1
|
Walsh MA, Latham AS, Zhang Q, Jacobs RA, Musci RV, LaRocca TJ, Moreno JA, Santangelo KS, Hamilton KL. Non-transgenic guinea pig strains exhibit divergent age-related changes in hippocampal mitochondrial respiration. Acta Physiol (Oxf) 2024; 240:e14185. [PMID: 38860650 PMCID: PMC11250940 DOI: 10.1111/apha.14185] [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: 10/30/2023] [Revised: 05/15/2024] [Accepted: 05/18/2024] [Indexed: 06/12/2024]
Abstract
AIM Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia. However, while 150+ animal models of AD exist, drug translation from preclinical models to humans for treatment usually fails. One factor contributing to low translation is likely the absence of neurodegenerative models that also encompass the multi-morbidities of human aging. We previously demonstrated that, in comparison to the PigmEnTed (PET) guinea pig strain which models "typical" brain aging, the Hartley strain develops hallmarks of AD like aging humans. Hartleys also exhibit age-related impairments in cartilage and skeletal muscle. Impaired mitochondrial respiration is one driver of both cellular aging and AD. In humans with cognitive decline, diminished skeletal muscle and brain respiratory control occurs in parallel. We previously reported age-related declines in skeletal muscle mitochondrial respiration in Hartleys. It is unknown if there is concomitant mitochondrial dysfunction in the brain. METHODS Therefore, we assessed hippocampal mitochondrial respiration in 5- and 12-month Hartley and PET guinea pigs using high-resolution respirometry. RESULTS At 12 months, PETs had higher complex I supported mitochondrial respiration paralleling their increase in body mass compared to 5 months PETs. Hartleys were also heavier at 12 months compared to 5 months but did not have higher complex I respiration. Compared to 5 months Hartleys, 12 months Hartleys had lower complex I mitochondrial efficiency and compensatory increases in mitochondrial proteins collectively suggesting mitochondrial dysfunction with age. CONCLUSIONS Therefore, Hartleys might be a relevant model to test promising therapies targeting mitochondria to slow brain aging and AD progression.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maureen A Walsh
- Department of Health and Exercise Science, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
| | - Amanda S Latham
- Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
| | - Qian Zhang
- Department of Health and Exercise Science, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
| | - Robert A Jacobs
- Department of Human Physiology and Nutrition, University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS), Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA
- William J. Hybl Sports Medicine and Performance Center, Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA
| | - Robert V Musci
- Department of Health and Exercise Science, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
| | - Thomas J LaRocca
- Department of Health and Exercise Science, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
- Columbine Health Systems Center for Healthy Aging, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
| | - Julie A Moreno
- Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
- Columbine Health Systems Center for Healthy Aging, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
| | - Kelly S Santangelo
- Columbine Health Systems Center for Healthy Aging, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
| | - Karyn L Hamilton
- Department of Health and Exercise Science, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
- Columbine Health Systems Center for Healthy Aging, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Gnörich J, Koehler M, Wind-Mark K, Klaus C, Zatcepin A, Palumbo G, Lalia M, Monasor LS, Beyer L, Eckenweber F, Scheifele M, Gildehaus FJ, von Ungern-Sternberg B, Barthel H, Sabri O, Bartenstein P, Herms J, Tahirovic S, Franzmeier N, Ziegler S, Brendel M. Towards multicenter β-amyloid PET imaging in mouse models: A triple scanner head-to-head comparison. Neuroimage 2024; 297:120748. [PMID: 39069223 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2024.120748] [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: 03/29/2024] [Revised: 07/17/2024] [Accepted: 07/18/2024] [Indexed: 07/30/2024] Open
Abstract
AIM β-amyloid (Aβ) small animal PET facilitates quantification of fibrillar amyloidosis in Alzheimer's disease (AD) mouse models. Thus, the methodology is receiving growing interest as a monitoring tool in preclinical drug trials. In this regard, harmonization of data from different scanners at multiple sites would allow the establishment large collaborative cohorts and may facilitate efficacy comparison of different treatments. Therefore, we objected to determine the level of agreement of Aβ-PET quantification by a head-to-head comparison of three different state-of-the-art small animal PET scanners, which could help pave the way for future multicenter studies. METHODS Within a timeframe of 5 ± 2 weeks, transgenic APPPS1 (n=9) and wild-type (WT) (n=8) mice (age range: 13-16 months) were examined three times by Aβ-PET ([18F]florbetaben) using a Siemens Inveon DPET, a Mediso nanoScan PET/MR, and a Mediso nanoScan PET/CT with harmonized reconstruction protocols. Cortex-to-white-matter 30-60min p.i. standardized uptake value ratios (SUVRCTX/WM) were calculated to compare binding differences, effect sizes (Cohen's d) and z-score values of APPPS1 relative to WT mice. Correlation coefficients (Pearson's r) were calculated for the agreement of individual SUVR between different scanners. Voxel-wise analysis was used to determine the agreement of spatial pathology patterns. For validation of PET imaging against the histological gold standard, individual SUVR values were subject to a correlation analysis with area occupancy of methoxy-X04 staining. RESULTS All three small animal PET scanners yielded comparable group differences between APPPS1 and WT mice (∆PET=20.4% ± 2.9%, ∆PET/MR=18.4% ± 4.5%, ∆PET/CT=18.1% ± 3.3%). Voxel-wise analysis confirmed a high degree of congruency of the spatial pattern (Dice coefficient (DC)PETvs.PET/MR=83.0%, DCPETvs.PET/CT=69.3%, DCPET/MRvs.PET/CT=81.9%). Differences in the group level variance of the three scanners resulted in divergent z-scores (zPET=11.5 ± 1.6; zPET/MR=5.3 ± 1.3; zPET/CT=3.4 ± 0.6) and effect sizes (dPET=8.5, dPET/MR=4.5, dPET/CT=4.1). However, correlations at the individual mouse level were still strong between scanners (rPETvs.PET/MR=0.96, rPETvs.PET/CT=0.91, rPET/MRvs.PET/CT=0.87; all p≤0.0001). Methoxy-X04 staining exhibited a significant correlation across all three PET machines combined (r=0.76, p<0.0001) but also at individual level (PET: r=0.81, p=0.026; PET/MR: r=0.89, p=0.0074; PET/CT: r=0.93, p=0.0028). CONCLUSIONS Our comparison of standardized small animal Aβ-PET acquired by three different scanners substantiates the possibility of moving towards a multicentric approach in preclinical AD research. The alignment of image acquisition and analysis methods achieved good overall comparability between data sets. Nevertheless, differences in variance of sensitivity and specificity of different scanners may limit data interpretation at the individual mouse level and deserves methodological optimization.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Johannes Gnörich
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany; German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) Munich, Munich, Germany.
| | - Mara Koehler
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Karin Wind-Mark
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Carolin Klaus
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Artem Zatcepin
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany; German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Giovanna Palumbo
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Manvir Lalia
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Laura Sebastian Monasor
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) Munich, Munich, Germany; Graduate School of Systemic Neuroscience, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Leonie Beyer
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Florian Eckenweber
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Maximilian Scheifele
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | | | | | - Henryk Barthel
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Osama Sabri
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Peter Bartenstein
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany; Munich Cluster for Systems Neurology (SyNergy), Munich, Germany
| | - Jochen Herms
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) Munich, Munich, Germany; Munich Cluster for Systems Neurology (SyNergy), Munich, Germany; Center of Neuropathology and Prion Research, University of Munich, Munich Germany
| | - Sabina Tahirovic
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Nicolai Franzmeier
- Munich Cluster for Systems Neurology (SyNergy), Munich, Germany; Institute for Stroke and Dementia Research, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Sibylle Ziegler
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Matthias Brendel
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany; German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) Munich, Munich, Germany; Center of Neuropathology and Prion Research, University of Munich, Munich Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Xu S, Zhu Z, Delafield DG, Rigby MJ, Lu G, Braun M, Puglielli L, Li L. Spatially and temporally probing distinctive glycerophospholipid alterations in Alzheimer's disease mouse brain via high-resolution ion mobility-enabled sn-position resolved lipidomics. Nat Commun 2024; 15:6252. [PMID: 39048572 PMCID: PMC11269705 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-50299-9] [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: 08/17/2023] [Accepted: 07/08/2024] [Indexed: 07/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Dysregulated glycerophospholipid (GP) metabolism in the brain is associated with the progression of neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer's disease (AD). Routine liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS)-based large-scale lipidomic methods often fail to elucidate subtle yet important structural features such as sn-position, hindering the precise interrogation of GP molecules. Leveraging high-resolution demultiplexing (HRdm) ion mobility spectrometry (IMS), we develop a four-dimensional (4D) lipidomic strategy to resolve GP sn-position isomers. We further construct a comprehensive experimental 4D GP database of 498 GPs identified from the mouse brain and an in-depth extended 4D library of 2500 GPs predicted by machine learning, enabling automated profiling of GPs with detailed acyl chain sn-position assignment. Analyzing three mouse brain regions (hippocampus, cerebellum, and cortex), we successfully identify a total of 592 GPs including 130 pairs of sn-position isomers. Further temporal GPs analysis in the three functional brain regions illustrates their metabolic alterations in AD progression.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shuling Xu
- School of Pharmacy, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53705, USA
| | - Zhijun Zhu
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
| | - Daniel G Delafield
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
| | - Michael J Rigby
- Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53705, USA
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53705, USA
- Neuroscience Training Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53705, USA
| | - Gaoyuan Lu
- School of Pharmacy, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53705, USA
| | - Megan Braun
- Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53705, USA
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53705, USA
- Neuroscience Training Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53705, USA
| | - Luigi Puglielli
- Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53705, USA
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53705, USA
- Geriatric Research Education Clinical Center, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Madison, WI, 53705, USA
| | - Lingjun Li
- School of Pharmacy, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53705, USA.
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53706, USA.
- Lachman Institute for Pharmaceutical Development, School of Pharmacy, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53705, USA.
- Wisconsin Center for NanoBioSystems, School of Pharmacy, University of Wisconsin- Madison, Madison, WI, 53705, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Aishwarya R, Abdullah CS, Remex NS, Bhuiyan MAN, Lu XH, Dhanesha N, Stokes KY, Orr AW, Kevil CG, Bhuiyan MS. Diastolic dysfunction in Alzheimer's disease model mice is associated with Aβ-amyloid aggregate formation and mitochondrial dysfunction. Sci Rep 2024; 14:16715. [PMID: 39030247 PMCID: PMC11271646 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-67638-x] [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: 02/27/2024] [Accepted: 07/15/2024] [Indexed: 07/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease caused by the deposition of Aβ aggregates or neurofibrillary tangles. AD patients are primarily diagnosed with the concurrent development of several cardiovascular dysfunctions. While few studies have indicated the presence of intramyocardial Aβ aggregates, none of the studies have performed detailed analyses for pathomechanism of cardiac dysfunction in AD patients. This manuscript used aged APPSWE/PS1 Tg and littermate age-matched wildtype (Wt) mice to characterize cardiac dysfunction and analyze associated pathophysiology. Detailed assessment of cardiac functional parameters demonstrated the development of diastolic dysfunction in APPSWE/PS1 Tg hearts compared to Wt hearts. Muscle function evaluation showed functional impairment (decreased exercise tolerance and muscle strength) in APPSWE/PS1 Tg mice. Biochemical and histochemical analysis revealed Aβ aggregate accumulation in APPSWE/PS1 Tg mice myocardium. APPSWE/PS1 Tg mice hearts also demonstrated histopathological remodeling (increased collagen deposition and myocyte cross-sectional area). Additionally, APPSWE/PS1 Tg hearts showed altered mitochondrial dynamics, reduced antioxidant protein levels, and impaired mitochondrial proteostasis compared to Wt mice. APPSWE/PS1 Tg hearts also developed mitochondrial dysfunction with decreased OXPHOS and PDH protein complex expressions, altered ETC complex dynamics, decreased complex activities, and reduced mitochondrial respiration. Our results indicated that Aβ aggregates in APPSWE/PS1 Tg hearts are associated with defects in mitochondrial respiration and complex activities, which may collectively lead to cardiac diastolic dysfunction and myocardial pathological remodeling.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Richa Aishwarya
- Department of Pathology and Translational Pathobiology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center-Shreveport, Shreveport, LA, 71130, USA
| | - Chowdhury S Abdullah
- Department of Pathology and Translational Pathobiology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center-Shreveport, Shreveport, LA, 71130, USA
| | - Naznin Sultana Remex
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center-Shreveport, Shreveport, LA, 71103, USA
| | - Mohammad Alfrad Nobel Bhuiyan
- Department of Medicine, Division of Clinical Informatics, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center-Shreveport, Shreveport, LA, 71103, USA
| | - Xiao-Hong Lu
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Neuroscience, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center-Shreveport, Shreveport, LA, 71103, USA
| | - Nirav Dhanesha
- Department of Pathology and Translational Pathobiology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center-Shreveport, Shreveport, LA, 71130, USA
| | - Karen Y Stokes
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center-Shreveport, Shreveport, LA, 71103, USA
| | - A Wayne Orr
- Department of Pathology and Translational Pathobiology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center-Shreveport, Shreveport, LA, 71130, USA
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center-Shreveport, Shreveport, LA, 71103, USA
| | - Christopher G Kevil
- Department of Pathology and Translational Pathobiology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center-Shreveport, Shreveport, LA, 71130, USA
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center-Shreveport, Shreveport, LA, 71103, USA
| | - Md Shenuarin Bhuiyan
- Department of Pathology and Translational Pathobiology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center-Shreveport, Shreveport, LA, 71130, USA.
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center-Shreveport, Shreveport, LA, 71103, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Sasner M, Preuss C, Pandey RS, Uyar A, Garceau D, Kotredes KP, Williams H, Oblak AL, Lin PB, Perkins B, Soni D, Ingraham C, Lee‐Gosselin A, Lamb BT, Howell GR, Carter GW. In vivo validation of late-onset Alzheimer's disease genetic risk factors. Alzheimers Dement 2024; 20:4970-4984. [PMID: 38687251 PMCID: PMC11247676 DOI: 10.1002/alz.13840] [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: 12/12/2023] [Revised: 03/14/2024] [Accepted: 03/14/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Genome-wide association studies have identified over 70 genetic loci associated with late-onset Alzheimer's disease (LOAD), but few candidate polymorphisms have been functionally assessed for disease relevance and mechanism of action. METHODS Candidate genetic risk variants were informatically prioritized and individually engineered into a LOAD-sensitized mouse model that carries the AD risk variants APOE ε4/ε4 and Trem2*R47H. The potential disease relevance of each model was assessed by comparing brain transcriptomes measured with the Nanostring Mouse AD Panel at 4 and 12 months of age with human study cohorts. RESULTS We created new models for 11 coding and loss-of-function risk variants. Transcriptomic effects from multiple genetic variants recapitulated a variety of human gene expression patterns observed in LOAD study cohorts. Specific models matched to emerging molecular LOAD subtypes. DISCUSSION These results provide an initial functionalization of 11 candidate risk variants and identify potential preclinical models for testing targeted therapeutics. HIGHLIGHTS A novel approach to validate genetic risk factors for late-onset AD (LOAD) is presented. LOAD risk variants were knocked in to conserved mouse loci. Variant effects were assayed by transcriptional analysis. Risk variants in Abca7, Mthfr, Plcg2, and Sorl1 loci modeled molecular signatures of clinical disease. This approach should generate more translationally relevant animal models.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Ravi S. Pandey
- The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic MedicineFarmingtonConnecticutUSA
| | - Asli Uyar
- The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic MedicineFarmingtonConnecticutUSA
| | | | | | | | - Adrian L. Oblak
- Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, School of Medicine, Indiana UniversityIndianapolisIndianaUSA
| | - Peter Bor‐Chian Lin
- Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, School of Medicine, Indiana UniversityIndianapolisIndianaUSA
| | - Bridget Perkins
- Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, School of Medicine, Indiana UniversityIndianapolisIndianaUSA
| | - Disha Soni
- Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, School of Medicine, Indiana UniversityIndianapolisIndianaUSA
| | - Cindy Ingraham
- Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, School of Medicine, Indiana UniversityIndianapolisIndianaUSA
| | - Audrey Lee‐Gosselin
- Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, School of Medicine, Indiana UniversityIndianapolisIndianaUSA
| | - Bruce T. Lamb
- Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, School of Medicine, Indiana UniversityIndianapolisIndianaUSA
| | | | - Gregory W. Carter
- The Jackson LaboratoryBar HarborMaineUSA
- The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic MedicineFarmingtonConnecticutUSA
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Pádua MS, Guil-Guerrero JL, Lopes PA. Behaviour Hallmarks in Alzheimer's Disease 5xFAD Mouse Model. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:6766. [PMID: 38928472 PMCID: PMC11204382 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25126766] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2024] [Revised: 06/14/2024] [Accepted: 06/16/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
The 5xFAD transgenic mouse model widely used in Alzheimer's disease (AD) research recapitulates many AD-related phenotypes with a relatively early onset and aggressive age-dependent progression. Besides developing amyloid peptide deposits alongside neuroinflammation by the age of 2 months, as well as exhibiting neuronal decline by the age of 4 months that intensifies by the age of 9 months, these mice manifest a broad spectrum of behavioural impairments. In this review, we present the extensive repertoire of behavioural dysfunctions in 5xFAD mice, organised into four categories: motor skills, sensory function, learning and memory abilities, and neuropsychiatric-like symptoms. The motor problems, associated with agility and reflex movements, as well as balance and coordination, and skeletal muscle function, typically arise by the time mice reach 9 months of age. The sensory function (such as taste, smell, hearing, and vision) starts to deteriorate when amyloid peptide buildups and neuroinflammation spread into related anatomical structures. The cognitive functions, encompassing learning and memory abilities, such as visual recognition, associative, spatial working, reference learning, and memory show signs of decline from 4 to 6 months of age. Concerning neuropsychiatric-like symptoms, comprising apathy, anxiety and depression, and the willingness for exploratory behaviour, it is believed that motivational changes emerge by approximately 6 months of age. Unfortunately, numerous studies from different laboratories are often contradictory on the conclusions drawn and the identification of onset age, making preclinical studies in rodent models not easily translatable to humans. This variability is likely due to a range of factors associated with animals themselves, housing and husbandry conditions, and experimental settings. In the forthcoming studies, greater clarity in experimental details when conducting behavioural testing in 5xFAD transgenic mice could minimise the inconsistencies and could ensure the reliability and the reproducibility of the results.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mafalda Soares Pádua
- CIISA—Centro de Investigação Interdisciplinar em Sanidade Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade de Lisboa, 1300-477 Lisboa, Portugal;
- Laboratório Associado para Ciência Animal e Veterinária (AL4AnimalS), Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade de Lisboa, 1300-477 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - José L. Guil-Guerrero
- Departamento de Tecnología de Alimentos, Universidad de Almería, 04120 Almería, Spain;
| | - Paula Alexandra Lopes
- CIISA—Centro de Investigação Interdisciplinar em Sanidade Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade de Lisboa, 1300-477 Lisboa, Portugal;
- Laboratório Associado para Ciência Animal e Veterinária (AL4AnimalS), Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade de Lisboa, 1300-477 Lisboa, Portugal
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Pybus AF, Bitarafan S, Brothers RO, Rohrer A, Khaitan A, Moctezuma FR, Udeshi K, Davies B, Triplett S, Griffin MN, Dammer EB, Rangaraju S, Buckley EM, Wood LB. Profiling the neuroimmune cascade in 3xTg-AD mice exposed to successive mild traumatic brain injuries. J Neuroinflammation 2024; 21:156. [PMID: 38872143 PMCID: PMC11177462 DOI: 10.1186/s12974-024-03128-1] [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: 02/16/2024] [Accepted: 05/12/2024] [Indexed: 06/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Repetitive mild traumatic brain injuries (rmTBI) sustained within a window of vulnerability can result in long term cognitive deficits, depression, and eventual neurodegeneration associated with tau pathology, amyloid beta (Aβ) plaques, gliosis, and neuronal and functional loss. However, a comprehensive study relating acute changes in immune signaling and glial reactivity to neuronal changes and pathological markers after single and repetitive mTBIs is currently lacking. In the current study, we addressed the question of how repeated injuries affect the brain neuroimmune response in the acute phase of injury (< 24 h) by exposing the 3xTg-AD mouse model of tau and Aβ pathology to successive (1x-5x) once-daily weight drop closed-head injuries and quantifying immune markers, pathological markers, and transcriptional profiles at 30 min, 4 h, and 24 h after each injury. We used young adult 2-4 month old 3xTg-AD mice to model the effects of rmTBI in the absence of significant tau and Aβ pathology. We identified pronounced sexual dimorphism in this model, with females eliciting more diverse changes after injury compared to males. Specifically, females showed: (1) a single injury caused a decrease in neuron-enriched genes inversely correlated with inflammatory protein expression and an increase in AD-related genes within 24 h, (2) each injury significantly increased a group of cortical cytokines (IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-2, IL-9, IL-13, IL-17, KC) and MAPK phospho-proteins (phospho-Atf2, phospho-Mek1), several of which co-labeled with neurons and correlated with phospho-tau, and (3) repetitive injury caused increased expression of genes associated with astrocyte reactivity and macrophage-associated immune function. Collectively our data suggest that neurons respond to a single injury within 24 h, while other cell types, including astrocytes, transition to inflammatory phenotypes within days of repetitive injury.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alyssa F Pybus
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Sara Bitarafan
- George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Rowan O Brothers
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Alivia Rohrer
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Arushi Khaitan
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Felix Rivera Moctezuma
- George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Kareena Udeshi
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Brae Davies
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Sydney Triplett
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Martin N Griffin
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Eric B Dammer
- Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Srikant Rangaraju
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Erin M Buckley
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
- Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA, USA.
| | - Levi B Wood
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
- George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA.
- Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Del Rosario Hernandez T, Joshi NR, Gore SV, Kreiling JA, Creton R. Combining supervised and unsupervised analyses to quantify behavioral phenotypes and validate therapeutic efficacy in a triple transgenic mouse model of Alzheimer's disease. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.06.07.597924. [PMID: 38895269 PMCID: PMC11185760 DOI: 10.1101/2024.06.07.597924] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/21/2024]
Abstract
Behavioral testing is an essential tool for evaluating cognitive function and dysfunction in preclinical research models. This is of special importance in the study of neurological disorders such as Alzheimer's disease. However, the reproducibility of classic behavioral assays is frequently compromised by interstudy variation, leading to ambiguous conclusions about the behavioral markers characterizing the disease. Here, we identify age- and genotype-driven differences between 3xTg-AD and non-transgenic control mice using a low-cost, highly customizable behavioral assay that requires little human intervention. Through behavioral phenotyping combining both supervised and unsupervised behavioral classification methods, we are able to validate the preventative effects of the immunosuppressant cyclosporine A in a rodent model of Alzheimer's disease, as well as the partially ameliorating effects of candidate drugs nebivolol and cabozantinib.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Thais Del Rosario Hernandez
- Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology and Biochemistry, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, United States
| | - Narendra R Joshi
- Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology and Biochemistry, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, United States
| | - Sayali V Gore
- Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology and Biochemistry, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, United States
| | - Jill A Kreiling
- Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology and Biochemistry, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, United States
| | - Robbert Creton
- Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology and Biochemistry, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, United States
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Glynn C, Rodriguez JA, Hyman BT. The structural line between prion and "prion-like": Insights from prion protein and tau. Curr Opin Neurobiol 2024; 86:102857. [PMID: 38489865 PMCID: PMC11162956 DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2024.102857] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Revised: 01/15/2024] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/17/2024]
Abstract
The concept of 'prion-like' behavior has emerged in the study of diseases involving protein misfolding where fibrillar structures, called amyloids, self-propagate and induce disease in a fashion similar to prions. From a biological standpoint, in order to be considered 'prion-like,' a protein must traverse cells and tissues and further propagate via a templated conformational change. Since 2017, cryo-electron microscopy structures from patient-derived 'prion-like' amyloids, in particular tau, have been presented and revealed structural similarities shared across amyloids. Since 2021, cryo-EM structures from prions of known infectivity have been added to the ex vivo amyloid structure family. In this review, we discuss current proposals for the 'prion-like' mechanisms of spread for tau and prion protein as well as discuss different influencers on structures of aggregates from tauopathies and prion diseases. Lastly, we discuss some of the current hypotheses for what may distinguish structures that are 'prion-like' from transmissible prion structures.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Calina Glynn
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Jose A Rodriguez
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, UCLA-DOE Institute for Genomics and Proteomics, STROBE, NSF Science and Technology Center, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Bradley T Hyman
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Brown RE. Measuring the replicability of our own research. J Neurosci Methods 2024; 406:110111. [PMID: 38521128 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2024.110111] [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: 01/21/2024] [Revised: 03/08/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 03/25/2024]
Abstract
In the study of transgenic mouse models of neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders, we use batteries of tests to measure deficits in behaviour and from the results of these tests, we make inferences about the mental states of the mice that we interpret as deficits in "learning", "memory", "anxiety", "depression", etc. This paper discusses the problems of determining whether a particular transgenic mouse is a valid mouse model of disease X, the problem of background strains, and the question of whether our behavioural tests are measuring what we say they are. The problem of the reliability of results is then discussed: are they replicable between labs and can we replicate our results in our own lab? This involves the study of intra- and inter- experimenter reliability. The variables that influence replicability and the importance of conducting a complete behavioural phenotype: sensory, motor, cognitive and social emotional behaviour are discussed. Then the thorny question of failure to replicate is examined: Is it a curse or a blessing? Finally, the role of failure in research and what it tells us about our research paradigms is examined.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Richard E Brown
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Pandey RS, Arnold M, Batra R, Krumsiek J, Kotredes KP, Garceau D, Williams H, Sasner M, Howell GR, Kaddurah‐Daouk R, Carter GW. Metabolomics profiling reveals distinct, sex-specific signatures in serum and brain metabolomes in mouse models of Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimers Dement 2024; 20:3987-4001. [PMID: 38676929 PMCID: PMC11180854 DOI: 10.1002/alz.13851] [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: 12/12/2023] [Revised: 03/19/2024] [Accepted: 03/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/29/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Increasing evidence suggests that metabolic impairments contribute to early Alzheimer's disease (AD) mechanisms and subsequent dementia. Signals in metabolic pathways conserved across species can facilitate translation. METHODS We investigated differences in serum and brain metabolites between the early-onset 5XFAD and late-onset LOAD1 (APOE4.Trem2*R47H) mouse models of AD to C57BL/6J controls at 6 months of age. RESULTS We identified sex differences for several classes of metabolites, such as glycerophospholipids, sphingolipids, and amino acids. Metabolic signatures were notably different between brain and serum in both mouse models. The 5XFAD mice exhibited stronger differences in brain metabolites, whereas LOAD1 mice showed more pronounced differences in serum. DISCUSSION Several of our findings were consistent with results in humans, showing glycerophospholipids reduction in serum of apolipoprotein E (apoE) ε4 carriers and replicating the serum metabolic imprint of the APOE ε4 genotype. Our work thus represents a significant step toward translating metabolic dysregulation from model organisms to human AD. HIGHLIGHTS This was a metabolomic assessment of two mouse models relevant to Alzheimer's disease. Mouse models exhibit broad sex-specific metabolic differences, similar to human study cohorts. The early-onset 5XFAD mouse model primarily alters brain metabolites while the late-onset LOAD1 model primarily changes serum metabolites. Apolipoprotein E (apoE) ε4 mice recapitulate glycerophospolipid signatures of human APOE ε4 carriers in both brain and serum.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ravi S. Pandey
- The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic MedicineFarmingtonConnecticutUSA
| | - Mattias Arnold
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral SciencesDuke UniversityDurhamNorth CarolinaUSA
- Institute of Computational BiologyHelmholtz Zentrum MünchenGerman Research Center for Environmental Health, Ingolstädter Landstraße 1OberschleißheimGermany
| | - Richa Batra
- Department of Physiology and BiophysicsInstitute for Computational BiomedicineEnglander Institute for Precision MedicineWeill Cornell MedicineNew YorkNew YorkUSA
| | - Jan Krumsiek
- Department of Physiology and BiophysicsInstitute for Computational BiomedicineEnglander Institute for Precision MedicineWeill Cornell MedicineNew YorkNew YorkUSA
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Rima Kaddurah‐Daouk
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral SciencesDuke UniversityDurhamNorth CarolinaUSA
- Duke Institute of Brain SciencesDuke UniversityDurhamNorth CarolinaUSA
- Department of MedicineDuke UniversityDurhamNorth CarolinaUSA
| | - Gregory W. Carter
- The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic MedicineFarmingtonConnecticutUSA
- The Jackson LaboratoryBar HarborMaineUSA
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Yamada C, Ho A, Garcia C, Oblak AL, Bissel S, Porosencova T, Porosencov E, Uncuta D, Ngala B, Shepilov D, Skibo G, Mascarenhas AK, Akkaoui J, Lakshmana MK, Sankar U, Nichols F, Lamb BT, Groppa S, Movila A. Dementia exacerbates periodontal bone loss in females. J Periodontal Res 2024; 59:512-520. [PMID: 38243688 DOI: 10.1111/jre.13227] [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: 03/09/2023] [Revised: 12/01/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/21/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Periodontitis is a chronic inflammatory disease defined by the pathologic loss of the periodontal ligament and alveolar bone in relation to aging. Although clinical cohort studies reported that periodontitis is significantly elevated in males compared to females, emerging evidence indicates that females with dementia are at a greater risk for periodontitis and decreased alveolar bone. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to evaluate whether dementia is a potential sex-dependent risk factor for periodontal bone loss using an experimental model of periodontitis induced in the triple transgenic (3x-Tg) dementia-like mice and clinical samples collected from senior 65 plus age patients with diagnosed dementia. MATERIALS AND METHODS We induced periodontitis in dementia-like triple-transgenic (3x-Tg) male and female mice and age-matched wild-type (WT) control mice by ligature placement. Then, alveolar bone loss and osteoclast activity were evaluated using micro-CT and in situ imaging assays. In addition, we performed dental examinations on patients with diagnosed dementia. Finally, dementia-associated Aβ42 and p-Tau (T181) and osteoclastogenic receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-Β ligand (RANKL) in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) collected from mice and clinical samples were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS Alveolar bone loss and in situ osteoclast activity were significantly elevated in periodontal lesions of 3x-Tg females but not males, compared to wild-type control mice. In addition, we also observed that the probing pocket depth (PPD) was also significantly elevated in female patients with dementia. Using ELISA assay, we observed that females had elevated levels of osteoclastogenic RANKL and dementia-associated Aβ42 and p-Tau (T181) in the GCF collected from experimental periodontitis lesions and clinical samples. CONCLUSION Altogether, we demonstrate that females with dementia have an increased risk for periodontal bone loss compared to males.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chiaki Yamada
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Comprehensive Care, Indiana University School of Dentistry, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
- Indiana Center for Musculoskeletal Health, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Anny Ho
- Institute of Neuro-immune Medicine, Nova Southeastern University, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, USA
| | - Christopher Garcia
- Indiana Center for Musculoskeletal Health, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Adrian L Oblak
- Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
- Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Stephanie Bissel
- Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Tatiana Porosencova
- Faculty of Dentistry, "Nicolae Testemițanu" State University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Chisinau, Moldova
| | - Egor Porosencov
- Faculty of Dentistry, "Nicolae Testemițanu" State University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Chisinau, Moldova
| | - Diana Uncuta
- Faculty of Dentistry, "Nicolae Testemițanu" State University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Chisinau, Moldova
| | - Bidii Ngala
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Comprehensive Care, Indiana University School of Dentistry, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
- Indiana Center for Musculoskeletal Health, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Dmytro Shepilov
- Department of Cytology, Bogomoletz Institute of Physiology, NAS of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine
| | - Galyna Skibo
- Department of Cytology, Bogomoletz Institute of Physiology, NAS of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine
| | | | - Juliet Akkaoui
- Institute of Neuro-immune Medicine, Nova Southeastern University, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, USA
- Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Florida International University, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Madepalli K Lakshmana
- Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Florida International University, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Uma Sankar
- Indiana Center for Musculoskeletal Health, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
- Department of Anatomy, Cell Biology and Physiology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Frank Nichols
- Department of Oral Health and Diagnostic Sciences, University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine, Farmington, Connecticut, USA
| | - Bruce T Lamb
- Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Stanislav Groppa
- Department of Neurology, Institute of Emergency Medicine, Chisinau, Moldova
- Department of Neurology, "Nicolae Testemițanu" State University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Chisinau, Moldova
| | - Alexandru Movila
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Comprehensive Care, Indiana University School of Dentistry, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
- Indiana Center for Musculoskeletal Health, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
- Institute of Neuro-immune Medicine, Nova Southeastern University, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, USA
- Department of Oral Sciences and Translational Research, College of Dental Medicine, Nova Southeastern University, Davie, Florida, USA
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Lyons CE, Graves SI, Razzoli M, Jeganathan K, Mansk RP, McGonigle S, Sabarinathan N, van Deursen JM, Baker DJ, Bartolomucci A. Chronic Social and Psychological Stress Impact Select Neuropathologies in the PS19 Mouse Model of Tauopathy. Psychosom Med 2024; 86:366-378. [PMID: 37910129 PMCID: PMC10987396 DOI: 10.1097/psy.0000000000001256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Despite advances toward understanding the etiology of Alzheimer's disease (AD), it remains unclear which aspects of this disease are affected by environmental factors. Chronic life stress increases the risk of aging-related diseases including AD. The impact of stress on tauopathies remains understudied. We examined the effects of stress elicited by social (chronic subordination stress [CSS]) or psychological/physical (chronic restraint stress [CRS]) factors on the PS19 mouse model of tauopathy. METHODS Male PS19 mice (average age, 6.3 months) were randomized to receive CSS or CRS, or to remain as singly housed controls. Behavioral tests were used to assess anxiety-like behaviors and cognitive functions. Immunofluorescence staining and Western blotting analysis were used to measure levels of astrogliosis, microgliosis, and tau burden. Immunohistochemistry was used to assess glucocorticoid receptor expression. RESULTS PS19 mice exhibit neuroinflammation (glial fibrillary acidic protein, t tests: p = .0297; allograft inflammatory factor 1, t tests: p = .006) and tau hyperphosphorylation ( t test, p = .0446) in the hippocampus, reduced anxiety (post hoc, p = .046), and cognitive deficits, when compared with wild-type mice. Surprisingly, CRS reduced hippocampal levels of both total tau and phospho-tau S404 ( t test, p = .0116), and attenuated some aspects of both astrogliosis and microgliosis in PS19 mice ( t tests, p = .068-.0003); however, this was not associated with significant changes in neurodegeneration or cognitive function. Anxiety-like behaviors were increased by CRS (post hoc, p = .046). Conversely, CSS impaired spatial learning in Barnes maze without impacting tau phosphorylation or neurodegeneration and having a minimal impact on gliosis. CONCLUSIONS Our results demonstrate that social or psychological stress can differentially impact anxiety-like behavior, select cognitive functions, and some aspects of tau-dependent pathology in PS19 male mice, providing entry points for the development of experimental approaches designed to slow AD progression.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Carey E Lyons
- Department of Integrative Physiology and Biology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Sara I Graves
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
- Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Maria Razzoli
- Department of Integrative Physiology and Biology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Karthik Jeganathan
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
- Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Rachel P Mansk
- Department of Integrative Physiology and Biology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Seth McGonigle
- Department of Integrative Physiology and Biology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Nivedita Sabarinathan
- Department of Integrative Physiology and Biology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Jan M van Deursen
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
- Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Darren J Baker
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
- Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
- Paul F. Glenn Center for the Biology of Aging at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Alessandro Bartolomucci
- Department of Integrative Physiology and Biology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Li S, Roy ER, Wang Y, Watkins T, Cao W. DLK-MAPK Signaling Coupled with DNA Damage Promotes Intrinsic Neurotoxicity Associated with Non-Mutated Tau. Mol Neurobiol 2024; 61:2978-2995. [PMID: 37955806 PMCID: PMC11043018 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-023-03720-1] [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: 04/28/2023] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 11/14/2023]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most prevalent form of neurodegeneration. Despite the well-established link between tau aggregation and clinical progression, the major pathways driven by this protein to intrinsically damage neurons are incompletely understood. To model AD-relevant neurodegeneration driven by tau, we overexpressed non-mutated human tau in primary mouse neurons and observed substantial axonal degeneration and cell death, a process accompanied by activated caspase 3. Mechanistically, we detected deformation of the nuclear envelope and increased DNA damage response in tau-expressing neurons. Gene profiling analysis further revealed significant alterations in the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway; moreover, inhibitors of dual leucine zipper kinase (DLK) and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) were effective in alleviating wild-type human tau-induced neurodegeneration. In contrast, mutant P301L human tau was less toxic to neurons, despite causing comparable DNA damage. Axonal DLK activation induced by wild-type tau potentiated the impact of DNA damage response, resulting in overt neurotoxicity. In summary, we have established a cellular tauopathy model highly relevant to AD and identified a functional synergy between the DLK-MAPK axis and DNA damage response in the neuronal degenerative process.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sanming Li
- Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Ethan R Roy
- Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Yanyu Wang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Trent Watkins
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
| | - Wei Cao
- Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Kang YJ, Hyeon SJ, McQuade A, Lim J, Baek SH, Diep YN, Do KV, Jeon Y, Jo D, Lee CJ, Blurton‐Jones M, Ryu H, Cho H. Neurotoxic Microglial Activation via IFNγ-Induced Nrf2 Reduction Exacerbating Alzheimer's Disease. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2024; 11:e2304357. [PMID: 38482922 PMCID: PMC11132036 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202304357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2023] [Revised: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
Microglial neuroinflammation appears to be neuroprotective in the early pathological stage, yet neurotoxic, which often precedes neurodegeneration in Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, it remains unclear how the microglial activities transit to the neurotoxic state during AD progression, due to complex neuron-glia interactions. Here, the mechanism of detrimental microgliosis in AD by employing 3D human AD mini-brains, brain tissues of AD patients, and 5XFAD mice is explored. In the human and animal AD models, amyloid-beta (Aβ)-overexpressing neurons and reactive astrocytes produce interferon-gamma (IFNγ) and excessive oxidative stress. IFNγ results in the downregulation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and the upregulation of Kelch-like ECH-associated Protein 1 (Keap1) in microglia, which inactivate nuclear factor erythroid-2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and sensitize microglia to the oxidative stress and induces a proinflammatory microglia via nuclear factor kappa B (NFκB)-axis. The proinflammatory microglia in turn produce neurotoxic nitric oxide and proinflammatory mediators exacerbating synaptic impairment, phosphorylated-tau accumulation, and discernable neuronal loss. Interestingly, recovering Nrf2 in the microglia prevents the activation of proinflammatory microglia and significantly blocks the tauopathy in AD minibrains. Taken together, it is envisioned that IFNγ-driven Nrf2 downregulation in microglia as a key target to ameliorate AD pathology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- You Jung Kang
- Institute of Quantum BiophysicsSungkyunkwan UniversitySuwonGyeonggi16419Republic of Korea
- Department of BiophysicsSungkyunkwan UniversitySuwonGyeonggi16419Republic of Korea
| | - Seung Jae Hyeon
- Center for Brain DisordersBrain Science InstituteKorea Institute of Science and TechnologySeoul02792Republic of Korea
| | - Amanda McQuade
- Institute for Neurodegenerative DiseasesUniversity of CaliforniaSan FranciscoCA94158USA
- Department of Neurobiology & BehaviorUniversity of California IrvineIrvineCA92697USA
- Sue and Bill Gross Stem Cell Research CenterUniversity of California IrvineIrvineCA92697USA
- Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological DisordersUniversity of California IrvineIrvineCA92697USA
| | - Jiwoon Lim
- IBS SchoolUniversity of Science and Technology (UST)Daejeon34114Republic of Korea
- Center for Cognition and SocialityInstitute for Basic Science (IBS)Daejeon34126Republic of Korea
| | - Seung Hyun Baek
- School of PharmacySungkyunkwan UniversitySuwonGyeonggi16419Republic of Korea
| | - Yen N. Diep
- Institute of Quantum BiophysicsSungkyunkwan UniversitySuwonGyeonggi16419Republic of Korea
- Department of BiophysicsSungkyunkwan UniversitySuwonGyeonggi16419Republic of Korea
- Department of Intelligent Precision Healthcare ConvergenceSungkyunkwan UniversitySuwonGyeonggi16419Republic of Korea
| | - Khanh V. Do
- Institute of Quantum BiophysicsSungkyunkwan UniversitySuwonGyeonggi16419Republic of Korea
- Department of Intelligent Precision Healthcare ConvergenceSungkyunkwan UniversitySuwonGyeonggi16419Republic of Korea
| | - Yeji Jeon
- School of PharmacySungkyunkwan UniversitySuwonGyeonggi16419Republic of Korea
| | - Dong‐Gyu Jo
- School of PharmacySungkyunkwan UniversitySuwonGyeonggi16419Republic of Korea
- Biomedical Institute for ConvergenceSungkyunkwan UniversitySuwonGyeonggi16419Republic of Korea
- Samsung Advanced Institute for Health Sciences and TechnologySungkyunkwan UniversitySeoul16419Republic of Korea
| | - C. Justin Lee
- Center for Cognition and SocialityInstitute for Basic Science (IBS)Daejeon34126Republic of Korea
| | - Mathew Blurton‐Jones
- Department of Neurobiology & BehaviorUniversity of California IrvineIrvineCA92697USA
- Sue and Bill Gross Stem Cell Research CenterUniversity of California IrvineIrvineCA92697USA
- Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological DisordersUniversity of California IrvineIrvineCA92697USA
| | - Hoon Ryu
- Center for Brain DisordersBrain Science InstituteKorea Institute of Science and TechnologySeoul02792Republic of Korea
| | - Hansang Cho
- Institute of Quantum BiophysicsSungkyunkwan UniversitySuwonGyeonggi16419Republic of Korea
- Department of BiophysicsSungkyunkwan UniversitySuwonGyeonggi16419Republic of Korea
- Department of Intelligent Precision Healthcare ConvergenceSungkyunkwan UniversitySuwonGyeonggi16419Republic of Korea
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Balu D, Valencia-Olvera AC, Deshpande A, Narayanam S, Konasani S, Pattisapu S, York JM, Thatcher GRJ, LaDu MJ, Tai LM. Estradiol improves behavior in FAD transgenic mice that express APOE3 but not APOE4 after ovariectomy. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2024; 15:1374825. [PMID: 38742194 PMCID: PMC11089251 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2024.1374825] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2024] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Increasing evidence suggests that female individuals have a higher Alzheimer's disease (AD) risk associated with post-menopausal loss of circulating estradiol (E2). However, clinical data are conflicting on whether E2 lowers AD risk. One potential contributing factor is APOE. The greatest genetic risk factor for AD is APOE4, a factor that is pronounced in female individuals post-menopause. Clinical data suggests that APOE impacts the response of AD patients to E2 replacement therapy. However, whether APOE4 prevents, is neutral, or promotes any positive effects of E2 is unclear. Therefore, our goal was to determine whether APOE modulates the impact of E2 on behavior and AD pathology in vivo. To that end, mice that express human APOE3 (E3FAD) or APOE4 (E4FAD) and overproduce Aβ42 were ovariectomized at either 4 months (early) or 8 months (late) and treated with vehicle or E2 for 4 months. In E3FAD mice, we found that E2 mitigated the detrimental effect of ovariectomy on memory, with no effect on Aβ in the early paradigm and only improved learning in the late paradigm. Although E2 lowered Aβ in E4FAD mice in the early paradigm, there was no impact on learning or memory, possibly due to higher Aβ pathology compared to E3FAD mice. In the late paradigm, there was no effect on learning/memory and Aβ pathology in E4FAD mice. Collectively, these data support the idea that, in the presence of Aβ pathology, APOE impacts the response to E2 supplementation post-menopause.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Deebika Balu
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Ana C. Valencia-Olvera
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Ashwini Deshpande
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Saharsh Narayanam
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Sravya Konasani
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Shreya Pattisapu
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Jason M. York
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
| | | | - Mary Jo LaDu
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Leon M. Tai
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Liu J, Wu H, Robertson DH, Zhang J. Text mining and portal development for gene-specific publications on Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative diseases. BMC Med Inform Decis Mak 2024; 24:98. [PMID: 38632621 PMCID: PMC11025191 DOI: 10.1186/s12911-024-02501-7] [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: 02/02/2022] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Tremendous research efforts have been made in the Alzheimer's disease (AD) field to understand the disease etiology, progression and discover treatments for AD. Many mechanistic hypotheses, therapeutic targets and treatment strategies have been proposed in the last few decades. Reviewing previous work and staying current on this ever-growing body of AD publications is an essential yet difficult task for AD researchers. METHODS In this study, we designed and implemented a natural language processing (NLP) pipeline to extract gene-specific neurodegenerative disease (ND) -focused information from the PubMed database. The collected publication information was filtered and cleaned to construct AD-related gene-specific publication profiles. Six categories of AD-related information are extracted from the processed publication data: publication trend by year, dementia type occurrence, brain region occurrence, mouse model information, keywords occurrence, and co-occurring genes. A user-friendly web portal is then developed using Django framework to provide gene query functions and data visualizations for the generalized and summarized publication information. RESULTS By implementing the NLP pipeline, we extracted gene-specific ND-related publication information from the abstracts of the publications in the PubMed database. The results are summarized and visualized through an interactive web query portal. Multiple visualization windows display the ND publication trends, mouse models used, dementia types, involved brain regions, keywords to major AD-related biological processes, and co-occurring genes. Direct links to PubMed sites are provided for all recorded publications on the query result page of the web portal. CONCLUSION The resulting portal is a valuable tool and data source for quick querying and displaying AD publications tailored to users' interested research areas and gene targets, which is especially convenient for users without informatic mining skills. Our study will not only keep AD field researchers updated with the progress of AD research, assist them in conducting preliminary examinations efficiently, but also offers additional support for hypothesis generation and validation which will contribute significantly to the communication, dissemination, and progress of AD research.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jiannan Liu
- Department of BioHealth Informatics, Indiana University School of Informatics & Computing, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA
| | - Huanmei Wu
- Department of BioHealth Informatics, Indiana University School of Informatics & Computing, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA
- Health Services Administration & Policy, Temple University College of Public Health, Philadelphia, PA, 19122, USA
| | - Daniel H Robertson
- Integrated Data Sciences, Indiana Biosciences Research Institute, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA
| | - Jie Zhang
- Dept of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Jiang S, Sydney EJ, Runyan AM, Serpe R, Srikanth M, Figueroa HY, Yang M, Myeku N. 5-HT4 receptor agonists treatment reduces tau pathology and behavioral deficit in the PS19 mouse model of tauopathy. Front Cell Neurosci 2024; 18:1338502. [PMID: 38638303 PMCID: PMC11024353 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2024.1338502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Accumulation of tau in synapses in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease (AD) has been shown to cause synaptic damage, synaptic loss, and the spread of tau pathology through trans-synaptically connected neurons. Moreover, synaptic loss correlates with a decline in cognitive function, providing an opportunity to investigate therapeutic strategies to target synapses and synaptic tau to rescue or prevent cognitive decline in AD. One of the promising synaptic targets is the 5-HT4 serotonergic receptor present postsynaptically in the brain structures involved in the memory processes. 5-HT4R stimulation exerts synaptogenic and pro-cognitive effects involving synapse-to-nucleus signaling essential for synaptic plasticity. However, it is not known whether 5-HT4R activation has a therapeutic effect on tau pathology. Methods The goal of this study was to investigate the impact of chronic stimulation of 5-HT4R by two agonists, prucalopride and RS-67333, in PS19 mice, a model of tauopathy. We utilized gradient assays to isolate pre- and post-synaptic compartments, followed by biochemical analyses for tau species and ubiquitinated proteins in the synaptic compartments and total brain tissue. Next, we performed kinetic assays to test the proteasome's hydrolysis capacity in treatment conditions. Moreover, behavioral tests such as the open field and non-maternal nest-building tests were used to evaluate anxiety-like behaviors and hippocampal-related cognitive functioning in the treatment paradigm. Results Our results show that 5-HT4R agonism reduced tauopathy, reduced synaptic tau, increased proteasome activity, and improved cognitive functioning in PS19 mice. Our data suggest that enhanced proteasome activity by synaptic mediated signaling leads to the enhanced turnover of tau initially within synapses where the receptors are localized, and over time, the treatment attenuated the accumulation of tau aggregation and improved cognitive functioning of the PS19 mice. Conclusion Therefore, stimulation of 5-HT4R offers a promising therapy to rescue synapses from the accumulation of toxic synaptic tau, evident in the early stages of AD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shan Jiang
- Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer’s Disease and the Aging Brain, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, United States
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, United States
| | - Eric J. Sydney
- Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer’s Disease and the Aging Brain, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, United States
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, United States
| | - Avery M. Runyan
- Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer’s Disease and the Aging Brain, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, United States
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, United States
| | - Rossana Serpe
- Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer’s Disease and the Aging Brain, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, United States
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, United States
| | - Malavika Srikanth
- Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer’s Disease and the Aging Brain, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, United States
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, United States
| | - Helen Y. Figueroa
- Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer’s Disease and the Aging Brain, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, United States
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, United States
| | - Mu Yang
- The Institute for Genomic Medicine and Psychiatry, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, United States
| | - Natura Myeku
- Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer’s Disease and the Aging Brain, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, United States
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, United States
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Yao J, Chen SRW. RyR2-dependent modulation of neuronal hyperactivity: A potential therapeutic target for treating Alzheimer's disease. J Physiol 2024; 602:1509-1518. [PMID: 36866974 DOI: 10.1113/jp283824] [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: 11/29/2022] [Accepted: 02/27/2023] [Indexed: 03/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Increasing evidence suggests that simply reducing β-amyloid (Aβ) plaques may not significantly affect the progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD). There is also increasing evidence indicating that AD progression is driven by a vicious cycle of soluble Aβ-induced neuronal hyperactivity. In support of this, it has recently been shown that genetically and pharmacologically limiting ryanodine receptor 2 (RyR2) open time prevents neuronal hyperactivity, memory impairment, dendritic spine loss and neuronal cell death in AD mouse models. By contrast, increased RyR2 open probability (Po) exacerbates the onset of familial AD-associated neuronal dysfunction and induces AD-like defects in the absence of AD-causing gene mutations. Thus, RyR2-dependent modulation of neuronal hyperactivity represents a promising new target for combating AD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jinjing Yao
- Libin Cardiovascular Institute, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - S R Wayne Chen
- Libin Cardiovascular Institute, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Puris E, Saveleva L, Auriola S, Gynther M, Kanninen KM, Fricker G. Sex-specific changes in protein expression of membrane transporters in the brain cortex of 5xFAD mouse model of Alzheimer's disease. Front Pharmacol 2024; 15:1365051. [PMID: 38572427 PMCID: PMC10989684 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1365051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2024] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Membrane transporters playing an important role in the passage of drugs, metabolites and nutrients across the membranes of the brain cells have been shown to be involved in pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, little is known about sex-specific changes in transporter protein expression at the brain in AD. Here, we investigated sex-specific alterations in protein expression of three ATP-binding cassette (ABC) and five solute carriers (SLC) transporters in the prefrontal cortex of a commonly used model of familial AD (FAD), 5xFAD mice. Sensitive liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry-based quantitative targeted absolute proteomic analysis was applied for absolute quantification of transporter protein expression. We compared the changes in transporter protein expressions in 7-month-old male and female 5xFAD mice versus sex-matched wild-type mice. The study revealed a significant sex-specific increase in protein expression of ABCC1 (p = 0.007) only in male 5xFAD mice as compared to sex-matched wild-type animals. In addition, the increased protein expression of glucose transporter 1 (p = 0.01), 4F2 cell-surface antigen heavy chain (p = 0.01) and long-chain fatty acid transport protein 1 (p = 0.02) were found only in female 5xFAD mice as compared to sex-matched wild-type animals. Finally, protein expression of alanine/serine/cysteine/threonine transporter 1 was upregulated in both male (p = 0.02) and female (p = 0.002) 5xFAD mice. The study provides important information about sex-specific changes in brain cortical transporter expression in 5xFAD mice, which will facilitate drug development of therapeutic strategies for AD targeting these transporters and drug delivery research.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Elena Puris
- Institute of Pharmacy and Molecular Biotechnology, Ruprecht-Karls-University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Liudmila Saveleva
- A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Seppo Auriola
- School of Pharmacy, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Mikko Gynther
- School of Pharmacy, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Katja M. Kanninen
- A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Gert Fricker
- Institute of Pharmacy and Molecular Biotechnology, Ruprecht-Karls-University, Heidelberg, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Amartumur S, Nguyen H, Huynh T, Kim TS, Woo RS, Oh E, Kim KK, Lee LP, Heo C. Neuropathogenesis-on-chips for neurodegenerative diseases. Nat Commun 2024; 15:2219. [PMID: 38472255 PMCID: PMC10933492 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-46554-8] [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: 10/04/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Developing diagnostics and treatments for neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) is challenging due to multifactorial pathogenesis that progresses gradually. Advanced in vitro systems that recapitulate patient-like pathophysiology are emerging as alternatives to conventional animal-based models. In this review, we explore the interconnected pathogenic features of different types of ND, discuss the general strategy to modelling NDs using a microfluidic chip, and introduce the organoid-on-a-chip as the next advanced relevant model. Lastly, we overview how these models are being applied in academic and industrial drug development. The integration of microfluidic chips, stem cells, and biotechnological devices promises to provide valuable insights for biomedical research and developing diagnostic and therapeutic solutions for NDs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sarnai Amartumur
- Department of Biophysics, Institute of Quantum Biophysics, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, 16419, Korea
| | - Huong Nguyen
- Department of Biophysics, Institute of Quantum Biophysics, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, 16419, Korea
| | - Thuy Huynh
- Department of Biophysics, Institute of Quantum Biophysics, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, 16419, Korea
| | - Testaverde S Kim
- Center for Integrated Nanostructure Physics (CINAP), Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Suwon, 16419, Korea
| | - Ran-Sook Woo
- Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, College of Medicine, Eulji University, Daejeon, 34824, Korea
| | - Eungseok Oh
- Department of Neurology, Chungnam National University Hospital, Daejeon, 35015, Korea
| | - Kyeong Kyu Kim
- Department of Precision Medicine, Graduate School of Basic Medical Science (GSBMS), Institute for Anti-microbial Resistance Research and Therapeutics, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Suwon, 16419, Korea
| | - Luke P Lee
- Department of Biophysics, Institute of Quantum Biophysics, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, 16419, Korea.
- Harvard Medical School, Division of Engineering in Medicine and Renal Division, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
- Department of Bioengineering, Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA.
| | - Chaejeong Heo
- Department of Biophysics, Institute of Quantum Biophysics, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, 16419, Korea.
- Center for Integrated Nanostructure Physics (CINAP), Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Suwon, 16419, Korea.
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Zhong MZ, Peng T, Duarte ML, Wang M, Cai D. Updates on mouse models of Alzheimer's disease. Mol Neurodegener 2024; 19:23. [PMID: 38462606 PMCID: PMC10926682 DOI: 10.1186/s13024-024-00712-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2023] [Accepted: 02/14/2024] [Indexed: 03/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disease in the United States (US). Animal models, specifically mouse models have been developed to better elucidate disease mechanisms and test therapeutic strategies for AD. A large portion of effort in the field was focused on developing transgenic (Tg) mouse models through over-expression of genetic mutations associated with familial AD (FAD) patients. Newer generations of mouse models through knock-in (KI)/knock-out (KO) or CRISPR gene editing technologies, have been developed for both familial and sporadic AD risk genes with the hope to more accurately model proteinopathies without over-expression of human AD genes in mouse brains. In this review, we summarized the phenotypes of a few commonly used as well as newly developed mouse models in translational research laboratories including the presence or absence of key pathological features of AD such as amyloid and tau pathology, synaptic and neuronal degeneration as well as cognitive and behavior deficits. In addition, advantages and limitations of these AD mouse models have been elaborated along with discussions of any sex-specific features. More importantly, the omics data from available AD mouse models have been analyzed to categorize molecular signatures of each model reminiscent of human AD brain changes, with the hope to guide future selection of most suitable models for specific research questions to be addressed in the AD field.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michael Z Zhong
- Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Department of Biology, College of Arts and Science, Boston University, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Thomas Peng
- Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Science Research Program, Scarsdale High School, New York, NY, 10583, USA
| | - Mariana Lemos Duarte
- Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA.
- Research & Development, James J Peters VA Medical Center, Bronx, NY, 10468, USA.
| | - Minghui Wang
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA.
- Icahn Institute for Data Science and Genomic Technology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, NY, 10029, USA.
- Mount Sinai Center for Transformative Disease Modeling, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, NY, 10029, USA.
| | - Dongming Cai
- Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA.
- Research & Development, James J Peters VA Medical Center, Bronx, NY, 10468, USA.
- Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA.
- Ronald M. Loeb Center for Alzheimer's Disease, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA.
- Department of Neurology, N. Bud Grossman Center for Memory Research and Care, The University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA.
- Geriatric Research Education & Clinical Center (GRECC), The Minneapolis VA Health Care System, Minneapolis, MN, 55417, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Duggan MR, Steinberg Z, Peterson T, Francois TJ, Parikh V. Cognitive trajectories in longitudinally trained 3xTg-AD mice. Physiol Behav 2024; 275:114435. [PMID: 38103626 PMCID: PMC10872326 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2023.114435] [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: 10/23/2023] [Revised: 12/01/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
Preclinical studies in Alzheimer's disease (AD) often rely on cognitively naïve animal models in cross-sectional designs that can fail to reflect the cognitive exposures across the lifespan and heterogeneous neurobehavioral features observed in humans. To determine whether longitudinal cognitive training may affect cognitive capacities in a well-characterized AD mouse model, 3xTg and wild-type mice (n = 20) were exposed daily to a training variant of the Go-No-Go (GNG) operant task from 3 to 9 months old. At 3, 6, and 9 months, performance on a testing variant of the GNG task and anxiety-like behaviors were measured, while long-term recognition memory was also assessed at 9 months. In general, GNG training improved performance with increasing age across genotypes. At 3 months old, 3xTg mice showed slight deficits in inhibitory control that were accompanied by minor improvements in signal detection and decreased anxiety-like behavior, but these differences did not persist at 6 and 9 months old. At 9 months old, 3xTg mice displayed minor deficits in signal detection, and long-term recognition memory capacity was comparable with wild-type subjects. Our findings indicate that longitudinal cognitive training can render 3xTg mice with cognitive capacities that are on par with their wild-type counterparts, potentially reflecting functional compensation in subjects harboring AD genetic mutations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michael R Duggan
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience Program, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19122, United States
| | - Zoe Steinberg
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience Program, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19122, United States
| | - Tara Peterson
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience Program, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19122, United States
| | - Tara-Jade Francois
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience Program, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19122, United States
| | - Vinay Parikh
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience Program, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19122, United States.
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Papazoglou A, Henseler C, Weickhardt S, Teipelke J, Papazoglou P, Daubner J, Schiffer T, Krings D, Broich K, Hescheler J, Sachinidis A, Ehninger D, Scholl C, Haenisch B, Weiergräber M. Sex- and region-specific cortical and hippocampal whole genome transcriptome profiles from control and APP/PS1 Alzheimer's disease mice. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0296959. [PMID: 38324617 PMCID: PMC10849391 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0296959] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 02/09/2024] Open
Abstract
A variety of Alzheimer's disease (AD) mouse models has been established and characterized within the last decades. To get an integrative view of the sophisticated etiopathogenesis of AD, whole genome transcriptome studies turned out to be indispensable. Here we carried out microarray data collection based on RNA extracted from the retrosplenial cortex and hippocampus of age-matched, eight months old male and female APP/PS1 AD mice and control animals to perform sex- and brain region specific analysis of transcriptome profiles. The results of our studies reveal novel, detailed insight into differentially expressed signature genes and related fold changes in the individual APP/PS1 subgroups. Gene ontology and Venn analysis unmasked that intersectional, upregulated genes were predominantly involved in, e.g., activation of microglial, astrocytic and neutrophilic cells, innate immune response/immune effector response, neuroinflammation, phagosome/proteasome activation, and synaptic transmission. The number of (intersectional) downregulated genes was substantially less in the different subgroups and related GO categories included, e.g., the synaptic vesicle docking/fusion machinery, synaptic transmission, rRNA processing, ubiquitination, proteasome degradation, histone modification and cellular senescence. Importantly, this is the first study to systematically unravel sex- and brain region-specific transcriptome fingerprints/signature genes in APP/PS1 mice. The latter will be of central relevance in future preclinical and clinical AD related studies, biomarker characterization and personalized medicinal approaches.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anna Papazoglou
- Experimental Neuropsychopharmacology, Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (Bundesinstitut für Arzneimittel und Medizinprodukte, BfArM), Bonn, Germany
| | - Christina Henseler
- Experimental Neuropsychopharmacology, Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (Bundesinstitut für Arzneimittel und Medizinprodukte, BfArM), Bonn, Germany
| | - Sandra Weickhardt
- Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (Bundesinstitut für Arzneimittel und Medizinprodukte, BfArM), Bonn, Germany
| | - Jenni Teipelke
- Experimental Neuropsychopharmacology, Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (Bundesinstitut für Arzneimittel und Medizinprodukte, BfArM), Bonn, Germany
| | - Panagiota Papazoglou
- Experimental Neuropsychopharmacology, Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (Bundesinstitut für Arzneimittel und Medizinprodukte, BfArM), Bonn, Germany
| | - Johanna Daubner
- Experimental Neuropsychopharmacology, Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (Bundesinstitut für Arzneimittel und Medizinprodukte, BfArM), Bonn, Germany
| | - Teresa Schiffer
- Experimental Neuropsychopharmacology, Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (Bundesinstitut für Arzneimittel und Medizinprodukte, BfArM), Bonn, Germany
| | - Damian Krings
- Experimental Neuropsychopharmacology, Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (Bundesinstitut für Arzneimittel und Medizinprodukte, BfArM), Bonn, Germany
| | - Karl Broich
- Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (Bundesinstitut für Arzneimittel und Medizinprodukte, BfArM), Bonn, Germany
| | - Jürgen Hescheler
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Neurophysiology, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- Center of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Agapios Sachinidis
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Neurophysiology, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- Center of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Dan Ehninger
- Translational Biogerontology, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (Deutsches Zentrum für Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen, DZNE), Bonn, Germany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (Deutsches Zentrum für Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen, DZNE), Bonn, Germany
| | - Catharina Scholl
- Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (Bundesinstitut für Arzneimittel und Medizinprodukte, BfArM), Bonn, Germany
| | - Britta Haenisch
- Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (Bundesinstitut für Arzneimittel und Medizinprodukte, BfArM), Bonn, Germany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (Deutsches Zentrum für Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen, DZNE), Bonn, Germany
- Center for Translational Medicine, Medical Faculty, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Marco Weiergräber
- Experimental Neuropsychopharmacology, Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (Bundesinstitut für Arzneimittel und Medizinprodukte, BfArM), Bonn, Germany
- Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (Bundesinstitut für Arzneimittel und Medizinprodukte, BfArM), Bonn, Germany
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Neurophysiology, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- Center of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Atrian F, Ramirez P, De Mange J, Marquez M, Gonzalez EM, Minaya M, Karch CM, Frost B. m6A-dependent circular RNA formation mediates tau-induced neurotoxicity. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.01.25.577211. [PMID: 38328044 PMCID: PMC10849734 DOI: 10.1101/2024.01.25.577211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/09/2024]
Abstract
Circular RNAs (circRNAs), covalently closed RNA molecules that form due to back-splicing of RNA transcripts, have recently been implicated in Alzheimer's disease and related tauopathies. circRNAs are regulated by N6-methyladenosine (m6A) RNA methylation, can serve as "sponges" for proteins and RNAs, and can be translated into protein via a cap-independent mechanism. Mechanisms underlying circRNA dysregulation in tauopathies and causal relationships between circRNA and neurodegeneration are currently unknown. In the current study, we aimed to determine whether pathogenic forms of tau drive circRNA dysregulation and whether such dysregulation causally mediates neurodegeneration. We identify circRNAs that are differentially expressed in the brain of a Drosophila model of tauopathy and in induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived neurons carrying a tau mutation associated with autosomal dominant tauopathy. We leverage Drosophila to discover that depletion of circular forms of muscleblind (circMbl), a circRNA that is particularly abundant in brains of tau transgenic Drosophila, significantly suppresses tau neurotoxicity, suggesting that tau-induced circMbl elevation is neurotoxic. We detect a general elevation of m6A RNA methylation and circRNA methylation in tau transgenic Drosophila and find that tau-induced m6A methylation is a mechanistic driver of circMbl formation. Interestingly, we find that circRNA and m6A RNA accumulate within nuclear envelope invaginations of tau transgenic Drosophila and in iPSC-derived cerebral organoid models of tauopathy. Taken together, our studies add critical new insight into the mechanisms underlying circRNA dysregulation in tauopathy and identify m6A-modified circRNA as a causal factor contributing to neurodegeneration. These findings add to a growing literature implicating pathogenic forms of tau as drivers of altered RNA metabolism.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Farzaneh Atrian
- Sam & Ann Barshop Institute for Longevity and Aging Studies, San Antonio, TX
- Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases, San Antonio, TX
- Department of Cell Systems and Anatomy, San Antonio, TX
- University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX
| | - Paulino Ramirez
- Sam & Ann Barshop Institute for Longevity and Aging Studies, San Antonio, TX
- Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases, San Antonio, TX
- Department of Cell Systems and Anatomy, San Antonio, TX
- University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX
| | - Jasmine De Mange
- Sam & Ann Barshop Institute for Longevity and Aging Studies, San Antonio, TX
- Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases, San Antonio, TX
- Department of Cell Systems and Anatomy, San Antonio, TX
- University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX
| | - Marissa Marquez
- Sam & Ann Barshop Institute for Longevity and Aging Studies, San Antonio, TX
- Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases, San Antonio, TX
- Department of Cell Systems and Anatomy, San Antonio, TX
- University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX
| | - Elias M. Gonzalez
- Sam & Ann Barshop Institute for Longevity and Aging Studies, San Antonio, TX
- Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases, San Antonio, TX
- Department of Cell Systems and Anatomy, San Antonio, TX
- University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX
| | - Miguel Minaya
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University, St Louis, MO
| | | | - Bess Frost
- Sam & Ann Barshop Institute for Longevity and Aging Studies, San Antonio, TX
- Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases, San Antonio, TX
- Department of Cell Systems and Anatomy, San Antonio, TX
- University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Gammie SC, Messing A, Hill MA, Kelm-Nelson CA, Hagemann TL. Large-scale gene expression changes in APP/PSEN1 and GFAP mutation models exhibit high congruence with Alzheimer's disease. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0291995. [PMID: 38236817 PMCID: PMC10796008 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0291995] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2023] [Accepted: 09/10/2023] [Indexed: 01/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a complex neurodegenerative disorder with both genetic and non-genetic causes. Animal research models are available for a multitude of diseases and conditions affecting the central nervous system (CNS), and large-scale CNS gene expression data exist for many of these. Although there are several models specifically for AD, each recapitulates different aspects of the human disease. In this study we evaluate over 500 animal models to identify those with CNS gene expression patterns matching human AD datasets. Approaches included a hypergeometric based scoring system that rewards congruent gene expression patterns but penalizes discordant gene expression patterns. The top two models identified were APP/PS1 transgenic mice expressing mutant APP and PSEN1, and mice carrying a GFAP mutation that is causative of Alexander disease, a primary disorder of astrocytes in the CNS. The APP/PS1 and GFAP models both matched over 500 genes moving in the same direction as in human AD, and both had elevated GFAP expression and were highly congruent with one another. Also scoring highly were the 5XFAD model (with five mutations in APP and PSEN1) and mice carrying CK-p25, APP, and MAPT mutations. Animals with the APOE3 and 4 mutations combined with traumatic brain injury ranked highly. Bulbectomized rats scored high, suggesting anosmia could be causative of AD-like gene expression. Other matching models included the SOD1G93A strain and knockouts for SNORD116 (Prader-Willi mutation), GRID2, INSM1, XBP1, and CSTB. Many top models demonstrated increased expression of GFAP, and results were similar across multiple human AD datasets. Heatmap and Uniform Manifold Approximation Plot results were consistent with hypergeometric ranking. Finally, some gene manipulation models, including for TYROBP and ATG7, were identified with reversed AD patterns, suggesting possible neuroprotective effects. This study provides insight for the pathobiology of AD and the potential utility of available animal models.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Stephen C. Gammie
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
| | - Albee Messing
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
| | - Mason A. Hill
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
| | - Cynthia A. Kelm-Nelson
- Department of Surgery, Division of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
| | - Tracy L. Hagemann
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Deshpande P, Chen CY, Chimata AV, Li JC, Sarkar A, Yeates C, Chen CH, Kango-Singh M, Singh A. miR-277 targets the proapoptotic gene-hid to ameliorate Aβ42-mediated neurodegeneration in Alzheimer's model. Cell Death Dis 2024; 15:71. [PMID: 38238337 PMCID: PMC10796706 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-023-06361-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2023] [Revised: 11/28/2023] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 01/22/2024]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD), an age-related progressive neurodegenerative disorder, exhibits reduced cognitive function with no cure to date. One of the reasons for AD is the accumulation of Amyloid-beta 42 (Aβ42) plaque(s) that trigger aberrant gene expression and signaling, which results in neuronal cell death by an unknown mechanism(s). Misexpression of human Aβ42 in the developing retina of Drosophila exhibits AD-like neuropathology. Small non-coding RNAs, microRNAs (miRNAs), post-transcriptionally regulate the expression of their target genes and thereby regulate different signaling pathways. In a forward genetic screen, we identified miR-277 (human ortholog is hsa-miR-3660) as a genetic modifier of Aβ42-mediated neurodegeneration. Loss-of-function of miR-277 enhances the Aβ42-mediated neurodegeneration. Whereas gain-of-function of miR-277 in the GMR > Aβ42 background downregulates cell death to maintain the number of neurons and thereby restores the retinal axonal targeting defects indicating the functional rescue. In addition, gain-of-function of miR-277 rescues the eclosion- and climbing assays defects observed in GMR > Aβ42 background. Thus, gain-of-function of miR-277 rescues both structurally as well as functionally the Aβ42-mediated neurodegeneration. Furthermore, we identified head involution defective (hid), an evolutionarily conserved proapoptotic gene, as one of the targets of miR-277 and validated these results using luciferase- and qPCR -assays. In the GMR > Aβ42 background, the gain-of-function of miR-277 results in the reduction of hid transcript levels to one-third of its levels as compared to GMR > Aβ42 background alone. Here, we provide a novel molecular mechanism where miR-277 targets and downregulates proapoptotic gene, hid, transcript levels to rescue Aβ42-mediated neurodegeneration by blocking cell death. These studies shed light on molecular mechanism(s) that mediate cell death response following Aβ42 accumulation seen in neurodegenerative disorders in humans and provide new therapeutic targets for neurodegeneration.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Chao-Yi Chen
- Institution of Molecular and Cellular Biology, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | | | - Jian-Chiuan Li
- Institution of Molecular and Cellular Biology, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
- National Institute of Infectious Diseases and Vaccinology, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli, Taiwan
| | - Ankita Sarkar
- Department of Biology, University of Dayton, Dayton, OH, 45469, USA
| | - Catherine Yeates
- Department of Biology, University of Dayton, Dayton, OH, 45469, USA
| | - Chun-Hong Chen
- Institution of Molecular and Cellular Biology, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
- National Institute of Infectious Diseases and Vaccinology, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli, Taiwan.
| | - Madhuri Kango-Singh
- Department of Biology, University of Dayton, Dayton, OH, 45469, USA.
- Premedical Program, University of Dayton, Dayton, OH, USA.
- Integrative Science and Engineering (ISE), University of Dayton, Dayton, OH, USA.
| | - Amit Singh
- Department of Biology, University of Dayton, Dayton, OH, 45469, USA.
- Premedical Program, University of Dayton, Dayton, OH, USA.
- Integrative Science and Engineering (ISE), University of Dayton, Dayton, OH, USA.
- Center for Genomic Advocacy (TCGA), Indiana State University, Terre Haute, IN, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Koller EJ, Wood CA, Lai Z, Borgenheimer E, Hoffman KL, Jankowsky JL. Doxycycline for transgene control disrupts gut microbiome diversity without compromising acute neuroinflammatory response. J Neuroinflammation 2024; 21:11. [PMID: 38178148 PMCID: PMC10765643 DOI: 10.1186/s12974-023-03004-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024] Open
Abstract
The tetracycline transactivator (tTA) system provides controllable transgene expression through oral administration of the broad-spectrum antibiotic doxycycline. Antibiotic treatment for transgene control in mouse models of disease might have undesirable systemic effects resulting from changes in the gut microbiome. Here we assessed the impact of doxycycline on gut microbiome diversity in a tTA-controlled model of Alzheimer's disease and then examined neuroimmune effects of these microbiome alterations following acute LPS challenge. We show that doxycycline decreased microbiome diversity in both transgenic and wild-type mice and that these changes persisted long after drug withdrawal. Despite the change in microbiome composition, doxycycline treatment had minimal effect on basal transcriptional signatures of inflammation the brain or on the neuroimmune response to LPS challenge. Our findings suggest that central neuroimmune responses may be less affected by doxycycline at doses needed for transgene control than by antibiotic cocktails at doses used for experimental microbiome disruption.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Emily J Koller
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Mail Stop BCM295, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Caleb A Wood
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Mail Stop BCM295, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Zoe Lai
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Mail Stop BCM295, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Ella Borgenheimer
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Mail Stop BCM295, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Kristi L Hoffman
- Alkek Center for Metagenomics and Microbiome Research, Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Joanna L Jankowsky
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Mail Stop BCM295, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
- Departments of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Molecular and Cellular Biology, Huffington Center On Aging, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Kent SA, Miron VE. Microglia regulation of central nervous system myelin health and regeneration. Nat Rev Immunol 2024; 24:49-63. [PMID: 37452201 DOI: 10.1038/s41577-023-00907-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/13/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
Microglia are resident macrophages of the central nervous system that have key functions in its development, homeostasis and response to damage and infection. Although microglia have been increasingly implicated in contributing to the pathology that underpins neurological dysfunction and disease, they also have crucial roles in neurological homeostasis and regeneration. This includes regulation of the maintenance and regeneration of myelin, the membrane that surrounds neuronal axons, which is required for axonal health and function. Myelin is damaged with normal ageing and in several neurodegenerative diseases, such as multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer disease. Given the lack of approved therapies targeting myelin maintenance or regeneration, it is imperative to understand the mechanisms by which microglia support and restore myelin health to identify potential therapeutic approaches. However, the mechanisms by which microglia regulate myelin loss or integrity are still being uncovered. In this Review, we discuss recent work that reveals the changes in white matter with ageing and neurodegenerative disease, how this relates to microglia dynamics during myelin damage and regeneration, and factors that influence the regenerative functions of microglia.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sarah A Kent
- UK Dementia Research Institute at The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, Chancellor's Building, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Veronique E Miron
- UK Dementia Research Institute at The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, Chancellor's Building, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
- Barlo Multiple Sclerosis Centre, St Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
- Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Science, St Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
- Department of Immunology, The University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Takase H, Hamanaka G, Hoshino T, Ohtomo R, Guo S, Mandeville ET, Lo EH, Arai K. Transcriptomic Profiling Reveals Neuroinflammation in the Corpus Callosum of a Transgenic Mouse Model of Alzheimer's Disease. J Alzheimers Dis 2024; 97:1421-1433. [PMID: 38277298 DOI: 10.3233/jad-231049] [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] [Indexed: 01/28/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a widespread neurodegenerative disorder characterized by progressive cognitive decline, affecting a significant portion of the aging population. While the cerebral cortex and hippocampus have been the primary focus of AD research, accumulating evidence suggests that white matter lesions in the brain, particularly in the corpus callosum, play an important role in the pathogenesis of the disease. OBJECTIVE This study aims to investigate the gene expression changes in the corpus callosum of 5xFAD transgenic mice, a widely used AD mouse model. METHODS We conducted behavioral tests for spatial learning and memory in 5xFAD transgenic mice and performed RNA sequencing analyses on the corpus callosum to examine transcriptomic changes. RESULTS Our results show cognitive decline and demyelination in the corpus callosum of 5xFAD transgenic mice. Transcriptomic analysis reveals a predominance of upregulated genes in AD mice, particularly those associated with immune cells, including microglia. Conversely, downregulation of genes related to chaperone function and clock genes such as Per1, Per2, and Cry1 is also observed. CONCLUSIONS This study suggests that activation of neuroinflammation, disruption of chaperone function, and circadian dysfunction are involved in the pathogenesis of white matter lesions in AD. The findings provide insights into potential therapeutic targets and highlight the importance of addressing white matter pathology and circadian dysfunction in AD treatment strategies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hajime Takase
- Departments of Radiology and Neurology, Neuroprotection Research Laboratory, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
- YCU Center for Novel and Exploratory Clinical Trials (Y-NEXT), Yokohama City University Hospital, Yokohama, Japan
- Department of Neurosurgery, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Gen Hamanaka
- Departments of Radiology and Neurology, Neuroprotection Research Laboratory, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Tomonori Hoshino
- Departments of Radiology and Neurology, Neuroprotection Research Laboratory, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Ryo Ohtomo
- Departments of Radiology and Neurology, Neuroprotection Research Laboratory, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Shuzhen Guo
- Departments of Radiology and Neurology, Neuroprotection Research Laboratory, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Emiri T Mandeville
- Departments of Radiology and Neurology, Neuroprotection Research Laboratory, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Eng H Lo
- Departments of Radiology and Neurology, Neuroprotection Research Laboratory, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Ken Arai
- Departments of Radiology and Neurology, Neuroprotection Research Laboratory, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Chen Y, Li Y, Fan Y, Chen S, Chen L, Chen Y, Chen Y. Gut microbiota-driven metabolic alterations reveal gut-brain communication in Alzheimer's disease model mice. Gut Microbes 2024; 16:2302310. [PMID: 38261437 PMCID: PMC10807476 DOI: 10.1080/19490976.2024.2302310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 01/25/2024] Open
Abstract
The gut microbiota (GM) and its metabolites affect the host nervous system and are involved in the pathogeneses of various neurological diseases. However, the specific GM alterations under pathogenetic pressure and their contributions to the "microbiota - metabolite - brain axis" in Alzheimer's disease (AD) remain unclear. Here, we investigated the GM and the fecal, serum, cortical metabolomes in APP/PS1 and wild-type (WT) mice, revealing distinct hub bacteria in AD mice within scale-free GM networks shared by both groups. Moreover, we identified diverse peripheral - central metabolic landscapes between AD and WT mice that featured bile acids (e.g. deoxycholic and isodeoxycholic acid) and unsaturated fatty acids (e.g. 11Z-eicosenoic and palmitoleic acid). Machine-learning models revealed the relationships between the differential/hub bacteria and these metabolic signatures from the periphery to the brain. Notably, AD-enriched Dubosiella affected AD occurrence via cortical palmitoleic acid and vice versa. Considering the transgenic background of the AD mice, we propose that Dubosiella enrichment impedes AD progression via the synthesis of palmitoleic acid, which has protective properties against inflammation and metabolic disorders. We identified another association involving fecal deoxycholic acid-mediated interactions between the AD hub bacteria Erysipelatoclostridium and AD occurrence, which was corroborated by the correlation between deoxycholate levels and cognitive scores in humans. Overall, this study elucidated the GM network alterations, contributions of the GM to peripheral - central metabolic landscapes, and mediatory roles of metabolites between the GM and AD occurrence, thus revealing the critical roles of bacteria in AD pathogenesis and gut - brain communications under pathogenetic pressure.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yijing Chen
- Chinese Academy of Sciences Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Manipulation, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Translational Research for Brain Diseases, The Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen–Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science–Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions, Shenzhen, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Science, Disease and Drug Development, HKUST Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yinhu Li
- Chinese Academy of Sciences Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Manipulation, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Translational Research for Brain Diseases, The Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen–Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science–Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions, Shenzhen, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Science, Disease and Drug Development, HKUST Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yingying Fan
- Chinese Academy of Sciences Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Manipulation, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Translational Research for Brain Diseases, The Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen–Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science–Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions, Shenzhen, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Science, Disease and Drug Development, HKUST Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen, China
| | - Shuai Chen
- Chinese Academy of Sciences Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Manipulation, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Translational Research for Brain Diseases, The Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen–Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science–Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions, Shenzhen, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Science, Disease and Drug Development, HKUST Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen, China
| | - Li Chen
- Department of Neurology, Shenzhen Children’s Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yuewen Chen
- Chinese Academy of Sciences Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Manipulation, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Translational Research for Brain Diseases, The Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen–Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science–Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions, Shenzhen, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Science, Disease and Drug Development, HKUST Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yu Chen
- Chinese Academy of Sciences Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Manipulation, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Translational Research for Brain Diseases, The Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen–Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science–Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions, Shenzhen, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Science, Disease and Drug Development, HKUST Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen, China
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Jang YJ, Choi MG, Yoo BJ, Lee KJ, Jung WB, Kim SG, Park SA. Interaction Between a High-Fat Diet and Tau Pathology in Mice: Implications for Alzheimer's Disease. J Alzheimers Dis 2024; 97:485-506. [PMID: 38108353 DOI: 10.3233/jad-230927] [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] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Obesity is a modifiable risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, its relation with tau pathology (i.e., aberrant tau protein behavior in tauopathies such as AD) has been inconclusive. OBJECTIVE This study investigated the interaction between a high-fat diet (HFD) and tau pathology in adult male mice. METHODS Transgenic mice overexpressing human P301S Tau (those with the pathology) and wild-type (WT) littermates were subjected to behavioral tests, functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), and western blotting analysis to investigate the effects of prolonged HFD versus regular diet during adulthood. RESULTS HFD increased body weight in both WT and P301S mice but had minimal effect on blood glucose levels. The brain response to HFD was tau genotype-specific. WT mice exhibited decreased recognition memory and enhanced network connectivity in fMRI, while P301S mice exhibited white matter tract disorganization in DTI as the sole significant finding. The reduction of insulin receptor β, insulin downstream signaling, neuronal nuclear protein, CD68-positive phagocytic activity, and myelin basic protein level were confined to the cortex of WT mice. In contrast to P301S mice, WT mice showed significant changes in the tau protein and its phosphorylation levels along with increased soluble neurofilament light levels in the hippocampus. CONCLUSIONS HFD-induced brain dysfunction and pathological changes were blunted in mice with the pathology and more profound in healthy mice. Our findings highlight the need to consider this interaction between obesity and tau pathology when tailoring treatment strategies for AD and other tauopathies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yu Jung Jang
- Lab for Neurodegenerative Dementia, Department of Anatomy, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, Republic of Korea
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Ajou University Graduate School of Medicine, Suwon, Republic of Korea
| | - Min Gyu Choi
- Lab for Neurodegenerative Dementia, Department of Anatomy, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, Republic of Korea
| | - Byung Jae Yoo
- Lab for Neurodegenerative Dementia, Department of Anatomy, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyeong Jae Lee
- Lab for Neurodegenerative Dementia, Department of Anatomy, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, Republic of Korea
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Ajou University Graduate School of Medicine, Suwon, Republic of Korea
| | - Won Beom Jung
- Center for Neuroscience Imaging Research (CNIR), Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Suwon, Republic of Korea
| | - Seong-Gi Kim
- Center for Neuroscience Imaging Research (CNIR), Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Suwon, Republic of Korea
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Republic of Korea
| | - Sun Ah Park
- Lab for Neurodegenerative Dementia, Department of Anatomy, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, Republic of Korea
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Ajou University Graduate School of Medicine, Suwon, Republic of Korea
- Department of Neurology, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, Republic of Korea
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Odfalk KF, Wickline JL, Smith S, Dobrowolski R, Hopp SC. Hippocampal TMEM55B overexpression in the 5XFAD mouse model of Alzheimer's disease. Hippocampus 2024; 34:29-35. [PMID: 37961834 PMCID: PMC10873028 DOI: 10.1002/hipo.23586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Revised: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
Dysfunction of the endosomal-lysosomal network is a notable feature of Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology. Dysfunctional endo-lysosomal vacuoles accumulate in dystrophic neurites surrounding amyloid β (Aβ) plaques and may be involved in the pathogenesis and progression of Aβ aggregates. Trafficking and thus maturation of these dysfunctional vacuoles is disrupted in the vicinity of Aβ plaques. Transmembrane protein 55B (TMEM55B), also known as phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate 4-phosphatase 1 (PIP4P1) is an endo-lysosomal membrane protein that is necessary for appropriate trafficking of endo-lysosomes. The present study tested whether overexpression of TMEM55B in the hippocampus could prevent plaque-associated axonal accumulation of dysfunctional endo-lysosomes, reduce Aβ plaque load, and prevent hippocampal-dependent learning and memory deficits in the 5XFAD mouse models of Aβ plaque pathology. Immunohistochemical analyses revealed a modest but significant reduction in the accumulation of endo-lysosomes in dystrophic neurites surrounding Aβ plaques, but there was no change in hippocampal-dependent memory or plaque load. Overall, these data indicate a potential role for TMEM55B in reducing endo-lysosomal dysfunction during AD-like Aβ pathology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kristian F. Odfalk
- Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio
| | - Jessica L. Wickline
- Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio
| | - Sabrina Smith
- Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio
| | - Radek Dobrowolski
- Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio
- Rutgers University
| | - Sarah C. Hopp
- Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Sasner M, Preuss C, Pandey RS, Uyar A, Garceau D, Kotredes KP, Williams H, Oblak AL, Lin PBC, Perkins B, Soni D, Ingraham C, Lee-Gosselin A, Lamb BT, Howell GR, Carter GW. In vivo validation of late-onset Alzheimer's disease genetic risk factors. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.12.21.572849. [PMID: 38187758 PMCID: PMC10769393 DOI: 10.1101/2023.12.21.572849] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2024]
Abstract
Introduction Genome-wide association studies have identified over 70 genetic loci associated with late-onset Alzheimer's disease (LOAD), but few candidate polymorphisms have been functionally assessed for disease relevance and mechanism of action. Methods Candidate genetic risk variants were informatically prioritized and individually engineered into a LOAD-sensitized mouse model that carries the AD risk variants APOE4 and Trem2*R47H. Potential disease relevance of each model was assessed by comparing brain transcriptomes measured with the Nanostring Mouse AD Panel at 4 and 12 months of age with human study cohorts. Results We created new models for 11 coding and loss-of-function risk variants. Transcriptomic effects from multiple genetic variants recapitulated a variety of human gene expression patterns observed in LOAD study cohorts. Specific models matched to emerging molecular LOAD subtypes. Discussion These results provide an initial functionalization of 11 candidate risk variants and identify potential preclinical models for testing targeted therapeutics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michael Sasner
- The Jackson Laboratory, 600 Main St, Bar Harbor, ME, 04609 USA
| | | | - Ravi S Pandey
- The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine, 10 Discovery Drive, Farmington, CT, 06032 USA
| | - Asli Uyar
- The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine, 10 Discovery Drive, Farmington, CT, 06032 USA
| | - Dylan Garceau
- The Jackson Laboratory, 600 Main St, Bar Harbor, ME, 04609 USA
| | | | | | - Adrian L Oblak
- Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, School of Medicine, Indiana University, NB Building, 320 W 15th St #414, Indianapolis, IN 46202
| | - Peter Bor-Chian Lin
- Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, School of Medicine, Indiana University, NB Building, 320 W 15th St #414, Indianapolis, IN 46202
| | - Bridget Perkins
- Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, School of Medicine, Indiana University, NB Building, 320 W 15th St #414, Indianapolis, IN 46202
| | - Disha Soni
- Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, School of Medicine, Indiana University, NB Building, 320 W 15th St #414, Indianapolis, IN 46202
| | - Cindy Ingraham
- Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, School of Medicine, Indiana University, NB Building, 320 W 15th St #414, Indianapolis, IN 46202
| | - Audrey Lee-Gosselin
- Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, School of Medicine, Indiana University, NB Building, 320 W 15th St #414, Indianapolis, IN 46202
| | - Bruce T Lamb
- Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, School of Medicine, Indiana University, NB Building, 320 W 15th St #414, Indianapolis, IN 46202
| | - Gareth R Howell
- The Jackson Laboratory, 600 Main St, Bar Harbor, ME, 04609 USA
| | - Gregory W Carter
- The Jackson Laboratory, 600 Main St, Bar Harbor, ME, 04609 USA
- The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine, 10 Discovery Drive, Farmington, CT, 06032 USA
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Pandey RS, Arnold M, Batra R, Krumsiek J, Kotredes KP, Garceau D, Williams H, Sasner M, Howell GR, Kaddurah-Daouk R, Carter GW. Metabolomics profiling reveals distinct, sex-specific signatures in the serum and brain metabolomes in the mouse models of Alzheimer's disease. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.12.22.573059. [PMID: 38187571 PMCID: PMC10769366 DOI: 10.1101/2023.12.22.573059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Increasing evidence suggests that metabolic impairments contribute to early Alzheimer's disease (AD) mechanisms and subsequent dementia. Signals in metabolic pathways conserved across species provides a promising entry point for translation. METHODS: We investigated differences of serum and brain metabolites between the early-onset 5XFAD and late-onset LOAD1 (APOE4.Trem2*R47H) mouse models of AD to C57BL/6J controls at six months of age. RESULTS We identified sex differences for several classes of metabolites, such as glycerophospholipids, sphingolipids, and amino acids. Metabolic signatures were notably different between brain and serum in both mouse models. The 5XFAD mice exhibited stronger differences in brain metabolites, whereas LOAD1 mice showed more pronounced differences in serum. DISCUSSION Several of our findings were consistent with results in humans, showing glycerophospholipids reduction in serum of APOE4 carriers and replicating the serum metabolic imprint of the APOE4 genotype. Our work thus represents a significant step towards translating metabolic dysregulation from model organisms to human AD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ravi S Pandey
- The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine, 10 Discovery Drive, Farmington, CT 06032 USA
| | - Mattias Arnold
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University, 905 W Main St, Durham, NC 27701, USA
- Institute of Computational Biology, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Ingolstädter Landstraße 1, 85764 Oberschleißheim, Germany
| | - Richa Batra
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Institute for Computational Biomedicine, Englander Institute for Precision Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, 1305 York Ave, New York, NY 10022, USA
| | - Jan Krumsiek
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Institute for Computational Biomedicine, Englander Institute for Precision Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, 1305 York Ave, New York, NY 10022, USA
| | | | - Dylan Garceau
- The Jackson Laboratory, 600 Main St, Bar Harbor, ME 04609, USA
| | | | - Michael Sasner
- The Jackson Laboratory, 600 Main St, Bar Harbor, ME 04609, USA
| | - Gareth R Howell
- The Jackson Laboratory, 600 Main St, Bar Harbor, ME 04609, USA
| | - Rima Kaddurah-Daouk
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University, 905 W Main St, Durham, NC 27701, USA
- Duke Institute of Brain Sciences, Duke University, 308 Research Dr, Durham, NC 27710, USA
- Department of Medicine, Duke University, DUMC Box 104002, Durham, North Carolina 27710, USA
| | - Gregory W Carter
- The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine, 10 Discovery Drive, Farmington, CT 06032 USA
- The Jackson Laboratory, 600 Main St, Bar Harbor, ME 04609, USA
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
Lee SH, Son HJ. Second Wave, Late-Stage Neuroinflammation in Cleared Brains of Aged 5xFAD Alzheimer's Mice Detected by Macrolaser Light Sheet Microscopy Imaging. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:17058. [PMID: 38069392 PMCID: PMC10707588 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242317058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2023] [Revised: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
This study leverages the innovative imaging capabilities of macrolaser light-sheet microscopy to elucidate the 3D spatial visualization of AD-associated neuropathologic networks in the transparent brains of 44-week-old 5xFAD mice. Brain samples from ten AD and seven control mice were prepared through a hydrophilic tissue-clearing pipeline and immunostained with thioflavin S (β-amyloid), anti-CD11b antibody (microglia), and anti-ACSA-2 antibody (astrocytes). The 5xFAD group exhibited significantly higher average total surface volumes of β-amyloid accumulation than the control group (AD, 898,634,368 µm3 [383,355,488-1,324,986,752]; control, 33,320,178 µm3 [11,156,785-65,390,988], p = 0.0006). Within the AD group, there was significant interindividual and interindividual variability concerning the number and surface volume of individual amyloid particles throughout the entire brain. In the context of neuroinflammation, the 5xFAD group showed significantly higher average total surface volumes of anti-ACSA-2-labeled astrocytes (AD, 59,064,360 µm3 [27,815,500-222,619,280]; control, 20,272,722 µm3 [9,317,288-27,223,352], p = 0.0047) and anti-CD11b labeled microglia (AD, 51,210,100 µm3 [15,309,118-135,532,144]; control, 23,461,593 µm3 [14,499,170-27,924,110], p = 0.0162) than the control group. Contrary to the long-standing finding that early-stage neuroinflammation precedes the subsequent later-stage of neurodegeneration, our data reveal that the second wave, late-stage active neuroinflammation persists in the aged AD brains, even as they continue to show signs of ongoing neurodegeneration and significant amyloid accumulation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Suk Hyun Lee
- Department of Radiology, Hallym University Kangnam Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Seoul 07441, Republic of Korea
| | - Hye Joo Son
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Dankook University Medical Center, Dankook University College of Medicine, Cheonan 31116, Republic of Korea
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Chen X, Xie L, Sheehy R, Xiong Y, Muneer A, Wrobel J, Park KS, Liu J, Velez J, Luo Y, Li YD, Quintanilla L, Li Y, Xu C, Wen Z, Song J, Jin J, Deshmukh M. Novel brain-penetrant inhibitor of G9a methylase blocks Alzheimer's disease proteopathology for precision medication. RESEARCH SQUARE 2023:rs.3.rs-2743792. [PMID: 38045363 PMCID: PMC10690335 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-2743792/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/05/2023]
Abstract
Current amyloid beta-targeting approaches for Alzheimer's disease (AD) therapeutics only slow cognitive decline for small numbers of patients. This limited efficacy exists because AD is a multifactorial disease whose pathological mechanism(s) and diagnostic biomarkers are largely unknown. Here we report a new mechanism of AD pathogenesis in which the histone methyltransferase G9a noncanonically regulates translation of a hippocampal proteome that defines the proteopathic nature of AD. Accordingly, we developed a novel brain-penetrant inhibitor of G9a, MS1262, across the blood-brain barrier to block this G9a-regulated, proteopathologic mechanism. Intermittent MS1262 treatment of multiple AD mouse models consistently restored both cognitive and noncognitive functions to healthy levels. Comparison of proteomic/phosphoproteomic analyses of MS1262-treated AD mice with human AD patient data identified multiple pathological brain pathways that elaborate amyloid beta and neurofibrillary tangles as well as blood coagulation, from which biomarkers of early stage of AD including SMOC1 were found to be affected by MS1262 treatment. Notably, these results indicated that MS1262 treatment may reduce or avoid the risk of blood clot burst for brain bleeding or a stroke. This mouse-to-human conservation of G9a-translated AD proteopathology suggests that the global, multifaceted effects of MS1262 in mice could extend to relieve all symptoms of AD patients with minimum side effect. In addition, our mechanistically derived biomarkers can be used for stage-specific AD diagnosis and companion diagnosis of individualized drug effects.
Collapse
|
38
|
Purro SA, Farmer M, Noble E, Sarell CJ, Powell M, Yip D, Giggins L, Zakka L, Thomas DX, Farrow M, Nicoll AJ, Walsh D, Collinge J. Two mouse models of Alzheimer's disease accumulate amyloid at different rates and have distinct Aβ oligomer profiles unaltered by ablation of cellular prion protein. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0294465. [PMID: 37976283 PMCID: PMC10655998 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0294465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2023] [Accepted: 11/02/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Oligomers formed from monomers of the amyloid β-protein (Aβ) are thought to be central to the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Unsurprisingly for a complex disease, current mouse models of AD fail to fully mimic the clinical disease in humans. Moreover, results obtained in a given mouse model are not always reproduced in a different model. Cellular prion protein (PrPC) is now an established receptor for Aβ oligomers. However, studies of the Aβ-PrPC interaction in different mouse models have yielded contradictory results. Here we performed a longitudinal study assessing a range of biochemical and histological features in the commonly used J20 and APP-PS1 mouse models. Our analysis demonstrated that PrPC ablation had no effect on amyloid accumulation or oligomer production. However, we found that APP-PS1 mice had higher levels of oligomers, that these could bind to recombinant PrPC, and were recognised by the OC antibody which distinguishes parallel, in register fibrils. On the other hand, J20 mice had a lower level of Aβ oligomers, which did not interact with PrPC when tested in vitro and were OC-negative. These results suggest the two mouse models produce diverse Aβ assemblies that could interact with different targets, highlighting the necessity to characterise the conformation of the Aβ oligomers concomitantly with the toxic cascade elicited by them. Our results provide an explanation for the apparent contradictory results found in APP-PS1 mice and the J20 mouse line in regards to Aβ toxicity mediated by PrPC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Silvia A. Purro
- MRC Prion Unit at UCL, Institute of Prion diseases, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Michael Farmer
- MRC Prion Unit at UCL, Institute of Prion diseases, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Elizabeth Noble
- MRC Prion Unit at UCL, Institute of Prion diseases, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Claire J. Sarell
- MRC Prion Unit at UCL, Institute of Prion diseases, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Megan Powell
- MRC Prion Unit at UCL, Institute of Prion diseases, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Daniel Yip
- MRC Prion Unit at UCL, Institute of Prion diseases, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Lauren Giggins
- MRC Prion Unit at UCL, Institute of Prion diseases, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Leila Zakka
- MRC Prion Unit at UCL, Institute of Prion diseases, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - David X. Thomas
- MRC Prion Unit at UCL, Institute of Prion diseases, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Mark Farrow
- MRC Prion Unit at UCL, Institute of Prion diseases, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew J. Nicoll
- MRC Prion Unit at UCL, Institute of Prion diseases, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Dominic Walsh
- MRC Prion Unit at UCL, Institute of Prion diseases, University College London, London, United Kingdom
- Laboratory for Neurodegenerative Research, Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - John Collinge
- MRC Prion Unit at UCL, Institute of Prion diseases, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
39
|
Jeong H, Pan Y, Akhter F, Volkow ND, Zhu D, Du C. Impairment of cerebral vascular reactivity and resting blood flow in early-staged transgenic AD mice: in vivo optical imaging studies. RESEARCH SQUARE 2023:rs.3.rs-3579916. [PMID: 37987006 PMCID: PMC10659553 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-3579916/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2023]
Abstract
Background Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder with progressive cognitive decline in aging individuals that poses a significant challenge to patients due to an incomplete understanding of its etiology and lack of effective interventions. While "the Amyloid Cascade Hypothesis," the abnormal accumulation of amyloid-β in the brain, has been the most prevalent theory for AD, mounting evidence from clinical and epidemiological studies suggest that defects in cerebral vessels and hypoperfusion appear prior to other pathological manifestations and might contribute to AD, leading to "the Vascular Hypothesis." However, assessment of structural and functional integrity of the cerebral vasculature in vivo in the brain from AD rodent models has been challenging owing to the limited spatiotemporal resolution of conventional imaging technologies. Methods We employed two in vivo imaging technologies, i.e., Dual-Wavelength Imaging (DWI) and Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT), to evaluate cerebrovascular reactivity (CVR; responsiveness of blood vessels to vasoconstriction as triggered by cocaine) in a relatively large field of view of the cortex in vivo, and 3D quantitative cerebrovascular blood flow (CBF) imaging in living transgenic AD mice at single vessel resolution. Results Our results showed significantly impaired CVR and reduced CBF in basal state in transgenic AD mice compared to non-transgenic littermates in an early stage of AD progression. Changes in total hemoglobin (Δ[HbT]) in response to vasoconstriction were significantly attenuated in AD mice, especially in arteries and tissue, and the recovery time of Δ[HbT] after vasoconstriction was shorter for AD than WT in all types of vessels and cortical tissue, thereby indicating hypoperfusion and reduced vascular flexibility. Additionally, our 3D OCT images revealed that CBF velocities in arteries were slower and that the microvascular network was severely disrupted in the brain of AD mice. Conclusions These results suggest significant vascular impairment in basal CBF and dynamic CVR in the neurovascular network in a rodent model of AD at an early stage of the disease. These cutting-edge in vivo optical imaging tools offer an innovative venue for detecting early neurovascular dysfunction in relation to AD pathology and pave the way for clinical translation of early diagnosis and elucidation of AD pathogenesis in the future.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hyomin Jeong
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
| | - Yingtian Pan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
| | - Firoz Akhter
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
| | - Nora D. Volkow
- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20857, USA
| | - Donghui Zhu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
| | - Congwu Du
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
| |
Collapse
|
40
|
Lusk S, Ward CS, Chang A, Twitchell-Heyne A, Fattig S, Allen G, Jankowsky J, Ray R. An automated respiratory data pipeline for waveform characteristic analysis. J Physiol 2023; 601:4767-4806. [PMID: 37786382 PMCID: PMC10841337 DOI: 10.1113/jp284363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 08/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Comprehensive and accurate analysis of respiratory and metabolic data is crucial to modelling congenital, pathogenic and degenerative diseases converging on autonomic control failure. A lack of tools for high-throughput analysis of respiratory datasets remains a major challenge. We present Breathe Easy, a novel open-source pipeline for processing raw recordings and associated metadata into operative outcomes, publication-worthy graphs and robust statistical analyses including QQ and residual plots for assumption queries and data transformations. This pipeline uses a facile graphical user interface for uploading data files, setting waveform feature thresholds and defining experimental variables. Breathe Easy was validated against manual selection by experts, which represents the current standard in the field. We demonstrate Breathe Easy's utility by examining a 2-year longitudinal study of an Alzheimer's disease mouse model to assess contributions of forebrain pathology in disordered breathing. Whole body plethysmography has become an important experimental outcome measure for a variety of diseases with primary and secondary respiratory indications. Respiratory dysfunction, while not an initial symptom in many of these disorders, often drives disability or death in patient outcomes. Breathe Easy provides an open-source respiratory analysis tool for all respiratory datasets and represents a necessary improvement upon current analytical methods in the field. KEY POINTS: Respiratory dysfunction is a common endpoint for disability and mortality in many disorders throughout life. Whole body plethysmography in rodents represents a high face-value method for measuring respiratory outcomes in rodent models of these diseases and disorders. Analysis of key respiratory variables remains hindered by manual annotation and analysis that leads to low throughput results that often exclude a majority of the recorded data. Here we present a software suite, Breathe Easy, that automates the process of data selection from raw recordings derived from plethysmography experiments and the analysis of these data into operative outcomes and publication-worthy graphs with statistics. We validate Breathe Easy with a terabyte-scale Alzheimer's dataset that examines the effects of forebrain pathology on respiratory function over 2 years of degeneration.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Savannah Lusk
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Christopher S. Ward
- Department of Integrative Physiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Andersen Chang
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | | | - Shaun Fattig
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Genevera Allen
- Departments of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Statistics, and Computer Science, Rice University, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Joanna Jankowsky
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Departments of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Russell Ray
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- McNair Medical Institute, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| |
Collapse
|
41
|
Balu D, Valencia-Olvera AC, Islam Z, Mielczarek C, Hansen A, Perez Ramos TM, York J, LaDu MJ, Tai LM. APOE genotype and sex modulate Alzheimer's disease pathology in aged EFAD transgenic mice. Front Aging Neurosci 2023; 15:1279343. [PMID: 38020764 PMCID: PMC10644540 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2023.1279343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Increasing evidence supports that age, APOE and sex interact to modulate Alzheimer's disease (AD) risk, however the underlying pathways are unclear. One way that AD risk factors may modulate cognition is by impacting amyloid beta (Aβ) accumulation as plaques, and/or neuroinflammation Therefore, the goal of the present study was to evaluate the extent to which age, APOE and sex modulate Aβ pathology, neuroinflammation and behavior in vivo. To achieve this goal, we utilized the EFAD mice, which express human APOE3 or APOE4 and have five familial AD mutations (FAD) that result in Aβ42 overproduction. We assessed Aβ levels, reactive glia and Morris water maze performance in 6-, 10-, 14-, and 18-month-old EFAD mice. Female APOE4 mice had the highest Aβ deposition, fibrillar amyloid deposits and neuroinflammation as well as earlier behavior deficits. Interestingly, we found that female APOE3 mice and male APOE4 mice had similar levels of pathology. Collectively our data support that the combination of APOE4 and female sex is the most detrimental combination for AD, and that at older ages, female sex may be equivalent to APOE4 genotype.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Deebika Balu
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Ana C. Valencia-Olvera
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Zarak Islam
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
- University of Illinois College of Medicine, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Clare Mielczarek
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Allison Hansen
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
- University of Illinois College of Medicine, Peoria, IL, United States
| | - Tamara M. Perez Ramos
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
- School of Medicine, St. George’s University, St. George’s, Grenada
| | - Jason York
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Mary Jo LaDu
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Leon M. Tai
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
| |
Collapse
|
42
|
Xie L, Sheehy RN, Xiong Y, Muneer A, Wrobel JA, Park KS, Velez J, Liu J, Luo YJ, Li YD, Quintanilla L, Li Y, Xu C, Deshmukh M, Wen Z, Jin J, Song J, Chen X. Novel brain-penetrant inhibitor of G9a methylase blocks Alzheimer's disease proteopathology for precision medication. MEDRXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES 2023:2023.10.25.23297491. [PMID: 37961307 PMCID: PMC10635198 DOI: 10.1101/2023.10.25.23297491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
Current amyloid beta-targeting approaches for Alzheimer's disease (AD) therapeutics only slow cognitive decline for small numbers of patients. This limited efficacy exists because AD is a multifactorial disease whose pathological mechanism(s) and diagnostic biomarkers are largely unknown. Here we report a new mechanism of AD pathogenesis in which the histone methyltransferase G9a noncanonically regulates translation of a hippocampal proteome that defines the proteopathic nature of AD. Accordingly, we developed a novel brain-penetrant inhibitor of G9a, MS1262, across the blood-brain barrier to block this G9a-regulated, proteopathologic mechanism. Intermittent MS1262 treatment of multiple AD mouse models consistently restored both cognitive and noncognitive functions to healthy levels. Comparison of proteomic/phosphoproteomic analyses of MS1262-treated AD mice with human AD patient data identified multiple pathological brain pathways that elaborate amyloid beta and neurofibrillary tangles as well as blood coagulation, from which biomarkers of early stage of AD including SMOC1 were found to be affected by MS1262 treatment. Notably, these results indicated that MS1262 treatment may reduce or avoid the risk of blood clot burst for brain bleeding or a stroke. This mouse-to-human conservation of G9a-translated AD proteopathology suggests that the global, multifaceted effects of MS1262 in mice could extend to relieve all symptoms of AD patients with minimum side effect. In addition, our mechanistically derived biomarkers can be used for stage-specific AD diagnosis and companion diagnosis of individualized drug effects. One-Sentence Summary A brain-penetrant inhibitor of G9a methylase blocks G9a translational mechanism to reverse Alzheimer's disease related proteome for effective therapy.
Collapse
|
43
|
Jain M, Dhariwal R, Patil N, Ojha S, Tendulkar R, Tendulkar M, Dhanda PS, Yadav A, Kaushik P. Unveiling the Molecular Footprint: Proteome-Based Biomarkers for Alzheimer's Disease. Proteomes 2023; 11:33. [PMID: 37873875 PMCID: PMC10594437 DOI: 10.3390/proteomes11040033] [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: 08/30/2023] [Revised: 10/12/2023] [Accepted: 10/13/2023] [Indexed: 10/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a devastating neurodegenerative disorder characterized by progressive cognitive decline and memory loss. Early and accurate diagnosis of AD is crucial for implementing timely interventions and developing effective therapeutic strategies. Proteome-based biomarkers have emerged as promising tools for AD diagnosis and prognosis due to their ability to reflect disease-specific molecular alterations. There is of great significance for biomarkers in AD diagnosis and management. It emphasizes the limitations of existing diagnostic approaches and the need for reliable and accessible biomarkers. Proteomics, a field that comprehensively analyzes the entire protein complement of cells, tissues, or bio fluids, is presented as a powerful tool for identifying AD biomarkers. There is a diverse range of proteomic approaches employed in AD research, including mass spectrometry, two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, and protein microarrays. The challenges associated with identifying reliable biomarkers, such as sample heterogeneity and the dynamic nature of the disease. There are well-known proteins implicated in AD pathogenesis, such as amyloid-beta peptides, tau protein, Apo lipoprotein E, and clusterin, as well as inflammatory markers and complement proteins. Validation and clinical utility of proteome-based biomarkers are addressing the challenges involved in validation studies and the diagnostic accuracy of these biomarkers. There is great potential in monitoring disease progression and response to treatment, thereby aiding in personalized medicine approaches for AD patients. There is a great role for bioinformatics and data analysis in proteomics for AD biomarker research and the importance of data preprocessing, statistical analysis, pathway analysis, and integration of multi-omics data for a comprehensive understanding of AD pathophysiology. In conclusion, proteome-based biomarkers hold great promise in the field of AD research. They provide valuable insights into disease mechanisms, aid in early diagnosis, and facilitate personalized treatment strategies. However, further research and validation studies are necessary to harness the full potential of proteome-based biomarkers in clinical practice.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mukul Jain
- Cell and Developmental Biology Laboratory, Research and Development Cell, Parul University, Vadodara 391760, India; (R.D.); (N.P.)
- Department of Life Sciences, Parul Institute of Applied Sciences, Parul University, Vadodara 391760, India;
| | - Rupal Dhariwal
- Cell and Developmental Biology Laboratory, Research and Development Cell, Parul University, Vadodara 391760, India; (R.D.); (N.P.)
- Department of Life Sciences, Parul Institute of Applied Sciences, Parul University, Vadodara 391760, India;
| | - Nil Patil
- Cell and Developmental Biology Laboratory, Research and Development Cell, Parul University, Vadodara 391760, India; (R.D.); (N.P.)
- Department of Life Sciences, Parul Institute of Applied Sciences, Parul University, Vadodara 391760, India;
| | - Sandhya Ojha
- Department of Life Sciences, Parul Institute of Applied Sciences, Parul University, Vadodara 391760, India;
| | - Reshma Tendulkar
- Vivekanand Education Society, College of Pharmacy, Chembur, Mumbai 400071, India;
| | - Mugdha Tendulkar
- Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel College of Science, Mira Rd (East), Thane 400071, India;
| | | | - Alpa Yadav
- Department of Botany, Indira Gandhi University, Meerpur, Rewari 122502, India;
| | - Prashant Kaushik
- Instituto de Conservacióny Mejora de la Agrodiversidad Valenciana, Universitat Politècnica de València, 46022 Valencia, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
44
|
Sharma H, Chang KA, Hulme J, An SSA. Mammalian Models in Alzheimer's Research: An Update. Cells 2023; 12:2459. [PMID: 37887303 PMCID: PMC10605533 DOI: 10.3390/cells12202459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2023] [Revised: 10/09/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023] Open
Abstract
A form of dementia distinct from healthy cognitive aging, Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a complex multi-stage disease that currently afflicts over 50 million people worldwide. Unfortunately, previous therapeutic strategies developed from murine models emulating different aspects of AD pathogenesis were limited. Consequently, researchers are now developing models that express several aspects of pathogenesis that better reflect the clinical situation in humans. As such, this review seeks to provide insight regarding current applications of mammalian models in AD research by addressing recent developments and characterizations of prominent transgenic models and their contributions to pathogenesis as well as discuss the advantages, limitations, and application of emerging models that better capture genetic heterogeneity and mixed pathologies observed in the clinical situation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Himadri Sharma
- Department of Bionano Technology, Gachon Bionano Research Institute, Gachon University, 1342 Seongnam-daero, Sujeong-gu, Seongnam-si 461-701, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Keun-A Chang
- Neuroscience Research Institute, Gachon University, Incheon 21565, Republic of Korea
| | - John Hulme
- Department of Bionano Technology, Gachon Bionano Research Institute, Gachon University, 1342 Seongnam-daero, Sujeong-gu, Seongnam-si 461-701, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Seong Soo A. An
- Department of Bionano Technology, Gachon Bionano Research Institute, Gachon University, 1342 Seongnam-daero, Sujeong-gu, Seongnam-si 461-701, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea
| |
Collapse
|
45
|
Hurst CD, Dunn AR, Dammer EB, Duong DM, Shapley SM, Seyfried NT, Kaczorowski CC, Johnson ECB. Genetic background influences the 5XFAD Alzheimer's disease mouse model brain proteome. Front Aging Neurosci 2023; 15:1239116. [PMID: 37901791 PMCID: PMC10602695 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2023.1239116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2023] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/31/2023] Open
Abstract
There is an urgent need to improve the translational validity of Alzheimer's disease (AD) mouse models. Introducing genetic background diversity in AD mouse models has been proposed as a way to increase validity and enable the discovery of previously uncharacterized genetic contributions to AD susceptibility or resilience. However, the extent to which genetic background influences the mouse brain proteome and its perturbation in AD mouse models is unknown. In this study, we crossed the 5XFAD AD mouse model on a C57BL/6J (B6) inbred background with the DBA/2J (D2) inbred background and analyzed the effects of genetic background variation on the brain proteome in F1 progeny. Both genetic background and 5XFAD transgene insertion strongly affected protein variance in the hippocampus and cortex (n = 3,368 proteins). Protein co-expression network analysis identified 16 modules of highly co-expressed proteins common across the hippocampus and cortex in 5XFAD and non-transgenic mice. Among the modules strongly influenced by genetic background were those related to small molecule metabolism and ion transport. Modules strongly influenced by the 5XFAD transgene were related to lysosome/stress responses and neuronal synapse/signaling. The modules with the strongest relationship to human disease-neuronal synapse/signaling and lysosome/stress response-were not significantly influenced by genetic background. However, other modules in 5XFAD that were related to human disease, such as GABA synaptic signaling and mitochondrial membrane modules, were influenced by genetic background. Most disease-related modules were more strongly correlated with AD genotype in the hippocampus compared with the cortex. Our findings suggest that the genetic diversity introduced by crossing B6 and D2 inbred backgrounds influences proteomic changes related to disease in the 5XFAD model, and that proteomic analysis of other genetic backgrounds in transgenic and knock-in AD mouse models is warranted to capture the full range of molecular heterogeneity in genetically diverse models of AD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cheyenne D. Hurst
- Goizueta Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
- Department of Biochemistry, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Amy R. Dunn
- Department of Mammalian Genetics, The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, ME, United States
| | - Eric B. Dammer
- Goizueta Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
- Department of Biochemistry, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Duc M. Duong
- Goizueta Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
- Department of Biochemistry, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Sarah M. Shapley
- Goizueta Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
- Department of Biochemistry, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Nicholas T. Seyfried
- Goizueta Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
- Department of Biochemistry, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
- Department of Neurology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Catherine C. Kaczorowski
- Department of Mammalian Genetics, The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, ME, United States
- Department of Neurology, The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Erik C. B. Johnson
- Goizueta Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
- Department of Neurology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
| |
Collapse
|
46
|
Wang KW, Zhang G, Kuo MH. Frontotemporal Dementia P301L Mutation Potentiates but Is Not Sufficient to Cause the Formation of Cytotoxic Fibrils of Tau. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:14996. [PMID: 37834443 PMCID: PMC10573866 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241914996] [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: 08/25/2023] [Revised: 10/03/2023] [Accepted: 10/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The P301L mutation in tau protein is a prevalent pathogenic mutation associated with neurodegenerative frontotemporal dementia, FTD. The mechanism by which P301L triggers or facilitates neurodegeneration at the molecular level remains unclear. In this work, we examined the effect of the P301L mutation on the biochemical and biological characteristics of pathologically relevant hyperphosphorylated tau. Hyperphosphorylated P301L tau forms cytotoxic aggregates more efficiently than hyperphosphorylated wildtype tau or unphosphorylated P301L tau in vitro. Mechanistic studies establish that hyperphosphorylated P301L tau exacerbates endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-associated gene upregulation in a neuroblastoma cell line when compared to wildtype hyperphosphorylated tau treatment. Furthermore, the microtubule cytoskeleton is severely disrupted following hyperphosphorylated P301L tau treatment. A hyperphosphorylated tau aggregation inhibitor, apomorphine, also inhibits the harmful effects caused by P301L hyperphosphorylated tau. In short, the P301L single mutation within the core repeat domain of tau renders the underlying hyperphosphorylated tau more potent in eliciting ER stress and cytoskeleton damage. However, the P301L mutation alone, without hyperphosphorylation, is not sufficient to cause these phenotypes. Understanding the conditions and mechanisms whereby selective mutations aggravate the pathogenic activities of tau can provide pivotal clues on novel strategies for drug development for frontotemporal dementia and other related neurodegenerative tauopathies, including Alzheimer's disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Min-Hao Kuo
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA; (K.-W.W.); (G.Z.)
| |
Collapse
|
47
|
Teli P, Kale V, Vaidya A. Beyond animal models: revolutionizing neurodegenerative disease modeling using 3D in vitro organoids, microfluidic chips, and bioprinting. Cell Tissue Res 2023; 394:75-91. [PMID: 37572163 DOI: 10.1007/s00441-023-03821-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2023] [Accepted: 07/27/2023] [Indexed: 08/14/2023]
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) are characterized by uncontrolled loss of neuronal cells leading to a progressive deterioration of brain functions. The transition rate of numerous neuroprotective drugs against Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and Huntington's disease, leading to FDA approval, is only 8-14% in the last two decades. Thus, in spite of encouraging preclinical results, these drugs have failed in human clinical trials, demonstrating that traditional cell cultures and animal models cannot accurately replicate human pathophysiology. Hence, in vitro three-dimensional (3D) models have been developed to bridge the gap between human and animal studies. Such technological advancements in 3D culture systems, such as human-induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived cells/organoids, organ-on-a-chip technique, and 3D bioprinting, have aided our understanding of the pathophysiology and underlying mechanisms of human NDs. Despite these recent advances, we still lack a 3D model that recapitulates all the key aspects of NDs, thus making it difficult to study the ND's etiology in-depth. Hence in this review, we propose developing a combinatorial approach that allows the integration of patient-derived iPSCs/organoids with 3D bioprinting and organ-on-a-chip technique as it would encompass the neuronal cells along with their niche. Such a 3D combinatorial approach would characterize pathological processes thoroughly, making them better suited for high-throughput drug screening and developing effective novel therapeutics targeting NDs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Prajakta Teli
- Symbiosis International (Deemed University), Symbiosis School of Biological Sciences, Pune, 412115, India
- Symbiosis International (Deemed University), Symbiosis Center for Stem Cell Research, Pune, 412115, India
| | - Vaijayanti Kale
- Symbiosis International (Deemed University), Symbiosis School of Biological Sciences, Pune, 412115, India
- Symbiosis International (Deemed University), Symbiosis Center for Stem Cell Research, Pune, 412115, India
| | - Anuradha Vaidya
- Symbiosis International (Deemed University), Symbiosis School of Biological Sciences, Pune, 412115, India.
- Symbiosis International (Deemed University), Symbiosis Center for Stem Cell Research, Pune, 412115, India.
| |
Collapse
|
48
|
Judd JM, Jasbi P, Winslow W, Serrano GE, Beach TG, Klein-Seetharaman J, Velazquez R. Inflammation and the pathological progression of Alzheimer's disease are associated with low circulating choline levels. Acta Neuropathol 2023; 146:565-583. [PMID: 37548694 PMCID: PMC10499952 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-023-02616-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2023] [Revised: 07/17/2023] [Accepted: 07/20/2023] [Indexed: 08/08/2023]
Abstract
Deficiency of dietary choline, an essential nutrient, is observed worldwide, with ~ 90% of Americans being deficient. Previous work highlights a relationship between decreased choline intake and an increased risk for cognitive decline and Alzheimer's disease (AD). The associations between blood circulating choline and the pathological progression in both mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and AD remain unknown. Here, we examined these associations in a cohort of patients with MCI with presence of either sparse or high neuritic plaque density and Braak stage and a second cohort with either moderate AD (moderate to frequent neuritic plaques, Braak stage = IV) or severe AD (frequent neuritic plaques, Braak stage = VI), compared to age-matched controls. Metabolomic analysis was performed on serum from the AD cohort. We then assessed the effects of dietary choline deficiency (Ch-) in 3xTg-AD mice and choline supplementation (Ch+) in APP/PS1 mice, two rodent models of AD. The levels of circulating choline were reduced while pro-inflammatory cytokine TNFα was elevated in serum of both MCI sparse and high pathology cases. Reduced choline and elevated TNFα correlated with higher neuritic plaque density and Braak stage. In AD patients, we found reductions in choline, its derivative acetylcholine (ACh), and elevated TNFα. Choline and ACh levels were negatively correlated with neuritic plaque load, Braak stage, and TNFα, but positively correlated with MMSE, and brain weight. Metabolites L-Valine, 4-Hydroxyphenylpyruvic, Methylmalonic, and Ferulic acids were significantly associated with circuiting choline levels. In 3xTg-AD mice, the Ch- diet increased amyloid-β levels and tau phosphorylation in cortical tissue, and TNFα in both blood and cortical tissue, paralleling the severe human-AD profile. Conversely, the Ch+ diet increased choline and ACh while reducing amyloid-β and TNFα levels in brains of APP/PS1 mice. Collectively, low circulating choline is associated with AD-neuropathological progression, illustrating the importance of adequate dietary choline intake to offset disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jessica M Judd
- Arizona State University-Banner Neurodegenerative Disease Research Center at the Biodesign Institute, Tempe, AZ, 85287, USA
- Arizona Alzheimer's Consortium, Phoenix, AZ, 85014, USA
| | - Paniz Jasbi
- School of Molecular Sciences, Arizona State University, Phoenix, AZ, 85287, USA
| | - Wendy Winslow
- Arizona State University-Banner Neurodegenerative Disease Research Center at the Biodesign Institute, Tempe, AZ, 85287, USA
- Arizona Alzheimer's Consortium, Phoenix, AZ, 85014, USA
| | - Geidy E Serrano
- Arizona Alzheimer's Consortium, Phoenix, AZ, 85014, USA
- Banner Sun Health Research Institute, Sun City, AZ, 85351, USA
| | - Thomas G Beach
- Arizona Alzheimer's Consortium, Phoenix, AZ, 85014, USA
- Banner Sun Health Research Institute, Sun City, AZ, 85351, USA
| | | | - Ramon Velazquez
- Arizona State University-Banner Neurodegenerative Disease Research Center at the Biodesign Institute, Tempe, AZ, 85287, USA.
- Arizona Alzheimer's Consortium, Phoenix, AZ, 85014, USA.
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, 797 E Tyler St, Tempe, AZ, 85287, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
49
|
Kang YJ, Diep YN, Tran M, Tran VTA, Ambrin G, Ngo H, Cho H. Three-dimensional human neural culture on a chip recapitulating neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration. Nat Protoc 2023; 18:2838-2867. [PMID: 37542184 DOI: 10.1038/s41596-023-00861-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2022] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 08/06/2023]
Abstract
Neuroinflammation has either beneficial or detrimental effects, depending on risk factors and neuron-glia interactions in neurological disorders. However, studying neuroinflammation has been challenging due to the complexity of cell-cell interactions and lack of physio-pathologically relevant neuroinflammatory models. Here, we describe our three-dimensional microfluidic multicellular human neural culture model, referred to as a 'brain-on-a-chip' (BoC). This elucidates neuron-glia interactions in a controlled manner and recapitulates pathological signatures of the major neurological disorders: dementia, brain tumor and brain edema. This platform includes a chemotaxis module offering a week-long, stable chemo-gradient compared with the few hours in other chemotaxis models. Additionally, compared with conventional brain models cultured with mixed phenotypes of microglia, our BoC can separate the disease-associated microglia out of heterogeneous population and allow selective neuro-glial engagement in three dimensions. This provides benefits of interpreting the neuro-glia interactions while revealing that the prominent activation of innate immune cells is the risk factor leading to synaptic impairment and neuronal loss, validated in our BoC models of disorders. This protocol describes how to fabricate and implement our human BoC, manipulate in real time and perform end-point analyses. It takes 2 d to set up the device and cell preparations, 1-9 weeks to develop brain models under disease conditions and 2-3 d to carry out analyses. This protocol requires at least 1 month training for researchers with basic molecular biology techniques. Taken together, our human BoCs serve as reliable and valuable platforms to investigate pathological mechanisms involving neuroinflammation and to assess therapeutic strategies modulating neuroinflammation in neurological disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- You Jung Kang
- Institute of Quantum Biophysics, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Republic of Korea
- Department of Biophysics, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Republic of Korea
| | - Yen N Diep
- Institute of Quantum Biophysics, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Republic of Korea
- Department of Biophysics, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Republic of Korea
- Department of Intelligent Precision Healthcare Convergence, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Republic of Korea
| | - Minh Tran
- Institute of Quantum Biophysics, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Republic of Korea
- Department of Biophysics, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Republic of Korea
- Department of Intelligent Precision Healthcare Convergence, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Republic of Korea
| | - Van Thi Ai Tran
- Institute of Quantum Biophysics, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Republic of Korea
- Department of Biophysics, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Republic of Korea
| | - Ghuncha Ambrin
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Huyen Ngo
- Institute of Quantum Biophysics, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Republic of Korea
- Department of Biophysics, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Republic of Korea
- Department of Intelligent Precision Healthcare Convergence, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Republic of Korea
| | - Hansang Cho
- Institute of Quantum Biophysics, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Republic of Korea.
- Department of Biophysics, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Republic of Korea.
- Department of Intelligent Precision Healthcare Convergence, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Republic of Korea.
| |
Collapse
|
50
|
Szumlinski KK, Herbert JN, Mejia Espinoza B, Madory LE, Scudder SL. Alcohol-drinking during later life by C57BL/6J mice induces sex- and age-dependent changes in hippocampal and prefrontal cortex expression of glutamate receptors and neuropathology markers. ADDICTION NEUROSCIENCE 2023; 7:100099. [PMID: 37396410 PMCID: PMC10310297 DOI: 10.1016/j.addicn.2023.100099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/04/2023]
Abstract
Heavy drinking can induce early-onset dementia and increase the likelihood of the progression and severity of Alzheimer's Disease and related dementias (ADRD). Recently, we showed that alcohol-drinking by mature adult C57BL/6J mice induces more signs of cognitive impairment in females versus males without worsening age-related cognitive decline in aged mice. Here, we immunoblotted for glutamate receptors and protein markers of ADRD-related neuropathology within the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex (PFC) of these mice after three weeks of alcohol withdrawal to determine protein correlates of alcohol-induced cognitive decline. Irrespective of alcohol history, age-related changes in protein expression included a male-specific decline in hippocampal glutamate receptors and an increase in the expression of a beta-site amyloid precursor protein cleaving enzyme (BACE) isoform in the PFC as well as a sex-independent increase in hippocampal amyloid precursor protein. Alcohol-drinking was associated with altered expression of glutamate receptors in the hippocampus in a sex-dependent manner, while all glutamate receptor proteins exhibited significant alcohol-related increases in the PFC of both sexes. Expression of BACE isoforms and phosphorylated tau varied in the PFC and hippocampus based on age, sex, and drinking history. The results of this study indicate that withdrawal from a history of alcohol-drinking during later life induces sex- and age-selective effects on glutamate receptor expression and protein markers of ADRD-related neuropathology within the hippocampus and PFC of potential relevance to the etiology, treatment and prevention of alcohol-induced dementia and Alzheimer's Disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Karen K. Szumlinski
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106-9660, USA
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106-9625, USA
- Neuroscience Research Institute, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106-9625, USA
| | - Jessica N. Herbert
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106-9660, USA
| | - Brenda Mejia Espinoza
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106-9660, USA
| | - Lauren E. Madory
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106-9660, USA
| | - Samantha L. Scudder
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106-9660, USA
- Department of Psychology, California State University Dominguez Hills, Carson, CA 90747, USA
| |
Collapse
|