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Harris GA, Hirschfeld LR. Antisense oligonucleotides provide optimism to the therapeutic landscape for tauopathies. Neural Regen Res 2025; 20:803-804. [PMID: 38886947 DOI: 10.4103/nrr.nrr-d-23-02057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024] Open
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2
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Hugelier S, Tang Q, Kim HHS, Gyparaki MT, Bond C, Santiago-Ruiz AN, Porta S, Lakadamyali M. ECLiPSE: a versatile classification technique for structural and morphological analysis of 2D and 3D single-molecule localization microscopy data. Nat Methods 2024:10.1038/s41592-024-02414-3. [PMID: 39256629 DOI: 10.1038/s41592-024-02414-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2023] [Accepted: 08/14/2024] [Indexed: 09/12/2024]
Abstract
Single-molecule localization microscopy (SMLM) has gained widespread use for visualizing the morphology of subcellular organelles and structures with nanoscale spatial resolution. However, analysis tools for automatically quantifying and classifying SMLM images have lagged behind. Here we introduce Enhanced Classification of Localized Point clouds by Shape Extraction (ECLiPSE), an automated machine learning analysis pipeline specifically designed to classify cellular structures captured through two-dimensional or three-dimensional SMLM. ECLiPSE leverages a comprehensive set of shape descriptors, the majority of which are directly extracted from the localizations to minimize bias during the characterization of individual structures. ECLiPSE has been validated using both unsupervised and supervised classification on datasets, including various cellular structures, achieving near-perfect accuracy. We apply two-dimensional ECLiPSE to classify morphologically distinct protein aggregates relevant for neurodegenerative diseases. Additionally, we employ three-dimensional ECLiPSE to identify relevant biological differences between healthy and depolarized mitochondria. ECLiPSE will enhance the way we study cellular structures across various biological contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siewert Hugelier
- Department of Physiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
| | - Qing Tang
- Department of Physiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Hannah Hyun-Sook Kim
- Department of Physiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics Graduate Group, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Melina Theoni Gyparaki
- Department of Biology, School of Arts and Sciences, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Vertex Pharmaceuticals, New York, NY, USA
| | - Charles Bond
- Department of Physiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Cell and Molecular Biology Graduate Group, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Adriana Naomi Santiago-Ruiz
- Department of Physiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics Graduate Group, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Sílvia Porta
- Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research, Institute on Aging, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Melike Lakadamyali
- Department of Physiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
- Epigenetics Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
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3
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Pierro S, Verde F, Maranzano A, De Gobbi A, Colombo E, Doretti A, Messina S, Maderna L, Ratti A, Girotti F, Andreetta F, Silani V, Morelli C, Ticozzi N. Further insights into anti-IgLON5 disease: a case with complex clinical presentation. BMC Neurol 2024; 24:334. [PMID: 39256712 PMCID: PMC11386077 DOI: 10.1186/s12883-024-03837-3] [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: 07/21/2024] [Accepted: 08/28/2024] [Indexed: 09/12/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Anti-IgLON5 disease is an autoimmune encephalitis overlapping with neurodegenerative disorders due to pathological accumulation of hyperphosphorylated tau. It is characterized by several clinical manifestations determined by involvement of different brain areas, and mild response to first-line immunotherapies. We report a case of anti-IgLON5 disease with a multifaceted semiology and an unusually good response to glucocorticoid monotherapy. CASE PRESENTATION A 68-year-old man with type 2 diabetes was evaluated for an 8-month history of progressive gait disorder causing frequent falls. He also suffered from obstructive sleep apneas and complained of dysphonia, dysarthria, occasional dysphagia, urinary incontinence, and upper limb action tremor. Neurological examination demonstrated bilateral eyelid ptosis, limitation of ocular horizontal smooth pursuit movements, slow horizontal saccades, and lack of inhibition of the vestibulo-ocular reflex during rapid horizontal head torsions. The patient also displayed involuntary, slow, rhythmic movements of the left periorbital and perioral muscles, spreading to the ipsilateral hemipalate and hemitongue, along with bilateral negative upper limb myoclonus. There were proximal muscle wasting in the upper limbs, proximal weakness of the four limbs, and diffuse fasciculations. Ataxia of stance and gait and of the four limbs was noted. MRI of the brain and spine was unremarkable; nerve conduction studies revealed a chronic, predominantly demyelinating, sensory-motor polyneuropathy, probably due to diabetes. Routine CSF examination was unrevealing and serum GFAP level was 89.6 pg/mL; however, the autoimmunity tests revealed a high-titer positivity for anti-IgLON5 autoantibodies in both CSF and serum, leading to the diagnosis of anti-IgLON5 disease. Symptoms improved significantly after intravenous methylprednisolone. CONCLUSIONS Hemifacial and hemiorolingual myorhythmia along with peculiar oculomotor abnormalities characterizes the multifaceted clinical picture of our case. The complex semiology of our patient may reflect multifocal targeting of the autoimmune process or sequential spreading of tau inclusions in different brain areas. Our patient's optimal response to glucocorticoid monotherapy could be underpinned by a slightly different phenotype in which autoimmunity plays a greater pathogenic role than tauopathy, with a lower burden of tau deposition. In such patients, neurodegeneration and tau accumulation could be merely secondary to immune-mediated neuronal dysfunction, supporting the existence of a group of glucocorticoid-responsive patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simone Pierro
- Neurology Residency Program, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Federico Verde
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Piazzale Brescia 20, Milan, 20149, Italy.
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, "Dino Ferrari" Center, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy.
| | - Alessio Maranzano
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Piazzale Brescia 20, Milan, 20149, Italy
| | - Anna De Gobbi
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Piazzale Brescia 20, Milan, 20149, Italy
| | - Eleonora Colombo
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Piazzale Brescia 20, Milan, 20149, Italy
| | - Alberto Doretti
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Piazzale Brescia 20, Milan, 20149, Italy
| | - Stefano Messina
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Piazzale Brescia 20, Milan, 20149, Italy
| | - Luca Maderna
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Piazzale Brescia 20, Milan, 20149, Italy
| | - Antonia Ratti
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Piazzale Brescia 20, Milan, 20149, Italy
- Department of Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Floriano Girotti
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Piazzale Brescia 20, Milan, 20149, Italy
| | - Francesca Andreetta
- Neuroimmunology and Neuromuscular Diseases Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico C. Besta, Milan, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Silani
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Piazzale Brescia 20, Milan, 20149, Italy
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, "Dino Ferrari" Center, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Claudia Morelli
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Piazzale Brescia 20, Milan, 20149, Italy
| | - Nicola Ticozzi
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Piazzale Brescia 20, Milan, 20149, Italy
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, "Dino Ferrari" Center, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
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4
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Rexach JE, Cheng Y, Chen L, Polioudakis D, Lin LC, Mitri V, Elkins A, Han X, Yamakawa M, Yin A, Calini D, Kawaguchi R, Ou J, Huang J, Williams C, Robinson J, Gaus SE, Spina S, Lee EB, Grinberg LT, Vinters H, Trojanowski JQ, Seeley WW, Malhotra D, Geschwind DH. Cross-disorder and disease-specific pathways in dementia revealed by single-cell genomics. Cell 2024:S0092-8674(24)00910-3. [PMID: 39265576 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2024.08.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2023] [Revised: 05/29/2024] [Accepted: 08/09/2024] [Indexed: 09/14/2024]
Abstract
The development of successful therapeutics for dementias requires an understanding of their shared and distinct molecular features in the human brain. We performed single-nuclear RNA-seq and ATAC-seq in Alzheimer's disease (AD), frontotemporal dementia (FTD), and progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), analyzing 41 participants and ∼1 million cells (RNA + ATAC) from three brain regions varying in vulnerability and pathological burden. We identify 32 shared, disease-associated cell types and 14 that are disease specific. Disease-specific cell states represent glial-immune mechanisms and selective neuronal vulnerability impacting layer 5 intratelencephalic neurons in AD, layer 2/3 intratelencephalic neurons in FTD, and layer 5/6 near-projection neurons in PSP. We identify disease-associated gene regulatory networks and cells impacted by causal genetic risk, which differ by disorder. These data illustrate the heterogeneous spectrum of glial and neuronal compositional and gene expression alterations in different dementias and identify therapeutic targets by revealing shared and disease-specific cell states.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica E Rexach
- Program in Neurogenetics, Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; Department of Human Genetics, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
| | - Yuyan Cheng
- Program in Neurogenetics, Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Lawrence Chen
- Program in Neurogenetics, Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Damon Polioudakis
- Program in Neurogenetics, Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Li-Chun Lin
- Department of Neurology, Memory and Aging Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Vivianne Mitri
- Program in Neurogenetics, Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Andrew Elkins
- Program in Neurogenetics, Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Xia Han
- Program in Neurogenetics, Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Mai Yamakawa
- Program in Neurogenetics, Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Anna Yin
- Program in Neurogenetics, Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Daniela Calini
- Neuroscience and Rare Diseases, Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, F. Hoffman-LaRoche Ltd., Basel, Switzerland
| | - Riki Kawaguchi
- Program in Neurogenetics, Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Jing Ou
- Program in Neurogenetics, Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Jerry Huang
- Program in Neurogenetics, Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Christopher Williams
- Program in Neurogenetics, Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - John Robinson
- Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Stephanie E Gaus
- Department of Neurology, Memory and Aging Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Salvatore Spina
- Department of Neurology, Memory and Aging Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Edward B Lee
- Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Lea T Grinberg
- Department of Neurology, Memory and Aging Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA; Department of Pathology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Harry Vinters
- Program in Neurogenetics, Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - John Q Trojanowski
- Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - William W Seeley
- Department of Neurology, Memory and Aging Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA; Department of Pathology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Dheeraj Malhotra
- Neuroscience and Rare Diseases, Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, F. Hoffman-LaRoche Ltd., Basel, Switzerland
| | - Daniel H Geschwind
- Program in Neurogenetics, Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; Department of Human Genetics, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; Institute of Precision Health, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
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5
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Mate de Gerando A, Khasnavis A, Welikovitch LA, Bhavsar H, Glynn C, Quittot N, Perbet R, Hyman BT. Aqueous extractable nonfibrillar and sarkosyl extractable fibrillar Alzheimer's disease tau seeds have distinct properties. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2024; 12:145. [PMID: 39252090 PMCID: PMC11382398 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-024-01849-1] [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: 07/03/2024] [Accepted: 08/08/2024] [Indexed: 09/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Pathological tau fibrils in progressive supranuclear palsy, frontotemporal dementia, chronic traumatic encephalopathy, and Alzheimer's disease each have unique conformations, and post-translational modifications that correlate with unique disease characteristics. However, within Alzheimer's disease (AD), both fibrillar (sarkosyl insoluble (AD SARK tau)), and nonfibrillar (aqueous extractable high molecular weight (AD HMW tau)) preparations have been suggested to be seed-competent. We now explore if these preparations are similar or distinct in their in vivo seeding characteristics. Using an in vivo amplification and time-course paradigm we demonstrate that, for AD HMW and AD SARK tau species, the amplified material is biochemically similar to the original sample. The HMW and SARK materials also show different clearance, propagation kinetics, and propagation patterns. These data indicate the surprising co-occurrence of multiple distinct tau species within the same AD brain, supporting the idea that multiple tau conformers - both fibrillar and nonfibrillar- can impact phenotype in AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anastasie Mate de Gerando
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Anita Khasnavis
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Harshil Bhavsar
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Calina Glynn
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Noe Quittot
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Romain Perbet
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Bradley T Hyman
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
- Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA, USA.
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6
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Lam I, Ndayisaba A, Lewis AJ, Fu Y, Sagredo GT, Kuzkina A, Zaccagnini L, Celikag M, Sandoe J, Sanz RL, Vahdatshoar A, Martin TD, Morshed N, Ichihashi T, Tripathi A, Ramalingam N, Oettgen-Suazo C, Bartels T, Boussouf M, Schäbinger M, Hallacli E, Jiang X, Verma A, Tea C, Wang Z, Hakozaki H, Yu X, Hyles K, Park C, Wang X, Theunissen TW, Wang H, Jaenisch R, Lindquist S, Stevens B, Stefanova N, Wenning G, van de Berg WDJ, Luk KC, Sanchez-Pernaute R, Gómez-Esteban JC, Felsky D, Kiyota Y, Sahni N, Yi SS, Chung CY, Stahlberg H, Ferrer I, Schöneberg J, Elledge SJ, Dettmer U, Halliday GM, Bartels T, Khurana V. Rapid iPSC inclusionopathy models shed light on formation, consequence, and molecular subtype of α-synuclein inclusions. Neuron 2024; 112:2886-2909.e16. [PMID: 39079530 PMCID: PMC11377155 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2024.06.002] [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] [Revised: 10/26/2023] [Accepted: 06/03/2024] [Indexed: 09/07/2024]
Abstract
The heterogeneity of protein-rich inclusions and its significance in neurodegeneration is poorly understood. Standard patient-derived iPSC models develop inclusions neither reproducibly nor in a reasonable time frame. Here, we developed screenable iPSC "inclusionopathy" models utilizing piggyBac or targeted transgenes to rapidly induce CNS cells that express aggregation-prone proteins at brain-like levels. Inclusions and their effects on cell survival were trackable at single-inclusion resolution. Exemplar cortical neuron α-synuclein inclusionopathy models were engineered through transgenic expression of α-synuclein mutant forms or exogenous seeding with fibrils. We identified multiple inclusion classes, including neuroprotective p62-positive inclusions versus dynamic and neurotoxic lipid-rich inclusions, both identified in patient brains. Fusion events between these inclusion subtypes altered neuronal survival. Proteome-scale α-synuclein genetic- and physical-interaction screens pinpointed candidate RNA-processing and actin-cytoskeleton-modulator proteins like RhoA whose sequestration into inclusions could enhance toxicity. These tractable CNS models should prove useful in functional genomic analysis and drug development for proteinopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabel Lam
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Division of Movement Disorders, American Parkinson Disease Association (APDA) Center for Advanced Research and MSA Center of Excellence, Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Alain Ndayisaba
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Division of Movement Disorders, American Parkinson Disease Association (APDA) Center for Advanced Research and MSA Center of Excellence, Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Division of Neurobiology, Department of Neurology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Amanda J Lewis
- École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - YuHong Fu
- The University of Sydney Brain and Mind Centre and Faculty of Medicine and Health School of Medical Science, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Giselle T Sagredo
- The University of Sydney Brain and Mind Centre and Faculty of Medicine and Health School of Medical Science, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Anastasia Kuzkina
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Division of Movement Disorders, American Parkinson Disease Association (APDA) Center for Advanced Research and MSA Center of Excellence, Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Meral Celikag
- Dementia Research Institute, University College London, London, UK
| | - Jackson Sandoe
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Ricardo L Sanz
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Division of Movement Disorders, American Parkinson Disease Association (APDA) Center for Advanced Research and MSA Center of Excellence, Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Aazam Vahdatshoar
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Division of Movement Disorders, American Parkinson Disease Association (APDA) Center for Advanced Research and MSA Center of Excellence, Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Timothy D Martin
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Division of Genetics, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD, USA
| | - Nader Morshed
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD, USA; Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | | | - Arati Tripathi
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Nagendran Ramalingam
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Charlotte Oettgen-Suazo
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Division of Movement Disorders, American Parkinson Disease Association (APDA) Center for Advanced Research and MSA Center of Excellence, Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Theresa Bartels
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Manel Boussouf
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Division of Movement Disorders, American Parkinson Disease Association (APDA) Center for Advanced Research and MSA Center of Excellence, Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Max Schäbinger
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Division of Movement Disorders, American Parkinson Disease Association (APDA) Center for Advanced Research and MSA Center of Excellence, Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Erinc Hallacli
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Division of Movement Disorders, American Parkinson Disease Association (APDA) Center for Advanced Research and MSA Center of Excellence, Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Xin Jiang
- Yumanity Therapeutics, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Amrita Verma
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Division of Movement Disorders, American Parkinson Disease Association (APDA) Center for Advanced Research and MSA Center of Excellence, Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Challana Tea
- University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Zichen Wang
- University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
| | | | - Xiao Yu
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Division of Movement Disorders, American Parkinson Disease Association (APDA) Center for Advanced Research and MSA Center of Excellence, Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Kelly Hyles
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Division of Movement Disorders, American Parkinson Disease Association (APDA) Center for Advanced Research and MSA Center of Excellence, Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Chansaem Park
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Division of Movement Disorders, American Parkinson Disease Association (APDA) Center for Advanced Research and MSA Center of Excellence, Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Xinyuan Wang
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Division of Movement Disorders, American Parkinson Disease Association (APDA) Center for Advanced Research and MSA Center of Excellence, Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Haoyi Wang
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Rudolf Jaenisch
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Susan Lindquist
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD, USA
| | - Beth Stevens
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD, USA; Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Nadia Stefanova
- Division of Neurobiology, Department of Neurology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Gregor Wenning
- Division of Neurobiology, Department of Neurology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | | | - Kelvin C Luk
- University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Rosario Sanchez-Pernaute
- BioBizkaia Health Research Institute, Barakaldo, Spain; Ikerbasque, Basque Foundation for Science, Bilbao, Spain
| | | | - Daniel Felsky
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada; University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | | | - Nidhi Sahni
- The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA; Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - S Stephen Yi
- The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | | | - Henning Stahlberg
- École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Isidro Ferrer
- The University of Barcelona, Institut d'Investigacio Biomedica de Bellvitge IDIBELL, Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Stephen J Elledge
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Division of Genetics, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD, USA
| | - Ulf Dettmer
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Glenda M Halliday
- The University of Sydney Brain and Mind Centre and Faculty of Medicine and Health School of Medical Science, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Aligning Science Across Parkinson's (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, MD, USA
| | - Tim Bartels
- Dementia Research Institute, University College London, London, UK
| | - Vikram Khurana
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Division of Movement Disorders, American Parkinson Disease Association (APDA) Center for Advanced Research and MSA Center of Excellence, Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA; Aligning Science Across Parkinson's (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, MD, USA; Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA, USA.
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7
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Beach TG, Serrano GE, Zhang N, Driver-Dunckley ED, Sue LI, Shill HA, Mehta SH, Belden C, Tremblay C, Choudhury P, Atri A, Adler CH. Clinicopathological Heterogeneity of Lewy Body Diseases: The Profound Influence of Comorbid Alzheimer's Disease. MEDRXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES 2024:2024.08.30.24312864. [PMID: 39281742 PMCID: PMC11398443 DOI: 10.1101/2024.08.30.24312864] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/18/2024]
Abstract
In recent years, proposals have been advanced to redefine or reclassify Lewy body disorders by merging the long-established entities of Parkinson's disease (PD), Parkinson's disease dementia (PDD) and dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB). These proposals reject the International DLB Consortium classification system that has evolved over three decades of consensus collaborations between neurologists, neuropsychologists and neuropathologists. While the Consortium's "one year rule" for separating PD and DLB has been criticized as arbitrary, it has been a pragmatic and effective tool for splitting the continuum between the two entities. In addition to the decades of literature supporting the non-homogeneity of PD and DLB, it has become increasingly apparent that Lewy body disorders may fundamentally differ in their etiology. Most PD subjects, as well as most clinically-presenting DLB subjects, might best be classified as having a "primary synucleinopathy" while most clinically-unidentified DLB subjects, who also have concurrent neuropathology-criteria AD (AD/DLB), as well as those with neuropathological AD and amygdala-predominant LBD insufficient for a DLB diagnosis, may best be classified as having a "secondary synucleinopathy. Importantly, the DLB Consortium recognized the importance of comorbid AD pathology by defining "Low", "Intermediate" and "High" subdivisions of DLB based on the relative brain stages of both Lewy body and AD pathology. If the one-year rule for separating PD from DLB, and for then dividing DLB into subtypes based on the presence and severity of comorbid AD pathology, is effective, then the divided groups should statistically differ in important ways. In this study we used the comprehensive clinicopathological database of the Arizona Study of Aging and Neurodegenerative Disorders (AZSAND) to empirically test this hypothesis. Furthermore, we used multivariable statistical models to test the hypothesis that comorbid AD neuropathology is a major predictor of the presence and severity of postmortem Lewy synucleinopathy. The results confirm the clinicopathological heterogeneity of Lewy body disorders as well as the profound influence of comorbid AD pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Lucia I Sue
- Banner Sun Health Research Institute, Sun City, AZ
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Alireza Atri
- Banner Sun Health Research Institute, Sun City, AZ
- Harvard & Brigham & Women's, Boston, MA
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8
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Hossen F, Sun GY, Lee JC. Oligomeric Tau-induced oxidative damage and functional alterations in cerebral endothelial cells: Role of RhoA/ROCK signaling pathway. Free Radic Biol Med 2024; 221:261-272. [PMID: 38815773 PMCID: PMC11184584 DOI: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2024.05.044] [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] [Received: 01/17/2024] [Revised: 03/22/2024] [Accepted: 05/27/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024]
Abstract
Despite of yet unknown mechanism, microvascular deposition of oligomeric Tau (oTau) has been implicated in alteration of the Blood-Brain Barrier (BBB) function in Alzheimer's disease (AD) brains. In this study, we employed an in vitro BBB model using primary mouse cerebral endothelial cells (CECs) to investigate the mechanism underlying the effects of oTau on BBB function. We found that exposing CECs to oTau induced oxidative stress through NADPH oxidase, increased oxidative damage to proteins, decreased proteasome activity, and expressions of tight junction (TJ) proteins including occludin, zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) and claudin-5. These effects were suppressed by the pretreatment with Fasudil, a RhoA/ROCK signaling inhibitor. Consistent with the biochemical alterations, we found that exposing the basolateral side of CECs to oTau in the BBB model disrupted the integrity of the BBB, as indicated by an increase in FITC-dextran transport across the model, and a decrease in trans endothelial electrical resistance (TEER). oTau also increased the transmigration of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in the BBB model. These functional alterations in the BBB induced by oTau were also suppressed by Fasudil. Taken together, our findings suggest that targeting the RhoA/ROCK pathway can be a potential therapeutic strategy to maintain BBB function in AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Faruk Hossen
- Richard and Loan Hill Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60607, USA
| | - Grace Y Sun
- Biochemistry Department, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA
| | - James C Lee
- Richard and Loan Hill Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60607, USA.
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9
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Hart de Ruyter FJ, Evers MJAP, Morrema THJ, Dijkstra AA, den Haan J, Twisk JWR, de Boer JF, Scheltens P, Bouwman FH, Verbraak FD, Rozemuller AJ, Hoozemans JJM. Neuropathological hallmarks in the post-mortem retina of neurodegenerative diseases. Acta Neuropathol 2024; 148:24. [PMID: 39160362 PMCID: PMC11333524 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-024-02769-z] [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: 01/30/2024] [Revised: 07/14/2024] [Accepted: 07/14/2024] [Indexed: 08/21/2024]
Abstract
The retina is increasingly recognised as a potential source of biomarkers for neurodegenerative diseases. Hallmark protein aggregates in the retinal neuronal tissue could be imaged through light non-invasively. Post-mortem studies have already shown the presence of specific hallmark proteins in Alzheimer's disease, primary tauopathies, synucleinopathies and frontotemporal lobar degeneration. This study aims to assess proteinopathy in a post-mortem cohort with different neurodegenerative diseases and assess the presence of the primary pathology in the retina. Post-mortem eyes were collected in collaboration with the Netherlands Brain Bank from donors with Alzheimer's disease (n = 17), primary tauopathies (n = 8), synucleinopathies (n = 27), frontotemporal lobar degeneration (n = 8), mixed pathology (n = 11), other neurodegenerative diseases (n = 6), and cognitively normal controls (n = 25). Multiple cross sections of the retina and optic nerve tissue were immunostained using antibodies against pTau Ser202/Thr205 (AT8), amyloid-beta (4G8), alpha-synuclein (LB509), pTDP-43 Ser409/410 and p62-lck ligand (p62) and were assessed for the presence of aggregates and inclusions. pTau pathology was observed as a diffuse signal in Alzheimer's disease, primary tauopathies and controls with Alzheimer's disease neuropathological changes. Amyloid-beta was observed in the vessel wall and as cytoplasmic granular deposits in all groups. Alpha-synuclein pathology was observed as Lewy neurites in the retina in synucleinopathies associated with Lewy pathology and as oligodendroglial cytoplasmic inclusions in the optic nerve in multiple system atrophy. Anti-pTDP-43 generally showed typical neuronal cytoplasmic inclusion bodies in cases with frontotemporal lobar degeneration with TDP-43 and also in cases with later stages of limbic-associated TDP-43 encephalopathy. P62 showed inclusion bodies similar to those seen with anti-pTDP-43. Furthermore, pTau and alpha-synuclein pathology were significantly associated with increasing Braak stages for neurofibrillary tangles and Lewy bodies, respectively. Mixed pathology cases in this cohort consisted of cases (n = 6) with high Braak LB stages (> 4) and low or moderate AD pathology, high AD pathology (n = 1, Braak NFT 6, Thal phase 5) with moderate LB pathology, or a combination of low/moderate scores for different pathology scores in the brain (n = 4). There were no cases with advanced co-pathologies. In seven cases with Braak LB ≥ 4, LB pathology was observed in the retina, while tau pathology in the retina in the mixed pathology group (n = 11) could not be observed. From this study, we conclude that the retina reflects the presence of the major hallmark proteins associated with neurodegenerative diseases. Although low or moderate levels of copathology were found in the brains of most cases, the retina primarily manifested protein aggregates associated with the main neurodegenerative disease. These findings indicate that with appropriate retinal imaging techniques, retinal biomarkers have the potential to become highly accurate indicators for diagnosing the major neurodegenerative diseases of the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frederique J Hart de Ruyter
- Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Pathology, Amsterdam Neuroscience, De Boelelaan 1117, 1081 HV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
- Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Alzheimer Center Amsterdam, Neurology, De Boelelaan 1117, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
| | - Manon J A P Evers
- Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Pathology, Amsterdam Neuroscience, De Boelelaan 1117, 1081 HV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Tjado H J Morrema
- Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Pathology, Amsterdam Neuroscience, De Boelelaan 1117, 1081 HV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Anke A Dijkstra
- Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Pathology, Amsterdam Neuroscience, De Boelelaan 1117, 1081 HV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Jurre den Haan
- Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Alzheimer Center Amsterdam, Neurology, De Boelelaan 1117, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Jos W R Twisk
- Epidemiology and Data Science, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1117, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Johannes F de Boer
- LaserLaB, Physics and Astronomy, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1081, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Philip Scheltens
- Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Alzheimer Center Amsterdam, Neurology, De Boelelaan 1117, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Femke H Bouwman
- Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Alzheimer Center Amsterdam, Neurology, De Boelelaan 1117, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Frank D Verbraak
- Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Ophthalmology, De Boelelaan 1117, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Annemieke J Rozemuller
- Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Pathology, Amsterdam Neuroscience, De Boelelaan 1117, 1081 HV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
| | - Jeroen J M Hoozemans
- Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Pathology, Amsterdam Neuroscience, De Boelelaan 1117, 1081 HV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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10
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Cóppola-Segovia V, Reggiori F. Molecular Insights into Aggrephagy: Their Cellular Functions in the Context of Neurodegenerative Diseases. J Mol Biol 2024; 436:168493. [PMID: 38360089 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2024.168493] [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: 12/19/2023] [Revised: 02/06/2024] [Accepted: 02/09/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
Protein homeostasis or proteostasis is an equilibrium of biosynthetic production, folding and transport of proteins, and their timely and efficient degradation. Proteostasis is guaranteed by a network of protein quality control systems aimed at maintaining the proteome function and avoiding accumulation of potentially cytotoxic proteins. Terminal unfolded and dysfunctional proteins can be directly turned over by the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) or first amassed into aggregates prior to degradation. Aggregates can also be disposed into lysosomes by a selective type of autophagy known as aggrephagy, which relies on a set of so-called selective autophagy receptors (SARs) and adaptor proteins. Failure in eliminating aggregates, also due to defects in aggrephagy, can have devastating effects as underscored by several neurodegenerative diseases or proteinopathies, which are characterized by the accumulation of aggregates mostly formed by a specific disease-associated, aggregate-prone protein depending on the clinical pathology. Despite its medical relevance, however, the process of aggrephagy is far from being understood. Here we review the findings that have helped in assigning a possible function to specific SARs and adaptor proteins in aggrephagy in the context of proteinopathies, and also highlight the interplay between aggrephagy and the pathogenesis of proteinopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Fulvio Reggiori
- Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, Ole Worms Allé 4, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark; Aarhus Institute of Advanced Studies (AIAS), Aarhus University, Høegh-Guldbergs Gade 6B, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark.
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11
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DeRosier F, Hibbs C, Alessi K, Padda I, Rodriguez J, Pradeep S, Parmar MS. Progressive supranuclear palsy: Neuropathology, clinical presentation, diagnostic challenges, management, and emerging therapies. Dis Mon 2024; 70:101753. [PMID: 38908985 DOI: 10.1016/j.disamonth.2024.101753] [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: 06/24/2024]
Abstract
Progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by the accumulation of 4R-tau protein aggregates in various brain regions. PSP leads to neuronal loss, gliosis, and tau-positive inclusions, such as neurofibrillary tangles, tufted astrocytes, and coiled bodies. These pathological changes mainly affect the brainstem and the basal ganglia, resulting in distinctive MRI features, such as the hummingbird and morning glory signs. PSP shows clinical heterogeneity and presents as different phenotypes, the most classical of which is Richardson's syndrome (PSP-RS). The region of involvement and the mode of atrophy spread can further distinguish subtypes of PSP. PSP patients can experience various signs and symptoms, such as postural instability, supranuclear ophthalmoplegia, low amplitude fast finger tapping, and irregular sleep patterns. The most common symptoms of PSP are postural instability, falls, vertical gaze palsy, bradykinesia, and cognitive impairment. These features often overlap with those of Parkinson's disease (PD) and other Parkinsonian syndromes, making the diagnosis challenging. PSP is an essential clinical topic to research because it is a devastating and incurable disease. However, there are still many gaps in knowledge about its pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment. Several clinical trials are underway to test noveltherapies that target tau in various ways, such as modulating its post-translational modifications, stabilizing its interaction with microtubules, or enhancing its clearance by immunotherapy. These approaches may offer new hope for slowing down the progression of PSP. In this review, we aim to provide an overview of the current knowledge on PSP, from its pathogenesis to its management. We also discuss the latest advances and future directions in PSP research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frederick DeRosier
- Department of Foundational Sciences, Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine, Nova Southeastern University, Clearwater, FL, United States of America
| | - Cody Hibbs
- Department of Foundational Sciences, Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine, Nova Southeastern University, Clearwater, FL, United States of America
| | - Kaitlyn Alessi
- Department of Family Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, United States of America
| | - Inderbir Padda
- Department of Internal Medicine, Richmond University Medical Center, Staten Island, New York, United States of America
| | - Jeanette Rodriguez
- Department of Family Medicine, Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine, Nova Southeastern University, Clearwater, Florida, United States of America
| | - Swati Pradeep
- Department of Movement Disorders, UTHealth Houston Neurosciences Neurology - Texas Medical Center, Texas, United States of America
| | - Mayur S Parmar
- Department of Foundational Sciences, Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine, Nova Southeastern University, Clearwater, FL, United States of America.
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12
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Chung DEC, Deng X, Yalamanchili HK, Revelli JP, Han AL, Tadros B, Richman R, Dias M, Naini FA, Boeynaems S, Hyman BT, Zoghbi HY. The big tau splice isoform resists Alzheimer's-related pathological changes. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.07.30.605685. [PMID: 39211086 PMCID: PMC11360890 DOI: 10.1101/2024.07.30.605685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/04/2024]
Abstract
In Alzheimer's disease (AD), the microtubule-binding protein tau becomes abnormally hyperphosphorylated and aggregated in selective brain regions such as the cortex and hippocampus 1-3 . However, other brain regions like the cerebellum and brain stem remain largely intact despite the universal expression of tau throughout the brain. Here, we found that an understudied splice isoform of tau termed "big tau" is significantly more abundant in the brain regions less vulnerable to tau pathology compared to tau pathology-vulnerable regions. We used various cellular and animal models to demonstrate that big tau possesses multiple properties that can resist AD-related pathological changes. Importantly, human AD patients show a higher expression level of pathology-resisting big tau in the cerebellum, the brain region spared from tau pathology. Our study examines the unique properties of big tau, expanding our current understanding of tau pathophysiology. Altogether, our data suggest that alternative splicing to favor big tau is a viable strategy to modulate tau pathology.
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13
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Martinez P, Jury-Garfe N, Patel H, You Y, Perkins A, You Y, Lee-Gosselin A, Vidal R, Lasagna-Reeves CA. Phosphorylation at serine 214 correlates with tau seeding activity in an age-dependent manner in two mouse models for tauopathies and is required for tau transsynaptic propagation. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.07.22.604618. [PMID: 39211286 PMCID: PMC11361173 DOI: 10.1101/2024.07.22.604618] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/04/2024]
Abstract
Pathological aggregation and propagation of hyperphosphorylated and aberrant forms of tau are critical features of the clinical progression of Alzheimer's disease and other tauopathies. To better understand the correlation between these pathological tau species and disease progression, we profiled the temporal progression of tau seeding activity and the levels of various phospho- and conformational tau species in the brains of two mouse models of human tauopathies. Our findings indicate that tau seeding is an early event that occurs well before the appearance of AT8-positive NFT. Specifically, we observed that tau phosphorylation in serine 214 (pTau-Ser214) positively correlates to tau seeding activity during disease progression in both mouse models. Furthermore, we found that the histopathology of pTau-Ser214 appears much earlier and has a distinct pattern and compartmentalization compared to the pathology of AT8, demonstrating the diversity of tau species within the same region of the brain. Importantly, we also observed that preventing the phosphorylation of tau at Ser214 significantly decreases tau propagation in mouse primary neurons, and seeding activity in a Drosophila model of tauopathy, suggesting a role for this tau phosphorylation in spreading pathological forms of tau. Together, these results suggest that the diverse spectrum of soluble pathological tau species could be responsible for the distinct pathological properties of tau and that it is critical to dissect the nature of the tau seed in the context of disease progression.
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14
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Zhu Y, Self WK, Holtzman DM. An emerging role for the gut microbiome in tauopathy. Neurotherapeutics 2024:e00423. [PMID: 38964948 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurot.2024.e00423] [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: 03/30/2024] [Revised: 06/24/2024] [Accepted: 06/25/2024] [Indexed: 07/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Tauopathies constitute a group of neurodegenerative diseases characterized by abnormal aggregation of the protein tau, progressive neuronal and synaptic loss, and eventual cognitive and motor impairment. In this review, we will highlight the latest efforts investigating the intricate interplay between the gut microbiome and tauopathies. We discuss the physiological interactions between the microbiome and the brain as well as clinical and experimental evidence that suggests that the presence of tauopathy alters the composition of gut microbiota. We explore both animal and human studies that define causative relationships between the gut microbiome and tauopathy by directly manipulating or transferring gut microbiota. This review highlights future directions into identifying and mechanistically elucidating microbial species causally linked to tauopathies, with an ultimate goal of devising therapeutic targets towards the gut microbiome to treat tauopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiyang Zhu
- Department of Neurology, Hope Center for Neurological Disorders, Knight Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA, 63110
| | - Wade K Self
- Department of Neurology, Hope Center for Neurological Disorders, Knight Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA, 63110
| | - David M Holtzman
- Department of Neurology, Hope Center for Neurological Disorders, Knight Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA, 63110.
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15
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Suri K, Ramesh M, Bhandari M, Gupta V, Kumar V, Govindaraju T, Murugan NA. Role of Amyloidogenic and Non-Amyloidogenic Protein Spaces in Neurodegenerative Diseases and their Mitigation Using Theranostic Agents. Chembiochem 2024; 25:e202400224. [PMID: 38668376 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.202400224] [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: 03/11/2024] [Revised: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 06/15/2024]
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs) refer to a complex heterogeneous group of diseases which are associated with the accumulation of amyloid fibrils or plaques in the brain leading to progressive loss of neuronal functions. Alzheimer's disease is one of the major NDD responsible for 60-80 % of all dementia cases. Currently, there are no curative or disease-reversing/modifying molecules for many of the NDDs except a few such as donepezil, rivastigmine, galantamine, carbidopa and levodopa which treat the disease-associated symptoms. Similarly, there are very few FDA-approved tracers such as flortaucipir (Tauvid) for tau fibril imaging and florbetaben (Neuraceq), flutemetamol (Vizamyl), and florbetapir (Amyvid) for amyloid imaging available for diagnosis. Recent advances in the cryogenic electron microscopy reported distinctly different microstructures for tau fibrils associated with different tauopathies highlighting the possibility to develop tauopathy-specific imaging agents and therapeutics. In addition, it is important to identify the proteins that are associated with disease development and progression to know about their 3D structure to develop various diagnostics, therapeutics and theranostic agents. The current article discusses in detail the disease-associated amyloid and non-amyloid proteins along with their structural insights. We comprehensively discussed various novel proteins associated with NDDs and their implications in disease pathology. In addition, we document various emerging chemical compounds developed for diagnosis and therapy of different NDDs with special emphasis on theranostic agents for better management of NDDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kapali Suri
- Department of Computational Biology, Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology (IIIT-Delhi) Okhla, Phase III, New Delhi, 110020, India
| | - Madhu Ramesh
- Bioorganic Chemistry Laboratory, New Chemistry Unit, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR) Jakkur P.O., Bengaluru, 560064, Karnataka, India
| | - Mansi Bhandari
- Department of computer science and engineering, Jamia Hamdard University, Hamdard Nagar, New Delhi, Delhi, 110062
| | - Vishakha Gupta
- Department of Computational Biology, Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology (IIIT-Delhi) Okhla, Phase III, New Delhi, 110020, India
| | - Virendra Kumar
- Department of Computational Biology, Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology (IIIT-Delhi) Okhla, Phase III, New Delhi, 110020, India
| | - Thimmaiah Govindaraju
- Bioorganic Chemistry Laboratory, New Chemistry Unit, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR) Jakkur P.O., Bengaluru, 560064, Karnataka, India
| | - N Arul Murugan
- Department of Computational Biology, Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology (IIIT-Delhi) Okhla, Phase III, New Delhi, 110020, India
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16
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Tan W, Thiruppathi J, Hong SH, Puth S, Pheng S, Mun BR, Choi WS, Lee KH, Park HS, Nguyen DT, Lee MC, Jeong K, Zheng JH, Kim Y, Lee SE, Rhee JH. Development of an anti-tauopathy mucosal vaccine specifically targeting pathologic conformers. NPJ Vaccines 2024; 9:108. [PMID: 38879560 PMCID: PMC11180213 DOI: 10.1038/s41541-024-00904-1] [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: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) and related tauopathies are associated with pathological tau protein aggregation, which plays an important role in neurofibrillary degeneration and dementia. Targeted immunotherapy to eliminate pathological tau aggregates is known to improve cognitive deficits in AD animal models. The tau repeat domain (TauRD) plays a pivotal role in tau-microtubule interactions and is critically involved in the aggregation of hyperphosphorylated tau proteins. Because TauRD forms the structural core of tau aggregates, the development of immunotherapies that selectively target TauRD-induced pathological aggregates holds great promise for the modulation of tauopathies. In this study, we generated recombinant TauRD polypeptide that form neurofibrillary tangle-like structures and evaluated TauRD-specific immune responses following intranasal immunization in combination with the mucosal adjuvant FlaB. In BALB/C mice, repeated immunizations at one-week intervals induced robust TauRD-specific antibody responses in a TLR5-dependent manner. Notably, the resulting antiserum recognized only the aggregated form of TauRD, while ignoring monomeric TauRD. The antiserum effectively inhibited TauRD filament formation and promoted the phagocytic degradation of TauRD aggregate fragments by microglia. The antiserum also specifically recognized pathological tau conformers in the human AD brain. Based on these results, we engineered a built-in flagellin-adjuvanted TauRD (FlaB-TauRD) vaccine and tested its efficacy in a P301S transgenic mouse model. Mucosal immunization with FlaB-TauRD improved quality of life, as indicated by the amelioration of memory deficits, and alleviated tauopathy progression. Notably, the survival of the vaccinated mice was dramatically extended. In conclusion, we developed a mucosal vaccine that exclusively targets pathological tau conformers and prevents disease progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenzhi Tan
- Clinical Vaccine R&D Center, Chonnam National University, Hwasun-gun, Jeonnam, 58128, Republic of Korea
- Department of Microbiology, Chonnam National University Medical School, Hwasun-gun, Jeonnam, 58128, Republic of Korea
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Hunan University, Changsha, Hunan, 410082, China
| | - Jayalakshmi Thiruppathi
- Clinical Vaccine R&D Center, Chonnam National University, Hwasun-gun, Jeonnam, 58128, Republic of Korea
- Department of Microbiology, Chonnam National University Medical School, Hwasun-gun, Jeonnam, 58128, Republic of Korea
- Combinatorial Tumor Immunotherapy MRC, Chonnam National University Medical School, Hwasun-gun, Jeonnam, 58128, Republic of Korea
| | - Seol Hee Hong
- Clinical Vaccine R&D Center, Chonnam National University, Hwasun-gun, Jeonnam, 58128, Republic of Korea
- National Immunotherapy Innovation Center, Hwasun-gun, Jeonnam, 58128, Republic of Korea
- Department of Pharmacology and Dental Therapeutics, School of Dentistry, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, 61186, Republic of Korea
| | - Sao Puth
- Clinical Vaccine R&D Center, Chonnam National University, Hwasun-gun, Jeonnam, 58128, Republic of Korea
- Department of Microbiology, Chonnam National University Medical School, Hwasun-gun, Jeonnam, 58128, Republic of Korea
- Combinatorial Tumor Immunotherapy MRC, Chonnam National University Medical School, Hwasun-gun, Jeonnam, 58128, Republic of Korea
| | - Sophea Pheng
- Clinical Vaccine R&D Center, Chonnam National University, Hwasun-gun, Jeonnam, 58128, Republic of Korea
- Department of Microbiology, Chonnam National University Medical School, Hwasun-gun, Jeonnam, 58128, Republic of Korea
- Combinatorial Tumor Immunotherapy MRC, Chonnam National University Medical School, Hwasun-gun, Jeonnam, 58128, Republic of Korea
| | - Bo-Ram Mun
- School of Biological Sciences and Technology, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, 61186, Republic of Korea
| | - Won-Seok Choi
- School of Biological Sciences and Technology, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, 61186, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyung-Hwa Lee
- Combinatorial Tumor Immunotherapy MRC, Chonnam National University Medical School, Hwasun-gun, Jeonnam, 58128, Republic of Korea
- Department of Pathology, Chonnam National University Medical School, Hwasun-gun, Jeonnam, 58128, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyun-Sun Park
- Department of Pharmacology, Chonnam National University Medical School, Hwasun-gun, Jeonnam, 58128, Republic of Korea
| | - Duc Tien Nguyen
- Clinical Vaccine R&D Center, Chonnam National University, Hwasun-gun, Jeonnam, 58128, Republic of Korea
- Department of Microbiology, Chonnam National University Medical School, Hwasun-gun, Jeonnam, 58128, Republic of Korea
- Combinatorial Tumor Immunotherapy MRC, Chonnam National University Medical School, Hwasun-gun, Jeonnam, 58128, Republic of Korea
| | - Min-Cheol Lee
- Department of Pathology, Chonnam National University Medical School, Hwasun-gun, Jeonnam, 58128, Republic of Korea
- Seegene Inc, Seoul, 05548, Republic of Korea
| | - Kwangjoon Jeong
- Clinical Vaccine R&D Center, Chonnam National University, Hwasun-gun, Jeonnam, 58128, Republic of Korea
- Department of Microbiology, Chonnam National University Medical School, Hwasun-gun, Jeonnam, 58128, Republic of Korea
| | - Jin Hai Zheng
- Clinical Vaccine R&D Center, Chonnam National University, Hwasun-gun, Jeonnam, 58128, Republic of Korea
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Hunan University, Changsha, Hunan, 410082, China
| | - Young Kim
- Department of Oral Pathology, School of Dentistry, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, 61186, Republic of Korea
| | - Shee Eun Lee
- Clinical Vaccine R&D Center, Chonnam National University, Hwasun-gun, Jeonnam, 58128, Republic of Korea.
- National Immunotherapy Innovation Center, Hwasun-gun, Jeonnam, 58128, Republic of Korea.
- Department of Pharmacology and Dental Therapeutics, School of Dentistry, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, 61186, Republic of Korea.
| | - Joon Haeng Rhee
- Clinical Vaccine R&D Center, Chonnam National University, Hwasun-gun, Jeonnam, 58128, Republic of Korea.
- Department of Microbiology, Chonnam National University Medical School, Hwasun-gun, Jeonnam, 58128, Republic of Korea.
- Combinatorial Tumor Immunotherapy MRC, Chonnam National University Medical School, Hwasun-gun, Jeonnam, 58128, Republic of Korea.
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17
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Langerscheidt F, Wied T, Al Kabbani MA, van Eimeren T, Wunderlich G, Zempel H. Genetic forms of tauopathies: inherited causes and implications of Alzheimer's disease-like TAU pathology in primary and secondary tauopathies. J Neurol 2024; 271:2992-3018. [PMID: 38554150 PMCID: PMC11136742 DOI: 10.1007/s00415-024-12314-3] [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: 01/25/2024] [Revised: 03/06/2024] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 04/01/2024]
Abstract
Tauopathies are a heterogeneous group of neurologic diseases characterized by pathological axodendritic distribution, ectopic expression, and/or phosphorylation and aggregation of the microtubule-associated protein TAU, encoded by the gene MAPT. Neuronal dysfunction, dementia, and neurodegeneration are common features of these often detrimental diseases. A neurodegenerative disease is considered a primary tauopathy when MAPT mutations/haplotypes are its primary cause and/or TAU is the main pathological feature. In case TAU pathology is observed but superimposed by another pathological hallmark, the condition is classified as a secondary tauopathy. In some tauopathies (e.g. MAPT-associated frontotemporal dementia (FTD), progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), corticobasal degeneration (CBD), and Alzheimer's disease (AD)) TAU is recognized as a significant pathogenic driver of the disease. In many secondary tauopathies, including Parkinson's disease (PD) and Huntington's disease (HD), TAU is suggested to contribute to the development of dementia, but in others (e.g. Niemann-Pick disease (NPC)) TAU may only be a bystander. The genetic and pathological mechanisms underlying TAU pathology are often not fully understood. In this review, the genetic predispositions and variants associated with both primary and secondary tauopathies are examined in detail, assessing evidence for the role of TAU in these conditions. We highlight less common genetic forms of tauopathies to increase awareness for these disorders and the involvement of TAU in their pathology. This approach not only contributes to a deeper understanding of these conditions but may also lay the groundwork for potential TAU-based therapeutic interventions for various tauopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felix Langerscheidt
- Institute of Human Genetics, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, 50931, Cologne, Germany
- Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), University of Cologne, 50931, Cologne, Germany
| | - Tamara Wied
- Institute of Human Genetics, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, 50931, Cologne, Germany
- Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), University of Cologne, 50931, Cologne, Germany
- Department of Natural Sciences, Bonn-Rhein-Sieg University of Applied Sciences, Von-Liebig-Str. 20, 53359, Rheinbach, Germany
| | - Mohamed Aghyad Al Kabbani
- Institute of Human Genetics, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, 50931, Cologne, Germany
- Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), University of Cologne, 50931, Cologne, Germany
| | - Thilo van Eimeren
- Multimodal Neuroimaging Group, Department of Nuclear Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, 50937, Cologne, Germany
- Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, 50937, Cologne, Germany
| | - Gilbert Wunderlich
- Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, 50937, Cologne, Germany
- Center for Rare Diseases, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, 50931, Cologne, Germany
| | - Hans Zempel
- Institute of Human Genetics, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, 50931, Cologne, Germany.
- Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), University of Cologne, 50931, Cologne, Germany.
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18
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Abyadeh M, Gupta V, Paulo JA, Mahmoudabad AG, Shadfar S, Mirshahvaladi S, Gupta V, Nguyen CTO, Finkelstein DI, You Y, Haynes PA, Salekdeh GH, Graham SL, Mirzaei M. Amyloid-beta and tau protein beyond Alzheimer's disease. Neural Regen Res 2024; 19:1262-1276. [PMID: 37905874 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.386406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2023] [Accepted: 09/07/2023] [Indexed: 11/02/2023] Open
Abstract
ABSTRACT The aggregation of amyloid-beta peptide and tau protein dysregulation are implicated to play key roles in Alzheimer's disease pathogenesis and are considered the main pathological hallmarks of this devastating disease. Physiologically, these two proteins are produced and expressed within the normal human body. However, under pathological conditions, abnormal expression, post-translational modifications, conformational changes, and truncation can make these proteins prone to aggregation, triggering specific disease-related cascades. Recent studies have indicated associations between aberrant behavior of amyloid-beta and tau proteins and various neurological diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, as well as retinal neurodegenerative diseases like Glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration. Additionally, these proteins have been linked to cardiovascular disease, cancer, traumatic brain injury, and diabetes, which are all leading causes of morbidity and mortality. In this comprehensive review, we provide an overview of the connections between amyloid-beta and tau proteins and a spectrum of disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Vivek Gupta
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie Medical School, Macquarie University, Macquarie Park, North Ryde, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Joao A Paulo
- Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Sina Shadfar
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie Medical School, Macquarie University, Macquarie Park, North Ryde, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Shahab Mirshahvaladi
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie Medical School, Macquarie University, Macquarie Park, North Ryde, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Veer Gupta
- School of Medicine, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia
| | - Christine T O Nguyen
- Department of Optometry and Vision Sciences, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine Dentistry and Health Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - David I Finkelstein
- The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Yuyi You
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie Medical School, Macquarie University, Macquarie Park, North Ryde, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Paul A Haynes
- School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University, Macquarie Park, NSW, Australia
| | - Ghasem H Salekdeh
- School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University, Macquarie Park, NSW, Australia
| | - Stuart L Graham
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie Medical School, Macquarie University, Macquarie Park, North Ryde, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Mehdi Mirzaei
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie Medical School, Macquarie University, Macquarie Park, North Ryde, Sydney, NSW, Australia
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19
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Iyer AK, Vermunt L, Mirfakhar FS, Minaya M, Acquarone M, Koppisetti RK, Renganathan A, You SF, Danhash EP, Verbeck A, Galasso G, Lee SM, Marsh J, Nana AL, Spina S, Seeley WW, Grinberg LT, Temple S, Teunissen CE, Sato C, Karch CM. Cell autonomous microglia defects in a stem cell model of frontotemporal dementia. MEDRXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES 2024:2024.05.15.24307444. [PMID: 38798451 PMCID: PMC11118656 DOI: 10.1101/2024.05.15.24307444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
Neuronal dysfunction has been extensively studied as a central feature of neurodegenerative tauopathies. However, across neurodegenerative diseases, there is strong evidence for active involvement of immune cells like microglia in driving disease pathophysiology. Here, we demonstrate that tau mRNA and protein are expressed in microglia in human brains and in human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived microglia like cells (iMGLs). Using iMGLs harboring the MAPT IVS10+16 mutation and isogenic controls, we demonstrate that a tau mutation is sufficient to alter microglial transcriptional states. We discovered that MAPT IVS10+16 microglia exhibit cytoskeletal abnormalities, stalled phagocytosis, disrupted TREM2/TYROBP networks, and altered metabolism. Additionally, we found that secretory factors from MAPT IVS10+16 iMGLs impact neuronal health, reducing synaptic density in neurons. Key features observed in vitro were recapitulated in human brain tissue and cerebrospinal fluid from MAPT mutations carriers. Together, our findings that MAPT IVS10+16 drives cell-intrinsic dysfunction in microglia that impacts neuronal health has major implications for development of therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abhirami K. Iyer
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University in St Louis, St Louis, MO, USA
| | - Lisa Vermunt
- Neurochemistry Laboratory, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Amsterdam Neuroscience, VU University, Amsterdam UMC, The Netherlands
| | | | - Miguel Minaya
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University in St Louis, St Louis, MO, USA
| | - Mariana Acquarone
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University in St Louis, St Louis, MO, USA
| | | | - Arun Renganathan
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University in St Louis, St Louis, MO, USA
| | - Shih-Feng You
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University in St Louis, St Louis, MO, USA
| | - Emma P. Danhash
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University in St Louis, St Louis, MO, USA
| | - Anthony Verbeck
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University in St Louis, St Louis, MO, USA
| | - Grant Galasso
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University in St Louis, St Louis, MO, USA
| | - Scott M. Lee
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University in St Louis, St Louis, MO, USA
| | - Jacob Marsh
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University in St Louis, St Louis, MO, USA
| | - Alissa L. Nana
- Department of Neurology, UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Salvatore Spina
- Department of Neurology, UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - William W. Seeley
- Department of Neurology, UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Pathology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Lea T. Grinberg
- Department of Neurology, UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Pathology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Pathology, University of Sao Paulo
| | | | - Charlotte E. Teunissen
- Neurochemistry Laboratory, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Amsterdam Neuroscience, VU University, Amsterdam UMC, The Netherlands
| | - Chihiro Sato
- Department of Neurology, Washington University in St Louis, St Louis, MO, USA
- The Tracy Family Stable Isotope Labeling Quantitation Center, Washington University in St Louis, St Louis, MO, USA
| | - Celeste M. Karch
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University in St Louis, St Louis, MO, USA
- Hope Center for Neurological Disorders, Washington University in St Louis, St Louis, MO, USA
- Charles F. and Joanne Knight Alzheimer Disease Research Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
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20
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Sahayaraj AE, Abdul Vahid A, Dhara A, Babu AT, Vijayan V. Role of G326 in Determining the Aggregation Propensity of R3 Tau Repeat: Insights from Studies on R1R3 Tau Construct. J Phys Chem B 2024; 128:4325-4335. [PMID: 38676652 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.4c00123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/29/2024]
Abstract
The Microtubule-binding repeat region (MTBR) of Tau has been studied extensively due to its pathological implications in neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's disease. The pathological property of MTBR is mainly due to the R3 repeat's high propensity for self-aggregation, highlighting the critical molecular grammar of the repeat. Utilizing the R1R3 construct (WT) and its G326E mutant (EE), we determine the distinct characteristics of various peptide segments that modulate the aggregation propensity of the R3 repeat using NMR spectroscopy. Through time-dependent experiments, we have identified 317KVTSKCGS324 in R3 repeat as the aggregation initiating motif (AIM) due to its role at the initial stages of aggregation. The G326E mutation induces changes in conformation and dynamics at the AIM, thereby effectively abrogating the aggregation propensity of the R1R3 construct. We further corroborate our findings through MD simulations and propose that AIM is a robust site of interest for tauopathy drug design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allwin Ebenezer Sahayaraj
- School of Chemistry, IISER-Thiruvananthapuram, Maruthamala PO, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala 695551, India
| | - Arshad Abdul Vahid
- School of Chemistry, IISER-Thiruvananthapuram, Maruthamala PO, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala 695551, India
| | - Asmita Dhara
- School of Chemistry, IISER-Thiruvananthapuram, Maruthamala PO, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala 695551, India
| | - Ann Teres Babu
- School of Chemistry, IISER-Thiruvananthapuram, Maruthamala PO, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala 695551, India
| | - Vinesh Vijayan
- School of Chemistry, IISER-Thiruvananthapuram, Maruthamala PO, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala 695551, India
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21
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Soliman AS, Umstead A, Lamp J, Vega IE. EFhd2 co-aggregates with monomeric and filamentous tau in vitro. Front Neurosci 2024; 18:1373410. [PMID: 38765673 PMCID: PMC11100465 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2024.1373410] [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: 01/19/2024] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Tauopathies are characterized by the abnormal buildup of tau protein, with early oligomeric forms associated with neurodegeneration and the later neurofibrillary tangles possibly conferring neuroprotection. The molecular mechanisms governing the formation of these tau species are unclear. Lately, there has been an increased focus on examining the interactions between tau and other proteins, along with their influence on the aggregation of tau. Our previous work revealed EFhd2's association with pathological tau in animal models and tauopathy brains. Herein, we examined the impact of EFhd2 on monomeric and filamentous tau in vitro. The results demonstrated that EFhd2 incubation with monomeric full length human tau (hTau40) formed amorphous aggregates, where both EFhd2 and hTau40 colocalized. Moreover, EFhd2 is entangled with arachidonic acid (ARA)-induced filamentous hTau40. Furthermore, EFhd2-induced aggregation with monomeric and filamentous hTau40 is EFhd2 concentration dependent. Using sandwich ELISA assays, we assessed the reactivity of TOC1 and Alz50-two conformation-specific tau antibodies-to EFhd2-hTau40 aggregates (in absence and presence of ARA). No TOC1 signal was detected in EFhd2 aggregates with monomeric hTau40 whereas EFhd2 aggregates with hTau in the presence of ARA showed a higher signal compared to hTau40 filaments. In contrast, EFhd2 aggregates with both monomeric and filamentous hTau40 reduced Alz50 reactivity. Taken together, our results illustrate for the first time that EFhd2, a tau-associated protein, interacts with monomeric and filamentous hTau40 to form large aggregates that are starkly different from tau oligomers and filaments. Given these findings and previous research, we hypothesize that EFhd2 may play a role in the formation of tau aggregates. Nevertheless, further in vivo studies are imperative to test this hypothesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahlam S. Soliman
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, MI, United States
- Neuroscience Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
| | - Andrew Umstead
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, MI, United States
- Integrated Mass Spectrometry Unit, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, MI, United States
| | - Jared Lamp
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, MI, United States
| | - Irving E. Vega
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, MI, United States
- Neuroscience Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
- Integrated Mass Spectrometry Unit, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, MI, United States
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
- Michigan Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
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22
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Zheng H, Sun H, Cai Q, Tai HC. The Enigma of Tau Protein Aggregation: Mechanistic Insights and Future Challenges. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:4969. [PMID: 38732197 PMCID: PMC11084794 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25094969] [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: 03/30/2024] [Revised: 04/20/2024] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Tau protein misfolding and aggregation are pathological hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease and over twenty neurodegenerative disorders. However, the molecular mechanisms of tau aggregation in vivo remain incompletely understood. There are two types of tau aggregates in the brain: soluble aggregates (oligomers and protofibrils) and insoluble filaments (fibrils). Compared to filamentous aggregates, soluble aggregates are more toxic and exhibit prion-like transmission, providing seeds for templated misfolding. Curiously, in its native state, tau is a highly soluble, heat-stable protein that does not form fibrils by itself, not even when hyperphosphorylated. In vitro studies have found that negatively charged molecules such as heparin, RNA, or arachidonic acid are generally required to induce tau aggregation. Two recent breakthroughs have provided new insights into tau aggregation mechanisms. First, as an intrinsically disordered protein, tau is found to undergo liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) both in vitro and inside cells. Second, cryo-electron microscopy has revealed diverse fibrillar tau conformations associated with different neurodegenerative disorders. Nonetheless, only the fibrillar core is structurally resolved, and the remainder of the protein appears as a "fuzzy coat". From this review, it appears that further studies are required (1) to clarify the role of LLPS in tau aggregation; (2) to unveil the structural features of soluble tau aggregates; (3) to understand the involvement of fuzzy coat regions in oligomer and fibril formation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Hwan-Ching Tai
- State Key Laboratory of Vaccines for Infectious Diseases, Xiang An Biomedicine Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, National Innovation Platform for Industry-Education Integration in Vaccine Research, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
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23
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Singh H, Das A, Khan MM, Pourmotabbed T. New insights into the therapeutic approaches for the treatment of tauopathies. Neural Regen Res 2024; 19:1020-1026. [PMID: 37862204 PMCID: PMC10749630 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.385288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2023] [Revised: 07/05/2023] [Accepted: 08/10/2023] [Indexed: 10/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Tauopathies are a group of neurological disorders, including Alzheimer's disease and frontotemporal dementia, which involve progressive neurodegeneration, cognitive deficits, and aberrant tau protein accumulation. The development of tauopathies cannot currently be stopped or slowed down by treatment measures. Given the significant contribution of tau burden in primary tauopathies and the strong association between pathogenic tau accumulation and cognitive deficits, there has been a lot of interest in creating therapies that can alleviate tau pathology and render neuroprotective effects. Recently, small molecules, immunotherapies, and gene therapy have been used to reduce the pathological tau burden and prevent neurodegeneration in animal models of tauopathies. However, the major pitfall of the current therapeutic approach is the difficulty of drugs and gene-targeting modalities to cross the blood-brain barrier and their unintended side effects. In this review, the current therapeutic strategies used for tauopathies including the use of oligonucleotide-based gene therapy approaches that have shown a promising result for the treatment of tauopathies and Alzheimer's disease in preclinical animal models, have been discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Himanshi Singh
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Biochemistry, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA
- Department of Biotechnology, Delhi Technological University, Shahbad Daulatpur, Delhi, India
- Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Asmita Das
- Department of Biotechnology, Delhi Technological University, Shahbad Daulatpur, Delhi, India
| | - Mohammad Moshahid Khan
- Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA
- Neuroscience Institute, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA
- Center for Muscle, Metabolism and Neuropathology, Division of Regenerative and Rehabilitation Sciences and Department of Physical Therapy, College of Health Professions, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Tayebeh Pourmotabbed
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Biochemistry, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA
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24
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Kampmann M. Molecular and cellular mechanisms of selective vulnerability in neurodegenerative diseases. Nat Rev Neurosci 2024; 25:351-371. [PMID: 38575768 DOI: 10.1038/s41583-024-00806-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/01/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024]
Abstract
The selective vulnerability of specific neuronal subtypes is a hallmark of neurodegenerative diseases. In this Review, I summarize our current understanding of the brain regions and cell types that are selectively vulnerable in different neurodegenerative diseases and describe the proposed underlying cell-autonomous and non-cell-autonomous mechanisms. I highlight how recent methodological innovations - including single-cell transcriptomics, CRISPR-based screens and human cell-based models of disease - are enabling new breakthroughs in our understanding of selective vulnerability. An understanding of the molecular mechanisms that determine selective vulnerability and resilience would shed light on the key processes that drive neurodegeneration and point to potential therapeutic strategies to protect vulnerable cell populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Kampmann
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
- Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
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25
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Smith ED, McKenna R, Mietzsch M, Borchelt DR, Prokop S, Chakrabarty P. Hyperacetylation mimetics within the tau filament core inhibits prion-like propagation of misfolded tau. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.04.12.589253. [PMID: 38659970 PMCID: PMC11042196 DOI: 10.1101/2024.04.12.589253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
Acetylation of key Lysine residues characterizes aggregates of the microtubule-associated protein tau constituting the neuropathological hallmark of many neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP). This has led to the idea that acetylation influences tau aggregation. Using a HEK293 cell-based aggregation assay, we tested whether acetylation-mimicking substitutions (K→Q) on five AD-associated acetyl-modified sites (AcK-311, 353, 369, 370, 375) influenced its propensity to aggregate when exposed to tau seeds derived from two clinically distinctive diseases - AD and PSP. In combination, the presence of 5K→Q sites ablated tau aggregation induced by seeds from both AD and PSP patients, indicating that acetylation within the filament core domain of tau could have an inhibitory effect on seed-mediated aggregation. We had previously identified that a phosphorylation-mimetic on Ser305 (S→E) abrogated tau aggregation by seeds from AD patients, without affecting seeding by PSP patients. Combining the S305→E to the 5K→Q acetyl-modified sites, we found that this tau could now be seeded only by PSP patients, but not by AD patients, confirming Ser305 as a critical determinant of strain-specific tau seeding. On the other hand, acetylation-nullifying substitutions (K→R or K→A) on these same Lys sites did not alter tau seeding abilities compared to the parental tau construct. Notably, the combined acetylation-nullifying Alanine substitutions on these 5 Lys sites resulted in spontaneous self-aggregation, with the filaments resembling amorphous deposits. All together, we demonstrate that cooperative acetyl-occupancy in the tau filament core influences seeded propagation of misfolded tau as well as drives self-aggregation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ethan D Smith
- Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Robert McKenna
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
- Center For Structural Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Mario Mietzsch
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
- Center For Structural Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - David R Borchelt
- Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
- McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
- Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Stefan Prokop
- Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
- McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
- Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
- Department of Pathology, Immunology & Laboratory Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Paramita Chakrabarty
- Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
- McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
- Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
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26
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Basheer N, Buee L, Brion JP, Smolek T, Muhammadi MK, Hritz J, Hromadka T, Dewachter I, Wegmann S, Landrieu I, Novak P, Mudher A, Zilka N. Shaping the future of preclinical development of successful disease-modifying drugs against Alzheimer's disease: a systematic review of tau propagation models. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2024; 12:52. [PMID: 38576010 PMCID: PMC10993623 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-024-01748-5] [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: 01/11/2024] [Accepted: 02/21/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024] Open
Abstract
The transcellular propagation of the aberrantly modified protein tau along the functional brain network is a key hallmark of Alzheimer's disease and related tauopathies. Inoculation-based tau propagation models can recapitulate the stereotypical spread of tau and reproduce various types of tau inclusions linked to specific tauopathy, albeit with varying degrees of fidelity. With this systematic review, we underscore the significance of judicious selection and meticulous functional, biochemical, and biophysical characterization of various tau inocula. Furthermore, we highlight the necessity of choosing suitable animal models and inoculation sites, along with the critical need for validation of fibrillary pathology using confirmatory staining, to accurately recapitulate disease-specific inclusions. As a practical guide, we put forth a framework for establishing a benchmark of inoculation-based tau propagation models that holds promise for use in preclinical testing of disease-modifying drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neha Basheer
- Institute of Neuroimmunology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dubravska Cesta 9, 845 10, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Luc Buee
- Inserm, CHU Lille, CNRS, LilNCog - Lille Neuroscience & Cognition, University of Lille, 59000, Lille, France.
| | - Jean-Pierre Brion
- Faculty of Medicine, Laboratory of Histology, Alzheimer and Other Tauopathies Research Group (CP 620), ULB Neuroscience Institute (UNI), Université Libre de Bruxelles, 808, Route de Lennik, 1070, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Tomas Smolek
- Institute of Neuroimmunology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dubravska Cesta 9, 845 10, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Muhammad Khalid Muhammadi
- Institute of Neuroimmunology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dubravska Cesta 9, 845 10, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Jozef Hritz
- CEITEC Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, 625 00, Brno, Czech Republic
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, 62500, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Tomas Hromadka
- Institute of Neuroimmunology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dubravska Cesta 9, 845 10, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Ilse Dewachter
- Biomedical Research Institute, BIOMED, Hasselt University, 3500, Hasselt, Belgium
| | - Susanne Wegmann
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Charitéplatz 1, 10117, Berlin, Germany
- Einstein Center for Neurosciences Berlin, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Isabelle Landrieu
- CNRS EMR9002 - BSI - Integrative Structural Biology, 59000, Lille, France
- Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1167 - RID-AGE - Risk Factors and Molecular Determinants of Aging-Related Diseases, University of Lille, 59000, Lille, France
| | - Petr Novak
- Institute of Neuroimmunology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dubravska Cesta 9, 845 10, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Amritpal Mudher
- School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Environment and Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Highfield Campus, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, UK
| | - Norbert Zilka
- Institute of Neuroimmunology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dubravska Cesta 9, 845 10, Bratislava, Slovakia.
- AXON Neuroscience R&D Services SE, Dubravska Cesta 9, 845 10, Bratislava, Slovakia.
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Sugiyama M, Kosik KS, Panagiotou E. Mathematical topology and geometry-based classification of tauopathies. Sci Rep 2024; 14:7560. [PMID: 38555402 PMCID: PMC10981734 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-58221-5] [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: 12/29/2023] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases, like Alzheimer's, are associated with the presence of neurofibrillary lesions formed by tau protein filaments in the cerebral cortex. While it is known that different morphologies of tau filaments characterize different neurodegenerative diseases, there are few metrics of global and local structure complexity that enable to quantify their structural diversity rigorously. In this manuscript, we employ for the first time mathematical topology and geometry to classify neurodegenerative diseases by using cryo-electron microscopy structures of tau filaments that are available in the Protein Data Bank. By employing mathematical topology metrics (Gauss linking integral, writhe and second Vassiliev measure) we achieve a consistent, but more refined classification of tauopathies, than what was previously observed through visual inspection. Our results reveal a hierarchy of classification from global to local topology and geometry characteristics. In particular, we find that tauopathies can be classified with respect to the handedness of their global conformations and the handedness of the relative orientations of their repeats. Progressive supranuclear palsy is identified as an outlier, with a more complex structure than the rest, reflected by a small, but observable knotoid structure (a diagrammatic structure representing non-trivial topology). This topological characteristic can be attributed to a pattern in the beginning of the R3 repeat that is present in all tauopathies but at different extent. Moreover, by comparing single filament to paired filament structures within tauopathies we find a consistent change in the side-chain orientations with respect to the alpha carbon atoms at the area of interaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masumi Sugiyama
- Department of Mathematics, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Chattanooga, TN, 37403, USA
| | - Kenneth S Kosik
- Neuroscience Research Institute and Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, 93106, USA
| | - Eleni Panagiotou
- School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85281, USA.
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Morderer D, Wren MC, Liu F, Kouri N, Maistrenko A, Khalil B, Pobitzer N, Salemi M, Phinney BS, Dickson DW, Murray ME, Rossoll W. Probe-dependent Proximity Profiling (ProPPr) Uncovers Similarities and Differences in Phospho-Tau-Associated Proteomes Between Tauopathies. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.03.25.585597. [PMID: 38585836 PMCID: PMC10996607 DOI: 10.1101/2024.03.25.585597] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/09/2024]
Abstract
Tauopathies represent a diverse group of neurodegenerative disorders characterized by the abnormal aggregation of the microtubule-associated protein tau. Despite extensive research, the precise mechanisms underlying the complexity of different types of tau pathology remain incompletely understood. Here we describe an approach for proteomic profiling of aggregate-associated proteomes on slides with formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue that utilizes proximity labelling upon high preservation of aggregate morphology, which permits the profiling of pathological aggregates regardless of their size. To comprehensively investigate the common and unique protein interactors associated with the variety of tau lesions present across different human tauopathies, Alzheimer's disease (AD), corticobasal degeneration (CBD), Pick's disease (PiD), and progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), were selected to represent the major tauopathy diseases. Implementation of our widely applicable Probe-dependent Proximity Profiling (ProPPr) strategy, using the AT8 antibody, permitted identification and quantification of proteins associated with phospho-tau lesions in well-characterized human post-mortem tissue. The analysis revealed both common and disease-specific proteins associated with phospho-tau aggregates, highlighting potential targets for therapeutic intervention and biomarker development. Candidate validation through high-resolution co-immunofluorescence of distinct aggregates across disease and control cases, confirmed the association of retromer complex protein VPS35 with phospho-tau lesions across the studied tauopathies. Furthermore, we discovered disease-specific associations of proteins including ferritin light chain (FTL) and the neuropeptide precursor VGF within distinct pathological lesions. Notably, examination of FTL-positive microglia in CBD astrocytic plaques indicate a potential role for microglial involvement in the pathogenesis of these tau lesions. Our findings provide valuable insights into the proteomic landscape of tauopathies, shedding light on the molecular mechanisms underlying tau pathology. This first comprehensive characterization of tau-associated proteomes across different tauopathies enhances our understanding of disease heterogeneity and provides a resource for future functional investigation, as well as development of targeted therapies and diagnostic biomarkers.
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Li W, Li JY. Overlaps and divergences between tauopathies and synucleinopathies: a duet of neurodegeneration. Transl Neurodegener 2024; 13:16. [PMID: 38528629 DOI: 10.1186/s40035-024-00407-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 03/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Proteinopathy, defined as the abnormal accumulation of proteins that eventually leads to cell death, is one of the most significant pathological features of neurodegenerative diseases. Tauopathies, represented by Alzheimer's disease (AD), and synucleinopathies, represented by Parkinson's disease (PD), show similarities in multiple aspects. AD manifests extrapyramidal symptoms while dementia is also a major sign of advanced PD. We and other researchers have sequentially shown the cross-seeding phenomenon of α-synuclein (α-syn) and tau, reinforcing pathologies between synucleinopathies and tauopathies. The highly overlapping clinical and pathological features imply shared pathogenic mechanisms between the two groups of disease. The diagnostic and therapeutic strategies seemingly appropriate for one distinct neurodegenerative disease may also apply to a broader spectrum. Therefore, a clear understanding of the overlaps and divergences between tauopathy and synucleinopathy is critical for unraveling the nature of the complicated associations among neurodegenerative diseases. In this review, we discuss the shared and diverse characteristics of tauopathies and synucleinopathies from aspects of genetic causes, clinical manifestations, pathological progression and potential common therapeutic approaches targeting the pathology, in the aim to provide a timely update for setting the scheme of disease classification and provide novel insights into the therapeutic development for neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen Li
- Health Sciences Institute, Key Laboratory of Major Chronic Diseases of Nervous System of Liaoning Province, China Medical University, Shenyang, 110122, China
| | - Jia-Yi Li
- Health Sciences Institute, Key Laboratory of Major Chronic Diseases of Nervous System of Liaoning Province, China Medical University, Shenyang, 110122, China.
- Neural Plasticity and Repair Unit, Department of Experimental Medical Science, Wallenberg Neuroscience Center, Lund University, BMC A10, 22184, Lund, Sweden.
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Jamet M, Dupuis L, Gonzalez De Aguilar JL. Oligodendrocytes in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal dementia: the new players on stage. Front Mol Neurosci 2024; 17:1375330. [PMID: 38585368 PMCID: PMC10995329 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2024.1375330] [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: 01/23/2024] [Accepted: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 04/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) are fatal adult-onset neurodegenerative disorders that share clinical, neuropathological and genetic features, which forms part of a multi-system disease spectrum. The pathological process leading to ALS and FTD is the result of the combination of multiple mechanisms that operate within specific populations of neurons and glial cells. The implication of oligodendrocytes has been the subject of a number of studies conducted on patients and related animal models. In this review we summarize our current knowledge on the alterations specific to myelin and the oligodendrocyte lineage occurring in ALS and FTD. We also consider different ways by which specific oligodendroglial alterations influence neurodegeneration and highlight the important role of oligodendrocytes in these two intrinsically associated neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Jose-Luis Gonzalez De Aguilar
- Strasbourg Translational Neuroscience and Psychiatry, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
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31
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Chang K, Barrett A, Pham K, Troncoso JC. Lateral geniculate body is spared of tau pathology in Pick disease. J Neuropathol Exp Neurol 2024; 83:238-244. [PMID: 38412343 PMCID: PMC10951972 DOI: 10.1093/jnen/nlae016] [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] [Indexed: 02/29/2024] Open
Abstract
The pathobiology of tau is of great importance for understanding the mechanisms of neurodegeneration in aging and age-associated disorders such as Alzheimer disease (AD) and frontotemporal dementias. It is critical to identify neuronal populations and brain regions that are vulnerable or resistant to tau pathological changes. Pick disease (PiD) is a three-repeat (3R) tauopathy that belongs to the group of frontotemporal lobar degenerations. The neuropathologic changes of PiD are characterized by globular tau-positive neuronal intracytoplasmic inclusions, called Pick bodies, in the granule cells of the dentate gyrus and frontal and temporal neocortices, and ballooned neurons, named Pick neurons, in the neocortex. In the present study, we examined 13 autopsy-confirmed cases of PiD. Using immunohistochemistry for phospho-tau (AT8) and 3R tau isoform, all PiD cases demonstrated extensive lesions involving the hippocampus and neocortex. However, the lateral geniculate body (LGB) is spared of significant tau lesions in contrast to the neighboring hippocampus and other thalamic nuclei. Only 1 PiD case (7.7%) had tau-positive neurons, and 4 cases had tau-positive neurites (31%) in the LGB. By contrast, the LGB does consistently harbor tau lesions in other tauopathies including progressive supranuclear palsy, corticobasal degeneration, and AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Koping Chang
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Department and Graduate Institute of Pathology, National Taiwan University Hospital, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Alexander Barrett
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Khoa Pham
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Juan C Troncoso
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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32
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Xu H, Qiu Q, Hu P, Hoxha K, Jang E, O'Reilly M, Kim C, He Z, Marotta N, Changolkar L, Zhang B, Wu H, Schellenberg GD, Kraemer B, Luk KC, Lee EB, Trojanowski JQ, Brunden KR, Lee VMY. MSUT2 regulates tau spreading via adenosinergic signaling mediated ASAP1 pathway in neurons. Acta Neuropathol 2024; 147:55. [PMID: 38472475 PMCID: PMC10933148 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-024-02703-3] [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: 12/06/2023] [Revised: 02/06/2024] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024]
Abstract
Inclusions comprised of microtubule-associated protein tau (tau) are implicated in a group of neurodegenerative diseases, collectively known as tauopathies, that include Alzheimer's disease (AD). The spreading of misfolded tau "seeds" along neuronal networks is thought to play a crucial role in the progression of tau pathology. Consequently, restricting the release or uptake of tau seeds may inhibit the spread of tau pathology and potentially halt the advancement of the disease. Previous studies have demonstrated that the Mammalian Suppressor of Tauopathy 2 (MSUT2), an RNA binding protein, modulates tau pathogenesis in a transgenic mouse model. In this study, we investigated the impact of MSUT2 on tau pathogenesis using tau seeding models. Our findings indicate that the loss of MSUT2 mitigates human tau seed-induced pathology in neuron cultures and mouse models. In addition, MSUT2 regulates many gene transcripts, including the Adenosine Receptor 1 (A1AR), and we show that down regulation or inhibition of A1AR modulates the activity of the "ArfGAP with SH3 Domain, Ankyrin Repeat, and PH Domain 1 protein" (ASAP1), thereby influencing the internalization of pathogenic tau seeds into neurons resulting in reduction of tau pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong Xu
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Institute on Aging and Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
| | - Qi Qiu
- Department of Genetics, Penn Epigenetics Institute, Institute of Regenerative Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Peng Hu
- Key Laboratory of Exploration and Utilization of Aquatic Genetic Resources (Ministry of Education), Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China
| | - Kevt'her Hoxha
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Institute on Aging and Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Elliot Jang
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Institute on Aging and Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Mia O'Reilly
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Institute on Aging and Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Christopher Kim
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Institute on Aging and Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Zhuohao He
- Interdisciplinary Research Center On Biology and Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201210, China
- University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Nicholas Marotta
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Institute on Aging and Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Lakshmi Changolkar
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Institute on Aging and Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Bin Zhang
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Institute on Aging and Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Hao Wu
- Department of Genetics, Penn Epigenetics Institute, Institute of Regenerative Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Gerard D Schellenberg
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Penn Neurodegeneration Genomics Center, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Brian Kraemer
- Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center, Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, WA, 98108, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA
- Division of Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, 98104, USA
| | - Kelvin C Luk
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Institute on Aging and Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Edward B Lee
- Translational Neuropathology Research Laboratory, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - John Q Trojanowski
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Institute on Aging and Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Kurt R Brunden
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Institute on Aging and Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Virginia M-Y Lee
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Institute on Aging and Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
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Kim YA, Mellen M, Kizil C, Santa-Maria I. Mechanisms linking cerebrovascular dysfunction and tauopathy: Adding a layer of epiregulatory complexity. Br J Pharmacol 2024; 181:879-895. [PMID: 37926507 DOI: 10.1111/bph.16280] [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: 03/19/2023] [Revised: 09/11/2023] [Accepted: 09/30/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Intracellular accumulation of hyperphosphorylated misfolded tau proteins are found in many neurodegenerative tauopathies, including Alzheimer's disease (AD). Tau pathology can impact cerebrovascular physiology and function through multiple mechanisms. In vitro and in vivo studies have shown that alterations in the blood-brain barrier (BBB) integrity and function can result in synaptic abnormalities and neuronal damage. In the present review, we will summarize how tau proteostasis dysregulation contributes to vascular dysfunction and, conversely, we will examine the factors and pathways leading to tau pathological alterations triggered by cerebrovascular dysfunction. Finally, we will highlight the role epigenetic and epitranscriptomic factors play in regulating the integrity of the cerebrovascular system and the progression of tauopathy including a few observartions on potential therapeutic interventions. LINKED ARTICLES: This article is part of a themed issue From Alzheimer's Disease to Vascular Dementia: Different Roads Leading to Cognitive Decline. To view the other articles in this section visit http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bph.v181.6/issuetoc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoon A Kim
- Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Marian Mellen
- Facultad de Ciencias Experimentales, Universidad Francisco de Vitoria, Pozuelo de Alarcon, Madrid, Spain
| | - Caghan Kizil
- Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
- Department of Neurology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - Ismael Santa-Maria
- Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
- Facultad de Ciencias Experimentales, Universidad Francisco de Vitoria, Pozuelo de Alarcon, Madrid, Spain
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Wang J, Zhen Y, Yang J, Yang S, Zhu G. Recognizing Alzheimer's disease from perspective of oligodendrocytes: Phenomena or pathogenesis? CNS Neurosci Ther 2024; 30:e14688. [PMID: 38516808 PMCID: PMC10958408 DOI: 10.1111/cns.14688] [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: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Accumulation of amyloid beta, tau hyperphosphorylation, and microglia activation are the three highly acknowledged pathological factors of Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, oligodendrocytes (OLs) were also widely investigated in the pathogenesis and treatment for AD. AIMS We aimed to update the regulatory targets of the differentiation and maturation of OLs, and emphasized the key role of OLs in the occurrence and treatment of AD. METHODS This review first concluded the targets of OL differentiation and maturation with AD pathogenesis, and then advanced the key role of OLs in the pathogenesis of AD based on both clinic and basic experiments. Later, we extensively discussed the possible application of the current progress in the diagnosis and treatment of this complex disease. RESULTS Molecules involving in OLs' differentiation or maturation, including various transcriptional factors, cholesterol homeostasis regulators, and microRNAs could also participate in the pathogenesis of AD. Clinical data point towards the impairment of OLs in AD patients. Basic research further supports the central role of OLs in the regulation of AD pathologies. Additionally, classic drugs, including donepezil, edaravone, fluoxetine, and clemastine demonstrate their potential in remedying OL impairment in AD models, and new therapeutics from the perspective of OLs is constantly being developed. CONCLUSIONS We believe that OL dysfunction is one important pathogenesis of AD. Factors regulating OLs might be biomarkers for early diagnosis and agents stimulating OLs warrant the development of anti-AD drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingji Wang
- Center for Xin'an Medicine and Modernization of Traditional Chinese Medicine of IHM, and Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology (Brain Diseases)Anhui University of Chinese MedicineHefeiChina
- Acupuncture and Moxibustion Clinical Medical Research Center of Anhui ProvinceThe Second Affiliation Hospital of Anhui University of Chinese MedicineHefeiChina
| | - Yilan Zhen
- Center for Xin'an Medicine and Modernization of Traditional Chinese Medicine of IHM, and Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology (Brain Diseases)Anhui University of Chinese MedicineHefeiChina
| | - Jun Yang
- Center for Xin'an Medicine and Modernization of Traditional Chinese Medicine of IHM, and Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology (Brain Diseases)Anhui University of Chinese MedicineHefeiChina
- The First Affiliation Hospital of Anhui University of Chinese MedicineHefeiChina
| | - Shaojie Yang
- Center for Xin'an Medicine and Modernization of Traditional Chinese Medicine of IHM, and Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology (Brain Diseases)Anhui University of Chinese MedicineHefeiChina
| | - Guoqi Zhu
- Center for Xin'an Medicine and Modernization of Traditional Chinese Medicine of IHM, and Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology (Brain Diseases)Anhui University of Chinese MedicineHefeiChina
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Lane-Donovan C, Boxer AL. Disentangling tau: One protein, many therapeutic approaches. Neurotherapeutics 2024; 21:e00321. [PMID: 38278659 PMCID: PMC10963923 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurot.2024.e00321] [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: 10/31/2023] [Revised: 01/09/2024] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 01/28/2024] Open
Abstract
The tauopathies encompass over 20 adult neurodegenerative diseases and are characterized by the dysfunction and accumulation of insoluble tau protein. Among them, Alzheimer's disease, frontotemporal dementia, and progressive supranuclear palsy collectively impact millions of patients and their families worldwide. Despite years of drug development using a variety of mechanisms of action, no therapeutic directed against tau has been approved for clinical use. This raises important questions about our current model of tau pathology and invites thoughtful consideration of our approach to nonclinical models and clinical trial design. In this article, we review what is known about the biology and genetics of tau, placing it in the context of current and failed clinical trials. We highlight potential reasons for the lack of success to date and offer suggestions for new pathways in therapeutic development. Overall, our viewpoint to the future is optimistic for this important group of neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Courtney Lane-Donovan
- Memory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, 675 Nelson Rising Lane, Suite 190, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA.
| | - Adam L Boxer
- Memory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, 675 Nelson Rising Lane, Suite 190, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
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Sun X, Ogbolu VC, Baas PW, Qiang L. Reevaluating tau reduction as a therapeutic approach for tauopathies: Insights and perspectives. Cytoskeleton (Hoboken) 2024; 81:57-62. [PMID: 37819557 PMCID: PMC10843461 DOI: 10.1002/cm.21790] [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: 07/25/2023] [Revised: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023]
Abstract
Tau, one of the most abundant microtubule-associated protein in neurons plays a role in regulating microtubule dynamics in axons, as well as shaping the overall morphology of the axon. Recent studies challenge the traditional view of tau as a microtubule stabilizer and shed new light on the complexity of its role in regulating various properties of the microtubule. While reducing tau levels shows therapeutic promise for early tauopathies, efficacy wanes in later stages due to resilient toxic tau aggregates and neurofibrillary tangles. Notably, tauopathies involve factors beyond toxic tau alone, necessitating a broader therapeutic approach. Overexpression of human tau in mouse models, although useful for answering some questions, may not accurately reflect disease mechanisms in patients with tauopathies. Furthermore, the interplay between tau and MAP6, another microtubule-associated protein, adds complexity to tau's regulation of microtubule dynamics. Tau promotes the formation and elongation of labile microtubule domains, vital for cellular processes, while MAP6 stabilizes microtubules. A delicate balance between these proteins is important for neuronal function. Therefore, tau reduction therapies require a comprehensive understanding of disease progression, considering functional tau loss, toxic aggregates, and microtubule dynamics. Stage-dependent application and potential unintended consequences must be carefully evaluated. Restoring microtubule dynamics in late-stage tauopathies may necessitate alternative strategies. This knowledge is valuable for developing effective and safe treatments for tauopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaohuan Sun
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19129
| | - Victor C. Ogbolu
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19129
| | - Peter W. Baas
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19129
| | - Liang Qiang
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19129
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Strobel J, Müller HP, Ludolph AC, Beer AJ, Sollmann N, Kassubek J. New Perspectives in Radiological and Radiopharmaceutical Hybrid Imaging in Progressive Supranuclear Palsy: A Systematic Review. Cells 2023; 12:2776. [PMID: 38132096 PMCID: PMC10742083 DOI: 10.3390/cells12242776] [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: 10/30/2023] [Revised: 11/28/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by four-repeat tau deposition in various cell types and anatomical regions, and can manifest as several clinical phenotypes, including the most common phenotype, Richardson's syndrome. The limited availability of biomarkers for PSP relates to the overlap of clinical features with other neurodegenerative disorders, but identification of a growing number of biomarkers from imaging is underway. One way to increase the reliability of imaging biomarkers is to combine different modalities for multimodal imaging. This review aimed to provide an overview of the current state of PSP hybrid imaging by combinations of positron emission tomography (PET) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Specifically, combined PET and MRI studies in PSP highlight the potential of [18F]AV-1451 to detect tau, but also the challenge in differentiating PSP from other neurodegenerative diseases. Studies over the last years showed a reduced synaptic density in [11C]UCB-J PET, linked [11C]PK11195 and [18F]AV-1451 markers to disease progression, and suggested the potential role of [18F]RO948 PET for identifying tau pathology in subcortical regions. The integration of quantitative global and regional gray matter analysis by MRI may further guide the assessment of reduced cortical thickness or volume alterations, and diffusion MRI could provide insight into microstructural changes and structural connectivity in PSP. Challenges in radiopharmaceutical biomarkers and hybrid imaging require further research targeting markers for comprehensive PSP diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joachim Strobel
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital Ulm, 89081 Ulm, Germany;
| | - Hans-Peter Müller
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Ulm, 89081 Ulm, Germany; (H.-P.M.); (A.C.L.); (J.K.)
| | - Albert C. Ludolph
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Ulm, 89081 Ulm, Germany; (H.-P.M.); (A.C.L.); (J.K.)
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Ulm University, 89081 Ulm, Germany
| | - Ambros J. Beer
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital Ulm, 89081 Ulm, Germany;
| | - Nico Sollmann
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Ulm, 89081 Ulm, Germany;
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology, School of Medicine, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, 81675 Munich, Germany
- TUM-Neuroimaging Center, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, 81675 Munich, Germany
| | - Jan Kassubek
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Ulm, 89081 Ulm, Germany; (H.-P.M.); (A.C.L.); (J.K.)
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Ulm University, 89081 Ulm, Germany
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Congdon EE, Ji C, Tetlow AM, Jiang Y, Sigurdsson EM. Tau-targeting therapies for Alzheimer disease: current status and future directions. Nat Rev Neurol 2023; 19:715-736. [PMID: 37875627 PMCID: PMC10965012 DOI: 10.1038/s41582-023-00883-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 10/26/2023]
Abstract
Alzheimer disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia in older individuals. AD is characterized pathologically by amyloid-β (Aβ) plaques and tau neurofibrillary tangles in the brain, with associated loss of synapses and neurons, which eventually results in dementia. Many of the early attempts to develop treatments for AD focused on Aβ, but a lack of efficacy of these treatments in terms of slowing disease progression led to a change of strategy towards targeting of tau pathology. Given that tau shows a stronger correlation with symptom severity than does Aβ, targeting of tau is more likely to be efficacious once cognitive decline begins. Anti-tau therapies initially focused on post-translational modifications, inhibition of tau aggregation and stabilization of microtubules. However, trials of many potential drugs were discontinued because of toxicity and/or lack of efficacy. Currently, the majority of tau-targeting agents in clinical trials are immunotherapies. In this Review, we provide an update on the results from the initial immunotherapy trials and an overview of new therapeutic candidates that are in clinical development, as well as considering future directions for tau-targeting therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin E Congdon
- Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Neuroscience Institute, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Changyi Ji
- Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Neuroscience Institute, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Amber M Tetlow
- Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Neuroscience Institute, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Yixiang Jiang
- Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Neuroscience Institute, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Einar M Sigurdsson
- Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
- Neuroscience Institute, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
- Department of Psychiatry, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
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Ravagnani FG, Valerio HP, Maués JHS, de Oliveira AN, Puga RD, Griesi-Oliveira K, Picosse FR, Ferraz HB, Catharino RR, Ronsein GE, de Carvalho Aguiar P. Omics profile of iPSC-derived astrocytes from Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP) patients. Parkinsonism Relat Disord 2023; 116:105847. [PMID: 37844348 DOI: 10.1016/j.parkreldis.2023.105847] [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: 05/03/2023] [Revised: 07/28/2023] [Accepted: 09/03/2023] [Indexed: 10/18/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP) is a neurodegenerative tauopathy and, to date, the pathophysiological mechanisms in PSP that lead to Tau hyperphosphorylation and neurodegeneration are not clear. In some brain areas, Tau pathology in glial cells appears to precede Tau aggregation in neurons. The development of a model using astrocyte cell lines derived from patients has the potential to identify molecules and pathways that contribute to early events of neurodegeneration. We developed a model of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC)-derived astrocytes to investigate the pathophysiology of PSP, particularly early events that might contribute to Tau hyperphosphorylation, applying omics approach to detect differentially expressed genes, metabolites, and proteins, including those from the secretome. METHODS Skin fibroblasts from PSP patients (without MAPT mutations) and controls were reprogrammed to iPSCs, further differentiated into neuroprogenitor cells (NPCs) and astrocytes. In the 5th passage, astrocytes were harvested for total RNA sequencing. Intracellular and secreted proteins were processed for proteomics experiments. Metabolomics profiling was obtained from supernatants only. RESULTS We identified hundreds of differentially expressed genes. The main networks were related to cell cycle re-activation in PSP. Several proteins were found exclusively secreted by the PSP group. The cellular processes related to the cell cycle and mitotic proteins, TriC/CCT pathway, and redox signaling were enriched in the secretome of PSP. Moreover, we found distinct sets of metabolites between PSP and controls. CONCLUSION Our iPSC-derived astrocyte model can provide distinct molecular signatures for PSP patients and it is useful to elucidate the initial stages of PSP pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Hellen P Valerio
- Institute of Chemistry, Universidade de São Paulo (USP), São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Jersey H S Maués
- Hematology and Hemotherapy Center, Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, Brazil
| | - Arthur N de Oliveira
- Innovare Laboratory, Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, Brazil
| | | | | | - Fabíola R Picosse
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Henrique B Ferraz
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Rodrigo R Catharino
- Innovare Laboratory, Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, Brazil
| | | | - Patrícia de Carvalho Aguiar
- Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, São Paulo, Brazil; Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, Brazil
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Le LTHL, Lee J, Im D, Park S, Hwang K, Lee JH, Jiang Y, Lee Y, Suh YH, Kim HI, Lee MJ. Self-Aggregating Tau Fragments Recapitulate Pathologic Phenotypes and Neurotoxicity of Alzheimer's Disease in Mice. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2023; 10:e2302035. [PMID: 37594721 PMCID: PMC10582461 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202302035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2023] [Revised: 07/10/2023] [Indexed: 08/19/2023]
Abstract
In tauopathy conditions, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), highly soluble and natively unfolded tau polymerizes into an insoluble filament; however, the mechanistic details of this process remain unclear. In the brains of AD patients, only a minor segment of tau forms β-helix-stacked protofilaments, while its flanking regions form disordered fuzzy coats. Here, it is demonstrated that the tau AD nucleation core (tau-AC) sufficiently induced self-aggregation and recruited full-length tau to filaments. Unexpectedly, phospho-mimetic forms of tau-AC (at Ser324 or Ser356) show markedly reduced oligomerization and seeding propensities. Biophysical analysis reveal that the N-terminus of tau-AC facilitates the fibrillization kinetics as a nucleation motif, which becomes sterically shielded through phosphorylation-induced conformational changes in tau-AC. Tau-AC oligomers are efficiently internalized into cells via endocytosis and induced endogenous tau aggregation. In primary hippocampal neurons, tau-AC impaired axon initial segment plasticity upon chronic depolarization and is mislocalized to the somatodendritic compartments. Furthermore, it is observed significantly impaired memory retrieval in mice intrahippocampally injected with tau-AC fibrils, which corresponds to the neuropathological staining and neuronal loss in the brain. These findings identify tau-AC species as a key neuropathological driver in AD, suggesting novel strategies for therapeutic intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ly Thi Huong Luu Le
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular BiologySeoul National University College of MedicineSeoul03080South Korea
- Department of Biomedical SciencesSeoul National University Graduate SchoolSeoul03080South Korea
| | - Jeeyoung Lee
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular BiologySeoul National University College of MedicineSeoul03080South Korea
- Brain Science InstituteKorea Institute of Science and TechnologySeoul02792South Korea
| | - Dongjoon Im
- Department of ChemistryKorea UniversitySeoul02841South Korea
| | - Sunha Park
- Department of Biomedical SciencesSeoul National University Graduate SchoolSeoul03080South Korea
| | - Kyoung‐Doo Hwang
- Department of Biomedical SciencesSeoul National University Graduate SchoolSeoul03080South Korea
- Department of PhysiologySeoul National University College of MedicineSeoul03080South Korea
| | - Jung Hoon Lee
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular BiologySeoul National University College of MedicineSeoul03080South Korea
| | - Yanxialei Jiang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular BiologySeoul National University College of MedicineSeoul03080South Korea
- School of MedicineLinyi UniversityLinyi276000China
| | - Yong‐Seok Lee
- Department of Biomedical SciencesSeoul National University Graduate SchoolSeoul03080South Korea
- Department of PhysiologySeoul National University College of MedicineSeoul03080South Korea
- Neuroscience Research InstituteSeoul National University College of MedicineSeoul03080South Korea
| | - Young Ho Suh
- Department of Biomedical SciencesSeoul National University Graduate SchoolSeoul03080South Korea
- Neuroscience Research InstituteSeoul National University College of MedicineSeoul03080South Korea
| | - Hugh I. Kim
- Department of ChemistryKorea UniversitySeoul02841South Korea
| | - Min Jae Lee
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular BiologySeoul National University College of MedicineSeoul03080South Korea
- Department of Biomedical SciencesSeoul National University Graduate SchoolSeoul03080South Korea
- Ischemic/Hypoxic Disease Institute, Convergence Research Center for DementiaSeoul National University College of MedicineSeoul03080South Korea
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Rexach JE, Cheng Y, Chen L, Polioudakis D, Lin LC, Mitri V, Elkins A, Yin A, Calini D, Kawaguchi R, Ou J, Huang J, Williams C, Robinson J, Gaus SE, Spina S, Lee EB, Grinberg LT, Vinters H, Trojanowski JQ, Seeley WW, Malhotra D, Geschwind DH. Disease-specific selective vulnerability and neuroimmune pathways in dementia revealed by single cell genomics. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.09.29.560245. [PMID: 37808727 PMCID: PMC10557766 DOI: 10.1101/2023.09.29.560245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/10/2023]
Abstract
The development of successful therapeutics for dementias requires an understanding of their shared and distinct molecular features in the human brain. We performed single-nuclear RNAseq and ATACseq in Alzheimer disease (AD), Frontotemporal degeneration (FTD), and Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP), analyzing 40 participants, yielding over 1.4M cells from three brain regions ranging in vulnerability and pathological burden. We identify 35 shared disease-associated cell types and 14 that are disease-specific, replicating those previously identified in AD. Disease - specific cell states represent molecular features of disease-specific glial-immune mechanisms and neuronal vulnerability in each disorder, layer 4/5 intra-telencephalic neurons in AD, layer 2/3 intra-telencephalic neurons in FTD, and layer 5/6 near-projection neurons in PSP. We infer intrinsic disease-associated gene regulatory networks, which we empirically validate by chromatin footprinting. We find that causal genetic risk acts in specific neuronal and glial cells that differ across disorders, primarily non-neuronal cells in AD and specific neuronal subtypes in FTD and PSP. These data illustrate the heterogeneous spectrum of glial and neuronal composition and gene expression alterations in different dementias and identify new therapeutic targets by revealing shared and disease-specific cell states.
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Vidal-Palencia L, Font C, Rebollada-Merino A, Santpere G, Andrés-Benito P, Ferrer I, Pumarola M. Primary Feline Tauopathy: Clinical, Morphological, Immunohistochemical, and Genetic Studies. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:2985. [PMID: 37760385 PMCID: PMC10525166 DOI: 10.3390/ani13182985] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2023] [Revised: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 09/19/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Tauopathies are a group of neurodegenerative diseases characterized by the pathological aggregation of hyperphosphorylated tau in neurons and glia. Primary tauopathies are not uncommon in humans but exceptional in other species. We evaluate the clinical, neuropathological, and genetic alterations related to tau pathology in 16 cats aged from 1 to 21 years with different clinical backgrounds. Interestingly, a 10-year-old female cat presented a six-year progressive history of mental status and gait abnormalities. The imaging study revealed generalized cortical atrophy. Due to the poor prognosis, the cat was euthanatized at the age of ten. Neuropathological lesions were characterized by massive neuronal loss with marked spongiosis and associated moderate reactive gliosis in the parietal cortex, being less severe in other areas of the cerebral cortex, and the loss of Purkinje cells of the cerebellum. Immunohistochemical methods revealed a 4R-tauopathy with granular pre-tangles in neurons and coiled bodies in oligodendrocytes. Deposits were recognized with several phospho-site antibodies (4Rtau, tau5, AT8, PFH, tau-P Thr181, tau-P-Ser 262, tau-P Ser 422) and associated with increased granular expression of active tau kinases (p38-P Thr180/Tyr182 and SAPK/JNK-P Thr138/Thr185). The genetic study revealed well-preserved coding regions of MAPT. No similar alterations related to tau pathology were found in the other 15 cats processed in parallel. To our knowledge, this is the first case reporting a primary 4R-tauopathy with severe cerebral and Purkinje cell degeneration in an adult cat with neurological signs starting at a young age.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Vidal-Palencia
- Hospital del Mar Research Institute, Parc de Recerca Biomèdica de Barcelona (PRBB), 08003 Barcelona, Spain;
- Unitat de Patologia Murina i Comparada, Departament de Medicina i Cirurgia Animals, Facultat de Veterinària, Campus UAB, Travessera dels Turons s/n, 08193 Barcelona, Spain;
| | - Cristina Font
- Hospital Veterinari Canis, Can Pau Birol, 38, 17006 Girona, Spain;
| | - Agustín Rebollada-Merino
- VISAVET Health Surveillance Centre, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain;
- Department of Internal Medicine and Animal Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Gabriel Santpere
- Hospital del Mar Research Institute, Parc de Recerca Biomèdica de Barcelona (PRBB), 08003 Barcelona, Spain;
- Department of Neuroscience, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06511, USA
| | - Pol Andrés-Benito
- Institut d’Investigació Biomèdica de Bellvitge (IDIBELL), 08908 Barcelona, Spain; (P.A.-B.); (I.F.)
| | - Isidro Ferrer
- Institut d’Investigació Biomèdica de Bellvitge (IDIBELL), 08908 Barcelona, Spain; (P.A.-B.); (I.F.)
- Department of Pathology and Experimental Therapeutics, University of Barcelona, 08007 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Martí Pumarola
- Unitat de Patologia Murina i Comparada, Departament de Medicina i Cirurgia Animals, Facultat de Veterinària, Campus UAB, Travessera dels Turons s/n, 08193 Barcelona, Spain;
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Hromadkova L, Kim C, Haldiman T, Peng L, Zhu X, Cohen M, de Silva R, Safar JG. Evolving prion-like tau conformers differentially alter postsynaptic proteins in neurons inoculated with distinct isolates of Alzheimer's disease tau. Cell Biosci 2023; 13:174. [PMID: 37723591 PMCID: PMC10507869 DOI: 10.1186/s13578-023-01133-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2023] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 09/20/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Although accumulation of misfolded tau species has been shown to predict cognitive decline in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other tauopathies but with the remarkable diversity of clinical manifestations, neuropathology profiles, and time courses of disease progression remaining unexplained by current genetic data. We considered the diversity of misfolded tau conformers present in individual AD cases as an underlying driver of the phenotypic variations of AD and progressive loss of synapses. METHODS To model the mechanism of tau propagation and synaptic toxicity of distinct tau conformers, we inoculated wild-type primary mouse neurons with structurally characterized Sarkosyl-insoluble tau isolates from the frontal cortex of six AD cases and monitored the impact for fourteen days. We analyzed the accumulation rate, tau isoform ratio, and conformational characteristics of de novo-induced tau aggregates with conformationally sensitive immunoassays, and the dynamics of synapse formation, maintenance, and their loss using a panel of pre-and post-synaptic markers. RESULTS At the same concentrations of tau, the different AD tau isolates induced accumulation of misfolded predominantly 4-repeat tau aggregates at different rates in mature neurons, and demonstrated distinct conformational characteristics corresponding to the original AD brain tau. The time-course of the formation of misfolded tau aggregates and colocalization correlated with significant loss of synapses in tau-inoculated cell cultures and the reduction of synaptic connections implicated the disruption of postsynaptic compartment as an early event. CONCLUSIONS The data obtained with mature neurons expressing physiological levels and adult isoforms of tau protein demonstrate markedly different time courses of endogenous tau misfolding and differential patterns of post-synaptic alterations. These and previous biophysical data argue for an ensemble of various misfolded tau aggregates in individual AD brains and template propagation of their homologous conformations in neurons with different rates and primarily postsynaptic interactors. Modeling tau aggregation in mature differentiated neurons provides a platform for investigating divergent molecular mechanisms of tau strain propagation and for identifying common structural features of misfolded tau and critical interactors for new therapeutic targets and approaches in AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lenka Hromadkova
- Departments of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, 2085 Adelbert Rd, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA
| | - Chae Kim
- Departments of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, 2085 Adelbert Rd, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA
| | - Tracy Haldiman
- Departments of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, 2085 Adelbert Rd, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA
| | - Lihua Peng
- Departments of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, 2085 Adelbert Rd, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA
| | - Xiongwei Zhu
- Departments of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, 2085 Adelbert Rd, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA
- Departments of Neurology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA
| | - Mark Cohen
- Departments of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, 2085 Adelbert Rd, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA
- National Prion Disease Pathology Surveillance Center, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA
| | - Rohan de Silva
- Reta Lila Weston Institute, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, WC1N 1PJ, UK
| | - Jiri G Safar
- Departments of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, 2085 Adelbert Rd, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA.
- Departments of Neurology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA.
- Departments of Neuroscience, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA.
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Uchida W, Kamagata K, Andica C, Takabayashi K, Saito Y, Owaki M, Fujita S, Hagiwara A, Wada A, Akashi T, Sano K, Hori M, Aoki S. Fiber-specific micro- and macroscopic white matter alterations in progressive supranuclear palsy and corticobasal syndrome. NPJ Parkinsons Dis 2023; 9:122. [PMID: 37591877 PMCID: PMC10435458 DOI: 10.1038/s41531-023-00565-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2022] [Accepted: 08/02/2023] [Indexed: 08/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) and corticobasal syndrome (CBS) are characterized by progressive white matter (WM) alterations associated with the prion-like spreading of four-repeat tau, which has been pathologically confirmed. It has been challenging to monitor the WM degeneration patterns underlying the clinical deficits in vivo. Here, a fiber-specific fiber density and fiber cross-section, and their combined measure estimated using fixel-based analysis (FBA), were cross-sectionally and longitudinally assessed in PSP (n = 20), CBS (n = 17), and healthy controls (n = 20). FBA indicated disease-specific progression patterns of fiber density loss and subsequent bundle atrophy consistent with the tau propagation patterns previously suggested in a histopathological study. This consistency suggests the new insight that FBA can monitor the progressive tau-related WM changes in vivo. Furthermore, fixel-wise metrics indicated strong correlations with motor and cognitive dysfunction and the classifiability of highly overlapping diseases. Our findings might also provide a tool to monitor clinical decline and classify both diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wataru Uchida
- Department of Radiology, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8421, Japan
| | - Koji Kamagata
- Department of Radiology, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8421, Japan.
| | - Christina Andica
- Department of Radiology, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8421, Japan
- Faculty of Health Data Science, Juntendo University, Urayasu, Chiba, 279-0013, Japan
| | - Kaito Takabayashi
- Department of Radiology, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8421, Japan
| | - Yuya Saito
- Department of Radiology, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8421, Japan
| | - Mana Owaki
- Department of Radiology, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8421, Japan
- Department of Radiological Sciences, Graduate School of Human Health Sciences, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Arakawa-ku, Tokyo, 116-8551, Japan
| | - Shohei Fujita
- Department of Radiology, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8421, Japan
| | - Akifumi Hagiwara
- Department of Radiology, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8421, Japan
| | - Akihiko Wada
- Department of Radiology, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8421, Japan
| | - Toshiaki Akashi
- Department of Radiology, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8421, Japan
| | - Katsuhiro Sano
- Department of Radiology, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8421, Japan
| | - Masaaki Hori
- Department of Radiology, Toho University Omori Medical Center, Ota-ku, Tokyo, 143-8541, Japan
| | - Shigeki Aoki
- Department of Radiology, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8421, Japan
- Faculty of Health Data Science, Juntendo University, Urayasu, Chiba, 279-0013, Japan
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Brackhan M, Arribas-Blazquez M, Lastres-Becker I. Aging, NRF2, and TAU: A Perfect Match for Neurodegeneration? Antioxidants (Basel) 2023; 12:1564. [PMID: 37627559 PMCID: PMC10451380 DOI: 10.3390/antiox12081564] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2023] [Revised: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 08/02/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Although the trigger for the neurodegenerative disease process is unknown, the relevance of aging stands out as a major risk for the development of neurodegeneration. In this review, we highlighted the relationship between the different cellular mechanisms that occur as a consequence of aging and transcription factor nuclear factor erythroid-2-related factor 2 (NRF2) and the connection with the TAU protein. We focused on the relevance of NRF2 in the main processes involved in neurodegeneration and associated with aging, such as genomic instability, protein degradation systems (proteasomes/autophagy), cellular senescence, and stem cell exhaustion, as well as inflammation. We also analyzed the effect of aging on TAU protein levels and its aggregation and spread process. Finally, we investigated the interconnection between NRF2 and TAU and the relevance of alterations in the NRF2 signaling pathway in both primary and secondary tauopathies. All these points highlight NRF2 as a possible therapeutic target for tauopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mirjam Brackhan
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria La Paz (IdiPaz), 28029 Madrid, Spain;
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas “Alberto Sols” UAM-CSIC, c/Arturo Duperier 4, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Marina Arribas-Blazquez
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Avda. Puerta de Hierro s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain;
- Instituto Universitario de Investigación en Neuroquímica, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Isabel Lastres-Becker
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas “Alberto Sols” UAM-CSIC, c/Arturo Duperier 4, 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
- Institute Teófilo Hernando for Drug Discovery, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28031 Madrid, Spain
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Batra R, Krumsiek J, Wang X, Allen M, Blach C, Kastenmüller G, Arnold M, Ertekin-Taner N, Kaddurah-Daouk RF. Comparative brain metabolomics reveals shared and distinct metabolic alterations in Alzheimer's disease and progressive supranuclear palsy. MEDRXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES 2023:2023.07.25.23293055. [PMID: 37546878 PMCID: PMC10402214 DOI: 10.1101/2023.07.25.23293055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/08/2023]
Abstract
Metabolic dysregulation is a hallmark of neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease (AD) and progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP). While metabolic dysregulation is a common link between these two tauopathies, a comprehensive brain metabolic comparison of the diseases has not yet been performed. We analyzed 342 postmortem brain samples from the Mayo Clinic Brain Bank and examined 658 metabolites in the cerebellar cortex and the temporal cortex between the two tauopathies. Our findings indicate that both diseases display oxidative stress associated with lipid metabolism, mitochondrial dysfunction linked to lysine metabolism, and an indication of tau-induced polyamine stress response. However, specific to AD, we detected glutathione-related neuroinflammation, deregulations of enzymes tied to purines, and cognitive deficits associated with vitamin B. Taken together, our findings underscore vast alterations in the brain's metabolome, illuminating shared neurodegenerative pathways and disease-specific traits in AD and PSP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richa Batra
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Institute for Computational Biomedicine, Englander Institute for Precision Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jan Krumsiek
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Institute for Computational Biomedicine, Englander Institute for Precision Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Xue Wang
- Department of Quantitative Health Sciences, Mayo Clinic Florida, Jacksonville, FL, USA
| | - Mariet Allen
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic Florida, Jacksonville, FL, USA
| | - Colette Blach
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Gabi Kastenmüller
- Institute of Computational Biology, Helmholtz Zentrum München-German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Matthias Arnold
- Institute of Computational Biology, Helmholtz Zentrum München-German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Nilüfer Ertekin-Taner
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic Florida, Jacksonville, FL, USA
- Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic Florida, Jacksonville, FL, USA
| | - Rima F Kaddurah-Daouk
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke Institute for Brain Sciences and Department of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
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Farfara D, Sooliman M, Avrahami L, Royal TG, Amram S, Rozenstein-Tsalkovich L, Trudler D, Blanga-Kanfi S, Eldar-Finkelman H, Pahnke J, Rosenmann H, Frenkel D. Physiological expression of mutated TAU impaired astrocyte activity and exacerbates β-amyloid pathology in 5xFAD mice. J Neuroinflammation 2023; 20:174. [PMID: 37496076 PMCID: PMC10369740 DOI: 10.1186/s12974-023-02823-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2022] [Accepted: 06/04/2023] [Indexed: 07/28/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the leading cause of dementia in the world. The pathology of AD is affiliated with the elevation of both tau (τ) and β-amyloid (Aβ) pathologies. Yet, the direct link between natural τ expression on glia cell activity and Aβ remains unclear. While experiments in mouse models suggest that an increase in Aβ exacerbates τ pathology when expressed under a neuronal promoter, brain pathology from AD patients suggests an appearance of τ pathology in regions without Aβ. METHODS Here, we aimed to assess the link between τ and Aβ using a new mouse model that was generated by crossing a mouse model that expresses two human mutations of the human MAPT under a mouse Tau natural promoter with 5xFAD mice that express human mutated APP and PS1 in neurons. RESULTS The new mouse model, called 5xFAD TAU, shows accelerated cognitive impairment at 2 months of age, increased number of Aβ depositions at 4 months and neuritic plaques at 6 months of age. An expression of human mutated TAU in astrocytes leads to a dystrophic appearance and reduces their ability to engulf Aβ, which leads to an increased brain Aβ load. Astrocytes expressing mutated human TAU showed an impairment in the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) that has previously been suggested to play an important role in supporting neurons. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest the role of τ in exacerbating Aβ pathology in addition to pointing out the potential role of astrocytes in disease progression. Further research of the crosstalk between τ and Aβ in astrocytes may increase our understanding of the role glia cells have in the pathology of AD with the aim of identifying novel therapeutic interventions to an otherwise currently incurable disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dorit Farfara
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Neurobiology, Biochemistry and Biophysics, The George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, 6997801, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Meital Sooliman
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Neurobiology, Biochemistry and Biophysics, The George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, 6997801, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Limor Avrahami
- Department of Human Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry, Sackler School of Medicine, George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, 69978, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Tabitha Grace Royal
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Neurobiology, Biochemistry and Biophysics, The George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, 6997801, Tel Aviv, Israel
- Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Shoshik Amram
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Neurobiology, Biochemistry and Biophysics, The George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, 6997801, Tel Aviv, Israel
- Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Lea Rozenstein-Tsalkovich
- Department of Neurology, The Agnes Ginges Center for Human Neurogenetics, Hadassah Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Dorit Trudler
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Neurobiology, Biochemistry and Biophysics, The George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, 6997801, Tel Aviv, Israel
- Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Shani Blanga-Kanfi
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Neurobiology, Biochemistry and Biophysics, The George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, 6997801, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Hagit Eldar-Finkelman
- Department of Human Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry, Sackler School of Medicine, George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, 69978, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Jens Pahnke
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Neurobiology, Biochemistry and Biophysics, The George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, 6997801, Tel Aviv, Israel.
- Section of Neuropathology, Translational Neurodegeneration Research and Neuropathology Lab, Department of Pathology, University of Oslo (UiO) and Oslo University Hospital (OUS), Oslo, Norway.
- Drug Development and Chemical Biology, Lübeck Institute of Dermatology (LIED), University Medical Center Schleswig Holstein (UKSH), LIED, Lübeck, Germany.
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Latvia, Riga, Latvia.
| | - Hanna Rosenmann
- Department of Neurology, The Agnes Ginges Center for Human Neurogenetics, Hadassah Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel.
| | - Dan Frenkel
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Neurobiology, Biochemistry and Biophysics, The George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, 6997801, Tel Aviv, Israel.
- Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
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48
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Thomas S, Prendergast GC. Gut-brain connections in neurodegenerative disease: immunotherapeutic targeting of Bin1 in inflammatory bowel disease and Alzheimer's disease. Front Pharmacol 2023; 14:1183932. [PMID: 37521457 PMCID: PMC10372349 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1183932] [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: 03/10/2023] [Accepted: 06/13/2023] [Indexed: 08/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Longer lifespan produces risks of age-associated neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), which is characterized by declines in memory and cognitive function. The pathogenic causes of AD are thought to reflect a progressive aggregation in the brain of amyloid plaques composed of beta-amyloid (Aß) peptides and neurofibrillary tangles composed of phosphorylated tau protein. Recently, long-standing investigations of the Aß disease hypothesis gained support via a passive immunotherapy targeting soluble Aß protein. Tau-targeting approaches using antibodies are also being pursued as a therapeutic approach to AD. In genome-wide association studies, the disease modifier gene Bin1 has been identified as a top risk factor for late-onset AD in human populations, with recent studies suggesting that Bin1 binds tau and influences its extracellular deposition. Interestingly, before AD emerges in the brain, tau levels rise in the colon, where Bin1-a modifier of tissue barrier function and inflammation-acts to promote inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). This connection is provocative given clinical evidence of gut-brain communication in age-associated neurodegenerative disorders, including AD. In this review, we discuss a Bin1-targeting passive immunotherapy developed in our laboratory to treat IBD that may offer a strategy to indirectly reduce tau deposition and limit AD onset or progression.
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Bertucci T, Bowles KR, Lotz S, Qi L, Stevens K, Goderie SK, Borden S, Oja LM, Lane K, Lotz R, Lotz H, Chowdhury R, Joy S, Arduini BL, Butler DC, Miller M, Baron H, Sandhof CA, Silva MC, Haggarty SJ, Karch CM, Geschwind DH, Goate AM, Temple S. Improved Protocol for Reproducible Human Cortical Organoids Reveals Early Alterations in Metabolism with MAPT Mutations. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.07.11.548571. [PMID: 37503195 PMCID: PMC10369860 DOI: 10.1101/2023.07.11.548571] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
Cerebral cortical-enriched organoids derived from human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) are valuable models for studying neurodevelopment, disease mechanisms, and therapeutic development. However, recognized limitations include the high variability of organoids across hPSC donor lines and experimental replicates. We report a 96-slitwell method for efficient, scalable, reproducible cortical organoid production. When hPSCs were cultured with controlled-release FGF2 and an SB431542 concentration appropriate for their TGFBR1 / ALK5 expression level, organoid cortical patterning and reproducibility were significantly improved. Well-patterned organoids included 16 neuronal and glial subtypes by single cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq), frequent neural progenitor rosettes and robust BCL11B+ and TBR1+ deep layer cortical neurons at 2 months by immunohistochemistry. In contrast, poorly-patterned organoids contain mesendoderm-related cells, identifiable by negative QC markers including COL1A2 . Using this improved protocol, we demonstrate increased sensitivity to study the impact of different MAPT mutations from patients with frontotemporal dementia (FTD), revealing early changes in key metabolic pathways.
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Kow RL, Black AH, Henderson BP, Kraemer BC. Sut-6/NIPP1 modulates tau toxicity. Hum Mol Genet 2023; 32:2292-2306. [PMID: 37000013 PMCID: PMC10321383 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddad049] [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: 12/17/2022] [Revised: 03/04/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2023] [Indexed: 04/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases exhibiting the pathological accumulation of tau such as Alzheimer's disease and related disorders still have no disease-modifying treatments and the molecular mechanisms of neurodegeneration remain unclear. To discover additional suppressor of tauopathy (sut) genes that mediate or modulate the toxicity of pathological tau, we performed a classical genetic screen using a tau transgenic Caenorhabditis elegans model. From this screen, we identified the suppressing mutation W292X in sut-6, the C. elegans homolog of human NIPP1, which truncates the C-terminal RNA-binding domain. Using CRISPR-based genome editing approaches, we generated null and additional C-terminally truncated alleles in sut-6 and found that loss of sut-6 or sut-6(W292X) suppresses tau-induced behavioral locomotor deficits, tau protein accumulation and neuron loss. The sut-6(W292X) mutation showed stronger and semi-dominant suppression of tau toxicity while sut-6 deletion acted recessively. Neuronal overexpression of SUT-6 protein did not significantly alter tau toxicity, but neuronal overexpression of SUT-6 W292X mutant protein reduced tau-mediated deficits. Epistasis studies showed tauopathy suppression by sut-6 occurs independent of other known nuclear speckle-localized suppressors of tau such as sut-2, aly-1/aly-3 and spop-1. In summary, we have shown that sut-6/NIPP1 modulates tau toxicity and found a dominant mutation in the RNA-binding domain of sut-6 which strongly suppresses tau toxicity. This suggests that altering RNA-related functions of SUT-6/NIPP1 instead of complete loss of SUT-6/NIPP1 will provide the strongest suppression of tau.
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Affiliation(s)
- R L Kow
- Geriatrics Research Education and Clinical Center, Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, WA 98108, USA
- Division of Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98104, USA
| | - A H Black
- Geriatrics Research Education and Clinical Center, Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, WA 98108, USA
| | - B P Henderson
- Geriatrics Research Education and Clinical Center, Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, WA 98108, USA
| | - B C Kraemer
- Geriatrics Research Education and Clinical Center, Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, WA 98108, USA
- Division of Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98104, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
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