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King D, Holt K, Toombs J, He X, Dando O, Okely JA, Tzioras M, Rose J, Gunn C, Correia A, Montero C, McAlister H, Tulloch J, Lamont D, Taylor AM, Harris SE, Redmond P, Cox SR, Henstridge CM, Deary IJ, Smith C, Spires-Jones TL. Synaptic resilience is associated with maintained cognition during ageing. Alzheimers Dement 2023; 19:2560-2574. [PMID: 36547260 DOI: 10.1002/alz.12894] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2022] [Revised: 09/01/2022] [Accepted: 09/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION It remains unclear why age increases risk of Alzheimer's disease and why some people experience age-related cognitive decline in the absence of dementia. Here we test the hypothesis that resilience to molecular changes in synapses contribute to healthy cognitive ageing. METHODS We examined post-mortem brain tissue from people in mid-life (n = 15), healthy ageing with either maintained cognition (n = 9) or lifetime cognitive decline (n = 8), and Alzheimer's disease (n = 13). Synapses were examined with high resolution imaging, proteomics, and RNA sequencing. Stem cell-derived neurons were challenged with Alzheimer's brain homogenate. RESULTS Synaptic pathology increased, and expression of genes involved in synaptic signaling decreased between mid-life, healthy ageing and Alzheimer's. In contrast, brain tissue and neurons from people with maintained cognition during ageing exhibited decreases in synaptic signaling genes compared to people with cognitive decline. DISCUSSION Efficient synaptic networks without pathological protein accumulation may contribute to maintained cognition during ageing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Declan King
- UK Dementia Research Institute and Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences at the University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Kris Holt
- UK Dementia Research Institute and Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences at the University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Jamie Toombs
- UK Dementia Research Institute and Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences at the University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Xin He
- UK Dementia Research Institute and Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences at the University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Owen Dando
- UK Dementia Research Institute and Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences at the University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Judith A Okely
- Lothian Birth Cohorts, Department of Psychology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Makis Tzioras
- UK Dementia Research Institute and Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences at the University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Jamie Rose
- UK Dementia Research Institute and Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences at the University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Ciaran Gunn
- UK Dementia Research Institute and Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences at the University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Adele Correia
- UK Dementia Research Institute and Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences at the University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Carmen Montero
- UK Dementia Research Institute and Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences at the University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Hannah McAlister
- UK Dementia Research Institute and Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences at the University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Jane Tulloch
- UK Dementia Research Institute and Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences at the University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Douglas Lamont
- FingerPrints Proteomics Facility, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK
| | - Adele M Taylor
- Lothian Birth Cohorts, Department of Psychology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Sarah E Harris
- Lothian Birth Cohorts, Department of Psychology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Paul Redmond
- Lothian Birth Cohorts, Department of Psychology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Simon R Cox
- Lothian Birth Cohorts, Department of Psychology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | | | - Ian J Deary
- Lothian Birth Cohorts, Department of Psychology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Colin Smith
- Neuropathology, Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Tara L Spires-Jones
- UK Dementia Research Institute and Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences at the University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
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2
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Saunders TS, Pozzolo FE, Heslegrave A, King D, McGeachan RI, Spires-Jones MP, Harris SE, Ritchie C, Muniz-Terrera G, Deary IJ, Cox SR, Zetterberg H, Spires-Jones TL. Predictive blood biomarkers and brain changes associated with age-related cognitive decline. Brain Commun 2023; 5:fcad113. [PMID: 37180996 PMCID: PMC10167767 DOI: 10.1093/braincomms/fcad113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2022] [Revised: 12/28/2022] [Accepted: 04/05/2023] [Indexed: 04/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Growing evidence supports the use of plasma levels of tau phosphorylated at threonine 181, amyloid-β, neurofilament light and glial fibrillary acidic protein as promising biomarkers for Alzheimer's disease. While these blood biomarkers are promising for distinguishing people with Alzheimer's disease from healthy controls, their predictive validity for age-related cognitive decline without dementia remains unclear. Further, while tau phosphorylated at threonine 181 is a promising biomarker, the distribution of this phospho-epitope of tau in the brain is unknown. Here, we tested whether plasma levels of tau phosphorylated at threonine 181, amyloid-β, neurofilament light and fibrillary acidic protein predict cognitive decline between ages 72 and 82 in 195 participants in the Lothian birth cohorts 1936 study of cognitive ageing. We further examined post-mortem brain samples from temporal cortex to determine the distribution of tau phosphorylated at threonine 181 in the brain. Several forms of tau phosphorylated at threonine 181 have been shown to contribute to synapse degeneration in Alzheimer's disease, which correlates closely with cognitive decline in this form of dementia, but to date, there have not been investigations of whether tau phosphorylated at threonine 181 is found in synapses in Alzheimer's disease or healthy ageing brain. It was also previously unclear whether tau phosphorylated at threonine 181 accumulated in dystrophic neurites around plaques, which could contribute to tau leakage to the periphery due to impaired membrane integrity in dystrophies. Brain homogenate and biochemically enriched synaptic fractions were examined with western blot to examine tau phosphorylated at threonine 181 levels between groups (n = 10-12 per group), and synaptic and astrocytic localization of tau phosphorylated at threonine 181 were examined using array tomography (n = 6-15 per group), and localization of tau phosphorylated at threonine 181 in plaque-associated dystrophic neurites with associated gliosis were examined with standard immunofluorescence (n = 8-9 per group). Elevated baseline plasma tau phosphorylated at threonine 181, neurofilament light and fibrillary acidic protein predicted steeper general cognitive decline during ageing. Further, increasing tau phosphorylated at threonine 181 over time predicted general cognitive decline in females only. Change in plasma tau phosphorylated at threonine 181 remained a significant predictor of g factor decline when taking into account Alzheimer's disease polygenic risk score, indicating that the increase of blood tau phosphorylated at threonine 181 in this cohort was not only due to incipient Alzheimer's disease. Tau phosphorylated at threonine 181 was observed in synapses and astrocytes in both healthy ageing and Alzheimer's disease brain. We observed that a significantly higher proportion of synapses contain tau phosphorylated at threonine 181 in Alzheimer's disease relative to aged controls. Aged controls with pre-morbid lifetime cognitive resilience had significantly more tau phosphorylated at threonine 181 in fibrillary acidic protein-positive astrocytes than those with pre-morbid lifetime cognitive decline. Further, tau phosphorylated at threonine 181 was found in dystrophic neurites around plaques and in some neurofibrillary tangles. The presence of tau phosphorylated at threonine 181 in plaque-associated dystrophies may be a source of leakage of tau out of neurons that eventually enters the blood. Together, these data indicate that plasma tau phosphorylated at threonine 181, neurofilament light and fibrillary acidic protein may be useful biomarkers of age-related cognitive decline, and that efficient clearance of tau phosphorylated at threonine 181 by astrocytes may promote cognitive resilience.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tyler S Saunders
- UK Dementia Research Institute and Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences at the University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH8 9JZ, UK
- Edinburgh Dementia Prevention & Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH4 2XU, UK
| | - Francesca E Pozzolo
- UK Dementia Research Institute and Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences at the University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH8 9JZ, UK
| | - Amanda Heslegrave
- United Kingdom UK Dementia Research Institute at University College London, UCL Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London, WC1N 3BG, UK
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London, WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Declan King
- UK Dementia Research Institute and Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences at the University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH8 9JZ, UK
| | - Robert I McGeachan
- UK Dementia Research Institute and Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences at the University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH8 9JZ, UK
| | - Maxwell P Spires-Jones
- UK Dementia Research Institute and Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences at the University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH8 9JZ, UK
| | - Sarah E Harris
- Lothian Birth Cohort studies, Department of Psychology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH8 9AD, UK
| | - Craig Ritchie
- Edinburgh Dementia Prevention & Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH4 2XU, UK
| | - Graciela Muniz-Terrera
- Edinburgh Dementia Prevention & Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH4 2XU, UK
- Department of Social Medicine, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio 45701, USA
- Latin American Institute for Brain Health (BrainLat), Universidad Adolfo Ibanez, Santiago 3485, Chile
| | - Ian J Deary
- Lothian Birth Cohort studies, Department of Psychology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH8 9AD, UK
| | - Simon R Cox
- Lothian Birth Cohort studies, Department of Psychology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH8 9AD, UK
| | - Henrik Zetterberg
- United Kingdom UK Dementia Research Institute at University College London, UCL Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London, WC1N 3BG, UK
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London, WC1N 3BG, UK
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, S-431 80 Molndal, Sweden
- Clinical Neurochemistry Laboratory, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, S-431 80 Molndal, Sweden
- Hong Kong Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong, China
| | - Tara L Spires-Jones
- UK Dementia Research Institute and Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences at the University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH8 9JZ, UK
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Insausti R, Insausti AM, Muñoz López M, Medina Lorenzo I, Arroyo-Jiménez MDM, Marcos Rabal MP, de la Rosa-Prieto C, Delgado-González JC, Montón Etxeberria J, Cebada-Sánchez S, Raspeño-García JF, Iñiguez de Onzoño MM, Molina Romero FJ, Benavides-Piccione R, Tapia-González S, Wisse LEM, Ravikumar S, Wolk DA, DeFelipe J, Yushkevich P, Artacho-Pérula E. Ex vivo, in situ perfusion protocol for human brain fixation compatible with microscopy, MRI techniques, and anatomical studies. Front Neuroanat 2023; 17:1149674. [PMID: 37034833 PMCID: PMC10076536 DOI: 10.3389/fnana.2023.1149674] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 04/11/2023] Open
Abstract
We present a method for human brain fixation based on simultaneous perfusion of 4% paraformaldehyde through carotids after a flush with saline. The left carotid cannula is used to perfuse the body with 10% formalin, to allow further use of the body for anatomical research or teaching. The aim of our method is to develop a vascular fixation protocol for the human brain, by adapting protocols that are commonly used in experimental animal studies. We show that a variety of histological procedures can be carried out (cyto- and myeloarchitectonics, histochemistry, immunohistochemistry, intracellular cell injection, and electron microscopy). In addition, ex vivo, ex situ high-resolution MRI (9.4T) can be obtained in the same specimens. This procedure resulted in similar morphological features to those obtained by intravascular perfusion in experimental animals, provided that the postmortem interval was under 10 h for several of the techniques used and under 4 h in the case of intracellular injections and electron microscopy. The use of intravascular fixation of the brain inside the skull provides a fixed whole human brain, perfectly fitted to the skull, with negligible deformation compared to conventional techniques. Given this characteristic of ex vivo, in situ fixation, this procedure can probably be considered the most suitable one available for ex vivo MRI scans of the brain. We describe the compatibility of the method proposed for intravascular fixation of the human brain and fixation of the donor's body for anatomical purposes. Thus, body donor programs can provide human brain tissue, while the remainder of the body can also be fixed for anatomical studies. Therefore, this method of human brain fixation through the carotid system optimizes the procurement of human brain tissue, allowing a greater understanding of human neurological diseases, while benefiting anatomy departments by making the remainder of the body available for teaching purposes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ricardo Insausti
- Human Neuroanatomy Laboratory, Neuromax CSIC Associated Unit, Medical Sciences Department, School of Medicine and CRIB, University of Castilla La Mancha, Albacete, Spain
| | - Ana María Insausti
- Department of Health, School of Medicine, Public University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Mónica Muñoz López
- Human Neuroanatomy Laboratory, Neuromax CSIC Associated Unit, Medical Sciences Department, School of Medicine and CRIB, University of Castilla La Mancha, Albacete, Spain
| | - Isidro Medina Lorenzo
- Human Neuroanatomy Laboratory, Neuromax CSIC Associated Unit, Medical Sciences Department, School of Medicine and CRIB, University of Castilla La Mancha, Albacete, Spain
| | - Maria del Mar Arroyo-Jiménez
- Human Neuroanatomy Laboratory, Neuromax CSIC Associated Unit, Medical Sciences Department, School of Medicine and CRIB, University of Castilla La Mancha, Albacete, Spain
| | - María Pilar Marcos Rabal
- Human Neuroanatomy Laboratory, Neuromax CSIC Associated Unit, Medical Sciences Department, School of Medicine and CRIB, University of Castilla La Mancha, Albacete, Spain
| | - Carlos de la Rosa-Prieto
- Human Neuroanatomy Laboratory, Neuromax CSIC Associated Unit, Medical Sciences Department, School of Medicine and CRIB, University of Castilla La Mancha, Albacete, Spain
| | - José Carlos Delgado-González
- Human Neuroanatomy Laboratory, Neuromax CSIC Associated Unit, Medical Sciences Department, School of Medicine and CRIB, University of Castilla La Mancha, Albacete, Spain
| | - Javier Montón Etxeberria
- Human Neuroanatomy Laboratory, Neuromax CSIC Associated Unit, Medical Sciences Department, School of Medicine and CRIB, University of Castilla La Mancha, Albacete, Spain
| | - Sandra Cebada-Sánchez
- Human Neuroanatomy Laboratory, Neuromax CSIC Associated Unit, Medical Sciences Department, School of Medicine and CRIB, University of Castilla La Mancha, Albacete, Spain
| | - Juan Francisco Raspeño-García
- Human Neuroanatomy Laboratory, Neuromax CSIC Associated Unit, Medical Sciences Department, School of Medicine and CRIB, University of Castilla La Mancha, Albacete, Spain
| | - María Mercedes Iñiguez de Onzoño
- Human Neuroanatomy Laboratory, Neuromax CSIC Associated Unit, Medical Sciences Department, School of Medicine and CRIB, University of Castilla La Mancha, Albacete, Spain
| | - Francisco Javier Molina Romero
- Human Neuroanatomy Laboratory, Neuromax CSIC Associated Unit, Medical Sciences Department, School of Medicine and CRIB, University of Castilla La Mancha, Albacete, Spain
| | - Ruth Benavides-Piccione
- Laboratorio Cajal de Circuitos Corticales, Centro de Tecnología Biomédica, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, and Instituto Cajal, CSIC, Madrid, Spain
| | - Silvia Tapia-González
- Laboratorio Cajal de Circuitos Corticales, Centro de Tecnología Biomédica, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, and Instituto Cajal, CSIC, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Sadhana Ravikumar
- Department of Radiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - David A. Wolk
- Department of Neurology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Javier DeFelipe
- Laboratorio Cajal de Circuitos Corticales, Centro de Tecnología Biomédica, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, and Instituto Cajal, CSIC, Madrid, Spain
| | - Paul Yushkevich
- Department of Radiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Emilio Artacho-Pérula
- Human Neuroanatomy Laboratory, Neuromax CSIC Associated Unit, Medical Sciences Department, School of Medicine and CRIB, University of Castilla La Mancha, Albacete, Spain
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4
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Krassner MM, Kauffman J, Sowa A, Cialowicz K, Walsh S, Farrell K, Crary JF, McKenzie AT. Postmortem changes in brain cell structure: a review. FREE NEUROPATHOLOGY 2023; 4:4-10. [PMID: 37384330 PMCID: PMC10294569 DOI: 10.17879/freeneuropathology-2023-4790] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2023] [Accepted: 05/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/30/2023]
Abstract
Brain cell structure is a key determinant of neural function that is frequently altered in neurobiological disorders. Following the global loss of blood flow to the brain that initiates the postmortem interval (PMI), cells rapidly become depleted of energy and begin to decompose. To ensure that our methods for studying the brain using autopsy tissue are robust and reproducible, there is a critical need to delineate the expected changes in brain cell morphometry during the PMI. We searched multiple databases to identify studies measuring the effects of PMI on the morphometry (i.e. external dimensions) of brain cells. We screened 2119 abstracts, 361 full texts, and included 172 studies. Mechanistically, fluid shifts causing cell volume alterations and vacuolization are an early event in the PMI, while the loss of the ability to visualize cell membranes altogether is a later event. Decomposition rates are highly heterogenous and depend on the methods for visualization, the structural feature of interest, and modifying variables such as the storage temperature or the species. Geometrically, deformations of cell membranes are common early events that initiate within minutes. On the other hand, topological relationships between cellular features appear to remain intact for more extended periods. Taken together, there is an uncertain period of time, usually ranging from several hours to several days, over which cell membrane structure is progressively lost. This review may be helpful for investigators studying human postmortem brain tissue, wherein the PMI is an unavoidable aspect of the research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margaret M. Krassner
- Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
- Friedman Brain Institute, Departments of Pathology, Neuroscience and Artificial Intelligence & Human Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
- Neuropathology Brain Bank & Research Core and Ronald M. Loeb Center for Alzheimer's Disease, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Justin Kauffman
- Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
- Friedman Brain Institute, Departments of Pathology, Neuroscience and Artificial Intelligence & Human Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
- Neuropathology Brain Bank & Research Core and Ronald M. Loeb Center for Alzheimer's Disease, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Allison Sowa
- Microscopy and Advanced Bioimaging Core, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Katarzyna Cialowicz
- Microscopy and Advanced Bioimaging Core, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Samantha Walsh
- Hunter College Libraries, CUNY Hunter College, New York, NY
| | - Kurt Farrell
- Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
- Friedman Brain Institute, Departments of Pathology, Neuroscience and Artificial Intelligence & Human Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
- Neuropathology Brain Bank & Research Core and Ronald M. Loeb Center for Alzheimer's Disease, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - John F. Crary
- Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
- Friedman Brain Institute, Departments of Pathology, Neuroscience and Artificial Intelligence & Human Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
- Neuropathology Brain Bank & Research Core and Ronald M. Loeb Center for Alzheimer's Disease, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Andrew T. McKenzie
- Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
- Friedman Brain Institute, Departments of Pathology, Neuroscience and Artificial Intelligence & Human Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
- Neuropathology Brain Bank & Research Core and Ronald M. Loeb Center for Alzheimer's Disease, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
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5
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ARRAY TOMOGRAPHY: 15 YEARS OF SYNAPTIC ANALYSIS. Neuronal Signal 2022; 6:NS20220013. [PMID: 36187224 PMCID: PMC9512143 DOI: 10.1042/ns20220013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2022] [Revised: 08/31/2022] [Accepted: 09/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Synapses are minuscule, intricate structures crucial for the correct communication between neurons. In the 125 years since the term synapse was first coined, we have advanced a long way when it comes to our understanding of how they work and what they do. Most of the fundamental discoveries have been invariably linked to advances in technology. However, due to their size, delicate structural integrity and their sheer number, our knowledge of synaptic biology has remained somewhat elusive and their role in neurodegenerative diseases still remains largely unknown. Here, we briefly discuss some of the imaging technologies used to study synapses and focus on the utility of the high-resolution imaging technique array tomography (AT). We introduce the AT technique and highlight some of the ways it is utilised with a particular focus on its power for analysing synaptic composition and pathology in human post-mortem tissue. We also discuss some of the benefits and drawbacks of techniques for imaging synapses and highlight some recent advances in the study of form and function by combining physiology and high-resolution synaptic imaging.
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6
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Lan Z, Chen Y, Jin J, Xu Y, Zhu X. Long Non-coding RNA: Insight Into Mechanisms of Alzheimer's Disease. Front Mol Neurosci 2022; 14:821002. [PMID: 35095418 PMCID: PMC8795976 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2021.821002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2021] [Accepted: 12/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD), a heterogeneous neurodegenerative disorder, is the most common cause of dementia accounting for an estimated 60–80% of cases. The pathogenesis of AD remains unclear, and no curative treatment is available so far. Increasing evidence has revealed a vital role of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), especially long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), in AD. LncRNAs contribute to the pathogenesis of AD via modulating amyloid production, Tau hyperphosphorylation, mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, synaptic impairment and neuroinflammation. This review describes the biological functions and mechanisms of lncRNAs in AD, indicating that lncRNAs may provide potential therapeutic targets for the diagnosis and treatment of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhen Lan
- Department of Neurology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Clinical College of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yanting Chen
- The State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Department of Neurology, the Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Jiali Jin
- The State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Department of Neurology, the Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yun Xu
- Department of Neurology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Clinical College of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
- The State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Department of Neurology, the Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
- Institute of Brain Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Molecular Medicine, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
- Nanjing Neuropsychiatry Clinic Medical Center, Nanjing, China
| | - Xiaolei Zhu
- Department of Neurology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Clinical College of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
- The State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Department of Neurology, the Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
- Institute of Brain Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Molecular Medicine, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
- Nanjing Neuropsychiatry Clinic Medical Center, Nanjing, China
- *Correspondence: Xiaolei Zhu
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7
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Phongpreecha T, Gajera CR, Liu CC, Vijayaragavan K, Chang AL, Becker M, Fallahzadeh R, Fernandez R, Postupna N, Sherfield E, Tebaykin D, Latimer C, Shively CA, Register TC, Craft S, Montine KS, Fox EJ, Poston KL, Keene CD, Angelo M, Bendall SC, Aghaeepour N, Montine TJ. Single-synapse analyses of Alzheimer's disease implicate pathologic tau, DJ1, CD47, and ApoE. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2021; 7:eabk0473. [PMID: 34910503 PMCID: PMC8673771 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abk0473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Synaptic molecular characterization is limited for Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Our newly invented mass cytometry–based method, synaptometry by time of flight (SynTOF), was used to measure 38 antibody probes in approximately 17 million single-synapse events from human brains without pathologic change or with pure AD or Lewy body disease (LBD), nonhuman primates (NHPs), and PS/APP mice. Synaptic molecular integrity in humans and NHP was similar. Although not detected in human synapses, Aβ was in PS/APP mice single-synapse events. Clustering and pattern identification of human synapses showed expected disease-specific differences, like increased hippocampal pathologic tau in AD and reduced caudate dopamine transporter in LBD, and revealed previously unidentified findings including increased hippocampal CD47 and lowered DJ1 in AD and higher ApoE in AD with dementia. Our results were independently supported by multiplex ion beam imaging of intact tissue. This highlights the higher depth and breadth of insight on neurodegenerative diseases obtainable through SynTOF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thanaphong Phongpreecha
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative, and Pain Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Biomedical Data Science, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | | | - Candace C. Liu
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | | | - Alan L. Chang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative, and Pain Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Biomedical Data Science, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Martin Becker
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative, and Pain Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Biomedical Data Science, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Ramin Fallahzadeh
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative, and Pain Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Biomedical Data Science, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | | | - Nadia Postupna
- Department of Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Emily Sherfield
- Department of Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Dmitry Tebaykin
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Caitlin Latimer
- Department of Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Carol A. Shively
- Department of Pathology/Comparative Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
| | - Thomas C. Register
- Department of Pathology/Comparative Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
| | - Suzanne Craft
- Department of Internal Medicine–Geriatrics, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
| | | | - Edward J. Fox
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Kathleen L. Poston
- Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - C. Dirk Keene
- Department of Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Michael Angelo
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Sean C. Bendall
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Nima Aghaeepour
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative, and Pain Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Biomedical Data Science, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Thomas J. Montine
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Corresponding author.
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8
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Kurucu H, Colom-Cadena M, Davies C, Wilkins L, King D, Rose J, Tzioras M, Tulloch JH, Smith C, Spires-Jones TL. Inhibitory synapse loss and accumulation of amyloid beta in inhibitory presynaptic terminals in Alzheimer's disease. Eur J Neurol 2021; 29:1311-1323. [PMID: 34331352 DOI: 10.1111/ene.15043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2021] [Revised: 07/27/2021] [Accepted: 07/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Synapse degeneration in Alzheimer's disease (AD) correlates strongly with cognitive decline. There is well-established excitatory synapse loss in AD with known contributions of pathological amyloid beta (Aβ) to excitatory synapse dysfunction and loss. Despite clear changes in circuit excitability in AD and model systems, relatively little is known about pathology in inhibitory synapses. METHODS Here human postmortem brain samples (n = 5 control, 10 AD cases) from temporal and occipital cortices were examined to investigate whether inhibitory synapses and neurons are lost in AD and whether Aβ may contribute to inhibitory synapse degeneration. Inhibitory neurons were counted in all six cortical layers using stereology software, and array tomography was used to examine synapse density and the accumulation of Aβ in synaptic terminals. RESULTS Differing inhibitory neuron densities were observed in the different cortical layers. The highest inhibitory neuron density was observed in layer 4 in both brain regions and the visual cortex had a higher inhibitory neuron density than the temporal cortex. There was significantly lower inhibitory neuron density in AD than in control cases in all six cortical layers. High-resolution array tomography imaging revealed plaque-associated loss of inhibitory synapses and accumulation of Aβ in a small subset of inhibitory presynaptic terminals with the most accumulation near amyloid plaques. CONCLUSIONS Inhibitory neuron and synapse loss in AD may contribute to disrupted excitatory/inhibitory balance and cognitive decline. Future work is warranted to determine whether targeting inhibitory synapse loss could be a useful therapeutic strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hatice Kurucu
- University of Edinburgh Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences and UK Dementia Research Institute, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Martí Colom-Cadena
- University of Edinburgh Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences and UK Dementia Research Institute, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Caitlin Davies
- University of Edinburgh Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences and UK Dementia Research Institute, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Lewis Wilkins
- University of Edinburgh Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences and UK Dementia Research Institute, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Declan King
- University of Edinburgh Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences and UK Dementia Research Institute, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Jamie Rose
- University of Edinburgh Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences and UK Dementia Research Institute, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Makis Tzioras
- University of Edinburgh Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences and UK Dementia Research Institute, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Jane H Tulloch
- University of Edinburgh Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences and UK Dementia Research Institute, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Colin Smith
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences and Sudden Death Brain Bank, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Tara L Spires-Jones
- University of Edinburgh Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences and UK Dementia Research Institute, Edinburgh, UK
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9
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Knopman DS, Amieva H, Petersen RC, Chételat G, Holtzman DM, Hyman BT, Nixon RA, Jones DT. Alzheimer disease. Nat Rev Dis Primers 2021; 7:33. [PMID: 33986301 PMCID: PMC8574196 DOI: 10.1038/s41572-021-00269-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 756] [Impact Index Per Article: 252.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Alzheimer disease (AD) is biologically defined by the presence of β-amyloid-containing plaques and tau-containing neurofibrillary tangles. AD is a genetic and sporadic neurodegenerative disease that causes an amnestic cognitive impairment in its prototypical presentation and non-amnestic cognitive impairment in its less common variants. AD is a common cause of cognitive impairment acquired in midlife and late-life but its clinical impact is modified by other neurodegenerative and cerebrovascular conditions. This Primer conceives of AD biology as the brain disorder that results from a complex interplay of loss of synaptic homeostasis and dysfunction in the highly interrelated endosomal/lysosomal clearance pathways in which the precursors, aggregated species and post-translationally modified products of Aβ and tau play important roles. Therapeutic endeavours are still struggling to find targets within this framework that substantially change the clinical course in persons with AD.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Helene Amieva
- Inserm U1219 Bordeaux Population Health Center, University of Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
| | | | - Gäel Chételat
- Normandie Univ, UNICAEN, INSERM, U1237, PhIND "Physiopathology and Imaging of Neurological Disorders", Institut Blood and Brain @ Caen-Normandie, Cyceron, Caen, France
| | - David M Holtzman
- Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Bradley T Hyman
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ralph A Nixon
- Departments of Psychiatry and Cell Biology, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York University, New York, NY, USA
- NYU Neuroscience Institute, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York University, New York, NY, USA
| | - David T Jones
- Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
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10
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Gatto N, Dos Santos Souza C, Shaw AC, Bell SM, Myszczynska MA, Powers S, Meyer K, Castelli LM, Karyka E, Mortiboys H, Azzouz M, Hautbergue GM, Márkus NM, Shaw PJ, Ferraiuolo L. Directly converted astrocytes retain the ageing features of the donor fibroblasts and elucidate the astrocytic contribution to human CNS health and disease. Aging Cell 2021; 20:e13281. [PMID: 33314575 PMCID: PMC7811849 DOI: 10.1111/acel.13281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2020] [Revised: 10/20/2020] [Accepted: 10/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Astrocytes are highly specialised cells, responsible for CNS homeostasis and neuronal activity. Lack of human in vitro systems able to recapitulate the functional changes affecting astrocytes during ageing represents a major limitation to studying mechanisms and potential therapies aiming to preserve neuronal health. Here, we show that induced astrocytes from fibroblasts donors in their childhood or adulthood display age‐related transcriptional differences and functionally diverge in a spectrum of age‐associated features, such as altered nuclear compartmentalisation, nucleocytoplasmic shuttling properties, oxidative stress response and DNA damage response. Remarkably, we also show an age‐related differential response of induced neural progenitor cells derived astrocytes (iNPC‐As) in their ability to support neurons in co‐culture upon pro‐inflammatory stimuli. These results show that iNPC‐As are a renewable, readily available resource of human glia that retain the age‐related features of the donor fibroblasts, making them a unique and valuable model to interrogate human astrocyte function over time in human CNS health and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noemi Gatto
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN) University of Sheffield Sheffield UK
| | - Cleide Dos Santos Souza
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN) University of Sheffield Sheffield UK
| | - Allan C. Shaw
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN) University of Sheffield Sheffield UK
| | - Simon M. Bell
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN) University of Sheffield Sheffield UK
| | - Monika A. Myszczynska
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN) University of Sheffield Sheffield UK
| | - Samantha Powers
- The Research institute Nationwide Children’s Hospital Columbus OH USA
| | - Kathrin Meyer
- The Research institute Nationwide Children’s Hospital Columbus OH USA
| | - Lydia M. Castelli
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN) University of Sheffield Sheffield UK
| | - Evangelia Karyka
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN) University of Sheffield Sheffield UK
| | - Heather Mortiboys
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN) University of Sheffield Sheffield UK
| | - Mimoun Azzouz
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN) University of Sheffield Sheffield UK
| | - Guillaume M. Hautbergue
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN) University of Sheffield Sheffield UK
| | - Nóra M. Márkus
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN) University of Sheffield Sheffield UK
| | - Pamela J. Shaw
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN) University of Sheffield Sheffield UK
| | - Laura Ferraiuolo
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN) University of Sheffield Sheffield UK
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11
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Abstract
The symptoms of Alzheimer disease reflect a loss of neural circuit integrity in the brain, but neurons do not work in isolation. Emerging evidence suggests that the intricate balance of interactions between neurons, astrocytes, microglia and vascular cells required for healthy brain function becomes perturbed during the disease, with early changes likely protecting neural circuits from damage, followed later by harmful effects when the balance cannot be restored. Moving beyond a neuronal focus to understand the complex cellular interactions in Alzheimer disease and how these change throughout the course of the disease may provide important insight into developing effective therapeutics.
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12
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Sele M, Wernitznig S, Lipovšek S, Radulović S, Haybaeck J, Birkl-Toeglhofer AM, Wodlej C, Kleinegger F, Sygulla S, Leoni M, Ropele S, Leitinger G. Optimization of ultrastructural preservation of human brain for transmission electron microscopy after long post-mortem intervals. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2019; 7:144. [PMID: 31481118 PMCID: PMC6724377 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-019-0794-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2019] [Accepted: 08/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Electron microscopy (EM) provides the necessary resolution to visualize the finer structures of nervous tissue morphology, which is important to understand healthy and pathological conditions in the brain. However, for the interpretation of the micrographs the tissue preservation is crucial. The quality of the tissue structure is mostly influenced by the post mortem interval (PMI), the time of death until the preservation of the tissue. Therefore, the aim of this study was to optimize the preparation-procedure for the human frontal lobe to preserve the ultrastructure as well as possible despite the long PMIs. Combining chemical pre- and post-fixation with cryo-fixation and cryo-substitution ("hybrid freezing"), it was possible to improve the preservation of the neuronal profiles of human brain samples compared to the "standard" epoxy resin embedding method. In conclusion short PMIs are generally desirable but up to a PMI of 16 h the ultrastructure can be preserved on an acceptable level with a high contrast using the "hybrid freezing" protocol described here.
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13
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Taylor AM, Pattie A, Deary IJ. Cohort Profile Update: The Lothian Birth Cohorts of 1921 and 1936. Int J Epidemiol 2019; 47:1042-1042r. [PMID: 29546429 PMCID: PMC6124629 DOI: 10.1093/ije/dyy022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 132] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/29/2018] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Adele M Taylor
- Department of Psychology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Alison Pattie
- Department of Psychology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Ian J Deary
- Department of Psychology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
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14
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Glausier JR, Konanur A, Lewis DA. Factors Affecting Ultrastructural Quality in the Prefrontal Cortex of the Postmortem Human Brain. J Histochem Cytochem 2019; 67:185-202. [PMID: 30562121 PMCID: PMC6393839 DOI: 10.1369/0022155418819481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2018] [Accepted: 11/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Electron microscopy (EM) studies of the postmortem human brain provide a level of resolution essential for understanding brain function in both normal and disease states. However, processes associated with death can impair the cellular and organelle ultrastructural preservation required for quantitative EM studies. Although postmortem interval (PMI), the time between death and preservation of tissue, is thought to be the most influential factor of ultrastructural quality, numerous other factors may also influence tissue preservation. The goal of the present study was to assess the effects of pre- and postmortem factors on multiple components of ultrastructure in the postmortem human prefrontal cortex. Tissue samples from 30 subjects were processed using standard EM histochemistry. The primary dependent measure was number of identifiable neuronal profiles, and secondary measures included presence and/or integrity of synapses, mitochondria, and myelinated axonal fibers. Number of identifiable neuronal profiles was most strongly affected by the interaction of PMI and pH, such that short PMIs and neutral pH values predicted the best preservation. Secondary measures were largely unaffected by pre- and postmortem factors. Together, these data indicate that distinct components of the neuropil are differentially affected by PMI and pH in postmortem human brain.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Anisha Konanur
- The Dietrich School of Arts & Sciences, University of Pittsburgh
| | - David A. Lewis
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh
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15
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Humphreys CA, Jansen MA, Muñoz Maniega S, González-Castro V, Pernet C, Deary IJ, Al-Shahi Salman R, Wardlaw JM, Smith C. A protocol for precise comparisons of small vessel disease lesions between ex vivo magnetic resonance imaging and histopathology. Int J Stroke 2018; 14:310-320. [PMID: 30196792 PMCID: PMC6604680 DOI: 10.1177/1747493018799962] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Rationale Neuroimaging and clinical studies have defined human sporadic cerebral small vessel disease but the pathophysiology remains relatively poorly understood. To develop effective therapies and preventative strategies, we must better understand the heterogeneity and development of small vessel disease at a cellular level. Hypothesis Small vessel disease lesions as seen on neuroimaging have specific neuropathological correlates. Methods and design Standard histological samples are taken from strategic areas of the brain typically affected by small vessel disease, in cases with a range of disease from mild to severe and controls. Tissue is formalin fixed, scanned using 7-tesla magnetic resonance imaging and processed for histology. Histological slides are digitalized then registered with the corresponding magnetic resonance image. Small vessel disease burden is assessed and lesions are precisely identified on the ex vivo imaging and microscopy independently then compared. The tissue can be interrogated using multiple magnetic resonance sequences and histological methods targeting the gliovascular unit. Study outcomes The primary outcome is identifying and defining the cellular characteristics of small vessel disease lesions compared to imaging. Secondary outcomes are related to obtaining information about abnormalities of protein expression in the gliovascular unit, defining groups of small vessel disease severity in our cohorts for future analysis and developing a reliable, reproducible protocol for accurate radiological–histological lesion comparison, which can be applied to other neurological diseases in the future. Discussion Comprehensive, precise pathological–radiological–clinical correlations in small vessel disease will provide greater insight into associations and pathophysiology underlying magnetic resonance imaging findings in normal- and abnormal-appearing tissue, ex vivo and in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine A Humphreys
- 1 Academic Neuropathology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,2 Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Maurits A Jansen
- 2 Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Susana Muñoz Maniega
- 2 Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,3 Neuroimaging Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Víctor González-Castro
- 4 Department of Electrical, Systems and Automatic Engineering, Universidad de León, León, Spain
| | - Cyril Pernet
- 2 Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,3 Neuroimaging Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Ian J Deary
- 2 Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,5 Department of Psychology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | | | - Joanna M Wardlaw
- 2 Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,3 Neuroimaging Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,6 UK Dementia Research Institute at the University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Colin Smith
- 1 Academic Neuropathology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,2 Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
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16
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Hainsworth AH, Lee S, Foot P, Patel A, Poon WW, Knight AE. Super-resolution imaging of subcortical white matter using stochastic optical reconstruction microscopy (STORM) and super-resolution optical fluctuation imaging (SOFI). Neuropathol Appl Neurobiol 2018; 44:417-426. [PMID: 28696566 PMCID: PMC5835206 DOI: 10.1111/nan.12426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2017] [Revised: 07/06/2017] [Accepted: 07/11/2017] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
AIMS The spatial resolution of light microscopy is limited by the wavelength of visible light (the 'diffraction limit', approximately 250 nm). Resolution of sub-cellular structures, smaller than this limit, is possible with super resolution methods such as stochastic optical reconstruction microscopy (STORM) and super-resolution optical fluctuation imaging (SOFI). We aimed to resolve subcellular structures (axons, myelin sheaths and astrocytic processes) within intact white matter, using STORM and SOFI. METHODS Standard cryostat-cut sections of subcortical white matter from donated human brain tissue and from adult rat and mouse brain were labelled, using standard immunohistochemical markers (neurofilament-H, myelin-associated glycoprotein, glial fibrillary acidic protein, GFAP). Image sequences were processed for STORM (effective pixel size 8-32 nm) and for SOFI (effective pixel size 80 nm). RESULTS In human, rat and mouse, subcortical white matter high-quality images for axonal neurofilaments, myelin sheaths and filamentous astrocytic processes were obtained. In quantitative measurements, STORM consistently underestimated width of axons and astrocyte processes (compared with electron microscopy measurements). SOFI provided more accurate width measurements, though with somewhat lower spatial resolution than STORM. CONCLUSIONS Super resolution imaging of intact cryo-cut human brain tissue is feasible. For quantitation, STORM can under-estimate diameters of thin fluorescent objects. SOFI is more robust. The greatest limitation for super-resolution imaging in brain sections is imposed by sample preparation. We anticipate that improved strategies to reduce autofluorescence and to enhance fluorophore performance will enable rapid expansion of this approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- A H Hainsworth
- Molecular and Clinical Sciences Research Institute, St Georges University of London, London, UK
- Neurology, St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - S Lee
- Cellular Pathology, St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - P Foot
- Cellular Pathology, St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - A Patel
- Cellular Pathology, St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - W W Poon
- Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - A E Knight
- National Physical Laboratory, Teddington, UK
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17
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Synapse loss in the prefrontal cortex is associated with cognitive decline in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Acta Neuropathol 2018; 135:213-226. [PMID: 29273900 PMCID: PMC5773656 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-017-1797-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2017] [Revised: 12/14/2017] [Accepted: 12/15/2017] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
In addition to motor neurone degeneration, up to 50% of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients present with cognitive decline. Understanding the neurobiological changes underlying these cognitive deficits is critical, as cognitively impaired patients exhibit a shorter survival time from symptom onset. Given the pathogenic role of synapse loss in other neurodegenerative diseases in which cognitive decline is apparent, such as Alzheimer’s disease, we aimed to assess synaptic integrity in the ALS brain. Here, we have applied a unique combination of high-resolution imaging of post-mortem tissue with neuropathology, genetic screening and cognitive profiling of ALS cases. Analyses of more than 1 million synapses using two complimentary high-resolution techniques (electron microscopy and array tomography) revealed a loss of synapses from the prefrontal cortex of ALS patients. Importantly, synapse loss was significantly greater in cognitively impaired cases and was not due to cortical atrophy, nor associated with dementia-associated neuropathology. Interestingly, we found a trend between pTDP-43 pathology and synapse loss in the frontal cortex and discovered pTDP-43 puncta at a subset of synapses in the ALS brains. From these data, we postulate that synapse loss in the prefrontal cortex represents an underlying neurobiological substrate of cognitive decline in ALS.
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18
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Abstract
In the face of shifting demographics and an increase in human longevity, it is important to examine carefully what is known about cognitive ageing, and to identify and promote possibly malleable lifestyle and health-related factors that might mitigate age-associated cognitive decline. The Lothian Birth Cohorts of 1921 (LBC1921, n = 550) and 1936 (LBC1936, n = 1091) are longitudinal studies of cognitive and brain ageing based in Scotland. Childhood IQ data are available for these participants, who were recruited in later life and then followed up regularly. This overview summarises some of the main LBC findings to date, illustrating the possible genetic and environmental contributions to cognitive function (level and change) and brain imaging biomarkers in later life. Key associations include genetic variation, health and fitness, psychosocial and lifestyle factors, and aspects of the brain's structure. It addresses some key methodological issues such as confounding by early-life intelligence and social factors and emphasises areas requiring further investigation. Overall, the findings that have emerged from the LBC studies highlight that there are multiple correlates of cognitive ability level in later life, many of which have small effects, that there are as yet few reliable predictors of cognitive change, and that not all of the correlates have independent additive associations. The concept of marginal gains, whereby there might be a cumulative effect of small incremental improvements across a wide range of lifestyle and health-related factors, may offer a useful way to think about and promote a multivariate recipe for healthy cognitive and brain ageing.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Corley
- Department of Psychology,The University of Edinburgh,Edinburgh,UK
| | - S R Cox
- Department of Psychology,The University of Edinburgh,Edinburgh,UK
| | - I J Deary
- Department of Psychology,The University of Edinburgh,Edinburgh,UK
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19
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Structural brain imaging correlates of ASD and ADHD across the lifespan: a hypothesis-generating review on developmental ASD-ADHD subtypes. J Neural Transm (Vienna) 2016; 124:259-271. [PMID: 28000020 PMCID: PMC5285408 DOI: 10.1007/s00702-016-1651-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2016] [Accepted: 11/11/2016] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
We hypothesize that it is plausible that biologically distinct developmental ASD-ADHD subtypes are present, each characterized by a distinct time of onset of symptoms, progression and combination of symptoms. The aim of the present narrative review was to explore if structural brain imaging studies may shed light on key brain areas that are linked to both ASD and ADHD symptoms and undergo significant changes during development. These findings may possibly pinpoint to brain mechanisms underlying differential developmental ASD-ADHD subtypes. To this end we brought together the literature on ASD and ADHD structural brain imaging symptoms and particularly highlight the adolescent years and beyond. Findings indicate that the vast majority of existing MRI studies has been cross-sectional and conducted in children, and sometimes did include adolescents as well, but without explicitly documenting on this age group. MRI studies documenting on age effects in adults with ASD and/or ADHD are rare, and if age is taken into account, only linear effects are examined. Data from various studies suggest that a crucial distinctive feature underlying different developmental ASD-ADHD subtypes may be the differential developmental thinning patterns of the anterior cingulate cortex and related connections towards other prefrontal regions. These regions are crucial for the development of cognitive/effortful control and socio-emotional functioning, with impairments in these features as key to both ASD and ADHD.
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20
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Henstridge CM, Pickett E, Spires-Jones TL. Synaptic pathology: A shared mechanism in neurological disease. Ageing Res Rev 2016; 28:72-84. [PMID: 27108053 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2016.04.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 95] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2016] [Revised: 04/18/2016] [Accepted: 04/19/2016] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Synaptic proteomes have evolved a rich and complex diversity to allow the exquisite control of neuronal communication and information transfer. It is therefore not surprising that many neurological disorders are associated with alterations in synaptic function. As technology has advanced, our ability to study the anatomical and physiological function of synapses in greater detail has revealed a critical role for both central and peripheral synapses in neurodegenerative disease. Synapse loss has a devastating effect on cellular communication, leading to wide ranging effects such as network disruption within central neural systems and muscle wastage in the periphery. These devastating effects link synaptic pathology to a diverse range of neurological disorders, spanning Alzheimer's disease to multiple sclerosis. This review will highlight some of the current literature on synaptic integrity in animal models of disease and human post-mortem studies. Synaptic changes in normal brain ageing will also be discussed and finally the current and prospective treatments for neurodegenerative disorders will be summarised.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Eleanor Pickett
- Centre for Cognitive and Neural Systems, 1 George Square, University of Edinburgh, EH8 9JZ, UK
| | - Tara L Spires-Jones
- Centre for Cognitive and Neural Systems, 1 George Square, University of Edinburgh, EH8 9JZ, UK; Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research, Chancellor's Building, 49 Little France Crescent, University of Edinburgh, EH16 4SB, UK; Centre for Dementia Prevention, University of Edinburgh Kennedy Tower, Royal Edinburgh Hospital, EH10 5HF, UK.
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21
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Kurbatskaya K, Phillips EC, Croft CL, Dentoni G, Hughes MM, Wade MA, Al-Sarraj S, Troakes C, O’Neill MJ, Perez-Nievas BG, Hanger DP, Noble W. Upregulation of calpain activity precedes tau phosphorylation and loss of synaptic proteins in Alzheimer's disease brain. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2016; 4:34. [PMID: 27036949 PMCID: PMC4818436 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-016-0299-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2016] [Accepted: 03/15/2016] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Alterations in calcium homeostasis are widely reported to contribute to synaptic degeneration and neuronal loss in Alzheimer’s disease. Elevated cytosolic calcium concentrations lead to activation of the calcium-sensitive cysteine protease, calpain, which has a number of substrates known to be abnormally regulated in disease. Analysis of human brain has shown that calpain activity is elevated in AD compared to controls, and that calpain-mediated proteolysis regulates the activity of important disease-associated proteins including the tau kinases cyclin-dependent kinase 5 and glycogen kinase synthase-3. Here, we sought to investigate the likely temporal association between these changes during the development of sporadic AD using Braak staged post-mortem brain. Quantification of protein amounts in these tissues showed increased activity of calpain-1 from Braak stage III onwards in comparison to controls, extending previous findings that calpain-1 is upregulated at end-stage disease, and suggesting that activation of calcium-sensitive signalling pathways are sustained from early stages of disease development. Increases in calpain-1 activity were associated with elevated activity of the endogenous calpain inhibitor, calpastatin, itself a known calpain substrate. Activation of the tau kinases, glycogen-kinase synthase-3 and cyclin-dependent kinase 5 were also found to occur in Braak stage II-III brain, and these preceded global elevations in tau phosphorylation and the loss of post-synaptic markers. In addition, we identified transient increases in total amyloid precursor protein and pre-synaptic markers in Braak stage II-III brain, that were lost by end stage Alzheimer's disease, that may be indicative of endogenous compensatory responses to the initial stages of neurodegeneration. These findings provide insight into the molecular events that underpin the progression of Alzheimer's disease, and further highlight the rationale for investigating novel treatment strategies that are based on preventing abnormal calcium homeostasis or blocking increases in the activity of calpain or important calpain substrates.
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22
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Erratum to: Post-mortem brain analyses of the Lothian Birth Cohort 1936: extending lifetime cognitive and brain phenotyping to the level of the synapse. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2015; 3:83. [PMID: 26651483 PMCID: PMC4674995 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-015-0244-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2015] [Accepted: 10/13/2015] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
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