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Tapella L, Dematteis G, La Vitola P, Leva S, Tonelli E, Raddi M, Delconti M, Dacomo L, La Macchia A, Murari E, Talmon M, Malecka J, Chrostek G, Grilli M, Colombo L, Salmona M, Forloni G, Genazzani AA, Balducci C, Lim D. Genetic deletion of astrocytic calcineurin B1 prevents cognitive impairment and neuropathology development in acute and chronic mouse models of Alzheimer's disease. Glia 2024; 72:899-915. [PMID: 38288580 DOI: 10.1002/glia.24509] [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: 06/21/2023] [Revised: 01/15/2024] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 03/20/2024]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) represents an urgent yet unmet challenge for modern society, calling for exploration of innovative targets and therapeutic approaches. Astrocytes, main homeostatic cells in the CNS, represent promising cell-target. Our aim was to investigate if deletion of the regulatory CaNB1 subunit of calcineurin in astrocytes could mitigate AD-related memory deficits, neuropathology, and neuroinflammation. We have generated two, acute and chronic, AD mouse models with astrocytic CaNB1 ablation (ACN-KO). In the former, we evaluated the ability of β-amyloid oligomers (AβOs) to impair memory and activate glial cells once injected in the cerebral ventricle of conditional ACN-KO mice. Next, we generated a tamoxifen-inducible astrocyte-specific CaNB1 knock-out in 3xTg-AD mice (indACNKO-AD). CaNB1 was deleted, by tamoxifen injection, in 11.7-month-old 3xTg-AD mice for 4.4 months. Spatial memory was evaluated using the Barnes maze; β-amyloid plaques burden, neurofibrillary tangle deposition, reactive gliosis, and neuroinflammation were also assessed. The acute model showed that ICV injected AβOs in 2-month-old wild type mice impaired recognition memory and fostered a pro-inflammatory microglia phenotype, whereas in ACN-KO mice, AβOs were inactive. In indACNKO-AD mice, 4.4 months after CaNB1 depletion, we found preservation of spatial memory and cognitive flexibility, abolishment of amyloidosis, and reduction of neurofibrillary tangles, gliosis, and neuroinflammation. Our results suggest that ACN is crucial for the development of cognitive impairment, AD neuropathology, and neuroinflammation. Astrocyte-specific CaNB1 deletion is beneficial for both the abolishment of AβO-mediated detrimental effects and treatment of ongoing AD-related pathology, hence representing an intriguing target for AD therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Tapella
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Università del Piemonte Orientale, Novara, Italy
| | - Giulia Dematteis
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Università del Piemonte Orientale, Novara, Italy
| | - Pietro La Vitola
- Department of Neuroscience, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Milano, Italy
| | - Susanna Leva
- Department of Neuroscience, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Milano, Italy
| | - Elisa Tonelli
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Università del Piemonte Orientale, Novara, Italy
| | - Marco Raddi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Università del Piemonte Orientale, Novara, Italy
| | - Marta Delconti
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Università del Piemonte Orientale, Novara, Italy
| | - Letizia Dacomo
- Department of Neuroscience, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Milano, Italy
| | - Alberto La Macchia
- Department of Neuroscience, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Milano, Italy
| | - Elisa Murari
- Department of Neuroscience, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Milano, Italy
| | - Maria Talmon
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Università del Piemonte Orientale, Novara, Italy
| | - Justyna Malecka
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Università del Piemonte Orientale, Novara, Italy
| | - Gabriela Chrostek
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Università del Piemonte Orientale, Novara, Italy
| | - Mariagrazia Grilli
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Università del Piemonte Orientale, Novara, Italy
| | - Laura Colombo
- Department of Neuroscience, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Milano, Italy
| | - Mario Salmona
- Department of Neuroscience, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Milano, Italy
| | - Gianluigi Forloni
- Department of Neuroscience, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Milano, Italy
| | - Armando A Genazzani
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Università del Piemonte Orientale, Novara, Italy
| | - Claudia Balducci
- Department of Neuroscience, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Milano, Italy
| | - Dmitry Lim
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Università del Piemonte Orientale, Novara, Italy
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Liu N, Liang X, Chen Y, Xie L. Recent trends in treatment strategies for Alzheimer 's disease and the challenges: A topical advancement. Ageing Res Rev 2024; 94:102199. [PMID: 38232903 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2024.102199] [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: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 01/19/2024]
Abstract
Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is an irreversible and progressive neurological disease that has affected at least 50 million people around the globe. Considering the severity of the disease and the continuous increase in the number of patients, the development of new effective drugs or intervention strategies for AD has become urgent. AD is caused by a combination of genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors, but its exact cause has not yet been clarified. Given the current challenges being faced in the clinical treatment of AD, such as complex AD pathological network and insufficient early diagnosis, herein, we have focused on the three core pathological features of AD, including amyloid-β (Aβ) aggregation, tau phosphorylation and tangles, and activation of inflammatory factors. In this review, we have briefly underscored the primary evidence supporting each pathology and discuss AD pathological network among Aβ, tau, and inflammation. We have also comprehensively summarized the most instructive drugs and their treatment strategies against Aβ, tau, or neuroinflammation used in basic research and clinical trials. Finally, we have discussed and outlined the pros and cons of each pathological approach and looked forward to potential personalized diagnosis and treatment strategies that are beneficial to AD patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ni Liu
- College of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450000, China.
| | - Xiaohan Liang
- Britton Chance Center for Biomedical Photonics, Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics-Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China.
| | - Yu Chen
- College of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450000, China.
| | - Lihang Xie
- Academy of Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China.
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Osborne OM, Naranjo O, Heckmann BL, Dykxhoorn D, Toborek M. Anti-amyloid: An antibody to cure Alzheimer's or an attitude. iScience 2023; 26:107461. [PMID: 37588168 PMCID: PMC10425904 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.107461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/18/2023] Open
Abstract
For more than a century, clinicians have been aware of the devastating neurological condition called Alzheimer's disease (AD). AD is characterized by the presence of abnormal amyloid protein plaques and tau tangles in the brain. The dominant hypothesis, termed the amyloid hypothesis, attributes AD development to excessive cleavage and accumulation of amyloid precursor protein (APP), leading to brain tissue atrophy. The amyloid hypothesis has greatly influenced AD research and therapeutic endeavors. However, despite significant attention, a complete understanding of amyloid and APP's roles in disease pathology, progression, and cognitive impairment remains elusive. Recent controversies and several unsuccessful drug trials have called into question whether amyloid is the only neuropathological factor for treatment. To accomplish disease amelioration, we argue that researchers and clinicians may need to take a compounding approach to target amyloid and other factors in the brain, including traditional pharmaceuticals and holistic therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivia M. Osborne
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Oandy Naranjo
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Bradlee L. Heckmann
- Department of Immunology, University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine, Tampa, FL 33602, USA
- Byrd Alzheimer’s Center, University of South Florida Health Neuroscience Institute, Tampa, FL 33613, USA
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine, Tampa, FL 33602, USA
- Asha Therapeutics, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Derek Dykxhoorn
- Dr. John T. Macdonald Foundation Department of Human Genetics, John P. Hussman Institute for Human Genomics, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Michal Toborek
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA
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4
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Lambracht-Washington D, Fu M, Wight-Carter M, Riegel M, Hynan LS, Rosenberg RN. DNA Aβ42 immunization via needle-less Jet injection in mice and rabbits as potential immunotherapy for Alzheimer's disease. J Neurol Sci 2023; 446:120564. [PMID: 36731358 DOI: 10.1016/j.jns.2023.120564] [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: 05/13/2022] [Revised: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia found in the elderly and disease progression is associated with accumulation of Amyloid beta 1-42 (Aβ42) in brain. An immune-mediated approach as a preventive intervention to reduce amyloid plaques without causing brain inflammation is highly desirable for future clinical use. Genetic immunization, in which the immunizing agent is DNA encoding Aβ42, has great potential because the immune response to DNA delivered into the skin is generally non-inflammatory, and thus differs quantitatively and qualitatively from immune responses elicited by peptides, which are inflammatory with production of IFNγ and IL-17 cytokines by activated T cells. DNA immunization has historically been proven difficult to apply to larger mammals. A potential barrier to use DNA immunization in large mammals is the method for delivery of the DNA antigen. We tested jet injection in mice and rabbits and found good antibody production and safe immune responses (no inflammatory cytokines). We found significant reduction of amyloid plaques and Aβ peptides in brains of the DNA Aβ42 immunized 3xTg-AD mouse model. This study was designed to optimize DNA delivery for possible testing of the DNA Aβ42 vaccine for AD prevention in a clinical trial.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Min Fu
- Department of Neurology, UT Southwestern Medical Center Dallas, TX, USA.
| | - Mary Wight-Carter
- Animal Resource Center, UT Southwestern Medical Center Dallas, TX, USA.
| | - Matthew Riegel
- Animal Resource Center, UT Southwestern Medical Center Dallas, TX, USA; University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, USA.
| | - Linda S Hynan
- Departments of Population and Data Sciences (Biostatistics) & Psychiatry, UT Southwestern Medical Center Dallas, TX, USA.
| | - Roger N Rosenberg
- Department of Neurology, UT Southwestern Medical Center Dallas, TX, USA.
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Phospholipase D1 Attenuation Therapeutics Promotes Resilience against Synaptotoxicity in 12-Month-Old 3xTg-AD Mouse Model of Progressive Neurodegeneration. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24043372. [PMID: 36834781 PMCID: PMC9967100 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24043372] [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: 01/04/2023] [Revised: 02/02/2023] [Accepted: 02/03/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Abrogating synaptotoxicity in age-related neurodegenerative disorders is an extremely promising area of research with significant neurotherapeutic implications in tauopathies including Alzheimer's disease (AD). Our studies using human clinical samples and mouse models demonstrated that aberrantly elevated phospholipase D1 (PLD1) is associated with amyloid beta (Aβ) and tau-driven synaptic dysfunction and underlying memory deficits. While knocking out the lipolytic PLD1 gene is not detrimental to survival across species, elevated expression is implicated in cancer, cardiovascular conditions and neuropathologies, leading to the successful development of well-tolerated mammalian PLD isoform-specific small molecule inhibitors. Here, we address the importance of PLD1 attenuation, achieved using repeated 1 mg/kg of VU0155069 (VU01) intraperitoneally every alternate day for a month in 3xTg-AD mice beginning only from ~11 months of age (with greater influence of tau-driven insults) compared to age-matched vehicle (0.9% saline)-injected siblings. A multimodal approach involving behavior, electrophysiology and biochemistry corroborate the impact of this pre-clinical therapeutic intervention. VU01 proved efficacious in preventing in later stage AD-like cognitive decline affecting perirhinal cortex-, hippocampal- and amygdala-dependent behaviors. Glutamate-dependent HFS-LTP and LFS-LTD improved. Dendritic spine morphology showed the preservation of mushroom and filamentous spine characteristics. Differential PLD1 immunofluorescence and co-localization with Aβ were noted.
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Lambracht-Washington D, Fu M, Manouchehri N, Hynan LS, Stuve O, Rosenberg RN. Glial cell transcriptome analyses in 3xTg-AD mice: Effects of aging, disease progression, and anti-Aβ immunotherapy. AGING BRAIN 2023; 3:100066. [PMID: 36911262 PMCID: PMC9997156 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbas.2023.100066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2022] [Revised: 01/02/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Background To investigate how changes in expression of glial genes relate to a progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology, and how anti-Aβ immunotherapy impact these changes, we conducted a transcriptomic analysis for brains from cohorts of 2-, 10-, and 20 month old 3xTg-AD mice, and a cross-sectional study in groups of 20 month-old mice treated with active DNA Aβ42 immunization, passive immunotherapy, untreated, and wild-type (wt) controls. Methods Twenty-four Formalin-Fixed Paraffin-Embedded (FFPE) mouse brain sections were used for the gene expression analyses (nanostring). Adjacent sections from these and additional mouse brains were stained for microglia using antibodies detecting IbaI and Gal3. For a semi-quantitative analysis of increased tau and amyloid pathology with aging and disease progression, a comparison of ELISA results from brains of 12 and 20 months old 3xTg-AD mice were shown. Results Based on the different comparisons of transcript numbers found the 3xTg-AD age groups with the senescent 20 months old wt control mouse brains, and the 20 months old 3xTg-AD mouse brains with the 20 months old wt control mouse brains, genes were assigned as upregulated due to aging, or due to disease progression, or due to both. The immunohistochemistry of microglia markers revealed that Gal3 might be an important marker for phagocytosing microglia around amyloid plaques. The comparison of the two anti-Aβ immunotherapy approaches showed a differential downregulation of inflammatory glial genes. Conclusion These results are relevant for future clinical trials using active anti-amyloid immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Min Fu
- Department of Neurology, UT Southwestern Medical Center Dallas, USA
| | | | - Linda S Hynan
- Departments of Population and Data Sciences (Biostatistics) & Psychiatry, UT Southwestern Medical Center Dallas, USA
| | - Olaf Stuve
- Department of Neurology, UT Southwestern Medical Center Dallas, USA.,VA North Texas Health Care System, VA Medical Center Dallas, USA
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Luo JJ, Wallace W, Kusiak JW. A tough trek in the development of an anti-amyloid therapy for Alzheimer's disease: Do we see hope in the distance? J Neurol Sci 2022; 438:120294. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jns.2022.120294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2022] [Revised: 04/27/2022] [Accepted: 05/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
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Personalized Management and Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease. Life (Basel) 2022; 12:life12030460. [PMID: 35330211 PMCID: PMC8951963 DOI: 10.3390/life12030460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2022] [Revised: 03/14/2022] [Accepted: 03/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a priority health problem with a high cost to society and a large consumption of medical and social resources. The management of AD patients is complex and multidisciplinary. Over 90% of patients suffer from concomitant diseases and require personalized therapeutic regimens to reduce adverse drug reactions (ADRs), drug−drug interactions (DDIs), and unnecessary costs. Men and women show substantial differences in their AD-related phenotypes. Genomic, epigenetic, neuroimaging, and biochemical biomarkers are useful for predictive and differential diagnosis. The most frequent concomitant diseases include hypertension (>25%), obesity (>70%), diabetes mellitus type 2 (>25%), hypercholesterolemia (40%), hypertriglyceridemia (20%), metabolic syndrome (20%), hepatobiliary disorder (15%), endocrine/metabolic disorders (>20%), cardiovascular disorder (40%), cerebrovascular disorder (60−90%), neuropsychiatric disorders (60−90%), and cancer (10%). Over 90% of AD patients require multifactorial treatments with risk of ADRs and DDIs. The implementation of pharmacogenetics in clinical practice can help optimize the limited therapeutic resources available to treat AD and personalize the use of anti-dementia drugs, in combination with other medications, for the treatment of concomitant disorders.
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Silvestro S, Valeri A, Mazzon E. Aducanumab and Its Effects on Tau Pathology: Is This the Turning Point of Amyloid Hypothesis? Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23042011. [PMID: 35216126 PMCID: PMC8880389 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23042011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2022] [Revised: 02/07/2022] [Accepted: 02/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder affecting millions of people around the world. The two main pathological mechanisms underlying the disease are beta-amyloid (Aβ) plaques and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) of Tau proteins in the brain. Their reduction has been associated with slowing of cognitive decline and disease progression. Several antibodies aimed to target Aβ or Tau in order to represent hope for millions of patients, but only a small number managed to be selected to participate in clinical trials. Aducanumab is a monoclonal antibody recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which, targeting (Aβ) oligomers and fibrils, was able to reduce Aβ accumulation and slow the progression of cognitive impairment. It was also claimed to have an effect on the second hallmark of AD, decreasing the level of phospho-Tau evaluated in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and by positron emission tomography (PET). This evidence may represent a turning point in the development of AD-efficient drugs.
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Tatulian SA. Challenges and hopes for Alzheimer's disease. Drug Discov Today 2022; 27:1027-1043. [PMID: 35121174 DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2022.01.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 41.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2021] [Revised: 09/01/2021] [Accepted: 01/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Recent drug development efforts targeting Alzheimer's disease (AD) have failed to produce effective disease-modifying agents for many reasons, including the substantial presymptomatic neuronal damage that is caused by the accumulation of the amyloid β (Aβ) peptide and tau protein abnormalities, deleterious adverse effects of drug candidates, and inadequate design of clinical trials. New molecular targets, biomarkers, and diagnostic techniques, as well as alternative nonpharmacological approaches, are sorely needed to detect and treat early pathological events. This article analyzes the successes and debacles of pharmaceutical endeavors to date, and highlights new technologies that may lead to the more effective diagnosis and treatment of the pathologies that underlie AD. The use of focused ultrasound, deep brain stimulation, stem cell therapy, and gene therapy, in parallel with pharmaceuticals and judicious lifestyle adjustments, holds promise for the deceleration, prevention, or cure of AD and other neurodegenerative disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suren A Tatulian
- Department of Physics, College of Sciences, and Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL 32816, USA.
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11
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Roda AR, Serra-Mir G, Montoliu-Gaya L, Tiessler L, Villegas S. Amyloid-beta peptide and tau protein crosstalk in Alzheimer's disease. Neural Regen Res 2022; 17:1666-1674. [PMID: 35017413 PMCID: PMC8820696 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.332127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 38.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer’s disease is a neurodegenerative disease that accounts for most of the 50-million dementia cases worldwide in 2018. A large amount of evidence supports the amyloid cascade hypothesis, which states that amyloid-beta accumulation triggers tau hyperphosphorylation and aggregation in form of neurofibrillary tangles, and these aggregates lead to inflammation, synaptic impairment, neuronal loss, and thus to cognitive decline and behavioral abnormalities. The poor correlation found between cognitive decline and amyloid plaques, have led the scientific community to question whether amyloid-beta accumulation is actually triggering neurodegeneration in Alzheimer’s disease. The occurrence of tau neurofibrillary tangles better correlates to neuronal loss and clinical symptoms and, although amyloid-beta may initiate the cascade of events, tau impairment is likely the effector molecule of neurodegeneration. Recently, it has been shown that amyloid-beta and tau cooperatively work to impair transcription of genes involved in synaptic function and, more importantly, that downregulation of tau partially reverses transcriptional perturbations. Despite mounting evidence points to an interplay between amyloid-beta and tau, some factors could independently affect both pathologies. Thus, the dual pathway hypothesis, which states that there are common upstream triggers causing both amyloid-beta and tau abnormalities has been proposed. Among others, the immune system seems to be strongly involved in amyloid-beta and tau pathologies. Other factors, as the apolipoprotein E ε4 isoform has been suggested to act as a link between amyloid-beta and tau hyperphosphorylation. Interestingly, amyloid-beta-immunotherapy reduces not only amyloid-beta but also tau levels in animal models and in clinical trials. Likewise, it has been shown that tau-immunotherapy also reduces amyloid-beta levels. Thus, even though amyloid-beta immunotherapy is more advanced than tau-immunotherapy, combined amyloid-beta and tau-directed therapies at early stages of the disease have recently been proposed as a strategy to stop the progression of Alzheimer’s disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alejandro R Roda
- Protein Design and Immunotherapy Group, Departament de Bioquímica i Biologia Molecular, Facultat de Biociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Gabriel Serra-Mir
- Protein Design and Immunotherapy Group, Departament de Bioquímica i Biologia Molecular, Facultat de Biociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Laia Montoliu-Gaya
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, The Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Lidia Tiessler
- Protein Design and Immunotherapy Group, Departament de Bioquímica i Biologia Molecular, Facultat de Biociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Sandra Villegas
- Protein Design and Immunotherapy Group, Departament de Bioquímica i Biologia Molecular, Facultat de Biociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
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Cacabelos R, Naidoo V, Martínez-Iglesias O, Corzo L, Cacabelos N, Pego R, Carril JC. Pharmacogenomics of Alzheimer's Disease: Novel Strategies for Drug Utilization and Development. Methods Mol Biol 2022; 2547:275-387. [PMID: 36068470 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2573-6_13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a priority health problem in developed countries with a high cost to society. Approximately 20% of direct costs are associated with pharmacological treatment. Over 90% of patients require multifactorial treatments, with risk of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) and drug-drug interactions (DDIs) for the treatment of concomitant diseases such as hypertension (>25%), obesity (>70%), diabetes mellitus type 2 (>25%), hypercholesterolemia (40%), hypertriglyceridemia (20%), metabolic syndrome (20%), hepatobiliary disorder (15%), endocrine/metabolic disorders (>20%), cardiovascular disorder (40%), cerebrovascular disorder (60-90%), neuropsychiatric disorders (60-90%), and cancer (10%).For the past decades, pharmacological studies in search of potential treatments for AD focused on the following categories: neurotransmitter enhancers (11.38%), multitarget drugs (2.45%), anti-amyloid agents (13.30%), anti-tau agents (2.03%), natural products and derivatives (25.58%), novel synthetic drugs (8.13%), novel targets (5.66%), repository drugs (11.77%), anti-inflammatory drugs (1.20%), neuroprotective peptides (1.25%), stem cell therapy (1.85%), nanocarriers/nanotherapeutics (1.52%), and other compounds (<1%).Pharmacogenetic studies have shown that the therapeutic response to drugs in AD is genotype-specific in close association with the gene clusters that constitute the pharmacogenetic machinery (pathogenic, mechanistic, metabolic, transporter, pleiotropic genes) under the regulatory control of epigenetic mechanisms (DNA methylation, histone/chromatin remodeling, microRNA regulation). Most AD patients (>60%) are carriers of over ten pathogenic genes. The genes that most frequently (>50%) accumulate pathogenic variants in the same AD case are A2M (54.38%), ACE (78.94%), BIN1 (57.89%), CLU (63.15%), CPZ (63.15%), LHFPL6 (52.63%), MS4A4E (50.87%), MS4A6A (63.15%), PICALM (54.38%), PRNP (80.7059), and PSEN1 (77.19%). There is also an accumulation of 15 to 26 defective pharmagenes in approximately 85% of AD patients. About 50% of AD patients are carriers of at least 20 mutant pharmagenes, and over 80% are deficient metabolizers for the most common drugs, which are metabolized via the CYP2D6, CYP2C9, CYP2C19, and CYP3A4/5 enzymes.The implementation of pharmacogenetics can help optimize drug development and the limited therapeutic resources available to treat AD, and personalize the use of anti-dementia drugs in combination with other medications for the treatment of concomitant disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ramón Cacabelos
- Department of Genomic Medicine, International Center of Neuroscience and Genomic Medicine, EuroEspes Biomedical Research Center, Corunna, Spain.
| | - Vinogran Naidoo
- Department of Neuroscience, International Center of Neuroscience and Genomic Medicine, EuroEspes Biomedical Research Center, Corunna, Spain
| | - Olaia Martínez-Iglesias
- Department of Medical Epigenetics, International Center of Neuroscience and Genomic Medicine, EuroEspes Biomedical Research Center, Corunna, Spain
| | - Lola Corzo
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, International Center of Neuroscience and Genomic Medicine, EuroEspes Biomedical Research Center, Corunna, Spain
| | - Natalia Cacabelos
- Department of Medical Documentation, International Center of Neuroscience and Genomic Medicine, EuroEspes Biomedical Research Center, Corunna, Spain
| | - Rocío Pego
- Department of Neuropsychology, International Center of Neuroscience and Genomic Medicine, EuroEspes Biomedical Research Center, Corunna, Spain
| | - Juan C Carril
- Department of Genomics and Pharmacogenomics, International Center of Neuroscience and Genomic Medicine, EuroEspes Biomedical Research Center, Corunna, Spain
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Yan XD, Qu XS, Yin J, Qiao J, Zhang J, Qi JS, Wu MN. Adiponectin Ameliorates Cognitive Behaviors and in vivo Synaptic Plasticity Impairments in 3xTg-AD Mice. J Alzheimers Dis 2021; 85:343-357. [PMID: 34806605 DOI: 10.3233/jad-215063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cognitive deficit is mainly clinical characteristic of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Recent reports showed adiponectin and its analogues could reverse cognitive impairments, lower amyloid-β protein (Aβ) deposition, and exert anti-inflammatory effects in different APP/PS1 AD model mice mainly exhibiting amyloid plaque pathology. However, the potential in vivo electrophysiological mechanism of adiponectin protecting against cognitive deficits in AD and the neuroprotective effects of adiponectin on 3xTg-AD mice including both plaque and tangle pathology are still unclear. OBJECTIVE To observe the effects of adiponectin treatment on cognitive deficits in 3xTg-AD mice, investigate its potential in vivo electrophysiological mechanism, and testify its anti-inflammatory effects. METHODS Barnes maze test, Morris water maze test, and fear conditioning test were used to evaluate the memory-ameliorating effects of adiponectin on 3xTg-AD mice. In vivo hippocampal electrophysiological recording was used to observe the change of basic synaptic transmission, long-term potentiation, and long-term depression. Immunohistochemistry staining and western blot were used to observe the activation of microglia and astroglia, and the expression levels of proinflammatory factors and anti-inflammtory factor IL-10. RESULTS Adiponectin treatment could alleviate spatial memory and conditioned fear memory deficits observed in 3xTg-AD mice, improve in vivo LTP depression and LTD facilitation, inhibit overactivation of microglia and astroglia, decrease the expression of proinflammatory factors NF- κB and IL-1β, and increase the expression level of IL-10 in the hippocampus of 3xTg-AD mice. CONCLUSION Adiponectin could ameliorate cognitive deficits in 3xTg-AD mice through improving in vivo synaptic plasticity impairments and alleviating neuroinflammation in the hippocampus of 3xTg-AD mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xu-Dong Yan
- Department of Physiology, Key Laboratory of Cellular Physiology, Ministry of Education, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China
| | - Xue-Song Qu
- Department of Physiology, Key Laboratory of Cellular Physiology, Ministry of Education, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China.,Pomology Institute of Shanxi Agricultural University, Taiyuan, China
| | - Jing Yin
- Department of Physiology, Key Laboratory of Cellular Physiology, Ministry of Education, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China
| | - Jin Qiao
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China
| | - Jun Zhang
- Functional Laboratory Center, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China
| | - Jin-Shun Qi
- Department of Physiology, Key Laboratory of Cellular Physiology, Ministry of Education, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China
| | - Mei-Na Wu
- Department of Physiology, Key Laboratory of Cellular Physiology, Ministry of Education, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China
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14
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Peptide-Based Vaccines for Neurodegenerative Diseases: Recent Endeavors and Future Perspectives. Vaccines (Basel) 2021; 9:vaccines9111278. [PMID: 34835209 PMCID: PMC8622585 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines9111278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2021] [Revised: 10/25/2021] [Accepted: 10/30/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The development of peptide-based vaccines for treating human neurodegenerative diseases has been the eventual aim of many research endeavors, although no active immunotherapies have been approved for clinical use till now. A typical example of such endeavors is the effort to develop vaccines for Alzheimer’s disease based on the beta-amyloid peptide, which continues to be intensively investigated despite previous setbacks. In this paper, recent developments in peptide-based vaccines which target beta-amyloid as well as tau protein and α-synuclein are presented. Particular focus has been directed toward peptide epitopes and formulation systems selected/developed and employed to enhance vaccine efficacy and safety. Results from both, human clinical trials and animal preclinical studies conducted mainly in transgenic mice have been included. Future perspectives on the topic are also briefly discussed.
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15
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Rosenberg RN. The universal brain code a genetic mechanism for memory. J Neurol Sci 2021; 429:118073. [PMID: 34517228 DOI: 10.1016/j.jns.2021.118073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2021] [Revised: 09/04/2021] [Accepted: 09/06/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
We do not have an understanding of the fundamental mechanism of how information is stored and retrieved by the brain. A Universal Brain Code utilized for these functions is proposed here. The basic tenent of the Code is that a memory engram is propagated and guided through the connectome by specific proteins/peptides embedded within the pre-synaptic neuronal membrane corresponding to information provided by afferent electrical currents to the pre-synaptic neuron. It is intended to provide a working approach to this central brain activity and begin the process of investigation based on these ideas which are new and unexplored.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roger N Rosenberg
- Department of Neurology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd, Dallas, TX 75390-9036, United States of America.
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16
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Wilson GD, Wilson TG, Hanna A, Fontanesi G, Kulchycki J, Buelow K, Pruetz BL, Michael DB, Chinnaiyan P, Maddens ME, Martinez AA, Fontanesi J. Low Dose Brain Irradiation Reduces Amyloid-β and Tau in 3xTg-AD Mice. J Alzheimers Dis 2021; 75:15-21. [PMID: 32280098 DOI: 10.3233/jad-200030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
We have previously reported that low doses of external beam ionizing irradiation reduced amyloid-β (Aβ) plaques and improved cognition in APP/PS1 mice. In this study we investigated the effects of radiation in an age-matched series of 3xTg-AD mice. Mice were hemibrain-irradiated with 5 fractions of 2 Gy and sacrificed 8 weeks after the end of treatment. Aβ and tau were assessed using immunohistochemistry and quantified using image analysis with Definiens Tissue Studio. We observed a significant reduction in Aβ plaque burden and tau staining; these two parameters were significantly correlated. This preliminary data is further support that low doses of radiation may be beneficial in Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- George D Wilson
- Radiation Oncology Department, Beaumont Health, Royal Oak, MI, USA
| | - Thomas G Wilson
- Radiation Oncology Department, Beaumont Health, Royal Oak, MI, USA
| | - Alaa Hanna
- Radiation Oncology Department, Beaumont Health, Royal Oak, MI, USA
| | | | - Justin Kulchycki
- Radiation Oncology Department, Beaumont Health, Royal Oak, MI, USA
| | - Katie Buelow
- Radiation Oncology Department, Beaumont Health, Royal Oak, MI, USA
| | | | - Daniel B Michael
- Michigan Head and Spine Institute, Southfield, MI, USA.,Department of Neurosurgery, Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine, Royal Oak, MI, USA
| | | | - Michael E Maddens
- Department of Internal Medicine, Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine, Royal Oak, MI, USA
| | - Alvaro A Martinez
- Radiation Oncology Institute, Division of Michigan Healthcare Professionals, Farmington Hills, MI, USA
| | - James Fontanesi
- Radiation Oncology Department, Beaumont Health, Royal Oak, MI, USA.,Department of Neurosurgery, Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine, Royal Oak, MI, USA
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17
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Gut microbial involvement in Alzheimer's disease pathogenesis. Aging (Albany NY) 2021; 13:13359-13371. [PMID: 33971619 PMCID: PMC8148443 DOI: 10.18632/aging.202994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2020] [Accepted: 03/27/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a chronic, progressive neurodegenerative disease characterized by memory loss, inability to carry out everyday daily life, and noticeable behavioral changes. The essential neuropathologic criteria for an AD diagnosis are extracellular β-amyloid deposition and intracellular accumulation of hyperphosphorylated tau. However, the exact pathogenic mechanisms underlying AD remain elusive, and current treatment options show only limited success. New research indicates that the gut microbiota contributes to AD development and progression by accelerating neuroinflammation, promoting senile plaque formation, and modifying neurotransmitter production. This review highlights laboratory and clinical evidence for the pathogenic role of gut dysbiosis on AD and provides potential cues for improved AD diagnostic criteria and therapeutic interventions based on the gut microbiota.
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18
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Saber M, Murphy SM, Cho Y, Lifshitz J, Rowe RK. Experimental diffuse brain injury and a model of Alzheimer's disease exhibit disease-specific changes in sleep and incongruous peripheral inflammation. J Neurosci Res 2021; 99:1136-1160. [PMID: 33319441 PMCID: PMC7897258 DOI: 10.1002/jnr.24771] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2020] [Revised: 11/18/2020] [Accepted: 11/24/2020] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Elderly populations (≥65 years old) have the highest risk of developing Alzheimer's disease (AD) and/or obtaining a traumatic brain injury (TBI). Using translational mouse models, we investigated sleep disturbances and inflammation associated with normal aging, TBI and aging, and AD. We hypothesized that aging results in marked changes in sleep compared with adult mice, and that TBI and aging would result in sleep and inflammation levels similar to AD mice. We used female 16-month-old wild-type (WT Aged) and 3xTg-AD mice, as well as a 2-month-old reference group (WT Adult), to evaluate sleep changes. WT Aged mice received diffuse TBI by midline fluid percussion, and blood was collected from both WT Aged (pre- and post-TBI) and 3xTg-AD mice to evaluate inflammation. Cognitive behavior was tested, and tissue was collected for histology. Bayesian generalized additive and mixed-effects models were used for analyses. Both normal aging and AD led to increases in sleep compared with adult mice. WT Aged mice with TBI slept substantially more, with fragmented shorter bouts, than they did pre-TBI and compared with AD mice. However, differences between WT Aged and 3xTg-AD mice in immune cell populations and plasma cytokine levels were incongruous, cognitive deficits were similar, and cumulative sleep was not predictive of inflammation or behavior for either group. Our results suggest that in similarly aged individuals, TBI immediately induces more profound sleep alterations than in AD, although both diseases likely include cognitive impairments. Unique pathological sleep pathways may exist in elderly individuals who incur TBI compared with similarly aged individuals who have AD, which may warrant disease-specific treatments in clinical settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maha Saber
- BARROW Neurological Institute at Phoenix Children’s Hospital, Phoenix, AZ
- Department of Child Health, University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix, Phoenix, AZ
| | - Sean M. Murphy
- Department of Child Health, University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix, Phoenix, AZ
| | - Yerin Cho
- BARROW Neurological Institute at Phoenix Children’s Hospital, Phoenix, AZ
- Department of Child Health, University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix, Phoenix, AZ
| | - Jonathan Lifshitz
- BARROW Neurological Institute at Phoenix Children’s Hospital, Phoenix, AZ
- Department of Child Health, University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix, Phoenix, AZ
- Phoenix Veteran Affairs Health Care System, Phoenix, AZ
| | - Rachel K. Rowe
- BARROW Neurological Institute at Phoenix Children’s Hospital, Phoenix, AZ
- Department of Child Health, University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix, Phoenix, AZ
- Phoenix Veteran Affairs Health Care System, Phoenix, AZ
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19
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Dennison JL, Ricciardi NR, Lohse I, Volmar CH, Wahlestedt C. Sexual Dimorphism in the 3xTg-AD Mouse Model and Its Impact on Pre-Clinical Research. J Alzheimers Dis 2021; 80:41-52. [PMID: 33459720 PMCID: PMC8075398 DOI: 10.3233/jad-201014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Female sex is a leading risk factor for developing Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Sexual dimorphism in AD is gaining attention as clinical data show that women are not only more likely to develop AD but also to experience worse pathology and faster cognitive decline. Pre-clinical AD research in animal models often neglects to address sexual dimorphism in evaluation of behavioral or molecular characteristics and outcomes. This can compromise its translation to a clinical setting. The triple-transgenic AD mouse model (3xTg-AD) is a commonly used but unique AD model because it exhibits both amyloid and tau pathology, essential features of the human AD phenotype. Mounting evidence has revealed important sexually dimorphic characteristics of this animal model that have yet to be reviewed and thus, are often overlooked in studies using the 3xTg-AD model. In this review we conduct a thorough analysis of reports of sexual dimorphism in the 3xTg-AD model including findings of molecular, behavioral, and longevity-related sex differences in original research articles through August 2020. Importantly, we find results to be inconsistent, and that strain source and differing methodologies are major contributors to lack of consensus regarding traits of each sex. We first touch on the nature of sexual dimorphism in clinical AD, followed by a brief summary of sexual dimorphism in other major AD murine models before discussing the 3xTg-AD model in depth. We conclude by offering four suggestions to help unify pre-clinical mouse model AD research inspired by the NIH expectations for considering sex as a biological variable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica L Dennison
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA.,Center for Therapeutic Innovation, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Natalie R Ricciardi
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA.,Center for Therapeutic Innovation, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Ines Lohse
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA.,Center for Therapeutic Innovation, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Claude-Henry Volmar
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA.,Center for Therapeutic Innovation, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Claes Wahlestedt
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA.,Center for Therapeutic Innovation, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
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20
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Akbor MM, Kurosawa N, Nakayama H, Nakatani A, Tomobe K, Chiba Y, Ueno M, Tanaka M, Nomura Y, Isobe M. Polymorphic SERPINA3 prolongs oligomeric state of amyloid beta. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0248027. [PMID: 33662018 PMCID: PMC7932536 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0248027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2020] [Accepted: 02/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Molecular chaperon SERPINA3 colocalizes with accumulated amyloid peptide in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) patient’s brain. From the QTL analysis, we narrowed down Serpina3 with two SNPs in senescence-accelerated mouse prone (SAMP) 8 strain. Our study showed SAMP8 type Serpina3 prolonged retention of oligomeric Aβ 42 for longer duration (72 hr) while observing under transmission electron microscope (TEM). From Western blot results, we confirmed presence of Aβ 42 oligomeric forms (trimers, tetramers) were maintained for longer duration only in the presences of SAMP8 type Serpina3. Using SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cell line, we observed until 36 hr preincubated Aβ 42 with SAMP8 type Serpina3 caused neuronal cell death compared to 12 hr preincubated Aβ 42 with SAMR1 or JF1 type Serpina3 proteins. Similar results were found by extending this study to analyze the effect of polymorphism of SERPINA3 gene of the Japanese SNP database for geriatric research (JG-SNP). We observed that polymorphic SERPINA3 I308T (rs142398813) prolonged toxic oligomeric Aβ 42 forms till 48 hr in comparison to the presence wild type SERPINA3 protein, resulting neuronal cell death. From this study, we first clarified pathogenic regulatory role of polymorphic SERPINA3 in neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maruf Mohammad Akbor
- Department of Life Sciences and Bioengineering, Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Engineering, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan
| | - Nobuyuki Kurosawa
- Department of Life Sciences and Bioengineering, Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Engineering, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan
| | - Hiroki Nakayama
- Department of Life Sciences and Bioengineering, Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Engineering, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan
| | - Ayumi Nakatani
- Department of Life Sciences and Bioengineering, Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Engineering, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan
| | - Koji Tomobe
- Department of Pathophysiology, Yokohama University of Pharmacy, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Yoichi Chiba
- Department of Pathology and Host Defense, Faculty of Medicine, Kagawa University, Miki-cho, Kita-gun, Kagawa, Japan
| | - Masaki Ueno
- Department of Pathology and Host Defense, Faculty of Medicine, Kagawa University, Miki-cho, Kita-gun, Kagawa, Japan
| | - Masashi Tanaka
- Department for Health and Longevity Research, National Institutes of Biomedical Innovation, Health and Nutrition, Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yasuyuki Nomura
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Kurume University, Kurume, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Masaharu Isobe
- Department of Life Sciences and Bioengineering, Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Engineering, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan
- * E-mail:
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21
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Rosenberg RN, Lambracht-Washington D. Active Immunotherapy to Prevent Alzheimer Disease-A DNA Amyloid β 1-42 Trimer Vaccine. JAMA Neurol 2021; 77:289-290. [PMID: 31816028 DOI: 10.1001/jamaneurol.2019.4182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Roger N Rosenberg
- Department of Neurology and Neurotherapeutics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas
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22
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Kabir MT, Uddin MS, Mathew B, Das PK, Perveen A, Ashraf GM. Emerging Promise of Immunotherapy for Alzheimer's Disease: A New Hope for the Development of Alzheimer's Vaccine. Curr Top Med Chem 2021; 20:1214-1234. [PMID: 32321405 DOI: 10.2174/1568026620666200422105156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2020] [Revised: 03/13/2020] [Accepted: 03/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a chronic neurodegenerative disorder and the characteristics of this devastating disorder include the progressive and disabling deficits in the cognitive functions including reasoning, attention, judgment, comprehension, memory, and language. OBJECTIVE In this article, we have focused on the recent progress that has been achieved in the development of an effective AD vaccine. SUMMARY Currently, available treatment options of AD are limited to deliver short-term symptomatic relief only. A number of strategies targeting amyloid-beta (Aβ) have been developed in order to treat or prevent AD. In order to exert an effective immune response, an AD vaccine should contain adjuvants that can induce an effective anti-inflammatory T helper 2 (Th2) immune response. AD vaccines should also possess the immunogens which have the capacity to stimulate a protective immune response against various cytotoxic Aβ conformers. The induction of an effective vaccine's immune response would necessitate the parallel delivery of immunogen to dendritic cells (DCs) and their priming to stimulate a Th2-polarized response. The aforesaid immune response is likely to mediate the generation of neutralizing antibodies against the neurotoxic Aβ oligomers (AβOs) and also anti-inflammatory cytokines, thus preventing the AD-related inflammation. CONCLUSION Since there is an age-related decline in the immune functions, therefore vaccines are more likely to prevent AD instead of providing treatment. AD vaccines might be an effective and convenient approach to avoid the treatment-related huge expense.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Md Sahab Uddin
- Department of Pharmacy, Southeast University, Dhaka, Bangladesh.,Pharmakon Neuroscience Research Network, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Bijo Mathew
- Division of Drug Design and Medicinal Chemistry Research Lab, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Ahalia School of Pharmacy, Palakkad, India
| | | | - Asma Perveen
- Glocal School of Life Sciences, Glocal University, Saharanpur, India
| | - Ghulam Md Ashraf
- King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.,Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
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23
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Lambracht-Washington D, Fu M, Hynan LS, Rosenberg RN. Changes in the brain transcriptome after DNA Aβ42 trimer immunization in a 3xTg-AD mouse model. Neurobiol Dis 2021; 148:105221. [PMID: 33316368 PMCID: PMC7845550 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2020.105221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2020] [Revised: 11/23/2020] [Accepted: 12/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) has been associated with accumulation of amyloid beta (Aβ) peptides in brain, and immunotherapy targeting Aβ provides potential for AD prevention. We have used a DNA Aβ42 trimer construct for immunization of 3xTg-AD mice and found previously significant reduction of amyloid and tau pathology due to the immunotherapy. We show here that DNA Aβ42 immunized 3xTg-AD mice showed better performance in nest building activities and had a higher 24 months survival rate compared to the non-treated AD controls. The analysis of differently expressed genes in brains from 24 months old mice showed significant increases transcript levels between non-immunized AD mice and wild-type controls for genes involved in microglia and astrocyte function, cytokine and inflammatory signaling, apoptosis, the innate and adaptive immune response and are consistent with an inflammatory phenotype in AD. Most of these upregulated genes were downregulated in the DNA Aβ42 immunized 3xTg-AD mice due to the vaccine. Transcript numbers for the immediate early genes, Arc, Bdnf, Homer1, Egr1 and cfos, involved in neuronal and neurotransmission pathways which were much lower in the non-immunized 3xTg-AD mice, were restored to wild-type mouse brain levels in DNA Aβ42 immunized 3xTg-AD mice indicating positive effects of DNA Aβ42 immunotherapy on synapse stability and plasticity. The immune response after immunization is complex, but the multitude of changes after DNA Aβ42 immunization shows that this response moves beyond the amyloid hypothesis and into direction of disease prevention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Doris Lambracht-Washington
- Department of Neurology, UT Southwestern Medical Center Dallas, USA; Doris Lambracht Washington, UT Southwestern Medical Center Dallas, Department of Neurology , 5323 Harry Hines Blvd, Dallas, TX 75390-8813, USA.
| | - Min Fu
- Department of Neurology, UT Southwestern Medical Center Dallas, USA.
| | - Linda S Hynan
- Departments of Population and Data Sciences (Biostatistics) & Psychiatry, UT Southwestern Medical Center Dallas, USA.
| | - Roger N Rosenberg
- Department of Neurology, UT Southwestern Medical Center Dallas, USA.
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24
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Borsom EM, Lee K, Cope EK. Do the Bugs in Your Gut Eat Your Memories? Relationship between Gut Microbiota and Alzheimer's Disease. Brain Sci 2020; 10:E814. [PMID: 33153085 PMCID: PMC7693835 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci10110814] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2020] [Revised: 10/29/2020] [Accepted: 10/31/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The human microbiota is composed of trillions of microbial cells inhabiting the oral cavity, skin, gastrointestinal (GI) tract, airways, and reproductive organs. The gut microbiota is composed of dynamic communities of microorganisms that communicate bidirectionally with the brain via cytokines, neurotransmitters, hormones, and secondary metabolites, known as the gut microbiota-brain axis. The gut microbiota-brain axis is suspected to be involved in the development of neurological diseases, including Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease, and Autism Spectrum Disorder. AD is an irreversible, neurodegenerative disease of the central nervous system (CNS), characterized by amyloid-β plaques, neurofibrillary tangles, and neuroinflammation. Microglia and astrocytes, the resident immune cells of the CNS, play an integral role in AD development, as neuroinflammation is a driving factor of disease severity. The gut microbiota-brain axis is a novel target for Alzheimer's disease therapeutics to modulate critical neuroimmune and metabolic pathways. Potential therapeutics include probiotics, prebiotics, fecal microbiota transplantation, and dietary intervention. This review summarizes our current understanding of the role of the gut microbiota-brain axis and neuroinflammation in the onset and development of Alzheimer's disease, limitations of current research, and potential for gut microbiota-brain axis targeted therapies.
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25
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Roda AR, Montoliu-Gaya L, Serra-Mir G, Villegas S. Both Amyloid-β Peptide and Tau Protein Are Affected by an Anti-Amyloid-β Antibody Fragment in Elderly 3xTg-AD Mice. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E6630. [PMID: 32927795 PMCID: PMC7554787 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21186630] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2020] [Revised: 09/02/2020] [Accepted: 09/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common dementia worldwide. According to the amyloid hypothesis, the early accumulation of the Aβ-peptide triggers tau phosphorylation, synaptic dysfunction, and eventually neuronal death leading to cognitive impairment, as well as behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia. ScFv-h3D6 is a single-chain variable fragment that has already shown its ability to diminish the amyloid burden in 5-month-old 3xTg-AD mice. However, tau pathology is not evident at this early stage of the disease in this mouse model. In this study, the effects of scFv-h3D6 on Aβ and tau pathologies have been assessed in 22-month-old 3xTg-AD mice. Briefly, 3xTg-AD female mice were treated for 2 weeks with scFv-h3D6 and compared with 3xTg-AD and non-transgenic (NTg) mice treated with PBS. The treatment with scFv-h3D6 was unequivocally effective in reducing the area of Aβ staining. Furthermore, a tendency for a reduction in tau levels was also observed after treatment that points to the interplay between Aβ and tau pathologies. The pro-inflammatory state observed in the 3xTg-AD mice did not progress after scFv-h3D6 treatment. In addition, the treatment did not alter the levels of apolipoprotein E or apolipoprotein J. Thus, a 2-week treatment with scFv-h3D6 was able to reduce AD-like pathology in elderly 3xTg-AD female mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alejandro R. Roda
- Protein Design and Immunotherapy Group, Departament de Bioquímica i Biologia Molecular, Facultat de Biociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, 08193 Barcelona, Spain; (A.R.R.); (L.M.-G.); (G.S.-M.)
| | - Laia Montoliu-Gaya
- Protein Design and Immunotherapy Group, Departament de Bioquímica i Biologia Molecular, Facultat de Biociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, 08193 Barcelona, Spain; (A.R.R.); (L.M.-G.); (G.S.-M.)
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, The Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, 431 41 Mölndal, Sweden
| | - Gabriel Serra-Mir
- Protein Design and Immunotherapy Group, Departament de Bioquímica i Biologia Molecular, Facultat de Biociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, 08193 Barcelona, Spain; (A.R.R.); (L.M.-G.); (G.S.-M.)
| | - Sandra Villegas
- Protein Design and Immunotherapy Group, Departament de Bioquímica i Biologia Molecular, Facultat de Biociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, 08193 Barcelona, Spain; (A.R.R.); (L.M.-G.); (G.S.-M.)
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26
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Busche MA, Hyman BT. Synergy between amyloid-β and tau in Alzheimer's disease. Nat Neurosci 2020; 23:1183-1193. [PMID: 32778792 DOI: 10.1038/s41593-020-0687-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 515] [Impact Index Per Article: 128.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2019] [Accepted: 07/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) present with both extracellular amyloid-β (Aβ) plaques and intracellular tau-containing neurofibrillary tangles in the brain. For many years, the prevailing view of AD pathogenesis has been that changes in Aβ precipitate the disease process and initiate a deleterious cascade involving tau pathology and neurodegeneration. Beyond this 'triggering' function, it has been typically presumed that Aβ and tau act independently and in the absence of specific interaction. However, accumulating evidence now suggests otherwise and contends that both pathologies have synergistic effects. This could not only help explain negative results from anti-Aβ clinical trials but also suggest that trials directed solely at tau may need to be reconsidered. Here, drawing from extensive human and disease model data, we highlight the latest evidence base pertaining to the complex Aβ-tau interaction and underscore its crucial importance to elucidating disease pathogenesis and the design of next-generation AD therapeutic trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc Aurel Busche
- UK Dementia Research Institute at UCL, University College London, London, UK.
| | - Bradley T Hyman
- MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA
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The role of interleukin-33 in patients with mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease. ALZHEIMERS RESEARCH & THERAPY 2020; 12:86. [PMID: 32678011 PMCID: PMC7367330 DOI: 10.1186/s13195-020-00652-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2020] [Accepted: 07/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The neuroprotective role of interleukin (IL)-33 is supported by numerous preclinical studies, but it remains uninvestigated in clinical studies of Alzheimer's disease (AD). We aimed to examine the association between human blood levels of IL-33 and cognitive preservation in amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) and AD. METHODS A total of 100 participants (26 controls, 35 aMCI patients, and 39 AD patients) completed two Mini-Mental State Examinations (MMSEs) over a 1-year interval. In all 100 participants at the second MMSE, we examined the plasma levels of IL-33, IL-β, IL-1 receptor agonist (IL-1RA), beta amyloid (Aβ), and tau and apolipoprotein E (ApoE) genotyping; we also performed Hopkins Verbal Learning Test, Trail Making Test, forward and backward digit span, and Clinical Dementia Rating. RESULTS IL-33 expression showed a positive trend among controls (1/26 = 3.8%), aMCI (9/35 = 25.7%), and AD (17/39 = 43.6%) (trend analysis: P < 0.001). Patients expressing IL-33 preserved their cognitive function compared with IL-33 non-expressing patients (1-year ΔMMSE, 0.16 ± 1.6 vs - 1.5 ± 2.6; P = 0.006). The cognitive preservation was not associated with the lower levels of Aβ, tau, and ApoE ε4, while higher levels of ApoE ε4 and phosphorylated tau were indeed associated with cognitive decline. The aMCI patients with AD conversion during study period had higher proportion of IL-33(-) than non-AD converters (90.9% vs 53.3%, P = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS IL-33 or its associated signaling pathways may represent a new treatment paradigm for aMCI and AD.
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Kwan P, Konno H, Chan KY, Baum L. Rationale for the development of an Alzheimer's disease vaccine. Hum Vaccin Immunother 2020; 16:645-653. [PMID: 31526227 PMCID: PMC7227628 DOI: 10.1080/21645515.2019.1665453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2019] [Revised: 08/13/2019] [Accepted: 09/02/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Vaccination traditionally has targeted infectious agents and thus has not heretofore been used to prevent neurodegenerative illness. However, amyloid β (Aβ) or tau, which can act like infectious proteins, or prions, might induce Alzheimer's disease (AD). Furthermore, evidence suggests that traditional infectious agents, including certain viruses and bacteria, may trigger AD. It is therefore worth exploring whether removing such targets could prevent AD. Although failing to treat AD patients who already display cognitive impairment, Aβ monoclonal antibodies are being tested in pre-symptomatic, at-risk individuals to prevent dementia. These antibodies might become the first AD therapeutics. However, their high cost will keep them out of the arms of the vast majority of patients, who increasingly live in developing countries. Because vaccines produce antibodies internally at much lower cost, vaccination might be the most promising approach to reducing the global burden of dementia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ping Kwan
- School of Pharmacy, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR, P.R. China
- Sydney School of Veterinary Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Haruki Konno
- School of Pharmacy, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR, P.R. China
| | - Ka Yan Chan
- School of Pharmacy, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR, P.R. China
| | - Larry Baum
- School of Pharmacy, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR, P.R. China
- State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, P.R. China
- Center for Genomic Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, P.R. China
- Department of Psychiatry, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, P.R. China
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Abstract
Introduction: Alzheimer's disease (AD) vaccination is one of the last therapeutic options after two decades of stagnation in terms of drug development. About 140 (85%) immunization procedures against Aβ deposition and 25 (15%) against Tau have been reported, but no Food and Drug Administration approval of any AD vaccine has been achieved. This might be attributed to deficient pathogenic targets, inappropriate models, defective immunotherapeutic procedures, and inadequate clinical trial design.Areas covered: The issues covered include the following: AD pathogenic mechanisms, rationale for active and passive immunization, vaccine targets, anti-Aβ/Tau vaccines, vaccine technologies, animal models, and clinical trials.Expert opinion: A vaccine against AD is technically feasible; however, important methodological aspects should be changed for a tentative clinical success, including (i) the development of multitarget AD immunotherapies; (ii) the optimization of antibody titers and epitopes; (iii) the pharmacogenetic/pharmacoepigenetic validation of the immunization procedure; (iv) the prophylactic treatment of genetically stratified patients at a pre-symptomatic stage; and (v) the definition of primary endpoints in prevention, based on objective/multifactorial biomarkers. Even with exquisite protocols, a successful vaccine would be potentially useful in at most 20-30% of defined cases, according to the genetic, epigenetic, and pharmacogenetic background of AD patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ramón Cacabelos
- EuroEspes Biomedical Research Center, International Center of Neuroscience and Genomic Medicine, Corunna, Spain
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30
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Marciani DJ. Promising Results from Alzheimer's Disease Passive Immunotherapy Support the Development of a Preventive Vaccine. RESEARCH 2019; 2019:5341375. [PMID: 31549066 PMCID: PMC6750119 DOI: 10.34133/2019/5341375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2018] [Accepted: 04/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
The apparently near-term effects of the monoclonal antibody BAN2401 in slowing the progression of prodromal Alzheimer's disease (AD) has created cautious optimism about the therapeutic use of antibodies that neutralize cytotoxic soluble amyloid-β aggregates, rather than removing plaque. Plaque being protective, as it immobilizes cytotoxic amyloid-β, rather than AD's causative agent. The presence of natural antibodies against cytotoxic amyloid-β implies the existence of a protective anti-AD immunity. Hence, for vaccines to induce a similar immunoresponse that prevents and/or delays the onset of AD, they must have adjuvants that stimulate a sole anti-inflammatory Th2 immunity, plus immunogens that induce a protective immunoresponse against diverse cytotoxic amyloid-β conformers. Indeed, amyloid-β pleomorphism may explain the lack of long-term protection by monoclonal antibodies that neutralize single conformers, like aducanumab. A situation that would allow new cytotoxic conformers to escape neutralization by previously effective monoclonal antibodies. Stimulation of a vaccine's effective immunoresponse would require the concurrent delivery of immunogen to dendritic cells and their priming, to induce a polarized Th2 immunity. An immunoresponse that would produce besides neutralizing antibodies against neurotoxic amyloid-β oligomers, anti-inflammatory cytokines; preventing inflammation that aggravates AD. Because of age-linked immune decline, vaccines would be significantly more effective in preventing, rather than treating AD. Considering the amyloid-β's role in tau's pathological hyperphosphorylation and their synergism in AD, the development of preventive vaccines against both amyloid-β and tau should be considered. Due to convenience and cost, vaccines may be the only option available to many countries to forestall the impending AD epidemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- D J Marciani
- Qantu Therapeutics, Inc., 612 E. Main Street, Lewisville, TX 75057, USA
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31
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Martinelli AHS, Lopes FC, John EBO, Carlini CR, Ligabue-Braun R. Modulation of Disordered Proteins with a Focus on Neurodegenerative Diseases and Other Pathologies. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20061322. [PMID: 30875980 PMCID: PMC6471803 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20061322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2018] [Revised: 02/03/2019] [Accepted: 02/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) do not have rigid 3D structures, showing changes in their folding depending on the environment or ligands. Intrinsically disordered proteins are widely spread in eukaryotic genomes, and these proteins participate in many cell regulatory metabolism processes. Some IDPs, when aberrantly folded, can be the cause of some diseases such as Alzheimer′s, Parkinson′s, and prionic, among others. In these diseases, there are modifications in parts of the protein or in its entirety. A common conformational variation of these IDPs is misfolding and aggregation, forming, for instance, neurotoxic amyloid plaques. In this review, we discuss some IDPs that are involved in neurodegenerative diseases (such as beta amyloid, alpha synuclein, tau, and the “IDP-like” PrP), cancer (p53, c-Myc), and diabetes (amylin), focusing on the structural changes of these IDPs that are linked to such pathologies. We also present the IDP modulation mechanisms that can be explored in new strategies for drug design. Lastly, we show some candidate drugs that can be used in the future for the treatment of diseases caused by misfolded IDPs, considering that cancer therapy has more advanced research in comparison to other diseases, while also discussing recent and future developments in this area of research. Therefore, we aim to provide support to the study of IDPs and their modulation mechanisms as promising approaches to combat such severe diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne H S Martinelli
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology & Department of Biophysics, Biosciences Institute-IB, (UFRGS), Porto Alegre CEP 91501-970, RS, Brazil.
| | - Fernanda C Lopes
- Center for Biotechnology, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre CEP 91501-970, RS, Brazil.
- Graduate Program in Cell and Molecular Biology, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre CEP 91501-970, RS, Brazil.
| | - Elisa B O John
- Center for Biotechnology, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre CEP 91501-970, RS, Brazil.
- Graduate Program in Cell and Molecular Biology, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre CEP 91501-970, RS, Brazil.
| | - Célia R Carlini
- Graduate Program in Cell and Molecular Biology, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre CEP 91501-970, RS, Brazil.
- Graduate Program in Medicine and Health Sciences, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), Porto Alegre CEP 91410-000, RS, Brazil.
- Brain Institute-InsCer, Laboratory of Neurotoxins, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), Porto Alegre CEP 90610-000, RS, Brazil.
| | - Rodrigo Ligabue-Braun
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre (UFCSPA), Porto Alegre CEP 90050-170, RS, Brazil.
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