1
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Liu Y. Zebrafish as a Model Organism for Studying Pathologic Mechanisms of Neurodegenerative Diseases and other Neural Disorders. Cell Mol Neurobiol 2023:10.1007/s10571-023-01340-w. [PMID: 37004595 DOI: 10.1007/s10571-023-01340-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2023] [Accepted: 03/19/2023] [Indexed: 04/04/2023]
Abstract
Zebrafish are widely considered an excellent vertebrate model for studying the pathogenesis of human diseases because of their transparency of embryonic development, easy breeding, high similarity with human genes, and easy gene manipulation. Previous studies have shown that zebrafish as a model organism provides an ideal operating platform for clarifying the pathological and molecular mechanisms of neurodegenerative diseases and related human diseases. This review mainly summarizes the achievements and prospects of zebrafish used as model organisms in the research of neurodegenerative diseases and other human diseases related to the nervous system in recent years. In the future study of human disease mechanisms, the application of the zebrafish model will continue to provide a valuable operating platform and technical support for investigating and finding better prevention and treatment of these diseases, which has broad application prospects and practical significance. Zebrafish models used in neurodegenerative diseases and other diseases related to the nervous system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanying Liu
- Department of Basic Medicine, School of Nursing and Health, Qingdao Huanghai University, Qingdao, 266427, China.
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2
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Bashirzade AA, Zabegalov KN, Volgin AD, Belova AS, Demin KA, de Abreu MS, Babchenko VY, Bashirzade KA, Yenkoyan KB, Tikhonova MA, Amstislavskaya TG, Kalueff AV. Modeling neurodegenerative disorders in zebrafish. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2022; 138:104679. [PMID: 35490912 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2022.104679] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2021] [Revised: 04/11/2022] [Accepted: 04/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Neurodegeneration is a major cause of Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, Huntington's, multiple and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, pontocerebellar hypoplasia, dementia and other related brain disorders. Their complex pathogenesis commonly includes genetic and neurochemical deficits, misfolded protein toxicity, demyelination, apoptosis and mitochondrial dysfunctions. Albeit differing in specific underlying mechanisms, neurodegenerative disorders typically display evolutionarily conserved mechanisms across taxa. Here, we review the role of zebrafish models in recapitulating major human and rodent neurodegenerative conditions, demonstrating this species as a highly relevant experimental model for research on neurodegenerative diseases, and discussing how these fish models can further clarify the underlying genetic, neurochemical, neuroanatomical and behavioral pathogenic mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alim A Bashirzade
- Novosibirsk State University, Institute of Medicine and Psychology, Novosibirsk, Russia; Scientific Research Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | | | - Andrey D Volgin
- Novosibirsk State University, Institute of Medicine and Psychology, Novosibirsk, Russia; Scientific Research Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Alisa S Belova
- Novosibirsk State University, Institute of Medicine and Psychology, Novosibirsk, Russia; Scientific Research Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Konstantin A Demin
- Institute of Translational Biomedicine, St. Petersburg State University, St. Petersburg, Russia; Granov Scientific Research Center of Radiology and Surgical Technologies, St. Petersburg, Russia; Almazov Medical Research Center, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | | | - Vladislav Ya Babchenko
- Novosibirsk State University, Institute of Medicine and Psychology, Novosibirsk, Russia; Scientific Research Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Kseniya A Bashirzade
- Novosibirsk State University, Institute of Medicine and Psychology, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Konstantin B Yenkoyan
- Neuroscience Laboratory, COBRAIN Center, M Heratsi Yerevan State Medical University, Yerevan, Armenia; COBRAIN Center - Scientific Educational Center for Fundamental Brain Research, Yerevan, Armenia
| | - Maria A Tikhonova
- Novosibirsk State University, Institute of Medicine and Psychology, Novosibirsk, Russia; Scientific Research Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Tamara G Amstislavskaya
- Novosibirsk State University, Institute of Medicine and Psychology, Novosibirsk, Russia; Scientific Research Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Allan V Kalueff
- The Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia; Ural Federal University, Yekaterinburg, Russia; COBRAIN Center - Scientific Educational Center for Fundamental Brain Research, Yerevan, Armenia.
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3
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Lu D, Ma R, Xie Q, Xu Z, Yuan J, Ren M, Li J, Li Y, Wang J. Application and advantages of zebrafish model in the study of neurovascular unit. Eur J Pharmacol 2021; 910:174483. [PMID: 34481878 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2021.174483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2021] [Revised: 08/25/2021] [Accepted: 09/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
The concept of "Neurovascular Unit" (NVU) was put forward, so that the research goal of Central Nervous System (CNS) diseases gradually transitioned from a single neuron to the structural and functional integrity of the NVU. Zebrafish has the advantages of high homology with human genes, strong reproductive capacity and visualization of neural circuits, so it has become an emerging model organism for NVU research and has been applied to a variety of CNS diseases. Based on CNKI (https://www.cnki.net/) and PubMed (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/about/) databases, the author of this article sorted out the relevant literature, analyzed the construction of a zebrafish model of various CNS diseases,and the use of diagrams showed the application of zebrafish in the NVU, revealed its relationship, which would provide new methods and references for the treatment and research of CNS diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danni Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, Chengdu, 611137, China; School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611137, China
| | - Rong Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, Chengdu, 611137, China; School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611137, China
| | - Qian Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, Chengdu, 611137, China; School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611137, China
| | - Zhuo Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, Chengdu, 611137, China; School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611137, China
| | - Jianmei Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, Chengdu, 611137, China; School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611137, China
| | - Mihong Ren
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, Chengdu, 611137, China; School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611137, China
| | - Jinxiu Li
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, Chengdu, 611137, China; School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611137, China
| | - Yong Li
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, Chengdu, 611137, China; School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611137, China
| | - Jian Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, Chengdu, 611137, China; School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611137, China.
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4
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Giong HK, Subramanian M, Yu K, Lee JS. Non-Rodent Genetic Animal Models for Studying Tauopathy: Review of Drosophila, Zebrafish, and C. elegans Models. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:8465. [PMID: 34445171 PMCID: PMC8395099 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22168465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Revised: 08/03/2021] [Accepted: 08/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Tauopathy refers to a group of progressive neurodegenerative diseases, including frontotemporal lobar degeneration and Alzheimer's disease, which correlate with the malfunction of microtubule-associated protein Tau (MAPT) due to abnormal hyperphosphorylation, leading to the formation of intracellular aggregates in the brain. Despite extensive efforts to understand tauopathy and develop an efficient therapy, our knowledge is still far from complete. To find a solution for this group of devastating diseases, several animal models that mimic diverse disease phenotypes of tauopathy have been developed. Rodents are the dominating tauopathy models because of their similarity to humans and established disease lines, as well as experimental approaches. However, powerful genetic animal models using Drosophila, zebrafish, and C. elegans have also been developed for modeling tauopathy and have contributed to understanding the pathophysiology of tauopathy. The success of these models stems from the short lifespans, versatile genetic tools, real-time in-vivo imaging, low maintenance costs, and the capability for high-throughput screening. In this review, we summarize the main findings on mechanisms of tauopathy and discuss the current tauopathy models of these non-rodent genetic animals, highlighting their key advantages and limitations in tauopathy research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hoi-Khoanh Giong
- Disease Target Structure Research Center, KRIBB, 125 Gwahak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34141, Korea; (H.-K.G.); (M.S.)
- KRIBB School, University of Science and Technology, 125 Gwahak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34141, Korea
- Dementia DTC R&D Convergence Program, KIST, Hwarang-ro 14 gil 5, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 02792, Korea
| | - Manivannan Subramanian
- Disease Target Structure Research Center, KRIBB, 125 Gwahak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34141, Korea; (H.-K.G.); (M.S.)
- Dementia DTC R&D Convergence Program, KIST, Hwarang-ro 14 gil 5, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 02792, Korea
| | - Kweon Yu
- Disease Target Structure Research Center, KRIBB, 125 Gwahak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34141, Korea; (H.-K.G.); (M.S.)
- KRIBB School, University of Science and Technology, 125 Gwahak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34141, Korea
- Dementia DTC R&D Convergence Program, KIST, Hwarang-ro 14 gil 5, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 02792, Korea
| | - Jeong-Soo Lee
- Disease Target Structure Research Center, KRIBB, 125 Gwahak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34141, Korea; (H.-K.G.); (M.S.)
- KRIBB School, University of Science and Technology, 125 Gwahak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34141, Korea
- Dementia DTC R&D Convergence Program, KIST, Hwarang-ro 14 gil 5, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 02792, Korea
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5
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Wang X, Zhang JB, He KJ, Wang F, Liu CF. Advances of Zebrafish in Neurodegenerative Disease: From Models to Drug Discovery. Front Pharmacol 2021; 12:713963. [PMID: 34335276 PMCID: PMC8317260 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.713963] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2021] [Accepted: 06/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurodegenerative disease (NDD), including Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, are characterized by the progressive loss of neurons which leads to the decline of motor and/or cognitive function. Currently, the prevalence of NDD is rapidly increasing in the aging population. However, valid drugs or treatment for NDD are still lacking. The clinical heterogeneity and complex pathogenesis of NDD pose a great challenge for the development of disease-modifying therapies. Numerous animal models have been generated to mimic the pathological conditions of these diseases for drug discovery. Among them, zebrafish (Danio rerio) models are progressively emerging and becoming a powerful tool for in vivo study of NDD. Extensive use of zebrafish in pharmacology research or drug screening is due to the high conserved evolution and 87% homology to humans. In this review, we summarize the zebrafish models used in NDD studies, and highlight the recent findings on pharmacological targets for NDD treatment. As high-throughput platforms in zebrafish research have rapidly developed in recent years, we also discuss the application prospects of these new technologies in future NDD research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaobo Wang
- Department of Neurology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China.,Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Diseases and Institute of Neuroscience, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Jin-Bao Zhang
- Department of Neurology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China.,Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Diseases and Institute of Neuroscience, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Kai-Jie He
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Diseases and Institute of Neuroscience, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Fen Wang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Diseases and Institute of Neuroscience, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Chun-Feng Liu
- Department of Neurology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China.,Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Diseases and Institute of Neuroscience, Soochow University, Suzhou, China.,Department of Neurology, Suqian First Hospital, Suqian, China
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6
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Kiper K, Freeman JL. Use of Zebrafish Genetic Models to Study Etiology of the Amyloid-Beta and Neurofibrillary Tangle Pathways in Alzheimer's Disease. Curr Neuropharmacol 2021; 20:524-539. [PMID: 34030617 DOI: 10.2174/1570159x19666210524155944] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2021] [Revised: 04/09/2021] [Accepted: 05/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The prevalence of neurodegenerative diseases is increasing globally, with an imperative need to identify and expand the availability of pharmaceutical treatment strategies. Alzheimer's disease is the most common neurodegenerative disease for which there is no cure or has limited treatments. Rodent models are primarily used in Alzheimer's disease research to investigate causes, pathology, molecular mechanisms, and pharmaceutical therapies. However, there is a lack of a comprehensive understanding of Alzheimer's disease causes, pathogenesis, and optimal treatments due in part to some limitations of using rodents, including higher economic cost, which can influence sample size and ultimately statistical power. It is necessary to expand our animal model toolbox to provide alternative strategies in Alzheimer's disease research. The zebrafish application in neurodegenerative disease research and neuropharmacology is greatly expanding due to several vital strengths spanning lower economic costs, the smaller size of the organism, a sequenced characterized genome, and well described anatomical structures. These characteristics are coupled to the conserved molecular function and disease pathways in humans. The existence of orthologs for genes associated with Alzheimer's disease in zebrafish is also confirmed. While wild-type zebrafish appear to lack some of the neuropathological features of Alzheimer's disease, the advent of genetic editing technologies has expanded evaluation of the amyloid and neurofibrillary tangle hypotheses using the zebrafish and exploration of pharmaceutical molecular targets. An overview of how genetic editing technologies are being used with the zebrafish to create models to investigate the causes, pathology, molecular mechanisms, and pharmaceutical targets of Alzheimer's disease is detailed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keturah Kiper
- School of Health Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, United States
| | - Jennifer L Freeman
- School of Health Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, United States
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7
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Zebrafish Models to Study New Pathways in Tauopathies. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22094626. [PMID: 33924882 PMCID: PMC8125481 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22094626] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Revised: 04/13/2021] [Accepted: 04/24/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Tauopathies represent a vast family of neurodegenerative diseases, the most well-known of which is Alzheimer’s disease. The symptoms observed in patients include cognitive deficits and locomotor problems and can lead ultimately to dementia. The common point found in all these pathologies is the accumulation in neural and/or glial cells of abnormal forms of Tau protein, leading to its aggregation and neurofibrillary tangles. Zebrafish transgenic models have been generated with different overexpression strategies of human Tau protein. These transgenic lines have made it possible to highlight Tau interacting factors or factors which may limit the neurotoxicity induced by mutations and hyperphosphorylation of the Tau protein in neurons. Several studies have tested neuroprotective pharmacological approaches. On few-days-old larvae, modulation of various signaling or degradation pathways reversed the deleterious effects of Tau mutations, mainly hTauP301L and hTauA152T. Live imaging and live tracking techniques as well as behavioral follow-up enable the analysis of the wide range of Tau-related phenotypes from synaptic loss to cognitive functional consequences.
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8
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Ding Y, Lei L, Lai C, Tang Z. Tau Protein and Zebrafish Models for Tau-Induced Neurodegeneration. J Alzheimers Dis 2020; 69:339-353. [PMID: 31006683 DOI: 10.3233/jad-180917] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Tauopathies are a specific type of slow and progressive neurodegeneration, which involves intracellular deposition of fibrillar material composed of abnormal hyperphosphorylation of the microtubule associated protein (MAP) tau. Despite many years of intensive research, our understanding of the molecular events that lead to neurodegeneration is far from complete. No effective therapeutic treatments have been defined, and questions surround the validity and utility of existing animal models. It is an urgent need to develop a novel animal model to study the underlying neurodegenerative mechanisms of tauopathies. Zebrafish models of tauopathies could complement existing models by providing an in vivo platform for genetic and chemical screens in order to identify new therapeutic targets and compounds, meanwhile zebrafish models have permitted discovery of unique characteristics of these genes that could have been difficultly observed in other models. Novel transgenic zebrafish models expressing wild-type or mutant forms of human 4R-tau in neurons have recently been reported. These studies show disease-relevant changes including tau hyperphosphorylation, aggregation and somato-dendritic relocalization. This review highlights the availability of transgenic tau zebrafish models that allow more detailed biochemical studies of tau in the zebrafish CNS to characterize solubility, fibril morphology and further clarify phosphorylation proceedings. Furthermore, a deeper knowledge of the zebrafish brain and a better characterization of tau caused by alterations in neurodegenerative disorders are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanting Ding
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First Affliated Hospital of Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guiyang, Guizhou, China
| | - Lijuan Lei
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First Affliated Hospital of Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guiyang, Guizhou, China
| | - Chencen Lai
- Clinical Research Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guiyang, Guizhou, China
| | - Zhi Tang
- Clinical Research Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guiyang, Guizhou, China
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9
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Cellular Localization of gdnf in Adult Zebrafish Brain. Brain Sci 2020; 10:brainsci10050286. [PMID: 32403347 PMCID: PMC7288084 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci10050286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2020] [Revised: 05/04/2020] [Accepted: 05/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) was initially described as important for dopaminergic neuronal survival and is involved in many other essential functions in the central nervous system. Characterization of GDNF phenotype in mammals is well described; however, studies in non-mammalian vertebrate models are scarce. Here, we characterized the anatomical distribution of gdnf-expressing cells in adult zebrafish brain by means of combined in situ hybridization (ISH) and immunohistochemistry. Our results revealed that gdnf was widely dispersed in the brain. gdnf transcripts were co-localized with radial glial cells along the ventricular area of the telencephalon and in the hypothalamus. Interestingly, Sox2 positive cells expressed gdnf in the neuronal layer but not in the ventricular zone of the telencephalon. A subset of GABAergic precursor cells labeled with dlx6a-1.4kbdlx5a/6a: green fluorescence protein (GFP) in the pallium, parvocellular preoptic nucleus, and the anterior and dorsal zones of the periventricular hypothalamus also showed expression with gdnf mRNA. In addition, gdnf signals were detected in subsets of dopaminergic neurons, including those in the ventral diencephalon, similar to what is seen in mammalian brain. Our work extends our knowledge of gdnf action sites and suggests a potential role for gdnf in adult brain neurogenesis and regeneration.
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10
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Caballero AB, Espargaró A, Pont C, Busquets MA, Estelrich J, Muñoz-Torrero D, Gamez P, Sabate R. Bacterial Inclusion Bodies for Anti-Amyloid Drug Discovery: Current and Future Screening Methods. Curr Protein Pept Sci 2019; 20:563-576. [PMID: 30924417 DOI: 10.2174/1389203720666190329120007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2018] [Revised: 03/20/2019] [Accepted: 03/22/2019] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Amyloid aggregation is linked to an increasing number of human disorders from nonneurological pathologies such as type-2 diabetes to neurodegenerative ones such as Alzheimer or Parkinson's diseases. Thirty-six human proteins have shown the capacity to aggregate into pathological amyloid structures. To date, it is widely accepted that amyloid folding/aggregation is a universal process present in eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells. In the last decade, several studies have unequivocally demonstrated that bacterial inclusion bodies - insoluble protein aggregates usually formed during heterologous protein overexpression in bacteria - are mainly composed of overexpressed proteins in amyloid conformation. This fact shows that amyloid-prone proteins display a similar aggregation propensity in humans and bacteria, opening the possibility to use bacteria as simple models to study amyloid aggregation process and the potential effect of both anti-amyloid drugs and pro-aggregative compounds. Under these considerations, several in vitro and in cellulo methods, which exploit the amyloid properties of bacterial inclusion bodies, have been proposed in the last few years. Since these new methods are fast, simple, inexpensive, highly reproducible, and tunable, they have aroused great interest as preliminary screening tools in the search for anti-amyloid (beta-blocker) drugs for conformational diseases. The aim of this mini-review is to compile recently developed methods aimed at tracking amyloid aggregation in bacteria, discussing their advantages and limitations, and the future potential applications of inclusion bodies in anti-amyloid drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana B Caballero
- Department of Inorganic and Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Barcelona, E-08028 Barcelona, Spain.,Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (IN2UB), University of Barcelona, E-08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Alba Espargaró
- Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (IN2UB), University of Barcelona, E-08028 Barcelona, Spain.,Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology and Physical-Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, University of Barcelona, E-08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Caterina Pont
- Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Chemistry (CSIC Associated Unit), Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, University of Barcelona, E-08028 Barcelona, Spain.,Institute of Biomedicine (IBUB), University of Barcelona, E-08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Maria Antònia Busquets
- Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (IN2UB), University of Barcelona, E-08028 Barcelona, Spain.,Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology and Physical-Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, University of Barcelona, E-08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Joan Estelrich
- Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (IN2UB), University of Barcelona, E-08028 Barcelona, Spain.,Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology and Physical-Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, University of Barcelona, E-08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Diego Muñoz-Torrero
- Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Chemistry (CSIC Associated Unit), Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, University of Barcelona, E-08028 Barcelona, Spain.,Institute of Biomedicine (IBUB), University of Barcelona, E-08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Patrick Gamez
- Department of Inorganic and Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Barcelona, E-08028 Barcelona, Spain.,Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (IN2UB), University of Barcelona, E-08028 Barcelona, Spain.,Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats (ICREA), Passeig Lluís Companys 23, 08010 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Raimon Sabate
- Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (IN2UB), University of Barcelona, E-08028 Barcelona, Spain.,Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology and Physical-Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, University of Barcelona, E-08028 Barcelona, Spain
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11
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Alavi Naini SM, Soussi-Yanicostas N. Heparan Sulfate as a Therapeutic Target in Tauopathies: Insights From Zebrafish. Front Cell Dev Biol 2018; 6:163. [PMID: 30619849 PMCID: PMC6306439 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2018.00163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2018] [Accepted: 11/15/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Microtubule-associated protein tau (MAPT) hyperphosphorylation and aggregation, are two hallmarks of a family of neurodegenerative disorders collectively referred to as tauopathies. In many tauopathies, including Alzheimer's disease (AD), progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) and Pick's disease, tau aggregates are found associated with highly sulfated polysaccharides known as heparan sulfates (HSs). In AD, amyloid beta (Aβ) peptide aggregates associated with HS are also characteristic of disease. Heparin, an HS analog, promotes misfolding, hyperphosphorylation and aggregation of tau protein in vitro. HS also provides cell surface receptors for attachment and uptake of tau seeds, enabling their propagation. These findings point to HS-tau interactions as potential therapeutic targets in tauopathies. The zebrafish genome contains genes paralogous to MAPT, genes orthologous to HS biosynthetic and chain modifier enzymes, and other genes implicated in AD. The nervous system in the zebrafish bears anatomical and chemical similarities to that in humans. These homologies, together with numerous technical advantages, make zebrafish a valuable model for investigating basic mechanisms in tauopathies and identifying therapeutic targets. Here, we comprehensively review current knowledge on the role of HSs in tau pathology and HS-targeting therapeutic approaches. We also discuss novel insights from zebrafish suggesting a role for HS 3-O-sulfated motifs in tau pathology and establishing HS antagonists as potential preventive agents or therapies for tauopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seyedeh Maryam Alavi Naini
- Department of Neuroscience, Institut de Biologie Paris Seine (IBPS), INSERM, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France
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12
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Green AJ, Planchart A. The neurological toxicity of heavy metals: A fish perspective. Comp Biochem Physiol C Toxicol Pharmacol 2018; 208:12-19. [PMID: 29199130 PMCID: PMC5936656 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpc.2017.11.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2017] [Revised: 11/22/2017] [Accepted: 11/23/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The causes of neurodegenerative diseases are complex with likely contributions from genetic susceptibility and environmental exposures over an organism's lifetime. In this review, we examine the role that aquatic models, especially zebrafish, have played in the elucidation of mechanisms of heavy metal toxicity and nervous system function over the last decade. Focus is applied to cadmium, lead, and mercury as significant contributors to central nervous system morbidity, and the application of numerous transgenic zebrafish expressing fluorescent reporters in specific neuronal populations or brain regions enabling high-resolution neurodevelopmental and neurotoxicology research.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Animals, Genetically Modified
- Behavior, Animal/drug effects
- Disease Models, Animal
- Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental/drug effects
- Heavy Metal Poisoning, Nervous System/etiology
- Heavy Metal Poisoning, Nervous System/genetics
- Heavy Metal Poisoning, Nervous System/metabolism
- Heavy Metal Poisoning, Nervous System/pathology
- Humans
- Metals, Heavy/toxicity
- Nerve Degeneration
- Nervous System/drug effects
- Nervous System/metabolism
- Nervous System/pathology
- Nervous System/physiopathology
- Neurons/drug effects
- Neurons/metabolism
- Neurons/pathology
- Risk Assessment
- Water Pollutants, Chemical/toxicity
- Zebrafish/genetics
- Zebrafish/metabolism
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrian J Green
- Graduate Program in Toxicology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, United States; Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, United States
| | - Antonio Planchart
- Graduate Program in Toxicology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, United States; Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, United States; Center for Human Health and the Environment, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, United States; W. M. Keck Center for Behavioral Biology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, United States.
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13
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Ovchinnikov DA, Korn O, Virshup I, Wells CA, Wolvetang EJ. The Impact of APP on Alzheimer-like Pathogenesis and Gene Expression in Down Syndrome iPSC-Derived Neurons. Stem Cell Reports 2018; 11:32-42. [PMID: 29861166 PMCID: PMC6066957 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2018.05.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2017] [Revised: 05/03/2018] [Accepted: 05/04/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Early-onset Alzheimer disease (AD)-like pathology in Down syndrome is commonly attributed to an increased dosage of the amyloid precursor protein (APP) gene. To test this in an isogenic human model, we deleted the supernumerary copy of the APP gene in trisomic Down syndrome induced pluripotent stem cells or upregulated APP expression in euploid human pluripotent stem cells using CRISPRa. Cortical neuronal differentiation shows that an increased APP gene dosage is responsible for increased β-amyloid production, altered Aβ42/40 ratio, and deposition of the pyroglutamate (E3)-containing amyloid aggregates, but not for several tau-related AD phenotypes or increased apoptosis. Transcriptome comparisons demonstrate that APP has a widespread and temporally modulated impact on neuronal gene expression. Collectively, these data reveal an important role for APP in the amyloidogenic aspects of AD but challenge the idea that increased APP levels are solely responsible for increasing specific phosphorylated forms of tau or enhanced neuronal cell death in Down syndrome-associated AD pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dmitry A Ovchinnikov
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Othmar Korn
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Isaac Virshup
- Centre for Stem Cell Systems, MDHS, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Christine A Wells
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia; Centre for Stem Cell Systems, MDHS, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Ernst J Wolvetang
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia.
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Abstract
With the ever-growing geriatric population, research on brain diseases such as dementia is more imperative now than ever. The most prevalent of all dementias is Alzheimer's disease, a progressive neurodegenerative disease that presents with deficits in memory, cognition, motor skills, and a general decline in the quality of life. The social and economic burden associated with Alzheimer's disease is tremendous and is projected to grow even greater over the coming years. There is a specific need to elucidate and improve the treatments available, not only to alleviate the symptoms related to dementias such as Alzheimer's but also to prevent the formation of the disease. This is an effort that can be expedited and made more efficient by utilizing an animal model such as the zebrafish. This paper reviews the utility of zebrafish in Alzheimer's research by examining research on a sampling of the treatments available for the disease, specifically donepezil, memantine, and methylene blue. The human model and the shortcomings of the rodent model are also discussed.
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15
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Cosacak MI, Bhattarai P, Bocova L, Dzewas T, Mashkaryan V, Papadimitriou C, Brandt K, Hollak H, Antos CL, Kizil C. Human TAU P301L overexpression results in TAU hyperphosphorylation without neurofibrillary tangles in adult zebrafish brain. Sci Rep 2017; 7:12959. [PMID: 29021554 PMCID: PMC5636889 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-13311-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2017] [Accepted: 09/20/2017] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Microtubule-associated TAU protein is a pathological hallmark in Alzheimer's disease (AD), where hyperphosphorylation of TAU generates neurofibrillary tangles. To investigate the effects of TAU in a regenerative adult vertebrate brain system, we generated a cre/lox-based transgenic model of zebrafish that chronically expresses human TAUP301L, which is a variant of human TAU protein that forms neurofibrillary tangles in mouse models and humans. Interestingly, we found that although chronic and abundant expression of TAUP301L starting from early embryonic development led to hyperphosphorylation, TAUP301L did not form oligomers and neurofibrillary tangles, and did not cause elevated apoptosis and microglial activation, which are classical symptoms of tauopathies in mammals. Additionally, TAUP301L neither increased neural stem cell proliferation nor activated the expression of regenerative factor Interleukin-4, indicating that TAUP301L toxicity is prevented in the adult zebrafish brain. By combining TAUP301L expression with our established Aβ42 toxicity model, we found that Aβ42 ceases to initiate neurofibrillary tangle formation by TAUP301L, and TAUP301L does not exacerbate the toxicity of Aβ42. Therefore, our results propose a cellular mechanism that protects the adult zebrafish brain against tauopathies, and our model can be used to understand how TAU toxicity can be prevented in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mehmet I Cosacak
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Arnoldstrasse 18, 01307, Dresden, Germany
| | - Prabesh Bhattarai
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Arnoldstrasse 18, 01307, Dresden, Germany
| | - Ledio Bocova
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Arnoldstrasse 18, 01307, Dresden, Germany
| | - Tim Dzewas
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Arnoldstrasse 18, 01307, Dresden, Germany
| | - Violeta Mashkaryan
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Arnoldstrasse 18, 01307, Dresden, Germany
- Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden (CRTD), TU Dresden, Fetscherstrasse 105, 01307, Dresden, Germany
| | - Christos Papadimitriou
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Arnoldstrasse 18, 01307, Dresden, Germany
| | - Kerstin Brandt
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Arnoldstrasse 18, 01307, Dresden, Germany
| | - Heike Hollak
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Arnoldstrasse 18, 01307, Dresden, Germany
| | - Christopher L Antos
- School of Life Sciences and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, 100 Haike Road, Shanghai, China
| | - Caghan Kizil
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Arnoldstrasse 18, 01307, Dresden, Germany.
- Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden (CRTD), TU Dresden, Fetscherstrasse 105, 01307, Dresden, Germany.
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16
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Wu BK, Yuan RY, Chang YP, Lien HW, Chen TS, Chien HC, Tong TS, Tsai HP, Fang CL, Liao YF, Chang CC, Chen RPY, Huang CJ. Epicatechin isolated from Tripterygium wilfordii extract reduces tau-GFP-induced neurotoxicity in zebrafish embryo through the activation of Nrf2. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2016; 477:283-9. [PMID: 27301640 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2016.06.058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2016] [Accepted: 06/11/2016] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Tau plays important roles in the assembly and stabilization of the microtubule structure to facilitate axonal transport in mammalian brain. The intracellular tau aggregates to form paired helical filaments leading to neurodegenerative disorders, collectively called tauopathies. In our previous report, we established a zebrafish model to express tau-GFP to induce neuronal death, which could be directly traced in vivo. Recently, we used this model to screen 400 herbal extracts and found 45 of them to be effective on reducing tau-GFP-induced neuronal death. One of the effective herbal extracts is the Tripterygium wilfordii stem extract. HPLC analysis and functional assay demonstrated that epicatechin (EC) is the major compound of Tripterygium wilfordii stem extract to decrease the neurotoxicity induced by tau-GFP. Using a luciferase reporter assay in the zebrafish, we confirmed that EC could activate Nrf2-dependent antioxidant responses to significantly increase the ARE-controlled expression of luciferase reporter gene. These data suggest that EC from the Tripterygium wilfordii stem extract could diminish tau-GFP-induced neuronal death through the activation of Nrf2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo-Kai Wu
- Institute of Biotechnology, National Taiwan University, Taipei 106, Taiwan; Institute of Biological Chemistry, Academia Sinica, Taipei 115, Taiwan
| | - Rey-Yue Yuan
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110, Taiwan
| | - Yen-Pu Chang
- Institute of Biological Chemistry, Academia Sinica, Taipei 115, Taiwan
| | - Huang-Wei Lien
- Institute of Cellular and Organismic Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei 115, Taiwan
| | - Ting-Shou Chen
- Biomedical Technology and Device Research Laboratories, Industrial Technology Research Institute, Hsinchu 31040, Taiwan
| | - Hung-Chi Chien
- Biomedical Technology and Device Research Laboratories, Industrial Technology Research Institute, Hsinchu 31040, Taiwan
| | - Tien-Soung Tong
- Biomedical Technology and Device Research Laboratories, Industrial Technology Research Institute, Hsinchu 31040, Taiwan
| | - Hui-Ping Tsai
- Biomedical Technology and Device Research Laboratories, Industrial Technology Research Institute, Hsinchu 31040, Taiwan
| | - Cheng-Li Fang
- Biomedical Technology and Device Research Laboratories, Industrial Technology Research Institute, Hsinchu 31040, Taiwan
| | - Yung-Feng Liao
- Institute of Cellular and Organismic Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei 115, Taiwan
| | - Chun-Che Chang
- Institute of Biotechnology, National Taiwan University, Taipei 106, Taiwan; Department of Entomology, National Taiwan University, Taipei 106, Taiwan.
| | - Rita P-Y Chen
- Institute of Biological Chemistry, Academia Sinica, Taipei 115, Taiwan; Institute of Biochemical Sciences, National Taiwan University, Taipei 106, Taiwan.
| | - Chang-Jen Huang
- Institute of Biological Chemistry, Academia Sinica, Taipei 115, Taiwan; Institute of Biochemical Sciences, National Taiwan University, Taipei 106, Taiwan.
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