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Valencia-Olvera AC, Maldonado Weng J, Christensen A, LaDu MJ, Pike CJ. Role of estrogen in women's Alzheimer's disease risk as modified by APOE. J Neuroendocrinol 2023; 35:e13209. [PMID: 36420620 PMCID: PMC10049970 DOI: 10.1111/jne.13209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2022] [Revised: 09/29/2022] [Accepted: 10/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by numerous sexual dimorphisms that impact the development, progression, and probably the strategies to prevent and treat the most common form of dementia. In this review, we consider this topic from a female perspective with a specific focus on how women's vulnerability to the disease is affected by the individual and interactive effects of estrogens and apolipoprotein E (APOE) genotype. Importantly, APOE appears to modulate systemic and neural outcomes of both menopause and estrogen-based hormone therapy. In the brain, dementia risk is greater in APOE4 carriers, and the impacts of hormone therapy on cognitive decline and dementia risk vary according to both outcome measure and APOE genotype. Beyond the CNS, estrogen and APOE genotype affect vulnerability to menopause-associated bone loss, dyslipidemia and cardiovascular disease risk. An emerging concept that may link these relationships is the possibility that the effects of APOE in women interact with estrogen status by mechanisms that may include modulation of estrogen responsiveness. This review highlights the need to consider the key AD risk factors of advancing age in a sex-specific manner to optimize development of therapeutic approaches for AD, a view aligned with the principle of personalized medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- AC Valencia-Olvera
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612 USA
| | - J Maldonado Weng
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612 USA
| | - A Christensen
- Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089 USA
| | - MJ LaDu
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612 USA
| | - CJ Pike
- Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089 USA
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2
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Hausman-Cohen S, Bilich C, Kapoor S, Maristany E, Stefani A, Wilcox A. Genomics as a Clinical Decision Support Tool for Identifying and Addressing Modifiable Causes of Cognitive Decline and Improving Outcomes: Proof of Concept Support for This Personalized Medicine Strategy. Front Aging Neurosci 2022; 14:862362. [PMID: 35517054 PMCID: PMC9062132 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2022.862362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2022] [Accepted: 03/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
The landscape of therapeutics for mild cognitive impairment and dementia is quite limited. While many single-agent trials of pharmaceuticals have been conducted, these trials have repeatedly been unable to show improvement in cognition. It is hypothesized that because Alzheimer’s, like many other chronic illnesses, is not a monogenic illness, but is instead caused by the downstream effects of an individual’s genetic variants interacting with each other, the environment, and lifestyle, that improving outcomes will require a personalized, precision medicine approach. This approach requires identifying and then addressing contributing genomic and other factors specific to each individual in a simultaneous fashion. Until recently, the utility of genomics as part of clinical decision-making for Alzheimer’s and cognitive decline has been limited by the lack of availability of a genomic platform designed specifically to evaluate factors contributing to cognitive decline and how to respond to these factors The clinical decision support (CDS) platform used in the cases presented focuses on common variants that relate to topics including, but not limited to brain inflammation, amyloid processing, nutrient carriers, brain ischemia, oxidative stress, and detoxification pathways. Potential interventions based on the scientific literature were included in the CDS, but the final decision on what interventions to apply were chosen by each patient’s physician. Interventions included supplements with “generally regarded as safe (GRAS)” rating, along with targeted diet and lifestyle modifications. We hypothesize that a personalized genomically targeted approach can improve outcomes for individuals with mild cognitive impairment who are at high risk of Alzheimer’s. The cases presented in this report represent a subset of cases from three physicians’ offices and are meant to provide initial proof of concept data demonstrating the efficacy of this method and provide support for this hypothesis. These patients were at elevated risk for Alzheimer’s due to their apolipoprotein E ε4 status. While further prospective and controlled trials need to be done, initial case reports are encouraging and lend support to this hypothesis of the benefit of a genomically targeted personalized medicine approach to improve outcomes in individuals with cognitive decline who are at high risk for Alzheimer’s.
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3
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Morozova A, Zorkina Y, Abramova O, Pavlova O, Pavlov K, Soloveva K, Volkova M, Alekseeva P, Andryshchenko A, Kostyuk G, Gurina O, Chekhonin V. Neurobiological Highlights of Cognitive Impairment in Psychiatric Disorders. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:1217. [PMID: 35163141 PMCID: PMC8835608 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23031217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2021] [Revised: 01/18/2022] [Accepted: 01/20/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
This review is focused on several psychiatric disorders in which cognitive impairment is a major component of the disease, influencing life quality. There are plenty of data proving that cognitive impairment accompanies and even underlies some psychiatric disorders. In addition, sources provide information on the biological background of cognitive problems associated with mental illness. This scientific review aims to summarize the current knowledge about neurobiological mechanisms of cognitive impairment in people with schizophrenia, depression, mild cognitive impairment and dementia (including Alzheimer's disease).The review provides data about the prevalence of cognitive impairment in people with mental illness and associated biological markers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Morozova
- Mental-Health Clinic No. 1 Named after N.A. Alekseev, 117152 Moscow, Russia; (A.M.); (O.A.); (K.S.); (M.V.); (P.A.); (A.A.); (G.K.)
- Department of Basic and Applied Neurobiology, V. Serbsky Federal Medical Research Centre of Psychiatry and Narcology, 119034 Moscow, Russia; (O.P.); (K.P.); (O.G.); (V.C.)
| | - Yana Zorkina
- Mental-Health Clinic No. 1 Named after N.A. Alekseev, 117152 Moscow, Russia; (A.M.); (O.A.); (K.S.); (M.V.); (P.A.); (A.A.); (G.K.)
- Department of Basic and Applied Neurobiology, V. Serbsky Federal Medical Research Centre of Psychiatry and Narcology, 119034 Moscow, Russia; (O.P.); (K.P.); (O.G.); (V.C.)
| | - Olga Abramova
- Mental-Health Clinic No. 1 Named after N.A. Alekseev, 117152 Moscow, Russia; (A.M.); (O.A.); (K.S.); (M.V.); (P.A.); (A.A.); (G.K.)
- Department of Basic and Applied Neurobiology, V. Serbsky Federal Medical Research Centre of Psychiatry and Narcology, 119034 Moscow, Russia; (O.P.); (K.P.); (O.G.); (V.C.)
| | - Olga Pavlova
- Department of Basic and Applied Neurobiology, V. Serbsky Federal Medical Research Centre of Psychiatry and Narcology, 119034 Moscow, Russia; (O.P.); (K.P.); (O.G.); (V.C.)
| | - Konstantin Pavlov
- Department of Basic and Applied Neurobiology, V. Serbsky Federal Medical Research Centre of Psychiatry and Narcology, 119034 Moscow, Russia; (O.P.); (K.P.); (O.G.); (V.C.)
| | - Kristina Soloveva
- Mental-Health Clinic No. 1 Named after N.A. Alekseev, 117152 Moscow, Russia; (A.M.); (O.A.); (K.S.); (M.V.); (P.A.); (A.A.); (G.K.)
| | - Maria Volkova
- Mental-Health Clinic No. 1 Named after N.A. Alekseev, 117152 Moscow, Russia; (A.M.); (O.A.); (K.S.); (M.V.); (P.A.); (A.A.); (G.K.)
| | - Polina Alekseeva
- Mental-Health Clinic No. 1 Named after N.A. Alekseev, 117152 Moscow, Russia; (A.M.); (O.A.); (K.S.); (M.V.); (P.A.); (A.A.); (G.K.)
| | - Alisa Andryshchenko
- Mental-Health Clinic No. 1 Named after N.A. Alekseev, 117152 Moscow, Russia; (A.M.); (O.A.); (K.S.); (M.V.); (P.A.); (A.A.); (G.K.)
| | - Georgiy Kostyuk
- Mental-Health Clinic No. 1 Named after N.A. Alekseev, 117152 Moscow, Russia; (A.M.); (O.A.); (K.S.); (M.V.); (P.A.); (A.A.); (G.K.)
| | - Olga Gurina
- Department of Basic and Applied Neurobiology, V. Serbsky Federal Medical Research Centre of Psychiatry and Narcology, 119034 Moscow, Russia; (O.P.); (K.P.); (O.G.); (V.C.)
| | - Vladimir Chekhonin
- Department of Basic and Applied Neurobiology, V. Serbsky Federal Medical Research Centre of Psychiatry and Narcology, 119034 Moscow, Russia; (O.P.); (K.P.); (O.G.); (V.C.)
- Department of Medical Nanobiotechnology, Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, 117997 Moscow, Russia
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4
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Ulhaq ZS, Garcia CP. Estrogen receptor beta (ESR2) gene polymorphism and susceptibility to dementia. Acta Neurol Belg 2021; 121:1281-1293. [PMID: 32335869 DOI: 10.1007/s13760-020-01360-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2019] [Accepted: 04/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Strong evidence supports the involvement of sex steroid hormones in the development and progression of dementia. Attention has been largely focused on the association between genetic variants of estrogen receptor alpha (ERα, ESR1) with dementia, although several studies indicate that ERβ is predominantly expressed in the brain. Interestingly, however, a limited number of studies evaluate the role of ERβ (ESR2) in dementia. Therefore, a meta-analysis was conducted to clarify the association between ESR2 genetic polymorphisms and the risk of dementia. All the relevant studies evaluating ESR2 genetic polymorphisms and dementia were identified through online databases. In total, 14 studies including 20,609 subjects were analyzed. Collectively, it was found that a combined data set of ESR2 polymorphisms was not associated with dementia risk. Interestingly, ESR2 rs4986938 polymorphism is significantly associated with dementia in the Asian population (OR = 0.73, 95% CI 0.59-0.91, P = 0.006). The carrier of A allele in rs4986938 exhibits a protective effect against dementia (A vs. G, OR = 0.6633, P = 0.012; AA + GA vs. GG, OR = 0.6499, P = 0.014; GA vs. AA + GG, OR = 0.6672, P = 0.025; GA vs. GG, OR = 0.6617, P = 0.022). In conclusion, our study suggests that ESR2 genetic polymorphisms are not significantly associated with dementia risk. ESR2 rs4986938 may have potential as a genetic marker for dementia in the Asian population. However, further studies need to verify this conclusion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zulvikar Syambani Ulhaq
- Department of Biomedical Science, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Maulana Malik Ibrahim Islamic State University of Malang, Batu, East Java, 65151, Indonesia.
| | - Cristian Peinado Garcia
- Department of General Surgery, Weston General Hospital, Grange Rd, Weston-super-Mare, BS23 4QT, UK
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Pinkas J, Bojar I, Gujski M, Sarecka-Hujar B, Owoc A, Raczkiewicz D. Effect of interactions between APOE and ESR1 polymorphisms on cognitive functions in postmenopausal women. Arch Med Sci 2021; 17:31-39. [PMID: 33488853 PMCID: PMC7811303 DOI: 10.5114/aoms.2018.72972] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2017] [Accepted: 11/13/2017] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION During menopause the level of estrogens is decreased, which may lead to cognitive impairment or dementia. Some forms of genetic polymorphism were found to be related to cognitive functions, including APOE and ESR1 (PvuII and XbaI) polymorphisms. In the present study we aimed to analyze the impact of interactions between APOE and ESR1 polymorphisms on cognitive functions in the group of postmenopausal women. MATERIAL AND METHODS The study group consisted of 266 postmenopausal women aged 50-65 years without symptoms of dementia. A computerized battery of the Central Nervous System Vital Signs (CNS VS) test was used to diagnose cognitive functions. APOE and ESR1 polymorphisms were genotyped using multiplex PCR and PCR-RFLP methods, respectively. Statistical analysis was performed using two-way analysis of variance in Statistica software. RESULTS The best memory, visual memory, processing and psychomotor speeds were found in women carrying the C allele of the PvuII polymorphism (TC + CC genotypes) in the presence of the APOE ε2/ε3 genotype, while a lower outcome was noted in women with ε3/ε3, and the lowest if they had the ε4 allele. In the case of women with TT genotype of the PvuII polymorphism, cognitive functioning did not decrease in women with the ε4 allele. A similar effect on cognitive functions was observed for AG + GG genotypes of the XbaI and APOE polymorphisms. Women who simultaneously carried CC PvuII and GG XbaI genotypes had the lowest cognitive functions. CONCLUSIONS Interactions of polymorphic variants of APOE and ESR1 genes influenced cognitive functions in postmenopausal women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jarosław Pinkas
- School of Public Health, Center of Postgraduate Medical Education, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Iwona Bojar
- Department of Women’s Health, Institute of Rural Health, Lublin, Poland
| | - Mariusz Gujski
- Department of Prevention of Environmental Hazards and Allergology, Medical University of Warsaw, Poland
| | - Beata Sarecka-Hujar
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland
| | - Alfred Owoc
- Polish Society of Social Medicine and Public Health, Poland
| | - Dorota Raczkiewicz
- Department of Demography, Institute of Statistics and Demography, Collegium of Economic Analysis, SGH Warsaw School of Economics, Warsaw, Poland
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Sanghvi H, Singh R, Morrin H, Rajkumar AP. Systematic review of genetic association studies in people with Lewy body dementia. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry 2020; 35:436-448. [PMID: 31898332 DOI: 10.1002/gps.5260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2019] [Accepted: 12/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Lewy body dementia (LBD) causes more morbidity, disability, and earlier mortality than Alzheimer disease. Molecular mechanisms underlying neurodegeneration in LBD are poorly understood. We aimed to do a systematic review of all genetic association studies that investigated people with LBD for improving our understanding of LBD molecular genetics and for facilitating discovery of novel biomarkers and therapeutic targets for LBD. METHODS We systematically reviewed five online databases (PROSPERO protocol: CRD42018087114) and completed the quality assessment using the quality of genetic association studies tool. RESULTS Eight thousand five hundred twenty-one articles were screened, and 75 articles were eligible to be included. Genetic associations of LBD with APOE, GBA, and SNCA variants have been replicated by two or more good quality studies. Our meta-analyses confirmed that APOE-ε4 is significantly associated with dementia with Lewy bodies (pooled odds ratio [POR] = 2.70; 95% CI, 2.37-3.07; P < .001) and Parkinson's disease dementia (POR = 1.60; 95% CI, 1.21-2.11; P = .001). Other reported genetic associations that need further replication include variants in A2M, BCHE-K, BCL7C, CHRFAM7A, CNTN1, ESR1, GABRB3, MAPT, mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) haplogroup H, NOS2A, PSEN1, SCARB2, TFAM, TREM2, and UCHL1. CONCLUSIONS The reported genetic associations and their potential interactions indicate the importance of α-synuclein, amyloid, and tau pathology, autophagy lysosomal pathway, ubiquitin proteasome system, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial dysfunction in LBD. There is a need for larger genome-wide association study (GWAS) for identifying more LBD-associated genes. Future hypothesis-driven studies should aim to replicate reported genetic associations of LBD and to explore their functional implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hazel Sanghvi
- GKT School of Medical Education, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Ricky Singh
- GKT School of Medical Education, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Hamilton Morrin
- GKT School of Medical Education, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Anto P Rajkumar
- Department of Old Age Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
- Institute of Mental Health, Division of Psychiatry and Applied Psychology, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
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Uddin MS, Rahman MM, Jakaria M, Rahman MS, Hossain MS, Islam A, Ahmed M, Mathew B, Omar UM, Barreto GE, Ashraf GM. Estrogen Signaling in Alzheimer's Disease: Molecular Insights and Therapeutic Targets for Alzheimer's Dementia. Mol Neurobiol 2020; 57:2654-2670. [PMID: 32297302 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-020-01911-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2019] [Accepted: 03/23/2020] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Estrogens play a crucial physiological function in the brain; however, debates exist concerning the role of estrogens in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Women during pre-, peri-, or menopause periods are more susceptible for developing AD, suggesting the connection of sex factors and a decreased estrogen signaling in AD pathogenesis. Yet, the underlying mechanism of estrogen-mediated neuroprotection is unclarified and is complicated by the existence of estrogen-related factors. Consequently, a deeper analysis of estrogen receptor (ER) expression and estrogen-metabolizing enzymes could interpret the importance of estrogen in age-linked cognitive alterations. Previous studies propose that hormone replacement therapy may attenuate AD onset in postmenopausal women, demonstrating that estrogen signaling is important for the development and progression of AD. For example, ERα exerts neuroprotection against AD by maintaining intracellular signaling cascades and study reported reduced expression of ERα in hippocampal neurons of AD patients. Similarly, reduced expression of ERβ in female AD patients has been associated with abnormal function in mitochondria and improved markers of oxidative stress. In this review, we discuss the critical interaction between estrogen signaling and AD. Moreover, we highlight the potential of targeting estrogen-related signaling for therapeutic intervention in AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Md Sahab Uddin
- Department of Pharmacy, Southeast University, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
- Pharmakon Neuroscience Research Network, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
| | - Md Motiar Rahman
- Graduate School of Innovative Life Science, University of Toyama, Gofuku 3190, Toyama, 930-8555, Japan
| | - Md Jakaria
- The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Md Sohanur Rahman
- Graduate School of Innovative Life Science, University of Toyama, Gofuku 3190, Toyama, 930-8555, Japan
| | - Md Sarwar Hossain
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, Camerino, Italy
| | - Ariful Islam
- Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine, Stratford, NJ, USA
| | - Muniruddin Ahmed
- Department of Pharmacy, Daffodil International University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Bijo Mathew
- Division of Drug Design and Medicinal Chemistry Research Lab, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Ahalia School of Pharmacy, Palakkad, India
| | - Ulfat Mohammed Omar
- Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
- Immunology Unit, King Fahad Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - George E Barreto
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland.
- Health Research Institute, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland.
| | - Ghulam Md Ashraf
- King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
- Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
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Vegeto E, Villa A, Della Torre S, Crippa V, Rusmini P, Cristofani R, Galbiati M, Maggi A, Poletti A. The Role of Sex and Sex Hormones in Neurodegenerative Diseases. Endocr Rev 2020; 41:5572525. [PMID: 31544208 PMCID: PMC7156855 DOI: 10.1210/endrev/bnz005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 116] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2019] [Accepted: 09/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) are a wide class of disorders of the central nervous system (CNS) with unknown etiology. Several factors were hypothesized to be involved in the pathogenesis of these diseases, including genetic and environmental factors. Many of these diseases show a sex prevalence and sex steroids were shown to have a role in the progression of specific forms of neurodegeneration. Estrogens were reported to be neuroprotective through their action on cognate nuclear and membrane receptors, while adverse effects of male hormones have been described on neuronal cells, although some data also suggest neuroprotective activities. The response of the CNS to sex steroids is a complex and integrated process that depends on (i) the type and amount of the cognate steroid receptor and (ii) the target cell type-either neurons, glia, or microglia. Moreover, the levels of sex steroids in the CNS fluctuate due to gonadal activities and to local metabolism and synthesis. Importantly, biochemical processes involved in the pathogenesis of NDs are increasingly being recognized as different between the two sexes and as influenced by sex steroids. The aim of this review is to present current state-of-the-art understanding on the potential role of sex steroids and their receptors on the onset and progression of major neurodegenerative disorders, namely, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's diseases, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and the peculiar motoneuron disease spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy, in which hormonal therapy is potentially useful as disease modifier.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabetta Vegeto
- Center of Excellence on Neurodegenerative Diseases, Università degli Studi di Milano, Italy.,Dipartimento di Scienze Farmaceutiche (DiSFarm), Università degli Studi di Milano, Italy
| | - Alessandro Villa
- Center of Excellence on Neurodegenerative Diseases, Università degli Studi di Milano, Italy.,Dipartimento di Scienze della Salute (DiSS), Università degli Studi di Milano, Italy
| | - Sara Della Torre
- Center of Excellence on Neurodegenerative Diseases, Università degli Studi di Milano, Italy.,Dipartimento di Scienze Farmaceutiche (DiSFarm), Università degli Studi di Milano, Italy
| | - Valeria Crippa
- Center of Excellence on Neurodegenerative Diseases, Università degli Studi di Milano, Italy.,Dipartimento di Eccellenza di Scienze Farmacologiche e Biomolecolari (DiSFeB), Università degli Studi di Milano, Italy
| | - Paola Rusmini
- Center of Excellence on Neurodegenerative Diseases, Università degli Studi di Milano, Italy.,Dipartimento di Eccellenza di Scienze Farmacologiche e Biomolecolari (DiSFeB), Università degli Studi di Milano, Italy
| | - Riccardo Cristofani
- Center of Excellence on Neurodegenerative Diseases, Università degli Studi di Milano, Italy.,Dipartimento di Eccellenza di Scienze Farmacologiche e Biomolecolari (DiSFeB), Università degli Studi di Milano, Italy
| | - Mariarita Galbiati
- Center of Excellence on Neurodegenerative Diseases, Università degli Studi di Milano, Italy.,Dipartimento di Eccellenza di Scienze Farmacologiche e Biomolecolari (DiSFeB), Università degli Studi di Milano, Italy
| | - Adriana Maggi
- Center of Excellence on Neurodegenerative Diseases, Università degli Studi di Milano, Italy.,Dipartimento di Scienze Farmaceutiche (DiSFarm), Università degli Studi di Milano, Italy
| | - Angelo Poletti
- Center of Excellence on Neurodegenerative Diseases, Università degli Studi di Milano, Italy.,Dipartimento di Eccellenza di Scienze Farmacologiche e Biomolecolari (DiSFeB), Università degli Studi di Milano, Italy
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Li X, Zhu X, Zhang W, Yang F, Hui J, Tan J, Xie H, Peng D, Ma L, Cui L, Zhang S, Lv Z, Sun L, Yuan H, Zhou Q, Wang L, Qi S, Wang Z, Hu C, Yang Z. The etiological effect of a new low-frequency ESR1 variant on Mild Cognitive Impairment and Alzheimer's Disease: a population-based study. Aging (Albany NY) 2019; 10:2316-2337. [PMID: 30222591 PMCID: PMC6188501 DOI: 10.18632/aging.101548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2018] [Accepted: 09/06/2018] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Latent genetic variations of cholesterol metabolism-related genes in late-onset Alzheimer’s disease, especially, as well as in mild cognitive impairment pathogenesis are still to be studied extensively. Thus, we performed the targeted-sequencing of 12 nuclear receptor genes plus APOE which were involved in cholesterol content modulation to screen susceptible genetic variants and focused on a new risk variant ESR1 rs9340803 at 6q25.1 for both late-onset Alzheimer’s disease (OR=3.30[1.84~4.22], p<0.001) and mild cognitive impairment (OR=3.08[1.75~3.89], p<0.001). This low-frequency variant was validated in three independent cohorts totaling 854 late-onset Alzheimer’s disease cases, 1059 mild cognitive impairment cases and 1254 controls from nine provinces of China mainland. Preliminary functional study on it revealed decreased ESR1 expression in vitro. Besides, we detected higher serum Aβ1-40 concentration in participants carrying this variant (p=0.038) and lower plasma total cholesterol level in this variant carriers with late-onset Alzheimer’s disease (p=0.009). In summary, we identified a susceptible variant which might contribute to developing mild cognitive impairment at earlier stage and Alzheimer’s Disease later. Our study would provide new insight into the disease causation of late-onset Alzheimer’s disease and could be exploited therapeutically.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoling Li
- Graduate School of Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100001, P.R.China.,The MOH Key Laboratory of Geriatrics, Beijing Hospital, National Center of Gerontology, Beijing, 100730, P.R.China
| | - Xiaoquan Zhu
- The MOH Key Laboratory of Geriatrics, Beijing Hospital, National Center of Gerontology, Beijing, 100730, P.R.China
| | - Wandong Zhang
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, K1H 8M5, Canada.,Human Health Therapeutics, National Research Council of Canada, Ottawa, K1A 0R6, Canada
| | - Fan Yang
- The MOH Key Laboratory of Geriatrics, Beijing Hospital, National Center of Gerontology, Beijing, 100730, P.R.China
| | - Juan Hui
- The MOH Key Laboratory of Geriatrics, Beijing Hospital, National Center of Gerontology, Beijing, 100730, P.R.China
| | - Jiping Tan
- Department of Geriatric Neurology, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100730, P.R.China
| | - Haiqun Xie
- Department of Neurology, Affiliated Foshan Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Foshan, 528000, P.R.China
| | - Dantao Peng
- China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, 100029, P.R.China
| | - Lihua Ma
- 253 Hospital of PLA, Huhehot,, 010051, P.R.China
| | - Lianqi Cui
- Department of Neurology, 401 Hospital of PLA, Qingdao, Shandong 266100, P.R.China
| | - Shouzi Zhang
- Department of Neurology of Beijing Geriatric Hospital, Beijing, 100095, P.R.China
| | - Zeping Lv
- National Rehabilitation Aids Research Center, Ministry of Civil Affairs, Beijing, 100176, P.R.China
| | - Liang Sun
- The MOH Key Laboratory of Geriatrics, Beijing Hospital, National Center of Gerontology, Beijing, 100730, P.R.China
| | - Huiping Yuan
- The MOH Key Laboratory of Geriatrics, Beijing Hospital, National Center of Gerontology, Beijing, 100730, P.R.China
| | - Qi Zhou
- The MOH Key Laboratory of Geriatrics, Beijing Hospital, National Center of Gerontology, Beijing, 100730, P.R.China
| | - Luning Wang
- Department of Geriatric Neurology, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100730, P.R.China
| | - Shige Qi
- National Center for Chronic and Non-communicable Diseae Control and Prevention, Chinease CDC, Beijing, 100050, P.R.China
| | - Zhihui Wang
- National Center for Chronic and Non-communicable Diseae Control and Prevention, Chinease CDC, Beijing, 100050, P.R.China
| | - Caiyou Hu
- Department of Neurology, Jiangbin Hospital, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Nanning, 530021, P.R.China
| | - Ze Yang
- Graduate School of Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100001, P.R.China.,The MOH Key Laboratory of Geriatrics, Beijing Hospital, National Center of Gerontology, Beijing, 100730, P.R.China
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10
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Azcoitia I, Barreto GE, Garcia-Segura LM. Molecular mechanisms and cellular events involved in the neuroprotective actions of estradiol. Analysis of sex differences. Front Neuroendocrinol 2019; 55:100787. [PMID: 31513774 DOI: 10.1016/j.yfrne.2019.100787] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2019] [Revised: 08/27/2019] [Accepted: 09/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Estradiol, either from peripheral or central origin, activates multiple molecular neuroprotective and neuroreparative responses that, being mediated by estrogen receptors or by estrogen receptor independent mechanisms, are initiated at the membrane, the cytoplasm or the cell nucleus of neural cells. Estrogen-dependent signaling regulates a variety of cellular events, such as intracellular Ca2+ levels, mitochondrial respiratory capacity, ATP production, mitochondrial membrane potential, autophagy and apoptosis. In turn, these molecular and cellular actions of estradiol are integrated by neurons and non-neuronal cells to generate different tissue protective responses, decreasing blood-brain barrier permeability, oxidative stress, neuroinflammation and excitotoxicity and promoting synaptic plasticity, axonal growth, neurogenesis, remyelination and neuroregeneration. Recent findings indicate that the neuroprotective and neuroreparative actions of estradiol are different in males and females and further research is necessary to fully elucidate the causes for this sex difference.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iñigo Azcoitia
- Department of Cell Biology, Faculty of Biology, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red Fragilidad y Envejecimiento Saludables (CIBERFES), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Avenida Monforte de Lemos, 3-5, 28029 Madrid, Spain.
| | - George E Barreto
- Department of Biological Sciences, School of Natural Sciences, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland.
| | - Luis M Garcia-Segura
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red Fragilidad y Envejecimiento Saludables (CIBERFES), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Avenida Monforte de Lemos, 3-5, 28029 Madrid, Spain; Instituto Cajal, CSIC, Avenida Doctor Arce 37, 28002 Madrid, Spain.
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11
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Potential Fluid Biomarkers for the Diagnosis of Mild Cognitive Impairment. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20174149. [PMID: 31450692 PMCID: PMC6747411 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20174149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2019] [Revised: 08/20/2019] [Accepted: 08/23/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is characterized by a level of cognitive impairment that is lower than normal for a person’s age, but a higher function than that that observed in a demented person. MCI represents a transitional state between normal aging and dementia disorders, especially Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Much effort has been made towards determining the prognosis of a person with MCI who will convert to AD. It is now clear that cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of Aβ40, Aβ42, total tau and phosphorylated tau are useful for predicting the risk of progression from MCI to AD. This review highlights the advantages of the current blood-based biomarkers in MCI, and discusses some of these challenges, with an emphasis on recent studies to provide an overview of the current state of MCI.
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12
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Bojar I, Stasiak M, Cyniak-Magierska A, Raczkiewicz D, Lewiński A. Cognitive Function, APOE Gene Polymorphisms, and Thyroid Status Associations in Postmenopausal Women in Poland. Dement Geriatr Cogn Disord 2018; 42:169-185. [PMID: 27649316 DOI: 10.1159/000449373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/01/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The objective of the study was to analyze a potential association between cognitive functions and thyroid status in postmenopausal women with different polymorphisms of the apolipoprotein E gene (APOE). METHODS The examined population included 402 postmenopausal women from south-eastern Poland. The evaluation of cognitive functions was made with the use of the diagnostic Central Nervous System-Vital Signs equipment (Polish version). Multiplex polymerase chain reactions were performed to assess APOE polymorphisms. The thyroid hormone tests were assessed by an accredited laboratory. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION Lower results of cognitive functions were associated with the presence of the ε4 APOE allele in postmenopausal women. The ε4 APOE polymorphism was associated with a higher concentration of thyroid-stimulating hormone and lower concentrations of free triiodothyronine and total triiodothyronine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iwona Bojar
- Department for Health Problems of Ageing, Institute of Rural Health, Lublin, Poland
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13
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Cong W, Meng X, Li J, Zhang Q, Chen F, Liu W, Wang Y, Cheng S, Yao X, Yan J, Kim S, Saykin AJ, Liang H, Shen L. Genome-wide network-based pathway analysis of CSF t-tau/Aβ1-42 ratio in the ADNI cohort. BMC Genomics 2017; 18:421. [PMID: 28558704 PMCID: PMC5450240 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-017-3798-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2016] [Accepted: 05/16/2017] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of total tau (t-tau) and Aβ1-42 are potential early diagnostic markers for probable Alzheimer's disease (AD). The influence of genetic variation on these CSF biomarkers has been investigated in candidate or genome-wide association studies (GWAS). However, the investigation of statistically modest associations in GWAS in the context of biological networks is still an under-explored topic in AD studies. The main objective of this study is to gain further biological insights via the integration of statistical gene associations in AD with physical protein interaction networks. RESULTS The CSF and genotyping data of 843 study subjects (199 CN, 85 SMC, 239 EMCI, 207 LMCI, 113 AD) from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) were analyzed. PLINK was used to perform GWAS on the t-tau/Aβ1-42 ratio using quality controlled genotype data, including 563,980 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), with age, sex and diagnosis as covariates. Gene-level p-values were obtained by VEGAS2. Genes with p-value ≤ 0.05 were mapped on to a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network (9,617 nodes, 39,240 edges, from the HPRD Database). We integrated a consensus model strategy into the iPINBPA network analysis framework, and named it as CM-iPINBPA. Four consensus modules (CMs) were discovered by CM-iPINBPA, and were functionally annotated using the pathway analysis tool Enrichr. The intersection of four CMs forms a common subnetwork of 29 genes, including those related to tau phosphorylation (GSK3B, SUMO1, AKAP5, CALM1 and DLG4), amyloid beta production (CASP8, PIK3R1, PPA1, PARP1, CSNK2A1, NGFR, and RHOA), and AD (BCL3, CFLAR, SMAD1, and HIF1A). CONCLUSIONS This study coupled a consensus module (CM) strategy with the iPINBPA network analysis framework, and applied it to the GWAS of CSF t-tau/Aβ1-42 ratio in an AD study. The genome-wide network analysis yielded 4 enriched CMs that share not only genes related to tau phosphorylation or amyloid beta production but also multiple genes enriching several KEGG pathways such as Alzheimer's disease, colorectal cancer, gliomas, renal cell carcinoma, Huntington's disease, and others. This study demonstrated that integration of gene-level associations with CMs could yield statistically significant findings to offer valuable biological insights (e.g., functional interaction among the protein products of these genes) and suggest high confidence candidates for subsequent analyses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wang Cong
- College of Automation, Harbin Engineering University, 145 Nantong Street, BLDG 61-5029, Harbin, 150001 China
| | - Xianglian Meng
- College of Automation, Harbin Engineering University, 145 Nantong Street, BLDG 61-5029, Harbin, 150001 China
- Harbin Huade University, No.288 Xue Yuan Rd. Limin Development Zone, Harbin, 150025 China
| | - Jin Li
- College of Automation, Harbin Engineering University, 145 Nantong Street, BLDG 61-5029, Harbin, 150001 China
| | - Qiushi Zhang
- College of Automation, Harbin Engineering University, 145 Nantong Street, BLDG 61-5029, Harbin, 150001 China
- College of Information Engineering, Northeast Dianli University, 169 Changchun Street, Jilin City, Jilin 132012 China
| | - Feng Chen
- College of Automation, Harbin Engineering University, 145 Nantong Street, BLDG 61-5029, Harbin, 150001 China
| | - Wenjie Liu
- College of Automation, Harbin Engineering University, 145 Nantong Street, BLDG 61-5029, Harbin, 150001 China
| | - Ying Wang
- College of Automation, Harbin Engineering University, 145 Nantong Street, BLDG 61-5029, Harbin, 150001 China
| | - Sipu Cheng
- College of Automation, Harbin Engineering University, 145 Nantong Street, BLDG 61-5029, Harbin, 150001 China
| | - Xiaohui Yao
- Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Indiana University School of Medicine, 355 W 16th St, Suite 4100, Indianapolis, IN 46202 USA
- School of Informatics and Computing, Indiana University, 719 Indiana Avenue, Indianapolis, IN 46202 USA
| | - Jingwen Yan
- Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Indiana University School of Medicine, 355 W 16th St, Suite 4100, Indianapolis, IN 46202 USA
- School of Informatics and Computing, Indiana University, 719 Indiana Avenue, Indianapolis, IN 46202 USA
- Indiana University Network Science Institute, Bloomington, IN 47405 USA
| | - Sungeun Kim
- Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Indiana University School of Medicine, 355 W 16th St, Suite 4100, Indianapolis, IN 46202 USA
- Indiana University Network Science Institute, Bloomington, IN 47405 USA
| | - Andrew J. Saykin
- Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Indiana University School of Medicine, 355 W 16th St, Suite 4100, Indianapolis, IN 46202 USA
- Indiana University Network Science Institute, Bloomington, IN 47405 USA
| | - Hong Liang
- College of Automation, Harbin Engineering University, 145 Nantong Street, BLDG 61-5029, Harbin, 150001 China
| | - Li Shen
- Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Indiana University School of Medicine, 355 W 16th St, Suite 4100, Indianapolis, IN 46202 USA
- School of Informatics and Computing, Indiana University, 719 Indiana Avenue, Indianapolis, IN 46202 USA
| | - for the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative
- College of Automation, Harbin Engineering University, 145 Nantong Street, BLDG 61-5029, Harbin, 150001 China
- Harbin Huade University, No.288 Xue Yuan Rd. Limin Development Zone, Harbin, 150025 China
- College of Information Engineering, Northeast Dianli University, 169 Changchun Street, Jilin City, Jilin 132012 China
- Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Indiana University School of Medicine, 355 W 16th St, Suite 4100, Indianapolis, IN 46202 USA
- School of Informatics and Computing, Indiana University, 719 Indiana Avenue, Indianapolis, IN 46202 USA
- Indiana University Network Science Institute, Bloomington, IN 47405 USA
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Li T, Ma Y, Zhang H, Yan P, Huo L, Hu Y, Chen X, Li T, Zhang M, Liu Z. Differential Regulation of Morphology and Estrogen Receptor-Alpha Expression in the Vagina of Ovariectomized Adult Virgin Rats by Estrogen Replacement: A Histological Study. Int J Endocrinol 2016; 2016:1093512. [PMID: 27642295 PMCID: PMC5013240 DOI: 10.1155/2016/1093512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2016] [Accepted: 07/31/2016] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Background. To determine the exact role of estrogen in vaginal tissue morphology and estrogen receptor-alpha (ERα) distribution in the vagina, which remains controversial. Methods. Sixty rats were randomly categorized: sham-operated (sham), ovariectomy (OVX), and four estradiol treatments (estradiol valerate at 0.4, 0.8, 1.6, and 3.2 mg/kg/day) for 2 weeks. Thereafter, vaginal samples were biopsied from the distal- and proximal-half portions. The percentage of ERα-immunoreactive cells and the ERα score were quantified using immunohistochemistry to assess changes in ERα expression and distribution. Results. OVX induced significant vaginal atrophy and organic index. Estrogen-replacement therapy (ERT) reversed vaginal atrophy. The vaginal distal-half areas showed lower ERα% than the proximal-half areas. The ERα% increased sharply 4 weeks after OVX, especially in the epithelial layer (P = 0.023). ERT elicited different degrees of reductions in tissues after the 2-week treatment, but the ERα% in only the epithelium recovered in parallel with that in the sham group (P = 0.001). The OVX group showed higher ERα histological scores than the sham group, and the distal-half area changed more evidently than the proximal-half area. ERα expression was nearly unchanged after ERT (P > 0.05). Conclusions. ERT is effective for treating obesity and vulvovaginal atrophy caused by hypoestrogenism and advancing age in menopausal women but cannot recover the distribution and expression of ERα.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ting Li
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University First Hospital, 8 Xishiku Street, Beijing 100034, China
| | - Yuanyuan Ma
- Animal Center Laboratory, Peking University First Hospital, 8 Xishiku Street, Beijing 100034, China
| | - Hong Zhang
- Department of Pathology, Peking University First Hospital, 8 Xishiku Street, Beijing 100034, China
| | - Ping Yan
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Peking University First Hospital, 8 Xishiku Street, Beijing 100034, China
| | - Lili Huo
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University First Hospital, 8 Xishiku Street, Beijing 100034, China
| | - Yongyan Hu
- Animal Center Laboratory, Peking University First Hospital, 8 Xishiku Street, Beijing 100034, China
| | - Xi Chen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University First Hospital, 8 Xishiku Street, Beijing 100034, China
| | - Ting Li
- Department of Pathology, Peking University First Hospital, 8 Xishiku Street, Beijing 100034, China
| | - Miao Zhang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University First Hospital, 8 Xishiku Street, Beijing 100034, China
- *Miao Zhang:
| | - Zhaohui Liu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University First Hospital, 8 Xishiku Street, Beijing 100034, China
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15
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Moser VA, Pike CJ. Obesity and sex interact in the regulation of Alzheimer's disease. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2015; 67:102-18. [PMID: 26708713 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2015.08.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2015] [Revised: 08/01/2015] [Accepted: 08/03/2015] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder, for which a number of genetic, environmental, and lifestyle risk factors have been identified. A significant modifiable risk factor is obesity in mid-life. Interestingly, both obesity and AD exhibit sex differences and are regulated by sex steroid hormones. Accumulating evidence suggests interactions between obesity and sex in regulation of AD risk, although the pathways underlying this relationship are unclear. Inflammation and the E4 allele of apolipoprotein E have been identified as independent risk factors for AD and both interact with obesity and sex steroid hormones. We review the individual and cooperative effects of obesity and sex on development of AD and examine the potential contributions of apolipoprotein E, inflammation, and their interactions to this relationship.
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Affiliation(s)
- V Alexandra Moser
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA.
| | - Christian J Pike
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA; Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA.
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16
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Zhao L, Woody SK, Chhibber A. Estrogen receptor β in Alzheimer's disease: From mechanisms to therapeutics. Ageing Res Rev 2015; 24:178-90. [PMID: 26307455 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2015.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2015] [Revised: 08/04/2015] [Accepted: 08/17/2015] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) disproportionally affects women and men. The female susceptibility for AD has been largely associated with the loss of ovarian sex hormones during menopause. This review examines the current understanding of the role of estrogen receptor β (ERβ) in the regulation of neurological health and its implication in the development and intervention of AD. Since its discovery in 1996, research conducted over the last 15-20 years has documented a great deal of evidence indicating that ERβ plays a pivotal role in a broad spectrum of brain activities from development to aging. ERβ genetic polymorphisms have been associated with cognitive impairment and increased risk for AD predominantly in women. The role of ERβ in the intervention of AD has been demonstrated by the alteration of AD pathology in response to treatment with ERβ-selective modulators in transgenic models that display pronounced plaque and tangle histopathological presentations as well as learning and memory deficits. Future studies that explore the potential interactions between ERβ signaling and the genetic isoforms of human apolipoprotein E (APOE) in brain aging and development of AD-risk phenotype are critically needed. The current trend of lost-in-translation in AD drug development that has primarily been based on early-onset familial AD (FAD) models underscores the urgent need for novel models that recapitulate the etiology of late-onset sporadic AD (SAD), the most common form of AD representing more than 95% of the current human AD population. Combining the use of FAD-related models that generally have excellent face validity with SAD-related models that hold more reliable construct validity would together increase the predictive validity of preclinical findings for successful translation into humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liqin Zhao
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66045, USA; Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66045, USA.
| | - Sarah K Woody
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66045, USA
| | - Anindit Chhibber
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66045, USA
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