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Richardson B, Goedert T, Quraishe S, Deinhardt K, Mudher A. How do neurons age? A focused review on the aging of the microtubular cytoskeleton. Neural Regen Res 2024; 19:1899-1907. [PMID: 38227514 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.390974] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2023] [Accepted: 11/01/2023] [Indexed: 01/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Aging is the leading risk factor for Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative diseases. We now understand that a breakdown in the neuronal cytoskeleton, mainly underpinned by protein modifications leading to the destabilization of microtubules, is central to the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease. This is accompanied by morphological defects across the somatodendritic compartment, axon, and synapse. However, knowledge of what occurs to the microtubule cytoskeleton and morphology of the neuron during physiological aging is comparatively poor. Several recent studies have suggested that there is an age-related increase in the phosphorylation of the key microtubule stabilizing protein tau, a modification, which is known to destabilize the cytoskeleton in Alzheimer's disease. This indicates that the cytoskeleton and potentially other neuronal structures reliant on the cytoskeleton become functionally compromised during normal physiological aging. The current literature shows age-related reductions in synaptic spine density and shifts in synaptic spine conformation which might explain age-related synaptic functional deficits. However, knowledge of what occurs to the microtubular and actin cytoskeleton, with increasing age is extremely limited. When considering the somatodendritic compartment, a regression in dendrites and loss of dendritic length and volume is reported whilst a reduction in soma volume/size is often seen. However, research into cytoskeletal change is limited to a handful of studies demonstrating reductions in and mislocalizations of microtubule-associated proteins with just one study directly exploring the integrity of the microtubules. In the axon, an increase in axonal diameter and age-related appearance of swellings is reported but like the dendrites, just one study investigates the microtubules directly with others reporting loss or mislocalization of microtubule-associated proteins. Though these are the general trends reported, there are clear disparities between model organisms and brain regions that are worthy of further investigation. Additionally, longitudinal studies of neuronal/cytoskeletal aging should also investigate whether these age-related changes contribute not just to vulnerability to disease but also to the decline in nervous system function and behavioral output that all organisms experience. This will highlight the utility, if any, of cytoskeletal fortification for the promotion of healthy neuronal aging and potential protection against age-related neurodegenerative disease. This review seeks to summarize what is currently known about the physiological aging of the neuron and microtubular cytoskeleton in the hope of uncovering mechanisms underpinning age-related risk to disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brad Richardson
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Thomas Goedert
- Institute of Developmental and Regenerative Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Shmma Quraishe
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Katrin Deinhardt
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Amritpal Mudher
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
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Gao C, Shang J, Sun Z, Xia M, Gao D, Sun R, Li W, Wang F, Zhang J. Presenilin2 D439A Mutation Induces Dysfunction of Mitochondrial Fusion/Fission Dynamics and Abnormal Regulation of GTPase Activity. Mol Neurobiol 2024; 61:5047-5070. [PMID: 38159198 PMCID: PMC11249618 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-023-03858-y] [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: 05/17/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is an age-related progressive neurodegenerative disease, and approximately 10% of AD cases are early-onset familial AD (EOFAD), which is mainly linked to point mutations in genes encoding presenilins (PS1 and PS2). Mutations in PS2 are extremely rare and have not received enough attention. Recently, studies have found that Rho GTPase activity is closely related to the pathogenesis of AD. In this study, we used transcriptome sequencing in PS2 siRNA-transfected SH-SY5Y cells and found a group of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) related to the regulation of GTPase activity. Among those DEGs, the most significantly downregulated was Rho guanine nucleotide exchange factor 5 (ARHGEF5). GTPase activity in PS2 siRNA-transfected cells was significantly decreased. Then, we found that the expression of ARHGEF5 and the GTPase activity of Mitochondrial Rho GTPase 2 (Miro2) in PS2 D439A mutant SH-SY5Y cells were significantly decreased. We found for the first time that PS2 can bind to Miro2, and the PS2 D439A mutation reduced the binding between PS2 and Miro2, reduced the expression of Miro2, and resulted in an imbalance in mitochondrial fusion/fission dynamics. In conclusion, PS2 gene knockdown may participate in the pathogenesis of AD through the regulation of GTPase activity. The imbalance in mitochondrial dynamics mediated by the PS2 D439A mutation through regulation of the expression and GTPase activity of Miro2 may be a potential pathogenic mechanism of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenhao Gao
- Department of Neurology, Zhengzhou University People's Hospital, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Zhengzhou, 450003, Henan, China
- Academy of Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450003, Henan, China
| | - Junkui Shang
- Department of Neurology, Zhengzhou University People's Hospital, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Zhengzhou, 450003, Henan, China
- Department of Neurology, Henan University People's Hospital, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Zhengzhou, 450003, Henan, China
| | - Zhengyu Sun
- Department of Neurology, Zhengzhou University People's Hospital, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Zhengzhou, 450003, Henan, China
- Department of Neurology, Henan University People's Hospital, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Zhengzhou, 450003, Henan, China
| | - Mingrong Xia
- Department of Neurology, Zhengzhou University People's Hospital, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Zhengzhou, 450003, Henan, China
| | - Dandan Gao
- Department of Neurology, Zhengzhou University People's Hospital, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Zhengzhou, 450003, Henan, China
| | - Ruihua Sun
- Department of Neurology, Zhengzhou University People's Hospital, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Zhengzhou, 450003, Henan, China
- Academy of Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450003, Henan, China
| | - Wei Li
- Department of Neurology, Zhengzhou University People's Hospital, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Zhengzhou, 450003, Henan, China
| | - Fengyu Wang
- Department of Neurology, Zhengzhou University People's Hospital, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Zhengzhou, 450003, Henan, China
- Department of Neurology, Henan University People's Hospital, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Zhengzhou, 450003, Henan, China
| | - Jiewen Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Zhengzhou University People's Hospital, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Zhengzhou, 450003, Henan, China.
- Academy of Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450003, Henan, China.
- Department of Neurology, Henan University People's Hospital, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Zhengzhou, 450003, Henan, China.
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Congdon EE, Ji C, Tetlow AM, Jiang Y, Sigurdsson EM. Tau-targeting therapies for Alzheimer disease: current status and future directions. Nat Rev Neurol 2023; 19:715-736. [PMID: 37875627 PMCID: PMC10965012 DOI: 10.1038/s41582-023-00883-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 10/26/2023]
Abstract
Alzheimer disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia in older individuals. AD is characterized pathologically by amyloid-β (Aβ) plaques and tau neurofibrillary tangles in the brain, with associated loss of synapses and neurons, which eventually results in dementia. Many of the early attempts to develop treatments for AD focused on Aβ, but a lack of efficacy of these treatments in terms of slowing disease progression led to a change of strategy towards targeting of tau pathology. Given that tau shows a stronger correlation with symptom severity than does Aβ, targeting of tau is more likely to be efficacious once cognitive decline begins. Anti-tau therapies initially focused on post-translational modifications, inhibition of tau aggregation and stabilization of microtubules. However, trials of many potential drugs were discontinued because of toxicity and/or lack of efficacy. Currently, the majority of tau-targeting agents in clinical trials are immunotherapies. In this Review, we provide an update on the results from the initial immunotherapy trials and an overview of new therapeutic candidates that are in clinical development, as well as considering future directions for tau-targeting therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin E Congdon
- Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Neuroscience Institute, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Changyi Ji
- Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Neuroscience Institute, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Amber M Tetlow
- Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Neuroscience Institute, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Yixiang Jiang
- Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Neuroscience Institute, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Einar M Sigurdsson
- Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
- Neuroscience Institute, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
- Department of Psychiatry, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
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Gagliardi S, Truffi M, Tinelli V, Garofalo M, Pandini C, Cotta Ramusino M, Perini G, Costa A, Negri S, Mazzucchelli S, Bonizzi A, Sitia L, Busacca M, Sevieri M, Mocchi M, Ricciardi A, Prosperi D, Corsi F, Cereda C, Morasso C. Bisdemethoxycurcumin (BDC)-Loaded H-Ferritin-Nanocages Mediate the Regulation of Inflammation in Alzheimer's Disease Patients. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:9237. [PMID: 36012501 PMCID: PMC9409287 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23169237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2022] [Revised: 08/01/2022] [Accepted: 08/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Bisdemethoxycurcumin (BDC) might be an inflammation inhibitor in Alzheimer's Disease (AD). However, BDC is almost insoluble in water, poorly absorbed by the organism, and degrades rapidly. We thus developed a new nanoformulation of BDC based on H-Ferritin nanocages (BDC-HFn). METHODS We tested the BDC-HFn solubility, stability, and ability to cross a blood-brain barrier (BBB) model. We tested the effect of BDC-HFn on AD and control (CTR) PBMCs to evaluate the transcriptomic profile by RNA-seq. RESULTS We developed a nanoformulation with a diameter of 12 nm to improve the solubility and stability. The comparison of the transcriptomics analyses between AD patients before and after BDC-HFn treatment showed a major number of DEG (2517). The pathway analysis showed that chemokines and macrophages activation differed between AD patients and controls after BDC-HFn treatment. BDC-HFn binds endothelial cells from the cerebral cortex and crosses through a BBB in vitro model. CONCLUSIONS Our data showed how BDC-Hfn could improve the stability of BDC. Significant differences in genes associated with inflammation between the same patients before and after BDC-Hfn treatment have been found. Inflammatory genes that are upregulated between AD and CTR after BDC-HFn treatment are converted and downregulated, suggesting a possible therapeutic approach.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Marta Truffi
- Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS Spa SB, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Veronica Tinelli
- Department of Biotechnology and Bioscience, University of Milano-Bicocca, 20126 Milano, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | - Alfredo Costa
- IRCCS Mondino Foundation, 27100 Pavia, Italy
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Sara Negri
- Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS Spa SB, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Serena Mazzucchelli
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via G. B. Grassi 74, 20157 Milano, Italy
| | - Arianna Bonizzi
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via G. B. Grassi 74, 20157 Milano, Italy
| | - Leopoldo Sitia
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via G. B. Grassi 74, 20157 Milano, Italy
| | | | - Marta Sevieri
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via G. B. Grassi 74, 20157 Milano, Italy
| | - Michela Mocchi
- Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS Spa SB, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | | | - Davide Prosperi
- Department of Biotechnology and Bioscience, University of Milano-Bicocca, 20126 Milano, Italy
| | - Fabio Corsi
- Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS Spa SB, 27100 Pavia, Italy
- Department of Biotechnology and Bioscience, University of Milano-Bicocca, 20126 Milano, Italy
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via G. B. Grassi 74, 20157 Milano, Italy
| | | | - Carlo Morasso
- Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS Spa SB, 27100 Pavia, Italy
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Mohammadi S, Rafii-Tabar H, Sasanpour P. A modeling study of the effect of an alternating magnetic field on magnetite nanoparticles in proximity of the neuronal microtubules: A proposed mechanism for detachment of tau proteins. COMPUTER METHODS AND PROGRAMS IN BIOMEDICINE 2022; 222:106913. [PMID: 35738092 DOI: 10.1016/j.cmpb.2022.106913] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2022] [Revised: 05/17/2022] [Accepted: 05/24/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE It is known that the disintegration of microtubules in neurons occurs in response to the phosphorylation of the tau proteins that promotes the structural instability of the microtubules, as one of the factors underlying the onset of Alzheimer's disease (AD). METHODS In this study, the mechanical variations undergone by the tau protein's and microtubule's structures due to the action of intrinsic magnetite nanoparticles inside the brain tissue have been computationally modeled using the finite element (FEM) method. RESULTS The von Mises stress induced by magnetite nanoparticles, subject to an applied alternating magnetic field, leads to local heating and mechanical forces, prompting a corresponding deformation in, and displacement of, the microtubule and the tau protein. CONCLUSIONS The induction of these deformations would increase the probability of the microtubules' depolymerization, and hence their eventual structural disintegration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simah Mohammadi
- Department of Medical Physics & Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hashem Rafii-Tabar
- Department of Medical Physics & Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; The Physics Branch of Iran Academy of Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Pezhman Sasanpour
- Department of Medical Physics & Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
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Santana DA, Bedrat A, Puga RD, Turecki G, Mechawar N, Faria TC, Gigek CO, Payão SL, Smith MA, Lemos B, Chen ES. The role of H3K9 acetylation and gene expression in different brain regions of Alzheimer's disease patients. Epigenomics 2022; 14:651-670. [PMID: 35588246 DOI: 10.2217/epi-2022-0096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Aims: To evaluate H3K9 acetylation and gene expression profiles in three brain regions of Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients and elderly controls, and to identify AD region-specific abnormalities. Methods: Brain samples of auditory cortex, hippocampus and cerebellum from AD patients and controls underwent chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing, RNA sequencing and network analyses. Results: We found a hyperacetylation of AD cerebellum and a slight hypoacetylation of AD hippocampus. The transcriptome revealed differentially expressed genes in the hippocampus and auditory cortex. Network analysis revealed Rho GTPase-mediated mechanisms. Conclusions: These findings suggest that some crucial mechanisms, such as Rho GTPase activity and cytoskeletal organization, are differentially dysregulated in brain regions of AD patients at the epigenetic and transcriptomic levels, and might contribute toward future research on AD pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daliléia A Santana
- Department of Morphology & Genetics, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo,SP, 04023-062, Brazil
| | - Amina Bedrat
- Department of Environmental Health & Molecular & Integrative Physiological Sciences Program, Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115-5810, USA
| | - Renato D Puga
- Hermes Pardini Institute, São Paulo, SP, 04038-030, Brazil
| | - Gustavo Turecki
- Department of Psychiatry, Douglas Hospital Research Center, McGill University, Montreal, QC, H4H1R3, Canada
| | - Naguib Mechawar
- Department of Psychiatry, Douglas Hospital Research Center, McGill University, Montreal, QC, H4H1R3, Canada
| | - Tathyane C Faria
- Department of Morphology & Genetics, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo,SP, 04023-062, Brazil
| | - Carolina O Gigek
- Department of Pathology, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, SP, 04023-062, Brazil
| | - Spencer Lm Payão
- Department of Genetics, Blood Center, Faculdade de Medicina de Marília (FAMEMA), Marília, SP, 17519-050, Brazil
| | - Marília Ac Smith
- Department of Morphology & Genetics, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo,SP, 04023-062, Brazil
| | - Bernardo Lemos
- Department of Environmental Health & Molecular & Integrative Physiological Sciences Program, Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115-5810, USA
| | - Elizabeth S Chen
- Department of Morphology & Genetics, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo,SP, 04023-062, Brazil.,Department of Environmental Health & Molecular & Integrative Physiological Sciences Program, Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115-5810, USA
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7
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Song J. Comparison of Cerebral Cortex Transcriptome Profiles in Ischemic Stroke and Alzheimer’s Disease Models. Clin Nutr Res 2022; 11:159-170. [PMID: 35949563 PMCID: PMC9348914 DOI: 10.7762/cnr.2022.11.3.159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2022] [Revised: 06/20/2022] [Accepted: 06/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Ischemic stroke and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) are representative geriatric diseases with a rapidly increasing prevalence worldwide. Recent studies have reported an association between ischemic stroke neuropathology and AD neuropathology. Ischemic stroke shares some similar characteristics with AD, such as glia activation-induced neuroinflammation, amyloid beta accumulation, and neuronal cell loss, as well as some common risk factors with AD progression. Although there are considerable similarities in neuropathology between ischemic stroke and AD, no studies have ever compared specific genetic changes of brain cortex between ischemic stroke and AD. Therefore, in this study, I compared the cerebral cortex transcriptome profile of 5xFAD mice, an AD mouse model, with those of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) mice, an ischemic stroke mouse model. The data showed that the expression of many genes with important functional implications in MCAO mouse brain cortex were related to synaptic dysfunction and neuronal cell death in 5xFAD mouse model. In addition, changes in various protein-coding RNAs involved in synaptic plasticity, amyloid beta accumulation, neurogenesis, neuronal differentiation, glial activation, inflammation and neurite outgrowth were observed. The findings could serve as an important basis for further studies to elucidate the pathophysiology of AD in patients with ischemic stroke.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juhyun Song
- Department of Anatomy, Chonnam National University Medical School, Hwasun 58128, Korea
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