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Chen X, Song Y, Hong Y, Zhang X, Li Q, Zhou H. "NO" controversy?: A controversial role in insulin signaling of diabetic encephalopathy. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2024; 593:112346. [PMID: 39151653 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2024.112346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2024] [Revised: 06/14/2024] [Accepted: 08/13/2024] [Indexed: 08/19/2024]
Abstract
Insulin, a critical hormone in the human body, exerts its effects by binding to insulin receptors and regulating various cellular processes. While nitric oxide (NO) plays an important role in insulin secretion and acts as a mediator in the signal transduction pathway between upstream molecules and downstream effectors, holds a significant position in the downstream signal network of insulin. Researches have shown that the insulin-NO system exhibits a dual regulatory effect within the central nervous system, which is crucial in the regulation of diabetic encephalopathy (DE). Understanding this system holds immense practical importance in comprehending the targets of existing drugs and the development of potential therapeutic interventions. This review extensively examines the characterization of insulin, NO, Nitric oxide synthase (NOS), specific NO pathway, their interconnections, and the mechanisms underlying their regulatory effects in DE, providing a reference for new therapeutic targets of DE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xi Chen
- Department of Pharmacology, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310014, China
| | - Ying Song
- Department of Pharmacology, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310014, China; Hangzhou King's Bio-pharmaceutical Technology Co., Ltd, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310007, China.
| | - Ye Hong
- Department of Pharmacology, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310014, China
| | - Xiaomin Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310014, China
| | - Qisong Li
- Department of Pharmacology, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310014, China
| | - Hongling Zhou
- Department of Pharmacology, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310014, China
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Yu K, Yao KR, Aguinaga MA, Choquette JM, Liu C, Wang Y, Liao D. G272V and P301L Mutations Induce Isoform Specific Tau Mislocalization to Dendritic Spines and Synaptic Dysfunctions in Cellular Models of 3R and 4R Tau Frontotemporal Dementia. J Neurosci 2024; 44:e1215232024. [PMID: 38858079 PMCID: PMC11236579 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1215-23.2024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2023] [Revised: 05/10/2024] [Accepted: 05/16/2024] [Indexed: 06/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Tau pathologies are detected in the brains of some of the most common neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer's disease (AD), Lewy body dementia (LBD), chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Tau proteins are expressed in six isoforms with either three or four microtubule-binding repeats (3R tau or 4R tau) due to alternative RNA splicing. AD, LBD, and CTE brains contain pathological deposits of both 3R and 4R tau. FTD patients can exhibit either 4R tau pathologies in most cases or 3R tau pathologies less commonly in Pick's disease, which is a subfamily of FTD. Here, we report the isoform-specific roles of tau in FTD. The P301L mutation, linked to familial 4R tau FTD, induces mislocalization of 4R tau to dendritic spines in primary hippocampal cultures that were prepared from neonatal rat pups of both sexes. Contrastingly, the G272V mutation, linked to familial Pick's disease, induces phosphorylation-dependent mislocalization of 3R tau but not 4R tau proteins to dendritic spines. The overexpression of G272V 3R tau but not 4R tau proteins leads to the reduction of dendritic spine density and suppression of mEPSCs in 5-week-old primary rat hippocampal cultures. The decrease in mEPSC amplitude caused by G272V 3R tau is dynamin-dependent whereas that caused by P301L 4R tau is dynamin-independent, indicating that the two tau isoforms activate different signaling pathways responsible for excitatory synaptic dysfunction. Our 3R and 4R tau studies here will shed new light on diverse mechanisms underlying FTD, AD, LBD, and CTE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ke Yu
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455
- Department of General Practice, The General Hospital of Western Theater Command, Chengdu 610083, China
| | - Katherine R Yao
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455
- College of Biological Sciences, University of Minnesota, St Paul, Minnesota 55108
| | - Miguel A Aguinaga
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455
- College of Biological Sciences, University of Minnesota, St Paul, Minnesota 55108
| | - Jessica M Choquette
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455
| | - Chengliang Liu
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455
| | - Yuxin Wang
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455
| | - Dezhi Liao
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455
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Pena E, San Martin-Salamanca R, El Alam S, Flores K, Arriaza K. Tau Protein Alterations Induced by Hypobaric Hypoxia Exposure. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:889. [PMID: 38255962 PMCID: PMC10815386 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25020889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2023] [Revised: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Tauopathies are a group of neurodegenerative diseases whose central feature is dysfunction of the microtubule-associated protein tau (MAPT). Although the exact etiology of tauopathies is still unknown, it has been hypothesized that their onset may occur up to twenty years before the clear emergence of symptoms, which has led to questions about whether the prognosis of these diseases can be improved by, for instance, targeting the factors that influence tauopathy development. One such factor is hypoxia, which is strongly linked to Alzheimer's disease because of its association with obstructive sleep apnea and has been reported to affect molecular pathways related to the dysfunction and aggregation of tau proteins and other biomarkers of neurological damage. In particular, hypobaric hypoxia exposure increases the activation of several kinases related to the hyperphosphorylation of tau in neuronal cells, such as ERK, GSK3β, and CDK5. In addition, hypoxia also increases the levels of inflammatory molecules (IL-β1, IL-6, and TNF-α), which are also associated with neurodegeneration. This review discusses the many remaining questions regarding the influence of hypoxia on tauopathies and the contribution of high-altitude exposure to the development of these diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Samia El Alam
- High Altitude Medicine Research Center (CEIMA), Arturo Prat University, Iquique 1110939, Chile; (E.P.); (R.S.M.-S.); (K.F.); (K.A.)
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Olesen MA, Quintanilla RA. Pathological Impact of Tau Proteolytical Process on Neuronal and Mitochondrial Function: a Crucial Role in Alzheimer's Disease. Mol Neurobiol 2023; 60:5691-5707. [PMID: 37332018 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-023-03434-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/20/2023]
Abstract
Tau protein plays a pivotal role in the central nervous system (CNS), participating in microtubule stability, axonal transport, and synaptic communication. Research interest has focused on studying the role of post-translational tau modifications in mitochondrial failure, oxidative damage, and synaptic impairment in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Soluble tau forms produced by its pathological cleaved induced by caspases could lead to neuronal injury contributing to oxidative damage and cognitive decline in AD. For example, the presence of tau cleaved by caspase-3 has been suggested as a relevant factor in AD and is considered a previous event before neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) formation.Interestingly, we and others have shown that caspase-cleaved tau in N- or C- terminal sites induce mitochondrial bioenergetics defects, axonal transport impairment, neuronal injury, and cognitive decline in neuronal cells and murine models. All these abnormalities are considered relevant in the early neurodegenerative manifestations such as memory and cognitive failure reported in AD. Therefore, in this review, we will discuss for the first time the importance of truncated tau by caspases activation in the pathogenesis of AD and how its negative actions could impact neuronal function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margrethe A Olesen
- Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Facultad de Ciencias de La Salud, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Universidad Autónoma de Chile, El Llano Subercaseaux 2801, 5to Piso, San Miguel, 8910060, Santiago, Chile
| | - Rodrigo A Quintanilla
- Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Facultad de Ciencias de La Salud, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Universidad Autónoma de Chile, El Llano Subercaseaux 2801, 5to Piso, San Miguel, 8910060, Santiago, Chile.
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Chen M, Fu W, Xu H, Liu CJ. Tau deficiency inhibits classically activated macrophage polarization and protects against collagen-induced arthritis in mice. Arthritis Res Ther 2023; 25:146. [PMID: 37559125 PMCID: PMC10410869 DOI: 10.1186/s13075-023-03133-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 08/11/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Tau protein serves a pro-inflammatory function in neuroinflammation. However, the role of tau in other inflammatory disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is less explored. This study is to investigate the role of endogenous tau and the potential mechanisms in the pathogenesis of inflammatory arthritis. METHODS We established collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) model in wild-type and Tau-/- mice to compare the clinical score and arthritis incidence. Micro-CT analysis was used to evaluate bone erosion of ankle joints. Histological analysis was performed to assess inflammatory cell infiltration, cartilage damage, and osteoclast activity in the ankle joints. Serum levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines were measured by ELISA. The expression levels of macrophage markers were determined by immunohistochemistry staining and quantitative real-time PCR. RESULTS Tau expression was upregulated in joints under inflammatory condition. Tau deletion in mice exhibited milder inflammation and protected against the progression of CIA, evidenced by reduced serum levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and attenuated bone loss, inflammatory cell infiltration, cartilage damage, and osteoclast activity in the ankle joints. Furthermore, tau deficiency led to the inhibition of classically activated type 1 (M1) macrophage polarization in the synovium. CONCLUSION Tau is a previously unrecognized critical regulator in the pathogenesis of RA and may provide a potential therapeutic target for autoimmune and inflammatory joint diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meng Chen
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Wenyu Fu
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Huiyun Xu
- School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Chuan-Ju Liu
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
- Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.
- Department of Cell Biology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
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Opland CK, Bryan MR, Harris B, McGillion-Moore J, Tian X, Chen Y, Itano MS, Diering GH, Meeker RB, Cohen TJ. Activity-dependent tau cleavage by caspase-3 promotes neuronal dysfunction and synaptotoxicity. iScience 2023; 26:106905. [PMID: 37305696 PMCID: PMC10251131 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.106905] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2022] [Revised: 03/08/2023] [Accepted: 05/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Tau-mediated toxicity is associated with cognitive decline and Alzheimer's disease (AD) progression. In particular, tau post-translational modifications (PTMs) are thought to generate aberrant tau species resulting in neuronal dysfunction. Despite being well characterized in postmortem AD brain, it is unclear how caspase-mediated C-terminal tau cleavage promotes neurodegeneration, as few studies have developed the models to dissect this pathogenic mechanism. Here, we show that proteasome impairment results in cleaved tau accumulation at the post-synaptic density (PSD), a process that is modulated by neuronal activity. Cleaved tau (at residue D421) impairs neuronal firing and causes inefficient initiation of network bursts, consistent with reduced excitatory drive. We propose that reduced neuronal activity, or silencing, is coupled to proteasome dysfunction, which drives cleaved tau accumulation at the PSD and subsequent synaptotoxicity. Our study connects three common themes in the progression of AD: impaired proteostasis, caspase-mediated tau cleavage, and synapse degeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carli K. Opland
- UNC Neuroscience Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Miles R. Bryan
- UNC Neuroscience Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Braxton Harris
- Department of Neurology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Jake McGillion-Moore
- UNC Neuroscience Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Xu Tian
- UNC Neuroscience Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Youjun Chen
- UNC Neuroscience Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Michelle S. Itano
- UNC Neuroscience Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Graham H. Diering
- UNC Neuroscience Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Rick B. Meeker
- Department of Neurology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Todd J. Cohen
- UNC Neuroscience Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7260, USA
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Lilek J, Ajroud K, Feldman AZ, Krishnamachari S, Ghourchian S, Gefen T, Spencer CL, Kawles A, Mao Q, Tranovich JF, Jack CR, Mesulam MM, Reichard RR, Zhang H, Murray ME, Knopman D, Dickson DW, Petersen RC, Smith B, Ashe KH, Mielke MM, Nelson KM, Flanagan ME. Accumulation of pTau231 at the Postsynaptic Density in Early Alzheimer's Disease. J Alzheimers Dis 2023; 92:241-260. [PMID: 36744338 PMCID: PMC10041451 DOI: 10.3233/jad-220848] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/28/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Phosphorylated cytoplasmic tau inclusions correlate with and precede cognitive deficits in Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, pathological tau accumulation and relationships to synaptic changes remain unclear. OBJECTIVE To address this, we examined postmortem brain from 50 individuals with the full spectrum of AD (clinically and neuropathologically). Total tau, pTau231, and AMPA GluR1 were compared across two brain regions (entorhinal and middle frontal cortices), as well as clinically stratified groups (control, amnestic mild cognitive impairment, AD dementia), NIA-AA Alzheimer's Disease Neuropathologic Change designations (Not, Low, Intermediate, High), and Braak tangle stages (1-6). Significant co-existing pathology was excluded to isolate changes attributed to pathologic AD. METHODS Synaptosomal fractionation and staining were performed to measure changes in total Tau, pTau231, and AMPA GluR1. Total Tau and pTau231 were quantified in synaptosomal fractions using Quanterix Simoa HD-X. RESULTS Increasing pTau231 in frontal postsynaptic fractions correlated positively with increasing clinical and neuropathological AD severity. Frontal cortex is representative of early AD, as it does not become involved by tau tangles until late in AD. Entorhinal total tau was significantly higher in the amnestic mild cognitive impairment group when compared to AD, but only after accounting for AD associated synaptic changes. Alterations in AMPA GluR1 observed in the entorhinal cortex, but not middle frontal cortex, suggest that pTau231 mislocalization and aggregation in postsynaptic structures may impair glutamatergic signaling by promoting AMPA receptor dephosphorylation and internalization. CONCLUSION Results highlight the potential effectiveness of early pharmacological interventions targeting pTau231 accumulation at the postsynaptic density.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaclyn Lilek
- Department of Pathology, Northwestern University, Illinois, USA
- Mesulam Center for Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer’s Disease, Northwestern University, Illinois, USA
| | - Kaouther Ajroud
- Department of Pathology, Northwestern University, Illinois, USA
- Mesulam Center for Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer’s Disease, Northwestern University, Illinois, USA
| | | | | | | | - Tamar Gefen
- Mesulam Center for Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer’s Disease, Northwestern University, Illinois, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Northwestern University, Illinois, USA
| | - Callen L. Spencer
- Mesulam Center for Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer’s Disease, Northwestern University, Illinois, USA
| | - Allegra Kawles
- Mesulam Center for Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer’s Disease, Northwestern University, Illinois, USA
| | - Qinwen Mao
- Department of Pathology, Northwestern University, Illinois, USA
- Mesulam Center for Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer’s Disease, Northwestern University, Illinois, USA
| | | | | | - M-Marsel Mesulam
- Mesulam Center for Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer’s Disease, Northwestern University, Illinois, USA
- Department of Neurology, Northwestern University, Illinois, USA
| | - R. Ross Reichard
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Minnesota, USA
| | - Hui Zhang
- Mesulam Center for Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer’s Disease, Northwestern University, Illinois, USA
- Division of Biostatistics, Department of Preventative Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Illinois, USA
| | | | - David Knopman
- Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Minnesota, USA
| | | | | | - Benjamin Smith
- Department of Neurology, University of Minnesota, Minnesota, USA
- N. Bud Grossman Center for Memory Research and Care, University of Minnesota, Minnesota, USA
| | - Karen H. Ashe
- Department of Neurology, University of Minnesota, Minnesota, USA
- N. Bud Grossman Center for Memory Research and Care, University of Minnesota, Minnesota, USA
- Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minnesota, USA
- Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Minnesota, USA
| | - Michelle M. Mielke
- Department of Epidemiology and Prevention, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
| | - Kathryn M. Nelson
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Institute for Therapeutics Discovery and Development, University of Minnesota, Minnesota, USA
| | - Margaret E. Flanagan
- Department of Pathology, Northwestern University, Illinois, USA
- Mesulam Center for Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer’s Disease, Northwestern University, Illinois, USA
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Jayaswamy PK, Vijaykrishnaraj M, Patil P, Alexander LM, Kellarai A, Shetty P. Implicative role of epidermal growth factor receptor and its associated signaling partners in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease. Ageing Res Rev 2023; 83:101791. [PMID: 36403890 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2022.101791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2022] [Revised: 11/12/2022] [Accepted: 11/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) plays a pivotal role in early brain development, although its expression pattern declines in accordance with the maturation of the active nervous system. However, recurrence of EGFR expression in brain cells takes place during neural functioning decline and brain atrophy in order to maintain the homeostatic neuronal pool. As a consequence, neurotoxic lesions such as amyloid beta fragment (Aβ1-42) formed during the alternative splicing of amyloid precursor protein in Alzheimer's disease (AD) elevate the expression of EGFR. This inappropriate peptide deposition on EGFR results in the sustained phosphorylation of the downstream signaling axis, leading to extensive Aβ1-42 production and tau phosphorylation as subsequent pathogenesis. Recent reports convey that the pathophysiology of AD is correlated with EGFR and its associated membrane receptor complex molecules. One such family of molecules is the annexin superfamily, which has synergistic relationships with EGFR and is known for membrane-bound signaling that contributes to a variety of inflammatory responses. Besides, Galectin-3, tissue-type activated plasminogen activator, and many more, which lineate the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-18) result in severe neuronal loss. Altogether, we emphasized the perspectives of cellular senescence up-regulated by EGFR and its associated membrane receptor molecules in the pathogenesis of AD as a target for a therapeutical alternative to intervene in AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pavan K Jayaswamy
- Central Research Laboratory, KS. Hegde Medical Academy, Nitte (Deemed to be University), Deralakatte, Mangalore 575018, Karnataka, India
| | - M Vijaykrishnaraj
- Central Research Laboratory, KS. Hegde Medical Academy, Nitte (Deemed to be University), Deralakatte, Mangalore 575018, Karnataka, India
| | - Prakash Patil
- Central Research Laboratory, KS. Hegde Medical Academy, Nitte (Deemed to be University), Deralakatte, Mangalore 575018, Karnataka, India
| | - Lobo Manuel Alexander
- Department of Neurology, KS. Hegde Medical Academy, Nitte (Deemed to be University), Deralakatte, Mangalore 575018, Karnataka, India
| | - Adithi Kellarai
- Department of General Medicine, KS. Hegde Medical Academy, Nitte (Deemed to be University), Deralakatte, Mangalore 575018, Karnataka, India
| | - Praveenkumar Shetty
- Central Research Laboratory, KS. Hegde Medical Academy, Nitte (Deemed to be University), Deralakatte, Mangalore 575018, Karnataka, India; Department of Biochemistry, K.S. Hegde Medical Academy, Nitte (Deemed to be University), Deralakatte, Mangalore 575018, Karnataka, India.
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Post-Synapses in the Brain: Role of Dendritic and Spine Structures. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10081859. [PMID: 36009405 PMCID: PMC9405724 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10081859] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2022] [Revised: 06/26/2022] [Accepted: 07/22/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Brain synapses are neuronal structures of the greatest interest. For a long time, however, the knowledge about them was variable, and interest was mostly focused on their pre-synaptic portions, especially neurotransmitter release from axon terminals. In the present review interest is focused on post-synapses, the structures receiving and converting pre-synaptic messages. Upon further modulation, such messages are transferred to dendritic fibers. Dendrites are profoundly different from axons; they are shorter and of variable thickness. Their post-synapses are of two types. Those called flat/intended/aspines, integrated into dendritic fibers, are very frequent in inhibitory neurons. The spines, small and stemming protrusions, connected to dendritic fibers by their necks, are present in almost all excitatory neurons. Several structures and functions including the post-synaptic densities and associated proteins, the nanoscale mechanisms of compartmentalization, the cytoskeletons of actin and microtubules, are analogous in the two post-synaptic forms. However other properties, such as plasticity and its functions of learning and memory, are largely distinct. Several properties of spines, including emersion from dendritic fibers, growth, change in shape and decreases in size up to disappearance, are specific. Spinal heads correspond to largely independent signaling compartments. They are motile, their local signaling is fast, however transport through their thin necks is slow. When single spines are activated separately, their dendritic effects are often lacking; when multiple spines are activated concomitantly, their effects take place. Defects of post-synaptic responses, especially those of spines, take place in various brain diseases. Here alterations affecting symptoms and future therapy are shown to occur in neurodegenerative diseases and autism spectrum disorders.
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Xie J, Zhang Y, Li S, Wei H, Yu H, Zhou Q, Wei L, Ke D, Wang Q, Yang Y, Wang J. P301S-hTau acetylates KEAP1 to trigger synaptic toxicity via inhibiting NRF2/ARE pathway: A novel mechanism underlying hTau-induced synaptic toxicities. Clin Transl Med 2022; 12:e1003. [PMID: 35917404 PMCID: PMC9345400 DOI: 10.1002/ctm2.1003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2022] [Revised: 07/11/2022] [Accepted: 07/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Human Tau (hTau) accumulation and synapse loss are two pathological hallmarks of tauopathies. However, whether and how hTau exerts toxic effects on synapses remain elusive. METHODS Mutated hTau (P301S) was overexpressed in the N2a cell line, primary hippocampal neurons and hippocampal CA3. Western blotting and quantitative polymerase chain reaction were applied to examine the protein and mRNA levels of synaptic proteins. The protein interaction was tested by co-immunoprecipitation and proximity ligation assays. Memory and emotion status were evaluated by a series of behavioural tests. The transcriptional activity of nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2) was detected by dual luciferase reporter assay. Electrophoresis mobility shift assay and chromosome immunoprecipitation were conducted to examine the combination of NRF2 to specific anti-oxidative response element (ARE) sequences. Neuronal morphology was analysed after Golgi staining. RESULTS Overexpressing P301S decreased the protein levels of post-synaptic density protein 93 (PSD93), PSD95 and synapsin 1 (SYN1). Simultaneously, NRF2 was decreased, whereas Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (KEAP1) was elevated. Further, we found that NRF2 could bind to the specific AREs of DLG2, DLG4 and SYN1 genes, which encode PSD93, PSD95 and SYN1, respectively, to promote their expression. Overexpressing NRF2 ameliorated P301S-reduced synaptic proteins and synapse. By means of acetylation at K312, P301S increased the protein level of KEAP1 via inhibiting KEAP1 degradation from ubiquitin-proteasome pathway, thereby decreasing NRF2 and reducing synapse. Blocking the P301S-KEAP1 interaction at K312 rescued the P301S-suppressed expression of synaptic proteins and memory deficits with anxiety efficiently. CONCLUSIONS P301S-hTau could acetylate KEAP1 to trigger synaptic toxicity via inhibiting the NRF2/ARE pathway. These findings provide a novel and potential target for the therapeutic intervention of tauopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia‐Zhao Xie
- Department of PathophysiologySchool of Basic Medicine, Key Laboratory of Education Ministry of China/Hubei Province for Neurological DisordersTongji Medical CollegeHuazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhanChina
| | - Yao Zhang
- Endocrine Department of Liyuan HospitalKey Laboratory of Education Ministry of China/Hubei Province for Neurological DisordersTongji Medical CollegeHuazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhanChina
| | - Shi‐Hong Li
- Department of PathophysiologySchool of Basic Medicine, Key Laboratory of Education Ministry of China/Hubei Province for Neurological DisordersTongji Medical CollegeHuazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhanChina
| | - Hui Wei
- Department of PathophysiologySchool of Basic Medicine, Key Laboratory of Education Ministry of China/Hubei Province for Neurological DisordersTongji Medical CollegeHuazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhanChina
| | - Hui‐Ling Yu
- Department of PathophysiologySchool of Basic Medicine, Key Laboratory of Education Ministry of China/Hubei Province for Neurological DisordersTongji Medical CollegeHuazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhanChina
| | - Qiu‐Zhi Zhou
- Department of PathophysiologySchool of Basic Medicine, Key Laboratory of Education Ministry of China/Hubei Province for Neurological DisordersTongji Medical CollegeHuazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhanChina
| | - Lin‐Yu Wei
- Department of PathophysiologySchool of Basic Medicine, Key Laboratory of Education Ministry of China/Hubei Province for Neurological DisordersTongji Medical CollegeHuazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhanChina
| | - Dan Ke
- Department of PathophysiologySchool of Basic Medicine, Key Laboratory of Education Ministry of China/Hubei Province for Neurological DisordersTongji Medical CollegeHuazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhanChina
| | - Qun Wang
- Department of PathophysiologySchool of Basic Medicine, Key Laboratory of Education Ministry of China/Hubei Province for Neurological DisordersTongji Medical CollegeHuazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhanChina
| | - Ying Yang
- Department of PathophysiologySchool of Basic Medicine, Key Laboratory of Education Ministry of China/Hubei Province for Neurological DisordersTongji Medical CollegeHuazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhanChina
| | - Jian‐Zhi Wang
- Department of PathophysiologySchool of Basic Medicine, Key Laboratory of Education Ministry of China/Hubei Province for Neurological DisordersTongji Medical CollegeHuazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhanChina
- Co‐Innovation Center of NeuroregenerationNantong UniversityNantongChina
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11
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Steuer EL, Kemper LJ, Hlynialuk CJW, Leinonen-Wright K, Montonye ML, Lapcinski IP, Forster CL, Ashe KH, Liu P. Blocking Site-Specific Cleavage of Human Tau Delays Progression of Disease-Related Phenotypes in Genetically Matched Tau-Transgenic Mice Modeling Frontotemporal Dementia. J Neurosci 2022; 42:4737-4754. [PMID: 35508385 PMCID: PMC9186797 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0543-22.2022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2022] [Revised: 04/22/2022] [Accepted: 04/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Studies have recently demonstrated that a caspase-2-mediated cleavage of human tau (htau) at asparate-314 (D314) is responsible for cognitive deficits and neurodegeneration in mice modeling frontotemporal dementia (FTD). However, these animal studies may be confounded by flaws in their model systems, such as endogenous functional gene disruption and inequivalent transgene expression. To avoid these weaknesses, we examined the pathogenic role of this site-specific htau cleavage in FTD using genetically matched htau targeted-insertion mouse lines: rT2 and rT3. Both male and female mice were included in this study. rT2 mice contain a single copy of the FTD-linked htau proline-to-leucine mutation at amino acid 301 (htau P301L), inserted into a neutral site to avoid dysregulation of host gene expression. The similarly constructed rT3 mice harbor an additional D314-to-glutamate (D314E) mutation that blocks htau cleavage. We demonstrate that htau transgene expression occurs primarily in the forebrain at similar levels in rT2 and rT3 mice. Importantly, expression of the cleavage-resistant D314E mutant delays transgene-induced tau accumulation in the postsynaptic density, brain atrophy, hippocampal neurodegeneration, and spatial memory impairment, without altering age-related progression of pathologic tau conformation and phosphorylation. Our comprehensive investigation of age-dependent disease phenotypes associated with the htau P301L variant in precisely engineered FTD-modeling mice unveils a transiently protective effect of blocking htau cleavage at D314. Findings of this study advance our understanding of the contribution of this tau cleavage to the pathogenesis of FTD, and aid the development of effective dementia-targeting therapies.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT A site-specific and caspase-2-mediated cleavage of human tau plays a pathologic role in dementia. In this study, we investigate the contribution of this cleavage to the pathogenesis of frontotemporal dementia (FTD) using two genetically matched, tau-transgene targeted-insertion mouse lines that differ only by a cleavage-resistant mutation. The use of these mice avoids confounding effects associated with the random integration of tau transgenes to the mouse genome and allows us to comprehensively evaluate the impact of the tau cleavage on FTD phenotypes. Our data reveal that blocking this tau cleavage delays memory impairment and neurodegeneration of FTD-modeling mice. These findings improve our understanding of the pathogenic mechanisms underlying FTD and will facilitate the development of effective therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth L Steuer
- N. Bud Grossman Center for Memory Research and Care
- Department of Neurology
| | - Lisa J Kemper
- N. Bud Grossman Center for Memory Research and Care
- Department of Neurology
| | | | | | | | - Ian P Lapcinski
- N. Bud Grossman Center for Memory Research and Care
- Department of Neurology
| | - Colleen L Forster
- N. Bud Grossman Center for Memory Research and Care
- UMN Academic Health Center Biological Materials Procurement Network, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455
| | - Karen H Ashe
- N. Bud Grossman Center for Memory Research and Care
- Department of Neurology
- Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Centers, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55417
| | - Peng Liu
- N. Bud Grossman Center for Memory Research and Care
- Department of Neurology
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12
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Singh G, Liu P, Yao KR, Strasser JM, Hlynialuk C, Leinonen-Wright K, Teravskis PJ, Choquette JM, Ikramuddin J, Bresinsky M, Nelson KM, Liao D, Ashe KH, Walters MA, Pockes S. Caspase-2 Inhibitor Blocks Tau Truncation and Restores Excitatory Neurotransmission in Neurons Modeling FTDP-17 Tauopathy. ACS Chem Neurosci 2022; 13:1549-1557. [PMID: 35522720 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.2c00100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Synaptic and cognitive deficits mediated by a severe reduction in excitatory neurotransmission caused by a disproportionate accumulation of the neuronal protein tau in dendritic spines is a fundamental mechanism that has been found repeatedly in models of tauopathies, including Alzheimer's disease, Lewy body dementia, frontotemporal dementia, and traumatic brain injury. Synapses thus damaged may contribute to dementia, among the most feared cause of debilitation in the elderly, and currently there are no treatments to repair them. Caspase-2 (Casp2) is an essential component of this pathological cascade. Although it is believed that Casp2 exerts its effects by hydrolyzing tau at aspartate-314, forming Δtau314, it is also possible that a noncatalytic mechanism is involved because catalytically dead Casp2 is biologically active in at least one relevant cellular pathway, that is, autophagy. To decipher whether the pathological effects of Casp2 on synaptic function are due to its catalytic or noncatalytic properties, we discovered and characterized a new Casp2 inhibitor, compound 1 [pKi (Casp2) = 8.12], which is 123-fold selective versus Casp3 and >2000-fold selective versus Casp1, Casp6, Casp7, and Casp9. In an in vitro assay based on Casp2-mediated cleavage of tau, compound 1 blocked the production of Δtau314. Importantly, compound 1 prevented tau from accumulating excessively in dendritic spines and rescued excitatory neurotransmission in cultured primary rat hippocampal neurons expressing the P301S tau variant linked to FTDP-17, a familial tauopathy. These results support the further development of small-molecule Casp2 inhibitors to treat synaptic deficits in tauopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gurpreet Singh
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, The University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Peng Liu
- Department of Neurology, The University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Katherine R. Yao
- Department of Neuroscience, The University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Jessica M. Strasser
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, The University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Chris Hlynialuk
- Department of Neurology, The University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Kailee Leinonen-Wright
- Department of Neurology, The University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Peter J. Teravskis
- Department of Neuroscience, The University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Jessica M. Choquette
- Department of Neuroscience, The University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Junaid Ikramuddin
- Department of Neuroscience, The University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Merlin Bresinsky
- Institute of Pharmacy, University of Regensburg, Universitätsstraße 31, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Kathryn M. Nelson
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, The University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Dezhi Liao
- Department of Neuroscience, The University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Karen H. Ashe
- Department of Neurology, The University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
- Veterans Administration Medical Center, GRECC, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55417, United States
| | - Michael A. Walters
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, The University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Steffen Pockes
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, The University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
- Department of Neurology, The University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
- Institute of Pharmacy, University of Regensburg, Universitätsstraße 31, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
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13
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Liang SY, Wang ZT, Tan L, Yu JT. Tau Toxicity in Neurodegeneration. Mol Neurobiol 2022; 59:3617-3634. [PMID: 35359226 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-022-02809-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2021] [Accepted: 03/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Tau is a microtubule-associated protein widely distributed in the central nervous system (CNS). The main function of tau is to promote the assembly of microtubules and stabilize their structure. After a long period of research on neurodegenerative diseases, the function and dysfunction of the microtubule-associated protein tau in neurodegenerative diseases and tau neurotoxicity have attracted increasing attention. Tauopathies are a series of progressive neurodegenerative diseases caused by pathological changes in tau, such as abnormal phosphorylation. The pathological features of tauopathies are the deposition of abnormally phosphorylated tau proteins and the aggregation of tau proteins in neurons. This article first describes the normal physiological function and dysfunction of tau proteins and then discusses the enzymes and proteins involved in tau phosphorylation and dephosphorylation, the role of tau in cell dysfunction, and the relationships between tau and several neurodegenerative diseases. The study of tau neurotoxicity provides new directions for the treatment of tauopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shu-Yu Liang
- Department of Neurology, Qingdao Municipal Hospital, Qingdao University, No.5 Donghai Middle Road, Qingdao, China
| | - Zuo-Teng Wang
- Department of Neurology, Qingdao Municipal Hospital, College of Medicine and Pharmaceutics, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
| | - Lan Tan
- Department of Neurology, Qingdao Municipal Hospital, Qingdao University, No.5 Donghai Middle Road, Qingdao, China. .,Department of Neurology, Qingdao Municipal Hospital, College of Medicine and Pharmaceutics, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China.
| | - Jin-Tai Yu
- Department of Neurology and Institute of Neurology, Huashan Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, 12th Wulumuqi Zhong Road, Shanghai, 200040, China.
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14
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Madhav H, Jameel E, Rehan M, Hoda N. Recent advancements in chromone as a privileged scaffold towards the development of small molecules for neurodegenerative therapeutics. RSC Med Chem 2022; 13:258-279. [PMID: 35434628 PMCID: PMC8942243 DOI: 10.1039/d1md00394a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/25/2021] [Accepted: 01/27/2022] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Neurodegenerative disorders, i.e., Alzheimer's or Parkinson's disease, involve progressive degeneration of the central nervous system, resulting in memory loss and cognitive impairment. The intensification of neurodegenerative research in recent years put some molecules into clinical trials, but still there is an urgent need to develop effective therapeutic molecules to combat these diseases. Chromone is a well-identified privileged structure for the design of well-diversified therapeutic molecules of potential pharmacological interest, particularly in the field of neurodegeneration. In this short review, we focused on the recent advancements and developments of chromones for neurodegenerative therapeutics. Different small molecules were reviewed as multi-target-directed ligands (MTDLs) with potential inhibition of AChE, BuChE, MAO-A, MAO-B, Aβ plaque formation and aggregation. Recently developed MTDLs emphasized that the chromone scaffold has the potential to develop new molecules for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hari Madhav
- Drug Design and Synthesis Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, Jamia Millia IslamiaNew Delhi110025India
| | - Ehtesham Jameel
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang UniversityHangzhouPR China
| | - Mohammad Rehan
- Max-Planck-Institute für Molekulare Physiologie, Abteilung Chemische BiologieOtto-Hahn-Straße 1144227 DortmundGermany
| | - Nasimul Hoda
- Drug Design and Synthesis Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, Jamia Millia IslamiaNew Delhi110025India
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15
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Mold MJ, Exley C. Aluminium co-localises with Biondi ring tangles in Parkinson's disease and epilepsy. Sci Rep 2022; 12:1465. [PMID: 35087154 PMCID: PMC8795119 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-05627-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2021] [Accepted: 01/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Aluminium is known to accumulate in neuropathological hallmarks. However, such has only tentatively been suggested in Biondi ring tangles. Owing to their intracellular and filamentous structure rich in β-pleated sheets, Biondi ring tangles might attract the adventitious binding of aluminium in regions of the blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier. The study's objective was to establish whether aluminium co-localises with Biondi ring tangles in the brains of Parkinson's disease donors versus a donor that went on to develop late-onset epilepsy. Herein, we have performed immunohistochemistry for phosphorylated tau, complemented with aluminium-specific fluorescence microscopy in the choroid plexus of Parkinson's disease donors and in a donor that developed late-onset epilepsy. Aluminium co-localises with lipid-rich Biondi ring tangles in the choroid plexus. While Biondi ring tangles are not composed of phosphorylated tau, the latter is identified in nuclei of choroidal cells where aluminium and Biondi ring tangles are co-located. Although Biondi ring tangles are considered artefacts in imaging studies using positron emission tomography, their ability to bind aluminium and then release it upon their subsequent rupture and escape from choroidal cells may allow for a mechanism that may propagate for aluminium toxicity in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew John Mold
- The Birchall Centre, Lennard-Jones Laboratories, Keele University, Keele, Staffordshire, ST5 5BG, UK.
| | - Christopher Exley
- The Birchall Centre, Lennard-Jones Laboratories, Keele University, Keele, Staffordshire, ST5 5BG, UK
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16
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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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17
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Braun NJ, Liao D, Alford PW. Orientation of neurites influences severity of mechanically induced tau pathology. Biophys J 2021; 120:3272-3282. [PMID: 34293301 PMCID: PMC8392125 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2021.07.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2021] [Revised: 06/11/2021] [Accepted: 07/13/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Chronic traumatic encephalopathy is a neurodegenerative disease associated with repeated traumatic brain injury (TBI). Chronic traumatic encephalopathy is a tauopathy, in which cognitive decline is accompanied by the accumulation of neurofibrillary tangles of the protein tau in patients' brains. We recently found that mechanical force alone can induce tau mislocalization to dendritic spines and loss of synaptic function in in vitro neuronal cultures with random cell organization. However, in the brain, neurons are highly aligned, so here we aimed to determine how neuronal organization influences early-stage tauopathy caused by mechanical injury. Using microfabricated cell culture constructs to control the growth of neurites and an in vitro simulated TBI device to apply controlled mechanical deformation, we found that neuronal orientation with respect to the direction of a uniaxial high-strain-rate stretch injury influences the degree of tau pathology in injured neurons. We found that a mechanical stretch applied parallel to the neurite alignment induces greater mislocalization of tau proteins to dendritic spines than does a stretch with the same strain applied perpendicular to the neurites. Synaptic function, characterized by the amplitude of miniature excitatory postsynaptic currents, was similarly decreased in neurons with neurites aligned parallel to stretch, whereas in neurons aligned perpendicular to stretch, it had little to no functional loss. Experimental injury parameters (strain, strain rate, direction of stretch) were combined with a standard viscoelastic solid model to show that in our in vitro model, neurite work density during stretch correlates with tau mislocalization. These findings suggest that in a TBI, the magnitude of brain deformation is not wholly predictive of neurodegenerative consequences of TBI but that deformation relative to local neuronal architecture and the neurite mechanical energy during injury are better metrics for predicting trauma-induced tauopathy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Dezhi Liao
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
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18
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Mold MJ, O’Farrell A, Morris B, Exley C. Aluminum and Tau in Neurofibrillary Tangles in Familial Alzheimer's Disease. J Alzheimers Dis Rep 2021; 5:283-294. [PMID: 34113785 PMCID: PMC8150251 DOI: 10.3233/adr-210011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Familial Alzheimer's disease (fAD) is driven by genetic predispositions affecting the expression and metabolism of the amyloid-β protein precursor. Aluminum is a non-essential yet biologically-reactive metal implicated in the etiology of AD. Recent research has identified aluminum intricately and unequivocally associated with amyloid-β in senile plaques and, more tentatively, co-deposited with neuropil-like threads in the brains of a Colombian cohort of donors with fAD. OBJECTIVE Herein, we have assessed the co-localization of aluminum to immunolabelled phosphorylated tau to probe the potential preferential binding of aluminum to senile plaques or neurofibrillary tangles in the same Colombian kindred. METHODS Herein, we have performed phosphorylated tau-specific immunolabelling followed by aluminum-specific fluorescence microscopy of the identical brain tissue sections via a sequential labelling method. RESULTS Aluminum was co-localized with immunoreactive phosphorylated tau in the brains of donors with fAD. While aluminum was predominantly co-located to neurofibrillary tangles in the temporal cortex, aluminum was more frequently co-deposited with cortical senile plaques. CONCLUSION These data suggest that the co-deposition of aluminum with amyloid-β precedes that with neurofibrillary tangles. Extracellularly deposited amyloid-β may also be more immediately available to bind aluminum versus intracellular aggregates of tau. Therapeutic approaches to reduce tau have demonstrated the amelioration of its synergistic interactions with amyloid-β, ultimately reducing tau pathology and reducing neuronal loss. These data support the intricate associations of aluminum in the neuropathology of fAD, of which its subsequent reduction may further therapeutic benefits observed in ongoing clinical trials in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew John Mold
- The Birchall Centre, Lennard-Jones Laboratories, Keele University, Keele, Staffordshire, UK
| | - Adam O’Farrell
- School of Life Sciences, Huxley Building, Keele University, Keele, Staffordshire, UK
| | - Benjamin Morris
- School of Life Sciences, Huxley Building, Keele University, Keele, Staffordshire, UK
| | - Christopher Exley
- The Birchall Centre, Lennard-Jones Laboratories, Keele University, Keele, Staffordshire, UK
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19
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Braun NJ, Yao KR, Alford PW, Liao D. Mechanical injuries of neurons induce tau mislocalization to dendritic spines and tau-dependent synaptic dysfunction. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2020; 117:29069-29079. [PMID: 33139536 PMCID: PMC7682580 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2008306117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) is associated with repeated traumatic brain injuries (TBI) and is characterized by cognitive decline and the presence of neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) of the protein tau in patients' brains. Here we provide direct evidence that cell-scale mechanical deformation can elicit tau abnormalities and synaptic deficits in neurons. Using computational modeling, we find that the early pathological loci of NFTs in CTE brains are regions of high deformation during injury. The mechanical energy associated with high-strain rate deformation alone can induce tau mislocalization to dendritic spines and synaptic deficits in cultured rat hippocampal neurons. These cellular changes are mediated by tau hyperphosphorylation and can be reversed through inhibition of GSK3β and CDK5 or genetic deletion of tau. Together, these findings identify a mechanistic pathway that directly relates mechanical deformation of neurons to tau-mediated synaptic impairments and provide a possibly exploitable therapeutic pathway to combat CTE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas J Braun
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455
| | - Katherine R Yao
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455
| | - Patrick W Alford
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455;
| | - Dezhi Liao
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455
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