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Santiago J, Pocevičiūtė D, Wennström M. Perivascular phosphorylated TDP-43 inclusions are associated with Alzheimer's disease pathology and loss of CD146 and Aquaporin-4. Brain Pathol 2024:e13304. [PMID: 39251230 DOI: 10.1111/bpa.13304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2024] [Accepted: 08/16/2024] [Indexed: 09/11/2024] Open
Abstract
The majority of patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) exhibit aggregates of Trans-active response DNA binding protein 43 (TDP-43) in their hippocampus, which is associated with a more aggressive disease progression. The TDP-43 inclusions are commonly found in neurons, but also in astrocytes. The impact of the inclusions in astrocytes is less known. In the current study, we investigate the presence of phosphorylated TDP-43 (pTDP-43) inclusions in astrocytic endfeet and their potential association with blood-brain barrier (BBB) damage, glymphatic system dysfunction, and AD pathology. By staining postmortem hippocampal sections from AD patients and non-demented controls against TDP-43 and pTDP-43 together with the astrocytic markers glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), astrocytic endfeet marker Aquaporin-4 (AQP4), and markers for BBB alterations (CD146) and leakiness (Immunoglobulin A), we demonstrate a close association between perivascular pTDP-43 or TDP-43 inclusions and GFAP or AQP4. These perivascular inclusions were more prominent in AD and correlated with the disease severity and loss of CD146 and AQP4. The findings indicate a relationship between pTDP-43 accumulation in astrocytic endfeet and BBB and glymphatic system dysfunction, which may contribute to the downstream pathological events seen in AD patients and the aggressive disease progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Santiago
- Cognitive Disorder Research Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences Malmö, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden
| | - Dovilė Pocevičiūtė
- Cognitive Disorder Research Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences Malmö, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden
| | - Malin Wennström
- Cognitive Disorder Research Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences Malmö, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden
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2
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Leclerc M, Tremblay C, Bourassa P, Schneider JA, Bennett DA, Calon F. Lower GLUT1 and unchanged MCT1 in Alzheimer's disease cerebrovasculature. J Cereb Blood Flow Metab 2024; 44:1417-1432. [PMID: 38441044 PMCID: PMC11342728 DOI: 10.1177/0271678x241237484] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2023] [Revised: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 03/06/2024]
Abstract
The brain is a highly demanding organ, utilizing mainly glucose but also ketone bodies as sources of energy. Glucose transporter-1 (GLUT1) and monocarboxylates transporter-1 (MCT1) respectively transport glucose and ketone bodies across the blood-brain barrier. While reduced glucose uptake by the brain is one of the earliest signs of Alzheimer's disease (AD), no change in the uptake of ketone bodies has been evidenced yet. To probe for changes in GLUT1 and MCT1, we performed Western immunoblotting in microvessel extracts from the parietal cortex of 60 participants of the Religious Orders Study. Participants clinically diagnosed with AD had lower cerebrovascular levels of GLUT1, whereas MCT1 remained unchanged. GLUT1 reduction was associated with lower cognitive scores. No such association was found for MCT1. GLUT1 was inversely correlated with neuritic plaques and cerebrovascular β-secretase-derived fragment levels. No other significant associations were found between both transporters, markers of Aβ and tau pathologies, sex, age at death or apolipoprotein-ε4 genotype. These results suggest that, while a deficit of GLUT1 may underlie the reduced transport of glucose to the brain in AD, no such impairment occurs for MCT1. This study thus supports the exploration of ketone bodies as an alternative energy source for the aging brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manon Leclerc
- Faculté de pharmacie, Université Laval, Québec, Canada
- Axe Neurosciences, Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec – Université Laval, Québec, Canada
| | - Cyntia Tremblay
- Axe Neurosciences, Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec – Université Laval, Québec, Canada
| | - Philippe Bourassa
- Faculté de pharmacie, Université Laval, Québec, Canada
- Axe Neurosciences, Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec – Université Laval, Québec, Canada
| | - Julie A Schneider
- Rush Alzheimer’s Disease Center, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - David A Bennett
- Rush Alzheimer’s Disease Center, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Frédéric Calon
- Faculté de pharmacie, Université Laval, Québec, Canada
- Axe Neurosciences, Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec – Université Laval, Québec, Canada
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Nelson PT, Fardo DW, Wu X, Aung KZ, Cykowski MD, Katsumata Y. Limbic-predominant age-related TDP-43 encephalopathy (LATE-NC): Co-pathologies and genetic risk factors provide clues about pathogenesis. J Neuropathol Exp Neurol 2024; 83:396-415. [PMID: 38613823 PMCID: PMC11110076 DOI: 10.1093/jnen/nlae032] [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] [Indexed: 04/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Limbic-predominant age-related TDP-43 encephalopathy neuropathologic change (LATE-NC) is detectable at autopsy in more than one-third of people beyond age 85 years and is robustly associated with dementia independent of other pathologies. Although LATE-NC has a large impact on public health, there remain uncertainties about the underlying biologic mechanisms. Here, we review the literature from human studies that may shed light on pathogenetic mechanisms. It is increasingly clear that certain combinations of pathologic changes tend to coexist in aging brains. Although "pure" LATE-NC is not rare, LATE-NC often coexists in the same brains with Alzheimer disease neuropathologic change, brain arteriolosclerosis, hippocampal sclerosis of aging, and/or age-related tau astrogliopathy (ARTAG). The patterns of pathologic comorbidities provide circumstantial evidence of mechanistic interactions ("synergies") between the pathologies, and also suggest common upstream influences. As to primary mediators of vulnerability to neuropathologic changes, genetics may play key roles. Genes associated with LATE-NC include TMEM106B, GRN, APOE, SORL1, ABCC9, and others. Although the anatomic distribution of TDP-43 pathology defines the condition, important cofactors for LATE-NC may include Tau pathology, endolysosomal pathways, and blood-brain barrier dysfunction. A review of the human phenomenology offers insights into disease-driving mechanisms, and may provide clues for diagnostic and therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter T Nelson
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA
- Department of Sanders-Brown Center on Aging, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA
| | - David W Fardo
- Department of Sanders-Brown Center on Aging, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA
| | - Xian Wu
- Department of Sanders-Brown Center on Aging, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA
| | - Khine Zin Aung
- Department of Sanders-Brown Center on Aging, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA
| | - Matthew D Cykowski
- Department of Pathology and Genomic Medicine, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Yuriko Katsumata
- Department of Sanders-Brown Center on Aging, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA
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Sziraki A, Zhong Y, Neltner AM, Niedowicz D, Rogers CB, Wilcock DM, Nehra G, Neltner JH, Smith RR, Hartz AM, Cao J, Nelson PT. A high-throughput single-cell RNA expression profiling method identifies human pericyte markers. Neuropathol Appl Neurobiol 2023; 49:e12942. [PMID: 37812061 PMCID: PMC10842535 DOI: 10.1111/nan.12942] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2023] [Revised: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 10/02/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023]
Abstract
AIMS We sought to identify and optimise a universally available histological marker for pericytes in the human brain. Such a marker could be a useful tool for researchers. Further, identifying a gene expressed relatively specifically in human pericytes could provide new insights into the biological functions of this fascinating cell type. METHODS We analysed single-cell RNA expression profiles derived from different human and mouse brain regions using a high-throughput and low-cost single-cell transcriptome sequencing method called EasySci. Through this analysis, we were able to identify specific gene markers for pericytes, some of which had not been previously characterised. We then used commercially (and therefore universally) available antibodies to immunolabel the pericyte-specific gene products in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) human brains and also performed immunoblots to determine whether appropriately sized proteins were recognised. RESULTS In the EasySci data sets, highly pericyte-enriched expression was notable for SLC6A12 and SLC19A1. Antibodies against these proteins recognised bands of approximately the correct size in immunoblots of human brain extracts. Following optimisation of the immunohistochemical technique, staining for both antibodies was strongly positive in small blood vessels and was far more effective than a PDGFRB antibody at staining pericyte-like cells in FFPE human brain sections. In an exploratory sample of other human organs (kidney, lung, liver, muscle), immunohistochemistry did not show the same pericyte-like pattern of staining. CONCLUSIONS The SLC6A12 antibody was well suited for labelling pericytes in human FFPE brain sections, based on the combined results of single-cell RNA-seq analyses, immunoblots and immunohistochemical studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andras Sziraki
- Laboratory of Single Cell Genomics and Population Dynamics, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
- The David Rockefeller Graduate Program in Bioscience, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Yu Zhong
- Sanders-Brown Center on Aging, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA
| | - Allison M. Neltner
- Sanders-Brown Center on Aging, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA
| | - Dana Niedowicz
- Sanders-Brown Center on Aging, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA
| | - Colin B. Rogers
- Sanders-Brown Center on Aging, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA
| | - Donna M. Wilcock
- Sanders-Brown Center on Aging, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA
- Department of Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA
- Department of Neurology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Geetika Nehra
- Department of Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA
| | - Janna H. Neltner
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA
| | - Rebecca R. Smith
- Department of Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA
| | - Anika M. Hartz
- Sanders-Brown Center on Aging, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA
- Department of Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA
| | - Junyue Cao
- Laboratory of Single Cell Genomics and Population Dynamics, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Peter T. Nelson
- Sanders-Brown Center on Aging, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA
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Wu W, Huang J, Han P, Zhang J, Wang Y, Jin F, Zhou Y. Research Progress on Natural Plant Molecules in Regulating the Blood-Brain Barrier in Alzheimer's Disease. Molecules 2023; 28:7631. [PMID: 38005352 PMCID: PMC10674591 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28227631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2023] [Revised: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a prevalent neurodegenerative disorder. With the aging population and the continuous development of risk factors associated with AD, it will impose a significant burden on individuals, families, and society. Currently, commonly used therapeutic drugs such as Cholinesterase inhibitors, N-methyl-D-aspartate antagonists, and multiple AD pathology removal drugs have been shown to have beneficial effects on certain pathological conditions of AD. However, their clinical efficacy is minimal and they are associated with certain adverse reactions. Furthermore, the underlying pathological mechanism of AD remains unclear, posing a challenge for drug development. In contrast, natural plant molecules, widely available, offer multiple targeting pathways and demonstrate inherent advantages in modifying the typical pathologic features of AD by influencing the blood-brain barrier (BBB). We provide a comprehensive review of recent in vivo and in vitro studies on natural plant molecules that impact the BBB in the treatment of AD. Additionally, we analyze their specific mechanisms to offer novel insights for the development of safe and effective targeted drugs as well as guidance for experimental research and the clinical application of drugs for the prevention and treatment of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weidong Wu
- Basic Theory of Chinese Medicine, Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin 150040, China; (W.W.); (J.Z.); (Y.W.)
| | - Jiahao Huang
- Department of Chinese Pharmacology, Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin 150040, China;
| | - Pengfei Han
- Science and Education Section, Zhangjiakou First Hospital, Zhangjiakou 075041, China;
| | - Jian Zhang
- Basic Theory of Chinese Medicine, Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin 150040, China; (W.W.); (J.Z.); (Y.W.)
| | - Yuxin Wang
- Basic Theory of Chinese Medicine, Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin 150040, China; (W.W.); (J.Z.); (Y.W.)
| | - Fangfang Jin
- Department of Internal Medicine, Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin 150040, China
| | - Yanyan Zhou
- Basic Theory of Chinese Medicine, Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin 150040, China; (W.W.); (J.Z.); (Y.W.)
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Reveret L, Leclerc M, Emond V, Tremblay C, Loiselle A, Bourassa P, Bennett DA, Hébert SS, Calon F. Higher angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) levels in the brain of individuals with Alzheimer's disease. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2023; 11:159. [PMID: 37784209 PMCID: PMC10544218 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-023-01647-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 10/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Cognitive decline due to Alzheimer's disease (AD) is frequent in the geriatric population, which has been disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. In this study, we investigated the levels of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), a regulator of the renin-angiotensin system and the main entry receptor of SARS-CoV-2 in host cells, in postmortem parietal cortex samples from two independent AD cohorts, totalling 142 persons. Higher concentrations of ACE2 protein (p < 0.01) and mRNA (p < 0.01) were found in individuals with a neuropathological diagnosis of AD compared to age-matched healthy control subjects. Brain levels of soluble ACE2 were inversely associated with cognitive scores (p = 0.02) and markers of pericytes (PDGFRβ, p = 0.02 and ANPEP, p = 0.007), but positively correlated with concentrations of soluble amyloid-β peptides (Aβ) (p = 0.01) and insoluble phospho-tau (S396/404, p = 0.002). However, no significant differences in ACE2 were observed in the 3xTg-AD mouse model of tau and Aβ neuropathology. Results from immunofluorescence and Western blots showed that ACE2 protein is predominantly localized in microvessels in the mouse brain whereas it is more frequently found in neurons in the human brain. The present data suggest that higher levels of soluble ACE2 in the human brain may contribute to AD, but their role in CNS infection by SARS-CoV-2 remains unclear.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louise Reveret
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Laval University, Quebec, QC, Canada
- CHU de Quebec Research Center, 2705, Boulevard Laurier, Room T2-05, Québec, QC, G1V 4G2, Canada
| | - Manon Leclerc
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Laval University, Quebec, QC, Canada
- CHU de Quebec Research Center, 2705, Boulevard Laurier, Room T2-05, Québec, QC, G1V 4G2, Canada
| | - Vincent Emond
- CHU de Quebec Research Center, 2705, Boulevard Laurier, Room T2-05, Québec, QC, G1V 4G2, Canada
| | - Cyntia Tremblay
- CHU de Quebec Research Center, 2705, Boulevard Laurier, Room T2-05, Québec, QC, G1V 4G2, Canada
| | - Andréanne Loiselle
- CHU de Quebec Research Center, 2705, Boulevard Laurier, Room T2-05, Québec, QC, G1V 4G2, Canada
| | - Philippe Bourassa
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Laval University, Quebec, QC, Canada
- CHU de Quebec Research Center, 2705, Boulevard Laurier, Room T2-05, Québec, QC, G1V 4G2, Canada
| | - David A Bennett
- Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Sébastien S Hébert
- CHU de Quebec Research Center, 2705, Boulevard Laurier, Room T2-05, Québec, QC, G1V 4G2, Canada
- Faculty of Medicine, Laval University, Quebec, QC, Canada
| | - Frédéric Calon
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Laval University, Quebec, QC, Canada.
- CHU de Quebec Research Center, 2705, Boulevard Laurier, Room T2-05, Québec, QC, G1V 4G2, Canada.
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7
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Nag S, Schneider JA. Limbic-predominant age-related TDP43 encephalopathy (LATE) neuropathological change in neurodegenerative diseases. Nat Rev Neurol 2023; 19:525-541. [PMID: 37563264 PMCID: PMC10964248 DOI: 10.1038/s41582-023-00846-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 08/12/2023]
Abstract
TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP43) is a focus of research in late-onset dementias. TDP43 pathology in the brain was initially identified in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal lobar degeneration, and later in Alzheimer disease (AD), other neurodegenerative diseases and ageing. Limbic-predominant age-related TDP43 encephalopathy (LATE), recognized as a clinical entity in 2019, is characterized by amnestic dementia resembling AD dementia and occurring most commonly in adults over 80 years of age. Neuropathological findings in LATE, referred to as LATE neuropathological change (LATE-NC), consist of neuronal and glial cytoplasmic TDP43 localized predominantly in limbic areas with or without coexisting hippocampal sclerosis and/or AD neuropathological change and without frontotemporal lobar degeneration or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis pathology. LATE-NC is frequently associated with one or more coexisting pathologies, mainly AD neuropathological change. The focus of this Review is the pathology, genetic risk factors and nature of the cognitive impairments and dementia in pure LATE-NC and in LATE-NC associated with coexisting pathologies. As the clinical and cognitive profile of LATE is currently not easily distinguishable from AD dementia, it is important to develop biomarkers to aid in the diagnosis of this condition in the clinic. The pathogenesis of LATE-NC should be a focus of future research to form the basis for the development of preventive and therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sukriti Nag
- Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center, Department of Pathology (Neuropathology), Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA.
| | - Julie A Schneider
- Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center, Department of Pathology (Neuropathology), Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA.
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Louise R, Manon L, Vincent E, Andréanne L, Philippe B, Cyntia T, Bennett DA, Sébastien H, Frédéric C. Higher Angiotensin I Converting Enzyme 2 (ACE2) levels in the brain of individuals with Alzheimer's disease. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.01.17.524254. [PMID: 36711734 PMCID: PMC9882134 DOI: 10.1101/2023.01.17.524254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a major cause of death in the elderly. Cognitive decline due to Alzheimer's disease (AD) is frequent in the geriatric population disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Interestingly, central nervous system (CNS) manifestations have been reported in SARS-CoV-2-infected patients. In this study, we investigated the levels of Angiotensin I Converting Enzyme 2 (ACE2), the main entry receptor of SARS-COV-2 in cells, in postmortem parietal cortex samples from two independent AD cohorts, totalling 142 persons. Higher concentrations of ACE2 protein and mRNA were found in individuals with a neuropathological diagnosis of AD compared to age-matched healthy control subjects. Brain levels of soluble ACE2 were inversely associated with cognitive scores (p = 0.02), markers of pericytes (PDGFRβ, p=0.02 and ANPEP, p = 0.007) and caveolin1 (p = 0.03), but positively correlated with soluble amyloid-β peptides (Aβ) concentrations (p = 0.01) and insoluble phospho- tau (S396/404, p = 0.002). No significant differences in ACE2 were observed in the 3xTgAD mouse model of tau and Aβ neuropathology. Results from immunofluorescence and Western blots showed that ACE2 protein is mainly localized in neurons in the human brain but predominantly in microvessels in the mouse brain. The present data show that an AD diagnosis is associated with higher levels of soluble ACE2 in the human brain, which might contribute to a higher risk of CNS SARS-CoV-2 infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reveret Louise
- Faculty of pharmacy, Laval University, Quebec, QC, Canada
- CHU de Quebec Research Center, Quebec, QC, Canada
| | - Leclerc Manon
- Faculty of pharmacy, Laval University, Quebec, QC, Canada
- CHU de Quebec Research Center, Quebec, QC, Canada
| | | | | | - Bourassa Philippe
- Faculty of pharmacy, Laval University, Quebec, QC, Canada
- CHU de Quebec Research Center, Quebec, QC, Canada
| | | | - David A Bennett
- Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Hébert Sébastien
- CHU de Quebec Research Center, Quebec, QC, Canada
- Faculty of medicine, Laval University, Quebec, QC, Canada
| | - Calon Frédéric
- Faculty of pharmacy, Laval University, Quebec, QC, Canada
- CHU de Quebec Research Center, Quebec, QC, Canada
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9
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Leclerc M, Bourassa P, Tremblay C, Caron V, Sugère C, Emond V, Bennett DA, Calon F. Cerebrovascular insulin receptors are defective in Alzheimer's disease. Brain 2023; 146:75-90. [PMID: 36280236 PMCID: PMC9897197 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awac309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 36.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Revised: 06/24/2022] [Accepted: 08/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Central response to insulin is suspected to be defective in Alzheimer's disease. As most insulin is secreted in the bloodstream by the pancreas, its capacity to regulate brain functions must, at least partly, be mediated through the cerebral vasculature. However, how insulin interacts with the blood-brain barrier and whether alterations of this interaction could contribute to Alzheimer's disease pathophysiology both remain poorly defined. Here, we show that human and murine cerebral insulin receptors (INSRs), particularly the long isoform INSRα-B, are concentrated in microvessels rather than in the parenchyma. Vascular concentrations of INSRα-B were lower in the parietal cortex of subjects diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, positively correlating with cognitive scores, leading to a shift towards a higher INSRα-A/B ratio, consistent with cerebrovascular insulin resistance in the Alzheimer's disease brain. Vascular INSRα was inversely correlated with amyloid-β plaques and β-site APP cleaving enzyme 1, but positively correlated with insulin-degrading enzyme, neprilysin and P-glycoprotein. Using brain cerebral intracarotid perfusion, we found that the transport rate of insulin across the blood-brain barrier remained very low (<0.03 µl/g·s) and was not inhibited by an insulin receptor antagonist. However, intracarotid perfusion of insulin induced the phosphorylation of INSRβ that was restricted to microvessels. Such an activation of vascular insulin receptor was blunted in 3xTg-AD mice, suggesting that Alzheimer's disease neuropathology induces insulin resistance at the level of the blood-brain barrier. Overall, the present data in post-mortem Alzheimer's disease brains and an animal model of Alzheimer's disease indicate that defects in the insulin receptor localized at the blood-brain barrier strongly contribute to brain insulin resistance in Alzheimer's disease, in association with β-amyloid pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manon Leclerc
- Faculté de Pharmacie, Université Laval, Québec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
- Axe Neurosciences, Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Quebec, QC G1V 4G2, Canada
- Institut sur la Nutrition et les Aliments Fonctionnels (INAF), Québec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
| | - Philippe Bourassa
- Faculté de Pharmacie, Université Laval, Québec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
- Axe Neurosciences, Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Quebec, QC G1V 4G2, Canada
| | - Cyntia Tremblay
- Axe Neurosciences, Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Quebec, QC G1V 4G2, Canada
| | - Vicky Caron
- Faculté de Pharmacie, Université Laval, Québec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
- Axe Neurosciences, Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Quebec, QC G1V 4G2, Canada
| | - Camille Sugère
- Axe Neurosciences, Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Quebec, QC G1V 4G2, Canada
| | - Vincent Emond
- Axe Neurosciences, Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Quebec, QC G1V 4G2, Canada
| | - David A Bennett
- Rush Alzheimer’s Disease Center, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
| | - Frédéric Calon
- Faculté de Pharmacie, Université Laval, Québec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
- Axe Neurosciences, Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Quebec, QC G1V 4G2, Canada
- Institut sur la Nutrition et les Aliments Fonctionnels (INAF), Québec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
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10
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Direct and Indirect Effects of Filamin A on Tau Pathology in Neuronal Cells. Mol Neurobiol 2023; 60:1021-1039. [PMID: 36399251 PMCID: PMC9849303 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-022-03121-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2022] [Accepted: 11/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
In Alzheimer disease (AD), Tau, an axonal microtubule-associated protein, becomes hyperphosphorylated, detaches from microtubules, accumulates, and self-aggregates in the somatodendritic (SD) compartment. The accumulation of hyperphosphorylated and aggregated Tau is also seen in other neurodegenerative diseases such as frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD-Tau). Previous studies reported a link between filamin A (FLNA), an actin-binding protein found in the SD compartment, and Tau pathology. In the present study, we further explored this link. We confirmed the interaction of Tau with FLNA in neuroblastoma 2a (N2a) cells. This interaction was mediated by a domain located between the 157 and 383 amino acids (a.a.) of Tau. Our results also revealed that the overexpression of FLNA resulted in an intracellular accumulation of wild-type Tau and Tau mutants (P301L, V337M, and R406W) in N2a cells. Tau phosphorylation and cleavage by caspase-3 but not its aggregation were increased upon FLNA overexpression in N2a cells. In the parietal cortex of AD brain, insoluble FLNA was increased compared to control brain, but it did not correlate with Tau pathology. Interestingly, Tau binding to microtubules and F-actin was preserved upon FLNA overexpression in N2a cells. Lastly, our results revealed that FLNA also induced the accumulation of annexin A2, a Tau interacting partner involved in its axonal localization. Collectively, our data indicated that in Tauopathies, FLNA could contribute to Tau pathology by acting on Tau and annexin A2.
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Aumont E, Tremblay C, Levert S, Bennett DA, Calon F, Leclerc N. Evidence of Filamin A loss of solubility at the prodromal stage of neuropathologically-defined Alzheimer's disease. Front Aging Neurosci 2022; 14:1038343. [PMID: 36506473 PMCID: PMC9730531 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2022.1038343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2022] [Accepted: 11/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a multifactorial disorder diagnosed through the assessment of amyloid-beta (Aβ) and tau protein depositions. Filamin A (FLNA) could be a key partner of both Aβ and tau pathological processes and may be an important contributor to AD progression. The main aim of this study was to describe the differences in FLNA levels across clinicopathologic groups. Methods From parietal cortex samples of 57 individuals (19 with no cognitive impairment (NCI), 19 mild cognitively impaired (MCI) and 19 with dementia) from the Religious Orders Study (ROS), we quantified total tau, phosphorylated tau (pTau), FLNA, synaptophysin, vesicular acetylcholine transporters (VAChT) and choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) by Western blot. Aβ42 and neuritic plaques (NP) were quantified by ELISA and Bielschowsky silver impregnation, respectively. AD staging was determined using ABC method combining Thal, Braak and the CERAD staging. From this, clinicopathologic stages of AD were established by subdividing subjects with neuropathological AD between preclinical AD, prodromal AD and AD dementia (ADD). Receiver operating characteristics analyses were performed to predict AD neuropathology from FLNA quantifications. Results Insoluble FLNA was significantly and positively correlated with Aβ42, NP, Thal stages, ABC scores and AD clinicopathologic stages (p < 0.05 False discovery rate-corrected). No correlation of FLNA with tau measures was found. Insoluble FLNA levels were significantly higher in the prodromal AD, ADD and intermediate ABC groups. This was consistent with significantly lower levels of soluble FLNA specifically in prodromal AD. Insoluble (AUC: 0.830) and soluble FLNA levels (AUC: 0.830) as well as the ratio of soluble over insoluble FLNA (AUC: 0.852), were excellent predictors of prodromal AD among subjects with MCI from the ROS cohort. Discussion We observed opposite level changes between insoluble and soluble FLNA in prodromal AD. As this stage coincides with the appearance of cognitive symptoms, this may be a key event in the transition from preclinical to prodromal AD. Insoluble FLNA could be useful to identify prodromal AD among subjects with an MCI, indicating that it might be a hallmark of prodromal AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Etienne Aumont
- Département de psychologie de l’Université du Québec à Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
- Centre de recherche du Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
- Montreal Neurological Institute, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Cyntia Tremblay
- Faculté de pharmacie de l’Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
- Centre de recherche du Centre hospitalier de l'Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Stéphanie Levert
- Centre de recherche du Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
- Département de neurosciences Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | | | - Frédéric Calon
- Faculté de pharmacie de l’Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
- Centre de recherche du Centre hospitalier de l'Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Nicole Leclerc
- Centre de recherche du Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
- Département de neurosciences Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
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12
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Soluble ANPEP Released From Human Astrocytes as a Positive Regulator of Microglial Activation and Neuroinflammation: Brain Renin-Angiotensin System in Astrocyte-Microglia Crosstalk. Mol Cell Proteomics 2022; 21:100424. [PMID: 36220603 PMCID: PMC9650055 DOI: 10.1016/j.mcpro.2022.100424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2022] [Revised: 10/01/2022] [Accepted: 10/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Astrocytes are major supportive glia and immune modulators in the brain; they are highly secretory in nature and interact with other cell types via their secreted proteomes. To understand how astrocytes communicate during neuroinflammation, we profiled the secretome of human astrocytes following stimulation with proinflammatory factors. A total of 149 proteins were significantly upregulated in stimulated astrocytes, and a bioinformatics analysis of the astrocyte secretome revealed that the brain renin-angiotensin system (RAS) is an important mechanism of astrocyte communication. We observed that the levels of soluble form of aminopeptidase N (sANPEP), an RAS component that converts angiotensin (Ang) III to Ang IV in a neuroinflammatory milieu, significantly increased in the astrocyte secretome. To elucidate the role of sANPEP and Ang IV in neuroinflammation, we first evaluated the expression of Ang IV receptors in human glial cells because Ang IV mediates biological effects through its receptors. The expression of angiotensin type 1 receptor was considerably upregulated in activated human microglial cells but not in human astrocytes. Moreover, interleukin-1β release from human microglial cells was synergistically increased by cotreatment with sANPEP and its substrate, Ang III, suggesting the proinflammatory action of Ang IV generated by sANPEP. In a mouse neuroinflammation model, brain microglial activation and proinflammatory cytokine expression levels were increased by intracerebroventricular injection of sANPEP and attenuated by an enzymatic inhibitor and neutralizing antibody against sANPEP. Collectively, our results indicate that astrocytic sANPEP-induced increase in Ang IV exacerbates neuroinflammation by interacting with microglial proinflammatory receptor angiotensin type 1 receptor, highlighting an important role of indirect crosstalk between astrocytes and microglia through the brain RAS in neuroinflammation.
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13
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Agrawal S, Schneider JA. Vascular pathology and pathogenesis of cognitive impairment and dementia in older adults. CEREBRAL CIRCULATION - COGNITION AND BEHAVIOR 2022; 3:100148. [PMID: 36324408 PMCID: PMC9616381 DOI: 10.1016/j.cccb.2022.100148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2022] [Revised: 05/25/2022] [Accepted: 06/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
It is well recognized that brains of older people often harbor cerebrovascular disease pathology including vessel disease and vascular-related tissue injuries and that this is associated with vascular cognitive impairment and contributes to dementia. Here we review vascular pathologies, cognitive impairment, and dementia. We highlight the importance of mixed co-morbid AD/non-AD neurodegenerative and vascular pathology that has been collected in multiple clinical pathologic studies, especially in community-based studies. We also provide an update of vascular pathologies from the Rush Memory and Aging Project and Religious Orders Study cohorts with special emphasis on the differences across age in persons with and without dementia. Finally, we discuss neuropathological perspectives on the interpretation of clinical-pathological studies and emerging data in community-based studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonal Agrawal
- Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center, Rush University Medical Center, Jelke Building, 1750 W. Harrison Street, Chicago 60612, IL, USA
- Department of Pathology, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Julie A. Schneider
- Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center, Rush University Medical Center, Jelke Building, 1750 W. Harrison Street, Chicago 60612, IL, USA
- Department of Pathology, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA
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14
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Nehra G, Bauer B, Hartz AMS. Blood-brain barrier leakage in Alzheimer's disease: From discovery to clinical relevance. Pharmacol Ther 2022; 234:108119. [PMID: 35108575 PMCID: PMC9107516 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2022.108119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2021] [Revised: 01/14/2022] [Accepted: 01/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia. AD brain pathology starts decades before the onset of clinical symptoms. One early pathological hallmark is blood-brain barrier dysfunction characterized by barrier leakage and associated with cognitive decline. In this review, we summarize the existing literature on the extent and clinical relevance of barrier leakage in AD. First, we focus on AD animal models and their susceptibility to barrier leakage based on age and genetic background. Second, we re-examine barrier dysfunction in clinical and postmortem studies, summarize changes that lead to barrier leakage in patients and highlight the clinical relevance of barrier leakage in AD. Third, we summarize signaling mechanisms that link barrier leakage to neurodegeneration and cognitive decline in AD. Finally, we discuss clinical relevance and potential therapeutic strategies and provide future perspectives on investigating barrier leakage in AD. Identifying mechanistic steps underlying barrier leakage has the potential to unravel new targets that can be used to develop novel therapeutic strategies to repair barrier leakage and slow cognitive decline in AD and AD-related dementias.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geetika Nehra
- Sanders-Brown Center on Aging, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Bjoern Bauer
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Anika M S Hartz
- Sanders-Brown Center on Aging, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA; Department of Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA.
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15
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Nelson AR. Peripheral Pathways to Neurovascular Unit Dysfunction, Cognitive Impairment, and Alzheimer’s Disease. Front Aging Neurosci 2022; 14:858429. [PMID: 35517047 PMCID: PMC9062225 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2022.858429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2022] [Accepted: 03/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia. It was first described more than a century ago, and scientists are acquiring new data and learning novel information about the disease every day. Although there are nuances and details continuously being unraveled, many key players were identified in the early 1900’s by Dr. Oskar Fischer and Dr. Alois Alzheimer, including amyloid-beta (Aβ), tau, vascular abnormalities, gliosis, and a possible role of infections. More recently, there has been growing interest in and appreciation for neurovascular unit dysfunction that occurs early in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) before and independent of Aβ and tau brain accumulation. In the last decade, evidence that Aβ and tau oligomers are antimicrobial peptides generated in response to infection has expanded our knowledge and challenged preconceived notions. The concept that pathogenic germs cause infections generating an innate immune response (e.g., Aβ and tau produced by peripheral organs) that is associated with incident dementia is worthwhile considering in the context of sporadic AD with an unknown root cause. Therefore, the peripheral amyloid hypothesis to cognitive impairment and AD is proposed and remains to be vetted by future research. Meanwhile, humans remain complex variable organisms with individual risk factors that define their immune status, neurovascular function, and neuronal plasticity. In this focused review, the idea that infections and organ dysfunction contribute to Alzheimer’s disease, through the generation of peripheral amyloids and/or neurovascular unit dysfunction will be explored and discussed. Ultimately, many questions remain to be answered and critical areas of future exploration are highlighted.
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16
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Characterisation of PDGF-BB:PDGFRβ signalling pathways in human brain pericytes: evidence of disruption in Alzheimer's disease. Commun Biol 2022; 5:235. [PMID: 35301433 PMCID: PMC8931009 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-022-03180-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2021] [Accepted: 02/17/2022] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB):PDGF receptor-β (PDGFRβ) signalling in brain pericytes is critical to the development, maintenance and function of a healthy blood-brain barrier (BBB). Furthermore, BBB impairment and pericyte loss in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is well documented. We found that PDGF-BB:PDGFRβ signalling components were altered in human AD brains, with a marked reduction in vascular PDGFB. We hypothesised that reduced PDGF-BB:PDGFRβ signalling in pericytes may impact on the BBB. We therefore tested the effects of PDGF-BB on primary human brain pericytes in vitro to define pathways related to BBB function. Using pharmacological inhibitors, we dissected distinct aspects of the PDGF-BB response that are controlled by extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and Akt pathways. PDGF-BB promotes the proliferation of pericytes and protection from apoptosis through ERK signalling. In contrast, PDGF-BB:PDGFRβ signalling through Akt augments pericyte-derived inflammatory secretions. It may therefore be possible to supplement PDGF-BB signalling to stabilise the cerebrovasculature in AD. Smyth et al. use tissue microarrays from Alzheimer’s disease (AD) patient brains to show that PDGF-BB:PDGFRβ signalling components are reduced in AD. They then use primary human brain pericytes to elucidate a pathway by which PDGF-BB:PDGFRβ signalling in brain pericytes is disrupted in AD, thus impairing the blood brain barrier.
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17
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Fisher RA, Miners JS, Love S. Pathological changes within the cerebral vasculature in Alzheimer's disease: New perspectives. Brain Pathol 2022; 32:e13061. [PMID: 35289012 PMCID: PMC9616094 DOI: 10.1111/bpa.13061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2021] [Revised: 02/11/2022] [Accepted: 02/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Cerebrovascular disease underpins vascular dementia (VaD), but structural and functional changes to the cerebral vasculature contribute to disease pathology and cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease (AD). In this review, we discuss the contribution of cerebral amyloid angiopathy and non‐amyloid small vessel disease in AD, and the accompanying changes to the density, maintenance and remodelling of vessels (including alterations to the composition and function of the cerebrovascular basement membrane). We consider how abnormalities of the constituent cells of the neurovascular unit – particularly of endothelial cells and pericytes – and impairment of the blood‐brain barrier (BBB) impact on the pathogenesis of AD. We also discuss how changes to the cerebral vasculature are likely to impair Aβ clearance – both intra‐periarteriolar drainage (IPAD) and transport of Aβ peptides across the BBB, and how impaired neurovascular coupling and reduced blood flow in relation to metabolic demand increase amyloidogenic processing of APP and the production of Aβ. We review the vasoactive properties of Aβ peptides themselves, and the probable bi‐directional relationship between vascular dysfunction and Aβ accumulation in AD. Lastly, we discuss recent methodological advances in transcriptomics and imaging that have provided novel insights into vascular changes in AD, and recent advances in assessment of the retina that allow in vivo detection of vascular changes in the early stages of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert A Fisher
- Dementia Research Group, University of Bristol Medical School, Bristol, UK
| | - J Scott Miners
- Dementia Research Group, University of Bristol Medical School, Bristol, UK
| | - Seth Love
- Dementia Research Group, University of Bristol Medical School, Bristol, UK
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18
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Effects of Cadmium Exposure on Leydig Cells and Blood Vessels in Mouse Testis. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19042416. [PMID: 35206604 PMCID: PMC8878469 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19042416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/25/2021] [Revised: 02/17/2022] [Accepted: 02/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Environmental exposure to cadmium (Cd) contributes to a decline in the quality of human semen. Although the testis is sensitive to Cd exposure, the mechanism underlying how cadmium affects the testis remains to be defined. In this study, male mice were treated with intraperitoneal injections of 0, 0.5, 1.5 and 2.5 mg CdCl2/kg/day for 10 days, respectively. Both the testicular weight and the 3β-HSD activity of Leydig cells were significantly reduced with the administration of 2.5 mg CdCl2/kg/day. The height of endothelial cells in the interstitial blood vessels significantly increased with the use of 2.5 mg CdCl2/kg/day compared with the control. Western blot data showed that the protein levels of CD31, αSMA, caveolin and Ng2 increased with cadmium exposure, and this increase was particularly significant with the administration of 2.5 mg CdCl2/kg/day. CD31, αSMA, caveolin and Ng2 are related to angiogenesis. Based on our data, cadmium exposure may stimulate the proliferation of the mural cells and endothelial cells of blood vessels, which may lead to abnormal function of the testis.
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19
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Strategies in the design and development of (TAR) DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43) binding ligands. Eur J Med Chem 2021; 225:113753. [PMID: 34388383 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2021.113753] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2021] [Revised: 07/16/2021] [Accepted: 08/05/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
The human transactive responsive (TAR) DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43) is involved in a number of physiological processes in the body. Its primary function involves RNA regulation. The TDP-43 protein is also involved in many diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), frontotemporal dementia (FTD), Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD) and even cancers. These TDP-43 mediated diseases are collectively called as TDP-43 proteinopathies. Intense research in the last decade has increased our understanding on TDP-43 structure and function in biology. The three-dimensional structures of TDP-43 domains such as N-terminal domain (NTD), RNA-recognition motif-1 (RRM1), RNA-recognition motif-2 (RRM2) and the C-terminal domain (CTD) or low-complexity domain (LCD) have been solved. These structures have yielded insights into novel binding sites and pockets at various TDP-43 domains, which can be targeted by designing a diverse library of ligands including small molecules, peptides and oligonucleotides as molecular tools to (i) study TDP-43 function, (ii) develop novel diagnostic agents and (iii) discover disease-modifying therapies to treat TDP-43 proteinopathies. This review provides a summary on recent progress in the development of TDP-43 binding ligands and uses the solved structures of various TDP-43 domains to investigate putative ligand binding regions that can be exploited to discover novel molecular probes to modulate TDP-43 structure and function.
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20
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Taccola C, Barneoud P, Cartot-Cotton S, Valente D, Schussler N, Saubaméa B, Chasseigneaux S, Cochois V, Mignon V, Curis E, Lochus M, Nicolic S, Dodacki A, Cisternino S, Declèves X, Bourasset F. Modifications of physical and functional integrity of the blood-brain barrier in an inducible mouse model of neurodegeneration. Neuropharmacology 2021; 191:108588. [PMID: 33940010 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2021.108588] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2020] [Revised: 04/10/2021] [Accepted: 04/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
The inducible p25 overexpression mouse model recapitulate many hallmark features of Alzheimer's disase including progressive neuronal loss, elevated Aβ, tau pathology, cognitive dysfunction, and impaired synaptic plasticity. We chose p25 mice to evaluate the physical and functional integrity of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) in a context of Tau pathology (pTau) and severe neurodegeneration, at an early (3 weeks ON) and a late (6 weeks ON) stage of the pathology. Using in situ brain perfusion and confocal imaging, we found that the brain vascular surface area and the physical integrity of the BBB were unaltered in p25 mice. However, there was a significant 14% decrease in cerebrovascular volume in 6 weeks ON mice, possibly explained by a significant 27% increase of collagen IV in the basement membrane of brain capillaries. The function of the BBB transporters GLUT1 and LAT1 was evaluated by measuring brain uptake of d-glucose and phenylalanine, respectively. In 6 weeks ON p25 mice, d-glucose brain uptake was significantly reduced by about 17% compared with WT, without any change in the levels of GLUT1 protein or mRNA in brain capillaries. The brain uptake of phenylalanine was not significantly reduced in p25 mice compared with WT. Lack of BBB integrity, impaired BBB d-glucose transport have been observed in several mouse models of AD. In contrast, reduced cerebrovascular volume and an increased basement membrane thickness may be more specifically associated with pTau in mouse models of neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camille Taccola
- Pharmacokinetics, Dynamics and Metabolism, Translational Medicine & Early Development, Sanofi, 3 Digue d'Alfortville, 94140, Alfortville, France; INSERM UMR-S 1144, UFR de Pharmacie, Faculté de Santé, Université de Paris, 4 avenue de l'Observatoire, 75006, Paris, France
| | - Pascal Barneoud
- Rare and Neurologic Diseases Research Therapeutic Area, Sanofi, 1 Avenue Pierre Brossolette, 91380, Chilly-Mazarin, France
| | - Sylvaine Cartot-Cotton
- Pharmacokinetics, Dynamics and Metabolism, Translational Medicine & Early Development, Sanofi, 3 Digue d'Alfortville, 94140, Alfortville, France
| | - Delphine Valente
- Drug Metabolism & Pharmacokinetics, Research platform, Sanofi, 3 Digue d'Alfortville, 94140, Alfortville, France
| | - Nathalie Schussler
- Rare and Neurologic Diseases Research Therapeutic Area, Sanofi, 1 Avenue Pierre Brossolette, 91380, Chilly-Mazarin, France
| | - Bruno Saubaméa
- INSERM UMR-S 1144, UFR de Pharmacie, Faculté de Santé, Université de Paris, 4 avenue de l'Observatoire, 75006, Paris, France
| | - Stéphanie Chasseigneaux
- INSERM UMR-S 1144, UFR de Pharmacie, Faculté de Santé, Université de Paris, 4 avenue de l'Observatoire, 75006, Paris, France
| | - Véronique Cochois
- INSERM UMR-S 1144, UFR de Pharmacie, Faculté de Santé, Université de Paris, 4 avenue de l'Observatoire, 75006, Paris, France
| | - Virginie Mignon
- INSERM UMR-S 1144, UFR de Pharmacie, Faculté de Santé, Université de Paris, 4 avenue de l'Observatoire, 75006, Paris, France
| | - Emmanuel Curis
- Laboratoire de biomathématiques, plateau iB(2), EA 7537 « BioSTM », UFR de Pharmacie, Faculté de Santé, Université de Paris, 4 avenue de l'Observatoire, 75006, Paris, France; Service de bioinformatique et statistique médicale, hôpital Saint-Louis, APHP, 1, avenue Claude Vellefaux, 75010, Paris, France
| | - Murielle Lochus
- INSERM UMR-S 1144, UFR de Pharmacie, Faculté de Santé, Université de Paris, 4 avenue de l'Observatoire, 75006, Paris, France
| | - Sophie Nicolic
- INSERM UMR-S 1144, UFR de Pharmacie, Faculté de Santé, Université de Paris, 4 avenue de l'Observatoire, 75006, Paris, France
| | - Agnès Dodacki
- INSERM UMR-S 1144, UFR de Pharmacie, Faculté de Santé, Université de Paris, 4 avenue de l'Observatoire, 75006, Paris, France
| | - Salvatore Cisternino
- INSERM UMR-S 1144, UFR de Pharmacie, Faculté de Santé, Université de Paris, 4 avenue de l'Observatoire, 75006, Paris, France
| | - Xavier Declèves
- INSERM UMR-S 1144, UFR de Pharmacie, Faculté de Santé, Université de Paris, 4 avenue de l'Observatoire, 75006, Paris, France
| | - Fanchon Bourasset
- Laboratoire de Recherches Intégratives en Neurosciences et Psychologie Cognitive, Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté, 19 rue Ambroise Paré, 25000, Besançon, France.
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Leclerc M, Dudonné S, Calon F. Can Natural Products Exert Neuroprotection without Crossing the Blood-Brain Barrier? Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22073356. [PMID: 33805947 PMCID: PMC8037419 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22073356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2021] [Revised: 03/19/2021] [Accepted: 03/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The scope of evidence on the neuroprotective impact of natural products has been greatly extended in recent years. However, a key question that remains to be answered is whether natural products act directly on targets located in the central nervous system (CNS), or whether they act indirectly through other mechanisms in the periphery. While molecules utilized for brain diseases are typically bestowed with a capacity to cross the blood–brain barrier, it has been recently uncovered that peripheral metabolism impacts brain functions, including cognition. The gut–microbiota–brain axis is receiving increasing attention as another indirect pathway for orally administered compounds to act on the CNS. In this review, we will briefly explore these possibilities focusing on two classes of natural products: omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs) from marine sources and polyphenols from plants. The former will be used as an example of a natural product with relatively high brain bioavailability but with tightly regulated transport and metabolism, and the latter as an example of natural compounds with low brain bioavailability, yet with a growing amount of preclinical and clinical evidence of efficacy. In conclusion, it is proposed that bioavailability data should be sought early in the development of natural products to help identifying relevant mechanisms and potential impact on prevalent CNS disorders, such as Alzheimer’s disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manon Leclerc
- Faculté de Pharmacie, Université Laval, Québec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada;
- Axe Neurosciences, Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec–Université Laval, Québec, QC G1V 4G2, Canada
- Institut sur la Nutrition et les Aliments Fonctionnels (INAF), Québec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada;
- OptiNutriBrain-Laboratoire International Associé (NutriNeuro France-INAF Canada), Québec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
| | - Stéphanie Dudonné
- Institut sur la Nutrition et les Aliments Fonctionnels (INAF), Québec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada;
- OptiNutriBrain-Laboratoire International Associé (NutriNeuro France-INAF Canada), Québec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
| | - Frédéric Calon
- Faculté de Pharmacie, Université Laval, Québec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada;
- Axe Neurosciences, Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec–Université Laval, Québec, QC G1V 4G2, Canada
- Institut sur la Nutrition et les Aliments Fonctionnels (INAF), Québec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada;
- OptiNutriBrain-Laboratoire International Associé (NutriNeuro France-INAF Canada), Québec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-(418)-525-4444 (ext. 48697); Fax: +1-(418)-654-2761
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22
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Tayler H, Miners JS, Güzel Ö, MacLachlan R, Love S. Mediators of cerebral hypoperfusion and blood-brain barrier leakiness in Alzheimer's disease, vascular dementia and mixed dementia. Brain Pathol 2021; 31:e12935. [PMID: 33410232 PMCID: PMC8412075 DOI: 10.1111/bpa.12935] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2020] [Revised: 11/18/2020] [Accepted: 12/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
In vascular dementia (VaD) and Alzheimer’s disease (AD), cerebral hypoperfusion and blood‐brain barrier (BBB) leakiness contribute to brain damage. In this study, we have measured biochemical markers and mediators of cerebral hypoperfusion and BBB in the frontal (BA6) and parietal (BA7) cortex and underlying white matter, to investigate the pathophysiology of vascular dysfunction in AD, VaD and mixed dementia. The ratio of myelin‐associated glycoprotein to proteolipid protein‐1 (MAG:PLP1), a post‐mortem biochemical indicator of the adequacy of ante‐mortem cerebral perfusion; the concentration of fibrinogen adjusted for haemoglobin level, a marker of blood‐brain barrier (BBB) leakiness; the level of vascular endothelial growth factor‐A (VEGF), a marker of tissue hypoxia; and endothelin‐1 (EDN1), a potent vasoconstrictor, were measured by ELISA in the frontal and parietal cortex and underlying white matter in 94 AD, 20 VaD, 33 mixed dementia cases and 58 age‐matched controls. All cases were assessed neuropathologically for small vessel disease (SVD), cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) severity, Aβ and phospho‐tau parenchymal load, and Braak tangle stage. Aβ40 and Aβ42 were measured by ELISA in guanidine‐HCl tissue extracts. We found biochemical evidence of cerebral hypoperfusion in AD, VaD and mixed dementia to be associated with SVD, Aβ level, plaque load, EDN1 level and Braak tangle stage, and to be most widespread in mixed dementia. There was evidence of BBB leakiness in AD—limited to the cerebral cortex and related to EDN1 level. In conclusion, abnormalities of cerebral perfusion and BBB function in common types of dementia can largely be explained by a combination of arteriolosclerosis, and Aβ‐, tau‐ and endothelin‐related vascular dysfunction. The relative contributions of these processes vary considerably both between and within the diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah Tayler
- Dementia Research Group, Institute of Clinical Neurosciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - J Scott Miners
- Dementia Research Group, Institute of Clinical Neurosciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Özge Güzel
- Dementia Research Group, Institute of Clinical Neurosciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Rob MacLachlan
- Dementia Research Group, Institute of Clinical Neurosciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Seth Love
- Dementia Research Group, Institute of Clinical Neurosciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
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23
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Blevins BL, Vinters HV, Love S, Wilcock DM, Grinberg LT, Schneider JA, Kalaria RN, Katsumata Y, Gold BT, Wang DJJ, Ma SJ, Shade LMP, Fardo DW, Hartz AMS, Jicha GA, Nelson KB, Magaki SD, Schmitt FA, Teylan MA, Ighodaro ET, Phe P, Abner EL, Cykowski MD, Van Eldik LJ, Nelson PT. Brain arteriolosclerosis. Acta Neuropathol 2021; 141:1-24. [PMID: 33098484 PMCID: PMC8503820 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-020-02235-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2020] [Revised: 10/04/2020] [Accepted: 10/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Brain arteriolosclerosis (B-ASC), characterized by pathologic arteriolar wall thickening, is a common finding at autopsy in aged persons and is associated with cognitive impairment. Hypertension and diabetes are widely recognized as risk factors for B-ASC. Recent research indicates other and more complex risk factors and pathogenetic mechanisms. Here, we describe aspects of the unique architecture of brain arterioles, histomorphologic features of B-ASC, relevant neuroimaging findings, epidemiology and association with aging, established genetic risk factors, and the co-occurrence of B-ASC with other neuropathologic conditions such as Alzheimer's disease and limbic-predominant age-related TDP-43 encephalopathy (LATE). There may also be complex physiologic interactions between metabolic syndrome (e.g., hypertension and inflammation) and brain arteriolar pathology. Although there is no universally applied diagnostic methodology, several classification schemes and neuroimaging techniques are used to diagnose and categorize cerebral small vessel disease pathologies that include B-ASC, microinfarcts, microbleeds, lacunar infarcts, and cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA). In clinical-pathologic studies that factored in comorbid diseases, B-ASC was independently associated with impairments of global cognition, episodic memory, working memory, and perceptual speed, and has been linked to autonomic dysfunction and motor symptoms including parkinsonism. We conclude by discussing critical knowledge gaps related to B-ASC and suggest that there are probably subcategories of B-ASC that differ in pathogenesis. Observed in over 80% of autopsied individuals beyond 80 years of age, B-ASC is a complex and under-studied contributor to neurologic disability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brittney L Blevins
- Department of Neuroscience, University Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40536, USA
| | - Harry V Vinters
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, David Geffen SOM at UCLA and Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, 90095-1732, USA
| | - Seth Love
- University of Bristol and Southmead Hospital, Bristol, BS10 5NB, UK
| | - Donna M Wilcock
- Sanders-Brown Center on Aging, Department of Neuroscience, University Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40536, USA
| | - Lea T Grinberg
- Department of Neurology and Pathology, UCSF, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Global Brain Health Institute, UCSF, San Francisco, CA, USA
- LIM-22, Department of Pathology, University of Sao Paulo Medical School, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Julie A Schneider
- Departments of Neurology and Pathology, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, 60612, USA
| | - Rajesh N Kalaria
- Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Newcastle University, Campus for Ageing and Vitality, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE4 5PL, UK
| | - Yuriko Katsumata
- Sanders-Brown Center on Aging, Department of Biostatistics, University Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40536, USA
| | - Brian T Gold
- Sanders-Brown Center on Aging, Department of Neuroscience, University Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40536, USA
| | - Danny J J Wang
- Laboratory of FMRI Technology (LOFT), USC Mark and Mary Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, USA
| | - Samantha J Ma
- Laboratory of FMRI Technology (LOFT), USC Mark and Mary Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, USA
| | - Lincoln M P Shade
- Sanders-Brown Center on Aging, Department of Biostatistics, University Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40536, USA
| | - David W Fardo
- Sanders-Brown Center on Aging, Department of Biostatistics, University Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40536, USA
| | - Anika M S Hartz
- Sanders-Brown Center on Aging, Department of Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences, University Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40536, USA
| | - Gregory A Jicha
- Sanders-Brown Center on Aging, Department of Neurology, University Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40536, USA
| | | | - Shino D Magaki
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, David Geffen SOM at UCLA and Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, 90095-1732, USA
| | - Frederick A Schmitt
- Sanders-Brown Center on Aging, Department of Neurology, University Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40536, USA
| | - Merilee A Teylan
- Department of Epidemiology, University Washington, Seattle, WA, 98105, USA
| | | | - Panhavuth Phe
- Sanders-Brown Center on Aging, University Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40536, USA
| | - Erin L Abner
- Sanders-Brown Center on Aging, Department of Epidemiology, University Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40536, USA
| | - Matthew D Cykowski
- Departments of Pathology and Genomic Medicine and Neurology, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Linda J Van Eldik
- Sanders-Brown Center on Aging, Department of Neuroscience, University Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40536, USA
| | - Peter T Nelson
- Sanders-Brown Center on Aging, Department of Pathology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40536, USA.
- Rm 311 Sanders-Brown Center on Aging, University of Kentucky, 800 S. Limestone Avenue, Lexington, KY, 40536, USA.
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24
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Miners S, Kehoe PG, Love S. Cognitive impact of COVID-19: looking beyond the short term. Alzheimers Res Ther 2020; 12:170. [PMID: 33380345 PMCID: PMC7772800 DOI: 10.1186/s13195-020-00744-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 120] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2020] [Accepted: 12/07/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
COVID-19 is primarily a respiratory disease but up to two thirds of hospitalised patients show evidence of central nervous system (CNS) damage, predominantly ischaemic, in some cases haemorrhagic and occasionally encephalitic. It is unclear how much of the ischaemic damage is mediated by direct or inflammatory effects of virus on the CNS vasculature and how much is secondary to extracranial cardiorespiratory disease. Limited data suggest that the causative SARS-CoV-2 virus may enter the CNS via the nasal mucosa and olfactory fibres, or by haematogenous spread, and is capable of infecting endothelial cells, pericytes and probably neurons. Extracranially, SARS-CoV-2 targets endothelial cells and pericytes, causing endothelial cell dysfunction, vascular leakage and immune activation, sometimes leading to disseminated intravascular coagulation. It remains to be confirmed whether endothelial cells and pericytes in the cerebral vasculature are similarly targeted. Several aspects of COVID-19 are likely to impact on cognition. Cerebral white matter is particularly vulnerable to ischaemic damage in COVID-19 and is also critically important for cognitive function. There is accumulating evidence that cerebral hypoperfusion accelerates amyloid-β (Aβ) accumulation and is linked to tau and TDP-43 pathology, and by inducing phosphorylation of α-synuclein at serine-129, ischaemia may also increase the risk of development of Lewy body disease. Current therapies for COVID-19 are understandably focused on supporting respiratory function, preventing thrombosis and reducing immune activation. Since angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE)-2 is a receptor for SARS-CoV-2, and ACE inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers are predicted to increase ACE-2 expression, it was initially feared that their use might exacerbate COVID-19. Recent meta-analyses have instead suggested that these medications are protective. This is perhaps because SARS-CoV-2 entry may deplete ACE-2, tipping the balance towards angiotensin II-ACE-1-mediated classical RAS activation: exacerbating hypoperfusion and promoting inflammation. It may be relevant that APOE ε4 individuals, who seem to be at increased risk of COVID-19, also have lowest ACE-2 activity. COVID-19 is likely to leave an unexpected legacy of long-term neurological complications in a significant number of survivors. Cognitive follow-up of COVID-19 patients will be important, especially in patients who develop cerebrovascular and neurological complications during the acute illness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott Miners
- Dementia Research Group, Bristol Medical School (THS), University of Bristol, Learning & Research level 1, Southmead Hospital, Bristol, BS10 5NB, UK.
| | - Patrick G Kehoe
- Dementia Research Group, Bristol Medical School (THS), University of Bristol, Learning & Research level 1, Southmead Hospital, Bristol, BS10 5NB, UK
| | - Seth Love
- Dementia Research Group, Bristol Medical School (THS), University of Bristol, Learning & Research level 1, Southmead Hospital, Bristol, BS10 5NB, UK.
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25
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Ojo J, Eisenbaum M, Shackleton B, Lynch C, Joshi U, Saltiel N, Pearson A, Ringland C, Paris D, Mouzon B, Mullan M, Crawford F, Bachmeier C. Mural cell dysfunction leads to altered cerebrovascular tau uptake following repetitive head trauma. Neurobiol Dis 2020; 150:105237. [PMID: 33383188 PMCID: PMC8170787 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2020.105237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2020] [Revised: 12/07/2020] [Accepted: 12/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
A pathological characteristic of repetitive traumatic brain injury (TBI) is the deposition of hyperphosphorylated and aggregated tau species in the brain and increased levels of extracellular monomeric tau are believed to play a role in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative tauopathies. The pathways by which extracellular tau is eliminated from the brain, however, remains elusive. The purpose of this study was to examine tau uptake by cerebrovascular cells and the effect of TBI on these processes. We found monomeric tau interacts with brain vascular mural cells (pericytes and smooth muscle cells) to a greater extent than other cerebrovascular cells, indicating mural cells may contribute to the elimination of extracellular tau, as previously described for other solutes such as beta-amyloid. Consistent with other neurodegenerative disorders, we observed a progressive decline in cerebrovascular mural cell markers up to 12 months post-injury in a mouse model of repetitive mild TBI (r-mTBI) and human TBI brain specimens, when compared to control. These changes appear to reflect mural cell degeneration and not cellular loss as no difference in the mural cell population was observed between r-mTBI and r-sham animals as determined through flow cytometry. Moreover, freshly isolated r-mTBI cerebrovessels showed reduced tau uptake at 6 and 12 months post-injury compared to r-sham animals, which may be the result of diminished cerebrovascular endocytosis, as caveolin-1 levels were significantly decreased in mouse r-mTBI and human TBI cerebrovessels compared to their respective controls. Further emphasizing the interaction between mural cells and tau, similar reductions in mural cell markers, tau uptake, and caveolin-1 were observed in cerebrovessels from transgenic mural cell-depleted animals. In conclusion, our studies indicate repeated injuries to the brain causes chronic mural cell degeneration, reducing the caveolar-mediated uptake of tau by these cells. Alterations in tau uptake by vascular mural cells may contribute to tau deposition in the brain following head trauma and could represent a novel therapeutic target for TBI or other neurodegenerative disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph Ojo
- The Roskamp Institute, Sarasota, FL, USA; The Open University, Milton Keynes, UK
| | - Max Eisenbaum
- The Roskamp Institute, Sarasota, FL, USA; The Open University, Milton Keynes, UK
| | - Ben Shackleton
- The Roskamp Institute, Sarasota, FL, USA; The Open University, Milton Keynes, UK
| | - Cillian Lynch
- The Roskamp Institute, Sarasota, FL, USA; The Open University, Milton Keynes, UK
| | - Utsav Joshi
- The Roskamp Institute, Sarasota, FL, USA; The Open University, Milton Keynes, UK
| | | | - Andrew Pearson
- The Roskamp Institute, Sarasota, FL, USA; The Open University, Milton Keynes, UK
| | - Charis Ringland
- The Roskamp Institute, Sarasota, FL, USA; The Open University, Milton Keynes, UK
| | - Daniel Paris
- The Roskamp Institute, Sarasota, FL, USA; The Open University, Milton Keynes, UK
| | - Benoit Mouzon
- The Roskamp Institute, Sarasota, FL, USA; The Open University, Milton Keynes, UK
| | - Michael Mullan
- The Roskamp Institute, Sarasota, FL, USA; The Open University, Milton Keynes, UK
| | - Fiona Crawford
- The Roskamp Institute, Sarasota, FL, USA; The Open University, Milton Keynes, UK; James A. Haley Veterans' Hospital, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Corbin Bachmeier
- The Roskamp Institute, Sarasota, FL, USA; The Open University, Milton Keynes, UK; Bay Pines VA Healthcare System, Bay Pines, FL, USA.
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26
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Jellinger KA. Neuropathological assessment of the Alzheimer spectrum. J Neural Transm (Vienna) 2020; 127:1229-1256. [PMID: 32740684 DOI: 10.1007/s00702-020-02232-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2020] [Accepted: 07/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Alzheimer disease (AD), the most common form of dementia globally, classically defined a clinicopathological entity, is a heterogenous disorder with various pathobiological subtypes, currently referred to as Alzheimer continuum. Its morphological hallmarks are extracellular parenchymal β-amyloid (amyloid plaques) and intraneuronal (tau aggregates forming neurofibrillary tangles) lesions accompanied by synaptic loss and vascular amyloid deposits, that are essential for the pathological diagnosis of AD. In addition to "classical" AD, several subtypes with characteristic regional patterns of tau pathology have been described that show distinct clinical features, differences in age, sex distribution, biomarker levels, and patterns of key network destructions responsible for cognitive decline. AD is a mixed proteinopathy (amyloid and tau), frequently associated with other age-related co-pathologies, such as cerebrovascular lesions, Lewy and TDP-43 pathologies, hippocampal sclerosis, or argyrophilic grain disease. These and other co-pathologies essentially influence the clinical picture of AD and may accelerate disease progression. The purpose of this review is to provide a critical overview of AD pathology, its defining pathological substrates, and the heterogeneity among the Alzheimer spectrum entities that may provide a broader diagnostic coverage of this devastating disorder as a basis for implementing precision medicine approaches and for ultimate development of successful disease-modifying drugs for AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kurt A Jellinger
- Institute of Clinical Neurobiology, Alberichgasse 5/13, 1150, Vienna, Austria.
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27
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Potential Role of Venular Amyloid in Alzheimer's Disease Pathogenesis. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21061985. [PMID: 32183293 PMCID: PMC7139584 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21061985] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2020] [Revised: 03/07/2020] [Accepted: 03/12/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Insurmountable evidence has demonstrated a strong association between Alzheimer's disease (AD) and cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA), along with various other cerebrovascular diseases. One form of CAA, which is the accumulation of amyloid-beta peptides (Aβ) along cerebral vessel walls, impairs perivascular drainage pathways and contributes to cerebrovascular dysfunction in AD. To date, CAA research has been primarily focused on arterial Aβ, while the accumulation of Aβ in veins and venules were to a lesser extent. In this review, we describe preclinical models and clinical studies supporting the presence of venular amyloid and potential downstream pathological mechanisms that affect the cerebrovasculature in AD. Venous collagenosis, impaired cerebrovascular pulsatility, and enlarged perivascular spaces are exacerbated by venular amyloid and increase Aβ deposition, potentially through impaired perivascular clearance. Gaining a comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms involved in venular Aβ deposition and associated pathologies will give insight to how CAA contributes to AD and its association with AD-related cerebrovascular disease. Lastly, we suggest that special consideration should be made to develop Aβ-targeted therapeutics that remove vascular amyloid and address cerebrovascular dysfunction in AD.
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