Glutamate receptors function as scaffolds for the regulation of β-amyloid and cellular prion protein signaling complexes

Presynaptic density determined by SV2A PET is closely associated with postsynaptic metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 availability and independent of amyloid pathology in early cognitive impairment

INTRODUCTION

Metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 (mGluR5) is involved in regulating integrative brain function and synaptic transmission. Aberrant mGluR5 signaling and relevant synaptic failure play a key role in the pathophysiological mechanism of Alzheimer's disease (AD).

METHODS

Ten cognitively impaired (CI) individuals and 10 healthy controls (HCs) underwent [18F]SynVesT-1 and [18F]PSS232 positron emission tomography (PET)/magnetic resonance to assess synaptic density and mGluR5 availability. The associations between mGluR5 availability and synaptic density were examined. A mediation analysis was performed to investigate the possible mediating effects of mGluR5 availability and synaptic loss on the relationship between amyloid deposition and cognition.

RESULTS

CI patients exhibited lower mGluR5 availability and synaptic density in the medial temporal lobe than HCs. Regional synaptic density was closely associated with regional mGluR5 availability. mGluR5 availability and synaptic loss partially mediated the relationship between amyloid deposition and cognition.

CONCLUSIONS

Reductions in mGluR5 availability and synaptic density exhibit similar spatial patterns in AD and are closely linked.

HIGHLIGHTS

Cognitively impaired patients exhibited lower mGluR5 availability and synaptic density in the medial temporal lobe than HCs. Reductions in mGluR5 availability and synaptic density exhibit similar spatial patterns in AD. Regional synaptic density was closely associated with regional mGluR5 availability. mGluR5 availability and synaptic loss partially mediated the relationship between amyloid deposition and global cognition. With further research, modulating mGluR5 availability might be a potential therapeutic strategy for improving synaptic function in AD.

Imbalanced clearance of Aβ peptide cause presynaptic plaque formation

Alzheimer's disease is characterized by abnormal increase of Aβ peptide which is likely as the result of imbalanced homeostasis of its production and clearance mechanisms. Here, we briefly review that the uncleaned extracellular Aβ peptides are loaded into presynaptic neurons. The Aβ oligomers desperately affect pre- and post-synapse neuron activity and turn into plaques inside the presynaptic neurons over the time passes.

Minding the Gap: Exploring Neuroinflammatory and Microglial Sex Differences in Alzheimer's Disease

Research into Alzheimer's Disease (AD) describes a link between AD and the resident immune cells of the brain, the microglia. Further, this suspected link is thought to have underlying sex effects, although the mechanisms of these effects are only just beginning to be understood. Many of these insights are the result of policies put in place by funding agencies such as the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to consider sex as a biological variable (SABV) and the move towards precision medicine due to continued lackluster therapeutic options. The purpose of this review is to provide an updated assessment of the current research that summarizes sex differences and the research pertaining to microglia and their varied responses in AD.

Alzheimer's Disease and Its Possible Evolutionary Origin: Hypothesis

The enormous, 2-3-million-year evolutionary expansion of hominin neocortices to the current enormity enabled humans to take over the planet. However, there appears to have been a glitch, and it occurred without a compensatory expansion of the entorhinal cortical (EC) gateway to the hippocampal memory-encoding system needed to manage the processing of the increasing volume of neocortical data converging on it. The resulting age-dependent connectopathic glitch was unnoticed by the early short-lived populations. It has now surfaced as Alzheimer's disease (AD) in today's long-lived populations. With advancing age, processing of the converging neocortical data by the neurons of the relatively small lateral entorhinal cortex (LEC) inflicts persistent strain and high energy costs on these cells. This may result in their hyper-release of harmless Aβ_1-42 monomers into the interstitial fluid, where they seed the formation of toxic amyloid-β oligomers (AβOs) that initiate AD. At the core of connectopathic AD are the postsynaptic cellular prion protein (PrPC). Electrostatic binding of the negatively charged AβOs to the positively charged N-terminus of PrPC induces hyperphosphorylation of tau that destroys synapses. The spread of these accumulating AβOs from ground zero is supported by Aβ's own production mediated by target cells' Ca2+-sensing receptors (CaSRs). These data suggest that an early administration of a strongly positively charged, AβOs-interacting peptide or protein, plus an inhibitor of CaSR, might be an effective AD-arresting therapeutic combination.

G protein-coupled receptors in neurodegenerative diseases and psychiatric disorders

Neuropsychiatric disorders are multifactorial disorders with diverse aetiological factors. Identifying treatment targets is challenging because the diseases are resulting from heterogeneous biological, genetic, and environmental factors. Nevertheless, the increasing understanding of G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) opens a new possibility in drug discovery. Harnessing our knowledge of molecular mechanisms and structural information of GPCRs will be advantageous for developing effective drugs. This review provides an overview of the role of GPCRs in various neurodegenerative and psychiatric diseases. Besides, we highlight the emerging opportunities of novel GPCR targets and address recent progress in GPCR drug development.

The Physio-Pathological Role of Group I Metabotropic Glutamate Receptors Expressed by Microglia in Health and Disease with a Focus on Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Microglia cells are the resident immune cells of the central nervous system. They act as the first-line immune guardians of nervous tissue and central drivers of neuroinflammation. Any homeostatic alteration that can compromise neuron and tissue integrity could activate microglia. Once activated, microglia exhibit highly diverse phenotypes and functions related to either beneficial or harmful consequences. Microglia activation is associated with the release of protective or deleterious cytokines, chemokines, and growth factors that can in turn determine defensive or pathological outcomes. This scenario is complicated by the pathology-related specific phenotypes that microglia can assume, thus leading to the so-called disease-associated microglia phenotypes. Microglia express several receptors that regulate the balance between pro- and anti-inflammatory features, sometimes exerting opposite actions on microglial functions according to specific conditions. In this context, group I metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) are molecular structures that may contribute to the modulation of the reactive phenotype of microglia cells, and this is worthy of exploration. Here, we summarize the role of group I mGluRs in shaping microglia cells' phenotype in specific physio-pathological conditions, including some neurodegenerative disorders. A significant section of the review is specifically focused on amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) since it represents an entirely unexplored topic of research in the field.

PET molecular imaging for pathophysiological visualization in Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common dementia worldwide. The exact etiology of AD is unclear as yet, and no effective treatments are currently available, making AD a tremendous burden posed on the whole society. As AD is a multifaceted and heterogeneous disease, and most biomarkers are dynamic in the course of AD, a range of biomarkers should be established to evaluate the severity and prognosis. Positron emission tomography (PET) offers a great opportunity to visualize AD from diverse perspectives by using radiolabeled agents involved in various pathophysiological processes; PET imaging technique helps to explore the pathomechanisms of AD comprehensively and find out the most appropriate biomarker in each AD phase, leading to a better evaluation of the disease. In this review, we discuss the application of PET in the course of AD and summarized radiolabeled compounds with favorable imaging characteristics.

The Small Molecule GAL-201 Efficiently Detoxifies Soluble Amyloid β Oligomers: New Approach towards Oral Disease-Modifying Treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease

Soluble amyloid β (Aβ) oligomers have been shown to be highly toxic to neurons and are considered to be a major cause of the neurodegeneration underlying Alzheimer’s disease (AD). That makes soluble Aβ oligomers a promising drug target. In addition to eliminating these toxic species from the patients’ brain with antibody-based drugs, a new class of drugs is emerging, namely Aβ aggregation inhibitors or modulators, which aim to stop the formation of toxic Aβ oligomers at the source. Here, pharmacological data of the novel Aβ aggregation modulator GAL-201 are presented. This small molecule (288.34 g/mol) exhibits high binding affinity to misfolded Aβ_1-42 monomers (K_D = 2.5 ± 0.6 nM). Pharmacokinetic studies in rats using brain microdialysis are supportive of its oral bioavailability. The Aβ oligomer detoxifying potential of GAL-201 has been demonstrated by means of single cell recordings in isolated hippocampal neurons (perforated patch experiments) as well as in vitro and in vivo extracellular monitoring of long-term potentiation (LTP, in rat transverse hippocampal slices), a cellular correlate for synaptic plasticity. Upon preincubation, GAL-201 efficiently prevented the detrimental effect on LTP mediated by Aβ_1-42 oligomers. Furthermore, the potential to completely reverse an already established neurotoxic process could also be demonstrated. Of particular note in this context is the self-propagating detoxification potential of GAL-201, leading to a neutralization of Aβ oligomer toxicity even if GAL-201 has been stepwise removed from the medium (serial dilution), likely due to prion-like conformational changes in Aβ_1-42 monomer aggregates (trigger effect). The authors conclude that the data presented strongly support the further development of GAL-201 as a novel, orally available AD treatment with potentially superior clinical profile.

Different Aberrant Changes of mGluR5 and Its Downstream Signaling Pathways in the Scrapie-Infected Cell Line and the Brains of Scrapie-Infected Experimental Rodents

Metabotropic glutamate receptor subtype 5 (mGluR5) is a G-protein-coupled receptor found widely in the central nervous system. It has been involved in the development and progression of some neurodegenerative diseases, but its role in prion diseases is rarely described. In this study, the changes of mGluR5 and its downstream signaling pathways in prion-infected cell line SMB-S15 and the brains of scrapie-infected experimental rodents were evaluated by various methodologies. We found the levels of mGluR5 were significantly increased in a prion-infected cell line SMB-S15 and the cultured cells transiently express an abnormal form PrP (Cyto-PrP). Using immunoprecipitation tests and immunofluorescent assays (IFA), molecular interaction and morphological colocalization between PrP and mGluR5 were observed in the cultured cells. We identified that the (GPCRs)-IP3-IP3R-Ca2+ pathway was activated and the levels of the downstream kinases p38, ERK, and JNK were increased in SMB-S15 cells. After treated with mGluR5 antagonist (MTEP) or the removal of prion replication by resveratrol in SMB-S15 cells, the upregulations of mGluR5 and the downstream kinases were restored in a certain degree. Moreover, increased mGluR5 contributes to the cell damage in prion-infected cells. Contrarily, the levels of mGluR5 in the brains of several scrapie-infected rodent models were decreased at terminal stage. IFA of the brain sections of scrapie-infected rodents demonstrated that the signals of mGluR5 were preferentially colocalized with the NeuN-positive cells, accompanying with severe neuron losses in Nissl staining, which might be a reason for the decrease of mGluR5. Our data indicate the different aberrant alterations of mGluR5 and the downstream signaling pathways during prion infection in vivo and in vitro.

Anchorless risk or released benefit? An updated view on the ADAM10-mediated shedding of the prion protein

The prion protein (PrP) is a broadly expressed glycoprotein linked with a multitude of (suggested) biological and pathological implications. Some of these roles seem to be due to constitutively generated proteolytic fragments of the protein. Among them is a soluble PrP form, which is released from the surface of neurons and other cell types by action of the metalloprotease ADAM10 in a process termed 'shedding'. The latter aspect is the focus of this review, which aims to provide a comprehensive overview on (i) the relevance of proteolytic processing in regulating cellular PrP functions, (ii) currently described involvement of shed PrP in neurodegenerative diseases (including prion diseases and Alzheimer's disease), (iii) shed PrP's expected roles in intercellular communication in many more (patho)physiological conditions (such as stroke, cancer or immune responses), (iv) and the need for improved research tools in respective (future) studies. Deeper mechanistic insight into roles played by PrP shedding and its resulting fragment may pave the way for improved diagnostics and future therapeutic approaches in diseases of the brain and beyond.

The association between blood lymphocyte NMDAR, group I mGluRs and cognitive function changes in occupationally aluminum-exposed workers and verification in rats

BACKGROUND

Many studies have shown that occupational aluminum (Al) exposure could affect the cognitive functions of workers and cause mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Glutamate receptors (GluRs) play an important role in learning and memory functions.

METHODS

352 workers in a large Al production enterprise were investigated in this research. MMSE, CDT, DST, VFT, FOM were used to evaluate the cognitive functions of workers. Plasma Al levels as exposure indices were measured by Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Method (GFAAS). The expression of GluRs was measured by ELISA. Cognitive function comprehensive scores were obtained through factor analysis. Then a rat model of chronic AlCl₃ exposure was established. The detection method of Al levels and protein expression were the same as mentioned-above.

RESULTS

Compared with the Q1 group, the DST, VFT, and comprehensive cognitive function scores of the Q4 group were lower(P < 0.05). For every 1μg/L increase in plasma Al concentration, the risk of cognitive impairment increases 1.051 times (95 %CI:1.031,1.072). Both NMDAR1 and NMDAR2A protein expression level of Q1 group were higher than those of Q2, Q3, Q4 group (all P < 0.05). The mediating effect ratio of NMDAR1 between plasma Al levels and cognitive function comprehensive scores was a1*b1/c=11.30 %, and the mediating effect ratio of NMDAR2A was |a2*b2/c|=21.77 %. Compared with control group, the escape latency of rats in the high Al dose group was longer day by day (P < 0.05). With the increase of Al dose, the relative expression of NMDAR1, NMDAR2A, NMDAR2B, GluR1 and mGluR5 in cerebral cortex and lymphocytes of rats were decreased (P < 0.05). The result of correlation analysis on NMDAR1 protein expression between brain cortex and lymphocyte showed that the correlation coefficient is r = 0.646(P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Taking together the results from both Al exposed workers and animal, there is a certain correlation between NMDAR1 protein contents of brain cortex and peripheral lymphocytes. We propose that lymphocyte NMDAR1 could be considered as a peripheral potential marker of cognitive impairment for further observation.

Neuroprotection by B355252 against Glutamate-Induced Cytotoxicity in Murine Hippocampal HT-22 Cells Is Associated with Activation of ERK3 Signaling Pathway

Glutamate differentially affects the levels extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)1/2 and ERK3 and the protective effect of B355252, an aryl thiophene compound, 4-chloro-N-(naphthalen-1-ylmethyl)-5-(3-(piperazin-1-yl)phenoxy)thiophene-2-sulfonamide, is associated with suppression of ERK1/2. The objectives of this study were to further investigate the impact of B355252 on ERK3 and its downstream signaling pathways affected by glutamate exposure in the mouse hippocampal HT-22 neuronal cells. Murine hippocampal HT22 cells were incubated with glutamate and treated with B355252. Cell viability was assessed, protein levels of pERK3, ERK3, mitogen-activated protein kinase-activated protein kinase-5 (MAPKAPK-5), steroid receptor coactivator 3 (SRC-3), p-S6 and S6 were measured using Western blotting, and immunoreactivity of p-S6 was determined by immunocytochemistry. The results reveal that glutamate markedly diminished the protein levels of p-ERK3 and its downstream targets MK-5 and SRC-3 and increased p-S6, an indicator for mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) activation. Conversely, treatment with B355252 protected the cells from glutamate-induced damage and prevented the glutamate-caused declines of p-ERK3, MK-5 and SRC-3 and increase of p-S6. Our study demonstrates that one of the mechanisms that glutamate mediates its cytotoxicity is through suppression of ERK3 and that B355252 rescues the cells from glutamate toxicity by reverting ERK3 level.

Beta Amyloid, Tau Protein, and Neuroinflammation: An Attempt to Integrate Different Hypotheses of Alzheimer’s Disease Pathogenesis

Abstract

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease that inevitably results in dementia and death. Currently, there are no pathogenetically grounded methods for the prevention and treatment of AD, and all current treatment regimens are symptomatic and unable to significantly delay the development of dementia. The accumulation of β-amyloid peptide (Aβ), which is a spontaneous, aggregation-prone, and neurotoxic product of the processing of signaling protein APP (Amyloid Precursor Protein), in brain tissues, primarily in the hippocampus and the frontal cortex, was for a long time considered the main cause of neurodegenerative changes in AD. However, attempts to treat AD based on decreasing Aβ production and aggregation did not bring significant clinical results. More and more arguments are arising in favor of the fact that the overproduction of Aβ in most cases of AD is not the initial cause, but a concomitant event of pathological processes in the course of the development of sporadic AD. The concept of neuroinflammation has come to the fore, suggesting that inflammatory responses play the leading role in the initiation and development of AD, both in brain tissue and in the periphery. The hypothesis about the key role of neuroinflammation in the pathogenesis of AD opens up new opportunities in the search for ways to treat and prevent this socially significant disease.

Activation of PLCβ1 enhances endocannabinoid mobilization to restore hippocampal spike-timing-dependent potentiation and contextual fear memory impaired by Alzheimer's amyloidosis

Background

Accumulation of amyloid beta oligomers (AβO) in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) impairs hippocampal long-term potentiation (LTP), leading to memory deficits. Thus, identifying the molecular targets of AβO involved in LTP inhibition is critical for developing therapeutics for AD. Endocannabinoid (eCB) synthesis and release, a process collectively called eCB mobilization by hippocampal CA1 pyramidal cells, is known to facilitate LTP induction. eCB can be mobilized either by postsynaptic depolarization in an intracellular Ca²⁺ concentration ([Ca²⁺]_i)-dependent pathway or by group 1 metabotropic glutamate receptor (mGluR) activation in a phospholipase Cβ (PLCβ)-dependent pathway. Moreover, group 1 mGluR activation during postsynaptic depolarization, which is likely to occur in vivo during memory processing, can cause synergistic enhancement of eCB (S-eCB) mobilization in a PLCβ-dependent pathway. Although AβO has been shown to disrupt [Ca²⁺]_i-dependent eCB mobilization, the effect of AβO on PLCβ-dependent S-eCB mobilization and its association with LTP and hippocampus-dependent memory impairments in AD is unknown.

Methods

We used in vitro whole-cell patch-clamp recordings and western blot analyses to investigate the effect of AβO on PLCβ protein levels, PLCβ-dependent S-eCB mobilization, and spike-timing-dependent potentiation (tLTP) in AβO-treated rat hippocampal slices in vitro. In addition, we assessed the relationship between PLCβ protein levels and hippocampus-dependent memory impairment by performing a contextual fear memory task in vivo in the 5XFAD mouse model of AD.

Results

We found that AβO treatment in rat hippocampal slices in vitro decreased hippocampal PLCβ1 protein levels and disrupted S-eCB mobilization, as measured by western blot analysis and in vitro whole-cell patch-clamp recordings. This consequently led to the impairment of NMDA receptor (NMDAR)-mediated tLTP at CA3-CA1 excitatory synapses in AβO-treated rat hippocampal slices in vitro. Application of the PLCβ activator, m-3M3FBS, in rat hippocampal slices reinstated PLCβ1 protein levels to fully restore S-eCB mobilization and NMDAR-mediated tLTP. In addition, direct hippocampal injection of m-3M3FBS in 5XFAD mice reinstated PLCβ1 protein levels to those observed in wild type control mice and fully restored hippocampus-dependent contextual fear memory in vivo in 5XFAD mice.

Conclusion

We suggest that these results might be the consequence of memory impairment in AD by disrupting S-eCB mobilization. Therefore, we propose that PLCβ-dependent S-eCB mobilization could provide a new therapeutic strategy for treating memory deficits in AD.

Noncanonical Metabotropic Glutamate Receptor 5 Signaling in Alzheimer's Disease

Metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 (mGluR5) is ubiquitously expressed in brain regions responsible for memory and learning. It plays a key role in modulating rapid changes in synaptic transmission and plasticity. mGluR5 supports long-term changes in synaptic strength by regulating the transcription and translation of essential synaptic proteins. β-Amyloid 42 (Aβ42) oligomers interact with a mGluR5/cellular prion protein (PrP^C) complex to disrupt physiological mGluR5 signal transduction. Aberrant mGluR5 signaling and associated synaptic failure are considered an emerging pathophysiological mechanism of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Therefore, mGluR5 represents an attractive therapeutic target for AD, and recent studies continue to validate the efficacy of various mGluR5 allosteric modulators in improving memory deficits and mitigating disease pathology. However, sex-specific differences in the pharmacology of mGluR5 and activation of noncanonical signaling downstream of the receptor suggest that its utility as a therapeutic target in female AD patients needs to be reconsidered. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Volume 62 is January 2022. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.

Biological Functions of the Intrinsically Disordered N-Terminal Domain of the Prion Protein: A Possible Role of Liquid-Liquid Phase Separation

The mammalian prion protein (PrPC) is composed of a large intrinsically disordered N-terminal and a structured C-terminal domain, containing three alpha-helical regions and a short, two-stranded beta-sheet. Traditionally, the activity of a protein was linked to the ability of the polypeptide chain to adopt a stable secondary/tertiary structure. This concept has been extended when it became evident that intrinsically disordered domains (IDDs) can participate in a broad range of defined physiological activities and play a major functional role in several protein classes including transcription factors, scaffold proteins, and signaling molecules. This ability of IDDs to engage in a variety of supramolecular complexes may explain the large number of PrPC-interacting proteins described. Here, we summarize diverse physiological and pathophysiological activities that have been described for the unstructured N-terminal domain of PrPC. In particular, we focus on subdomains that have been conserved in evolution.

Glutamatergic receptor expression changes in the Alzheimer's disease hippocampus and entorhinal cortex

Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is the leading form of dementia worldwide. Currently, the pathological mechanisms underlying AD are not well understood. Although the glutamatergic system is extensively implicated in its pathophysiology, there is a gap in knowledge regarding the expression of glutamate receptors in the AD brain. This study aimed to characterize the expression of specific glutamate receptor subunits in post‐mortem human brain tissue using immunohistochemistry and confocal microscopy. Free‐floating immunohistochemistry and confocal laser scanning microscopy were used to quantify the density of glutamate receptor subunits GluA2, GluN1, and GluN2A in specific cell layers of the hippocampal sub‐regions, subiculum, entorhinal cortex, and superior temporal gyrus. Quantification of GluA2 expression in human post‐mortem hippocampus revealed a significant increase in the stratum (str.) moleculare of the dentate gyrus (DG) in AD compared with control. Increased GluN1 receptor expression was found in the str. moleculare and hilus of the DG, str. oriens of the CA2 and CA3, str. pyramidale of the CA2, and str. radiatum of the CA1, CA2, and CA3 subregions and the entorhinal cortex. GluN2A expression was significantly increased in AD compared with control in the str. oriens, str. pyramidale, and str. radiatum of the CA1 subregion. These findings indicate that the expression of glutamatergic receptor subunits shows brain region‐specific changes in AD, suggesting possible pathological receptor functioning. These results provide evidence of specific glutamatergic receptor subunit changes in the AD hippocampus and entorhinal cortex, indicating the requirement for further research to elucidate the pathophysiological mechanisms it entails, and further highlight the potential of glutamatergic receptor subunits as therapeutic targets.

Optineurin deletion disrupts metabotropic glutamate receptor 5-mediated regulation of ERK1/2, GSK3β/ZBTB16, mTOR/ULK1 signaling in autophagy

Optineurin (OPTN) is a multifunctional protein that mediates a network of cellular processes regulating membrane trafficking, inflammatory responses and autophagy. The OPTN-rich interactome includes Group I metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluR1 and 5), members of the Gα_q/11 protein receptor family. Recent evidence has shown that mGluR5, in addition to its canonical Gα_q/11 protein-coupled signaling, regulates autophagic machinery via mTOR/ULK1 and GSK3β/ZBTB16 pathways in both Alzheimer's and Huntington's disease mouse models. Despite its potential involvement, the role of OPTN in mediating mGluR5 downstream signaling cascades remains largely unknown. Here, we employed a CRISPR/Cas9 OPTN-deficient STHdh^Q7/Q7 striatal cell line and global OPTN knockout mice to investigate whether Optn gene deletion alters both mGluR5 canonical and noncanonical signaling. We find that OPTN is required for mGluR5-activated Ca²⁺ flux and ERK1/2 signaling following receptor activation in STHdh^Q7/Q7 cells and acute hippocampal slices. Deletion of OPTN impairs both GSK3β/ZBTB16 and mTOR/ULK1 autophagic signaling in STHdh^Q7/Q7 cells. Furthermore, mGluR5-dependent regulation of GSK3β/ZBTB16 and mTOR/ULK1 autophagic signaling is impaired in hippocampal slices of OPTN knockout mice. Overall, we show that the crosstalk between OPTN and mGluR5 can have major implication on receptor signaling and therefore potentially contribute to the pathophysiology of neurodegenerative diseases.

Serotonin and amyloid deposition: A link between depression and Alzheimer's disease?: An Editorial Highlight on "Pimavanserin, a 5HT2A receptor inverse agonist, rapidly suppresses Aβ production and related pathology in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease" on page 658

Indirect agonism has been invoked as part of the mechanism of antipsychotic action at dopamine D_2/3 receptors, and more recently as a salient neuropharmacological aspect of the serotonin 5-HT_2A drug pimavanserin (Pim). We now comment on an article in this volume showing that Pim treatment attenuates the deposition of Aβ protein in brain of transgenic Alzheimer's disease model mice. Pim treatment may interfere with Aβ deposition by shifting the balance between two 5-HT_2A signaling pathways, that is, antagonism of G_q/11 signaling and agonism of G_αi1 signaling. Treatment with serotonin-selective reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) evoked also reduced amyloid deposition in transgenic mice, but SSRI treatment does not unequivocally interfere in the progression of human Alzheimer's disease, perhaps because of complex effects of chronic SSRI treatment on multiple serotonin receptor types. Preclinical findings suggest Pim as a promising pharmacological strategy for intervening against Alzheimer's pathology, perhaps at a very early stage of the disease. However, much remains to be learned about the convergence of various receptor-mediated signaling pathways on the final common path leading to net Aβ deposition.

Effects of blocking mGluR5 on primate dorsolateral prefrontal cortical neuronal firing and working memory performance

RATIONALE

Metabotropic glutamate type 5 receptor (mGluR5) antagonists are under development for treating cognitive disorders such as Fragile X syndrome and Alzheimer's disease, largely based on success in mouse models, where post-synaptic mGluR5 stimulation weakens synaptic functions in hippocampus. However, human trials of mGluR5 antagonists have yet to be successful. This may be due in part to the differing effects of mGluR5 in hippocampus vs. prefrontal cortex, as mGluR5 are primarily post-synaptic in rodent hippocampus, but are both pre- and post-synaptic in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortical (dlPFC) circuits known to subserve working memory.

OBJECTIVES AND METHODS

The current study examined the effects of the selective mGluR5 negative allosteric modulator, MTEP (3-((2-Methyl-1,3-thiazol-4-yl)ethynyl)pyridine hydrochloride), on neuronal firing and working memory performance in aging rhesus monkeys with naturally occurring impairments in neuronal firing and cognitive performance.

RESULTS

We found that iontophoresis of MTEP directly onto dlPFC "Delay cells" had an inverted U dose-response, where low doses tended to enhance task-related firing, but higher doses suppressed neuronal firing. Similar effects were seen on cognitive performance following systemic MTEP administration (0.0001-0.1 mg/kg), with MTEP producing erratic dose-response curves. In the subset of monkeys (50%) that showed replicable improvement with MTEP, co-administration with the mGluR5 PAM, CDPPB (3-Cyano-N-(1,3-diphenyl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)benzamide), blocked MTEP beneficial effects, consistent with mGluR5 actions.

CONCLUSIONS

The mixed effects of MTEP on cognitive performance may arise from opposing actions at pre- vs. post-synaptic mGluR5 in dlPFC. These data from monkeys suggest that future clinical trials should include low doses, and identification of potential subgroup responders.

Aβ oligomers induce pathophysiological mGluR5 signaling in Alzheimer's disease model mice in a sex-selective manner

The prevalence, presentation, and progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD) differ between men and women, although β-amyloid (Aβ) deposition is a pathological hallmark of AD in both sexes. Aβ-induced activation of the neuronal glutamate receptor mGluR5 is linked to AD progression. However, we found that mGluR5 exhibits distinct sex-dependent profiles. Specifically, mGluR5 isolated from male mouse cortical and hippocampal tissues bound with high affinity to Aβ oligomers, whereas mGluR5 from female mice exhibited no such affinity. This sex-selective Aβ-mGluR5 interaction did not appear to depend on estrogen, but rather Aβ interaction with cellular prion protein (PrP^C), which was detected only in male mouse brain homogenates. The ternary complex between mGluR5, Aβ oligomers, and PrP^C was essential to elicit mGluR5-dependent pathological suppression of autophagy in primary neuronal cultures. Pharmacological inhibition of mGluR5 reactivated autophagy, mitigated Aβ pathology, and reversed cognitive decline in male APPswe/PS1ΔE9 mice, but not in their female counterparts. Aβ oligomers also bound with high affinity to human mGluR5 isolated from postmortem donor male cortical brain tissue, but not that from female samples, suggesting that this mechanism may be relevant to patients. Our findings indicate that mGluR5 does not contribute to Aβ pathology in females, highlighting the complexity of mGluR5 pharmacology and Aβ signaling that supports the need for sex-specific stratification in clinical trials assessing AD therapeutics.

The Dual Role of Glutamatergic Neurotransmission in Alzheimer's Disease: From Pathophysiology to Pharmacotherapy

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is an age-related dementia and neurodegenerative disorder, characterized by Aβ and tau protein deposition impairing learning, memory and suppressing synaptic plasticity of neurons. Increasing evidence suggests that there is a link between the glucose and glutamate alterations with age that down-regulates glucose utilization reducing glutamate levels in AD patients. Deviations in brain energy metabolism reinforce the development of AD by hampering glutamate levels in the brain. Glutamate is a nonessential amino acid and the major excitatory neurotransmitter synthesized from glucose. Alterations in cerebral glucose and glutamate levels precede the deposition of Aβ plaques. In the brain, over 40% of neuronal synapses are glutamatergic and disturbances in glutamatergic function have been implicated in pathophysiology of AD. Nevertheless, targeting the glutamatergic system seems to be a promising strategy to develop novel, improved therapeutics for AD. Here, we review data supporting the involvement of the glutamatergic system in AD pathophysiology as well as the efficacy of glutamatergic agents in this neurodegenerative disorder. We also discuss exciting new prospects for the development of improved therapeutics for this devastating disorder.

Evaluation of the neuroprotective effect of taurine in Alzheimer's disease using functional molecular imaging

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a chronic neurodegenerative disorder and the leading cause of dementia, but therapeutic treatment options are limited. Taurine has been reported to have neuroprotective properties against dementia, including AD. The present study aimed to investigate the treatment effect of taurine in AD mice by functional molecular imaging. To elucidate glutamate alterations by taurine, taurine was administered to 5xFAD transgenic mice from 2 months of age, known to apear amyloid deposition. Then, we performed glutamate positron emission tomography (PET) imaging studies for three groups (wild-type, AD, and taurine-treated AD, n = 5 in each group). As a result, brain uptake in the taurine-treated AD group was 31-40% higher than that in the AD group (cortex: 40%, p < 0.05; striatum: 32%, p < 0.01; hippocampus: 36%, p < 0.01; thalamus: 31%, p > 0.05) and 3-14% lower than that in the WT group (cortex: 10%, p > 0.05; striatum: 15%, p > 0.05; hippocampus: 14%, p > 0.05; thalamus: 3%, p > 0.05). However, we did not observe differences in Aβ pathology between the taurine-treated AD and AD groups in immunohistochemistry experiments. Our results reveal that although taurine treatment did not completely recover the glutamate system, it significantly increased metabolic glutamate receptor type 5 brain uptake. Therefore, taurine has therapeutic potential against AD.

Roles of glutamate receptors in a novel in vitro model of early, comorbid cerebrovascular, and Alzheimer's diseases

Systemic multimorbidity is highly prevalent in the elderly and, remarkably, coexisting neuropathological markers of Alzheimer's (AD) and cerebrovascular (CVD) diseases are found at autopsy in most brains of patients clinically diagnosed as AD. Little is known on neurodegeneration peculiar to comorbidities, especially at early stages when pathogenesis may propagate at subclinical levels. We developed a novel in vitro model of comorbid CVD/AD in organotypic hippocampal cultures, by combining oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) and exposure to amyloid-Aβ oligomers (AβOs), both applied at levels subtoxic to neurons when used in isolation. We focused on synaptic proteins and the roles of glutamate receptors, which have been implicated in many basic and clinical approaches to either CVD or AD. Subtoxic insults by OGD and AβOs synergized to reduce levels of synaptophysin (SYP) and PSD-95 without cell death, while effects of antagonists of either metabotropic or ionotropic glutamate receptors were distinct from reports in models of isolated CVD or AD. In particular, modulation of glutamate receptors differentially impacted SYP and PSD-95, and antagonists of a single receptor subtype had distinct effects when either isolated or combined. Our findings highlight the complexity of CVD/AD comorbidity, help understand variable responses to glutamate receptor antagonists in patients diagnosed with AD and may contribute to future development of therapeutics based on investigation of the pattern of progressive comorbidity.

Polypeptides derived from α-Synuclein binding partners to prevent α-Synuclein fibrils interaction with and take-up by cells

α-Synuclein (αSyn) fibrils spread from one neuronal cell to another. This prion-like phenomenon is believed to contribute to the progression of the pathology in Parkinson’s disease and other synucleinopathies. The binding of αSyn fibrils originating from affected cells to the plasma membrane of naïve cells is key in their prion-like propagation propensity. To interfere with this process, we designed polypeptides derived from proteins we previously showed to interact with αSyn fibrils, namely the molecular chaperone Hsc70 and the sodium/potassium pump NaK-ATPase and assessed their capacity to bind αSyn fibrils and/or interfere with their take-up by cells of neuronal origin. We demonstrate here that polypeptides that coat αSyn fibrils surfaces in such a way that they are changed affect αSyn fibrils binding to the plasma membrane components and/or their take-up by cells. Altogether our observations suggest that the rationale design of αSyn fibrils polypeptide binders that interfere with their propagation between neuronal cells holds therapeutic potential.

mGluR5 Contribution to Neuropathology in Alzheimer Mice Is Disease Stage-Dependent

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most prevalent neurodegenerative disease and is characterized by a progressive cognitive decline in affected individuals. Current therapeutic strategies are limited in their efficacy and some have proven to be even less effective at later disease stages or after extended use. We previously demonstrated that chronic inhibition of mGluR5 signaling using the selective negative allosteric modulator (NAM) CTEP in APPswe/PS1ΔE9 mice can rescue cognitive function, activating the ZBTB16-mediated autophagy pathway to reduce Aβ, the principal neurotoxic species in AD brains. Here, we evaluated the efficacy of long-term treatment with CTEP in 6 month old APPswe/PS1ΔE9 mice for either 24 or 36 weeks. CTEP maintained its efficacy in reversing working and spatial memory deficits and mitigating neurogliosis in APPswe/PS1ΔE9 mice when administered for 24 weeks. This was paralleled by a significant reduction in Aβ oligomer and plaque load as a result of autophagy activation via ZBTB16 and mTOR-dependent pathways. However, further extension of CTEP treatment for 36 weeks was found ineffective in reversing memory deficit, neurogliosis, or Aβ-related pathology. We found that this loss in CTEP efficacy in 15 month old APPswe/PS1ΔE9 mice was due to the abolished contribution of ZBTB16 and mTOR-mediated signaling to AD neuropathology at this advanced disease stage. Our findings indicate that the contribution of pathological mGluR5-signaling to AD may shift as the disease progresses. Thus, we provide the first evidence that the underlying pathophysiological mechanism(s) of AD may unfold along the course of the disease and treatment strategies should be modified accordingly to ensure maximal therapeutic outcomes.

The Quest for Cellular Prion Protein Functions in the Aged and Neurodegenerating Brain

Cellular (also termed ‘natural’) prion protein has been extensively studied for many years for its pathogenic role in prionopathies after misfolding. However, neuroprotective properties of the protein have been demonstrated under various scenarios. In this line, the involvement of the cellular prion protein in neurodegenerative diseases other than prionopathies continues to be widely debated by the scientific community. In fact, studies on knock-out mice show a vast range of physiological functions for the protein that can be supported by its ability as a cell surface scaffold protein. In this review, we first summarize the most commonly described roles of cellular prion protein in neuroprotection, including antioxidant and antiapoptotic activities and modulation of glutamate receptors. Second, in light of recently described interaction between cellular prion protein and some amyloid misfolded proteins, we will also discuss the molecular mechanisms potentially involved in protection against neurodegeneration in pathologies such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and Huntington’s diseases.

Optogenetics-induced activation of glutamate receptors improves memory function in mice with Alzheimer's disease

Optogenetics is a combination of optics and genetics technology that can be used to activate or inhibit specific cells in tissues. It has been used to treat Parkinson's disease, epilepsy and neurological diseases, but rarely Alzheimer's disease. Adeno-associated virus carrying the CaMK promoter driving the optogenetic channelrhodopsin-2 (CHR2) gene (or without the CHR2 gene, as control) was injected into the bilateral dentate gyri, followed by repeated intrahippocampal injections of soluble low-molecular-weight amyloid-β1-42 peptide (Aβ1-42). Subsequently, the region was stimulated with a 473 nm laser (1-3 ms, 10 Hz, 5 minutes). The novel object recognition test was conducted to test memory function in mice. Immunohistochemical staining was performed to analyze the numbers of NeuN and synapsin Ia/b-positive cells in the hippocampus. Western blot assay was carried out to analyze the expression levels of glial fibrillary acidic protein, NeuN, synapsin Ia/b, metabotropic glutamate receptor-1a (mGluR-1a), mGluR-5, N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor subunit NR1, glutamate receptor 2, interleukin-1β, interleukin-6 and interleukin-10. Optogenetic stimulation improved working and short-term memory in mice with Alzheimer's disease. This neuroprotective effect was associated with increased expression of NR1, glutamate receptor 2 and mGluR-5 in the hippocampus, and decreased expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein and interleukin-6. Our results show that optogenetics can be used to regulate the neuronal-glial network to ameliorate memory functions in mice with Alzheimer's disease. The study was approved by the Animal Resources Committee of Jinan University, China (approval No. LL-KT-2011134) on February 28, 2011.

Aβ oligomers induce sex-selective differences in mGluR5 pharmacology and pathophysiological signaling in Alzheimer mice.. [DOI: 10.1101/803262]

Sex is a key modifier of the prevalence and progression of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). β- Amyloid (Aβ) deposition is a pathological hallmark of AD and aberrant activation of metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 (mGluR5) by Aβ has been linked to AD progression. We find that mGluR5 exhibits distinct sex-dependent pharmacological profiles. Specifically, endogenous mGluR5 from male mouse cortex and hippocampus binds with high-affinity to Aβ oligomers whereas, female mGluR5 exhibits no affinity to Aβ oligomers. The binding affinity of mGluR5 to Aβ oligomer is dependent on its interaction with cellular prion protein (PrPC) as mGluR5 co-immunoprecipitates with PrPCfrom male, but not female, mouse brain. Aβ oligomers also bind with high-affinity to human mGluR5 in male, but not female, cortex. The mGluR5/Aβ oligomer/PrPCternary complex is essential to elicit mGluR5-dependent pathological signaling and as a consequence mGluR5-regulated GSK3β/ZBTB16 autophagic signaling is dysregulated in male, but not female, primary neuronal cultures. These sex-specific differences in mGluR5 signaling translate into in vivo differences in mGluR5-dependent pathological signaling between male and female AD mice. We show that the chronic inhibition of mGluR5 using a mGluR5-selective negative allosteric modulator reactivates GSK3β/ZBTB16-regulated autophagy, mitigates Aβ pathology and reverses cognitive decline in male, but not female, APPswe/PS1ΔE9 mice. Thus, it is evident that, unlike male brain, mGluR5 does not contribute to Aβ pathology in female AD mice. This study highlights the complexity of mGluR5 pharmacology and Aβ oligomer-activated pathological signaling and emphasizes the need for clinical trials redesign and analysis of sex-tailored treatment for AD.

Inhibition of Methamphetamine Self-Administration and Reinstatement by Central Blockade of Angiotensin II Receptor in Rats

The molecular mechanism and treatment of methamphetamine (METH) use disorder remain unclear. The current study aimed to investigate the role of central angiotensin II receptor (ATR) in drug taking and seeking behavior associated with METH use disorder. The effect of an ATR type 1 (AT1R) antagonist, candesartan cilexetil, on the reinforcing and motivational effects of METH was first assessed using the animal model of METH self-administration (SA) and reinstatement. The levels of dopamine D2 receptor (D2R) and AT1R were subsequently examined. Furthermore, the present study determined the expression of microRNAs (miRNAs) by comparing METH SA, METH-yoked, and Saline-yoked groups. The target miRNAs were further overexpressed in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) via a lentivirus vector to investigate the effects of target miRNAs on METH SA maintained under a fixed ratio 1, progressive ratio, and cue/drug reinstatement of METH SA. The potential role of the AT1R-PLCβ-CREB signaling pathway was finally investigated. The results suggest that AT1R blockade effectively reduced METH SA and reinstatement, in conjunction with the counter-regulation of D2R and AT1R. A total of 17 miRNAs targeting Ang II in NAc were found to be associated with the voluntary intake of METH. Furthermore, overexpression of specific miR-219a-5p targeting AT1R-regulated METH SA and reinstatement. The AT1R-PLCβ-CREB signaling pathway was found to be associated with the effect of AT1R on the drug-taking and drug-seeking behavior involving METH use disorder.

How does binding of agonist ligands control intrinsic molecular dynamics in human NMDA receptors?

NMDA-type glutamate receptors (NMDAR) are ligand-gated ion channels that contribute to excitatory neurotransmission in the central nervous system. NMDAR dysfunction has been found to be involved in various neurological disorders. Recent crystallographic and EM studies have shown the static structure of different states of the non-human NMDARs. Here we describe a model of a human NMDA receptor (hNMDAR) and its molecular dynamics (MD) before and after the binding of agonist ligands, glutamate and glycine. It is shown that the binding of ligands promotes a global reduction in molecular flexibility that produces a more tightly packed conformation than the unbound hNMDAR, and a higher cooperative regularity of moving. The ligand-induced synchronization of motion, identified on all structural levels of the modular hNMDA receptor is apparently a fundamental factor in channel gating. Although the time scale of the MD simulations (300 ns) was not sufficient to observe the complete gating event, the obtained data has shown the ligand-induced stabilization of hNMDAR that conforms the “going to be open state”. We propose a mechanistic dynamic model of the ligand-dependent gating mechanism in the hNMDA receptor. At the binding of the ligands, the differently twisted conformations of the highly flexible receptor are stabilized in unique conformation with a linear molecular axis, which is a condition that is optimal for pore development. By searching the receptor surface, we have identified three new pockets, which are different from the pockets described in the literature as the potential and known positive allosteric modulator binding sites. A successful docking of two NMDAR modulators to their binding sites validates the model of a human NMDA receptor as a biological relevant target.

Peripheral Interventions Enhancing Brain Glutamate Homeostasis Relieve Amyloid β- and TNFα- Mediated Synaptic Plasticity Disruption in the Rat Hippocampus

Dysregulation of glutamate homeostasis in the interstitial fluid of the brain is strongly implicated in causing synaptic dysfunction in many neurological and psychiatric illnesses. In the case of Alzheimer's disease (AD), amyloid β (Aβ)-mediated disruption of synaptic plasticity and memory can be alleviated by interventions that directly remove glutamate or block certain glutamate receptors. An alternative strategy is to facilitate the removal of excess glutamate from the nervous system by activating peripheral glutamate clearance systems. One such blood-based system, glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT), is activated by oxaloacetate, which acts as a co-substrate. We report here that synthetic and AD brain-derived Aβ-mediated inhibition of synaptic long-term potentiation in the hippocampus is alleviated by oxaloacetate. Moreover the effect of oxaloacetate was GOT-dependent. The disruptive effects of a general inhibitor of excitatory amino acid transport or TNFα, a pro-inflammatory mediator of Aβ action, were also reversed by oxaloacetate. Furthermore, another intervention that increases peripheral glutamate clearance, peritoneal dialysis, mimicked the beneficial effect of oxaloacetate. These findings lend support to the promotion of the peripheral clearance of glutamate as a means to alleviate synaptic dysfunction that is caused by impaired glutamate homeostasis in the brain.

Autophagy is increased following either pharmacological or genetic silencing of mGluR5 signaling in Alzheimer's disease mouse models

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by neurotoxicity mediated by the accumulation of beta amyloid (Aβ) oligomers, causing neuronal loss and progressive cognitive decline. Genetic deletion or chronic pharmacological inhibition of mGluR5 by the negative allosteric modulator CTEP, rescues cognitive function and reduces Aβ aggregation in both APPswe/PS1ΔE9 and 3xTg-AD mouse models of AD. In late onset neurodegenerative diseases, such as AD, defects arise at different stages of the autophagy pathway. Here, we show that mGluR5 cell surface expression is elevated in APPswe/PS1ΔE9 and 3xTg-AD mice. This is accompanied by reduced autophagy (accumulation of p62) as the consequence of increased ZBTB16 expression and reduced ULK1 activity, as we have previously observed in Huntington's disease (HD). The chronic (12 week) inhibition of mGluR5 with CTEP in APPswe/PS1ΔE9 and 3xTg-AD mice prevents the observed increase in mGluR5 surface expression. In addition, mGluR5 inactivation facilitates the loss of ZBTB16 expression and ULK1 activation as a consequence of ULK-Ser757 dephosphorylation, which promotes the loss of expression of the autophagy marker p62. Moreover, the genetic ablation of mGluR5 in APPswe/PS1ΔE9 mice activated autophagy via similar mechanisms to pharmacological blockade. This study provides further evidence that mGluR5 overactivation contributes to inhibition of autophagy and can result in impaired clearance of neurotoxic aggregates in multiple neurodegenerative diseases. Thus, it provides additional support for the potential of mGluR5 inhibition as a general therapeutic strategy for neurodegenerative diseases such as AD and HD.

Peptides as Potential Therapeutics for Alzheimer's Disease

Intracellular synthesis, folding, trafficking and degradation of proteins are controlled and integrated by proteostasis. The frequency of protein misfolding disorders in the human population, e.g., in Alzheimer's disease (AD), is increasing due to the aging population. AD treatment options are limited to symptomatic interventions that at best slow-down disease progression. The key biochemical change in AD is the excessive accumulation of per-se non-toxic and soluble amyloid peptides (Aβ(1-37/44), in the intracellular and extracellular space, that alters proteostasis and triggers Aβ modification (e.g., by reactive oxygen species (ROS)) into toxic intermediate, misfolded soluble Aβ peptides, Aβ dimers and Aβ oligomers. The toxic intermediate Aβ products aggregate into progressively less toxic and less soluble protofibrils, fibrils and senile plaques. This review focuses on peptides that inhibit toxic Aβ oligomerization, Aβ aggregation into fibrils, or stabilize Aβ peptides in non-toxic oligomers, and discusses their potential for AD treatment.

Cerebrospinal Fluid Biomarkers in Highly Exposed PM2.5 Urbanites: The Risk of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's Diseases in Young Mexico City Residents

Exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and ozone (O3) above US EPA standards is associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD) risk, while Mn toxicity induces parkinsonism. Mexico City Metropolitan Area (MCMA) children have pre- and postnatal sustained and high exposures to PM2.5, O3, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and metals. Young MCMA residents exhibit frontal tau hyperphosphorylation and amyloid-β (Aβ)1 - 42 diffuse plaques, and aggregated and hyperphosphorylated α-synuclein in olfactory nerves and key brainstem nuclei. We measured total prion protein (TPrP), total tau (T-tau), tau phosphorylated at threonine 181 (P-Tau), Aβ1-42, α-synuclein (t-α-syn and d-α-synuclein), BDNF, insulin, leptin, and/or inflammatory mediators, in 129 normal CSF samples from MCMA and clean air controls. Aβ1-42 and BDNF concentrations were significantly lower in MCMA children versus controls (p = 0.005 and 0.02, respectively). TPrP increased with cumulative PM2.5 up to 5 μg/m3 and then decreased, regardless of cumulative value or age (R2 = 0.56). TPrP strongly correlated with T-Tau and P-Tau, while d-α-synuclein showed a significant correlation with TNFα, IL10, and IL6 in MCMA children. Total synuclein showed an increment in childhood years related to cumulated PM2.5, followed by a decrease after age 12 years (R2 = 0.47), while d-α-synuclein exhibited a tendency to increase with cumulated PM2.5 (R2 = 0.30). CSF Aβ1-42, BDNF, α-synuclein, and TPrP changes are evolving in young MCMA urbanites historically showing underperformance in cognitive processes, odor identification deficits, downregulation of frontal cellular PrP, and neuropathological AD and PD hallmarks. Neuroprotection of young MCMA residents ought to be a public health priority.

Exploring Potential Biomarkers Underlying Pathogenesis of Alzheimer's Disease by Differential Co-expression Analysis

BACKGROUND

Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia in the elderly. Due to the facts that biological causes of AD are complex in addition to increasing rates of AD worldwide, a deeper understanding of AD etiology is required for AD treatment and diagnosis.

METHODS

To identify molecular pathological alterations in AD brains, GSE36980 series containing microarray data samples from temporal cortex, frontal cortex and hippocampus were downloaded from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database and valid gene symbols were subjected to building a gene co-expression network by a bioinformatics tool known as differential regulation from differential co-expression (DCGL) software package. Then, a network-driven integrative analysis was performed to find significant genes and underlying biological terms.

RESULTS

A total of 17088 unique genes were parsed into three independent differential co-expression networks. As a result, a small number of differentially co-regulated genes mostly in frontal and hippocampus lobs were detected as potential biomarkers related to AD brains. Ultimately differentially co-regulated genes were enriched in biological terms including response to lipid and fatty acid and pathways mainly signaling pathway such as G-protein signaling pathway and glutamate receptor groups II and III. By conducting co-expression analysis, our study identified multiple genes that may play an important role in the pathogenesis of AD.

CONCLUSION

The study aimed to provide a systematic understanding of the potential relationships among these genes and it is hoped that it could aid in AD biomarker discovery.

MicroRNA in glutamate receptor-dependent neurological diseases

Glutamate-mediated excitotoxicity is the major neuropathological process contributing to numerous neurological diseases. Recently, emerging evidence indicates that microRNAs (miRNAs) play essential roles in the pathophysiology of a wide range of neurological diseases. Notably, there have been significant developments in understanding the biogenesis of miRNAs, their regulatory mechanisms, and their potential as effective biomarkers and therapies. In the present review, we summarize the recent literature that highlights the versatile roles played by miRNAs in glutamate receptor (GluR)-dependent neurological diseases. Based on the reported studies to date, modulation of miRNAs could emerge as a promising therapeutic target for a variety of neurological diseases that were discussed in this review.

Targeting glutamatergic and cellular prion protein mechanisms of amyloid β-mediated persistent synaptic plasticity disruption: Longitudinal studies

Alzheimer's disease amyloid-β (Aβ) oligomers are synaptotoxic, inappropriately increasing extracellular glutamate concentration and glutamate receptor activation to thereby rapidly disrupt synaptic plasticity. Thus, acutely promoting brain glutamate homeostasis with a blood-based scavenging system, glutamate-oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT), and blocking metabotropic glutamate 5 (mGlu5) receptor or its co-receptor cellular prion protein (PrP), prevent the acute inhibition of long-term potentiation (LTP) by exogenous Aβ. Here, we evaluated the time course of the effects of such interventions in the persistent disruptive effects of Aβ oligomers, either exogenously injected in wild type rats or endogenously generated in transgenic rats that model Alzheimer's disease amyloidosis. We report that repeated, but not acute, systemic administration of recombinant GOT type 1, with or without the glutamate co-substrate oxaloacetate, reversed the persistent deleterious effect of exogenous Aβ on synaptic plasticity. Moreover, similar repetitive treatment reversibly abrogated the inhibition of LTP monitored longitudinally in freely behaving transgenic rats. Remarkably, brief repeated treatment with an mGlu5 receptor antagonist, basimglurant, or an antibody that prevents Aβ oligomer binding to PrP, ICSM35, also had similar reversible ameliorative effects in the transgenic rat model. Overall, the present findings support the ongoing development of therapeutics for early Alzheimer's disease based on these complementary approaches.

Relationship Between β-Amyloid and Mitochondrial Dynamics

Mitochondria as dynamic organelles undergo morphological changes through the processes of fission and fusion which are major factors regulating their functions. A disruption in the balance of mitochondrial dynamics induces functional disorders in mitochondria such as failed energy production and the generation of reactive oxygen species, which are closely related to pathophysiological changes associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD). Recent studies have demonstrated a relationship between abnormalities in mitochondrial dynamics and impaired mitochondrial function, clarifying the effects of morphofunctional aberrations which promote neuronal cell death in AD. Several possible signaling pathways have been suggested for a better understanding of the mechanism behind the key molecules regulating mitochondrial morphologies. However, the exact machinery involved in mitochondrial dynamics still has yet to be elucidated. This paper reviews the current knowledge on signaling mechanisms involved in mitochondrial dynamics and the significance of mitochondrial dynamics in controlling associated functions in neurodegenerative diseases, particularly in AD.

Role of Spinophilin in Group I Metabotropic Glutamate Receptor Endocytosis, Signaling, and Synaptic Plasticity

Activation of Group I metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) activates signaling cascades, resulting in calcium release from intracellular stores, ERK1/2 activation, and long term changes in synaptic activity that are implicated in learning, memory, and neurodegenerative diseases. As such, elucidating the molecular mechanisms underlying Group I mGluR signaling is important for understanding physiological responses initiated by the activation of these receptors. In the current study, we identify the multifunctional scaffolding protein spinophilin as a novel Group I mGluR-interacting protein. We demonstrate that spinophilin interacts with the C-terminal tail and second intracellular loop of Group I mGluRs. Furthermore, we show that interaction of spinophilin with Group I mGluRs attenuates receptor endocytosis and phosphorylation of ERK1/2, an effect that is dependent upon the interaction of spinophilin with the C-terminal PDZ binding motif encoded by Group I mGluRs. Spinophilin knock-out results in enhanced mGluR5 endocytosis as well as increased ERK1/2, AKT, and Ca(2+) signaling in primary cortical neurons. In addition, the loss of spinophilin expression results in impaired mGluR5-stimulated LTD. Our results indicate that spinophilin plays an important role in regulating the activity of Group I mGluRs as well as their influence on synaptic activity.

Intracellular Calcium Dysregulation: Implications for Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by progressive neuronal loss. AD is associated with aberrant processing of the amyloid precursor protein, which leads to the deposition of amyloid-β plaques within the brain. Together with plaques deposition, the hyperphosphorylation of the microtubules associated protein tau and the formation of intraneuronal neurofibrillary tangles are a typical neuropathological feature in AD brains. Cellular dysfunctions involving specific subcellular compartments, such as mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum (ER), are emerging as crucial players in the pathogenesis of AD, as well as increased oxidative stress and dysregulation of calcium homeostasis. Specifically, dysregulation of intracellular calcium homeostasis has been suggested as a common proximal cause of neural dysfunction in AD. Aberrant calcium signaling has been considered a phenomenon mainly related to the dysfunction of intracellular calcium stores, which can occur in both neuronal and nonneuronal cells. This review reports the most recent findings on cellular mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of AD, with main focus on the control of calcium homeostasis at both cytosolic and mitochondrial level.

Inhibiting BACE1 to reverse synaptic dysfunctions in Alzheimer's disease

Over the past two decades, many studies have identified significant contributions of toxic β-amyloid peptides (Aβ) to the etiology of Alzheimer's disease (AD), which is the most common age-dependent neurodegenerative disease. AD is also recognized as a disease of synaptic failure. Aβ, generated by sequential proteolytic cleavages of amyloid precursor protein (APP) by BACE1 and γ-secretase, is one of major culprits that cause this failure. In this review, we summarize current findings on how BACE1-cleaved APP products impact learning and memory through proteins localized on glutamatergic, GABAergic, and dopaminergic synapses. Considering the broad effects of Aβ on all three types of synapses, BACE1 inhibition emerges as a practical approach for ameliorating Aβ-mediated synaptic dysfunctions. Since BACE1 inhibitory drugs are currently in clinical trials, this review also discusses potential complications arising from BACE1 inhibition. We emphasize that the benefits of BACE1 inhibitory drugs will outweigh the concerns.

α-Synuclein and huntingtin exon 1 amyloid fibrils bind laterally to the cellular membrane

Fibrillar aggregates involved in neurodegenerative diseases have the ability to spread from one cell to another in a prion-like manner. The underlying molecular mechanisms, in particular the binding mode of the fibrils to cell membranes, are poorly understood. In this work we decipher the modality by which aggregates bind to the cellular membrane, one of the obligatory steps of the propagation cycle. By characterizing the binding properties of aggregates made of α-synuclein or huntingtin exon 1 protein displaying similar composition and structure but different lengths to mammalian cells we demonstrate that in both cases aggregates bind laterally to the cellular membrane, with aggregates extremities displaying little or no role in membrane binding. Lateral binding to artificial liposomes was also observed by transmission electron microscopy. In addition we show that although α-synuclein and huntingtin exon 1 fibrils bind both laterally to the cellular membrane, their mechanisms of interaction differ. Our findings have important implications for the development of future therapeutic tools that aim to block protein aggregates propagation in the brain.

Unfolded Protein Response and Macroautophagy in Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and Prion Diseases

Proteostasis are integrated biological pathways within cells that control synthesis, folding, trafficking and degradation of proteins. The absence of cell division makes brain proteostasis susceptible to age-related changes and neurodegeneration. Two key processes involved in sustaining normal brain proteostasis are the unfolded protein response and autophagy. Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson’s disease (PD) and prion diseases (PrDs) have different clinical manifestations of neurodegeneration, however, all share an accumulation of misfolded pathological proteins associated with perturbations in unfolded protein response and macroautophagy. While both the unfolded protein response and macroautophagy play an important role in the prevention and attenuation of AD and PD progression, only macroautophagy seems to play an important role in the development of PrDs. Macroautophagy and unfolded protein response can be modulated by pharmacological interventions. However, further research is necessary to better understand the regulatory pathways of both processes in health and neurodegeneration to be able to develop new therapeutic interventions.