1
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Ellis MJ, Lekka C, Holden KL, Tulmin H, Seedat F, O'Brien DP, Dhayal S, Zeissler ML, Knudsen JG, Kessler BM, Morgan NG, Todd JA, Richardson SJ, Stefana MI. Identification of high-performing antibodies for the reliable detection of Tau proteoforms by Western blotting and immunohistochemistry. Acta Neuropathol 2024; 147:87. [PMID: 38761203 PMCID: PMC11102361 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-024-02729-7] [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: 11/07/2023] [Revised: 04/03/2024] [Accepted: 04/03/2024] [Indexed: 05/20/2024]
Abstract
Antibodies are essential research tools whose performance directly impacts research conclusions and reproducibility. Owing to its central role in Alzheimer's disease and other dementias, hundreds of distinct antibody clones have been developed against the microtubule-associated protein Tau and its multiple proteoforms. Despite this breadth of offer, limited understanding of their performance and poor antibody selectivity have hindered research progress. Here, we validate a large panel of Tau antibodies by Western blot (79 reagents) and immunohistochemistry (35 reagents). We address the reagents' ability to detect the target proteoform, selectivity, the impact of protein phosphorylation on antibody binding and performance in human brain samples. While most antibodies detected Tau at high levels, many failed to detect it at lower, endogenous levels. By WB, non-selective binding to other proteins affected over half of the antibodies tested, with several cross-reacting with the related MAP2 protein, whereas the "oligomeric Tau" T22 antibody reacted with monomeric Tau by WB, thus calling into question its specificity to Tau oligomers. Despite the presumption that "total" Tau antibodies are agnostic to post-translational modifications, we found that phosphorylation partially inhibits binding for many such antibodies, including the popular Tau-5 clone. We further combine high-sensitivity reagents, mass-spectrometry proteomics and cDNA sequencing to demonstrate that presumptive Tau "knockout" human cells continue to express residual protein arising through exon skipping, providing evidence of previously unappreciated gene plasticity. Finally, probing of human brain samples with a large panel of antibodies revealed the presence of C-term-truncated versions of all main Tau brain isoforms in both control and tauopathy donors. Ultimately, we identify a validated panel of Tau antibodies that can be employed in Western blotting and/or immunohistochemistry to reliably detect even low levels of Tau expression with high selectivity. This work represents an extensive resource that will enable the re-interpretation of published data, improve reproducibility in Tau research, and overall accelerate scientific progress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael J Ellis
- JDRF/Wellcome Diabetes and Inflammation Laboratory, Nuffield Department of Medicine, Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford, UK
| | - Christiana Lekka
- Islet Biology Group, Department of Clinical & Biomedical Sciences, Exeter Centre of Excellence in Diabetes (EXCEED), University of Exeter, RILD Building, Exeter, UK
| | - Katie L Holden
- JDRF/Wellcome Diabetes and Inflammation Laboratory, Nuffield Department of Medicine, Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford, UK
| | - Hanna Tulmin
- JDRF/Wellcome Diabetes and Inflammation Laboratory, Nuffield Department of Medicine, Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford, UK
| | - Faheem Seedat
- JDRF/Wellcome Diabetes and Inflammation Laboratory, Nuffield Department of Medicine, Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford, UK
- Nuffield Department of Women's and Reproductive Health, Women's Centre, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Level 3, Oxford, UK
| | - Darragh P O'Brien
- Target Discovery Institute, Centre for Medicines Discovery, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford, UK
| | - Shalinee Dhayal
- Islet Biology Group, Department of Clinical & Biomedical Sciences, Exeter Centre of Excellence in Diabetes (EXCEED), University of Exeter, RILD Building, Exeter, UK
| | - Marie-Louise Zeissler
- Islet Biology Group, Department of Clinical & Biomedical Sciences, Exeter Centre of Excellence in Diabetes (EXCEED), University of Exeter, RILD Building, Exeter, UK
| | - Jakob G Knudsen
- Oxford Centre for Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Radcliffe, UK
- Section for Cell Biology and Physiology, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Benedikt M Kessler
- Target Discovery Institute, Centre for Medicines Discovery, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford, UK
| | - Noel G Morgan
- Islet Biology Group, Department of Clinical & Biomedical Sciences, Exeter Centre of Excellence in Diabetes (EXCEED), University of Exeter, RILD Building, Exeter, UK
| | - John A Todd
- JDRF/Wellcome Diabetes and Inflammation Laboratory, Nuffield Department of Medicine, Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford, UK
| | - Sarah J Richardson
- Islet Biology Group, Department of Clinical & Biomedical Sciences, Exeter Centre of Excellence in Diabetes (EXCEED), University of Exeter, RILD Building, Exeter, UK
| | - M Irina Stefana
- JDRF/Wellcome Diabetes and Inflammation Laboratory, Nuffield Department of Medicine, Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford, UK.
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Kalyaanamoorthy S, Opare SK, Xu X, Ganesan A, Rao PPN. Post-Translational Modifications in Tau and Their Roles in Alzheimer's Pathology. Curr Alzheimer Res 2024; 21:24-49. [PMID: 38623984 DOI: 10.2174/0115672050301407240408033046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2024] [Revised: 03/21/2024] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/17/2024]
Abstract
Microtubule-Associated Protein Tau (also known as tau) has been shown to accumulate into paired helical filaments and neurofibrillary tangles, which are known hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology. Decades of research have shown that tau protein undergoes extensive post-translational modifications (PTMs), which can alter the protein's structure, function, and dynamics and impact the various properties such as solubility, aggregation, localization, and homeostasis. There is a vast amount of information describing the impact and role of different PTMs in AD pathology and neuroprotection. However, the complex interplay between these PTMs remains elusive. Therefore, in this review, we aim to comprehend the key post-translational modifications occurring in tau and summarize potential connections to clarify their impact on the physiology and pathophysiology of tau. Further, we describe how different computational modeling methods have helped in understanding the impact of PTMs on the structure and functions of the tau protein. Finally, we highlight the tau PTM-related therapeutics strategies that are explored for the development of AD therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Stanley Kojo Opare
- Department of Chemistry, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
| | - Xiaoxiao Xu
- Department of Chemistry, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
| | - Aravindhan Ganesan
- Department of Chemistry, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
| | - Praveen P N Rao
- Department of Chemistry, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
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Tarutani A, Kametani F, Tahira M, Saito Y, Yoshida M, Robinson AC, Mann DMA, Murayama S, Tomita T, Hasegawa M. Distinct tau folds initiate templated seeding and alter the post-translational modification profile. Brain 2023; 146:4988-4999. [PMID: 37904205 PMCID: PMC10690015 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awad272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2023] [Revised: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 11/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Pathological tau accumulates in the brain in tauopathies such as Alzheimer's disease, Pick's disease, progressive supranuclear palsy and corticobasal degeneration, and forms amyloid-like filaments incorporating various post-translational modifications (PTMs). Cryo-electron microscopic (cryo-EM) studies have demonstrated that tau filaments extracted from tauopathy brains are characteristic of the disease and share a common fold(s) in the same disease group. Furthermore, the tau PTM profile changes during tau pathology formation and disease progression, and disease-specific PTMs are detected in and around the filament core. In addition, templated seeding has been suggested to trigger pathological tau amplification and spreading in vitro and in vivo, although the molecular mechanisms are not fully understood. Recently, we reported that the cryo-EM structures of tau protofilaments in SH-SY5Y cells seeded with patient-derived tau filaments show a core structure(s) resembling that of the original seeds. Here, we investigated PTMs of tau filaments accumulated in the seeded cells by liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry and compared them with the PTMs of patient-derived tau filaments. Examination of insoluble tau extracted from SH-SY5Y cells showed that numerous phosphorylation, deamidation and oxidation sites detected in the fuzzy coat in the original seeds were well reproduced in SH-SY5Y cells. Moreover, templated tau filament formation preceded both truncation of the N-/C-terminals of tau and PTMs in and around the filament core, indicating these PTMs may predominantly be introduced after the degradation of the fuzzy coat.
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Affiliation(s)
- Airi Tarutani
- Department of Brain and Neurosciences, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo 156-8506, Japan
- Laboratory of Neuropathology and Neuroscience, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
| | - Fuyuki Kametani
- Department of Brain and Neurosciences, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo 156-8506, Japan
| | - Marina Tahira
- Department of Brain and Neurosciences, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo 156-8506, Japan
| | - Yuko Saito
- Department of Neuropathology (Brain Bank for Aging Research), Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Geratrics and Gerontology, Tokyo 173-0015, Japan
| | - Mari Yoshida
- Department of Neuropathology, Institute for Medical Science of Aging, Aichi Medical University, Aichi 480-1195, Japan
| | - Andrew C Robinson
- Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, School of Biological Sciences, Division of Neuroscience, The University of Manchester, Salford Royal Hospital, Salford M6 8HD, UK
| | - David M A Mann
- Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, School of Biological Sciences, Division of Neuroscience, The University of Manchester, Salford Royal Hospital, Salford M6 8HD, UK
| | - Shigeo Murayama
- Department of Neuropathology (Brain Bank for Aging Research), Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Geratrics and Gerontology, Tokyo 173-0015, Japan
- Brain Bank for Neurodevelopmental, Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders, United Graduate School of Child Development, Osaka University, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Taisuke Tomita
- Laboratory of Neuropathology and Neuroscience, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
| | - Masato Hasegawa
- Department of Brain and Neurosciences, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo 156-8506, Japan
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Schweighauser M, Murzin AG, Macdonald J, Lavenir I, Crowther RA, Scheres SHW, Goedert M. Cryo-EM structures of tau filaments from the brains of mice transgenic for human mutant P301S Tau. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2023; 11:160. [PMID: 37798679 PMCID: PMC10552433 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-023-01658-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 09/24/2023] [Indexed: 10/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Mice transgenic for human mutant P301S tau are widely used as models for human tauopathies. They develop neurodegeneration and abundant filamentous inclusions made of human mutant four-repeat tau. Here we used electron cryo-microscopy (cryo-EM) to determine the structures of tau filaments from the brains of Tg2541 and PS19 mice. Both lines express human P301S tau (0N4R for Tg2541 and 1N4R for PS19) on mixed genetic backgrounds and downstream of different promoters (murine Thy1 for Tg2541 and murine Prnp for PS19). The structures of tau filaments from Tg2541 and PS19 mice differ from each other and those of wild-type tau filaments from human brains. The structures of tau filaments from the brains of humans with mutations P301L, P301S or P301T in MAPT are not known. Filaments from the brains of Tg2541 and PS19 mice share a substructure at the junction of repeats 2 and 3, which comprises residues I297-V312 of tau and includes the P301S mutation. The filament core from the brainstem of Tg2541 mice consists of residues K274-H329 of tau and two disconnected protein densities. Two non-proteinaceous densities are also in evidence. The filament core from the cerebral cortex of line PS19 extends from residues G271-P364 of tau. One strong non-proteinaceous density is also present. Unlike the tau filaments from human brains, the sequences following repeat 4 are missing from the cores of tau filaments from the brains of Tg2541 and PS19 mice.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Alexey G Murzin
- Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, UK
| | | | - Isabelle Lavenir
- Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, UK
| | | | - Sjors H W Scheres
- Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, UK.
| | - Michel Goedert
- Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, UK.
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5
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Schweighauser M, Garringer HJ, Klingstedt T, Nilsson KPR, Masuda-Suzukake M, Murrell JR, Risacher SL, Vidal R, Scheres SHW, Goedert M, Ghetti B, Newell KL. Mutation ∆K281 in MAPT causes Pick's disease. Acta Neuropathol 2023; 146:211-226. [PMID: 37351604 PMCID: PMC10329087 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-023-02598-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2023] [Revised: 06/08/2023] [Accepted: 06/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/24/2023]
Abstract
Two siblings with deletion mutation ∆K281 in MAPT developed frontotemporal dementia. At autopsy, numerous inclusions of hyperphosphorylated 3R Tau were present in neurons and glial cells of neocortex and some subcortical regions, including hippocampus, caudate/putamen and globus pallidus. The inclusions were argyrophilic with Bodian silver, but not with Gallyas-Braak silver. They were not labelled by an antibody specific for tau phosphorylated at S262 and/or S356. The inclusions were stained by luminescent conjugated oligothiophene HS-84, but not by bTVBT4. Electron cryo-microscopy revealed that the core of tau filaments was made of residues K254-F378 of 3R Tau and was indistinguishable from that of Pick's disease. We conclude that MAPT mutation ∆K281 causes Pick's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Holly J Garringer
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Therése Klingstedt
- Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, UK
- Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Lingköping University, Lingköping, Sweden
| | - K Peter R Nilsson
- Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Lingköping University, Lingköping, Sweden
| | - Masami Masuda-Suzukake
- Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, UK
- Department of Brain and Neuroscience, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Jill R Murrell
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Children's Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Shannon L Risacher
- Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Ruben Vidal
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Sjors H W Scheres
- Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, UK.
| | - Michel Goedert
- Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, UK.
| | - Bernardino Ghetti
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA.
| | - Kathy L Newell
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA.
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6
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Pathophysiological evaluation of the LRRK2 G2385R risk variant for Parkinson’s disease. NPJ Parkinsons Dis 2022; 8:97. [PMID: 35931783 PMCID: PMC9355991 DOI: 10.1038/s41531-022-00367-y] [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: 05/06/2022] [Accepted: 07/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Missense variants in leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) lead to familial and sporadic Parkinson’s disease (PD). The pathological features of PD patients with LRRK2 variants differ. Here, we report an autopsy case harboring the LRRK2 G2385R, a risk variant for PD occurring mainly in Asian populations. The patient exhibited levodopa-responsive parkinsonism at the early stage and visual hallucinations at the advanced stage. The pathological study revealed diffuse Lewy bodies with neurofibrillary tangles, amyloid plaques, and mild signs of neuroinflammation. Biochemically, detergent-insoluble phospho-α-synuclein was accumulated in the frontal, temporal, entorhinal cortexes, and putamen, consistent with the pathological observations. Elevated phosphorylation of Rab10, a substrate of LRRK2, was also prominent in various brain regions. In conclusion, G2385R appears to increase LRRK2 kinase activity in the human brain, inducing a deleterious brain environment that causes Lewy body pathology.
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7
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Tarutani A, Adachi T, Akatsu H, Hashizume Y, Hasegawa K, Saito Y, Robinson AC, Mann DMA, Yoshida M, Murayama S, Hasegawa M. Ultrastructural and biochemical classification of pathogenic tau, α-synuclein and TDP-43. Acta Neuropathol 2022; 143:613-640. [PMID: 35513543 PMCID: PMC9107452 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-022-02426-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2021] [Revised: 04/12/2022] [Accepted: 04/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Intracellular accumulation of abnormal proteins with conformational changes is the defining neuropathological feature of neurodegenerative diseases. The pathogenic proteins that accumulate in patients' brains adopt an amyloid-like fibrous structure and exhibit various ultrastructural features. The biochemical analysis of pathogenic proteins in sarkosyl-insoluble fractions extracted from patients' brains also shows disease-specific features. Intriguingly, these ultrastructural and biochemical features are common within the same disease group. These differences among the pathogenic proteins extracted from patients' brains have important implications for definitive diagnosis of the disease, and also suggest the existence of pathogenic protein strains that contribute to the heterogeneity of pathogenesis in neurodegenerative diseases. Recent experimental evidence has shown that prion-like propagation of these pathogenic proteins from host cells to recipient cells underlies the onset and progression of neurodegenerative diseases. The reproduction of the pathological features that characterize each disease in cellular and animal models of prion-like propagation also implies that the structural differences in the pathogenic proteins are inherited in a prion-like manner. In this review, we summarize the ultrastructural and biochemical features of pathogenic proteins extracted from the brains of patients with neurodegenerative diseases that accumulate abnormal forms of tau, α-synuclein, and TDP-43, and we discuss how these disease-specific properties are maintained in the brain, based on recent experimental insights.
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Affiliation(s)
- Airi Tarutani
- Department of Brain and Neuroscience, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, 2-1-6 Kamikitazawa, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo, 156-8506, Japan
| | - Tadashi Adachi
- Division of Neuropathology, Department of Brain and Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, Tottori, 683-8503, Japan
| | - Hiroyasu Akatsu
- Department of Neuropathology, Choju Medical Institute, Fukushimura Hospital, Aichi, 441-8124, Japan
- Department of Community-Based Medical Education, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Aichi, 467-8601, Japan
| | - Yoshio Hashizume
- Department of Neuropathology, Choju Medical Institute, Fukushimura Hospital, Aichi, 441-8124, Japan
| | - Kazuko Hasegawa
- Division of Neurology, National Hospital Organization, Sagamihara National Hospital, Kanagawa, 252-0392, Japan
| | - Yuko Saito
- Department of Neuropathology, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology, Tokyo, 173-0015, Japan
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, National Center Hospital, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo, 187-8551, Japan
| | - Andrew C Robinson
- Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, School of Biological Sciences, Division of Neuroscience and Experimental Psychology, Salford Royal Hospital, The University of Manchester, Salford, M6 8HD, UK
| | - David M A Mann
- Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, School of Biological Sciences, Division of Neuroscience and Experimental Psychology, Salford Royal Hospital, The University of Manchester, Salford, M6 8HD, UK
| | - Mari Yoshida
- Department of Neuropathology, Institute for Medical Science of Aging, Aichi Medical University, Aichi, 480-1195, Japan
| | - Shigeo Murayama
- Department of Neuropathology, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology, Tokyo, 173-0015, Japan
- Brain Bank for Neurodevelopmental, Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders, United Graduate School of Child Development, Osaka University, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan
| | - Masato Hasegawa
- Department of Brain and Neuroscience, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, 2-1-6 Kamikitazawa, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo, 156-8506, Japan.
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Jing Y, Kong Y, McGinty J, Blahnik-Fagan G, Lee T, Orozco-Figueroa S, Bettini ML, James EA, Bettini M. T-Cell Receptor/HLA Humanized Mice Reveal Reduced Tolerance and Increased Immunogenicity of Posttranslationally Modified GAD65 Epitope. Diabetes 2022; 71:1012-1022. [PMID: 35179565 PMCID: PMC9044133 DOI: 10.2337/db21-0993] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2021] [Accepted: 02/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Accumulating evidence supports a critical role for posttranslationally modified (PTM) islet neoantigens in type 1 diabetes. However, our understanding regarding thymic development and peripheral activation of PTM autoantigen-reactive T cells is still limited. Using HLA-DR4 humanized mice, we observed that deamidation of GAD65115-127 generates a more immunogenic epitope that recruits T cells with promiscuous recognition of both the deamidated and native epitopes and reduced frequency of regulatory T cells. Using humanized HLA/T-cell receptor (TCR) mice, we observed that TCRs reactive to the native or deamidated GAD65115-127 led to efficient development of CD4+ effector T cells; however, regulatory T-cell development was reduced in mice expressing the PTM-reactive TCR, which was partially restored with exogenous PTM peptide. Upon priming, both the native-specific and the deamidated-specific T cells accumulated in pancreatic islets, suggesting that both specificities can recognize endogenous GAD65 and contribute to anti-β-cell responses. Collectively, our observations in polyclonal and single TCR systems suggest that while effector T-cell responses can exhibit cross-reactivity between native and deamidated GAD65 epitopes, regulatory T-cell development is reduced in response to the deamidated epitope, pointing to regulatory T-cell development as a key mechanism for loss of tolerance to PTM antigenic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Jing
- Division of Microbiology and Immunology, Department of Pathology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT
- Section of Diabetes and Endocrinology, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, TX
| | - Yuelin Kong
- Section of Diabetes and Endocrinology, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, TX
| | - John McGinty
- Benaroya Research Institute at Virginia Mason, Seattle, WA
| | | | - Thomas Lee
- Section of Diabetes and Endocrinology, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, TX
| | - Stephanie Orozco-Figueroa
- Division of Microbiology and Immunology, Department of Pathology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT
| | - Matthew L. Bettini
- Division of Microbiology and Immunology, Department of Pathology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT
- Section of Diabetes and Endocrinology, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, TX
| | - Eddie A. James
- Benaroya Research Institute at Virginia Mason, Seattle, WA
| | - Maria Bettini
- Division of Microbiology and Immunology, Department of Pathology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT
- Section of Diabetes and Endocrinology, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, TX
- Corresponding author: Maria Bettini,
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Miyahara H, Akagi A, Riku Y, Sone J, Otsuka Y, Sakai M, Kuru S, Hasegawa M, Yoshida M, Kakita A, Iwasaki Y. Independent distribution between tauopathy secondary to subacute sclerotic panencephalitis and measles virus: An immunohistochemical analysis in autopsy cases including cases treated with aggressive antiviral therapies. Brain Pathol 2022; 32:e13069. [PMID: 35373453 PMCID: PMC9616085 DOI: 10.1111/bpa.13069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2021] [Accepted: 03/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Subacute sclerotic panencephalitis (SSPE) is a refractory neurological disorder after exposure to measles virus. Recently, SSPE cases have been treated with antiviral therapies, but data on the efficacy are inconclusive. Abnormal tau accumulation has been reported in the brain tissue of SSPE cases, but there are few reports in which this is amply discussed. Five autopsied cases diagnosed as definite SSPE were included in this study. The subject age or disease duration ranged from 7.6 to 40.9 years old or from 0.5 to 20.8 years, respectively. Cases 3 and 4 had been treated with antiviral therapies. All evaluated cases showed marked brain atrophy with cerebral ventricle dilatation; additionally, marked demyelination with fibrillary gliosis were observed in the cerebral white matter. The brainstem, cerebellum, and spinal cord were relatively preserved. Immunoreactivity (IR) against measles virus was seen in the brainstem tegmentum, neocortex, and/or limbic cortex of the untreated cases but was rarely seen in the two treated cases. Activated microglia were broadly observed from the cerebrum to the spinal cord and had no meaningful difference among cases. Neurofibrillary tangles characterized by a combination of 3‐ and 4‐repeat tau were observed mainly in the oculomotor nuclei, locus coeruleus, and limbic cortex. IR against phosphorylated tau was seen mainly in the cingulate gyrus, oculomotor nuclei, and pontine tegmentum, and tended to be observed frequently in cases with long disease durations but also tended to decrease along with neuronal loss, as in Case 5, which had the longest disease duration. Since the distribution of phosphorylated tau was independent from that of measles virus, the tauopathy following SSPE was inferred to be the result of diffuse brain inflammation triggered by measles rather than a direct result of measles virus. Moreover, antiviral therapies seemed to suppress measles virus but not the progression of tauopathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroaki Miyahara
- Department of Pediatric Neuropathology, Institute for Medical Research of Aging, Aichi Medical University, Aichi, Japan.,Department of Neuropathology, Institute for Medical Research of Aging, Aichi Medical University, Aichi, Japan
| | - Akio Akagi
- Department of Neuropathology, Institute for Medical Research of Aging, Aichi Medical University, Aichi, Japan
| | - Yuichi Riku
- Department of Neuropathology, Institute for Medical Research of Aging, Aichi Medical University, Aichi, Japan
| | - Jun Sone
- Department of Neuropathology, Institute for Medical Research of Aging, Aichi Medical University, Aichi, Japan
| | - Yasushi Otsuka
- Department of Neurology, Toki General Hospital, Gifu, Japan
| | - Motoko Sakai
- Department of Neurology, National Hospital Organization Suzuka National Hospital, Mie, Japan
| | - Satoshi Kuru
- Department of Neurology, National Hospital Organization Suzuka National Hospital, Mie, Japan
| | - Masato Hasegawa
- Department of Brain and Neuroscience, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Mari Yoshida
- Department of Neuropathology, Institute for Medical Research of Aging, Aichi Medical University, Aichi, Japan
| | - Akiyoshi Kakita
- Department of Pathology, Brain Research Institute, Niigata University, Niigata, Japan
| | - Yasushi Iwasaki
- Department of Neuropathology, Institute for Medical Research of Aging, Aichi Medical University, Aichi, Japan
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10
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Shi Y, Zhang W, Yang Y, Murzin AG, Falcon B, Kotecha A, van Beers M, Tarutani A, Kametani F, Garringer HJ, Vidal R, Hallinan GI, Lashley T, Saito Y, Murayama S, Yoshida M, Tanaka H, Kakita A, Ikeuchi T, Robinson AC, Mann DMA, Kovacs GG, Revesz T, Ghetti B, Hasegawa M, Goedert M, Scheres SHW. Structure-based classification of tauopathies. Nature 2021; 598:359-363. [PMID: 34588692 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-021-03911-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 395] [Impact Index Per Article: 131.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2021] [Accepted: 08/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
The ordered assembly of tau protein into filaments characterizes several neurodegenerative diseases, which are called tauopathies. It was previously reported that, by cryo-electron microscopy, the structures of tau filaments from Alzheimer's disease1,2, Pick's disease3, chronic traumatic encephalopathy4 and corticobasal degeneration5 are distinct. Here we show that the structures of tau filaments from progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) define a new three-layered fold. Moreover, the structures of tau filaments from globular glial tauopathy are similar to those from PSP. The tau filament fold of argyrophilic grain disease (AGD) differs, instead resembling the four-layered fold of corticobasal degeneration. The AGD fold is also observed in ageing-related tau astrogliopathy. Tau protofilament structures from inherited cases of mutations at positions +3 or +16 in intron 10 of MAPT (the microtubule-associated protein tau gene) are also identical to those from AGD, suggesting that relative overproduction of four-repeat tau can give rise to the AGD fold. Finally, the structures of tau filaments from cases of familial British dementia and familial Danish dementia are the same as those from cases of Alzheimer's disease and primary age-related tauopathy. These findings suggest a hierarchical classification of tauopathies on the basis of their filament folds, which complements clinical diagnosis and neuropathology and also allows the identification of new entities-as we show for a case diagnosed as PSP, but with filament structures that are intermediate between those of globular glial tauopathy and PSP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Shi
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, UK
| | | | - Yang Yang
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, UK
| | | | | | - Abhay Kotecha
- Thermo Fisher Scientific, Eindhoven, The Netherlands
| | | | - Airi Tarutani
- Department of Brain and Neurosciences, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Fuyuki Kametani
- Department of Brain and Neurosciences, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Holly J Garringer
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Ruben Vidal
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Grace I Hallinan
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Tammaryn Lashley
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease and Queen Square Brain Bank for Neurological Disorders, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | - Yuko Saito
- Department of Neuropathology, Tokyo Metropolitan Geriatric Hospital and Institute of Gerontology, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shigeo Murayama
- Molecular Research Center for Children's Mental Development, United Graduate School of Child Development, University of Osaka, Osaka, Japan
| | - Mari Yoshida
- Institute for Medical Science of Aging, Aichi Medical University, Nagakute, Japan
| | - Hidetomo Tanaka
- Department of Pathology, Brain Research Institute, Niigata University, Niigata, Japan
| | - Akiyoshi Kakita
- Department of Pathology, Brain Research Institute, Niigata University, Niigata, Japan
| | - Takeshi Ikeuchi
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Brain Research Institute, Niigata University, Niigata, Japan
| | - Andrew C Robinson
- Clinical Sciences Building, University of Manchester, Salford Royal Foundation Trust, Salford, UK
| | - David M A Mann
- Clinical Sciences Building, University of Manchester, Salford Royal Foundation Trust, Salford, UK
| | - Gabor G Kovacs
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology and Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Institute of Neurology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Tamas Revesz
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease and Queen Square Brain Bank for Neurological Disorders, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | - Bernardino Ghetti
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Masato Hasegawa
- Department of Brain and Neurosciences, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo, Japan
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11
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Moloney CM, Lowe VJ, Murray ME. Visualization of neurofibrillary tangle maturity in Alzheimer's disease: A clinicopathologic perspective for biomarker research. Alzheimers Dement 2021; 17:1554-1574. [PMID: 33797838 PMCID: PMC8478697 DOI: 10.1002/alz.12321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 112] [Impact Index Per Article: 37.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2020] [Revised: 01/11/2021] [Accepted: 02/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Neurofibrillary tangles, one of the neuropathologic hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease, have a dynamic lifespan of maturity that associates with progressive neuronal dysfunction and cognitive deficits. As neurofibrillary tangles mature, the biology of the neuron undergoes extensive changes that may impact biomarker recognition and therapeutic targeting. Neurofibrillary tangle maturity encompasses three levels: pretangles, mature tangles, and ghost tangles. In this review, we detail distinct and overlapping characteristics observed in the human brain regarding morphologic changes the neuron undergoes, conversion from intracellular to extracellular space, tau immunostaining patterns, and tau isoform expression changes across the lifespan of the neurofibrillary tangle. Post-translational modifications of tau such as phosphorylation, ubiquitination, conformational events, and truncations are discussed to contextualize tau immunostaining patterns. We summarize accumulated and emerging knowledge of neurofibrillary tangle maturity, discuss the current tools used to interpret the dynamic nature in the postmortem brain, and consider implications for cognitive dysfunction and tau biomarkers.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Val J. Lowe
- Department of RadiologyMayo ClinicRochesterMinnesotaUSA
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12
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Structure of Tau filaments in Prion protein amyloidoses. Acta Neuropathol 2021; 142:227-241. [PMID: 34128081 PMCID: PMC8270882 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-021-02336-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2021] [Revised: 06/08/2021] [Accepted: 06/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
In human neurodegenerative diseases associated with the intracellular aggregation of Tau protein, the ordered cores of Tau filaments adopt distinct folds. Here, we analyze Tau filaments isolated from the brain of individuals affected by Prion-Protein cerebral amyloid angiopathy (PrP-CAA) with a nonsense mutation in the PRNP gene that leads to early termination of translation of PrP (Q160Ter or Q160X), and Gerstmann–Sträussler–Scheinker (GSS) disease, with a missense mutation in the PRNP gene that leads to an amino acid substitution at residue 198 (F198S) of PrP. The clinical and neuropathologic phenotypes associated with these two mutations in PRNP are different; however, the neuropathologic analyses of these two genetic variants have consistently shown the presence of numerous neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) made of filamentous Tau aggregates in neurons. We report that Tau filaments in PrP-CAA (Q160X) and GSS (F198S) are composed of 3-repeat and 4-repeat Tau isoforms, having a striking similarity to NFTs in Alzheimer disease (AD). In PrP-CAA (Q160X), Tau filaments are made of both paired helical filaments (PHFs) and straight filaments (SFs), while in GSS (F198S), only PHFs were found. Mass spectrometry analyses of Tau filaments extracted from PrP-CAA (Q160X) and GSS (F198S) brains show the presence of post-translational modifications that are comparable to those seen in Tau aggregates from AD. Cryo-EM analysis reveals that the atomic models of the Tau filaments obtained from PrP-CAA (Q160X) and GSS (F198S) are identical to those of the Tau filaments from AD, and are therefore distinct from those of Pick disease, chronic traumatic encephalopathy, and corticobasal degeneration. Our data support the hypothesis that in the presence of extracellular amyloid deposits and regardless of the primary amino acid sequence of the amyloid protein, similar molecular mechanisms are at play in the formation of identical Tau filaments.
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13
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Wallon D, Boluda S, Rovelet-Lecrux A, Thierry M, Lagarde J, Miguel L, Lecourtois M, Bonnevalle A, Sarazin M, Bottlaender M, Mula M, Marty S, Nakamura N, Schramm C, Sellal F, Jonveaux T, Heitz C, Le Ber I, Epelbaum S, Magnin E, Zarea A, Rousseau S, Quenez O, Hannequin D, Clavaguera F, Campion D, Duyckaerts C, Nicolas G. Clinical and neuropathological diversity of tauopathy in MAPT duplication carriers. Acta Neuropathol 2021; 142:259-278. [PMID: 34095977 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-021-02320-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2021] [Revised: 04/28/2021] [Accepted: 04/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Microduplications of the 17q21.31 chromosomal region encompassing the MAPT gene, which encodes the Tau protein, were identified in patients with a progressive disorder initially characterized by severe memory impairment with or without behavioral changes that can clinically mimic Alzheimer disease. The unique neuropathological report showed a primary tauopathy, which could not be unanimously classified in a given known subtype, showing both 4R- and 3R-tau inclusions, mainly within temporal cortical subregions and basal ganglia, without amyloid deposits. Recently, two subjects harboring the same duplication were reported with an atypical extrapyramidal syndrome and gait disorder. To decipher the phenotypic spectrum associated with MAPT duplications, we studied ten carriers from nine families, including two novel unrelated probands, gathering clinical (n = 10), cerebrospinal fluid (n = 6), MRI (n = 8), dopamine transporter scan (n = 4), functional (n = 5), amyloid (n = 3) and Tau-tracer (n = 2) PET imaging data as well as neuropathological examination (n = 4). Ages at onset ranged from 37 to 57 years, with prominent episodic memory impairment in 8/10 patients, associated with behavioral changes in four, while two patients showed atypical extrapyramidal syndrome with gait disorder at presentation, including one with associated cognitive deficits. Amyloid imaging was negative but Tau imaging showed significant deposits mainly in both mesiotemporal cortex. Dopaminergic denervation was found in 4/4 patients, including three without extrapyramidal symptoms. Neuropathological examination exclusively showed Tau-immunoreactive lesions. Distribution, aspect and 4R/3R tau aggregates composition suggested a spectrum from predominantly 3R, mainly cortical deposits well correlating with cognitive and behavioral changes, to predominantly 4R deposits, mainly in the basal ganglia and midbrain, in patients with prominent extrapyramidal syndrome. Finally, we performed in vitro seeding experiments in HEK-biosensor cells. Morphological features of aggregates induced by homogenates of three MAPT duplication carriers showed dense/granular ratios graduating between those induced by homogenates of a Pick disease and a progressive supranuclear palsy cases. These results suggest that MAPT duplication causes a primary tauopathy associated with diverse clinical and neuropathological features.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Wallon
- Normandie Univ, UNIROUEN, Inserm U1245, CHU Rouen, Department of Neurology and CNR-MAJ, F-76000, Rouen, France.
| | - Susana Boluda
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS U1127, Institut du Cerveau, ICM, Paris, France
- AP-HP, Hôpital de La Pitié-Salpêtrière, Laboratoire de Neuropathologie R. Escourolle, Paris, France
| | - Anne Rovelet-Lecrux
- Normandie Univ, UNIROUEN, Inserm U1245, CHU Rouen, Department of Genetics and CNR-MAJ, F-76000, Rouen, France
| | - Manon Thierry
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS U1127, Institut du Cerveau, ICM, Paris, France
- AP-HP, Hôpital de La Pitié-Salpêtrière, Laboratoire de Neuropathologie R. Escourolle, Paris, France
| | - Julien Lagarde
- Department of Neurology of Memory and Language, GHU Paris Psychiatrie & Neurosciences, Hôpital Sainte Anne, F-75014, Paris, France
- Université de Paris, 75006, Paris, France
- Université Paris-Saclay, BioMaps, Service Hospitalier Frederic Joliot, CEA, CNRS, Inserm, F-91401, Orsay, France
| | - Laetitia Miguel
- Normandie Univ, UNIROUEN, Inserm U1245, CHU Rouen, Department of Genetics and CNR-MAJ, F-76000, Rouen, France
| | - Magalie Lecourtois
- Normandie Univ, UNIROUEN, Inserm U1245, CHU Rouen, Department of Genetics and CNR-MAJ, F-76000, Rouen, France
| | - Antoine Bonnevalle
- Normandie Univ, UNIROUEN, Inserm U1245, CHU Rouen, Department of Neurology and CNR-MAJ, F-76000, Rouen, France
| | - Marie Sarazin
- Department of Neurology of Memory and Language, GHU Paris Psychiatrie & Neurosciences, Hôpital Sainte Anne, F-75014, Paris, France
- Université de Paris, 75006, Paris, France
- Université Paris-Saclay, BioMaps, Service Hospitalier Frederic Joliot, CEA, CNRS, Inserm, F-91401, Orsay, France
| | - Michel Bottlaender
- Université Paris-Saclay, BioMaps, Service Hospitalier Frederic Joliot, CEA, CNRS, Inserm, F-91401, Orsay, France
- UNIACT, Neurospin, CEA, 91191, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Mathieu Mula
- AP-HP, Hôpital de La Pitié-Salpêtrière, Laboratoire de Neuropathologie R. Escourolle, Paris, France
| | - Serge Marty
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS U1127, Institut du Cerveau, ICM, Paris, France
| | - Natsuko Nakamura
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS U1127, Institut du Cerveau, ICM, Paris, France
| | - Catherine Schramm
- Normandie Univ, UNIROUEN, Inserm U1245, CHU Rouen, Department of Genetics and CNR-MAJ, F-76000, Rouen, France
| | - François Sellal
- Department of Neurology, Hôpitaux Civils de Colmar and INSERM U-1118, School of Medicine, Strasbourg University, Strasbourg, France
| | - Thérèse Jonveaux
- CMRR Department of Neurology, Nancy University Hospital, Laboratoire Lorraine de Psychologie et de Neurosciences de la Dynamique des Comportements 2LPN EA7489 Lorraine University, Nancy, France
| | - Camille Heitz
- Neurology Department, Hôpital Universitaire de Nîmes, Nîmes, France
| | - Isabelle Le Ber
- Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06, Inserm U1127, CNRS UMR 7225, Institut du Cerveau et la Moelle Epinière (ICM), AP-HP - Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France
- Reference Centre for Rare or Early Dementias, IM2A, Département de Neurologie, AP-HP, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France
| | - Stéphane Epelbaum
- Centre Mémoire Ressources et Recherche (CMRR), Centre Expert Parkinson (CEP), Service de Neurologie, CHRU Besançon, 25000, Besançon, France
- Neurosciences Intégratives et Cliniques UR481, Univ. Bourgogne Franche-Comté, 25000, Besançon, France
| | - Eloi Magnin
- Centre Mémoire Ressources et Recherche (CMRR), Centre Expert Parkinson (CEP), Service de Neurologie, CHRU Besançon, 25000, Besançon, France
- Neurosciences Intégratives et Cliniques UR481, Univ. Bourgogne Franche-Comté, 25000, Besançon, France
| | - Aline Zarea
- Normandie Univ, UNIROUEN, Inserm U1245, CHU Rouen, Department of Neurology and CNR-MAJ, F-76000, Rouen, France
| | - Stéphane Rousseau
- Normandie Univ, UNIROUEN, Inserm U1245, CHU Rouen, Department of Genetics and CNR-MAJ, F-76000, Rouen, France
| | - Olivier Quenez
- Normandie Univ, UNIROUEN, Inserm U1245, CHU Rouen, Department of Genetics and CNR-MAJ, F-76000, Rouen, France
| | - Didier Hannequin
- Normandie Univ, UNIROUEN, Inserm U1245, CHU Rouen, Department of Neurology and CNR-MAJ, F-76000, Rouen, France
| | - Florence Clavaguera
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS U1127, Institut du Cerveau, ICM, Paris, France
| | - Dominique Campion
- Normandie Univ, UNIROUEN, Inserm U1245, CHU Rouen, Department of Genetics and CNR-MAJ, F-76000, Rouen, France
| | - Charles Duyckaerts
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS U1127, Institut du Cerveau, ICM, Paris, France
- AP-HP, Hôpital de La Pitié-Salpêtrière, Laboratoire de Neuropathologie R. Escourolle, Paris, France
| | - Gaël Nicolas
- Normandie Univ, UNIROUEN, Inserm U1245, CHU Rouen, Department of Genetics and CNR-MAJ, F-76000, Rouen, France.
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14
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Rai SK, Savastano A, Singh P, Mukhopadhyay S, Zweckstetter M. Liquid-liquid phase separation of tau: From molecular biophysics to physiology and disease. Protein Sci 2021; 30:1294-1314. [PMID: 33930220 PMCID: PMC8197432 DOI: 10.1002/pro.4093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2021] [Revised: 04/24/2021] [Accepted: 04/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Biomolecular condensation via liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) of intrinsically disordered proteins/regions (IDPs/IDRs), with and without nucleic acids, has drawn widespread interest due to the rapidly unfolding role of phase-separated condensates in a diverse range of cellular functions and human diseases. Biomolecular condensates form via transient and multivalent intermolecular forces that sequester proteins and nucleic acids into liquid-like membrane-less compartments. However, aberrant phase transitions into gel-like or solid-like aggregates might play an important role in neurodegenerative and other diseases. Tau, a microtubule-associated neuronal IDP, is involved in microtubule stabilization, regulates axonal outgrowth and transport in neurons. A growing body of evidence indicates that tau can accomplish some of its cellular activities via LLPS. However, liquid-to-solid transition resulting in the abnormal aggregation of tau is associated with neurodegenerative diseases. The physical chemistry of tau is crucial for governing its propensity for biomolecular condensation which is governed by various intermolecular and intramolecular interactions leading to simple one-component and complex multi-component condensates. In this review, we aim at capturing the current scientific state in unveiling the intriguing molecular mechanism of phase separation of tau. We particularly focus on the amalgamation of existing and emerging biophysical tools that offer unique spatiotemporal resolutions on a wide range of length- and time-scales. We also discuss the link between quantitative biophysical measurements and novel biological insights into biomolecular condensation of tau. We believe that this account will provide a broad and multidisciplinary view of phase separation of tau and its association with physiology and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandeep K. Rai
- Centre for Protein Science, Design and Engineering, Department of Biological Sciences, and Department of Chemical SciencesIndian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER)MohaliIndia
| | - Adriana Savastano
- Research group Translational Structural BiologyGerman Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE)GöttingenGermany
| | - Priyanka Singh
- Centre for Protein Science, Design and Engineering, Department of Biological Sciences, and Department of Chemical SciencesIndian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER)MohaliIndia
| | - Samrat Mukhopadhyay
- Centre for Protein Science, Design and Engineering, Department of Biological Sciences, and Department of Chemical SciencesIndian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER)MohaliIndia
| | - Markus Zweckstetter
- Research group Translational Structural BiologyGerman Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE)GöttingenGermany
- Department for NMR‐based Structural BiologyMax Planck Institute for Biophysical ChemistryGöttingenGermany
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15
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Tarutani A, Miyata H, Nonaka T, Hasegawa K, Yoshida M, Saito Y, Murayama S, Robinson AC, Mann DMA, Tomita T, Hasegawa M. Human tauopathy-derived tau strains determine the substrates recruited for templated amplification. Brain 2021; 144:2333-2348. [PMID: 33693528 PMCID: PMC8418341 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awab091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2020] [Revised: 02/14/2021] [Accepted: 02/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Tauopathies are a subset of neurodegenerative diseases characterized by abnormal tau inclusions. Specifically, three-repeat tau and four-repeat tau in Alzheimer’s disease, three-repeat tau in Pick’s disease (PiD) and four-repeat tau in progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) and corticobasal degeneration (CBD) form amyloid-like fibrous structures that accumulate in neurons and/or glial cells. Amplification and cell-to-cell transmission of abnormal tau based on the prion hypothesis are believed to explain the onset and progression of tauopathies. Recent studies support not only the self-propagation of abnormal tau, but also the presence of conformationally distinct tau aggregates, namely tau strains. Cryogenic electron microscopy analyses of patient-derived tau filaments have revealed disease-specific ordered tau structures. However, it remains unclear whether the ultrastructural and biochemical properties of tau strains are inherited during the amplification of abnormal tau in the brain. In this study, we investigated template-dependent amplification of tau aggregates using a cellular model of seeded aggregation. Tau strains extracted from human tauopathies caused strain-dependent accumulation of insoluble filamentous tau in SH-SY5Y cells. The seeding activity towards full-length four-repeat tau substrate was highest in CBD-tau seeds, followed by PSP-tau and Alzheimer’s disease (AD)-tau seeds, while AD-tau seeds showed higher seeding activity than PiD-tau seeds towards three-repeat tau substrate. Abnormal tau amplified in cells inherited the ultrastructural and biochemical properties of the original seeds. These results strongly suggest that the structural differences of patient-derived tau strains underlie the diversity of tauopathies, and that seeded aggregation and filament formation mimicking the pathogenesis of sporadic tauopathy can be reproduced in cultured cells. Our results indicate that the disease-specific conformation of tau aggregates determines the tau isoform substrate that is recruited for templated amplification, and also influences the prion-like seeding activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Airi Tarutani
- Department of Brain and Neurosciences, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo, 156-8506, Japan.,Laboratory of Neuropathology and Neuroscience, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan
| | - Haruka Miyata
- Department of Brain and Neurosciences, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo, 156-8506, Japan
| | - Takashi Nonaka
- Department of Brain and Neurosciences, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo, 156-8506, Japan
| | - Kazuko Hasegawa
- Division of Neurology, Sagamihara National Hospital, Kanagawa, 252-0392, Japan
| | - Mari Yoshida
- Department of Neuropathology, Aichi Medical University, Aichi, 480-1195, Japan
| | - Yuko Saito
- Department of Neuropathology, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology, Tokyo, 173-0015, Japan.,Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, National Center Hospital, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo, 187-8551, Japan
| | - Shigeo Murayama
- Department of Neuropathology, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology, Tokyo, 173-0015, Japan.,Brain Bank for Neurodevelopmental, Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders, United Graduate School of Child Development, Osaka University, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan
| | - Andrew C Robinson
- Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, School of Biological Sciences, Division of Neuroscience & Experimental Psychology, The University of Manchester, Salford Royal Hospital, Salford, M6 8HD, UK
| | - David M A Mann
- Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, School of Biological Sciences, Division of Neuroscience & Experimental Psychology, The University of Manchester, Salford Royal Hospital, Salford, M6 8HD, UK
| | - Taisuke Tomita
- Laboratory of Neuropathology and Neuroscience, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan
| | - Masato Hasegawa
- Department of Brain and Neurosciences, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo, 156-8506, Japan
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16
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Corbett JR, Robinson DE, Patrie SM. Robustness and Ruggedness of Isoelectric Focusing and Superficially Porous Liquid Chromatography with Fourier Transform Mass Spectrometry. JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR MASS SPECTROMETRY 2021; 32:346-354. [PMID: 33274937 PMCID: PMC10476448 DOI: 10.1021/jasms.0c00355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
An investigation of a multidimensional proteomics workflow composed of off-gel isoelectric focusing (IEF) and superficially porous liquid chromatography (SPLC) with Fourier transform mass spectrometry (FTMS) was completed in order to assess various figures of merit associated with intact protein measurements. Triplicate analysis performed at both high and low FTMS resolutions on the E. coli proteome resulted in ∼900 redundant proteoforms from 3 to 95 kDa. Normalization of the chromatographic axis to identified proteoforms enabled reproducible physicochemical property measurements between proteome replicates with inter-replicate variances of ±3 ppm mass error for proteoforms <30 kDa, ±1.1 Da for proteins >30 kDa, ±12 s retention time error, and ±0.21 pI units. The results for E. coli and standard proteins revealed a correlation between pI precision and proteoform abundance with species detected in multiple IEF fractions exhibiting pI precisions less than the theoretical resolution of the off-gel system (±0.05 vs ±0.17, respectively). Evaluation of differentially modified proteoforms of standard proteins revealed that high sample loads (100s μgrams) change the IEF pH gradient profile, leading to sample broadening that facilitates resolution of charged post-translational modifications (e.g., phosphorylation, sialylation). Despite the impact of sample load on IEF resolution, results on standard proteins measured directly or after being spiked into E. coli demonstrated that the reproducibility of the workflow permitted recombination of the MS signal across IEF fractions in a manner supporting the evaluation of three label-free quantitation metrics for intact protein studies (proteoforms, proteoform ratios, and protein) over 102-103 sample amount with low femtomole detection limits.
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Affiliation(s)
- John R Corbett
- Department of Pathology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, Texas 75390, United States
- Department of Bioengineering, UT Dallas, 800 West Campbell Road, Richardson, Texas 75080, United States
| | - Dana E Robinson
- Department of Pathology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, Texas 75390, United States
| | - Steven M Patrie
- Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, 2145 Sheridan Road, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
- Department of Pathology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, Texas 75390, United States
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17
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Kametani F, Yoshida M, Matsubara T, Murayama S, Saito Y, Kawakami I, Onaya M, Tanaka H, Kakita A, Robinson AC, Mann DMA, Hasegawa M. Comparison of Common and Disease-Specific Post-translational Modifications of Pathological Tau Associated With a Wide Range of Tauopathies. Front Neurosci 2020; 14:581936. [PMID: 33250706 PMCID: PMC7672045 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2020.581936] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2020] [Accepted: 09/28/2020] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Tauopathies are the most common type of neurodegenerative proteinopathy, being characterized by cytoplasmic aggregates of hyperphosphorylated tau protein. The formation and morphologies of these tau inclusions, the distribution of the lesions and related metabolic changes in cytoplasm differ among different tauopathies. The aim of this study was to examine whether there are differences in the post-translational modifications (PTMs) in the pathological tau proteins. We analyzed sarkosyl-insoluble pathological tau proteins prepared from brains of patients with Alzheimer's disease, Pick's disease, progressive supranuclear palsy, corticobasal degeneration, globular glial tauopathy, and frontotemporal dementia and parkinsonisms linked to chromosome 17 with tau inclusions using liquid chromatography mass spectrometry. In pathological tau proteins associated with a wide range of tauopathies, 170 PTMs in total were identified including new PTMs. Among them, common PTMs were localized in the N- and C-terminal flanking regions of the microtubule binding repeats and PTMs, which were considered to be disease-specific, were found in microtubule binding repeats forming filament core. These suggested that the differences in PTMs reflected the differences in tau filament core structures in each disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fuyuki Kametani
- Department of Brain and Neuroscience, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Mari Yoshida
- Institute for Medical Science of Aging, Aichi Medical University, Aichi, Japan
| | - Tomoyasu Matsubara
- Department of Neuropathology, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shigeo Murayama
- Institute for Medical Science of Aging, Aichi Medical University, Aichi, Japan
| | - Yuko Saito
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, National Center Hospital, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Ito Kawakami
- Department of Brain and Neuroscience, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Mitsumoto Onaya
- Department of Psychiatry, National Hospital Organization Shimofusa Psychiatric Medical Center, Chiba, Japan
| | - Hidetomo Tanaka
- Department of Pathology, Brain Research Institute, Niigata University, Niigata, Japan
| | - Akiyoshi Kakita
- Department of Pathology, Brain Research Institute, Niigata University, Niigata, Japan
| | - Andrew C. Robinson
- Division of Neuroscience & Experimental Psychology, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Manchester, Salford, United Kingdom
| | - David M. A. Mann
- Division of Neuroscience & Experimental Psychology, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Manchester, Salford, United Kingdom
| | - Masato Hasegawa
- Department of Brain and Neuroscience, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo, Japan
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18
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Tau at the interface between neurodegeneration and neuroinflammation. Genes Immun 2020; 21:288-300. [PMID: 33011744 DOI: 10.1038/s41435-020-00113-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2020] [Revised: 09/16/2020] [Accepted: 09/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Tau is an evolutionary conserved protein that promotes the assembly and stabilization of microtubules in neuronal axons. Complex patterns of posttranslational modifications (PTMs) dynamically regulate tau biochemical properties and consequently its functions. An imbalance in tau PTMs has been connected with a broad spectrum of neurodegenerative conditions which are collectively known as tauopathies and include Alzheimer's disease (AD), progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), and corticobasal degeneration (CBD) among others. The hallmark of these neurological disorders is the presence in the brain of fibrillary tangles constituted of misfolded species of hyper-phosphorylated tau. The pathological events leading to tau aggregation are still largely unknown but increasing evidence suggests that neuroinflammation plays a critical role in tangle formation. Moreover, tau aggregation itself could enhance inflammation through feed-forward mechanisms, amplifying the initial neurotoxic insults. Protective effects of tau against neuroinflammation have been also documented, adding another layer of complexity to this phenomenon. Here, we will review the current knowledge on tau regulation and function in health and disease. In particular, we will address its emerging role in connecting neurodegenerative and neuroinflammatory processes.
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19
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Shimonaka S, Matsumoto SE, Elahi M, Ishiguro K, Hasegawa M, Hattori N, Motoi Y. Asparagine residue 368 is involved in Alzheimer's disease tau strain-specific aggregation. J Biol Chem 2020; 295:13996-14014. [PMID: 32759167 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra120.013271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2020] [Revised: 07/14/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
In tauopathies, tau forms pathogenic fibrils with distinct conformations (termed "tau strains") and acts as an aggregation "seed" templating the conversion of normal tau into isomorphic fibrils. Previous research showed that the aggregation core of tau fibril covers the C-terminal region (243-406 amino acids (aa)) and differs among the diseases. However, the mechanisms by which distinct fibrous structures are formed and inherited via templated aggregation are still unknown. Here, we sought to identify the key sequences of seed-dependent aggregation. To identify sequences for which deletion reduces tau aggregation, SH-SY5Y cells expressing a series of 10 partial deletion (Del 1-10, covering 244-400 aa) mutants of tau-CTF24 (243-441 aa) were treated with tau seeds prepared from a different tauopathy patient's brain (Alzheimer's disease, progressive supranuclear palsy, and corticobasal degeneration) or recombinant tau, and then seed-dependent tau aggregation was assessed biochemically. We found that the Del 8 mutant lacking 353-368 aa showed significantly decreased aggregation in both cellular and in vitro models. Furthermore, to identify the minimum sequence responsible for tau aggregation, we systematically repeated cellular tau aggregation assays for the delineation of shorter deletion sites and revealed that Asn-368 mutation suppressed tau aggregation triggered by an AD tau seed, but not using other tauopathy seeds. Our study suggested that 353-368 aa is a novel aggregation-responsible sequence other than PHF6 and PHF6*, and within this sequence, the Asn-368 residue plays a role in strain-specific tau aggregation in different tauopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shotaro Shimonaka
- Research Institute for Diseases of Old Age, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.,Department of Diagnosis, Prevention, and Treatment of Dementia, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shin-Ei Matsumoto
- Department of Immunology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, Japan
| | - Montasir Elahi
- Department of Diagnosis, Prevention, and Treatment of Dementia, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.,Department of Neurology, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Koichi Ishiguro
- Department of Neurology, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Masato Hasegawa
- Dementia Research Project, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Nobutaka Hattori
- Research Institute for Diseases of Old Age, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.,Department of Neurology, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yumiko Motoi
- Department of Diagnosis, Prevention, and Treatment of Dementia, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan .,Department of Neurology, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
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20
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Uchihara T. Neurofibrillary changes undergoing morphological and biochemical changes – How does tau with the profile shift of from four repeat to three repeat spread in Alzheimer brain? Neuropathology 2020; 40:450-459. [DOI: 10.1111/neup.12669] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2020] [Accepted: 03/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Toshiki Uchihara
- Neurology Clinic with Neuromorphomics Laboratory Nitobe‐Memorial, Nakano General Hospital Nakano Tokyo Japan
- Department of Neurology and Neurological Science Tokyo Medical and Dental University Tokyo Japan
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21
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Townsend DJ, Mala B, Hughes E, Hussain R, Siligardi G, Fullwood NJ, Middleton DA. Circular Dichroism Spectroscopy Identifies the β-Adrenoceptor Agonist Salbutamol As a Direct Inhibitor of Tau Filament Formation in Vitro. ACS Chem Neurosci 2020; 11:2104-2116. [PMID: 32520518 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.0c00154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Potential drug treatments for Alzheimer's disease (AD) may be found by identifying compounds that block the assembly of the microtubule-associated protein tau into neurofibrillar tangles associated with neuron destabilization and cell death. Here, a small library of structurally diverse compounds was screened in vitro for the ability to inhibit tau aggregation, using high-throughput synchrotron radiation circular dichroism as a novel tool to monitor the structural changes in the protein as it assembles into filaments. The catecholamine epinephrine was found to be the most effective tau aggregation inhibitor of all 88 screened compounds. Subsequently, we tested chemically similar phenolamine drugs from the β-adrenergic receptor agonist class, using conventional circular dichroism spectroscopy, thioflavin T fluorescence, and transmission electron microscopy. Two compounds, salbutamol and dobutamine, used widely in the treatment of respiratory and cardiovascular disease, impede the aggregation of tau in vitro. Dobutamine reduces both the rate and yield of tau filament formation over 24 h; however, it has little effect on the structural transition of tau into β-sheet structures over 24 h. Salbutamol also reduces the yield and rate of filament formation and additionally inhibits tau's structural change into β-sheet-rich aggregates. Salbutamol has a good safety profile and a half-life that facilitates permeation through the blood-brain barrier and could represent an expediated approach to developing AD therapeutics. These results provide the motivation for the in vivo evaluation of pre-existing β-adrenergic receptor agonists as a potential therapy for AD through the reduction of tau deposition.
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Affiliation(s)
- David J Townsend
- Department of Chemistry, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4YB, United Kingdom
| | - Barbora Mala
- Department of Chemistry, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4YB, United Kingdom
| | - Eleri Hughes
- Department of Chemistry, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4YB, United Kingdom
| | - Rohanah Hussain
- Diamond House, Harwell Science & Innovation Campus, Diamond Light Source Ltd., Didcot OX11 ODE, United Kingdom
| | - Giuliano Siligardi
- Diamond House, Harwell Science & Innovation Campus, Diamond Light Source Ltd., Didcot OX11 ODE, United Kingdom
| | - Nigel J. Fullwood
- Biomedical and Life Sciences, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4YG, United Kingdom
| | - David A. Middleton
- Department of Chemistry, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4YB, United Kingdom
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22
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Cherry JD, Kim SH, Stein TD, Pothast MJ, Nicks R, Meng G, Huber BR, Mez J, Alosco ML, Tripodis Y, Farrell K, Alvarez VE, McKee AC, Crary JF. Evolution of neuronal and glial tau isoforms in chronic traumatic encephalopathy. Brain Pathol 2020; 30:913-925. [PMID: 32500646 DOI: 10.1111/bpa.12867] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2020] [Revised: 04/23/2020] [Accepted: 05/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) is a neurodegenerative tauopathy characterized by accumulation of hyperphosphorylated tau (p-tau) in perivascular aggregates in neurons and glia at the depths of neocortical sulci and progresses to diffuse neocortical, allocortical and brainstem structures. The strongest risk factor is exposure to repetitive head impacts acquired most commonly through contact sports and military service. Given that CTE can only be definitively diagnosed after death, a better understanding of the cellular and molecular changes in CTE brains may lead to identification of mechanisms that could be used for novel biomarkers, monitoring progression or therapeutic development. Disruption of alternative pre-mRNA splicing of tau mRNA plays a pathogenic role in tauopathy, with multiple characteristic patterns of isoform accumulation varying among tauopathies. Limited data are available on CTE, particularly at early stages. Using biochemical and histological approaches, we performed a detailed characterization of tau isoform signatures in post-mortem human brain tissue from individuals with a range of CTE stages (n = 99). In immunoblot analyses, severity was associated with decreased total monomeric tau and increased total oligomeric tau. Immunoblot with isoform-specific antisera revealed that oligomeric tau with three and four microtubule binding domain repeats (3R and 4R) also increased with CTE severity. Similarly, immunohistochemical studies revealed p-tau accumulation consisting of both 3R and 4R in perivascular lesions. When the ratio of 4R:3R was analyzed, there was mixed expression throughout CTE stages, although 4R predominated in early CTE stages (I-II), a 3R shift was observed in later stages (III-IV). While neurons were found to contain both 3R and 4R, astrocytes only contained 4R. These 4R-positive cells were exclusively neuronal at early stages. Overall, these findings demonstrate that CTE is a mixed 4R/3R tauopathy. Furthermore, histologic analysis reveals a progressive shift in tau isoforms that correlates with CTE stage and extent of neuronal pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan D Cherry
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA.,Department of Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA.,Boston University Alzheimer's Disease and CTE Centers, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA.,VA Boston Healthcare System, U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, Boston, MA
| | - Soong Ho Kim
- Neuropathology Brain Bank & Research CoRE, Department of Pathology, Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Ronald M. Loeb Center for Alzheimer's Disease, Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY
| | - Thor D Stein
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA.,Boston University Alzheimer's Disease and CTE Centers, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA.,VA Boston Healthcare System, U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, Boston, MA.,Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Bedford, MA
| | - Morgan J Pothast
- Boston University Alzheimer's Disease and CTE Centers, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA.,VA Boston Healthcare System, U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, Boston, MA
| | - Raymond Nicks
- Boston University Alzheimer's Disease and CTE Centers, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA.,VA Boston Healthcare System, U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, Boston, MA.,Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Bedford, MA
| | - Gaoyuan Meng
- Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Bedford, MA
| | - Bertrand R Huber
- Boston University Alzheimer's Disease and CTE Centers, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA.,VA Boston Healthcare System, U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, Boston, MA.,Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Bedford, MA
| | - Jesse Mez
- Department of Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA.,Boston University Alzheimer's Disease and CTE Centers, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA.,Framingham Heart Study, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA
| | - Michael L Alosco
- Department of Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA.,Boston University Alzheimer's Disease and CTE Centers, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA
| | - Yorghos Tripodis
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Boston University, Boston, MA
| | - Kurt Farrell
- Neuropathology Brain Bank & Research CoRE, Department of Pathology, Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Ronald M. Loeb Center for Alzheimer's Disease, Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY
| | - Victor E Alvarez
- Boston University Alzheimer's Disease and CTE Centers, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA.,VA Boston Healthcare System, U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, Boston, MA.,Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Bedford, MA
| | - Ann C McKee
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA.,Department of Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA.,Boston University Alzheimer's Disease and CTE Centers, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA.,VA Boston Healthcare System, U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, Boston, MA.,Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Bedford, MA
| | - John F Crary
- Neuropathology Brain Bank & Research CoRE, Department of Pathology, Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Ronald M. Loeb Center for Alzheimer's Disease, Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY
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23
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Scheres SH, Zhang W, Falcon B, Goedert M. Cryo-EM structures of tau filaments. Curr Opin Struct Biol 2020; 64:17-25. [PMID: 32603876 DOI: 10.1016/j.sbi.2020.05.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 141] [Impact Index Per Article: 35.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2020] [Revised: 04/28/2020] [Accepted: 05/19/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Assembly of microtubule-associated protein tau into filamentous inclusions underlies many human neurodegenerative diseases, called tauopathies. Tau inclusions display distinct cellular and neuroanatomical distributions in different tauopathies. Morphological and biochemical differences suggest that tau filaments adopt disease-specific molecular conformers, similar to prion strains. Breakthroughs in electron cryo-microscopy have recently yielded atomic structures of tau filaments extracted from the brains of individuals with various tauopathies. Each disease is characterised by a unique tau filament fold, which is conserved among individuals with the same disease. In vitro aggregation yields different structures from those observed in brain. Tau isoform composition, post-translational modifications or interactions with cofactors may determine which structures are formed in brain. Understanding filament formation will be central to deciphering the molecular mechanisms that underlie human tauopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sjors Hw Scheres
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, CB2 0QH, United Kingdom.
| | - Wenjuan Zhang
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, CB2 0QH, United Kingdom
| | - Benjamin Falcon
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, CB2 0QH, United Kingdom
| | - Michel Goedert
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, CB2 0QH, United Kingdom.
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24
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Miki T, Yokota O, Haraguchi T, Ishizu H, Hasegawa M, Ishihara T, Ueno SI, Takenoshita S, Terada S, Yamada N. Factors associated with development and distribution of granular/fuzzy astrocytes in neurodegenerative diseases. Brain Pathol 2020; 30:811-830. [PMID: 32293067 PMCID: PMC7383906 DOI: 10.1111/bpa.12843] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2019] [Revised: 04/03/2020] [Accepted: 04/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Granular/fuzzy astrocytes (GFAs), a subtype of “aging‐related tau astrogliopathy,” are noted in cases bearing various neurodegenerative diseases. However, the pathogenic significance of GFAs remains unclear. We immunohistochemically examined the frontal cortex, caudate nucleus, putamen and amygdala in 105 cases composed of argyrophilic grain disease cases (AGD, N = 26), and progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP, N = 10), Alzheimer’s disease (AD, N = 20) and primary age‐related tauopathy cases (PART, N = 18) lacking AGD, as well as 31 cases bearing other various neurodegenerative diseases to clarify (i) the distribution patterns of GFAs in AGD, and PSP, AD and PART lacking AGD, (ii) the impacts of major pathological factors and age on GFA formation and (iii) immunohistochemical features useful to understand the formation process of GFAs. In AGD cases, GFAs consistently occurred in the amygdala (100%), followed by the putamen (69.2%) and caudate nucleus and frontal cortex (57.7%, respectively). In PSP cases without AGD, GFAs were almost consistently noted in all regions examined (90–100%). In AD cases without AGD, GFAs were less frequent, developing preferably in the putamen (35.0%) and caudate nucleus (30.0%). PART cases without AGD had GFAs most frequently in the amygdala (35.3%), being more similar to AGD than to AD cases. Ordered logistic regression analyses using all cases demonstrated that the strongest independent factor of GFA formation in the frontal cortex and striatum was the diagnosis of PSP, while that in the amygdala was AGD. The age was not significantly associated with GFA formation in any region. In GFAs in AGD cases, phosphorylation and conformational change of tau, Gallyas‐positive glial threads indistinguishable from those in tufted astrocytes, and the activation of autophagy occurred sequentially. Given these findings, AGD, PSP, AD and PART cases may show distinct distributions of GFAs, which may provide clues to predict the underlying processes of primary tauopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomoko Miki
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama, Japan
| | - Osamu Yokota
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama, Japan.,Department of Psychiatry, Kinoko Espoir Hospital, Okayama, Japan.,Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Zikei Institute of Psychiatry, Okayama, Japan.,Department of Neurology, National Hospital Organization Minami-Okayama Medical Center, Okayama, Japan
| | - Takashi Haraguchi
- Department of Neurology, National Hospital Organization Minami-Okayama Medical Center, Okayama, Japan
| | - Hideki Ishizu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Zikei Institute of Psychiatry, Okayama, Japan
| | - Masato Hasegawa
- Dementia Research Project, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Takeshi Ishihara
- Department of Psychiatry, Kawasaki Medical School, Okayama, Japan
| | - Shu-Ichi Ueno
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Ehime University Graduate School of Medicine, Ehime, Japan
| | - Shintaro Takenoshita
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama, Japan
| | - Seishi Terada
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama, Japan
| | - Norihito Yamada
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama, Japan
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25
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Abstract
Corticobasal degeneration (CBD) is a neurodegenerative tauopathy that is characterised by motor and cognitive disturbances (1–3). A higher frequency of the H1 haplotype of MAPT, the tau gene, is present in cases of CBD than in controls (4,5) and genome-wide association studies have identified additional risk factors (6). By histology, astrocytic plaques are diagnostic of CBD (7,8), as are detergent-insoluble tau fragments of 37 kDa by SDS-PAGE (9). Like progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), globular glial tauopathy (GGT) and argyrophilic grain disease (AGD) (10), CBD is characterised by abundant filamentous tau inclusions that are made of isoforms with four microtubule-binding repeats (4R) (11–15). This distinguishes 4R tauopathies from Pick’s disease, filaments of which are made of three-repeat (3R) tau isoforms, and from Alzheimer’s disease and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), where both 3R and 4R tau isoforms are found in the filaments (16). Here we report the structures of tau filaments extracted from the brains of three individuals with CBD using electron cryo-microscopy (cryo-EM). They were identical between cases, but distinct from those of Alzheimer’s disease, Pick’s disease and CTE (17–19). The core of CBD filaments comprises residues K274-E380 of tau, spanning the last residue of R1, the whole of R2, R3 and R4, as well as 12 amino acids after R4. It adopts a novel four-layered fold, which encloses a large non-proteinaceous density. The latter is surrounded by the side chains of lysine residues 290 and 294 from R2 and 370 from the sequence after R4. CBD is the first 4R tauopathy with filaments of known structure.
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26
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Lambeth T, Riggs DL, Talbert LE, Tang J, Coburn E, Kang AS, Noll J, Augello C, Ford BD, Julian RR. Spontaneous Isomerization of Long-Lived Proteins Provides a Molecular Mechanism for the Lysosomal Failure Observed in Alzheimer's Disease. ACS CENTRAL SCIENCE 2019; 5:1387-1395. [PMID: 31482121 PMCID: PMC6716341 DOI: 10.1021/acscentsci.9b00369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2019] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Proteinaceous aggregation is a well-known observable in Alzheimer's disease (AD), but failure and storage of lysosomal bodies within neurons is equally ubiquitous and actually precedes bulk accumulation of extracellular amyloid plaque. In fact, AD shares many similarities with certain lysosomal storage disorders though establishing a biochemical connection has proven difficult. Herein, we demonstrate that isomerization and epimerization, which are spontaneous chemical modifications that occur in long-lived proteins, prevent digestion by the proteases in the lysosome (namely, the cathepsins). For example, isomerization of aspartic acid into l-isoAsp prevents digestion of the N-terminal portion of Aβ by cathepsin L, one of the most aggressive lysosomal proteases. Similar results were obtained after examination of various target peptides with a full series of cathepsins, including endo-, amino-, and carboxy-peptidases. In all cases peptide fragments too long for transporter recognition or release from the lysosome persisted after treatment, providing a mechanism for eventual lysosomal storage and bridging the gap between AD and lysosomal storage disorders. Additional experiments with microglial cells confirmed that isomerization disrupts proteolysis in active lysosomes. These results are easily rationalized in terms of protease active sites, which are engineered to precisely orient the peptide backbone and cannot accommodate the backbone shift caused by isoaspartic acid or side chain dislocation resulting from epimerization. Although Aβ is known to be isomerized and epimerized in plaques present in AD brains, we further establish that the rates of modification for aspartic acid in positions 1 and 7 are fast and could accrue prior to plaque formation. Spontaneous chemistry can therefore provide modified substrates capable of inducing gradual lysosomal failure, which may play an important role in the cascade of events leading to the disrupted proteostasis, amyloid formation, and tauopathies associated with AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tyler
R. Lambeth
- Department
of Chemistry, University of California, Riverside, California 92521, United States
| | - Dylan L. Riggs
- Department
of Chemistry, University of California, Riverside, California 92521, United States
| | - Lance E. Talbert
- Department
of Chemistry, University of California, Riverside, California 92521, United States
| | - Jin Tang
- Department
of Chemistry, University of California, Riverside, California 92521, United States
| | - Emily Coburn
- Department
of Chemistry, University of California, Riverside, California 92521, United States
| | - Amrik S. Kang
- Department
of Chemistry, University of California, Riverside, California 92521, United States
| | - Jessica Noll
- Division
of Biomedical Sciences, University of California, Riverside, California 92521, United States
| | - Catherine Augello
- Division
of Biomedical Sciences, University of California, Riverside, California 92521, United States
| | - Byron D. Ford
- Division
of Biomedical Sciences, University of California, Riverside, California 92521, United States
| | - Ryan R. Julian
- Department
of Chemistry, University of California, Riverside, California 92521, United States
- E-mail:
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27
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Ebashi M, Toru S, Nakamura A, Kamei S, Yokota T, Hirokawa K, Uchihara T. Detection of AD-specific four repeat tau with deamidated asparagine residue 279-specific fraction purified from 4R tau polyclonal antibody. Acta Neuropathol 2019; 138:163-166. [PMID: 31006065 PMCID: PMC6570692 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-019-02012-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2019] [Revised: 04/12/2019] [Accepted: 04/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/05/2022]
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28
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Ebashi M, Ito Y, Uematsu M, Nakamura A, Hirokawa K, Kamei S, Uchihara T. How to demix Alzheimer-type and PSP-type tau lesions out of their mixture -hybrid approach to dissect comorbidity. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2019; 7:71. [PMID: 31060611 PMCID: PMC6503360 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-019-0708-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2019] [Accepted: 03/22/2019] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs), are shared between progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) and Alzheimer disease (AD). Histological distinction of PSP and AD is possible based on the distribution of NFTs. However, neuropathologists may encounter diagnostic difficulty with comorbidity of PSP and AD. In this study, we tried to circumvent this difficulty by analyzing five autopsied brains harboring both PSP and AD pathology. Tau-positive lesions were sorted based on their cell type (neuron versus glia), and tau isoforms: three-repeat (3R) versus four-repeat (4R) tau. 16 regions were selected to map these lesions throughout the brain. 4R-tau lesions were present in all areas examined. Among them, 3R-tau lesions were absent in some areas. These 4R selective (4R+/3R-) areas dictate prototypic distribution of PSP, not usually found in AD, such as pontine nucleus, red nucleus, inferior olivary nucleus, dentate nucleus, globus pallidus and putamen, each contained both glial and neuronal lesions. In contrast, additional 3R-tau lesions were found in hippocampal formation to neocortex, where 3R immunoreactivity (IR) was predominant over the 4R counterpart mainly in neurons as found in AD but not in PSP. Although tau lesions in central grey matter, substantia nigra and locus coeruleus are found in both AD and PSP, 4R-selectivity with glial component suggests PSP origin. Even if the presence of 3 R IR in these areas suggests AD pathology, it does not exclude the involvement of PSP-type lesion because distinction of 4R IR into PSP or AD is not yet possible. Further demixing may be possible if biochemical difference of 4R tau between PSP and AD is identified.
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29
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Okamoto K, Amari M, Fukuda T, Suzuki K, Takatama M. Astrocytic tau pathologies in aged human brain. Neuropathology 2019; 39:187-193. [PMID: 30937988 DOI: 10.1111/neup.12544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2018] [Revised: 02/01/2019] [Accepted: 02/01/2019] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Argyrophilic and tau-positive abnormal structures in astrocytes are frequent in aged brains, with a new nomenclature of aging-related tau astrogliopathy (ARTAG) proposed. The two major cytomorphologies of ARTAG are thorn-shaped astrocytes (TSA) and granular or fuzzy tau immunoreactivity in processes of astrocytes (GFA). We selected 28 cases in which many AT8-identified astrocytic tauopathies were observed in the central nervous system from 330 routine aged autopsied cases, including Alzheimer's disease. AT8-identified and Gallyas silver staining-positive TSA were observed in subpial, subependymal, perivascular areas as well as white matter. These TSA were 4-repeat (4R) tau-positive. In contrast, 3-repeat (3R)-tau was negative in TSA, but positive in short thick cell processes, likely neuropil threads, in subpial and subependymal areas. The frequency of 3R-tau-positive processes was variable. Small dot-like AT8-identified astrocytic processes surrounding vessels in the neuropil were also positive for 4R-tau, but negative for 3R-tau. GFA in cerebral gray matter were AT8-identified and Gallyas-positive, and positive for 4R-tau but negative for 3R-tau. In this study, we did not identify 3R-tau+/4R-tau+ or 3R-tau+/4R-tau- astrocytes. Further studies are needed to clarify the nature and progression of glial tau-positive structures in ARTAG.
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Affiliation(s)
- Koichi Okamoto
- Department of Neurology, Geriatrics Research Institute and Hospital, Maebashi, Japan
| | - Masakuni Amari
- Department of Neurology, Geriatrics Research Institute and Hospital, Maebashi, Japan
| | - Toshio Fukuda
- Department of Pathology, Geriatrics Research Institute and Hospital, Maebashi, Japan
| | - Keiji Suzuki
- Department of Pathology, Geriatrics Research Institute and Hospital, Maebashi, Japan
| | - Masamitsu Takatama
- Department of Internal Medicine, Geriatrics Research Institute and Hospital, Maebashi, Japan
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Novel tau filament fold in chronic traumatic encephalopathy encloses hydrophobic molecules. Nature 2019; 568:420-423. [PMID: 30894745 PMCID: PMC6472968 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-019-1026-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 457] [Impact Index Per Article: 91.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2018] [Accepted: 02/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) is a neurodegenerative tauopathy that is associated with repetitive head impacts or exposure to blast waves. First described as punch-drunk syndrome and dementia pugilistica in retired boxers1-3, CTE has since been identified in former participants of other contact sports, ex-military personnel and after physical abuse4-7. No disease-modifying therapies currently exist, and diagnosis requires an autopsy. CTE is defined by an abundance of hyperphosphorylated tau protein in neurons, astrocytes and cell processes around blood vessels8,9. This, together with the accumulation of tau inclusions in cortical layers II and III, distinguishes CTE from Alzheimer's disease and other tauopathies10,11. However, the morphologies of tau filaments in CTE and the mechanisms by which brain trauma can lead to their formation are unknown. Here we determine the structures of tau filaments from the brains of three individuals with CTE at resolutions down to 2.3 Å, using cryo-electron microscopy. We show that filament structures are identical in the three cases but are distinct from those of Alzheimer's and Pick's diseases, and from those formed in vitro12-15. Similar to Alzheimer's disease12,14,16-18, all six brain tau isoforms assemble into filaments in CTE, and residues K274-R379 of three-repeat tau and S305-R379 of four-repeat tau form the ordered core of two identical C-shaped protofilaments. However, a different conformation of the β-helix region creates a hydrophobic cavity that is absent in tau filaments from the brains of patients with Alzheimer's disease. This cavity encloses an additional density that is not connected to tau, which suggests that the incorporation of cofactors may have a role in tau aggregation in CTE. Moreover, filaments in CTE have distinct protofilament interfaces to those of Alzheimer's disease. Our structures provide a unifying neuropathological criterion for CTE, and support the hypothesis that the formation and propagation of distinct conformers of assembled tau underlie different neurodegenerative diseases.
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Wide distribution of alpha-synuclein oligomers in multiple system atrophy brain detected by proximity ligation. Acta Neuropathol 2019; 137:455-466. [PMID: 30721406 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-019-01961-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2018] [Revised: 12/11/2018] [Accepted: 12/11/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Multiple system atrophy (MSA) is a fatal adult-onset neurodegenerative disease that is characterized by varying degrees of cerebellar dysfunction and Parkinsonism. The neuropathological hallmark of MSA is alpha-synuclein (AS)-positive glial cytoplasmic inclusions (GCIs). Although severe neuronal loss (NL) is also observed in MSA, neuronal inclusions (NIs) are rare compared to GCIs, such that the pathological mechanism of NL in MSA is unclear. GCIs and NIs are late-stage pathology features relative to AS oligomers and may not represent early pathological changes in MSA. To reveal the early pathology of MSA, it is necessary to examine the early aggregation of AS, i.e., AS oligomers. Here, we adopted a proximity ligation assay (PLA) to examine the distribution of AS oligomers in brain tissue samples from patients with MSA and other diseases. Surprisingly, MSA brains showed a widespread distribution and abundant accumulation of oligomeric AS in neurons as well as oligodendrocytes of the neocortex. In several regions, oligomeric AS signal intensity was higher in cases with MSA than in cases with Parkinson's disease. In contrast to previous studies, AS-PLA revealed abundant AS oligomer accumulation in Purkinje cells in MSA brains, identifying oligomeric AS accumulation as a possible cause of Purkinje cell loss. This wide distribution of AS oligomers in MSA brain neurons has not been described previously and indicates a pathological mechanism of NL in MSA.
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Nam WH, Choi YP. In vitro generation of tau aggregates conformationally distinct from parent tau seeds of Alzheimer's brain. Prion 2018; 13:1-12. [PMID: 30422056 PMCID: PMC6422395 DOI: 10.1080/19336896.2018.1545524] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Normal monomeric tau can be converted into pathogenic aggregates and acquire protease resistance in a prion-like manner. This acquisition of partial protease-resistance in tau aggregates has to date only been partially investigated in various studies exploring the prion-like properties of tau. In this study, we induced the aggregation of tau repeat domain (RD) in cultured cells using detergent insoluble fractions of Alzheimer’s brain tissue as seeds. The seeded aggregation of tau RD in cultured cells formed a ~7 kDa protease-resistant fragment in contrast to the ~12 kDa tau fragment characteristic of the AD seeds, suggesting that the in vitro generated tau aggregates were conformationally distinct from parent seeds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Won-Hee Nam
- a Laboratory Animal Center, Research Division , Korea Brain Research Institute , Daegu , Republic of Korea
| | - Young Pyo Choi
- a Laboratory Animal Center, Research Division , Korea Brain Research Institute , Daegu , Republic of Korea
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Tau filaments from multiple cases of sporadic and inherited Alzheimer's disease adopt a common fold. Acta Neuropathol 2018; 136:699-708. [PMID: 30276465 PMCID: PMC6208733 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-018-1914-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 227] [Impact Index Per Article: 37.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2018] [Revised: 09/20/2018] [Accepted: 09/20/2018] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
The ordered assembly of tau protein into abnormal filaments is a defining characteristic of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and other neurodegenerative disorders. It is not known if the structures of tau filaments vary within, or between, the brains of individuals with AD. We used a combination of electron cryo-microscopy (cryo-EM) and immuno-gold negative-stain electron microscopy (immuno-EM) to determine the structures of paired helical filaments (PHFs) and straight filaments (SFs) from the frontal cortex of 17 cases of AD (15 sporadic and 2 inherited) and 2 cases of atypical AD (posterior cortical atrophy). The high-resolution structures of PHFs and SFs from the frontal cortex of 3 cases of AD, 2 sporadic and 1 inherited, were determined by cryo-EM. We also used immuno-EM to study the PHFs and SFs from a number of cortical and subcortical brain regions. PHFs outnumbered SFs in all AD cases. By cryo-EM, PHFs and SFs were made of two C-shaped protofilaments with a combined cross-β/β-helix structure, as described previously for one case of AD. The higher resolution structures obtained here showed two additional amino acids at each end of the protofilament. The immuno-EM findings, which indicated the presence of repeats 3 and 4, but not of the N-terminal regions of repeats 1 and 2, of tau in the filament cores of all AD cases, were consistent with the cryo-EM results. These findings show that there is no significant variation in tau filament structures between individuals with AD. This knowledge will be crucial for understanding the mechanisms that underlie tau filament formation and for developing novel diagnostics and therapies.
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Morimoto S, Hatsuta H, Kokubo Y, Nakano Y, Hasegawa M, Yoneda M, Hirokawa Y, Kuzuhara S, Shiraishi T, Murayama S. Unusual tau pathology of the cerebellum in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/parkinsonism-dementia complex from the Kii Peninsula, Japan. Brain Pathol 2018; 28:287-291. [PMID: 28236345 DOI: 10.1111/bpa.12500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2016] [Accepted: 02/16/2017] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Satoru Morimoto
- Department of Neuropathology, Tokyo Metropolitan Geriatric Hospital and Institute of Gerontology, Tokyo, Japan.,Department of Oncologic Pathology, Mie University School of Medicine, Mie, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Hatsuta
- Department of Neuropathology, Tokyo Metropolitan Geriatric Hospital and Institute of Gerontology, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yasumasa Kokubo
- Kii ALS/PDC Research Center, Mie University, Graduate School of Regional Innovation Studies, Mie, Japan
| | - Yuta Nakano
- Department of Neuropathology, Tokyo Metropolitan Geriatric Hospital and Institute of Gerontology, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Masato Hasegawa
- Department of Dementia and Higher Brain Function, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Misao Yoneda
- Department of Medical Welfare, Suzuka University of Medical Science, Mie, Japan
| | - Yoshifumi Hirokawa
- Department of Oncologic Pathology, Mie University School of Medicine, Mie, Japan
| | - Shigeki Kuzuhara
- Department of Medical Welfare, Suzuka University of Medical Science, Mie, Japan
| | | | - Shigeo Murayama
- Department of Neuropathology, Tokyo Metropolitan Geriatric Hospital and Institute of Gerontology, Tokyo, Japan
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Ritter ML, Avila J, García-Escudero V, Hernández F, Pérez M. Frontotemporal Dementia-Associated N279K Tau Mutation Localizes at the Nuclear Compartment. Front Cell Neurosci 2018; 12:202. [PMID: 30050413 PMCID: PMC6052045 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2018.00202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2018] [Accepted: 06/21/2018] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Tau is a microtubule-associated protein that plays an important role in Alzheimer’s disease and related tauopathies. Approximately one-half of all cases of Frontotemporal dementia with parkinsonism-17 (FTDP-17) are caused by mutations in the MAPT gene. The N279K mutation is one of the three mutations more prevalent in FTDP-17 cases. Several studies have demonstrated that N279K Tau mutation alters alternative splicing inducing the presence of exon 10. Tau is mainly found in the cytosol of neuronal cells although it has also been localized within the nucleus. Here we demonstrate by biochemical and immunohistochemistry studies in COS-7 cells, that the proportion of mutant N279K Tau increases compared with wild-type at the cell nucleus although cell viability is not affected. These data will provide us with a better outline of the nuclear role of tau protein offering new clues related with this tauopathie.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maxi L Ritter
- Departamento de Anatomía Histología y Neurociencia, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autonoma de Madrid (UAM), Madrid, Spain
| | - Jesús Avila
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Universidad Autonoma de Madrid (UAM), Madrid, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Carlos III Institute of Health, Madrid, Spain
| | - Vega García-Escudero
- Departamento de Anatomía Histología y Neurociencia, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autonoma de Madrid (UAM), Madrid, Spain
| | - Félix Hernández
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Universidad Autonoma de Madrid (UAM), Madrid, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Carlos III Institute of Health, Madrid, Spain
| | - Mar Pérez
- Departamento de Anatomía Histología y Neurociencia, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autonoma de Madrid (UAM), Madrid, Spain
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Uematsu M, Nakamura A, Ebashi M, Hirokawa K, Takahashi R, Uchihara T. Brainstem tau pathology in Alzheimer's disease is characterized by increase of three repeat tau and independent of amyloid β. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2018; 6:1. [PMID: 29298724 PMCID: PMC5753447 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-017-0501-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2017] [Accepted: 11/29/2017] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Alzheimer-type neuropil threads (NTs) and neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) are comprised of either 4 repeat (4R)-tau, 3 repeat (3R)-tau, or a mixture of both. In the hippocampus, the number of NFTs, and the proportion of 3R tau progressively increases. If this preferential accumulation of 3R tau also occurs in the brainstem, it may be fundamentally related to progression of Alzheimer pathology. METHODS Midbrain and pontine sections of brainstems from 23 cases (Braak-NFT stages I/II: 8, III/IV: 8, and V/VI: 7) were double immunofluorolabeled for 4R and 3R tau. High-resolution (0.645 μm/pixel), in-focus snapshots were tiled to cover entire brain sections using a virtual slide system. Each lesion was classified by size (NT < 200 μm2 < NFT) and staining profile (3R/4R). In addition, the localization and quantity of amyloid β (Aβ) deposits were examined in adjacent sections for comparison with tau. RESULTS The data sets obtained from approximately 286 gigabytes of image files consisted of 847,763 NTs and 7859 NFTs. The proportion of 3R tau-positive NTs and NFTs in the midbrain, and 3R tau-positive NTs in the pons gradually increased with advancing NFT stages, while the proportion of 3R tau-positive NFTs in the pons was already elevated at early stages. Aβ deposits were absent at NFT stages I/II, and when present at later stages, their regional distribution was different from that of tau. These observations suggest that a progressive increase in the proportion of 3R tau occurs independently of Aβ deposits. CONCLUSIONS This is the first quantitative analysis of NFTs and NTs in the human brainstem. We demonstrate that the proportion of 3R tau in the brainstem neurofibrillary changes increases with disease progression. Because this phenomenon is shared between the brainstem and the hippocampus, this increase may be fundamental to the pathogenesis of Alzheimer disease.
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Monocyte adhesion to atherosclerotic matrix proteins is enhanced by Asn-Gly-Arg deamidation. Sci Rep 2017; 7:5765. [PMID: 28720870 PMCID: PMC5515959 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-06202-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2017] [Accepted: 06/09/2017] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Atherosclerosis arises from leukocyte infiltration and thickening of the artery walls and constitutes a major component of vascular disease pathology, but the molecular events underpinning this process are not fully understood. Proteins containing an Asn-Gly-Arg (NGR) motif readily undergo deamidation of asparagine to generate isoDGR structures that bind to integrin αvβ3 on circulating leukocytes. Here we report the identification of isoDGR motifs in human atherosclerotic plaque components including extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins fibronectin and tenascin C, which have been strongly implicated in human atherosclerosis. We further demonstrate that deamidation of NGR motifs in fibronectin and tenascin C leads to increased adhesion of the monocytic cell line U937 and enhanced binding of primary human monocytes, except in the presence of a αvβ3-blocking antibody or the αv-selective inhibitor cilengitide. In contrast, under the same deamidating conditions monocyte-macrophages displayed only weak binding to the alternative ECM component vitronectin which lacks NGR motifs. Together, these findings confirm a critical role for isoDGR motifs in mediating leukocyte adhesion to the ECM via integrin αvβ3 and suggest that protein deamidation may promote the pathological progression of human atherosclerosis by enhancing monocyte recruitment to developing plaques.
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38
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Fitzpatrick AW, Falcon B, He S, Murzin AG, Murshudov G, Garringer HJ, Crowther RA, Ghetti B, Goedert M, Scheres SH. Cryo-EM structures of tau filaments from Alzheimer's disease. Nature 2017; 547:185-190. [PMID: 28678775 PMCID: PMC5552202 DOI: 10.1038/nature23002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1296] [Impact Index Per Article: 185.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2017] [Accepted: 06/05/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease is the most common neurodegenerative disease, and there are no mechanism-based therapies. The disease is defined by the presence of abundant neurofibrillary lesions and neuritic plaques in the cerebral cortex. Neurofibrillary lesions comprise paired helical and straight tau filaments, whereas tau filaments with different morphologies characterize other neurodegenerative diseases. No high-resolution structures of tau filaments are available. Here we present cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) maps at 3.4-3.5 Å resolution and corresponding atomic models of paired helical and straight filaments from the brain of an individual with Alzheimer's disease. Filament cores are made of two identical protofilaments comprising residues 306-378 of tau protein, which adopt a combined cross-β/β-helix structure and define the seed for tau aggregation. Paired helical and straight filaments differ in their inter-protofilament packing, showing that they are ultrastructural polymorphs. These findings demonstrate that cryo-EM allows atomic characterization of amyloid filaments from patient-derived material, and pave the way for investigation of a range of neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Benjamin Falcon
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Francis Crick Avenue, Cambridge, CB2 0QH, UK
| | - Shaoda He
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Francis Crick Avenue, Cambridge, CB2 0QH, UK
| | - Alexey G. Murzin
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Francis Crick Avenue, Cambridge, CB2 0QH, UK
| | - Garib Murshudov
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Francis Crick Avenue, Cambridge, CB2 0QH, UK
| | - Holly J. Garringer
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - R. Anthony Crowther
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Francis Crick Avenue, Cambridge, CB2 0QH, UK
| | - Bernardino Ghetti
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - Michel Goedert
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Francis Crick Avenue, Cambridge, CB2 0QH, UK
| | - Sjors H.W. Scheres
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Francis Crick Avenue, Cambridge, CB2 0QH, UK
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Ikeda C, Yokota O, Miki T, Takenoshita S, Ishizu H, Mori Y, Yamazaki K, Ozaki Y, Ueno SI, Ishihara T, Hasegawa M, Terada S, Yamada N. Pick's disease with neuronal four-repeat tau accumulation in the basal ganglia, brain stem nuclei and cerebellum. Neuropathology 2017; 37:544-559. [DOI: 10.1111/neup.12394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2017] [Revised: 05/18/2017] [Accepted: 05/22/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Chikako Ikeda
- Department of Neuropsychiatry; Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences; Okayama Japan
| | - Osamu Yokota
- Department of Neuropsychiatry; Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences; Okayama Japan
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology; Zikei Institute of Psychiatry; Okayama Japan
- Department of Psychiatry; Kinoko Espoir Hospital; Kasaoka Japan
| | - Tomoko Miki
- Department of Neuropsychiatry; Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences; Okayama Japan
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology; Zikei Institute of Psychiatry; Okayama Japan
- Department of Psychiatry; Kinoko Espoir Hospital; Kasaoka Japan
| | - Shintaro Takenoshita
- Department of Neuropsychiatry; Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences; Okayama Japan
| | - Hideki Ishizu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology; Zikei Institute of Psychiatry; Okayama Japan
| | - Yoko Mori
- Department of Neuropsychiatry; Ehime University Graduate School of Medicine; Ehime Japan
| | - Kiyohiro Yamazaki
- Department of Neuropsychiatry; Ehime University Graduate School of Medicine; Ehime Japan
| | - Yuki Ozaki
- Department of Neuropsychiatry; Ehime University Graduate School of Medicine; Ehime Japan
| | - Shu-Ichi Ueno
- Department of Neuropsychiatry; Ehime University Graduate School of Medicine; Ehime Japan
| | - Takeshi Ishihara
- Department of Psychiatry; Kawasaki Medical School; Kurashiki Japan
| | - Masato Hasegawa
- Dementia Research Project; Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science; Tokyo Japan
| | - Seishi Terada
- Department of Neuropsychiatry; Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences; Okayama Japan
| | - Norihito Yamada
- Department of Neuropsychiatry; Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences; Okayama Japan
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40
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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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41
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Avila J, Jiménez JS, Sayas CL, Bolós M, Zabala JC, Rivas G, Hernández F. Tau Structures. Front Aging Neurosci 2016; 8:262. [PMID: 27877124 PMCID: PMC5099159 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2016.00262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2016] [Accepted: 10/21/2016] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Tau is a microtubule-associated protein that plays an important role in axonal stabilization, neuronal development, and neuronal polarity. In this review, we focus on the primary, secondary, tertiary, and quaternary tau structures. We describe the structure of tau from its specific residues until its conformation in dimers, oligomers, and larger polymers in physiological and pathological situations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jesus Avila
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa (Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas-UAM)Madrid, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades NeurodegenerativasMadrid, Spain
| | - Juan S Jiménez
- Departamento de Química Física Aplicada, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid Madrid, Spain
| | - Carmen L Sayas
- Centre for Biomedical Research of the Canary Islands, Institute for Biomedical Technologies, University of La Laguna Tenerife, Spain
| | - Marta Bolós
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa (Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas-UAM)Madrid, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades NeurodegenerativasMadrid, Spain
| | - Juan C Zabala
- Departamento de Biología Molecular, Facultad de Medicina, IDIVAL-Universidad de Cantabria Santander, Spain
| | - Germán Rivas
- Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas Madrid, Spain
| | - Felix Hernández
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa (Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas-UAM)Madrid, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades NeurodegenerativasMadrid, Spain
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Ikeda C, Yokota O, Nagao S, Ishizu H, Oshima E, Hasegawa M, Okahisa Y, Terada S, Yamada N. The Relationship Between Development of Neuronal and Astrocytic Tau Pathologies in Subcortical Nuclei and Progression of Argyrophilic Grain Disease. Brain Pathol 2016; 26:488-505. [PMID: 26439704 PMCID: PMC8029468 DOI: 10.1111/bpa.12319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2015] [Accepted: 09/03/2015] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) cases frequently have argyrophilic grain disease (AGD). However, the PSP-like tau pathology in AGD cases has not been fully clarified. To address this, we examined tau pathologies in the subcortical nuclei and frontal cortex in 19 AGD cases that did not meet the pathological criteria of PSP or corticobasal degeneration, nine PSP cases and 20 Braak NFT stage-matched controls. Of the 19 AGD cases, five (26.3%) had a few Gallyas-positive tau-positive tufted astrocytes (TAs) and Gallyas-negative tau-positive TA-like astrocytic inclusions (TAIs), and six (31.6%) had only TAIs in the striatum and/or frontal cortex. Subcortical tau pathology was sequentially and significantly greater in AGD cases lacking these tau-positive astrocytic lesions, AGD cases having them, and PSP cases than in controls. There was a significant correlation between three histologic factors, including the AGD stage and the quantities of subcortical neuronal and astrocytic tau pathologies. Tau immunoblotting demonstrated 68- and 64-kDa bands and 33-kDa low-molecular mass tau fragments in PSP cases, and although with lesser intensity, in AGD cases with and without TAs and TAIs also. Given these findings, the progression of AGD may be associated with development of the neuronal and astrocytic tau pathologies characteristic of PSP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chikako Ikeda
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical SciencesOkayamaJapan
| | - Osamu Yokota
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical SciencesOkayamaJapan
- Department of PsychiatryKinoko Espoir HospitalOkayamaJapan
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and PathologyZikei Institute of PsychiatryOkayamaJapan
| | - Shigeto Nagao
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical SciencesOkayamaJapan
| | - Hideki Ishizu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and PathologyZikei Institute of PsychiatryOkayamaJapan
| | - Etsuko Oshima
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical SciencesOkayamaJapan
| | - Masato Hasegawa
- Dementia Research ProjectTokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical ScienceTokyoJapan
| | - Yuko Okahisa
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical SciencesOkayamaJapan
| | - Seishi Terada
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical SciencesOkayamaJapan
| | - Norihito Yamada
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical SciencesOkayamaJapan
- Department of PsychiatryKawasaki Medical SchoolOkayamaJapan
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Hasegawa M. Molecular Mechanisms in the Pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease and Tauopathies-Prion-Like Seeded Aggregation and Phosphorylation. Biomolecules 2016; 6:biom6020024. [PMID: 27136595 PMCID: PMC4919919 DOI: 10.3390/biom6020024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2016] [Revised: 04/19/2016] [Accepted: 04/22/2016] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurofibrillary tau pathology (tangles and threads) and extracellular amyloid-β (Aβ) pathology are defining features of Alzheimer’s disease. For 25 years, most research has focused on the amyloid hypothesis of AD pathogenesis and progression. But, because of failures in clinical trials of Aβ-targeted therapies and the new concept of prion-like propagation of intracellular abnormal proteins, tau has come back into the spotlight as a candidate therapeutic target in AD. Tau pathologies are found in a range of neurodegenerative disorders, but extensive analyses of pathological tau in diseased brains has demonstrated that the abnormal tau protein in each disease is structurally distinct, supporting the idea that progression of the diverse but characteristic tau pathologies occurs through prion-like seed-dependent aggregation. Therefore, intervention in the conversion of normal tau to abnormal forms and in cell-to-cell transmission of tau may be the key to development of disease-modifying therapies for AD and other dementing disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masato Hasegawa
- Department of Dementia and Higher Brain Function, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science; Setagaya-ku 156-8506, Japan.
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44
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Biochemical classification of tauopathies by immunoblot, protein sequence and mass spectrometric analyses of sarkosyl-insoluble and trypsin-resistant tau. Acta Neuropathol 2016; 131:267-280. [PMID: 26538150 PMCID: PMC4713716 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-015-1503-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 142] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2015] [Revised: 10/25/2015] [Accepted: 10/25/2015] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Intracellular filamentous tau pathology is the defining feature of tauopathies, which form a subset of neurodegenerative diseases. We have analyzed pathological tau in Alzheimer’s disease, and in frontotemporal lobar degeneration associated with tauopathy to include cases with Pick bodies, corticobasal degeneration, progressive supranuclear palsy, and ones due to intronic mutations in MAPT. We found that the C-terminal band pattern of the pathological tau species is distinct for each disease. Immunoblot analysis of trypsin-resistant tau indicated that the different band patterns of the 7–18 kDa fragments in these diseases likely reflect different conformations of tau molecular species. Protein sequence and mass spectrometric analyses revealed the carboxyl-terminal region (residues 243–406) of tau comprises the protease-resistant core units of the tau aggregates, and the sequence lengths and precise regions involved are different among the diseases. These unique assembled tau cores may be used to classify and diagnose disease strains. Based on these results, we propose a new clinicopathological classification of tauopathies based on the biochemical properties of tau.
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Takeuchi R, Toyoshima Y, Tada M, Tanaka H, Shimizu H, Shiga A, Miura T, Aoki K, Aikawa A, Ishizawa S, Ikeuchi T, Nishizawa M, Kakita A, Takahashi H. Globular Glial Mixed Four Repeat Tau and TDP-43 Proteinopathy with Motor Neuron Disease and Frontotemporal Dementia. Brain Pathol 2016; 26:82-94. [PMID: 25787090 PMCID: PMC8029069 DOI: 10.1111/bpa.12262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2014] [Accepted: 03/05/2015] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) may be accompanied by frontotemporal dementia (FTD). We report a case of glial mixed tau and TDP-43 proteinopathies in a Japanese patient diagnosed clinically as having ALS-D. Autopsy revealed loss of lower motor neurons and degeneration of the pyramidal tracts in the spinal cord and brain stem. The brain showed frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD), the most severe neuronal loss and gliosis being evident in the precentral gyrus. Although less severe, such changes were also observed in other brain regions, including the basal ganglia and substantia nigra. AT8 immunostaining revealed that predominant occurrence of astrocytic tau lesions termed globular astrocytic inclusions (GAIs) was a feature of the affected regions. These GAIs were Gallyas-Braak negative. Neuronal and oligodendrocytic tau lesions were comparatively scarce. pS409/410 immunostaining also revealed similar neuronal and glial TDP-43 lesions. Interestingly, occasional co-localization of tau and TDP-43 was evident in the GAIs. Immunoblot analyses revealed band patterns characteristic of a 4-repeat (4R) tauopathy, corticobasal degeneration and a TDP-43 proteinopathy, ALS/FTLD-TDP Type B. No mutations were found in the MAPT or TDP-43 genes. We consider that this patient harbored a distinct, sporadic globular glial mixed 4R tau and TDP-43 proteinopathy associated with motor neuron disease and FTD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryoko Takeuchi
- Department of PathologyBrain Research InstituteUniversity of NiigataNiigataJapan
- Department of NeurologyBrain Research InstituteUniversity of NiigataNiigataJapan
| | - Yasuko Toyoshima
- Department of PathologyBrain Research InstituteUniversity of NiigataNiigataJapan
| | - Mari Tada
- Department of PathologyBrain Research InstituteUniversity of NiigataNiigataJapan
| | - Hidetomo Tanaka
- Department of PathologyBrain Research InstituteUniversity of NiigataNiigataJapan
| | - Hiroshi Shimizu
- Department of PathologyBrain Research InstituteUniversity of NiigataNiigataJapan
| | - Atsushi Shiga
- Department of Molecular NeuroscienceBrain Research InstituteUniversity of NiigataNiigataJapan
| | - Takeshi Miura
- Department of NeurologyToyama Prefectural Central HospitalToyamaJapan
| | - Kenju Aoki
- Department of NeurologyToyama Prefectural Central HospitalToyamaJapan
| | - Akane Aikawa
- Department of PathologyToyama Prefectural Central HospitalToyamaJapan
| | - Shin Ishizawa
- Department of PathologyToyama Prefectural Central HospitalToyamaJapan
| | - Takeshi Ikeuchi
- Department of Molecular GeneticsBrain Research InstituteUniversity of NiigataNiigataJapan
| | - Masatoyo Nishizawa
- Department of NeurologyBrain Research InstituteUniversity of NiigataNiigataJapan
| | - Akiyoshi Kakita
- Department of PathologyBrain Research InstituteUniversity of NiigataNiigataJapan
| | - Hitoshi Takahashi
- Department of PathologyBrain Research InstituteUniversity of NiigataNiigataJapan
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46
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Irwin DJ, Brettschneider J, McMillan CT, Cooper F, Olm C, Arnold SE, Van Deerlin VM, Seeley WW, Miller BL, Lee EB, Lee VMY, Grossman M, Trojanowski JQ. Deep clinical and neuropathological phenotyping of Pick disease. Ann Neurol 2015; 79:272-87. [PMID: 26583316 DOI: 10.1002/ana.24559] [Citation(s) in RCA: 130] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2015] [Revised: 11/02/2015] [Accepted: 11/15/2015] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To characterize sequential patterns of regional neuropathology and clinical symptoms in a well-characterized cohort of 21 patients with autopsy-confirmed Pick disease. METHODS Detailed neuropathological examination using 70μm and traditional 6μm sections was performed using thioflavin-S staining and immunohistochemistry for phosphorylated tau, 3R and 4R tau isoforms, ubiquitin, and C-terminally truncated tau. Patterns of regional tau deposition were correlated with clinical data. In a subset of cases (n = 5), converging evidence was obtained using antemortem neuroimaging measures of gray and white matter integrity. RESULTS Four sequential patterns of pathological tau deposition were identified starting in frontotemporal limbic/paralimbic and neocortical regions (phase I). Sequential involvement was seen in subcortical structures, including basal ganglia, locus coeruleus, and raphe nuclei (phase II), followed by primary motor cortex and precerebellar nuclei (phase III) and finally visual cortex in the most severe (phase IV) cases. Behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia was the predominant clinical phenotype (18 of 21), but all patients eventually developed a social comportment disorder. Pathological tau phases reflected the evolution of clinical symptoms and degeneration on serial antemortem neuroimaging, directly correlated with disease duration and inversely correlated with brain weight at autopsy. The majority of neuronal and glial tau inclusions were 3R tau-positive and 4R tau-negative in sporadic cases. There was a relative abundance of mature tau pathology markers in frontotemporal limbic/paralimbic regions compared to neocortical regions. INTERPRETATION Pick disease tau neuropathology may originate in limbic/paralimbic cortices. The patterns of tau pathology observed here provide novel insights into the natural history and biology of tau-mediated neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- David J Irwin
- University of Pennsylvania Frontotemporal Degeneration Center, Department of Neurology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA.,Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
| | | | - Corey T McMillan
- University of Pennsylvania Frontotemporal Degeneration Center, Department of Neurology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Felicia Cooper
- University of Pennsylvania Frontotemporal Degeneration Center, Department of Neurology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA.,Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Christopher Olm
- University of Pennsylvania Frontotemporal Degeneration Center, Department of Neurology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Steven E Arnold
- Brain-Behavior Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Vivianna M Van Deerlin
- Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
| | - William W Seeley
- Memory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
| | - Bruce L Miller
- Memory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
| | - Edward B Lee
- Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA.,Translational Neuropathology Research Laboratory, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Virginia M-Y Lee
- Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Murray Grossman
- University of Pennsylvania Frontotemporal Degeneration Center, Department of Neurology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
| | - John Q Trojanowski
- Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
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47
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Kimura T, Hatsuta H, Masuda-Suzukake M, Hosokawa M, Ishiguro K, Akiyama H, Murayama S, Hasegawa M, Hisanaga SI. The Abundance of Nonphosphorylated Tau in Mouse and Human Tauopathy Brains Revealed by the Use of Phos-Tag Method. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PATHOLOGY 2015; 186:398-409. [PMID: 26687814 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajpath.2015.10.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2015] [Revised: 10/07/2015] [Accepted: 10/21/2015] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Tauopathies are neurodegenerative diseases characterized by aggregates of hyperphosphorylated tau. Previous studies have identified many disease-related phosphorylation sites on tau. However, it is not understood how tau is hyperphosphorylated and what extent these sites are phosphorylated in both diseased and normal brains. Most previous studies have used phospho-specific antibodies to analyze tau phosphorylation. These results are useful but do not provide information about nonphosphorylated tau. Here, we applied the method of Phos-tag SDS-PAGE, in which phosphorylated tau was separated from nonphosphorylated tau in vivo. Among heterogeneously phosphorylated tau species in adult mouse brains, the nonphosphorylated 0N4R isoform was detected most abundantly. In contrast, perinatal tau and tau in cold water-stressed mice were all phosphorylated with a similar extent of phosphorylation. In normal elderly human brains, nonphosphorylated 0N3R and 0N4R tau were most abundant. A slightly higher phosphorylation of tau, which may represent the early step of hyperphosphorylation, was increased in Alzheimer disease patients at Braak stage V. Tau with this phosphorylation state was pelleted by centrifugation, and sarkosyl-soluble tau in either Alzheimer disease or corticobasal degeneration brains showed phosphorylation profiles similar to tau in normal human brain, suggesting that hyperphosphorylation occurs in aggregated tau. These results indicate that tau molecules are present in multiple phosphorylation states in vivo, and nonphosphorylated forms are highly expressed among them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taeko Kimura
- Department of Biological Sciences, Laboratory of Molecular Neuroscience, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Hachioji, Tokyo, Japan.
| | - Hiroyuki Hatsuta
- Department of Neuropathology, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology, Itabashi, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Masami Masuda-Suzukake
- Department of Dementia and Higher Brain Function, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Setagaya, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Masato Hosokawa
- Department of Dementia and Higher Brain Function, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Setagaya, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Koichi Ishiguro
- Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medicine, Juntendo University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Haruhiko Akiyama
- Department of Dementia and Higher Brain Function, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Setagaya, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shigeo Murayama
- Department of Neuropathology, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology, Itabashi, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Masato Hasegawa
- Department of Dementia and Higher Brain Function, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Setagaya, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shin-ichi Hisanaga
- Department of Biological Sciences, Laboratory of Molecular Neuroscience, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Hachioji, Tokyo, Japan.
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48
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49
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Bhanuramanand K, Ahmad S, Rao NM. Engineering deamidation-susceptible asparagines leads to improved stability to thermal cycling in a lipase. Protein Sci 2014; 23:1479-90. [PMID: 25043738 DOI: 10.1002/pro.2516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2014] [Revised: 07/09/2014] [Accepted: 07/10/2014] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
At high temperatures, protein stability is influenced by chemical alterations; most important among them is deamidation of asparagines. Deamidation kinetics of asparagines depends on the local sequence, solvent, pH, temperature, and the tertiary structure. Suitable replacement of deamidated asparagines could be a viable strategy to improve deamidation-mediated loss in protein properties, specifically protein thermostability. In this study, we have used nano RP-HPLC coupled ESI MS/MS approach to identify residues susceptible to deamidation in a lipase (6B) on heat treatment. Out of 15 asparagines and six glutamines in 6B, only five asparagines were susceptible to deamidation at temperatures higher than 75°C. These five positions were subjected to site saturation mutagenesis followed by activity screen to identify the most suitable substitutions. Only three of the five asparagines were found to be tolerant to substitutions. Best substitutions at these positions were combined into a mutant. The resultant lipase (mutC) has near identical secondary structure and improved thermal tolerance as compared to its parent. The triple mutant has shown almost two-fold higher residual activity compared to 6B after four cycles at 90°C. MutC has retained more than 50% activity even after incubation at 100°C. Engineering asparagines susceptible to deamidation would be a potential strategy to improve proteins to withstand very high temperatures.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Bhanuramanand
- Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CSIR-CCMB), Hyderabad, 500007, India
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50
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Medina M, Avila J. The role of extracellular Tau in the spreading of neurofibrillary pathology. Front Cell Neurosci 2014; 8:113. [PMID: 24795568 PMCID: PMC4005959 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2014.00113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 115] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2014] [Accepted: 04/05/2014] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The microtubule-associated protein (MAP) tau plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and several related disorders collectively known as tauopathies. Development of tau pathology is associated with progressive neuronal loss and cognitive decline. In the brains of AD patients, tau pathology spreads following an anatomically defined pattern. Mounting evidence strongly suggests that accumulation of abnormal tau is mediated through spreading of seeds of the protein from cell to cell and point at the involvement of extracellular tau species as the main agent in the interneuronal propagation of neurofibrillary lesions and spreading of tau toxicity throughout different brain regions in these disorders. That would support the concept that pathology initiates in a very small part of the brain many years before becoming symptomatic, spreading progressively to the whole brain within 10–20 years. Understanding the precise molecular mechanism underlying tau propagation is crucial for the development of therapeutics for this devastating disorder. In this work, we will discuss recent research on the role of extracellular tau in the spreading of tau pathology, through synaptic and non-synaptic mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel Medina
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED) Madrid, Spain
| | - Jesús Avila
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED) Madrid, Spain ; Centro de Biología Molecular "Severo Ochoa" CSIC-UAM Madrid, Spain
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