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Davidowitz EJ, Lopez P, Jimenez H, Adrien L, Davies P, Moe JG. Small molecule inhibitor of tau self-association in a mouse model of tauopathy: A preventive study in P301L tau JNPL3 mice. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0286523. [PMID: 37556474 PMCID: PMC10411817 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0286523] [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] [Received: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 05/17/2023] [Indexed: 08/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Advances in tau biology and the difficulties of amyloid-directed immunotherapeutics have heightened interest in tau as a target for small molecule drug discovery for neurodegenerative diseases. Here, we evaluated OLX-07010, a small molecule inhibitor of tau self-association, for the prevention of tau aggregation. The primary endpoint of the study was statistically significant reduction of insoluble tau aggregates in treated JNPL3 mice compared with Vehicle-control mice. Secondary endpoints were dose-dependent reduction of insoluble tau aggregates, reduction of phosphorylated tau, and reduction of soluble tau. This study was performed in JNPL3 mice, which are representative of inherited forms of 4-repeat tauopathies with the P301L tau mutation (e.g., progressive supranuclear palsy and frontotemporal dementia). The P301L mutation makes tau prone to aggregation; therefore, JNPL3 mice present a more challenging target than mouse models of human tau without mutations. JNPL3 mice were treated from 3 to 7 months of age with Vehicle, 30 mg/kg compound dose, or 40 mg/kg compound dose. Biochemical methods were used to evaluate self-associated tau, insoluble tau aggregates, total tau, and phosphorylated tau in the hindbrain, cortex, and hippocampus. The Vehicle group had higher levels of insoluble tau in the hindbrain than the Baseline group; treatment with 40 mg/kg compound dose prevented this increase. In the cortex, the levels of insoluble tau were similar in the Baseline and Vehicle groups, indicating that the pathological phenotype of these mice was beginning to emerge at the study endpoint and that there was a delay in the development of the phenotype of the model as originally characterized. No drug-related adverse effects were observed during the 4-month treatment period.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eliot J. Davidowitz
- Oligomerix, Inc., White Plains, NY, United States of America
- Oligomerix, Inc., Bronx, NY, United States of America
| | | | - Heidy Jimenez
- The Litwin-Zucker Research Center for the Study of Alzheimer’s Disease, The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Northwell Health, Manhasset, NY, United States of America
| | - Leslie Adrien
- The Litwin-Zucker Research Center for the Study of Alzheimer’s Disease, The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Northwell Health, Manhasset, NY, United States of America
| | - Peter Davies
- The Litwin-Zucker Research Center for the Study of Alzheimer’s Disease, The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Northwell Health, Manhasset, NY, United States of America
| | - James G. Moe
- Oligomerix, Inc., White Plains, NY, United States of America
- Oligomerix, Inc., Bronx, NY, United States of America
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Bittar A, Al-Lahham R, Bhatt N, Moore K, Montalbano M, Jerez C, Fung L, McAllen S, Ellsworth A, Kayed R. Passive Immunotherapy Targeting Tau Oligomeric Strains Reverses Tauopathy Phenotypes in Aged Human-Tau Mice in a Mouse Model-Specific Manner. J Alzheimers Dis 2022; 90:1103-1122. [DOI: 10.3233/jad-220518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Background: Tau oligomers are one of the most toxic species, displaying prion-like strains which have different conformations resulting in different tauopathies. Passive immunotherapy targeting different tau species is a promising therapeutic approach. Age is one of the greatest risk factors; however, most immunotherapy studies are done in young to middle-aged mice tauopathy models, which is not representative of the many clinical trials done with older humans with established tauopathies. Objective: We utilized two different clones of tau oligomer monoclonal antibodies (TOMAs) in aged Htau and JNPL3 mouse models to investigate the potential of passive immunotherapy. Methods: Aged mice received a single intravenous injection of 120 μg/animal of either TOMA1, TOMA3 clones or a non-specific IgG. Their cognitive functions were assessed one-week post-injection using Y-maze and novel object recognition tests. Brain tissues were analyzed using biochemical and immunological assays. Results: TOMA 1 and 3 rescues cognitive phenotypes in aged animals in a mouse model-specific manner, indicative by a reduction in tau oligomers levels. The TOMAs were shown to have strong reactivity with different tau oligomeric species in the different mouse models in vitro and ex vivo. Conclusion: This is the first study testing tau passive immunotherapy in aged animals and supports our previous reports on of the role of oligomeric tau in disease progression further validating the potential of TOMAs to rescue the late-stage disease pathology and phenotype. Moreover, this study suggests that multiple tau oligomeric strains exist in aged animals; therefore, it is of great importance to further characterize these strains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice Bittar
- Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
| | - Rabab Al-Lahham
- Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
| | - Nemil Bhatt
- Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
| | - Kenya Moore
- Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
| | - Mauro Montalbano
- Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
| | - Cynthia Jerez
- Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
| | - Leiana Fung
- Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
| | | | - Anna Ellsworth
- Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
| | - Rakez Kayed
- Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
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Carroll T, Guha S, Nehrke K, Johnson GVW. Tau Post-Translational Modifications: Potentiators of Selective Vulnerability in Sporadic Alzheimer's Disease. BIOLOGY 2021; 10:1047. [PMID: 34681146 PMCID: PMC8533264 DOI: 10.3390/biology10101047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2021] [Revised: 10/08/2021] [Accepted: 10/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Sporadic Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia, and its severity is characterized by the progressive formation of tau neurofibrillary tangles along a well-described path through the brain. This spatial progression provides the basis for Braak staging of the pathological progression for AD. Tau protein is a necessary component of AD pathology, and recent studies have found that soluble tau species with selectively, but not extensively, modified epitopes accumulate along the path of disease progression before AD-associated insoluble aggregates form. As such, modified tau may represent a key cellular stressing agent that potentiates selective vulnerability in susceptible neurons during AD progression. Specifically, studies have found that tau phosphorylated at sites such as T181, T231, and S396 may initiate early pathological changes in tau by disrupting proper tau localization, initiating tau oligomerization, and facilitating tau accumulation and extracellular export. Thus, this review elucidates potential mechanisms through which tau post-translational modifications (PTMs) may simultaneously serve as key modulators of the spatial progression observed in AD development and as key instigators of early pathology related to neurodegeneration-relevant cellular dysfunctions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Trae Carroll
- Department of Pathology, University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC), Rochester, NY 14642, USA;
| | - Sanjib Guha
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC), Rochester, NY 14642, USA;
| | - Keith Nehrke
- Department of Medicine, Nephrology Division, University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC), Rochester, NY 14642, USA;
| | - Gail V. W. Johnson
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC), Rochester, NY 14642, USA;
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Ji C, Sigurdsson EM. Current Status of Clinical Trials on Tau Immunotherapies. Drugs 2021; 81:1135-1152. [PMID: 34101156 DOI: 10.1007/s40265-021-01546-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Tau immunotherapies have advanced from proof-of-concept studies to over a dozen clinical trials for Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other tauopathies. Mechanistic studies in animal and culture models have provided valuable insight into how these therapies may work but multiple pathways are likely involved. Different groups have emphasized the importance of intracellular vs extracellular antibody-mediated clearance of the tau protein and there is no consensus on which pool of tau should ideally be targeted. Likewise, various normal and disease-selective epitopes are being targeted, and the antibody isotypes either favor phagocytosis of the tau-antibody complex or are neutral in that aspect. Most of the clinical trials are in early stages, thus their efficacy is not yet known, but all have been without any major adverse effects and some have reported target engagement. A few have been discontinued. One in phase I, presumably because of a poor pharmacokinetic profile, and three in phase II for a lack of efficacy although this trial stage is not well powered for efficacy measures. In these phase II studies, trials with two antibodies in patients with progressive supranuclear palsy or other primary tauopathies were halted but are continuing in patients with AD, and one antibody trial was stopped in early-stage AD but is continuing in moderate AD. These three antibodies have been reported to only work extracellularly and tau is not increased in the cerebrospinal fluid of primary tauopathies, which may explain the failures of two of them. In the discontinued AD trial, there are some concerns about how much of extracellular tau contains the N-terminal epitope that is being targeted. In addition, extracellular tau is only a small part of total tau, compared to intracellular tau. Targeting only the former may not be sufficient for functional benefits. Given these outcomes, decision makers within the pharmaceutical companies who green light these trials should attempt to target tau not only extracellularly but also intracellularly to increase their chances of success. Hopefully, some of the ongoing trials will provide some functional benefits to the large number of patients with tauopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Changyi Ji
- Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, Neuroscience Institute, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, Science Building, 11th floor, 435 East 30th Street, New York, NY, 10016, USA
| | - Einar M Sigurdsson
- Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, Neuroscience Institute, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, Science Building, 11th floor, 435 East 30th Street, New York, NY, 10016, USA. .,Department of Psychiatry, Neuroscience Institute, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
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5
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Alzheimer's disease: Recent treatment strategies. Eur J Pharmacol 2020; 887:173554. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2020.173554] [Citation(s) in RCA: 131] [Impact Index Per Article: 32.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2020] [Revised: 09/03/2020] [Accepted: 09/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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Ordóñez-Gutiérrez L, Wandosell F. Nanoliposomes as a Therapeutic Tool for Alzheimer's Disease. Front Synaptic Neurosci 2020; 12:20. [PMID: 32523525 PMCID: PMC7261886 DOI: 10.3389/fnsyn.2020.00020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2020] [Accepted: 04/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The accumulation of extracellular amyloid-beta (Aβ), denoted as senile plaques, and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles (formed by hyperphosphorylated Tau protein) in the brain are two major neuropathological hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The current and most accepted hypothesis proposes that the oligomerization of Aβ peptides triggers the polymerization and accumulation of amyloid, which leads to the senile plaques. Several strategies have been reported to target Aβ oligomerization/polymerization. Since it is thought that Aβ levels in the brain and peripheral blood maintain equilibrium, it has been hypothesized that enhancing peripheral clearance (by shifting this equilibrium towards the blood) might reduce Aβ levels in the brain, known as the sink effect. This process has been reported to be effective, showing a reduction in Aβ burden in the brain as a consequence of the peripheral reduction of Aβ levels. Nanoparticles (NPs) may have difficulty crossing the blood-brain barrier (BBB), initially due to their size. It is not clear whether particles in the range of 50–100 nm should be able to cross the BBB without being specifically modified for it. Despite the size limitation of crossing the BBB, several NP derivatives may be proposed as therapeutic tools. The purpose of this review is to summarize some therapeutic approaches based on nanoliposomes using two complementary examples: First, unilamellar nanoliposomes containing Aβ generic ligands, such as sphingolipids, gangliosides or curcumin, or some sphingolipid bound to the binding domain of ApoE; and second, nanoliposomes containing monoclonal antibodies against Aβ. Following similar rationale NPs of poly(lactide-co-glycolide)-poly (ethylene glycol) conjugated with curcumin-derivate (PLGA-PEG-B6/Cur) were reported to improve the spatial learning and memory capability of APP/PS1 mice, compared with native curcumin treatment. Also, some new nanostructures such as exosomes have been proposed as a putative therapeutic and prevention strategies of AD. Although the unquestionable interest of this issue is beyond the scope of this review article. The potential mechanisms and significance of nanoliposome therapies for AD, which are still are in clinical trials, will be discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lara Ordóñez-Gutiérrez
- Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Centro de Biología Molecular "Severo Ochoa" (CSIC-UAM), Universidad Autónoma Madrid, Madrid, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Madrid, Spain
| | - Francisco Wandosell
- Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Centro de Biología Molecular "Severo Ochoa" (CSIC-UAM), Universidad Autónoma Madrid, Madrid, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Madrid, Spain
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Tau immunotherapies: Lessons learned, current status and future considerations. Neuropharmacology 2020; 175:108104. [PMID: 32360477 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2020.108104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2019] [Revised: 03/10/2020] [Accepted: 04/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The majority of clinical trials targeting the tau protein in Alzheimer's disease and other tauopathies are tau immunotherapies. Because tau pathology correlates better with the degree of dementia than amyloid-β lesions, targeting tau is likely to be more effective in improving cognition than clearing amyloid-β in Alzheimer's disease. However, the development of tau therapies is in many ways more complex than for amyloid-β therapies as briefly outlined in this review. Most of the trials are on humanized antibodies, which may have very different properties than the original mouse antibodies. The impact of these differences are to a large extent unknown, can be difficult to decipher, and may not always be properly considered. Furthermore, the ideal antibody properties for efficacy are not well established and can depend on several factors. However, considering the varied approaches in clinical trials, there is a general optimism that at least some of these trials may provide functional benefits to patients suffering of various tauopathies. This article is part of the special issue entitled 'The Quest for Disease-Modifying Therapies for Neurodegenerative Disorders'.
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Tauopathy Analysis in P301S Mouse Model of Alzheimer Disease Immunized With DNA and MVA Poxvirus-Based Vaccines Expressing Human Full-Length 4R2N or 3RC Tau Proteins. Vaccines (Basel) 2020; 8:vaccines8010127. [PMID: 32183198 PMCID: PMC7157204 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines8010127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2020] [Revised: 03/10/2020] [Accepted: 03/12/2020] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by a progressive memory loss and cognitive decline that has been associated with an accumulation in the brain of intracellular neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) formed by hyperphosphorylated tau protein, and extracellular senile plaques formed by β-amyloid peptides. Currently, there is no cure for AD and after the failure of anti β-amyloid therapies, active and passive tau immunotherapeutic approaches have been developed in order to prevent, reduce or ideally reverse the disease. Vaccination is one of the most effective approaches to prevent diseases and poxviruses, particularly modified vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA), are one of the most promising viral vectors used as vaccines against several human diseases. Thus, we present here the generation and characterization of the first MVA vectors expressing human tau genes; the full-length 4R2N tau protein or a 3RC tau fragment containing 3 tubulin-binding motifs and the C-terminal region (termed MVA-Tau4R2N and MVA-Tau3RC, respectively). Both MVA-Tau recombinant viruses efficiently expressed the human tau 4R2N or 3RC proteins in cultured cells, being detected in the cytoplasm of infected cells and co-localized with tubulin. These MVA-Tau vaccines impacted the innate immune responses with a differential recruitment of innate immune cells to the peritoneal cavity of infected mice. However, no tau-specific T cell or humoral immune responses were detected in vaccinated mice. Immunization of transgenic P301S mice, a mouse model for tauopathies, with a DNA-Tau prime/MVA-Tau boost approach showed no significant differences in the hyperphosphorylation of tau, motor capacity and survival rate, when compared to non-vaccinated mice. These findings showed that a well-established and potent protocol of T and B cell activation based on DNA/MVA prime/boost regimens using DNA and MVA vectors expressing tau full-length 4R2N or 3RC proteins is not sufficient to trigger tau-specific T and B cell immune responses and to induce a protective effect against tauopathy in this P301S murine model. In the pursuit of AD vaccines, our results highlight the need for novel optimized tau immunogens and additional modes of presentation of tau protein to the immune system.
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Lauretti E, Praticò D. Alzheimer's disease: phenotypic approaches using disease models and the targeting of tau protein. Expert Opin Ther Targets 2020; 24:319-330. [PMID: 32116063 DOI: 10.1080/14728222.2020.1737012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Introduction: Hyperphosphorylated and aggregated tau protein is the main hallmark of a class of neurodegenerative disorders known as tauopathies. Tau is a microtubule-binding protein which is important for microtubule assembly and stabilization, for proper axonal transport and overall neuronal integrity. However, in tauopathies, tau undergoes aberrant post-translational modifications that fundamentally affect its normal function. The etiology of these devastating diseases is unclear and there is no treatment for these disorders.Areas covered: This review examines the neurobiology of tau, tau post-translational modifications, and tau pathophysiology. Progress regarding the effort to identify and assess novel tau-targeted therapeutic strategies in preclinical studies is also discussed. We performed a search on PubMed of the relevant literature published between 1995 and 2020.Expert opinion: Tau diversity and the lack of clinically available test to diagnose and identify tauopathies are major obstacles; they represent a possible reason for the lack of success of clinical trials. However, given the encouraging advances in PET tau imaging and tau neurobiology, we believe that a more personalized approach could be on the horizon and that this will be key to addressing the heterogeneity of tau pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabetta Lauretti
- Alzheimer's Center at Temple, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Domenico Praticò
- Alzheimer's Center at Temple, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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10
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Takeda S. Tau Propagation as a Diagnostic and Therapeutic Target for Dementia: Potentials and Unanswered Questions. Front Neurosci 2019; 13:1274. [PMID: 31920473 PMCID: PMC6923174 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2019.01274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2019] [Accepted: 11/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
A unique clinical course of Alzheimer's disease (AD), beginning with memory deficit as the earliest symptom, is well-correlated with a progressive pattern of intracellular aggregates of tau (neurofibrillary tangles), which spread from the medial temporal lobe to other brain areas in a stereotypical manner. Recent findings from basic research using in vitro and in vivo models demonstrated that pathological forms of extracellular tau can be taken up by cells and induce intracellular tau aggregates. On the basis of these neuropathological observations and experimental findings, the "tau propagation hypothesis" has been proposed, in which the stereotypical spreading of the tau pathology observed in the brain of AD patients can be explained by the interneuron transfer of the pathological form of tau. The concept of tau propagation remains controversial, and many unsolved questions exist; however, it has been attracting attention as a potential therapeutic target for halting AD progression. This article reviews the recent findings regarding the tau propagation hypothesis, including the basic concept and evidence of interneuron tau transfer, potentials as a diagnostic and therapeutic target, and unsolved questions for a better understanding of tau propagation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuko Takeda
- Department of Clinical Gene Therapy, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Suita, Japan
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11
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Bittar A, Bhatt N, Kayed R. Advances and considerations in AD tau-targeted immunotherapy. Neurobiol Dis 2019; 134:104707. [PMID: 31841678 PMCID: PMC6980703 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2019.104707] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2019] [Revised: 11/27/2019] [Accepted: 12/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The multifactorial and complex nature of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) has made it difficult to identify therapeutic targets that are causally involved in the disease process. However, accumulating evidence from experimental and clinical studies that investigate the early disease process point towards the required role of tau in AD etiology. Importantly, a large number of studies investigate and characterize the plethora of pathological forms of tau protein involved in disease onset and propagation. Immunotherapy is one of the most clinical approaches anticipated to make a difference in the field of AD therapeutics. Tau –targeted immunotherapy is the new direction after the failure of amyloid beta (Aß)-targeted immunotherapy and the growing number of studies that highlight the Aß-independent disease process. It is now well established that immunotherapy alone will most likely be insufficient as a monotherapy. Therefore, this review discusses updates on tau-targeted immunotherapy studies, AD-relevant tau species, updates on promising biomarkers and a prospect on combination therapies to surround the disease propagation in an efficient and timely manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice Bittar
- Department of Neurology, The Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Blvd, Galveston, TX 77555, United States of America.
| | - Nemil Bhatt
- Department of Neuroscience, Cell Biology and Anatomy, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Blvd, Galveston, TX 77555, United States of America.
| | - Rakez Kayed
- Department of Neurology, The Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Blvd, Galveston, TX 77555, United States of America.
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12
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Catania M, Giaccone G, Salmona M, Tagliavini F, Di Fede G. Dreaming of a New World Where Alzheimer's Is a Treatable Disorder. Front Aging Neurosci 2019; 11:317. [PMID: 31803047 PMCID: PMC6873113 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2019.00317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2019] [Accepted: 11/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia. It’s a chronic and untreatable neurodegenerative disease with irreversible progression and has important social and economic implications in terms of direct medical and social care costs. Despite prolonged and expensive efforts employed by the scientific community over the last few decades, no effective treatments are still available for patients, and the development of disease-modifying drugs is now a really urgent need. The recent failure of clinical trials based on the immunotherapeutic approach against amyloid-β(Aβ) protein questioned the validity of the “amyloid cascade hypothesis” as the molecular machinery causing the disease. Indeed, most attempts to design effective treatments for AD have been based until now on molecular targets suggested to be implicated in AD pathogenesis by the amyloid cascade hypothesis. However, mounting evidence from scientific literature supports the view of AD as a multifactorial disease that results from the concomitant action of multiple molecular players. This view, together with the lack of success of the disease-modifying single-target approaches, strongly suggests that AD drug design needs to be shifted towards multi-targeted compounds or drug combinations acting synergistically on the main core features of disease pathogenesis. The discovery of drug candidates targeting multiple factors involved in AD would greatly improve drug development. So, it is reasonable that upcoming strategies for the design of preventive and/or therapeutic agents for AD point to a multi-pronged approach including more than one druggable target to definitely defeat the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcella Catania
- Neurology V-Neuropathology Unit and Scientific Directorate, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Milan, Italy
| | - Giorgio Giaccone
- Neurology V-Neuropathology Unit and Scientific Directorate, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Milan, Italy
| | - Mario Salmona
- Department of Molecular Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Tagliavini
- Neurology V-Neuropathology Unit and Scientific Directorate, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Milan, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Di Fede
- Neurology V-Neuropathology Unit and Scientific Directorate, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Milan, Italy
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Amadoro G, Latina V, Corsetti V, Calissano P. N-terminal tau truncation in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD): Developing a novel diagnostic and therapeutic approach. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2019; 1866:165584. [PMID: 31676377 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2019.165584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2019] [Revised: 09/23/2019] [Accepted: 09/24/2019] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Tau truncation occurs at early stages during the development of human Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other tauopathy dementias. Tau cleavage, particularly in its N-terminal projection domain, is able to drive per se neurodegeneration, regardless of its pro-aggregative pathway(s) and in fragment(s)-dependent way. In this short review, we highlight the pathological relevance of the 20-22 kDa NH2-truncated tau fragment which is endowed with potent neurotoxic "gain-of-function" action(s), both in vitro and in vivo. An extensive comment on its clinical value as novel progression/diagnostic biomarker and potential therapeutic target in the context of tau-mediated neurodegeneration is also provided.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Amadoro
- European Brain Research Institute (EBRI), Viale Regina Elena 295, 00161 Rome, Italy; Institute of Translational Pharmacology (IFT)-CNR, Via Fosso del Cavaliere 100, 00133 Rome, Italy.
| | - V Latina
- European Brain Research Institute (EBRI), Viale Regina Elena 295, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - V Corsetti
- European Brain Research Institute (EBRI), Viale Regina Elena 295, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - P Calissano
- European Brain Research Institute (EBRI), Viale Regina Elena 295, 00161 Rome, Italy
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Weisová P, Cehlár O, Škrabana R, Žilková M, Filipčík P, Kováčech B, Prčina M, Wojčiaková Ľ, Fialová Ľ, Smolek T, Kontseková E, Žilka N, Novák M. Therapeutic antibody targeting microtubule-binding domain prevents neuronal internalization of extracellular tau via masking neuron surface proteoglycans. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2019; 7:129. [PMID: 31391090 PMCID: PMC6685285 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-019-0770-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2019] [Accepted: 07/15/2019] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Pathologically altered tau protein is a common denominator of neurodegenerative disorders including Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and other tauopathies. Therefore, promising immunotherapeutic approaches target and eliminate extracellular pathogenic tau species, which are thought to be responsible for seeding and propagation of tau pathology. Tau isoforms in misfolded states can propagate disease pathology in a template-dependent manner, proposed to be mediated by the release and internalization of extracellular tau. Monoclonal antibody DC8E8, binding four highly homologous and independent epitopes in microtubule-binding domain (MTBD) of diseased tau, inhibits tau-tau interaction, discriminates between healthy and pathologically truncated tau and reduces tau pathology in animal model in vivo. Here, we show that DC8E8 antibody acts via extracellular mechanism and does not influence viability and physiological functions of neurons. Importantly, in vitro functional assays showed that DC8E8 recognises pathogenic tau proteins of different size and origin, and potently blocks their entry into neurons. Next, we examined the mechanisms by which mouse antibody DC8E8 and its humanized version AX004 effectively block the neuronal internalization of extracellular AD tau species. We determined a novel mode of action of a therapeutic candidate antibody, which potently inhibits neuronal internalization of AD tau species by masking of epitopes present in MTBD important for interaction with neuron surface Heparan Sulfate Proteoglycans (HSPGs). We show that interference of tau-heparane sulfate interaction with DC8E8 antibody via steric hindrance represents an efficient and important therapeutic approach halting tau propagation.
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15
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Rösler TW, Tayaranian Marvian A, Brendel M, Nykänen NP, Höllerhage M, Schwarz SC, Hopfner F, Koeglsperger T, Respondek G, Schweyer K, Levin J, Villemagne VL, Barthel H, Sabri O, Müller U, Meissner WG, Kovacs GG, Höglinger GU. Four-repeat tauopathies. Prog Neurobiol 2019; 180:101644. [PMID: 31238088 DOI: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2019.101644] [Citation(s) in RCA: 126] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2019] [Revised: 05/21/2019] [Accepted: 06/12/2019] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Tau is a microtubule-associated protein with versatile functions in the dynamic assembly of the neuronal cytoskeleton. Four-repeat (4R-) tauopathies are a group of neurodegenerative diseases defined by cytoplasmic inclusions predominantly composed of tau protein isoforms with four microtubule-binding domains. Progressive supranuclear palsy, corticobasal degeneration, argyrophilic grain disease or glial globular tauopathy belong to the group of 4R-tauopathies. The present review provides an introduction in the current concept of 4R-tauopathies, including an overview of the neuropathological and clinical spectrum of these diseases. It describes the genetic and environmental etiological factors, as well as the contemporary knowledge about the pathophysiological mechanisms, including post-translational modifications, aggregation and fragmentation of tau, as well as the role of protein degradation mechanisms. Furthermore, current theories about disease propagation are discussed, involving different extracellular tau species and their cellular release and uptake mechanisms. Finally, molecular diagnostic tools for 4R-tauopathies, including tau-PET and fluid biomarkers, and investigational therapeutic strategies are presented. In summary, we report on 4R-tauopathies as overarching disease concept based on a shared pathophysiological concept, and highlight the challenges and opportunities on the way towards a causal therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas W Rösler
- Dept. of Translational Neurodegeneration, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 81377 Munich, Germany; Dept. of Neurology, Technical University of Munich, School of Medicine, 81675 Munich, Germany
| | - Amir Tayaranian Marvian
- Dept. of Translational Neurodegeneration, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 81377 Munich, Germany; Dept. of Neurology, Technical University of Munich, School of Medicine, 81675 Munich, Germany
| | - Matthias Brendel
- Dept. of Nuclear Medicine, University of Munich, 81377 Munich, Germany
| | - Niko-Petteri Nykänen
- Dept. of Translational Neurodegeneration, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 81377 Munich, Germany
| | - Matthias Höllerhage
- Dept. of Translational Neurodegeneration, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 81377 Munich, Germany; Dept. of Neurology, Technical University of Munich, School of Medicine, 81675 Munich, Germany
| | - Sigrid C Schwarz
- Dept. of Translational Neurodegeneration, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 81377 Munich, Germany
| | | | - Thomas Koeglsperger
- Dept. of Neurology, University of Munich, 81377 Munich, Germany; German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 81377 Munich, Germany
| | - Gesine Respondek
- Dept. of Translational Neurodegeneration, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 81377 Munich, Germany; Dept. of Neurology, Technical University of Munich, School of Medicine, 81675 Munich, Germany
| | - Kerstin Schweyer
- Dept. of Translational Neurodegeneration, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 81377 Munich, Germany; Dept. of Neurology, Technical University of Munich, School of Medicine, 81675 Munich, Germany
| | - Johannes Levin
- Dept. of Neurology, University of Munich, 81377 Munich, Germany; German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 81377 Munich, Germany
| | - Victor L Villemagne
- Dept. of Molecular Imaging and Therapy, Austin Health, Heidelberg, VIC, 3084, Australia; The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Dept. of Medicine, Austin Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Henryk Barthel
- Dept. of Nuclear Medicine, University of Leipzig, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Osama Sabri
- Dept. of Nuclear Medicine, University of Leipzig, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Ulrich Müller
- Institute for Human Genetics, University of Giessen, 35392 Giessen, Germany
| | - Wassilios G Meissner
- Service de Neurologie, CHU Bordeaux, 33000 Bordeaux, France; Université de Bordeaux, Institut des Maladies Neurodégénératives, UMR 5293, 33000 Bordeaux, France; CNRS, Institut des Maladies Neurodégénératives, UMR 5293, 33000 Bordeaux, France; Dept. of Medicine, University of Otago, Christchurch, New Zealand; New Zealand Brain Research Institute, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - Gabor G Kovacs
- Institute of Neurology, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria; Dept. of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Laboratory Medicine Program, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada; Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, Krembil Brain Institute, Toronto, Canada
| | - Günter U Höglinger
- Dept. of Translational Neurodegeneration, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 81377 Munich, Germany; Dept. of Neurology, Technical University of Munich, School of Medicine, 81675 Munich, Germany; Munich Cluster for Systems Neurology (SyNergy), 81377 Munich, Germany; Dept. of Neurology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany.
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16
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Pandit R, Leinenga G, Götz J. Repeated ultrasound treatment of tau transgenic mice clears neuronal tau by autophagy and improves behavioral functions. Am J Cancer Res 2019; 9:3754-3767. [PMID: 31281511 PMCID: PMC6587352 DOI: 10.7150/thno.34388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2019] [Accepted: 04/30/2019] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Intracellular deposits of pathological tau are the hallmark of a broad spectrum of neurodegenerative disorders collectively known as tauopathies, with Alzheimer's disease, a secondary tauopathy, being further characterized by extracellular amyloid plaques. A major obstacle in developing effective treatments for tauopathies is the presence of the blood-brain barrier, which restricts the access of therapeutic agents to the brain. An emerging technology to overcome this limitation is the application of low-intensity ultrasound which, together with intravenously injected microbubbles, transiently opens the blood-brain barrier, thereby facilitating the delivery of therapeutic agents into the brain. Interestingly, even in the absence of therapeutic agents, ultrasound has previously been shown to reduce amyloid plaques and improve cognitive functions in amyloid-depositing mice through microglial clearance. Ultrasound has also been shown to facilitate the delivery of antibody fragments against pathological tau in P301L tau transgenic mice; however, the effect of ultrasound alone has not been thoroughly investigated in a tauopathy mouse model. Methods: Here, we performed repeated scanning ultrasound treatments over a period of 15 weeks in K369I tau transgenic mice with an early-onset tau-related motor and memory phenotype. We used immunohistochemical and biochemical methods to analyze the effect of ultrasound on the mice and determine the underlying mechanism of action, together with an analysis of their motor and memory functions following repeated ultrasound treatments. Results: Repeated ultrasound treatments significantly reduced tau pathology in the absence of histological damage. Associated impaired motor functions showed improvement towards the end of the treatment regime, with memory functions showing a trend towards improvement. In assessing potential clearance mechanisms, we ruled out a role for ubiquitination of tau, a prerequisite for proteasomal clearance. However, the treatment regime induced the autophagy pathway in neurons as reflected by an increase in the autophagosome membrane marker LC3II and a reduction in the autophagic flux marker p62, along with a decrease of mTOR activity and an increase in beclin 1 levels. Moreover, there was a significant increase in the interaction of tau and p62 in the ultrasound-treated mice, suggesting removal of tau by autophagosomes. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that a neuronal protein aggregate clearance mechanism induced by ultrasound-mediated blood-brain barrier opening operates for tau, further supporting the potential of low-intensity ultrasound to treat neurodegenerative disorders.
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Jadhav S, Avila J, Schöll M, Kovacs GG, Kövari E, Skrabana R, Evans LD, Kontsekova E, Malawska B, de Silva R, Buee L, Zilka N. A walk through tau therapeutic strategies. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2019; 7:22. [PMID: 30767766 PMCID: PMC6376692 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-019-0664-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 178] [Impact Index Per Article: 35.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2018] [Accepted: 01/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Tau neuronal and glial pathologies drive the clinical presentation of Alzheimer's disease and related human tauopathies. There is a growing body of evidence indicating that pathological tau species can travel from cell to cell and spread the pathology through the brain. Throughout the last decade, physiological and pathological tau have become attractive targets for AD therapies. Several therapeutic approaches have been proposed, including the inhibition of protein kinases or protein-3-O-(N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminyl)-L-serine/threonine Nacetylglucosaminyl hydrolase, the inhibition of tau aggregation, active and passive immunotherapies, and tau silencing by antisense oligonucleotides. New tau therapeutics, across the board, have demonstrated the ability to prevent or reduce tau lesions and improve either cognitive or motor impairment in a variety of animal models developing neurofibrillary pathology. The most advanced strategy for the treatment of human tauopathies remains immunotherapy, which has already reached the clinical stage of drug development. Tau vaccines or humanised antibodies target a variety of tau species either in the intracellular or extracellular spaces. Some of them recognise the amino-terminus or carboxy-terminus, while others display binding abilities to the proline-rich area or microtubule binding domains. The main therapeutic foci in existing clinical trials are on Alzheimer's disease, progressive supranuclear palsy and non-fluent primary progressive aphasia. Tau therapy offers a new hope for the treatment of many fatal brain disorders. First efficacy data from clinical trials will be available by the end of this decade.
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Affiliation(s)
- Santosh Jadhav
- Institute of Neuroimmunology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dubravska 9, 845 10, Bratislava, Slovakia
- AXON Neuroscience R&D Services SE, Dvorakovo nabrezie 10, 811 02, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Jesus Avila
- Centro de Biologia Molecular "Severo Ochoa", Consejo Superior de Investigaciones, Cientificas, Universidad Autonoma de Madrid, C/ Nicolas Cabrera, 1. Campus de Cantoblanco, 28049, Madrid, Spain
- Networking Research Center on Neurodegenerative, Diseases (CIBERNED), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Michael Schöll
- Wallenberg Centre for Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Department of, Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Clinical Memory Research Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden
- Dementia Research Centre, University College London, London, UK
| | - Gabor G Kovacs
- Institute of Neurology, Medical University of Vienna, AKH 4J, Währinger Gürtel 18-20, 1097, Vienna, Austria
| | - Enikö Kövari
- Department of Mental Health and Psychiatry, University Hospitals of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Rostislav Skrabana
- AXON Neuroscience R&D Services SE, Dvorakovo nabrezie 10, 811 02, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Lewis D Evans
- Gurdon Institute and Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 1QN, UK
| | - Eva Kontsekova
- AXON Neuroscience R&D Services SE, Dvorakovo nabrezie 10, 811 02, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Barbara Malawska
- Department of Physicochemical Drug Analysis, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Medyczna 9, 30-688, Cracow, Poland
| | - Rohan de Silva
- Reta Lila Weston Institute and Department of Clinical and Movement Neurosciences, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, 1 Wakefield Street, London, WC1N 1PJ, UK
| | - Luc Buee
- Universite of Lille, Inserm, CHU-Lille, UMRS1172, Alzheimer & Tauopathies, Place de Verdun, 59045, Lille cedex, France.
| | - Norbert Zilka
- AXON Neuroscience R&D Services SE, Dvorakovo nabrezie 10, 811 02, Bratislava, Slovakia.
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Kiss R, Csizmadia G, Solti K, Keresztes A, Zhu M, Pickhardt M, Mandelkow E, Tóth G. Structural Basis of Small Molecule Targetability of Monomeric Tau Protein. ACS Chem Neurosci 2018; 9:2997-3006. [PMID: 29944336 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.8b00182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The therapeutic targeting of intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) by small molecules has been a challenge due to their heterogeneous conformational ensembles. A potential therapeutic strategy to alleviate the aggregation of IDPs is to maintain them in their native monomeric state by small molecule binding. This study investigates the structural basis of small molecule druggability of native monomeric Tau whose aggregation is linked to the onset of Tauopathies such as Alzheimer's disease. Initially, two available monomeric conformational ensembles of a shorter Tau construct K18 (also termed Tau4RD) were analyzed which revealed striking structural differences between the two ensembles, while similar number of hot spots and small molecule binding sites were identified on monomeric Tau ensembles as on tertiary folded proteins of similar size. Remarkably, some critical fibril forming sequence regions of Tau (V306-K311, V275-K280) participated in hot spot formation with higher frequency compared to other regions. As an example of small molecule binding to monomeric Tau, it was shown that methylene blue (MB) bound to monomeric K18 and full-length Tau selectively with high affinity (Kd = 125.8 nM and 86.6 nM, respectively) with binding modes involving Cys291 and Cys322, previously reported to be oxidized in the presence of MB. Overall, our results provide structure-based evidence that Tau can be a viable drug target for small molecules and indicate that specific small molecules may be able to bind to monomeric Tau and influence the way in which the protein interacts among itself and with other proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Róbert Kiss
- MTA-TTK-NAP B - Drug Discovery Research Group − Neurodegenerative Diseases, Institute of Organic Chemistry, Research Center for Natural Sciences, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, 1245 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Georgina Csizmadia
- MTA-TTK-NAP B - Drug Discovery Research Group − Neurodegenerative Diseases, Institute of Organic Chemistry, Research Center for Natural Sciences, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, 1245 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Katalin Solti
- MTA-TTK-NAP B - Drug Discovery Research Group − Neurodegenerative Diseases, Institute of Organic Chemistry, Research Center for Natural Sciences, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, 1245 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Attila Keresztes
- MTA-TTK-NAP B - Drug Discovery Research Group − Neurodegenerative Diseases, Institute of Organic Chemistry, Research Center for Natural Sciences, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, 1245 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Max Zhu
- Cantabio Pharmaceuticals, Sunnyvale, California 94085, United States
| | - Marcus Pickhardt
- Deutsches Zentrum für Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen (DZNE), Sigmund-Freud-Str. 27, 53127 Bonn, Germany
- CAESAR Research Center/Max-Planck-Institute, Ludwig-Erhard-Allee 2, 53175 Bonn, Germany
| | - Eckhard Mandelkow
- Deutsches Zentrum für Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen (DZNE), Sigmund-Freud-Str. 27, 53127 Bonn, Germany
- CAESAR Research Center/Max-Planck-Institute, Ludwig-Erhard-Allee 2, 53175 Bonn, Germany
| | - Gergely Tóth
- MTA-TTK-NAP B - Drug Discovery Research Group − Neurodegenerative Diseases, Institute of Organic Chemistry, Research Center for Natural Sciences, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, 1245 Budapest, Hungary
- Cantabio Pharmaceuticals, Sunnyvale, California 94085, United States
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19
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Presta I, Vismara M, Novellino F, Donato A, Zaffino P, Scali E, Pirrone KC, Spadea MF, Malara N, Donato G. Innate Immunity Cells and the Neurovascular Unit. Int J Mol Sci 2018; 19:E3856. [PMID: 30513991 PMCID: PMC6321635 DOI: 10.3390/ijms19123856] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2018] [Revised: 11/26/2018] [Accepted: 11/30/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent studies have clarified many still unknown aspects related to innate immunity and the blood-brain barrier relationship. They have also confirmed the close links between effector immune system cells, such as granulocytes, macrophages, microglia, natural killer cells and mast cells, and barrier functionality. The latter, in turn, is able to influence not only the entry of the cells of the immune system into the nervous tissue, but also their own activation. Interestingly, these two components and their interactions play a role of great importance not only in infectious diseases, but in almost all the pathologies of the central nervous system. In this paper, we review the main aspects in the field of vascular diseases (cerebral ischemia), of primitive and secondary neoplasms of Central Nervous System CNS, of CNS infectious diseases, of most common neurodegenerative diseases, in epilepsy and in demyelinating diseases (multiple sclerosis). Neuroinflammation phenomena are constantly present in all diseases; in every different pathological state, a variety of innate immunity cells responds to specific stimuli, differentiating their action, which can influence the blood-brain barrier permeability. This, in turn, undergoes anatomical and functional modifications, allowing the stabilization or the progression of the pathological processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivan Presta
- Department of Health Sciences, University "Magna Græcia" of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy.
| | - Marco Vismara
- Department of Cell Biotechnologies and Hematology, University "La Sapienza" of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy.
| | - Fabiana Novellino
- Institute of Molecular Bioimaging and Physiology, National Research Council, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy.
| | - Annalidia Donato
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University "Magna Graecia" of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy.
| | - Paolo Zaffino
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University "Magna Graecia" of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy.
| | - Elisabetta Scali
- Department of Health Sciences, University "Magna Græcia" of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy.
| | - Krizia Caterina Pirrone
- Department of Health Sciences, University "Magna Græcia" of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy.
| | - Maria Francesca Spadea
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University "Magna Graecia" of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy.
| | - Natalia Malara
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University "Magna Graecia" of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy.
| | - Giuseppe Donato
- Department of Health Sciences, University "Magna Græcia" of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy.
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20
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Rosenberg RN, Fu M, Lambracht-Washington D. Active full-length DNA Aβ 42 immunization in 3xTg-AD mice reduces not only amyloid deposition but also tau pathology. ALZHEIMERS RESEARCH & THERAPY 2018; 10:115. [PMID: 30454039 PMCID: PMC6245829 DOI: 10.1186/s13195-018-0441-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2018] [Accepted: 10/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Background Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most well-known and most common type of age-related dementia. Amyloid deposition and hyperphosphorylation of tau protein are both pathological hallmarks of AD. Using a triple-transgenic mouse model (3xTg-AD) that develops plaques and tangles in the brain similar to human AD, we provide evidence that active full-length DNA amyloid-β peptide 1–42 (Aβ42) trimer immunization leads to reduction of both amyloid and tau aggregation and accumulation. Methods Immune responses were monitored by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) (antibody production) and enzyme-linked immunospot (cellular activation, cytokine production). Brains from 20-month-old 3x Tg-AD mice that had received DNA Aβ42 immunotherapy were compared with brains from age- and gender-matched transgenic Aβ42 peptide-immunized and control mice by histology, Western blot analysis, and ELISA. Protein kinase activation and kinase levels were studied in Western blots from mouse hemibrain lysates. Results Quantitative ELISA showed a 40% reduction of Aβ42 peptide and a 25–50% reduction of total tau and different phosphorylated tau molecules in the DNA Aβ42 trimer-immunized 3xTg-AD mice compared with nonimmunized 3xTg-AD control animals. Plaque and Aβ peptide reductions in the brain were due to the anti-Aβ antibodies generated following the immunizations. Reductions of tau were likely due to indirect actions such as less Aβ in the brain resulting in less tau kinase activation. Conclusions The significance of these findings is that DNA Aβ42 trimer immunotherapy targets two major pathologies in AD—amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles—in one vaccine without inducing inflammatory T-cell responses, which carry the danger of autoimmune inflammation, as found in a clinical trial using active Aβ42 peptide immunization in patients with AD (AN1792).
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Affiliation(s)
- Roger N Rosenberg
- Department of Neurology and Neurotherapeutics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center Dallas, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX, 75390-8813, USA
| | - Min Fu
- Department of Neurology and Neurotherapeutics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center Dallas, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX, 75390-8813, USA
| | - Doris Lambracht-Washington
- Department of Neurology and Neurotherapeutics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center Dallas, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX, 75390-8813, USA.
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21
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Takeda S. Progression of Alzheimer's disease, tau propagation, and its modifiable risk factors. Neurosci Res 2018; 141:36-42. [PMID: 30120962 DOI: 10.1016/j.neures.2018.08.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2018] [Revised: 07/15/2018] [Accepted: 08/13/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The number of patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) has been increasing exponentially side by side with aging societies worldwide. Symptoms of AD worsen over time due to progressive neurodegeneration, requiring institutional care at the later stage and resulting in a heavy burden on patients, caregivers, and the public-health system. AD neuropathology is characterized by cerebral accumulation and aggregation of amyloid-β (Aβ) and tau proteins. For decades, Aβ has been a leading target in the therapeutic development for AD, and many drug candidates have been tested in clinical trials; however, most medications have failed to slow the progression of the disease. Tau pathology currently is attracting more attention as an alternate target for developing disease-modifying therapy. Tau is known to spread in a hierarchical pattern in AD brain, likely by trans-synaptic tau transfer between neurons. Extracellular tau may mediate tau spreading and serve as biomarker for AD. AD pathogenesis is multifactorial, and many genetic- and non-genetic factors are known to contribute to Aβ- and tau-related pathology. Recent studies indicate an association between vascular risk factors and AD. Identifying modifiable risk factors for AD and understanding their contributory mechanisms could be key in tackling this devastating disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuko Takeda
- Department of Clinical Gene Therapy, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, 2-2 Yamada-oka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan.
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22
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Abstract
Alzheimer disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia. Pathologically, AD is characterized by amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles in the brain, with associated loss of synapses and neurons, resulting in cognitive deficits and eventually dementia. Amyloid-β (Aβ) peptide and tau protein are the primary components of the plaques and tangles, respectively. In the decades since Aβ and tau were identified, development of therapies for AD has primarily focused on Aβ, but tau has received more attention in recent years, in part because of the failure of various Aβ-targeting treatments in clinical trials. In this article, we review the current status of tau-targeting therapies for AD. Initially, potential anti-tau therapies were based mainly on inhibition of kinases or tau aggregation, or on stabilization of microtubules, but most of these approaches have been discontinued because of toxicity and/or lack of efficacy. Currently, the majority of tau-targeting therapies in clinical trials are immunotherapies, which have shown promise in numerous preclinical studies. Given that tau pathology correlates better with cognitive impairments than do Aβ lesions, targeting of tau is expected to be more effective than Aβ clearance once the clinical symptoms are evident. With future improvements in diagnostics, these two hallmarks of the disease might be targeted prophylactically.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin E Congdon
- Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Einar M Sigurdsson
- Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
- Department of Psychiatry, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
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23
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Hernández F, Llorens-Martín M, Bolós M, Pérez M, Cuadros R, Pallas-Bazarra N, Zabala JC, Avila J. New Beginnings in Alzheimer’s Disease: The Most Prevalent Tauopathy. J Alzheimers Dis 2018; 64:S529-S534. [DOI: 10.3233/jad-179916] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Félix Hernández
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa (CSIC-UAM), Madrid, Spain
- CIBERNED, Madrid, Spain
| | - María Llorens-Martín
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa (CSIC-UAM), Madrid, Spain
- CIBERNED, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Science, Universidad Autonoma de Madrid, Spain
| | - Marta Bolós
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa (CSIC-UAM), Madrid, Spain
- CIBERNED, Madrid, Spain
| | - Mar Pérez
- Departamento de Anatomía Histología y Neurociencia, Facultad de Medicina UAM, Madrid, Spain
| | - Raquel Cuadros
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa (CSIC-UAM), Madrid, Spain
- CIBERNED, Madrid, Spain
| | - Noemí Pallas-Bazarra
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa (CSIC-UAM), Madrid, Spain
- CIBERNED, Madrid, Spain
| | - Juan C. Zabala
- Departamento de Biología Molecular, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Cantabria, Santander, Spain
| | - Jesús Avila
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa (CSIC-UAM), Madrid, Spain
- CIBERNED, Madrid, Spain
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24
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Medina M. An Overview on the Clinical Development of Tau-Based Therapeutics. Int J Mol Sci 2018; 19:ijms19041160. [PMID: 29641484 PMCID: PMC5979300 DOI: 10.3390/ijms19041160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 103] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2018] [Revised: 03/29/2018] [Accepted: 04/09/2018] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Tauopathies such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), frontotemporal lobar degeneration, or progressive supranuclear palsy constitute a group of brain disorders defined by neurodegeneration and the presence of tau aggregates in the affected brains regions. Tau is a microtubule-associated protein that accumulates in the cytosol under pathological conditions, steering the formation of aggregates or inclusions thought to be involved in the degeneration and neuronal death associated with these diseases. Despite a substantial and unmet medical need for novel, more effective disease-modifying therapies for the treatment of AD and tauopathies, the last couple of decades have seen numerous drug development undertakings primarily focused on β-amyloid, with disappointing results to date. On the other hand, tau-focused approaches have not received much attention until recently, notwithstanding that the presence of extensive tau pathology is fundamental for the disease and tau pathology shows a better correlation with impaired cognitive function than with amyloid pathology in AD patients. The last few years have brought us advances in our comprehension of tau biological functions beyond its well-established role as a microtubule-associated protein, unveiling novel physiological tau functions that may also be involved in pathogenesis and thus provide novel targets for therapeutic intervention. This review describes several emerging, encouraging therapeutic approaches aimed at tackling the underlying causes of tau pathology in AD and other tauopathies that have recently reached the clinical development stage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel Medina
- Network Center for Biomedical Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIBERNED), Queen Sofia Foundation Alzheimer Center, CIEN Foundation, Carlos III Institute of Health, 28031 Madrid, Spain.
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Cacabelos R. Have there been improvements in Alzheimer's disease drug discovery over the past 5 years? Expert Opin Drug Discov 2018; 13:523-538. [PMID: 29607687 DOI: 10.1080/17460441.2018.1457645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most important neurodegenerative disorder with a global cost worldwide of over $700 billion. Pharmacological treatment accounts for 10-20% of direct costs; no new drugs have been approved during the past 15 years; and the available medications are not cost-effective. Areas covered: A massive scrutiny of AD-related PubMed publications (ps)(2013-2017) identified 42,053ps of which 8,380 (19.60%) were associated with AD treatments. The most prevalent pharmacological categories included neurotransmitter enhancers (11.38%), multi-target drugs (2.45%), anti-Amyloid agents (13.30%), anti-Tau agents (2.03%), natural products and derivatives (25.58%), novel drugs (8.13%), novel targets (5.66%), other (old) drugs (11.77%), anti-inflammatory drugs (1.20%), neuroprotective peptides (1.25%), stem cell therapy (1.85%), nanocarriers/nanotherapeutics (1.52%), and others (<1% each). Expert opinion: Unsuccessful outcomes in AD therapeutics are attributed to pathogenic misconceptions, erratic procedures in drug development and inappropriate regulations. Recommendations for the future are as follows: (i) the reconsideration of dominant pathogenic theories, (ii) the identification of reliable biomarkers, (iii) the redefinition of diagnostic criteria, (iv) new guidelines for disease management, (v) the reorientation of drug discovery programs, (vi) the updating of regulatory requirements, (vii) the introduction of pharmacogenomics in drug development and personalized treatments, and (viii) the implementation of preventive programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ramón Cacabelos
- a EuroEspes Biomedical Research Center , Institute of Medical Science and Genomic Medicine , Corunna , Spain.,b Chair of Genomic Medicine , Continental University Medical School , Huancayo , Peru
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26
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Tauopathies represent a spectrum of incurable and progressive age-associated neurodegenerative diseases that currently are diagnosed definitively only at autopsy. Few clinical diagnoses, such as classic Richardson's syndrome of progressive supranuclear palsy, are specific for underlying tauopathy and no clinical syndrome is fully sensitive to reliably identify all forms of clinically manifest tauopathy. Thus, a major unmet need for the development and implementation of tau-targeted therapies is precise antemortem diagnosis. This article reviews new and emerging diagnostic therapies for tauopathies including novel imaging techniques and biomarkers and also reviews recent tau therapeutics. RECENT FINDINGS Building evidence from animal and cell models suggests that prion-like misfolding and propagation of pathogenic tau proteins between brain cells are central to the neurodegenerative process. These rapidly growing developments build rationale and motivation for the development of therapeutics targeting this mechanism through altering phosphorylation and other post-translational modifications of the tau protein, blocking aggregation and spread using small molecular compounds or immunotherapy and reducing or silencing expression of the MAPT tau gene. New clinical criteria, CSF, MRI, and PET biomarkers will aid in identifying tauopathies earlier and more accurately which will aid in selection for new clinical trials which focus on a variety of agents including immunotherapy and gene silencing.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Coughlin
- Frontotemporal Dementia Center (FTDC), University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA.,University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, 3600 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - David J Irwin
- Frontotemporal Dementia Center (FTDC), University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
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Bittar A, Sengupta U, Kayed R. Prospects for strain-specific immunotherapy in Alzheimer's disease and tauopathies. NPJ Vaccines 2018; 3:9. [PMID: 29507776 PMCID: PMC5829136 DOI: 10.1038/s41541-018-0046-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2017] [Revised: 01/17/2018] [Accepted: 01/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
With increasing age, as the incidence of Alzheimer's disease is increasing, finding a therapeutic intervention is becoming critically important to either prevent or slow down the progression of the disease. Passive immunotherapy has been demonstrated as a successful way of reducing large aggregates and improving cognition in animal models of both tauopathies and Alzheimer's disease. However, with all the continuous attempts and significant success of immunotherapy in preclinical studies, finding a successful clinical therapy has been a great challenge, possibly indicating a lack of accuracy in targeting the toxic species. Both active and passive immunotherapy approaches in transgenic animals have been demonstrated to have pros and cons. Passive immunotherapy has been favored and many mechanisms have been shown to clear toxic amyloid and tau aggregates and improve memory. These mechanisms may differ depending on the antibodie's' target and administration route. In this regard, deciding on affinity vs. specificity of the antibodies plays a significant role in terms of avoiding the clearance of the physiological forms of the targeted proteins and reducing adverse side effects. In addition, knowing that a single protein can exist in different conformational states, termed as strains, with varying degrees of neurotoxicity and seeding properties, presents an additional level of complexity. Therefore, immunotherapy targeting specifically the toxic strains will aid in developing potential strategies for intervention. Moreover, an approach of combinatorial immunotherapies against different amyloidogenic proteins, at distinct levels of the disease progression, might offer an effective therapy in many neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice Bittar
- Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555 USA
- Departments of Neurology, Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555 USA
| | - Urmi Sengupta
- Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555 USA
- Departments of Neurology, Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555 USA
- Sealy Center for Vaccine Development, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555 USA
| | - Rakez Kayed
- Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555 USA
- Departments of Neurology, Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555 USA
- Sealy Center for Vaccine Development, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555 USA
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Coder B, Wang W, Wang L, Wu Z, Zhuge Q, Su DM. Friend or foe: the dichotomous impact of T cells on neuro-de/re-generation during aging. Oncotarget 2018; 8:7116-7137. [PMID: 27738345 PMCID: PMC5351694 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.12572] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2016] [Accepted: 10/05/2016] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The interaction between T cells and the central nervous system (CNS) in homeostasis and injury has been recognized being both pathogenic (CD4+ T-helper 1 - Th1, Th17 and γδT) and ameliorative (Th2 and regulatory T cells - Tregs). However, in-depth studies aimed to elucidate the precise in the aged microenvironment and the dichotomous role of Tregs have just begun and many aspects remain unclear. This is due, not only to a mutual dependency and reciprocal causation of alterations and diseases between the nervous and T cell immune systems, but also to an inconsistent aging of the two systems, which dynamically changes with CNS injury/recovery and/or aging process. Cellular immune system aging, particularly immunosenescence and T cell aging initiated by thymic involution - sources of chronic inflammation in the elderly (termed inflammaging), potentially induces an acceleration of brain aging and memory loss. In turn, aging of the brain via neuro-endocrine-immune network drives total body systemic aging, including that of the immune system. Therefore, immunotherapeutics including vaccination and “protective autoimmunity” provide promising means to rejuvenate neuro-inflammatory disorders and repair CNS acute injury and chronic neuro-degeneration. We review the current understanding and recent discoveries linking the aging immune system with CNS injury and neuro-degeneration. Additionally, we discuss potential recovery and rejuvenation strategies, focusing on targeting the aging T cell immune system in an effort to alleviate acute brain injury and chronic neuro-degeneration during aging, via the “thymus-inflammaging-neurodegeneration axis”.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brandon Coder
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, TX, USA
| | - Weikan Wang
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, TX, USA.,Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Aging and Neurological Disease Research, First Affiliated Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou City, Zhejiang, P. R. China
| | - Liefeng Wang
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, TX, USA.,Department of Biotechnology, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, P. R. China
| | - Zhongdao Wu
- Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, P. R. China
| | - Qichuan Zhuge
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Aging and Neurological Disease Research, First Affiliated Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou City, Zhejiang, P. R. China
| | - Dong-Ming Su
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, TX, USA
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Phos-tau peptide immunization of amyloid-tg-mice reduced non-mutant phos-tau pathology, improved cognition and reduced amyloid plaques. Exp Neurol 2018; 303:48-58. [PMID: 29432723 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2018.02.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2017] [Revised: 01/31/2018] [Accepted: 02/06/2018] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Tau-immumotherapy has shown promising results in tangle/tauopathy-tg animal models. Here we immunized amyloid-mice (APPSwe/PSEN1dE9-tg, presenting amyloid-plaques, not neurofibrillary-tangles) with phos-tau peptides, previously shown by us to have high efficacy in mutant-tau tauopathy-mice. These amyloid-mice allowed us to test the effect of the vaccine in a model of familial AD patients with mutant amyloid plaque pathology, where tau pathology - once develops - is of non-mutant tau. Fourteen-month-old amyloid-mice were immunized with phos-tau peptides or vehicle. Eight weeks later, amelioration of cognitive impairment was noticed. Histological analysis revealed that the phos (non-mutant)-tau pathology (detected by us in these aged amyloid-mice while not in non-tg-mice), was lower in the phos-tau immunized amyloid-mice than in the non-immunized mice. Interestingly, we detected a decrease in amyloid plaque pathology, probably associated with the increased microglial burden, which surrounded both tau and amyloid pathology. These results point to the added value of immunizing AD-mice with the phos-tau-vaccine, targeting both tau and amyloid pathology, which may have clinical relevance. It also points to the multifaceted interplay between tau/amyloid pathologies.
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30
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Sigurdsson EM. Tau Immunotherapies for Alzheimer's Disease and Related Tauopathies: Progress and Potential Pitfalls. J Alzheimers Dis 2018; 64:S555-S565. [PMID: 29865056 PMCID: PMC6171771 DOI: 10.3233/jad-179937] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Tau immunotherapies have now advanced from proof-of-concept studies to Phase II clinical trials. This review briefly outlines developments in the field and discusses how these therapies may work, which involves multiple variables that are connected in complex ways. These various factors are likely to define therapeutic success in humans and have not been thoroughly investigated, at least based on published reports.
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Affiliation(s)
- Einar M. Sigurdsson
- New York University School of Medicine, Departments of Neuroscience and Physiology, and Psychiatry, Neuroscience Institute, Science Building, 435 East 30 Street, Room SB1115, New York, NY 10016,
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31
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Braczynski AK, Schulz JB, Bach JP. Vaccination strategies in tauopathies and synucleinopathies. J Neurochem 2017; 143:467-488. [PMID: 28869766 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.14207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2017] [Revised: 08/07/2017] [Accepted: 08/23/2017] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Vaccination therapies constitute potential treatment options in neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer disease or Parkinson disease. While a lot of research has been performed on vaccination against extracellular amyloid β, the focus recently shifted toward vaccination against the intracellular proteins tau and α-synuclein, with promising results in terms of protein accumulation reduction. In this review, we briefly summarize lessons to be learned from clinical vaccination trials in Alzheimer disease that target amyloid β. We then focus on tau and α-synuclein. For both proteins, we provide important data on protein immunogenicity, and put them into context with data available from both animals and human vaccination trials targeted at tau and α-synuclein. Together, we give a comprehensive overview about current clinical data, and discuss associated problems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne K Braczynski
- Department of Neurology, RWTH Aachen University Hospital, Aachen, Germany
| | - Jörg B Schulz
- Department of Neurology, RWTH Aachen University Hospital, Aachen, Germany.,Jülich Aachen Research Alliance (JARA) - JARA-Institute Molecular Neuroscience and Neuroimaging, FZ Jülich and RWTH University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Jan-Philipp Bach
- Department of Neurology, RWTH Aachen University Hospital, Aachen, Germany
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32
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Rojas-Gutierrez E, Muñoz-Arenas G, Treviño S, Espinosa B, Chavez R, Rojas K, Flores G, Díaz A, Guevara J. Alzheimer's disease and metabolic syndrome: A link from oxidative stress and inflammation to neurodegeneration. Synapse 2017. [PMID: 28650104 DOI: 10.1002/syn.21990] [Citation(s) in RCA: 118] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia and one of the most important causes of morbidity and mortality among the aging population. AD diagnosis is made post-mortem, and the two pathologic hallmarks, particularly evident in the end stages of the illness, are amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. Currently, there is no curative treatment for AD. Additionally, there is a strong relation between oxidative stress, metabolic syndrome, and AD. The high levels of circulating lipids and glucose imbalances amplify lipid peroxidation that gradually diminishes the antioxidant systems, causing high levels of oxidative metabolism that affects cell structure, leading to neuronal damage. Accumulating evidence suggests that AD is closely related to a dysfunction of both insulin signaling and glucose metabolism in the brain, leading to an insulin-resistant brain state. Four drugs are currently used for this pathology: Three FDA-approved cholinesterase inhibitors and one NMDA receptor antagonist. However, wide varieties of antioxidants are promissory to delay or prevent the symptoms of AD and may help in treating the disease. Therefore, therapeutic efforts to achieve attenuation of oxidative stress could be beneficial in AD treatment, attenuating Aβ-induced neurotoxicity and improve neurological outcomes in AD. The term inflammaging characterizes a widely accepted paradigm that aging is accompanied by a low-grade chronic up-regulation of certain pro-inflammatory responses in the absence of overt infection, and is a highly significant risk factor for both morbidity and mortality in the elderly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eduardo Rojas-Gutierrez
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Guadalupe Muñoz-Arenas
- Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, Puebla, Pue, Mexico
| | - Samuel Treviño
- Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, Puebla, Pue, Mexico
| | - Blanca Espinosa
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Respiratorias-INER, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Raúl Chavez
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Karla Rojas
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Gonzalo Flores
- Instituto de Fisiología, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, Puebla, Pue, Mexico
| | - Alfonso Díaz
- Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, Puebla, Pue, Mexico
| | - Jorge Guevara
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, Mexico
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Vectored Intracerebral Immunization with the Anti-Tau Monoclonal Antibody PHF1 Markedly Reduces Tau Pathology in Mutant Tau Transgenic Mice. J Neurosci 2017; 36:12425-12435. [PMID: 27927959 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.2016-16.2016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2016] [Revised: 10/07/2016] [Accepted: 10/14/2016] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Passive immunization with anti-tau monoclonal antibodies has been shown by several laboratories to reduce age-dependent tau pathology and neurodegeneration in mutant tau transgenic mice. These studies have used repeated high weekly doses of various tau antibodies administered systemically for several months and have reported reduced tau pathology of ∼40-50% in various brain regions. Here we show that direct intrahippocampal administration of the adeno-associated virus (AAV)-vectored anti-phospho-tau antibody PHF1 to P301S tau transgenic mice results in high and durable antibody expression, primarily in neurons. Hippocampal antibody levels achieved after AAV delivery were ∼50-fold more than those reported following repeated systemic administration. In contrast to systemic passive immunization, we observed markedly reduced (≥80-90%) hippocampal insoluble pathological tau species and neurofibrillary tangles following a single dose of AAV-vectored PHF1 compared with mice treated with an AAV-IgG control vector. Moreover, the hippocampal atrophy observed in untreated P301S mice was fully rescued by treatment with the AAV-vectored PHF1 antibody. Vectored passive immunotherapy with an anti-tau monoclonal antibody may represent a viable therapeutic strategy for treating or preventing such tauopathies as frontotemporal dementia, progressive supranuclear palsy, or Alzheimer's disease. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT We have used an adeno-associated viral (AAV) vector to deliver the genes encoding an anti-phospho-tau monoclonal antibody, PHF1, directly to the brain of mice that develop neurodegeneration due to a tau mutation that causes frontotemporal dementia (FTD). When administered systemically, PHF1 has been shown to modestly reduce tau pathology and neurodegeneration. Since such antibodies do not readily cross the blood-brain barrier, we used an AAV vector to deliver antibody directly to the hippocampus and observed much higher antibody levels and a much greater reduction in tau pathology. Using AAV vectors to deliver antibodies like PHF1 directly to brain may constitute a novel approach to treating various neurodegenerative disorders, such as FTD and Alzheimer's disease.
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34
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Leyns CEG, Holtzman DM. Glial contributions to neurodegeneration in tauopathies. Mol Neurodegener 2017; 12:50. [PMID: 28662669 PMCID: PMC5492997 DOI: 10.1186/s13024-017-0192-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 257] [Impact Index Per Article: 36.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2017] [Accepted: 06/20/2017] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Tauopathies are a broad set of neurodegenerative dementias characterized by aggregation of the tau protein into filamentous inclusions that can be found in neurons and glial cells. Activated microglia, astrocytes and elevated levels of proinflammatory molecules are also pathological hallmarks that are found in brain regions affected by tau pathology. There has been abundant research in recent years to understand the role of gliosis and neuroinflammation in neurodegenerative diseases, particularly in Alzheimer's disease (AD) which is the most common form of dementia. AD is a tauopathy characterized by both extracellular amyloid-β plaques in addition to intracellular neurofibrillary tangles and neuropil threads containing aggregated tau protein. Accumulating evidence suggests that neuroinflammation offers a possible mechanistic link between these pathologies. Additionally, there appears to be a role for neuroinflammation in aggravating tau pathology and neurodegeneration in tauopathies featuring tau deposits as the predominant pathological signature. In this review, we survey the literature regarding inflammatory mechanisms that may impact neurodegeneration in AD and related tauopathies. We consider a physical role for microglia in the spread of tau pathology as well as the non-cell autonomous effects of secreted proinflammatory cytokines, specifically interleukin 1 beta, interleukin 6, tumor necrosis factor alpha and complement proteins. These molecules appear to have direct effects on tau pathophysiology and overall neuronal health. They also indirectly impact neuronal homeostasis by altering glial function. We conclude by proposing a complex role for gliosis and neuroinflammation in accelerating the progression of AD and other tauopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheryl E. G. Leyns
- Department of Neurology, Washington University, Hope Center for Neurological Disorders, Knight Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, 660 S. Euclid Ave, St. Louis, MO 63110 USA
| | - David M. Holtzman
- Department of Neurology, Washington University, Hope Center for Neurological Disorders, Knight Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, 660 S. Euclid Ave, St. Louis, MO 63110 USA
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Canu N, Amadoro G, Triaca V, Latina V, Sposato V, Corsetti V, Severini C, Ciotti MT, Calissano P. The Intersection of NGF/TrkA Signaling and Amyloid Precursor Protein Processing in Alzheimer's Disease Neuropathology. Int J Mol Sci 2017. [PMID: 28632177 PMCID: PMC5486140 DOI: 10.3390/ijms18061319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Dysfunction of nerve growth factor (NGF) and its high-affinity Tropomyosin receptor kinase A (TrkA) receptor has been suggested to contribute to the selective degeneration of basal forebrain cholinergic neurons (BFCN) associated with the progressive cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease (AD). The aim of this review is to describe our progress in elucidating the molecular mechanisms underlying the dynamic interplay between NGF/TrkA signaling and amyloid precursor protein (APP) metabolism within the context of AD neuropathology. This is mainly based on the finding that TrkA receptor binding to APP depends on a minimal stretch of ~20 amino acids located in the juxtamembrane/extracellular domain of APP that carries the α- and β-secretase cleavage sites. Here, we provide evidence that: (i) NGF could be one of the “routing” proteins responsible for modulating the metabolism of APP from amyloidogenic towards non-amyloidogenic processing via binding to the TrkA receptor; (ii) the loss of NGF/TrkA signaling could be linked to sporadic AD contributing to the classical hallmarks of the neuropathology, such as synaptic loss, β-amyloid peptide (Aβ) deposition and tau abnormalities. These findings will hopefully help to design therapeutic strategies for AD treatment aimed at preserving cholinergic function and anti-amyloidogenic activity of the physiological NGF/TrkA pathway in the septo-hippocampal system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadia Canu
- Department of System Medicine, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Via Montpellier 1, 00137 Rome, Italy.
- Institute of Cellular Biology and Neurobiology, National Council of Research Rome, Via del Fosso del Fiorano 64, 00143 Rome, Italy.
| | - Giuseppina Amadoro
- Institute of Translational Pharmacology, National Research Council (CNR) Rome, Via Fosso del Cavaliere 100, 00133 Rome, Italy.
| | - Viviana Triaca
- Institute of Cellular Biology and Neurobiology, National Council of Research Rome, Via del Fosso del Fiorano 64, 00143 Rome, Italy.
| | - Valentina Latina
- Institute of Translational Pharmacology, National Research Council (CNR) Rome, Via Fosso del Cavaliere 100, 00133 Rome, Italy.
| | - Valentina Sposato
- European Brain Research Institute Rome, Via del Fosso del Fiorano 64, 00143 Rome, Italy.
| | - Veronica Corsetti
- European Brain Research Institute Rome, Via del Fosso del Fiorano 64, 00143 Rome, Italy.
| | - Cinzia Severini
- Institute of Cellular Biology and Neurobiology, National Council of Research Rome, Via del Fosso del Fiorano 64, 00143 Rome, Italy.
| | - Maria Teresa Ciotti
- Institute of Cellular Biology and Neurobiology, National Council of Research Rome, Via del Fosso del Fiorano 64, 00143 Rome, Italy.
| | - Pietro Calissano
- European Brain Research Institute Rome, Via del Fosso del Fiorano 64, 00143 Rome, Italy.
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36
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Shoeibi A, Litvan I. Therapeutic options for Progressive Supranuclear Palsy including investigational drugs. Expert Opin Orphan Drugs 2017. [DOI: 10.1080/21678707.2017.1335596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Ali Shoeibi
- Movement Disorder Center, UC San Diego Department of Neurosciences, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Department of Neurology, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Irene Litvan
- Movement Disorder Center, UC San Diego Department of Neurosciences, La Jolla, CA, USA
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37
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Hock EM, Polymenidou M. Prion-like propagation as a pathogenic principle in frontotemporal dementia. J Neurochem 2017; 138 Suppl 1:163-83. [PMID: 27502124 PMCID: PMC6680357 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.13668] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2015] [Revised: 04/22/2016] [Accepted: 05/11/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Frontotemporal dementia is a devastating neurodegenerative disease causing stark alterations in personality and language. Characterized by severe atrophy of the frontal and temporal brain lobes, frontotemporal dementia (FTD) shows extreme heterogeneity in clinical presentation, genetic causes, and pathological findings. Like most neurodegenerative diseases, the initial symptoms of FTD are subtle, but increase in severity over time, as the disease progresses. Clinical progression is paralleled by exacerbation of pathological findings and the involvement of broader brain regions, which currently lack mechanistic explanation. Yet, a flurry of studies indicate that protein aggregates accumulating in neurodegenerative diseases can act as propagating entities, amplifying their pathogenic conformation, in a way similar to infectious prions. In this prion‐centric view, FTD can be divided into three subtypes, TDP‐43 or FUS proteinopathy and tauopathy. Here, we review the current evidence that FTD‐linked pathology propagates in a prion‐like manner and discuss the implications of these findings for disease progression and heterogeneity.
Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease causing severe personality dysfunctions, characterized by profound heterogeneity. Accumulation of tau, TDP‐43 or FUS cytoplasmic aggregates characterize molecularly distinct and non‐overlapping FTD subtypes. Here, we discuss the current evidence suggesting that prion‐like propagation and cell‐to‐cell spread of each of these cytoplasmic aggregates may underlie disease progression and heterogeneity.
This article is part of the Frontotemporal Dementia special issue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva-Maria Hock
- Institute of Molecular Life Sciences, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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Franco Bocanegra DK, Nicoll JAR, Boche D. Innate immunity in Alzheimer's disease: the relevance of animal models? J Neural Transm (Vienna) 2017; 125:827-846. [PMID: 28516241 PMCID: PMC5911273 DOI: 10.1007/s00702-017-1729-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2016] [Accepted: 04/27/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The mouse is one of the organisms most widely used as an animal model in biomedical research, due to the particular ease with which it can be handled and reproduced in laboratory. As a member of the mammalian class, mice share with humans many features regarding metabolic pathways, cell morphology and anatomy. However, important biological differences between mice and humans exist and must be taken into consideration when interpreting research results, to properly translate evidence from experimental studies into information that can be useful for human disease prevention and/or treatment. With respect to Alzheimer’s disease (AD), much of the experimental information currently known about this disease has been gathered from studies using mainly mice as models. Therefore, it is notably important to fully characterise the differences between mice and humans regarding important aspects of the disease. It is now widely known that inflammation plays an important role in the development of AD, a role that is not only a response to the surrounding pathological environment, but rather seems to be strongly implicated in the aetiology of the disease as indicated by the genetic studies. This review highlights relevant differences in inflammation and in microglia, the innate immune cell of the brain, between mice and humans regarding genetics and morphology in normal ageing, and the relationship of microglia with AD-like pathology, the inflammatory profile, and cognition. We conclude that some noteworthy differences exist between mice and humans regarding microglial characteristics, in distribution, gene expression, and states of activation. This may have repercussions in the way that transgenic mice respond to, and influence, the AD-like pathology. However, despite these differences, human and mouse microglia also show similarities in morphology and behaviour, such that the mouse is a suitable model for studying the role of microglia, as long as these differences are taken into consideration when delineating new strategies to approach the study of neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana K Franco Bocanegra
- Clinical Neurosciences, Clinical and Experimental Sciences Academic Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton General Hospital, Mailpoint 806, Southampton, SO16 6YD, UK
| | - James A R Nicoll
- Clinical Neurosciences, Clinical and Experimental Sciences Academic Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton General Hospital, Mailpoint 806, Southampton, SO16 6YD, UK.,Department of Cellular Pathology, University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton, Southampton, SO16 6YD, UK
| | - Delphine Boche
- Clinical Neurosciences, Clinical and Experimental Sciences Academic Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton General Hospital, Mailpoint 806, Southampton, SO16 6YD, UK.
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Noskova L, Fialova L, Bartos A, Zima T. Avidity of antineurocytoskeletal antibodies in Alzheimer's disease patients. Biomed Pap Med Fac Univ Palacky Olomouc Czech Repub 2017; 161:179-186. [PMID: 28452379 DOI: 10.5507/bp.2017.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2016] [Accepted: 03/24/2017] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
AIMS To optimise the ELISA method for the avidity of IgG antibodies against neurofilament heavy chain (NfH) and to determine the levels and avidity of anti-NfH antibodies in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and a healthy control group. METHODS Various dilutions of sera and concentrations of urea and sodium chloride as chaotropic reagents were tested in the process of the ELISA optimisation. The levels and avidity of anti-NfH antibodies were determined in 30 patients with Alzheimer's disease and 30 age-matched cognitively normal elderly adults. RESULTS Sera dilution 1:200 and urea as a chaotrope in a concentration 6 mol/L were chosen to be the most suitable for the avidity assay of anti-NfH antibodies by ELISA. The results showed no differences in either level or avidity of IgG anti-NfH antibodies between AD patients and cognitively normal persons. The levels of anti-NfH IgG antibodies inversely correlated with their avidities. CONCLUSIONS We optimised the ELISA method for the determination of anti-NfH antibody avidity determination which is suitable for research of anti-NfH antibody avidity in patients with neurological diseases associated with neurocytoskeletal defects. The determination of serum anti-NfH antibody avidity in AD patients seems to have limited diagnostic significance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Libuse Noskova
- Institute of Medical Biochemistry and Laboratory Diagnostics, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and General University Hospital in Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Lenka Fialova
- Institute of Medical Biochemistry and Laboratory Diagnostics, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and General University Hospital in Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Ales Bartos
- National Institute of Mental Health, Klecany, Czech Republic.,Department of Neurology, Third Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and Faculty Hospital Kralovske Vinohrady, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Tomas Zima
- Institute of Medical Biochemistry and Laboratory Diagnostics, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and General University Hospital in Prague, Czech Republic
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Prion-like mechanisms and potential therapeutic targets in neurodegenerative disorders. Pharmacol Ther 2017; 172:22-33. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2016.11.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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Abstract
The approval of psychotropic drugs with novel mechanisms of action has been rare in recent years. To address this issue, further analysis of the pathophysiology of neuropsychiatric disorders is essential for identifying new pharmacological targets for psychotropic medications. In this report, we detail drug candidates being examined as treatments for psychiatric disorders. Particular emphasis is placed on agents with novel mechanisms of action that are being tested as therapies for depression, schizophrenia, or Alzheimer’s disease. All of the compounds considered were recently approved for human use or are in advanced clinical trials. Drugs included here are new antipsychotic medications endowed with a preferential affinity at dopamine D3 receptor (cariprazine) or at glutamatergic or cannabinoid receptors, as well as vortioxetine, a drug approved for managing the cognitive deficits associated with major depression. New mechanistic approaches for the treatment of depression include intravenous ketamine or esketamine or intranasal esketamine. As for Alzheimer’s disease, the possible value of passive immunotherapy with agents such as aducanumab is considered to be a potential disease-modifying approach that could slow or halt the progressive decline associated with this devastating disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Filippo Caraci
- Department of Drug Sciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.,IRCCS Associazione Oasi Maria S.S., Institute for Research on Mental Retardation and Brain Aging, Troina (EN), Italy
| | - Gian Marco Leggio
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Salvatore Salomone
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Filippo Drago
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
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Dai CL, Tung YC, Liu F, Gong CX, Iqbal K. Tau passive immunization inhibits not only tau but also Aβ pathology. ALZHEIMERS RESEARCH & THERAPY 2017; 9:1. [PMID: 28073379 PMCID: PMC5225540 DOI: 10.1186/s13195-016-0227-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 105] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2016] [Accepted: 12/08/2016] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Background Accumulation of hyperphosphorylated tau protein is a histopathological hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and related tauopathies. Currently, there is no effective treatment available for these progressive neurodegenerative diseases. In recent years, tau immunotherapy has shown great potential in animal models. We report the effect of immunization with tau antibodies 43D against tau 6–18 and 77E9 against tau 184–195 on tau and amyloid-β (Aβ) pathologies and cognition in triple-transgenic (3×Tg)-AD mice at mild to moderate stages of the disease. Methods We immunized 12-month-old female 3×Tg-AD mice with two to six or seven intravenous weekly doses of 15 μg of mouse monoclonal antibody 43D, 77E9, a combination of one-half dose each of 43D and 77E9, or as control of mouse immunoglobulin G (IgG). Age-matched wild-type mice treated with mouse IgG or a mixture of 43D and 77E9 were also used as controls. The effect of immunization with tau antibodies on tau and Aβ pathologies was assessed by Western blot and immunofluorescence analysis, and the effect on cognition was analyzed by using Morris water maze, one-trial novel object recognition, and novel object location tasks. Results We found that two doses of 43D and 77E9 reduced total tau but had no significant impact on hyperphosphorylation of tau. However, six doses of 43D reduced levels of both total tau and tau hyperphosphorylated at Ser262/356 and Ser396/404 sites in the hippocampus. Importantly, both 43D and 77E9 antibodies rescued spatial memory and short-term memory impairments in 3×Tg-AD mice. The beneficial effect of 43D and 77E9 antibodies on cognitive performance was sustained up to 3 months after the last dose. Six doses of immunization with 43D also decreased amyloid precursor protein (APP) level in CA1 and amyloid plaques in subiculum, and showed a trend toward reducing Aβ40 and Aβ42 in the forebrain. Immunization with 43D increased levels of complement components C1 and C9 and resulted in activation of microglia, especially surrounding Aβ plaques. Conclusions These findings suggest the potential of passive immunization targeting proximal N-terminal domain tau 6–18 as a disease-modifying approach to AD and related tauopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chun-Ling Dai
- Department of Neurochemistry, New York State Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities, Inge Grundke-Iqbal Research Floor, 1050 Forest Hill Road, Staten Island, NY, 10314, USA
| | - Yunn Chyn Tung
- Department of Neurochemistry, New York State Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities, Inge Grundke-Iqbal Research Floor, 1050 Forest Hill Road, Staten Island, NY, 10314, USA
| | - Fei Liu
- Department of Neurochemistry, New York State Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities, Inge Grundke-Iqbal Research Floor, 1050 Forest Hill Road, Staten Island, NY, 10314, USA
| | - Cheng-Xin Gong
- Department of Neurochemistry, New York State Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities, Inge Grundke-Iqbal Research Floor, 1050 Forest Hill Road, Staten Island, NY, 10314, USA
| | - Khalid Iqbal
- Department of Neurochemistry, New York State Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities, Inge Grundke-Iqbal Research Floor, 1050 Forest Hill Road, Staten Island, NY, 10314, USA.
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Katsurabayashi S, Kawano H, Ii M, Nakano S, Tatsumi C, Kubota K, Takasaki K, Mishima K, Fujiwara M, Iwasaki K. Overexpression of Swedish mutant APP in aged astrocytes attenuates excitatory synaptic transmission. Physiol Rep 2016; 4:4/1/e12665. [PMID: 26733247 PMCID: PMC4760399 DOI: 10.14814/phy2.12665] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyloid precursor protein (APP), a type I transmembrane protein, has different aspects, namely, performs essential physiological functions and produces β‐amyloid peptide (Aβ). Overexpression of neuronal APP is responsible for synaptic dysfunction. In the central nervous system, astrocytes – a major glial cell type – have an important role in the regulation of synaptic transmission. Although APP is expressed in astrocytes, it remains unclear whether astrocytic overexpression of mutant APP affects synaptic transmission. In this study, the effect of astrocytic overexpression of a mutant APP on the excitatory synaptic transmission was investigated using coculture system of the transgenic (Tg) cortical astrocytes that express the human APP695 polypeptide with the double mutation K670N + M671L found in a large Swedish family with early onset Alzheimer's disease, and wild‐type hippocampal neuron. Significant secretion of Aβ 1–40 and 1–42 was observed in cultured cortical astrocytes from the Tg2576 transgenic mouse that genetically overexpresses Swedish mutant APP. Under the condition, Tg astrocytes did not affect excitatory synaptic transmission of cocultured wild‐type neurons. However, aged Tg astrocytes cultured for 9 weeks elicited a significant decrease in excitatory synaptic transmission in cocultured neurons. Moreover, a reduction in the number of readily releasable synaptic vesicles accompanied a decrease in the number of excitatory synapses in neurons cocultured with aged Tg astrocytes. These observations indicate that astrocytic expression of the mutant APP is involved in the downregulation of synaptic transmission with age.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shutaro Katsurabayashi
- Department of Neuropharmacology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Fukuoka University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Kawano
- Department of Neuropharmacology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Fukuoka University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Miyuki Ii
- Department of Neuropharmacology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Fukuoka University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Sachiko Nakano
- Department of Neuropharmacology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Fukuoka University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Chihiro Tatsumi
- Department of Neuropharmacology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Fukuoka University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Kaori Kubota
- Department of Neuropharmacology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Fukuoka University, Fukuoka, Japan A.I.G. Collaborative Research Institute for Aging and Brain Sciences, Fukuoka University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Kotaro Takasaki
- Department of Neuropharmacology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Fukuoka University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Kenichi Mishima
- Department of Neuropharmacology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Fukuoka University, Fukuoka, Japan A.I.G. Collaborative Research Institute for Aging and Brain Sciences, Fukuoka University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Michihiro Fujiwara
- Department of Neuropharmacology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Fukuoka University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Katsunori Iwasaki
- Department of Neuropharmacology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Fukuoka University, Fukuoka, Japan A.I.G. Collaborative Research Institute for Aging and Brain Sciences, Fukuoka University, Fukuoka, Japan
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Medina M, Hernández F, Avila J. New Features about Tau Function and Dysfunction. Biomolecules 2016; 6:biom6020021. [PMID: 27104579 PMCID: PMC4919916 DOI: 10.3390/biom6020021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2015] [Revised: 03/09/2016] [Accepted: 04/13/2016] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Tau is a brain microtubule-associated protein that directly binds to a microtubule and dynamically regulates its structure and function. Under pathological conditions, tau self-assembles into filamentous structures that end up forming neurofibrillary tangles. Prominent tau neurofibrillary pathology is a common feature in a number of neurodegenerative disorders, collectively referred to as tauopathies, the most common of which is Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Beyond its classical role as a microtubule-associated protein, recent advances in our understanding of tau cellular functions have revealed novel insights into their important role during pathogenesis and provided potential novel therapeutic targets. Regulation of tau behavior and function under physiological and pathological conditions is mainly achieved through post-translational modifications, including phosphorylation, glycosylation, acetylation, and truncation, among others, indicating the complexity and variability of factors influencing regulation of tau toxicity, all of which have significant implications for the development of novel therapeutic approaches in various neurodegenerative disorders. A more comprehensive understanding of the molecular mechanisms regulating tau function and dysfunction will provide us with a better outline of tau cellular networking and, hopefully, offer new clues for designing more efficient approaches to tackle tauopathies in the near future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel Medina
- CIBERNED (Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas), Valderrebollo 5, 28031 Madrid, Spain.
- CIEN Foundation, Valderrebollo 5, 28041 Madrid, Spain.
| | - Félix Hernández
- CIBERNED (Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas), Valderrebollo 5, 28031 Madrid, Spain.
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, CSIC-UAM, Nicolás cabrera 1, 28049 Madrid, Spain.
| | - Jesús Avila
- CIBERNED (Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas), Valderrebollo 5, 28031 Madrid, Spain.
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, CSIC-UAM, Nicolás cabrera 1, 28049 Madrid, Spain.
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