomers in human plasma. Alzheimers Dement 2021; 18:1186-1202. [PMID: 34550630 DOI: 10.1002/alz.12457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2021] [Revised: 07/02/2021] [Accepted: 07/30/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Evidence strongly suggests that soluble oligomers of amyloid beta protein (oAβ) help initiate the pathogenic cascade of Alzheimer's disease (AD). To date, there have been no validated assays specific for detecting and quantifying oAβ in human blood. METHODS We developed an ultrasensitive oAβ immunoassay using a novel capture antibody (71A1) with N-terminal antibody 3D6 for detection that specifically quantifies soluble oAβ in the human brain, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), and plasma. RESULTS Two new antibodies (71A1; 1G5) are oAβ-selective, label Aβ plaques in non-fixed AD brain sections, and potently neutralize the synaptotoxicity of AD brain-derived oAβ. The 71A1/3D6 assay showed excellent dilution linearity in CSF and plasma without matrix effects, good spike recovery, and specific immunodepletion. DISCUSSION We have created a sensitive, high throughput, and inexpensive method to quantify synaptotoxic oAβ in human plasma for analyzing large cohorts of aged and AD subjects to assess the dynamics of this key pathogenic species and response to therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Liu
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 60 Fenwood Road, Boston, Massachusetts, 02115, USA
| | - Hyunchang Kwak
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 60 Fenwood Road, Boston, Massachusetts, 02115, USA
| | - Trebor L Lawton
- Abyssinia Biologics, LLC, 23 Cedar Point Rd, Durham, New Hampshire, 03824, USA
| | - Shan-Xue Jin
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 60 Fenwood Road, Boston, Massachusetts, 02115, USA
| | - Angela L Meunier
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 60 Fenwood Road, Boston, Massachusetts, 02115, USA
| | - Yifan Dang
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 60 Fenwood Road, Boston, Massachusetts, 02115, USA
| | - Beth Ostaszewski
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 60 Fenwood Road, Boston, Massachusetts, 02115, USA
| | - Alison C Pietras
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 60 Fenwood Road, Boston, Massachusetts, 02115, USA
| | - Andrew M Stern
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 60 Fenwood Road, Boston, Massachusetts, 02115, USA
| | - Dennis J Selkoe
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 60 Fenwood Road, Boston, Massachusetts, 02115, USA
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Zhao H, Huang X, Tong Z. Formaldehyde-Crosslinked Nontoxic Aβ Monomers to Form Toxic Aβ Dimers and Aggregates: Pathogenicity and Therapeutic Perspectives. ChemMedChem 2021; 16:3376-3390. [PMID: 34396700 DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.202100428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2021] [Revised: 08/14/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by the presence of senile plaques in the brain. However, medicines targeting amyloid-beta (Aβ) have not achieved the expected clinical effects. This review focuses on the formation mechanism of the Aβ dimer (the basic unit of oligomers and fibrils) and its tremendous potential as a drug target. Recently, age-associated formaldehyde and Aβ-derived formaldehyde have been found to crosslink the nontoxic Aβ monomer to form the toxic dimers, oligomers and fibrils. Particularly, Aβ-induced formaldehyde accumulation and formaldehyde-promoted Aβ aggregation form a vicious cycle. Subsequently, formaldehyde initiates Aβ toxicity in both the early-and late-onset AD. These facts also explain why AD drugs targeting only Aβ do not have the desired therapeutic effects. Development of the nanoparticle-based medicines targeting both formaldehyde and Aβ dimer is a promising strategy for improving the drug efficacy by penetrating blood-brain barrier and extracellular space into the cortical neurons in AD patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hang Zhao
- Institute of Aging, Key Laboratory of Alzheimer's Disease of Zhejiang Province, School of Mental Health, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325035, China
| | - Xuerong Huang
- Wenzhou Medical University Affiliated Hospital 3, Department of Neurology, Wenzhou, 325200, China
| | - Zhiqian Tong
- Institute of Aging, Key Laboratory of Alzheimer's Disease of Zhejiang Province, School of Mental Health, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325035, China
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Nguyen H, Linh HQ, Matteini P, La Penna G, Li MS. Emergence of Barrel Motif in Amyloid-β Trimer: A Computational Study. J Phys Chem B 2020; 124:10617-10631. [PMID: 33180492 PMCID: PMC7735726 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.0c05508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2020] [Revised: 10/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Amyloid-β (Aβ) peptides form assemblies that are pathological hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease. Aβ oligomers are soluble, mobile, and toxic forms of the peptide that act in the extracellular space before assembling into protofibrils and fibrils. Therefore, oligomers play an important role in the mechanism of Alzheimer's disease. Since it is difficult to determine by experiment the atomic structures of oligomers, which accumulate fast and are polymorphic, computer simulation is a useful tool to investigate elusive oligomers' structures. In this work, we report extended all-atom molecular dynamics simulations, both canonical and replica exchange, of Aβ(1-42) trimer starting from two different initial conformations: (i) the pose produced by the best docking of a monomer aside of a dimer (simulation 1), representing oligomers freshly formed by assembling monomers, and (ii) a configuration extracted from an experimental mature fibril structure (simulation 2), representing settled oligomers in equilibrium with extended fibrils. We showed that in simulation 1, regions with small β-barrels are populated, indicating the chance of spontaneous formation of domains resembling channel-like structures. These structural domains are alternative to those more representative of mature fibrils (simulation 2), the latter showing a stable bundle of C-termini that is not sampled in simulation 1. Moreover, trimer of Aβ(1-42) can form internal pores that are large enough to be accessed by water molecules and Ca2+ ions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hoang
Linh Nguyen
- Institute
for Computational Science and Technology, SBI Building, Quang Trung Software
City, Tan Chanh Hiep Ward, District 12, Ho Chi Minh City 700000, Vietnam
- Ho
Chi Minh City University of Technology (HCMUT), Ho Chi Minh City 700000, Vietnam
- Vietnam
National University, Ho Chi Minh
City 700000, Vietnam
| | - Huynh Quang Linh
- Ho
Chi Minh City University of Technology (HCMUT), Ho Chi Minh City 700000, Vietnam
- Vietnam
National University, Ho Chi Minh
City 700000, Vietnam
| | - Paolo Matteini
- Institute
of Applied Physics “Nello Carrara”, National Research Council, Via Madonna Del Piano 10, I-50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - Giovanni La Penna
- National
Research Council of Italy (CNR), Institute
for Chemistry of Organometallic Compounds (ICCOM), 50019 Florence, Italy
- National Institute for Nuclear Physics
(INFN), Section of Roma-Tor
Vergata Institute of Physics, Polish Academy of
Sciences, Al. Lotnikow
32/46, 02-668 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Mai Suan Li
- National Institute for Nuclear Physics
(INFN), Section of Roma-Tor
Vergata Institute of Physics, Polish Academy of
Sciences, Al. Lotnikow
32/46, 02-668 Warsaw, Poland
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Karikari TK, Nagel DA, Grainger A, Clarke-Bland C, Hill EJ, Moffat KG. Preparation of stable tau oligomers for cellular and biochemical studies. Anal Biochem 2018; 566:67-74. [PMID: 30315761 PMCID: PMC6331036 DOI: 10.1016/j.ab.2018.10.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2018] [Revised: 09/26/2018] [Accepted: 10/08/2018] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Increasing evidence suggests that small oligomers are the principal neurotoxic species of tau in Alzheimer's disease and other tauopathies. However, mechanisms of tau oligomer-mediated neurodegeneration are poorly understood. The transience of oligomers due to aggregation can compromise the stability of oligomers prepared in vitro. Consequently, we sought to develop an efficient method which maintains the stability and globular conformation of preformed oligomers. This study demonstrates that labeling a single-cysteine form of the pro-aggregant tau four-repeat region (K18) with either Alexa Fluor 488-C5-maleimide or N-ethylmaleimide in reducing conditions stabilizes oligomers by impeding their further aggregation. Furthermore, the use of this approach to study the propagation of labeled extracellular tau K18 oligomers into human neuroblastoma cells and human stem cell-derived neurons is described. This method is potentially applicable for preparing stabilized oligomers of tau for diagnostic and biomarker tests, as well as for in vitro structure-activity relationship assays. The transient nature of tau aggregation makes it difficult to maintain the stability of preformed oligomers. Efficient labeling of tau K18 with Alexa Fluor-488-C5-maleimide or N-ethyl maleimide stabilizes the resulting oligomers. Oligomers applied exogenously are propagated intracellularly by cultured human iPSC neurons and neuroblastoma cells. Oligomer preparation by maleimide labeling allows mechanistic studies of tau aggregation and its link to neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas K Karikari
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK; Midlands Integrative Biosciences Training Partnership, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK.
| | - David A Nagel
- School of Life and Health Sciences, Aston University, Birmingham, B4 7ET, UK
| | - Alastair Grainger
- School of Life and Health Sciences, Aston University, Birmingham, B4 7ET, UK
| | | | - Eric J Hill
- School of Life and Health Sciences, Aston University, Birmingham, B4 7ET, UK
| | - Kevin G Moffat
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK
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Serrano MP, Herrero-Labrador R, Futch HS, Serrano J, Romero A, Fernandez AP, Samadi A, Unzeta M, Marco-Contelles J, Martínez-Murillo R. The proof-of-concept of ASS234: Peripherally administered ASS234 enters the central nervous system and reduces pathology in a male mouse model of Alzheimer disease. J Psychiatry Neurosci 2017; 42:59-69. [PMID: 27636528 PMCID: PMC5373713 DOI: 10.1503/jpn.150209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The heterogeneity of Alzheimer disease requires the development of multitarget drugs for treating the symptoms of the disease and its progression. Both cholinergic and monoamine oxidase dysfunctions are involved in the pathological process. Thus, we hypothesized that the development of therapies focused on these targets might be effective. We have developed and assessed a new product, coded ASS234, a multipotent acetyl and butyrylcholinesterase/monoamine oxidase A-B inhibitor with a potent inhibitory effect on amyloid-β aggregation as well as antioxidant and antiapoptotic properties. But there is a need to reliably correlate in vitro and in vivo drug release data. METHODS We examined the effect of ASS234 on cognition in healthy adult C57BL/6J mice in a model of scopolamine-induced cognitive impairment that often accompanies normal and pathological aging. Also, in a characterized transgenic APPswe/PS1ΔE9 mouse model of Alzheimer disease, we examined the effects of short-term ASS234 treatment on plaque deposition and gliosis using immunohistochemistry. Toxicology of ASS234 was assessed using a quantitative high-throughput in vitro cytotoxicity screening assay following the MTT assay method in HepG2 liver cells. RESULTS In vivo, ASS234 significantly decreased scopolamine-induced learning deficits in C57BL/6J mice. Also, reduction of amyloid plaque burden and gliosis in the cortex and hippocampus was assessed. In vitro, ASS234 exhibited lesser toxicity than donepezil and tacrine. LIMITATIONS The study was conducted in male mice only. Although the Alzheimer disease model does not recapitulate all features of the human disease, it exhibits progressive monoaminergic neurodegeneration. CONCLUSION ASS234 is a promising alternative drug of choice to treat the cognitive decline and neurodegeneration underlying Alzheimer disease.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Ricardo Martínez-Murillo
- Correspondence to: R. Martinez-Murillo, Department of Translational Neurobiology, Neurovascular Research Group, Cajal Institute (CSIC), Avenida Doctor Arce 37, 28002-Madrid, Spain;
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Nagel-Steger L, Owen MC, Strodel B. An Account of Amyloid Oligomers: Facts and Figures Obtained from Experiments and Simulations. Chembiochem 2016; 17:657-76. [PMID: 26910367 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.201500623] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2015] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
The deposition of amyloid in brain tissue in the context of neurodegenerative diseases involves the formation of intermediate species-termed oligomers-of lower molecular mass and with structures that deviate from those of mature amyloid fibrils. Because these oligomers are thought to be primarily responsible for the subsequent disease pathogenesis, the elucidation of their structure is of enormous interest. Nevertheless, because of the high aggregation propensity and the polydispersity of oligomeric species formed by the proteins or peptides in question, the preparation of appropriate samples for high-resolution structural methods has proven to be rather difficult. This is why theoretical approaches have been of particular importance in gaining insights into possible oligomeric structures for some time. Only recently has it been possible to achieve some progress with regard to the experimentally based structural characterization of defined oligomeric species. Here we discuss how theory and experiment are used to determine oligomer structures and what can be done to improve the integration of the two disciplines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luitgard Nagel-Steger
- Institute of Complex Systems: Structural Biochemistry (ICS-6), Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425, Jülich, Germany.,Institut für Physikalische Biologie, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, Universitätstrasse 1, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Michael C Owen
- Institute of Complex Systems: Structural Biochemistry (ICS-6), Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425, Jülich, Germany
| | - Birgit Strodel
- Institute of Complex Systems: Structural Biochemistry (ICS-6), Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425, Jülich, Germany. .,Institute of Theoretical and Computational Chemistry, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Universitätstrasse 1, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany.
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8
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Osborne DM, Fitzgerald DP, O'Leary KE, Anderson BM, Lee CC, Tessier PM, McNay EC. Intrahippocampal administration of a domain antibody that binds aggregated amyloid-β reverses cognitive deficits produced by diet-induced obesity. Biochim Biophys Acta Gen Subj 2016; 1860:1291-8. [PMID: 26970498 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagen.2016.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2015] [Revised: 02/20/2016] [Accepted: 03/06/2016] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The prevalence of high fat diets (HFD), diet-induced obesity (DIO) and Type 2 diabetes continues to increase, associated with cognitive impairment in both humans and rodent models. Mechanisms transducing these impairments remain largely unknown: one possibility is that a common mechanism may be involved in the cognitive impairment seen in obese and/or diabetic states and in dementia, specifically Alzheimer's disease (AD). DIO is well established as a risk factor for development of AD. Oligomeric amyloid-β (Aβ) is neurotoxic, and we showed that intrahippocampal oligomeric Aβ produces cognitive and metabolic dysfunction similar to that seen in DIO or diabetes. Moreover, animal models of DIO show elevated brain Aβ, a hallmark of AD, suggesting that this may be one source of cognitive impairment in both conditions. METHODS Intrahippocampal administration of a novel anti-Aβ domain antibody for aggregated Aβ, or a control domain antibody, to control or HFD-induced DIO rats. Spatial learning measured in a conditioned contextual fear (CCF) task after domain antibody treatment; postmortem, hippocampal NMDAR and AMPAR were measured. RESULTS DIO caused impairment in CCF, and this impairment was eliminated by intrahippocampal administration of the active domain antibody. Measurement of hippocampal proteins suggests that DIO causes dysregulation of hippocampal AMPA receptors, which is also reversed by acute domain antibody administration. CONCLUSIONS Our findings support the concept that oligomeric Aβ within the hippocampus of DIO animals may not only be a risk factor for development of AD but may also cause cognitive impairment before the development of dementia. GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE AND INTEREST Our work integrates the engineering of domain antibodies with conformational- and sequence-specificity for oligomeric amyloid beta with a clinically relevant model of diet-induced obesity in order to demonstrate not only the pervasive effects of obesity on several aspects of brain biochemistry and behavior, but also the bioengineering of a successful treatment against the long-term detrimental effects of a pre-diabetic state on the brain. We show for the first time that cognitive impairment linked to obesity and/or insulin resistance may be due to early accumulation of oligomeric beta-amyloid in the brain, and hence may represent a pre-Alzheimer's state.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danielle M Osborne
- Behavioral Neuroscience, University at Albany, Albany, NY, United States; Center for Neuroscience Research, University at Albany, Albany, NY, United States
| | - Dennis P Fitzgerald
- Hofstra North Shore-Long Island School of Medicine, Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY, United States
| | - Kelsey E O'Leary
- University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, United States
| | - Brian M Anderson
- Center for Neuropharmacology and Neuroscience, Albany Medical College, Albany, NY, United States
| | - Christine C Lee
- Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies, Isermann Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, United States
| | - Peter M Tessier
- Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies, Isermann Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, United States
| | - Ewan C McNay
- Behavioral Neuroscience, University at Albany, Albany, NY, United States; Center for Neuroscience Research, University at Albany, Albany, NY, United States; Biological Sciences, University at Albany, Albany, NY, United States.
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Mably AJ, Liu W, Mc Donald JM, Dodart JC, Bard F, Lemere CA, O'Nuallain B, Walsh DM. Anti-Aβ antibodies incapable of reducing cerebral Aβ oligomers fail to attenuate spatial reference memory deficits in J20 mice. Neurobiol Dis 2015. [PMID: 26215784 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2015.07.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Compelling genetic evidence links the amyloid precursor protein (APP) to Alzheimer's disease (AD). A leading hypothesis proposes that a small amphipathic fragment of APP, the amyloid β-protein (Aβ), self-associates to form soluble assemblies loosely referred to as "oligomers" and that these are primary mediators of synaptic dysfunction. As such, Aβ, and specifically Aβ oligomers, are targets for disease modifying therapies. Currently, the most advanced experimental treatment for AD relies on the use of anti-Aβ antibodies. In this study, we tested the ability of the monomer-preferring antibody, m266 and a novel aggregate-preferring antibody, 1C22, to attenuate spatial reference memory impairments in J20 mice. Chronic treatment with m266 resulted in a ~70-fold increase in Aβ detected in the bloodstream, and a ~50% increase in water-soluble brain Aβ--and in both cases Aβ was bound to m266. In contrast, 1C22 increased the levels of free Aβ in the bloodstream, and bound to amyloid deposits in J20 brain. However, neither 1C22 nor m266 attenuated the cognitive deficits evident in 12month old J20 mice. Moreover, both antibodies failed to alter the levels of soluble Aβ oligomers in J20 brain. These results suggest that Aβ oligomers may mediate the behavioral deficits seen in J20 mice and highlight the need for the development of aggregate-preferring antibodies that can reach the brain in sufficient levels to neutralize bioactive Aβ oligomers. Aside from the lack of positive effect of m266 and 1C22 on cognition, a substantial number of deaths occurred in m266- and 1C22-immunized J20 mice. These fatalities were specific to anti-Aβ antibodies and to the J20 mouse line since treatment of wild type or PDAPP mice with these antibodies did not cause any deaths. These and other recent results indicate that J20 mice are particularly susceptible to targeting of the APP/Aβ/tau axis. Notwithstanding the specificity of fatalities for J20 mice, it is worrying that the murine precursor (m266) of a lead experimental therapeutic, Solanezumab, did not engage with putatively pathogenic Aβ oligomers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra J Mably
- Laboratory for Neurodegenerative Research, Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Institutes of Medicine, 77 Avenue Louis Pasteur, Boston, MA 02115, United States
| | - Wen Liu
- Laboratory for Neurodegenerative Research, Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Institutes of Medicine, 77 Avenue Louis Pasteur, Boston, MA 02115, United States
| | - Jessica M Mc Donald
- Laboratory for Neurodegenerative Research, Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Institutes of Medicine, 77 Avenue Louis Pasteur, Boston, MA 02115, United States
| | - Jean-Cosme Dodart
- NeuroBehaviour Laboratory Core, Harvard NeuroDiscovery Center, 77 Avenue Louis Pasteur, Boston, MA 02115, United States
| | - Frédérique Bard
- Janssen Alzheimer Immunotherapy Research & Development 700 Gateway Boulevard, South San Francisco, CA 94080, United States
| | - Cynthia A Lemere
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Institutes of Medicine, 77 Avenue Louis Pasteur, Boston, MA 02115, United States
| | - Brian O'Nuallain
- Laboratory for Neurodegenerative Research, Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Institutes of Medicine, 77 Avenue Louis Pasteur, Boston, MA 02115, United States
| | - Dominic M Walsh
- Laboratory for Neurodegenerative Research, Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Institutes of Medicine, 77 Avenue Louis Pasteur, Boston, MA 02115, United States.
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A human monoclonal IgG that binds aβ assemblies and diverse amyloids exhibits anti-amyloid activities in vitro and in vivo. J Neurosci 2015; 35:6265-76. [PMID: 25904780 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.5109-14.2015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) and familial Danish dementia (FDD) are degenerative neurological diseases characterized by amyloid pathology. Normal human sera contain IgG antibodies that specifically bind diverse preamyloid and amyloid proteins and have shown therapeutic potential in vitro and in vivo. We cloned one of these antibodies, 3H3, from memory B cells of a healthy individual using a hybridoma method. 3H3 is an affinity-matured IgG that binds a pan-amyloid epitope, recognizing both Aβ and λ Ig light chain (LC) amyloids, which are associated with AD and primary amyloidosis, respectively. The pan-amyloid-binding properties of 3H3 were demonstrated using ELISA, immunohistochemical studies, and competition binding assays. Functional studies showed that 3H3 inhibits both Aβ and LC amyloid formation in vitro and abrogates disruption of hippocampal synaptic plasticity by AD-patient-derived soluble Aβ in vivo. A 3H3 single-chain variable fragment (scFv) retained the binding specificity of the 3H3 IgG and, when expressed in the brains of transgenic mice using an adeno-associated virus (AAV) vector, decreased parenchymal Aβ amyloid deposition in TgCRND8 mice and ADan (Danish Amyloid) cerebral amyloid angiopathy in the mouse model of FDD. These data indicate that naturally occurring human IgGs can recognize a conformational, amyloid-specific epitope and have potent anti-amyloid activities, providing a rationale to test their potential as antibody therapeutics for diverse neurological and other amyloid diseases.
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11
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Ferreira ST, Lourenco MV, Oliveira MM, De Felice FG. Soluble amyloid-β oligomers as synaptotoxins leading to cognitive impairment in Alzheimer's disease. Front Cell Neurosci 2015; 9:191. [PMID: 26074767 PMCID: PMC4443025 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2015.00191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 240] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2015] [Accepted: 04/30/2015] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia in the elderly, and affects millions of people worldwide. As the number of AD cases continues to increase in both developed and developing countries, finding therapies that effectively halt or reverse disease progression constitutes a major research and public health challenge. Since the identification of the amyloid-β peptide (Aβ) as the major component of the amyloid plaques that are characteristically found in AD brains, a major effort has aimed to determine whether and how Aβ leads to memory loss and cognitive impairment. A large body of evidence accumulated in the past 15 years supports a pivotal role of soluble Aβ oligomers (AβOs) in synapse failure and neuronal dysfunction in AD. Nonetheless, a number of basic questions, including the exact molecular composition of the synaptotoxic oligomers, the identity of the receptor(s) to which they bind, and the signaling pathways that ultimately lead to synapse failure, remain to be definitively answered. Here, we discuss recent advances that have illuminated our understanding of the chemical nature of the toxic species and the deleterious impact they have on synapses, and have culminated in the proposal of an Aβ oligomer hypothesis for Alzheimer’s pathogenesis. We also highlight outstanding questions and challenges in AD research that should be addressed to allow translation of research findings into effective AD therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergio T Ferreira
- Institute of Biophysics Carlos Chagas Filho, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil ; Institute of Medical Biochemistry Leopoldo de Meis, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Mychael V Lourenco
- Institute of Medical Biochemistry Leopoldo de Meis, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Mauricio M Oliveira
- Institute of Medical Biochemistry Leopoldo de Meis, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Fernanda G De Felice
- Institute of Medical Biochemistry Leopoldo de Meis, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
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12
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Pain C, Dumont J, Dumoulin M. Camelid single-domain antibody fragments: Uses and prospects to investigate protein misfolding and aggregation, and to treat diseases associated with these phenomena. Biochimie 2015; 111:82-106. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biochi.2015.01.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2014] [Accepted: 01/23/2015] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
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13
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Rao SK, Ross JM, Harrison FE, Bernardo A, Reiserer RS, Reiserer RS, Mobley JA, McDonald MP. Differential proteomic and behavioral effects of long-term voluntary exercise in wild-type and APP-overexpressing transgenics. Neurobiol Dis 2015; 78:45-55. [PMID: 25818006 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2015.03.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2014] [Revised: 03/12/2015] [Accepted: 03/13/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Physical exercise may provide protection against the cognitive decline and neuropathology associated with Alzheimer's disease, although the mechanisms are not clear. In the present study, APP/PSEN1 double-transgenic and wild-type mice were allowed unlimited voluntary exercise for 7months. Consistent with previous reports, wheel-running improved cognition in the double-transgenic mice. Interestingly, the average daily distance run was strongly correlated with spatial memory in the water maze in wild-type mice (r(2)=.959), but uncorrelated in transgenics (r(2)=.013). Proteomics analysis showed that sedentary transgenic mice differed significantly from sedentary wild-types with respect to proteins involved in synaptic transmission, cytoskeletal regulation, and neurogenesis. When given an opportunity to exercise, the transgenics' deficiencies in cytoskeletal regulation and neurogenesis largely normalized, but abnormal synaptic proteins did not change. In contrast, exercise enhanced proteins associated with cytoskeletal regulation, oxidative phosphorylation, and synaptic transmission in wild-type mice. Soluble and insoluble Aβ40 and Aβ42 levels were significantly decreased in both cortex and hippocampus of active transgenics, suggesting that this may have played a role in the cognitive improvement in APP/PSEN1 mice. β-secretase was significantly reduced in active APP/PSEN1 mice compared to sedentary controls, suggesting a mechanism for reduced Aβ. Taken together, these data illustrate that exercise improves memory in wild-type and APP-overexpressing mice in fundamentally different ways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shailaja Kishan Rao
- Departments of Neurology and Anatomy & Neurobiology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA
| | - Jordan M Ross
- Departments of Neurology and Anatomy & Neurobiology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA
| | - Fiona E Harrison
- Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37204, USA; Program in Neuroscience, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37204, USA
| | - Alexandra Bernardo
- Program in Neuroscience, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37204, USA; Institute of Neurobiology, Medical Sciences Campus University of Puerto Rico, Old San Juan, PR 00901, USA
| | - Randall S Reiserer
- Program in Neuroscience, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37204, USA
| | - Ronald S Reiserer
- Vanderbilt Institute for Integrative Biosystems Research and Education, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37204, USA
| | - James A Mobley
- Department of Surgery, University of Alabama, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Michael P McDonald
- Departments of Neurology and Anatomy & Neurobiology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA.
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14
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Sadigh-Eteghad S, Sabermarouf B, Majdi A, Talebi M, Farhoudi M, Mahmoudi J. Amyloid-beta: a crucial factor in Alzheimer's disease. Med Princ Pract 2014; 24:1-10. [PMID: 25471398 PMCID: PMC5588216 DOI: 10.1159/000369101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 298] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2014] [Accepted: 10/15/2014] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most prevalent form of dementia which affects people older than 60 years of age. In AD, the dysregulation of the amyloid-beta (Aβ) level leads to the appearance of senile plaques which contain Aβ depositions. Aβ is a complex biological molecule which interacts with many types of receptors and/or forms insoluble assemblies and, eventually, its nonphysiological depositions alternate with the normal neuronal conditions. In this situation, AD signs appear and the patients experience marked cognitional disabilities. In general, intellect, social skills, personality, and memory are influenced by this disease and, in the long run, it leads to a reduction in quality of life and life expectancy. Due to the pivotal role of Aβ in the pathobiology of AD, a great deal of effort has been made to reveal its exact role in neuronal dysfunctions and to finding efficacious therapeutic strategies against its adverse neuronal outcomes. Hence, the determination of its different molecular assemblies and the mechanisms underlying its pathological effects are of interest. In the present paper, some of the well-established structural forms of Aβ, its interactions with various receptors and possible molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying its neurotoxicity are discussed. In addition, several Aβ-based rodent models of AD are reviewed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Javad Mahmoudi
- Neurosciences Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
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15
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Phay M, Blinder V, Macy S, Greene MJ, Wooliver DC, Liu W, Planas A, Walsh DM, Connors LH, Primmer SR, Planque SA, Paul S, O'Nuallain B. Transthyretin Aggregate-Specific Antibodies Recognize Cryptic Epitopes on Patient-Derived Amyloid Fibrils. Rejuvenation Res 2014; 17:97-104. [DOI: 10.1089/rej.2013.1524] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Monichan Phay
- The Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Veronika Blinder
- The Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Sallie Macy
- Department of Medicine, University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine, Knoxville, Tennessee
| | - Michael J. Greene
- Amyloidosis Center, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Daniel C. Wooliver
- Department of Medicine, University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine, Knoxville, Tennessee
| | - Wen Liu
- The Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Antoni Planas
- Laboratory of Biochemistry, Institut Químic de Sarrià, Universitat Ramon Llull, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Dominic M. Walsh
- The Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Lawreen H. Connors
- Amyloidosis Center, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts
| | | | - Stephanie A. Planque
- Chemical Immunology Research Center, University of Texas-Houston Medical School, Houston, Texas
| | - Sudhir Paul
- Chemical Immunology Research Center, University of Texas-Houston Medical School, Houston, Texas
| | - Brian O'Nuallain
- The Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
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16
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Acerra N, Kad NM, Griffith DA, Ott S, Crowther DC, Mason JM. Retro-inversal of Intracellular Selected β-Amyloid-Interacting Peptides: Implications for a Novel Alzheimer’s Disease Treatment. Biochemistry 2014; 53:2101-11. [DOI: 10.1021/bi5001257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Nicola Acerra
- School
of Biological Sciences, University of Essex, Wivenhoe Park, Colchester CO4 3SQ, U.K
| | - Neil M. Kad
- School
of Biological Sciences, University of Essex, Wivenhoe Park, Colchester CO4 3SQ, U.K
| | - Douglas A. Griffith
- Department
of Genetics, University of Cambridge, Downing Site, Cambridge CB2 3EH, U.K
| | - Stanislav Ott
- Department
of Genetics, University of Cambridge, Downing Site, Cambridge CB2 3EH, U.K
| | - Damian C. Crowther
- Department
of Genetics, University of Cambridge, Downing Site, Cambridge CB2 3EH, U.K
| | - Jody M. Mason
- School
of Biological Sciences, University of Essex, Wivenhoe Park, Colchester CO4 3SQ, U.K
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17
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Hu NW, Nicoll AJ, Zhang D, Mably AJ, O'Malley T, Purro SA, Terry C, Collinge J, Walsh DM, Rowan MJ. mGlu5 receptors and cellular prion protein mediate amyloid-β-facilitated synaptic long-term depression in vivo. Nat Commun 2014; 5:3374. [PMID: 24594908 PMCID: PMC4354159 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms4374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 136] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2013] [Accepted: 02/04/2014] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
NMDA-type glutamate receptors (NMDARs) are currently regarded as paramount in the
potent and selective disruption of synaptic plasticity by Alzheimer’s
disease amyloid β-protein
(Aβ). Non-NMDAR
mechanisms remain relatively unexplored. Here we describe how Aβ facilitates NMDAR-independent
long-term depression of synaptic transmission in the hippocampus in vivo.
Synthetic Aβ and
Aβ in soluble
extracts of Alzheimer’s disease brain usurp endogenous acetylcholine
muscarinic receptor-dependent long-term depression, to enable long-term depression
that required metabotropic glutamate-5
receptors (mGlu5Rs). We also find that mGlu5Rs are essential for Aβ-mediated inhibition of NMDAR-dependent long-term
potentiation in vivo. Blocking Aβ binding to cellular prion protein with antibodies prevents the facilitation
of long-term depression. Our findings uncover an overarching role for Aβ-PrPC-mGlu5R interplay in mediating both LTD
facilitation and LTP inhibition, encompassing NMDAR-mediated processes that were
previously considered primary. In Alzheimer's disease, the soluble amyloid beta peptide is
known to modulate synaptic function by forming a complex with prion proteins and
metabotropic glutamate receptors. Here, Hu et al. show that amyloid beta
signalling via this complex facilitates the induction of long-term depression at
synapses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neng-Wei Hu
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, and Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, Biotechnology Building, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland
| | - Andrew J Nicoll
- Medical Research Council Prion Unit and Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Dainan Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, and Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, Biotechnology Building, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland
| | - Alexandra J Mably
- Laboratory for Neurodegenerative Research, Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham & Women's Hospital, Harvard Institute of Medicine, 77 Avenue Louis Pasteur, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
| | - Tiernan O'Malley
- Laboratory for Neurodegenerative Research, Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham & Women's Hospital, Harvard Institute of Medicine, 77 Avenue Louis Pasteur, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
| | - Silvia A Purro
- Medical Research Council Prion Unit and Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Cassandra Terry
- Medical Research Council Prion Unit and Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - John Collinge
- Medical Research Council Prion Unit and Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Dominic M Walsh
- Laboratory for Neurodegenerative Research, Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham & Women's Hospital, Harvard Institute of Medicine, 77 Avenue Louis Pasteur, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
| | - Michael J Rowan
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, and Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, Biotechnology Building, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland
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18
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Hefti F, Goure WF, Jerecic J, Iverson KS, Walicke PA, Krafft GA. The case for soluble Aβ oligomers as a drug target in Alzheimer's disease. Trends Pharmacol Sci 2013; 34:261-6. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tips.2013.03.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2012] [Revised: 03/08/2013] [Accepted: 03/12/2013] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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19
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Mengel D, Röskam S, Neff F, Balakrishnan K, Deuster O, Gold M, Oertel WH, Bacher M, Bach JP, Dodel R. Naturally occurring autoantibodies interfere with β-amyloid metabolism and improve cognition in a transgenic mouse model of Alzheimer's disease 24 h after single treatment. Transl Psychiatry 2013; 3:e236. [PMID: 23462987 PMCID: PMC3625912 DOI: 10.1038/tp.2012.151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
There is evidence that naturally occurring antibodies directed against Aβ (nAbs-Aβ) have a role in Aβ-metabolism and Aβ-clearance. The presence of nAbs-Aβ leads to a reduction in amyloid fibrillation and thus a reduction in their toxicity. We investigated the effects of nAbs-Aβ in respect to oligomerization and used the Tg2576 transgenic mouse model in order to investigate the rapid effect with a single-dose (24 h) on oligomer breakdown and cytokine secretion along with immunohistochemical characterization of synaptic plasticity. nAbs-Aβ were able to reduce toxic oligomer concentration with an increase in Aβ-monomers. Cytokine secretion was significantly reduced. Synaptic plasticity was also improved after administration of nAbs. Finally, single treatment lead to a significant improvement in cognition. This study demonstrates the efficacy of nAbs-Aβ and presents evidence that several hallmarks of the disease are targeted by nAbs-Aβ.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Mengel
- Department of Neurology, Philipps-University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - S Röskam
- Department of Neurology, Philipps-University Marburg, Marburg, Germany,Department of Animal Physiology, Philipps-University, Marburg, Germany
| | - F Neff
- Department of Neurology, Philipps-University Marburg, Marburg, Germany,Institute of Pathology, Helmholtz Zentrum, Deutsches Forschungszentrum für Gesundheit und Umwelt (GmbH), München, Germany
| | - K Balakrishnan
- Department of Neurology, Philipps-University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - O Deuster
- Department of Neurology, Philipps-University Marburg, Marburg, Germany,IZKS-Mainz, University Medical Center, Mainz, Germany
| | - M Gold
- Department of Neurology, Philipps-University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - W H Oertel
- Department of Neurology, Philipps-University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - M Bacher
- Department of Neurology, Philipps-University Marburg, Marburg, Germany,Institute of Immunology, Philipps-University, Marburg, Germany
| | - J-P Bach
- Department of Neurology, Philipps-University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - R Dodel
- Department of Neurology, Philipps-University Marburg, Marburg, Germany,Department of Neurology, Philipps-University Marburg, Baldingerstrasse, 35041 Marburg, Germany. E-mail:
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20
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Welzel AT, Williams AD, McWilliams-Koeppen HP, Acero L, Weber A, Blinder V, Mably A, Bunk S, Hermann C, Farrell MA, Ehrlich HJ, Schwarz HP, Walsh DM, Solomon A, O’Nuallain B. Human anti-Aβ IgGs target conformational epitopes on synthetic dimer assemblies and the AD brain-derived peptide. PLoS One 2012; 7:e50317. [PMID: 23209707 PMCID: PMC3507685 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0050317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2012] [Accepted: 10/18/2012] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Soluble non-fibrillar assemblies of amyloid-beta (Aβ) and aggregated tau protein are the proximate synaptotoxic species associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD). Anti-Aβ immunotherapy is a promising and advanced therapeutic strategy, but the precise Aβ species to target is not yet known. Previously, we and others have shown that natural human IgGs (NAbs) target diverse Aβ conformers and have therapeutic potential. We now demonstrate that these antibodies bound with nM avidity to conformational epitopes on plate-immobilized synthetic Aβ dimer assemblies, including synaptotoxic protofibrils, and targeted these conformers in solution. Importantly, NAbs also recognized Aβ extracted from the water-soluble phase of human AD brain, including species that migrated on denaturing PAGE as SDS-stable dimers. The critical reliance on Aβ's conformational state for NAb binding, and not a linear sequence epitope, was confirmed by the antibody's nM reactivity with plate-immobilized protofibrills, and weak uM binding to synthetic Aβ monomers and peptide fragments. The antibody's lack of reactivity against a linear sequence epitope was confirmed by our ability to isolate anti-Aβ NAbs from intravenous immunoglobulin using affinity matrices, immunoglobulin light chain fibrils and Cibacron blue, which had no sequence similarity with the peptide. These findings suggest that further investigations on the molecular basis and the therapeutic/diagnostic potential of anti-Aβ NAbs are warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alfred T. Welzel
- The Conway Institute, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin, Republic of Ireland
| | - Angela D. Williams
- Human Immunology and Cancer Program, Department of Medicine, University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine, Knoxville, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - Helen P. McWilliams-Koeppen
- Human Immunology and Cancer Program, Department of Medicine, University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine, Knoxville, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - Luis Acero
- Human Immunology and Cancer Program, Department of Medicine, University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine, Knoxville, Tennessee, United States of America
| | | | - Veronika Blinder
- The Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Research, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Institutes of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Alex Mably
- The Conway Institute, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin, Republic of Ireland
- The Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Research, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Institutes of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | | | | | - Michael A. Farrell
- Dublin Brain Bank, Pathology Department, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | | | | | - Dominic M. Walsh
- The Conway Institute, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin, Republic of Ireland
- The Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Research, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Institutes of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Alan Solomon
- Human Immunology and Cancer Program, Department of Medicine, University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine, Knoxville, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - Brian O’Nuallain
- The Conway Institute, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin, Republic of Ireland
- Human Immunology and Cancer Program, Department of Medicine, University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine, Knoxville, Tennessee, United States of America
- The Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Research, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Institutes of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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21
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Gallion SL. Modeling amyloid-beta as homogeneous dodecamers and in complex with cellular prion protein. PLoS One 2012; 7:e49375. [PMID: 23145167 PMCID: PMC3493521 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0049375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2012] [Accepted: 10/11/2012] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Soluble amyloid beta (Aβ) peptide has been linked to the pathology of Alzheimer's disease. A variety of soluble oligomers have been observed to be toxic, ranging from dimers to protofibrils. No tertiary structure has been identified as a single biologically relevant form, though many models are comprised of highly ordered β-sheets. Evidence exists for much less ordered toxic oligomers. The mechanism of toxicity remains highly debated and probably involves multiple pathways. Interaction of Aβ oligomers with the N-terminus of the cellular form of the prion protein (PrP(c)) has recently been proposed. The intrinsically disordered nature of this protein and the highly polymorphic nature of Aβ oligomers make structural resolution of the complex exceptionally challenging. In this study, molecular dynamics simulations are performed for dodecameric assemblies of Aβ comprised of monomers having a single, short antiparallel β-hairpin at the C-terminus. The resulting models, devoid of any intermolecular hydrogen bonds, are shown to correlate well with experimental data and are found to be quite stable within the hydrophobic core, whereas the α-helical N-termini transform to a random coil state. This indicates that highly ordered assemblies are not required for stability and less ordered oligomers are a viable component in the population of soluble oligomers. In addition, a tentative model is proposed for the association of Aβ dimers with a double deletion mutant of the intrinsically disordered N-terminus of PrP(c). This may be useful as a conceptual working model for the binding of higher order oligomers and in the design of further experiments.
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22
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Alzheimer's disease Aβ assemblies mediating rapid disruption of synaptic plasticity and memory. Mol Brain 2012; 5:25. [PMID: 22805374 PMCID: PMC3502131 DOI: 10.1186/1756-6606-5-25] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2012] [Accepted: 06/22/2012] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is characterized by episodic memory impairment that often precedes clinical diagnosis by many years. Probing the mechanisms of such impairment may provide much needed means of diagnosis and therapeutic intervention at an early, pre-dementia, stage. Prior to the onset of significant neurodegeneration, the structural and functional integrity of synapses in mnemonic circuitry is severely compromised in the presence of amyloidosis. This review examines recent evidence evaluating the role of amyloid-ß protein (Aβ) in causing rapid disruption of synaptic plasticity and memory impairment. We evaluate the relative importance of different sizes and conformations of Aβ, including monomer, oligomer, protofibril and fibril. We pay particular attention to recent controversies over the relevance to the pathophysiology of AD of different water soluble Aβ aggregates and the importance of cellular prion protein in mediating their effects. Current data are consistent with the view that both low-n oligomers and larger soluble assemblies present in AD brain, some of them via a direct interaction with cellular prion protein, cause synaptic memory failure. At the two extremes of aggregation, monomers and fibrils appear to act in vivo both as sources and sinks of certain metastable conformations of soluble aggregates that powerfully disrupt synaptic plasticity. The same principle appears to apply to other synaptotoxic amyloidogenic proteins including tau, α-synuclein and prion protein.
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23
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Selenica MLB, Brownlow M, Jimenez JP, Lee DC, Pena G, Dickey CA, Gordon MN, Morgan D. Amyloid oligomers exacerbate tau pathology in a mouse model of tauopathy. NEURODEGENER DIS 2012; 11:165-81. [PMID: 22796753 DOI: 10.1159/000337230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2011] [Accepted: 02/02/2012] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND We aimed to investigate the influence of oligomeric forms of β-amyloid (Aβ) and the influence of the duration of exposure on the development of tau phosphorylation. METHODS Aβ oligomers were injected intracranially either acutely into 5-month-old rTg4510 mice and tissue was collected 3 days later, or chronically into 3-month-old mice and tissue was collected 2 months later. Several forms of phosphorylated tau (p-tau), GSK3 (glycogen synthase kinase-3) and microglial and astrocyte activation were measured. RESULTS Acute injections of Aβ oligomers had no effect on p-tau epitopes but did result in elevation of phosphorylated/activated GSK3 (pGSK3). Chronic infusion of Aβ oligomers into the right hippocampus resulted in 3- to 4-fold elevations in several p-tau isoforms with no changes in total tau levels. A significant elevation in pGSK3 accompanied these changes. Microglial staining with CD68 paralleled the increase in tau phosphorylation, however, CD45 staining was unaffected by Aβ. Control experiments revealed that the infusion of Aβ from the minipumps was largely complete by 10 days after implantation. Thus, the elevation in p-tau 2 months after implantation implies that the changes are quite persistent. CONCLUSION Soluble Aβ(1-42) oligomers have long-lasting effects on tau phosphorylation in the rTg4510 model, possibly due to elevations in GSK3. These data suggest that even brief elevations in Aβ production, may have enduring impact on the risk for tauopathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maj-Linda B Selenica
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology, USF Health Byrd Alzheimer's Institute, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33613, USA
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24
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Proctor CJ, Pienaar IS, Elson JL, Kirkwood TBL. Aggregation, impaired degradation and immunization targeting of amyloid-beta dimers in Alzheimer's disease: a stochastic modelling approach. Mol Neurodegener 2012; 7:32. [PMID: 22748062 PMCID: PMC3583291 DOI: 10.1186/1750-1326-7-32] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2012] [Accepted: 06/11/2012] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most frequently diagnosed neurodegenerative disorder affecting humans, with advanced age being the most prominent risk factor for developing AD. Despite intense research efforts aimed at elucidating the precise molecular underpinnings of AD, a definitive answer is still lacking. In recent years, consensus has grown that dimerisation of the polypeptide amyloid-beta (Aß), particularly Aß42, plays a crucial role in the neuropathology that characterise AD-affected post-mortem brains, including the large-scale accumulation of fibrils, also referred to as senile plaques. This has led to the realistic hope that targeting Aß42 immunotherapeutically could drastically reduce plaque burden in the ageing brain, thus delaying AD onset or symptom progression. Stochastic modelling is a useful tool for increasing understanding of the processes underlying complex systems-affecting disorders such as AD, providing a rapid and inexpensive strategy for testing putative new therapies. In light of the tool’s utility, we developed computer simulation models to examine Aß42 turnover and its aggregation in detail and to test the effect of immunization against Aß dimers. Results Our model demonstrates for the first time that even a slight decrease in the clearance rate of Aß42 monomers is sufficient to increase the chance of dimers forming, which could act as instigators of protofibril and fibril formation, resulting in increased plaque levels. As the process is slow and levels of Aβ are normally low, stochastic effects are important. Our model predicts that reducing the rate of dimerisation leads to a significant reduction in plaque levels and delays onset of plaque formation. The model was used to test the effect of an antibody mediated immunological response. Our results showed that plaque levels were reduced compared to conditions where antibodies are not present. Conclusion Our model supports the current thinking that levels of dimers are important in initiating the aggregation process. Although substantial knowledge exists regarding the process, no therapeutic intervention is on offer that reliably decreases disease burden in AD patients. Computer modelling could serve as one of a number of tools to examine both the validity of reliable biomarkers and aid the discovery of successful intervention strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carole J Proctor
- Institute for Ageing and Health, Newcastle University, Campus for Ageing and Vitality, Newcastle upon Tyne NE4 5PL, United Kingdom.
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25
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Benilova I, Karran E, De Strooper B. The toxic Aβ oligomer and Alzheimer's disease: an emperor in need of clothes. Nat Neurosci 2012; 15:349-57. [DOI: 10.1038/nn.3028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1435] [Impact Index Per Article: 119.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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