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Martinez TP, Larsen ME, Sullivan E, Woolfrey KM, Dell’Acqua ML. Amyloid-β-induced dendritic spine elimination requires Ca 2+-permeable AMPA receptors, AKAP-Calcineurin-NFAT signaling, and the NFAT target gene Mdm2. eNeuro 2024; 11:ENEURO.0175-23.2024. [PMID: 38331575 PMCID: PMC10925900 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0175-23.2024] [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: 05/25/2023] [Revised: 01/26/2024] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is associated with brain accumulation of synaptotoxic amyloid-β (Aβ) peptides produced by the proteolytic processing of amyloid precursor protein (APP). Cognitive impairments associated with AD correlate with dendritic spine and excitatory synapse loss, particularly within the hippocampus. In rodents, soluble Aβ oligomers impair hippocampus-dependent learning and memory, promote dendritic spine loss, inhibit NMDA-type glutamate receptor (NMDAR)-dependent long-term potentiation (LTP), and promote synaptic depression (LTD), at least in part through activation of the Ca2+-CaM-dependent phosphatase calcineurin (CaN). Yet, questions remain regarding Aβ-dependent postsynaptic CaN signaling specifically at the synapse to mediate its synaptotoxicity. Here, we use pharmacologic and genetic approaches to demonstrate a role for postsynaptic signaling via A kinase-anchoring protein 150 (AKAP150)-scaffolded CaN in mediating Aβ-induced dendritic spine loss in hippocampal neurons from rats and mice of both sexes. In particular, we found that Ca2+-permeable AMPA-type glutamate receptors (CP-AMPARs), which were previously shown to signal through AKAP-anchored CaN to promote both LTD and Aβ-dependent inhibition of LTP, are also required upstream of AKAP-CaN signaling to mediate spine loss via overexpression of APP containing multiple mutations linked to familial, early-onset AD and increased Aβ production. In addition, we found that the CaN-dependent nuclear factor of activated T-cells (NFAT) transcription factors are required downstream to promote Aβ-mediated dendritic spine loss. Finally, we identified the E3-ubiquitin ligase Mdm2, which was previously linked to LTD and developmental synapse elimination, as a downstream NFAT target gene upregulated by Aβ whose enzymatic activity is required for Aβ-mediated spine loss.Significance Statement Impaired hippocampal function and synapse loss are hallmarks of AD linked to Aβ oligomers. Aβ exposure acutely blocks hippocampal LTP and enhances LTD and chronically leads to dendritic spine synapse loss. In particular, Aβ hijacks normal plasticity mechanisms, biasing them toward synapse weakening/elimination, with previous studies broadly linking CaN phosphatase signaling to this synaptic dysfunction. However, we do not understand how Aβ engages signaling specifically at synapses. Here we elucidate a synapse-to-nucleus signaling pathway coordinated by the postsynaptic scaffold protein AKAP150 that is activated by Ca2+ influx through CP-AMPARs and transduced to nucleus by CaN-NFAT signaling to transcriptionally upregulate the E3-ubiquitin ligase Mdm2 that is required for Aβ-mediated spine loss. These findings identify Mdm2 as potential therapeutic target for AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tyler P. Martinez
- Pharmacology PhD Program, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado 80045
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado 80045
- Linda Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado 80045
| | - Matthew E. Larsen
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado 80045
- Neuroscience PhD Program, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado 80045
| | - Emily Sullivan
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado 80045
| | - Kevin M. Woolfrey
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado 80045
| | - Mark L. Dell’Acqua
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado 80045
- Linda Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado 80045
- Neurotechnology Center, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado 80045
- Alzheimer’s and Cognition Center, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado 80045
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Gao J, Zhang HP, Sun YH, Guo WZ, Li J, Tang HW, Guo DF, Zhang JK, Shi XY, Yu DS, Zhang XD, Wen PH, Shi JH, Zhang SJ. Synaptopodin-2 promotes hepatocellular carcinoma metastasis via calcineurin-induced nuclear-cytoplasmic translocation. Cancer Lett 2020; 482:8-18. [PMID: 32278815 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2020.04.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2020] [Revised: 04/05/2020] [Accepted: 04/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), a type of malignant liver tumor, has a grim prognosis. As a functional protein, synaptopodin-2 (SYNPO2) has been associated with malignancy; however, the expression profile and function of SYNPO2 in HCC remains unknown. Herein, we revealed that SYNPO2 was transcriptionally downregulated in HCC tissues from both The Cancer Genome Atlas cohort and our cohort, and was also decreased at the translational level as determined by western blotting and immunohistochemical staining. Furthermore, reduced SYNPO2 expression correlated significantly with short overall survival and recurrence free survival of HCC patients. Restoring SYNPO2 expression inhibited the proliferation and aggressiveness of hepatocarcinoma cells. Mechanistically, increasing the ratio of cytoplasmic SYNPO2 to nuclear SYNPO2 was positively associated with recurrence rate in HCC patients; calcineurin (CaN) activity positively correlated with cytoplasmic SYNPO2 levels in HCC tissues; and nuclear-cytoplasmic translocation of SYNPO2 was induced by CaN to facilitate metastasis of HCC through assembly of peripheral actin bundles. In short, our findings uncover a novel role of SYNPO2 in HCC metastasis via the CaN/SYNPO2/F-actin axis, and indicate that SYNPO2 may serve as a possible prognostic marker and novel therapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Gao
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, 450052, China; Henan Key Laboratory of Digestive Organ Transplantation, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, 450052, China; Open and Key Laboratory of Hepatobiliary & Pancreatic Surgery and Digestive Organ Transplantation at Henan Universities, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, 450052, China
| | - Hua-Peng Zhang
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, 450052, China; Henan Key Laboratory of Digestive Organ Transplantation, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, 450052, China; Open and Key Laboratory of Hepatobiliary & Pancreatic Surgery and Digestive Organ Transplantation at Henan Universities, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, 450052, China
| | - Yao-Hui Sun
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, 450052, China; Henan Key Laboratory of Digestive Organ Transplantation, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, 450052, China; Open and Key Laboratory of Hepatobiliary & Pancreatic Surgery and Digestive Organ Transplantation at Henan Universities, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, 450052, China
| | - Wen-Zhi Guo
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, 450052, China; Henan Key Laboratory of Digestive Organ Transplantation, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, 450052, China; Open and Key Laboratory of Hepatobiliary & Pancreatic Surgery and Digestive Organ Transplantation at Henan Universities, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, 450052, China
| | - Jie Li
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, 450052, China; Henan Key Laboratory of Digestive Organ Transplantation, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, 450052, China; Open and Key Laboratory of Hepatobiliary & Pancreatic Surgery and Digestive Organ Transplantation at Henan Universities, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, 450052, China
| | - Hong-Wei Tang
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, 450052, China; Henan Key Laboratory of Digestive Organ Transplantation, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, 450052, China; Open and Key Laboratory of Hepatobiliary & Pancreatic Surgery and Digestive Organ Transplantation at Henan Universities, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, 450052, China
| | - Dan-Feng Guo
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, 450052, China; Henan Key Laboratory of Digestive Organ Transplantation, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, 450052, China; Open and Key Laboratory of Hepatobiliary & Pancreatic Surgery and Digestive Organ Transplantation at Henan Universities, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, 450052, China
| | - Jia-Kai Zhang
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, 450052, China; Henan Key Laboratory of Digestive Organ Transplantation, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, 450052, China; Open and Key Laboratory of Hepatobiliary & Pancreatic Surgery and Digestive Organ Transplantation at Henan Universities, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, 450052, China
| | - Xiao-Yi Shi
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, 450052, China; Henan Key Laboratory of Digestive Organ Transplantation, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, 450052, China; Open and Key Laboratory of Hepatobiliary & Pancreatic Surgery and Digestive Organ Transplantation at Henan Universities, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, 450052, China
| | - Dong-Sheng Yu
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, 450052, China; Henan Key Laboratory of Digestive Organ Transplantation, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, 450052, China; Open and Key Laboratory of Hepatobiliary & Pancreatic Surgery and Digestive Organ Transplantation at Henan Universities, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, 450052, China
| | - Xiao-Dan Zhang
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, 450052, China; Henan Key Laboratory of Digestive Organ Transplantation, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, 450052, China; Open and Key Laboratory of Hepatobiliary & Pancreatic Surgery and Digestive Organ Transplantation at Henan Universities, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, 450052, China
| | - Pei-Hao Wen
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, 450052, China; Henan Key Laboratory of Digestive Organ Transplantation, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, 450052, China; Open and Key Laboratory of Hepatobiliary & Pancreatic Surgery and Digestive Organ Transplantation at Henan Universities, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, 450052, China
| | - Jia-Hua Shi
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, 450052, China; Henan Key Laboratory of Digestive Organ Transplantation, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, 450052, China; Open and Key Laboratory of Hepatobiliary & Pancreatic Surgery and Digestive Organ Transplantation at Henan Universities, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, 450052, China
| | - Shui-Jun Zhang
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, 450052, China; Henan Key Laboratory of Digestive Organ Transplantation, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, 450052, China; Open and Key Laboratory of Hepatobiliary & Pancreatic Surgery and Digestive Organ Transplantation at Henan Universities, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, 450052, China.
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