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Riba M, del Valle J, Romera C, Alsina R, Molina-Porcel L, Pelegrí C, Vilaplana J. Uncovering tau in wasteosomes (corpora amylacea) of Alzheimer’s disease patients. Front Aging Neurosci 2023; 15:1110425. [PMID: 37065464 PMCID: PMC10101234 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2023.1110425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/14/2023] [Indexed: 04/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Brain corpora amylacea, recently renamed as wasteosomes, are polyglucosan bodies that appear during aging and some neurodegenerative conditions. They collect waste substances and are part of a brain cleaning mechanism. For decades, studies on their composition have produced inconsistent results and the presence of tau protein in them has been controversial. In this work, we reanalyzed the presence of this protein in wasteosomes and we pointed out a methodological problem when immunolabeling. It is well known that to detect tau it is necessary to perform an antigen retrieval. However, in the case of wasteosomes, an excessive antigen retrieval with boiling dissolves their polyglucosan structure, releases the entrapped proteins and, thus, prevents their detection. After performing an adequate pre-treatment, with an intermediate time of boiling, we observed that some brain wasteosomes from patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) contained tau, while we did not detect tau protein in those from non-AD patients. These observations pointed the different composition of wasteosomes depending on the neuropathological condition and reinforce the role of wasteosomes as waste containers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Riba
- Secció de Fisiologia, Departament de Bioquímica i Fisiologia, Facultat de Farmàcia i Ciències de l’Alimentació, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Institut de Neurociències, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Madrid, Spain
| | - Jaume del Valle
- Secció de Fisiologia, Departament de Bioquímica i Fisiologia, Facultat de Farmàcia i Ciències de l’Alimentació, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Institut de Neurociències, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Madrid, Spain
| | - Clara Romera
- Secció de Fisiologia, Departament de Bioquímica i Fisiologia, Facultat de Farmàcia i Ciències de l’Alimentació, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Institut de Neurociències, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Raquel Alsina
- Secció de Fisiologia, Departament de Bioquímica i Fisiologia, Facultat de Farmàcia i Ciències de l’Alimentació, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Institut de Neurociències, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Laura Molina-Porcel
- Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Cognitive Disorders Unit, Neurology Service, Hospital Clinic, Institut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Neurological Tissue Bank of the Biobanc-Hospital Clinic-IDIBAPS, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Carme Pelegrí
- Secció de Fisiologia, Departament de Bioquímica i Fisiologia, Facultat de Farmàcia i Ciències de l’Alimentació, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Institut de Neurociències, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Madrid, Spain
- *Correspondence: Carme Pelegrí,
| | - Jordi Vilaplana
- Secció de Fisiologia, Departament de Bioquímica i Fisiologia, Facultat de Farmàcia i Ciències de l’Alimentació, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Institut de Neurociències, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Madrid, Spain
- Jordi Vilaplana,
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Manich G, Augé E, Cabezón I, Pallàs M, Vilaplana J, Pelegrí C. Correction: Neo-epitopes emerging in the degenerative hippocampal granules of aged mice can be recognized by natural IgM auto-antibodies. Immun Ageing 2022; 19:37. [PMID: 35971125 PMCID: PMC9377068 DOI: 10.1186/s12979-022-00293-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
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3
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Wander CM, Tsujimoto THM, Ervin JF, Wang C, Maranto SM, Bhat V, Dallmeier JD, Wang SHJ, Lin FC, Scott WK, Holtzman DM, Cohen TJ. Corpora amylacea are associated with tau burden and cognitive status in Alzheimer's disease. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2022; 10:110. [PMID: 35941704 PMCID: PMC9361643 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-022-01409-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2022] [Accepted: 07/16/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Corpora amylacea (CA) and their murine analogs, periodic acid Schiff (PAS) granules, are age-related, carbohydrate-rich structures that serve as waste repositories for aggregated proteins, damaged cellular organelles, and other cellular debris. The structure, morphology, and suspected functions of CA in the brain imply disease relevance. Despite this, the link between CA and age-related neurodegenerative diseases, particularly Alzheimer's disease (AD), remains poorly defined. We performed a neuropathological analysis of mouse PAS granules and human CA and correlated these findings with AD progression. Increased PAS granule density was observed in symptomatic tau transgenic mice and APOE knock-in mice. Using a cohort of postmortem AD brain samples, we examined CA in cognitively normal and dementia patients across Braak stages with varying APOE status. We identified a Braak-stage dependent bimodal distribution of CA in the dentate gyrus, with CA accumulating and peaking by Braak stages II-III, then steadily declining with increasing tau burden. Refined analysis revealed an association of CA levels with both cognition and APOE status. Finally, tau was detected in whole CA present in human patient cerebrospinal fluid, highlighting CA-tau as a plausible prodromal AD biomarker. Our study connects hallmarks of the aging brain with the emergence of AD pathology and suggests that CA may act as a compensatory factor that becomes depleted with advancing tau burden.
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Affiliation(s)
- Connor M. Wander
- grid.10698.360000000122483208Department of Neurology, UNC Neuroscience Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC USA ,grid.410711.20000 0001 1034 1720Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC USA
| | | | - John F. Ervin
- grid.26009.3d0000 0004 1936 7961Bryan Brain Bank, Department of Neurology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC USA
| | - Chanung Wang
- grid.4367.60000 0001 2355 7002Department of Neurology, Hope Center for Neurological Disorders, Knight Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO USA
| | - Spencer M. Maranto
- grid.10698.360000000122483208Department of Neurology, UNC Neuroscience Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC USA
| | - Vanya Bhat
- grid.10698.360000000122483208Department of Neurology, UNC Neuroscience Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC USA
| | - Julian D. Dallmeier
- grid.26790.3a0000 0004 1936 8606Brain Endowment Bank, Department of Neurology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL USA
| | - Shih-Hsiu Jerry Wang
- grid.26009.3d0000 0004 1936 7961Bryan Brain Bank, Department of Neurology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC USA ,grid.26009.3d0000 0004 1936 7961Department of Pathology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC USA
| | - Feng-Chang Lin
- grid.410711.20000 0001 1034 1720Department of Biostatistics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC USA
| | - William K. Scott
- grid.26790.3a0000 0004 1936 8606Brain Endowment Bank, Department of Neurology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL USA ,grid.26790.3a0000 0004 1936 8606John P. Hussman Institute for Human Genomics, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL USA ,grid.26790.3a0000 0004 1936 8606Dr. John T. Macdonald Foundation Department of Human Genetics, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL USA
| | - David M. Holtzman
- grid.4367.60000 0001 2355 7002Department of Neurology, Hope Center for Neurological Disorders, Knight Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO USA
| | - Todd J. Cohen
- grid.10698.360000000122483208Department of Neurology, UNC Neuroscience Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC USA ,grid.410711.20000 0001 1034 1720Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC USA
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4
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Reyneveld GIJ, Savelkoul HFJ, Parmentier HK. Current Understanding of Natural Antibodies and Exploring the Possibilities of Modulation Using Veterinary Models. A Review. Front Immunol 2020; 11:2139. [PMID: 33013904 PMCID: PMC7511776 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.02139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2020] [Accepted: 08/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Natural antibodies (NAb) are defined as germline encoded immunoglobulins found in individuals without (known) prior antigenic experience. NAb bind exogenous (e.g., bacterial) and self-components and have been found in every vertebrate species tested. NAb likely act as a first-line immune defense against infections. A large part of NAb, so called natural autoantibodies (NAAb) bind to and clear (self) neo-epitopes, apoptotic, and necrotic cells. Such self-binding antibodies cannot, however, be considered as pathogenic autoantibodies in the classical sense. IgM and IgG NAb and NAAb and their implications in health and disease are relatively well-described in humans and mice. NAb are present in veterinary (and wildlife) species, but their relation with diseases and disorders in veterinary species are much less known. Also, there is little known of IgA NAb. IgA is the most abundant immunoglobulin with essential pro-inflammatory and homeostatic properties urging for more research on the importance of IgA NAb. Since NAb in humans were indicated to fulfill important functions in health and disease, their role in health of veterinary species should be investigated more often. Furthermore, it is unknown whether levels of NAb-isotypes and/or idiotypes can and should be modulated. Veterinary species as models of choice fill in a niche between mice and (non-human) primates, and the study of NAb in veterinary species may provide valuable new insights that will likely improve health management. Below, examples of the involvement of NAb in several diseases in mostly humans are shown. Possibilities of intravenous immunoglobulin administration, targeted immunotherapy, immunization, diet, and genetic modulation are discussed, all of which could be well-studied using animal models. Arguments are given why veterinary immunology should obtain inspiration from human studies and why human immunology would benefit from veterinary models. Within the One Health concept, findings from veterinary (and wildlife) studies can be related to human studies and vice versa so that both fields will mutually benefit. This will lead to a better understanding of NAb: their origin, activation mechanisms, and their implications in health and disease, and will lead to novel health management strategies for both human and veterinary species.
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Affiliation(s)
- G IJsbrand Reyneveld
- Faculty of Science, VU University, Amsterdam, Netherlands.,Adaptation Physiology Group, Department of Animal Sciences, Wageningen University, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - Huub F J Savelkoul
- Cell Biology and Immunology Group, Department of Animal Sciences, Wageningen University, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - Henk K Parmentier
- Adaptation Physiology Group, Department of Animal Sciences, Wageningen University, Wageningen, Netherlands
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5
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Wander CM, Tseng JH, Song S, Al Housseiny HA, Tart DS, Ajit A, Ian Shih YY, Lobrovich R, Song J, Meeker RB, Irwin DJ, Cohen TJ. The Accumulation of Tau-Immunoreactive Hippocampal Granules and Corpora Amylacea Implicates Reactive Glia in Tau Pathogenesis during Aging. iScience 2020; 23:101255. [PMID: 32585593 PMCID: PMC7322077 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2020.101255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2020] [Revised: 05/19/2020] [Accepted: 06/05/2020] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The microtubule-associated tau protein forms pathological inclusions that accumulate in an age-dependent manner in tauopathies including Alzheimer's disease (AD). Since age is the major risk factor for AD, we examined endogenous tau species that evolve during aging in physiological and diseased conditions. In aged mouse brain, we found tau-immunoreactive clusters embedded within structures that are reminiscent of periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) granules. We showed that PAS granules harbor distinct tau species that are more prominent in 3xTg-AD mice. Epitope profiling revealed hypo-phosphorylated rather than hyper-phosphorylated tau commonly observed in tauopathies. High-resolution imaging and 3D reconstruction suggest a link between tau clusters, reactive astrocytes, and microglia, indicating that early tau accumulation may promote neuroinflammation during aging. Using postmortem human brain, we identified tau as a component of corpora amylacea (CA), age-related structures that are functionally analogous to PAS granules. Overall, our study supports neuroimmune dysfunction as a precipitating event in tau pathogenesis. Tau is present in mouse hippocampal granules and human corpora amylacea Tau accumulates with age in hippocampal granules and is accelerated in 3xTg-AD mice Tau immunoreactive corpora amylacea are present in Alzheimer's disease brain Age-related tau deposits are associated with reactive astrocytes
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Affiliation(s)
- Connor M Wander
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Jui-Heng Tseng
- Department of Neurology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Sheng Song
- Department of Neurology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Heba A Al Housseiny
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Dalton S Tart
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Aditi Ajit
- Department of Neurology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Yen-Yu Ian Shih
- Department of Neurology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Rebecca Lobrovich
- Penn Digital Neuropathology Laboratory, Department of Neurology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104-4283, USA
| | - Juan Song
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; UNC Neuroscience Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Rick B Meeker
- Department of Neurology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - David J Irwin
- Penn Digital Neuropathology Laboratory, Department of Neurology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104-4283, USA
| | - Todd J Cohen
- Department of Neurology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; UNC Neuroscience Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.
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6
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Tarrant JC, Savickas P, Omodho L, Spinazzi M, Radaelli E. Spontaneous Incidental Brain Lesions in C57BL/6J Mice. Vet Pathol 2019; 57:172-182. [PMID: 31272300 DOI: 10.1177/0300985819859878] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Genetically engineered mouse lines on a C57BL/6J background are widely employed as preclinical models to study neurodegenerative human disorders and brain tumors. However, because of the lack of comprehensive data on the spontaneous background neuropathology of the C57BL/6J strain, discriminating between naturally occurring changes and lesions caused by experimental mutations can be challenging. In this context, this study aims at defining the spectrum and frequency of spontaneous brain changes in a large cohort of C57BL/6J mice and their association with specific biological variables, including age and sex. Brains from 203 experimentally naive and clinically unremarkable C57BL/6J mice were collected and analyzed by means of histopathology and immunohistochemistry. Mice ranged in age from 3 to 110 weeks with 89 females, 111 males, and 3 unknowns. Sixteen different spontaneous lesion categories were described in this cohort. Age-related neurodegenerative and/or neuroinflammatory findings represented the most common pathologic changes and included (1) Hirano-like inclusions in the thalamic neurons, (2) neuroaxonal dystrophy in the medulla oblongata, (3) periodic acid-Schiff-positive granular deposits in the neuropil of the hippocampus, and (4) progressive neuroinflammation characterized by microgliosis and astrogliosis. Neoplastic conditions, developmental abnormalities, and circulatory disorders were rarely observed incidental findings. In conclusion, this study describes spontaneous age-related brain lesions of the C57BL/6J mouse and provides a reference for evaluating and interpreting the neuropathological phenotype in genetically engineered mouse models developed and maintained on this congenic background.
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Affiliation(s)
- James C Tarrant
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Patrick Savickas
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Lorna Omodho
- VIB Center for the Biology of Disease and KU Leuven Center for Human Genetics, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Marco Spinazzi
- Centre de Référence des Maladies Neuromusculaires, Service de Neurologie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire d' Angers, Angers, France
| | - Enrico Radaelli
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA.,VIB Center for the Biology of Disease and KU Leuven Center for Human Genetics, Leuven, Belgium
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7
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Corpora amylacea in human hippocampal brain tissue are intracellular bodies that exhibit a homogeneous distribution of neo-epitopes. Sci Rep 2019; 9:2063. [PMID: 30765834 PMCID: PMC6375970 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-38010-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2018] [Accepted: 12/18/2018] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Corpora amylacea are spherical bodies of unknown origin and function, which accumulate in the human brain during the aging process and neurodegenerative disorders. In recent work, we reported that they contain some neo-epitopes that are recognized by natural IgMs, revealing a possible link between them and the natural immune system. Here, we performed an ultrastructural study complemented with confocal microscopy in order to shed light on the formation of corpora amylacea and to precisely localize the neo-epitopes. We show that immature corpora amylacea are intracellular astrocytic structures formed by profuse cellular debris and membranous blebs entrapped in a scattered mass of randomly oriented short linear fibers. In mature corpora amylacea, the structure becomes compacted and fibrillary material constitutes the principal component. We also determined that the neo-epitopes were uniformly localized throughout the whole structure. All these observations reinforce the idea that corpora amylacea of human brain are equivalent to another type of polyglucosan bodies named PAS granules, present in mouse brain and originated from degenerative processes. All those findings support the hypothesis that corpora amylacea are involved in the entrapment of damaged materials and non-degradable products and have a role in protective or cleaning mechanisms.
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8
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Fimognari N, Hollings A, Lam V, Tidy RJ, Kewish CM, Albrecht MA, Takechi R, Mamo JCL, Hackett MJ. Biospectroscopic Imaging Provides Evidence of Hippocampal Zn Deficiency and Decreased Lipid Unsaturation in an Accelerated Aging Mouse Model. ACS Chem Neurosci 2018; 9:2774-2785. [PMID: 29901988 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.8b00193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Western society is facing a health epidemic due to the increasing incidence of dementia in aging populations, and there are still few effective diagnostic methods, minimal treatment options, and no cure. Aging is the greatest risk factor for memory loss that occurs during the natural aging process, as well as being the greatest risk factor for neurodegenerative disease such as Alzheimer's disease. Greater understanding of the biochemical pathways that drive a healthy aging brain toward dementia (pathological aging or Alzheimer's disease), is required to accelerate the development of improved diagnostics and therapies. Unfortunately, many animal models of dementia model chronic amyloid precursor protein overexpression, which although highly relevant to mechanisms of amyloidosis and familial Alzheimer's disease, does not model well dementia during the natural aging process. A promising animal model reported to model mechanisms of accelerated natural aging and memory impairments, is the senescence accelerated murine prone strain 8 (SAMP8), which has been adopted by many research group to study the biochemical transitions that occur during brain aging. A limitation to traditional methods of biochemical characterization is that many important biochemical and elemental markers (lipid saturation, lactate, transition metals) cannot be imaged at meso- or microspatial resolution. Therefore, in this investigation, we report the first multimodal biospectroscopic characterization of the SAMP8 model, and have identified important biochemical and elemental alterations, and colocalizations, between 4 month old SAMP8 mice and the relevant control (SAMR1) mice. Specifically, we demonstrate direct evidence of Zn deficiency within specific subregions of the hippocampal CA3 sector, which colocalize with decreased lipid unsaturation. Our findings also revealed colocalization of decreased lipid unsaturation and increased lactate in the corpus callosum white matter, adjacent to the hippocampus. Such findings may have important implication for future research aimed at elucidating specific biochemical pathways for therapeutic intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas Fimognari
- Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute, Curtin University, Bentley, WA 6102, Australia
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Curtin University, Bentley, WA 6102, Australia
| | - Ashley Hollings
- Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute, Curtin University, Bentley, WA 6102, Australia
- Curtin Institute for Functional Molecules and Interfaces, School of Molecular and Life Science, Curtin University, Bentley, WA 6845, Australia
| | - Virginie Lam
- Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute, Curtin University, Bentley, WA 6102, Australia
- School of Public Health, Curtin University, Bentley, WA 6102, Australia
| | - Rebecca J. Tidy
- Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute, Curtin University, Bentley, WA 6102, Australia
- Curtin Institute for Functional Molecules and Interfaces, School of Molecular and Life Science, Curtin University, Bentley, WA 6845, Australia
| | - Cameron M. Kewish
- Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, 800 Blackburn Road, Clayton, VIC 3168, Australia
| | - Matthew A. Albrecht
- Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute, Curtin University, Bentley, WA 6102, Australia
| | - Ryu Takechi
- Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute, Curtin University, Bentley, WA 6102, Australia
- School of Public Health, Curtin University, Bentley, WA 6102, Australia
| | - John C. L. Mamo
- Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute, Curtin University, Bentley, WA 6102, Australia
- School of Public Health, Curtin University, Bentley, WA 6102, Australia
| | - Mark J. Hackett
- Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute, Curtin University, Bentley, WA 6102, Australia
- Curtin Institute for Functional Molecules and Interfaces, School of Molecular and Life Science, Curtin University, Bentley, WA 6845, Australia
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9
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Exploring the elusive composition of corpora amylacea of human brain. Sci Rep 2018; 8:13525. [PMID: 30202002 PMCID: PMC6131176 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-31766-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2018] [Accepted: 08/24/2018] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Corpora amylacea (CA) are polyglucosan bodies that accumulate in the human brain during ageing and are also present in large numbers in neurodegenerative conditions. Theories regarding the function of CA are regularly updated as new components are described. In previous work, we revealed the presence of some neo-epitopes in CA and the existence of some natural IgM antibodies directed against these neo-epitopes. We also noted that these neo-epitopes and IgMs were the cause of false staining in CA immunohistochemical studies, and disproved the proposed presence of β-amyloid peptides and tau protein in them. Here we extend the list of components erroneously attributed to CA. We show that, contrary to previous descriptions, CA do not contain GFAP, S100, AQP4, NeuN or class III β-tubulin, and we question the presence of other components. Nonetheless, we observe that CA contains ubiquitin and p62, both of them associated with processes of elimination of waste substances, and also glycogen synthase, an indispensable enzyme for polyglucosan formation. In summary, this study shows that it is imperative to continue reviewing previous studies about CA but, more importantly, it shows that the vision of CA as structures involved in protective or cleaning mechanisms remains the most consistent theory.
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10
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Augé E, Pelegrí C, Manich G, Cabezón I, Guinovart JJ, Duran J, Vilaplana J. Astrocytes and neurons produce distinct types of polyglucosan bodies in Lafora disease. Glia 2018; 66:2094-2107. [PMID: 30152044 DOI: 10.1002/glia.23463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2017] [Revised: 05/10/2018] [Accepted: 05/10/2018] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Lafora disease (LD), the most devastating adolescence-onset epilepsy, is caused by mutations in the EPM2A or EPM2B genes, which encode the proteins laforin and malin, respectively. Loss of function of one of these proteins, which are involved in the regulation of glycogen synthesis, induces the accumulation of polyglucosan bodies (PGBs)-known as Lafora bodies (LBs) and associated with neurons-in the brain. Ageing and some neurodegenerative conditions lead to the appearance of another type of PGB called corpora amylacea, which are associated with astrocytes and contain neo-epitopes that can be recognized by natural antibodies. Here we studied the PGBs in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus of malin knockout mice, a mouse model of LD. These animals presented not only LBs associated with neurons but also a significant number of PGBs associated with astrocytes. These astrocytic PGBs were also increased in mice from senescence-accelerated mouse-prone 8 (SAMP8) strain and mice with overexpression of Protein Targeting to Glycogen (PTGOE ), indicating that they are not exclusive of LD. The astrocytic PGBs, but not neuronal LBs, contained neo-epitopes that are recognized by natural antibodies. The astrocytic PGBs appeared predominantly in the hippocampus but were also present in some cortical brain regions, while neuronal LBs were found mainly in the brain cortex and the pyramidal layer of hippocampal regions CA2 and CA3. Our results indicate that astrocytes, contrary to current belief, are involved in the etiopathogenesis of LD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabet Augé
- Secció de Fisiologia, Departament de Bioquímica i Fisiologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Institut de Neurociències, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Carme Pelegrí
- Secció de Fisiologia, Departament de Bioquímica i Fisiologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Institut de Neurociències, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Centros de Biomedicina en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Madrid, Spain
| | - Gemma Manich
- Secció de Fisiologia, Departament de Bioquímica i Fisiologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Itsaso Cabezón
- Secció de Fisiologia, Departament de Bioquímica i Fisiologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Institut de Neurociències, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Joan J Guinovart
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Diabetes y Enfermedades Metabólicas Asociadas (CIBERDEM), Madrid, Spain.,Departament de Bioquímica i Biomedicina Molecular, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jordi Duran
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Diabetes y Enfermedades Metabólicas Asociadas (CIBERDEM), Madrid, Spain
| | - Jordi Vilaplana
- Secció de Fisiologia, Departament de Bioquímica i Fisiologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Institut de Neurociències, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Centros de Biomedicina en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Madrid, Spain
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11
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New perspectives on corpora amylacea in the human brain. Sci Rep 2017; 7:41807. [PMID: 28155917 PMCID: PMC5290524 DOI: 10.1038/srep41807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2016] [Accepted: 12/28/2016] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Corpora amylacea are structures of unknown origin and function that appear with age in human brains and are profuse in selected brain areas in several neurodegenerative conditions. They are constituted of glucose polymers and may contain waste elements derived from different cell types. As we previously found on particular polyglucosan bodies in mouse brain, we report here that corpora amylacea present some neo-epitopes that can be recognized by natural antibodies, a certain kind of antibodies that are involved in tissue homeostasis. We hypothesize that corpora amylacea, and probably some other polyglucosan bodies, are waste containers in which deleterious or residual products are isolated to be later eliminated through the action of the innate immune system. In any case, the presence of neo-epitopes on these structures and the existence of natural antibodies directed against them could become a new focal point for the study of both age-related and degenerative brain processes.
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Periodic acid-Schiff granules in the brain of aged mice: From amyloid aggregates to degenerative structures containing neo-epitopes. Ageing Res Rev 2016; 27:42-55. [PMID: 26970374 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2016.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2015] [Revised: 01/22/2016] [Accepted: 03/02/2016] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Brain ageing in mice leads to the progressive appearance and expansion of degenerative granular structures frequently referred as "PAS granules" because of their positive staining with periodic acid-Schiff (PAS). PAS granules are present mainly in the hippocampus, although they have also been described in other brain areas such as piriform and entorhinal cortices, and have been observed in other mammals than mice, like rats and monkeys. PAS granules have been identified as a wide range of brain deposits related to numerous neurodegenerative diseases, such as amyloid deposits, neurofibrillary tangles, Lafora bodies, corpora amylacea and polyglucosan bodies, and these identifications have generated controversy and particular theories about them. We have recently reported the presence of a neo-epitope in mice hippocampal PAS granules and the existence of natural IgM auto-antibodies directed against the neo-epitope in the plasma of the animals. The significance of the neo-epitope and the autoantibodies is discussed in this review. Moreover, we observed that the IgM anti-neo-epitope is frequently present as a contaminant in numerous commercial antibodies and is responsible of a considerable amount of false positive immunostainings, which may produce misinterpretations in the identification of the granules. Now that this point has been clarified, this article reviews and reconsiders the nature and physiopathological significance of these degenerative granules. Moreover, we suggest that neo-epitopes may turn into a useful brain-ageing biomarker and that autoimmunity could become a new focus in the study of age-related degenerative processes.
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